I dont think any of us are used to the styling just yet, nor do some of us want to accept it. At least not us old time purists of the big luxury Cadillac machine. Very aggressive styling, almost a mean look, at least it is distinctive and different than the competition.
The test drive is the key, and public acceptance of the product quality and performance, the ultimate judge will be sales, which we all would like to see high for our chosen marquee.
I really wouldnt be surprised if the new generation of Cadillac aimed squarely at the competition can beat them at their own game as far as performance, quality, function and value are concerned, the styling is over the top, for sure !
Seems to me the styling is setting the future tone for quite somw time.
Give us the big classic RWD luxury car and then we will all be happy.
In the meantime we can restore our old huge classic Cadillacs and wax nostalgic for the good old days.
LOL,
Porter
Porter,
I am afraid that Cadillac, or any other manufacturer, will ever go back to the excesses of the 502, 60s and 70s, or the plainess of the 80s.
Gone are the days of curvy, sexy, lines and masses of old fashioned Chrome that glistens in the son light
The old days of identifying a new car from two miles away, in traffic, are long gone.
We are just going to have to save as many of the "old" cars as we can.
Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV
When all is said and done an auto is a human transport device built for profit by the manufacturer.
You have low,medium & high cost cars to fit the means of the consumer.
To complicate matters further we no longer have just cars (and pickup trucks, formerly used by contractors), we have minivans, SUVs, crossover vehicles, you name it.
Even station wagons are making a comeback, go figure.
I still think if you forget the styling pizzaz and build a good durable functional long lasting vehicle you will kill the competition, then again it probably wouldnt sell, the public wants flashy styling. Even hurt the repair industry, heaven forbid, a car that has been engineered to be repaired easily.
Probably hurt new car sales too, we have mega global manufacturing overcapacity.
My Chevy Van suits me fine, form follows function and rugged durable quality. Fourteen years old and 150k mileage to boot, they are still waiting for me to buy a new one. Some better rustproofing would have been nice on their part.
Porter
Porter,
You said "Even station wagons are making a comeback, go figure."
Hey, Station Wagons havent ever left Australia. They are a big seller here, and always will be.
But, then, everyone forgets about us down here, which is the way it should be. We dont want people coming over and thinking about staying. Come and visit, but, before you return, we have machines at the airports that make you forget that you had a really good time, and therefore wont mention the good times to friends and acquaintences.
We even make sure that the Mainlanders have a topsy turvy trip back home and get seasick on the ferry.
Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV
Quote from: Bruce Reynolds # 18992Porter,
I am afraid that Cadillac, or any other manufacturer, will ever go back to the excesses of the 502, 60s and 70s, or the plainess of the 80s.
Gone are the days of curvy, sexy, lines and masses of old fashioned Chrome that glistens in the son light
The old days of identifying a new car from two miles away, in traffic, are long gone.
We are just going to have to save as many of the "old" cars as we can.
Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV
Yes all that is gone, its part of what is called "moving ahead in life"
But it is so much more fun to look back and drive a classic Cadillac. I enjoy knowing that Im not going to see another car like mine every other block unlike the great masses.
Stampie
But you will be a celebrity. Only practical in dry geographical areas without excessive moisture or the winter salt crap.
I hear many people saying a big car is cumbersome what with parking, etc. The parking lots are designed for smaller cars.
Then again we drive our cars, parking in a tight spot is not the objective.
Take it slow, bigger is better, high fuel costs can be a problem.
More time will be spent with maintenance by you or the garage.
For some of us the joy is in the repair/restoration not the actual driving. But they will drive perfect when done, even if driven sparingly.
Porter
Quote from: Michael Stamps 19507But it is so much more fun to look back and drive a classic Cadillac. I enjoy knowing that Im not going to see another car like mine every other block unlike the great masses.
Stampie
Ill drink to that!!!!!!
I agree with Stampie. Driving an old, luxurious Cadillac is far more fun than anything of today. It just feels right.
