1990-1993 Cadillac Allante: Road Test

Performance, handling/roadholding, elegant Italian styling, and an abundant load of standard features are the main attributes of Cadillac's costly 2-seater. Allante's 4.5-liter V8 engine delivers brisk acceleration, but with too much noise and a rather crude nature--out of place in a car that cost so much when new. The ride in early models is on the firm side, partly because of the 2-seater's wide, stiff, high-performance tires. Ride comfort improved in 1991, with the refinements to the automatic suspension-damping system. In road tests at the time, that suspension always seemed to be in the correct mode, though the ride could still turn rough over bad pavement. Acceleration got a notable boost in 1993 with the new Northstar engine. Cadillac claimed the '93 Allante could reach 60 mph in under six seconds, and the car actually did feel muscle-car quick. The smooth Northstar V8 launches the roadster smartly and pulls strongly well past 100 mph. Some drivers might ask for more immediate response to throttle inputs in the 25-55 mph range, but the electronic automatic does its part with quick, unobtrusive shifts. The '93 Road Sensing Suspension balances ride comfort with stability and adroit control in even the most demanding driving. The one-piece door glass introduced for that final year allowed the side mirrors to be placed father forward for greatly improved visibility. Wider new seats in final models don't support as well in fast turns, but they're softer and more comfortable for more body shapes. Nice touches in late models included the "metaphoric" power seat control and nifty four-way power lumbar adjustment. Drawbacks, even for the final models, included the lack of a power top, and too many lookalike dashboard buttons. Allantes improved considerably after their 1987 debut, but body rigidity lags behind that of a Mercedes-Benz SL convertible.

Value for the Money
On the whole, this Cadillac amounted to too little car and insufficient prestige, for a lot of money. Never strong sellers, Allantes were faulted from the start for their high prices. Secondhand models aren't priced so prohibitively, but they're still no bargains. With the Northstar engine, new suspension and other refinements for 1993, the Allante's price did not seem as unreasonable.