Expert: autohelp - 6/9/2009

Question
My mother-in-law has a cadillac cateria and it has 40,000 miles on it.. She has just driven it around town. My son needs a car for some long distance travel(Georgia to Texas). I was thinking about purchased this car.  Everyone is telling me that I shouldn't due to the age and that it does not have enough road time for the age. Please advise.

Answer
I have been working on these Catera's since they first came out and they did have some problems. However, If your mother has not had any major problems and or the vehicle does not require constant repairs, I see no problem with purchasing this vehicle and putting some long distance miles on it. Continous driving around town is the worst thing you can do to any vehicle. Take it out on the highway and run it as it will blow out all the residue from the engine that has been building up over the years from constant city driving.