Yesterday, I covered this 1951 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two, a Cadillac from the days when a Cadillac was a Cadillac, and today it’s a 2009 DTS. Well, OK, yeah, it seems like a bit of a letdown, comparatively speaking. Regardless, we’ve not covered a 2009 Cadillac here on BF (hmmm…), so let’s take a look at this gently used example from GM’s very dark bankruptcy days. San Antonio, Texas, is where you’ll find it, and it’s available here on eBay for a current no-reserve bid of $3,300 with 13 bids tendered so far.
Cadillac’s DTS was produced between 2006 and 2011. At 207.6″ in length, spread over a 115.6″ wheelbase, it was considered a full-size car and the successor to the Deville. In its six years of production, 211K units rolled off GM’s Hamtramck, Michigan assembly line. Popular? Well, 35K copies per model year is certainly reasonable. I’d suggest that the styling, always subjective, is certainly not offensive; it’s restrained and maybe a bit bland. Oddly, one of the first things that entered my mind when reconnecting with this DTS is its presidential past. Though obviously highly modified, I recall that the Secret Service used the DTS as the concept for executive branch motors back in the mid-2000s. According to the seller as he states, “My beloved Aunt purchased this car brand new (cash) in 2009 and rarely drove it over the period of time she owned it. 100% garage kept, one owner/one driver, no accidents, low miles, vehicle.” There’s no nitpickin’ to do here; this Caddy is in excellent condition and looks as if it was very well cared for.
Though it hasn’t run since 2019, the seller claims, “will start up like it was driven yesterday!” and that’s thanks to its 275 net HP, DOHC, 4.6-liter V8, Northstar engine. Considered an engineering marvel at its inception, the “Northstar System” was built in other displacements and found its way into other GM models. The only negative that I could uncover was a tendency of those engines produced between ’95 and ’05 to encounter “stretched” headbolts that lead to compromised head gaskets. This example, being an ’09 model, should be safe, however. Power from this sidewinder-mounted engine is channeled to a Turbo-Hydramatic 4T80-E , four-speed automatic transaxle.
The interior is photographed in snippets, so there is no comprehensive image included in the listing. Still, what can be seen of its creme colored leather upholstery is about what you would expect – its condition is as spic and span as the exterior. The steering wheel and instrument panel are in fine shape, but they’re standard, generic GM components found in lesser GM cars. Still, the entire environment presents as being very comfortable.
OK, so this Caddy is not going to stand out the way that ’51 Series Sixty-two does (not much does, except for maybe a ’59 convertible). No, this one’s more of a subtle sleeper. If the no-reserve bidding continues at its current trend, this DTS could prove to be quite the buy, wouldn’t you agree?
DeVilleTouringSedan. 🛣
IMO another CADILLACKING example of how far The ONCE Standard of the WORLD has fallen. A friend had a 2009 DTS. Besides being cramped in a too small interior, the Northstar was trouble prone. A headlight replacement cost $140. I would have a full inspection done before purchase. Especially, with such a low price, the buyer might be getting much LESS than bargained for. I can’t help but think of Barney Fife and his car purchase from a sweet old lady (played by Ellen Corby, aka Grandma Walton). Yeah, more useless trivia. But you really aren’t surprised, are you 🤔
I’m not surprised to see the lack of comments (or interest). A friend once owned a 2009 DTS, yet another IMO stupid idea. Why Not Deville Touring Sedan? But to the point, her car was prone to expensive issues. The Northstar needed constant attention. Replacing a headlight cost $140. Although the Price seems low, the costs of maintenance might be astronomical. It May be a good buy, but I’ll say Bye👋Bye 👋
Attn…Barn Finds. I’ve tried several times to post on this site, without success. With only one post, Could something be wrong?
Emojis are not a good idea. The spam filter often catches them and then I have to manually release the comment.
JO
@Jim ODonnell
Thanks for the heads up. You have enough to do looking up statistics
without having to babysit replies.
BTW how’s that chat room coming along?
Hi Angel!
I haven’t heard anything from the editors on that topic in a while. I’ll have to check with them for a status and advise.
Thx,
JO
My apologies! I don’t know how it happened 😕. Strange DAZE!
Certainly an improvement over the 2000 Deville, but still, as Rick W said, very Cadillacking. The swan song for the “full size” Cadillac as the CTS took over sales.
Nice car but you’d think something a little more impressive for a final model segment would be in order, but it’s become more than evident GM doesn’t give a damn about models, as long as they make a huge profit. And enough is never enough for them.
Back in the early 2000s I worked at a GM dealership. Being in Nevada (the GM western region) GM meetings were always in Las Vegas. (knowing that more people would show up ) The first part of the week was sales meetings the middle of the week would be service and parts meetings and the end of the week would be fleet sales. Since I regularly sold Caddy’s to Enterprise back then, we would fly into Vegas and pick up a used Caddy (purchase) there and use it to drive around all week handing it off to the next dealership employee when their time came for their visit. Being in fleet sales, I was the low man on the totem pole which got the “honor” of DRIVING the car back to Carson City. I drove a DTS like this one back leaving in the evening and wondering if I would be able to stay awake. I cranked up the tunes, turned on the messaging seat, and set the cruise at 92. The highest speed that the cruise control would stay engaged. I arrived home in very short order as fresh as a daisy. Luckily no “police protection ” out that night. Nice driving very competent handling car. I love the power and torque of the Northstar engine ( also in the Oldsmobile) but having to remove an intake manifold to change a starter or repair a lower engine oil leak to have it return shortly afterwards (lower block to upper. block does move around a little) make me a non-owner of one of these engines.
Some Cadillac person may get a good deal on a budget at no reserves. Good looking Cadillac for the right person and price.
This one is in Vegas. Probably even cheaper than $3300
Owned a 1999 Eldo. Loved the car – hated the Northstar engine. Replaced it with 2014 XTS. Loved the engine – hated the car’s styling. Always looked as if the front suspension had collapsed. I do like the DTS styling. Now, if I could swap that DTS body onto my XTS engine and trans – there would be my dream car!
Am I the only one who came away from the eBay listing with the feeling that the maintenance log was filled out completely all in one sitting ?
By 2009, Caddy engineers somewhat solved the cylinder head bolt issues.
Yes George ” but not the crankcase leakage. Just a design flaw. It never leaks bad. But a couple of small drips on your garage floor once a week. (More like heavy seepage)
Had a 2003 Deville bought new I drove to 97K. Traded it on a new STS.The Deville failed a flywheel sensor at 80k. No other issues or leaks. One of the cheapest cars I ever owned.
My All-original 1963 VW Beetle got crunched by one of these. Luckily no one was hurt and the VW was fixable but I always shudder when I see a Caddy DTS
I own a 2010 DTS Platinum and I love it. It does have upgraded suspension with magnetic ride control, navigation, massage w heat and cooled seats. Some repairs are expensive like $400 struts up front. But great handling for a full size with respectable performance for an old man’s hot rod. Lol. After 65 I even put a windshield on my motorcycle.