Others feel differently and that is OK. Thank god there is room for everyone here. Besides we are not here to please everyone, just ourselves and others who enjoy the hobby. :)
The XLR is sharp looking, The sts-v and cts-v look like a Cadillac-Nisson alliance. Say Pooter dont that sts grill look suspiciously like a chunk of old hammermill screen all chromed up?
I have heard that so often and for so long. Big cars are cumbersome and clumsy.
This as they climb into their even more cumbersome and clumsy SUVs. And, they go on about fuel economy on these big cars. But you never hear them mention their embarrassing fuel economy numbers of these grotesquely overweight SUVs and pickups.
Mike
"But you never hear them mention their embarrassing fuel economy numbers of these grotesquely overweight SUVs and pickups. Mike"...... Some of us dont like to brag :) My 8000 lbs pick up get 20MPH!! Diesel power:)).. Regards,Lou
Sure is fun BEING a classic everyday. Just something about us old farts that still intimidates the young crowd. I tend to think that they think we may know something they dont? The twenty somethings and yuppies like their flouresent wiper blades and monster SUVs but ever notice how they give a classic car or a rusty 4 wheel drive a wide berth? Respect isnt dead, its earned by carrying an aura of being unstable at best and this is reinforced by driving a huge not your everyday 5,500 pound chunk of steel. Heck a 10 mile per hour collision would equate to a repair bill on one of these big tough SUVs that would have nearly bought that old classic new. Although you might need to refer to the modified board about dealing with a few dings in the classics bumper. Ive noticed people tend to cast a scornful eye on even my old 92 Eldo. This is especially funny when I pull in to the gas station for my weekly 20 bucks worth, and watch as they get their weekly 100 bucks worth + their monthly 800 bucks payment worth plus... So I tend to believe like anything else everyone eventually achieves their own level of peace. If not, e-mail Dr. Pooter for his perscription for happiness. lol
Quote from: Lou 19058"But you never hear them mention their embarrassing fuel economy numbers of these grotesquely overweight SUVs and pickups. Mike"...... Some of us dont like to brag :) My 8000 lbs pick up get 20MPH!! Diesel power:)).. Regards,Lou
Lou, Driving an 8000 pound pickup is cool, but do you use this as the horse it was designed to be? Or do you drive it to be "cool", Like everybody else drives one, and I want to be another sheep following the herd? This no doubt is what sets the classics apart. (and drives the shepard and the herd crazy).
"Lou, Driving an 8000 pound pickup is cool, but do you use this as the horse it was designed to be? Or do you drive it to be "cool", Like everybody else drives one, and I want to be another sheep following the herd? This no doubt is what sets the classics apart. (and drives the shepard and the herd crazy)."......I bought it to tow my Caddy around :)
The trouble with driving an old car in the traffic these days is that when one drives a car with drum brakes, one tends to leave a "Stopping" gap between the car in front, and then some S**t in a disc braked buzz box has to slot into the "Hole". And, on it goes.
Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV
Well then if you get 20 MPG in an 8000 lb behemouth, then we would get 35 mpg in a 4500 lb Cadillac if it were diesel powered. That is if it were a contemporay state of the art diesel.
Is it any wonder that fully 1/2 of all BMWs and MBs sold in Europe are diesel powered?
Mike
20MPH? Was that a Freudian Slip? Just kidding!
I think youre right. The carmakers have managed to accomplish something that I never would have thought possible...technology that makes mroe expensive cars look and feel like cheap cars.
-densie
You can buy a lot of gasoline for what it costs to make payments on a new car that youre not happy with.
-densie
Densie, this may be the only thing our society has managed to make equitable between the classes ... everyone can now afford a car with the luxury options that once were only availble to the wealthy or the upper middle class. Of course, the consequence is that all cars are now so much alike that there is nothing remotely interesting about them or unique; worse they seem even more cheap than previously. Just my opinion. But I would rather a lower cost Chevy Biscaine from the 60s if I could not afford a Cadillac. At least the older cars were solid, and had a clean, simple style. Just stay away from the 6 cyl...in a heavy sedan it becomes a dead sled. :)
[everyone can now afford a car with the luxury options that once were only availble to the wealthy or the upper middle class.]
