Mechanics? Please make this easier than Google!

So, I crashed my boyfriend's CTS a few weeks ago (bad roads, not being a jackass) and we just found out that it's totaled. He really loves that car, so he's going to buy it back from the insurance company and fix it. It's going to take awhile because his schedule is crazy. In the meantime, he's generously purchased a 1996 Cadillac Seville for me to drive while we're fixing the other car. He says it's temporary, I'm not so sure....

Anyway the Seville needs shocks and struts and they're super expensive. At this point, we don't want to put a couple thousand dollars into something we're only going to keep for a couple of months, so he was thinking about using a conversion kit and changing the air suspension system over to a standard one. This is way less expensive, and will work fine, but it's really hard for him to bring himself to do that. He's just one of those people who has to do everything the right way, or as close as possible, even if something else will work.

So, I'm wondering- does anyone know of another car's suspension system that would work on the Seville, and maybe cost less? Everything is expensive on a Cadillac, so I was thinking maybe there is a $1000 air suspension system that's actually designed for a different car, but will work on this one?

Sorry if it's hard to figure out what I'm talking about. I know nothing about cars! I'm just trying to help come up with a solution because he doesn't have a lot of time. And if I am able to do that, it would go a long way to getting me back into his good graces :)

Can you find the parts at a junk yard cheaper? I've gotten tons of perfectly fine parts from junk yards their not new but will last years normally long as your not going to a bad yard. I buy tires from the junk yard haha 90% tread for 10 dollars yes I will buy four please

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlson

Can you find the parts at a junk yard cheaper? I've gotten tons of perfectly fine parts from junk yards their not new but will last years normally long as your not going to a bad yard. I buy tires from the junk yard haha 90% tread for 10 dollars yes I will buy four please

---

We've bought a lot of parts that way, yes. But I don't think he'd buy suspension parts there. I don't know enough about it, but it seems like those would wear, right? He wouldn't buy anything that wears out (like break pads, or filters, etc) from a junk yard. He's pretty pissed about his car, but he still wants to make sure whatever I'm driving is safe.

Best way to go is the conversion kit.. Or an aftermarket air suspension system.. It's all expensive..

I get tires from my junk yard they pull newer ones up front normally little ware and I get them for ten dollars. Normally go every spring and fall or when it's time to switch to or from snow tires to normal ones. If they have newer suspension parts they will pull them off stuff like that they sell all the time but they normally only sell parts like that if the part is still workable and has no problems evident that would cause it to fail. My cousin owned a junk yard for years one of my favorite memories now that I look back on it was helping a guy take off a trucks lift kit and shocks while the truck was tipped upside down on top of a stack of three cars :) haha back country junkyards are fun

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BoostedMX3

Best way to go is the conversion kit.. Or an aftermarket air suspension system.. It's all expensive..

---

That's what he's thinking he's going to do. I just thought I could surprise him with new information....but it doesn't look like I'm going to!

I for some reason thought this was fb haha wow I should bap

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlson

I for some reason thought this was fb haha wow I should bap

---

If this were Facebook, I'd be making requests. And they wouldn't have anything to do with car parts.

I think the biggest mistake was buy a caddy in the first place... smh...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrandiR

If this were Facebook, I'd be making requests. And they wouldn't have anything to do with car parts.

---

Haha you'd be being a naughty girl! You May need a time out? Or cold shower :) haha

Oh boy, here we go...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike41793

I think the biggest mistake was buy a caddy in the first place... smh...

---

What?? I LOVED the CTS. That's a beautiful car right there! The body style on the Seville is a little older than....well, most of the people on this forum :) But that aside, it's a really nice car.


PS:
My 67 year old boss drives a Subaru, and she loves it :)

I am not sure if once a car is deemed totalled by an insurance company if you can buy them back and title and plate them again? I think the state declares them unsafe.? I know you can buy them back but I think its only for parts. You may want to check or maybe someone on here can tell you if im wrong.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by norwegn113

I am not sure if once a car is deemed totalled by an insurance company if you can buy them back and title and plate them again? I think the state declares them unsafe.? I know you can buy them back but I think its only for parts. You may want to check or maybe someone on here can tell you if im wrong.

---

You can. We've checked into it. You have to have them inspected after they're repaired and then they always have a salvaged title, which greatly reduces the resale value. But it's totally allowed. And I'm sure this varies by state, but here in Washington you can do it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by norwegn113

I am not sure if once a car is deemed totalled by an insurance company if you can buy them back and title and plate them again? I think the state declares them unsafe.? I know you can buy them back but I think its only for parts. You may want to check or maybe someone on here can tell you if im wrong.