When discussing "luxury cars" my favorite question is "How do you define a luxury car?" As you stated, in years gone by, it was usually determined by options, which were usually only found on cars such as Cadillac, Lincoln, Oldsmobile, Buick etc. Most of these options from the 50s and 60s are standard equipment today. Things such as power windows, steering, brakes, air conditioning.
[Of course, the consequence is that all cars are now so much alike that there is nothing remotely interesting about them or unique; worse they seem even more cheap than previously.]
I think the reason for this is that since about the mid 70s car buyers became less interested in styling and more interested in performance and realiability.
If we, as car enthusiasts, can step back for a minute and look at the automobiles today objectively, I think we will see that the "automobile experience" is much improved from years ago. Sure the flair and excitement might not be there, but the improvements are fantastic. I think cars are more realiable and last longer. Granted repair costs are skyrocketing, but I dont think they need as much attention. We have 100,000 mile spark plugs, 5 year anti freeze. With GM you have 3 years of "roadside assistance", by which you are just a phone call away from help, if you car is going to take long to repair, and its under warranty, they will provide you with a free loaner.
Though days late, I agree quite emphatically with Stampie
and Randall. Its great driving something so different from
everyone else. I still get the finger when I drive, but
its almost always a thumb and not the middle one.
People notice it, a subliminal safety feature in my opinion.
And the local police seem more interested in looking at
it as opposed to clocking it with radar.
I also note that my teenagers like to show it off when I pick them up from school whereas their minivan and SUV driving
peers are unable to do so. Seems their friends are always asking for a ride home.
Regards, Hank
I have to agree. The abject simplicity of those basic Chevies of the 60s were an attraction of their own. My first car was a 66 Bel Air 4-door sedan with a 6-cylinder Glide. That car was THE definition of slow. It could not get out of its own way. But substituting a 283 from my dads retired Pontiac made a world of differance. Also, the Parisienne interior went a long way of improving the comfort.
I also had a 66 Chevy II 100. The only option was a Powerglide. I pulled the 194 and replaced it with a 250. It went along pretty good.
These cars were simple, solid and bulletproof.
But, if you stuffed a 427 in a Biscayne, you had another animal entirely! Simple, solid, bulletproof and FAST!!
Mike
Mike, I know what you mean. In 1999 I came within a cats whisker of buying a brown 1966 Chevy Biscaine (or however you spell it). It was boooorrrriiiing but, on the other hand it had a small block V-8 and A/C. The interior was bland however there was a lot of room for a sedan. There are times I wish I had bought it. But I had this Cadillac bug...and well....you know. :)
You do make a good point. To those of us who have dealt with points and condensors, going 100k miles without a tuneup is a miracle shat from heaven.
After my auto accident, if the 92 truck had turned out to be unrepairable, I was wondering if its 350 TBI and overdrive transmission could be put into an older luxury* car. I believe that this setup could get me 15 mpg or so around town, which is fine. With a spare fuel pump and ignition module on board, it would probably go many thousands of miles needing nothing but oil changes. Anything newer, with distributorless ignition and sequential FI, I wouldnt mess with.
*Luxury car is defined as a car with a smooth ride, ease of steering, plenty of room, loaded with options, aesthetically pleasing interior, and comfortable seats.
-densie
That exact same engine is used in the 1991-1993 full sized Cadillacs. In 1990-92, the 5.0 TBI engine was standard with the 5.7 optional. The 5.7 was standard on the new Fleetwood in 1993, and was subsequently replaced with the awesome LT1 for 1994-96.
Its a good reliable and economical engine that could easily return 20+ mpg. It also, especially in 5.7 ltr form, lay to ruins the 307 in the performance department.
Mike