---

I had two that the insurance company totaled. What I understood was as long as its still safe to drive it the state doesn't care you do get a different title or something. My first was my winter car growing up it was my dads work car someone smashed the back end the insurance company said too many dents in it the body work is more then car is worth so totaled but they reinsured it as a totaled car when I started driving it an i had it for four years. Then my 87 firebird I got when I was 16, when I was 18 a dude hit me head on ruined the front but the frame was fine it was totaled we bought it back fixed it and I drive it for few more years. May depend on state tho and wow I typed a lot sorry :(

Why would you buy back a cts to restore it?! Just call it totaled and use the insurance money to buy another one.

Good! Subarus are awesome! If you had been driving one then you wouldnt have crashed bc their AWD systems are the best. Maybe he should look into getting you one of them lol.

EDIT: i was sorta joking by hating on caddys. But my point is its not like a cts is a rare or exotic car. There are some on my local craigslist right now. Ive driven one before. Didnt really WOW me like it was a car id kill to have.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrandiR

You can. We've checked into it. You have to have them inspected after they're repaired and then they always have a salvaged title, which greatly reduces the resale value. But it's totally allowed. And I'm sure this varies by state, but here in Washington you can do it.

---

Ok cool I just wasn't sure.

Buy a horse! You can't crash a horse well maybe you can but the general public normally does good

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlson

Buy a horse! You can't crash a horse well maybe you can but the general public normally does good

---

Don't do this. Horses are disgusting, nasty, evil creatures.

Subaru is where it's at.. Or anything other then GM at least..

Although no GM and I have no job as about 70% of the repairs we do are on them.. :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:tay cars always breaking

What is wrong with the suspension the car? Depending on what is wrong will depend on what your options are. And I would not be afraid of junk yard parts. I have put a lot of junk yard motors and transmissions in cars and usually don't have to much of an issue.

Depending on options, I think this is what you're looking for!
http://www.strutmasters.com/SearchRe...dillac+Seville

I have installed strutmasters conversions on several cars and they are always superior to original!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tfpets

Depending on options, I think this is what you're looking for!
http://www.strutmasters.com/SearchRe...dillac+Seville

I have installed strutmasters conversions on several cars and they are always superior to original!

---

This is exactly what he's considering! He would prefer the originals because he's never used these. But like I said, we're talking about a 17 year old temp car here, he doesn't want to drop $1800 into it if there's a good alternative. So...you say, Good?

Very good IMO. I would never install the junkie air ride on my own car with this being an option. And I haven't installed any air ride parts since I discovered strutmasters. My customers are easily talked into the conversion when comparing prices and they are always very happy with the improvement in the ride! And honestly the installation is easier than original on most applications!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike41793

EDIT: i was sorta joking by hating on caddys. But my point is its not like a cts is a rare or exotic car. There are some on my local craigslist right now. Ive driven one before. Didnt really WOW me like it was a car id kill to have.

---

That would be a CTS-V...
:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sho220

That would be a CTS-V...
:D

---

I considered suggesting that we get one as a replacement. I was like, "Hey! We should get a vvv...." and then his head spun around and lasers shot out out of his eyes, so I just said, "Nevermind."

Maybe one day....

Bone yards are good for some things but you never want to buy "wearable" parts from them.
Steering and suspension are wearable parts and not worth my time to install and re-install new parts a short time later;)
I wont even buy engines from them anymore unless I am planning on rebuilding it because my time is worth more to me than doing the job twice.

That being said, you can replace the air ride system with conventional struts in the front and air shocks in the rear.
They ride about the same either way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Bone yards are good for some things but you never want to buy "wearable" parts from them.
Steering and suspension are wearable parts and not worth my time to install and re-install new parts a short time later;)
I wont even buy engines from them anymore unless I am planning on rebuilding it because my time is worth more to me than doing the job twice.

That being said, you can replace the air ride system with conventional struts in the front and air shocks in the rear.
They ride about the same either way.

---

He knows this and that's why I'm pretty certain he wouldn't buy them used. Basically, he's thinking convert to standard, or see if the air ride system for another car will work (well, that was my idea. Apparently not a good one, ha ha).

He's hesitant because he's always had new cars so he just replaces whatever's needed with the exact thing that came off. In this case, its an old car and there's a huge price difference between the air one and the standard one. He just doesn't want to compromise the ride quality by converting. I will let him know that actual people have said it's a good system. At this point all he's seen are testimonials on manufacturer's websites. Having real feedback willmake it easier for him to pull the trigger.

So since no one else has asked I will.

Was this a change of heart then? I know that insurance process requires signing over the title. They can make the decision to total it but the car isn't theirs until the owner signs over the title.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sho220

That would be a CTS-V...
:D

---

I wouldn't kill for that, but yea, it definitely (im assuming lol) has some more kick to it than just the cts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MasonC2K

So since no one else has asked I will.

Was this a change of heart then? I know that insurance process requires signing over the title. They can make the decision to total it but the car isn't theirs until the owner signs over the title.

---

He has to sign over the title and then he has the option of buying it back at a little more than what they'd scrap it for. Its a percentage, but I don't remember what.