The Mark was RWD; the Eldo, FWD. Contrary to today, remember when RWD was considered an anachronism? Caddy had bragging rights that no one else made a V8 FWD car--though that 4.1 wasn't much of a V8!
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I think the paint variance in that first pic is from a reflection off the side mirror. I can't imagine anyone bothering to fix something like that in the past 15 years or so. Who bought those new, anyway? A diesel Lincoln Continental? With a German sourced engine? Although...had GM used MB diesels, perhaps their entry into the clattering world wouldn't have been such a failure.
I love the North Korean parade, both for the assortment of mourners who are either brainwashed or great actors, and the cars. Don't they blame the USA for everything from power outages to bad weather? Yet look who is leading the procession. Like most dictators, that family had a thing for MB, down to the point where there was a North Korean copy of the W201 (190 series). I present the Kaengsang:
You're probably right about the Mark outselling the Eldo "in the late '80's to '92", though I don't know. That's when 'the baby Eldo' was on sale.
I remember looking at a new '86 in a Caddy dealer showroom in Sharon, PA. Geeze, was I disappointed. Even the seats looked uber-thin. Whatever year they stretched the rear quarters a bit, and whenever they started using the 4.5 liter, I always thought a dark green Eldo might make a nice used (excuse me, 'pre-owned' in Cadillac-speak!) car.
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Whatever year they stretched the rear quarters a bit, and whenever they started using the 4.5 liter, I always thought a dark green Eldo might make a nice used (excuse me, 'pre-owned' in Cadillac-speak!) car.
I don't think they ever did stretch the rear quarter panels on the '86-91 Eldorado, although they did on the Riviera for 1989, and I think the Toronado got it for 1990. Sometime around 1988, maybe 1989, they did give the Eldorado a bit of a "power bulge" in the hood that gave it a bit more presence. And I think it was also 1989 that they started using the 4.5, but not positive on that. I used to have all that stuff memorized, but I've found that, as time goes on, I tend to pull a Ronald Reagan moment from time to time!
Those shrunken '86 E/K bodies were designed for a bleak future with expensive, scarce gasoline and ultra-restrictive fuel economy standards, but by the time they were released, gas was cheap and free-flowing again, and there were enough loopholes to keep the economy standards at bay, so these cars really came out at the wrong time. Plus, once buyers found out they were going to be downsized, they rushed out to buy one of the last '85's, while they could still get one.
Plus, the market was starting to shift, anyway, and coupes were beginning to lose their popularity.
Another problem is that GM launched the N-body Grand Am, Calais, and Somerset Regal coupes the year before, cars that were very similar in style, looked close in size (to my eye, at least, the '86 Eldorado/et al actually looked smaller than they really were), but much less expensive.
I think basically once 1986 came Caddy really lost it's way for a while. IMHO the Lincoln lineup really was better than the Cadillac. The Mark was better than the Eldo, the FWD Taurinental introduced in 88 while kinda a POS wasn't any worse than the Deville of the time even with the 3.8 V6. The Town Car was more modern than the Brougham (just got multiport FI) and was very popular. 1992 when the new Seville was introduced was when things started to get a bit better.
The car that Lincoln missed big time with was the Fox based 4dr Continental. Why didn't that ever get the H.O. version of the 5.0? They could have certainly made something semi-sporty or "touring" out of that platform.
The '86 Eldo taillights I remember being flush in the rear ends of the quarters, when a few years later they got more of a fin-like look which I liked a lot better. Still, very disappointing for an Eldorado.
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That's right, I had forgotten about the taillight change. And, I just looked it up. Turns out they added 3" to the car, bumping it from around 188" to 191". Turns out it was 1988, and that was also the year they started using the 4.5. More info about it here: http://100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1980/cad88e.htm
>I tend to pull a Ronald Reagan moment from time to time!
He was a great leader. The concept of senility was far overplayed by the liberals much as anything about Bush was overplayed--e.g., gas prices being Cheney's and his faults: has anyone complained about gas prices these days being the fault of the Prez wanting higher prices to make it easier to spend money on green energy? :sick:
I always call them Hillary moments because of all her testimony that she couldn't recall information: "I can't recall." :shades:
I've been reading this thread for years now. I registered today because I'd like to see that post removed. I don't care what some hairlip thinks about Bush, Cheney, Fox News, Hillary's cankles or who this person brands as a "liberal". I came here to think about cars, not listen to some idiot's two dimensional politics.
I've been reading this thread for years now. I registered today because I'd like to see that post removed. I don't care what some hairlip thinks about Bush, Cheney, Fox News, Hillary's cankles or who this person brands as a "liberal". I came here to think about cars, not listen to some idiot's two dimensional politics
Wow, welcome aboard 'Smiley'. Want to see some crappy posts, head over to the GM news forum.
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kinda makes me think of that old movie line... "the man who burned my barn, killed my Mama and Daddy, got my little sister pregnant, shot my dog, and stole my bible"...and it's the bible part that pushes you off the deep end!
Oh, as for my Ronald Reagan moment comment, whenever I think of that, it's not Ronnie in his old age that I think of, but moreso of when he pulled that stuff on purpose on tv, and make Dan Rather look like a bit of an idiot...
>"I don't care what some hairlip thinks about Bush, Cheney, Fox News, Hillary's..."
Don't you want the post removed referencing President Ronald Reagan in a negative way, even though not intentionally? Or are some political references okay and others not?
My post was in response to the Reagan comment.
>"I don't care what some hairlip "
!!!!!!
You may want to read the lMembership Agreement rules about denigrating other posters. " href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/harelip" target="_blank">"harelip" is used in a negative context, indeed. Also, using that is hurtful to people who have cleft lip deformities. Perhaps That post should be removed?
Oh, as for my Ronald Reagan moment comment, whenever I think of that, it's not Ronnie in his old age that I think of, but moreso of when he pulled that stuff on purpose on tv, and make Dan Rather look like a bit of an idiot...
This'll irritate old newbie even more, but I don't think a slight diversion like this is deadly or anything.
I watched Rather for years, as Walter's successor. But I do think he threw it all away when he pulled that stunt that eventually got him canned from CBS. Pretty dopey.
I loved when Reagan, at the start of his second debate with Fritz, answered the 'age' question with, "I will not, for my political benefit, mention my opponent's youth and inexperience". Even Fritz laughed.
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My first thought was that it was one of those GM EV-1 electric cars, but it still has even more of a "concept car" look to it than one of those.
Anyway, I kinda cheated, clicked on it, and found out what it was. Looks like that style laid the groundwork for a lot of GM design in later years. I see a lot of Saturn in it, as well as '88 Cutlass Supreme, and even 1993 Camaro.
Oh, and "Mark my words, meathead! You're gonna see Reagan in '80!" -Archie Bunker, c1976. :shades:
Funny how that divisive figure somehow seems more affable than the past decade of either idiocy or arrogance that we have been blessed with...but that's as far as I will venture into political babble :shades:
That first video kind of looks like the area around the local Kirkland concours, but it probably isn't. Interesting car, but if I was somehow able to have that much dough to blow (dare we ask where it comes from), I'd do it in other ways.
Today's odd sighting - yellow first generation Seville, real wire wheels, little old lady driver - I'd wager a lot she's an original owner. Also saw a Peugeot 505 and an early 80s Isuzu diesel pickup.
That first video, which I linked to by mistake, bought back a bad memory. A friend of mine, brought over his new C4S, less than 50 miles on it, and made me drive it. It made the same scraping sound in the front when I transitioned from a side street when the light turned green. It still bothers me. He's let my drive all the cars he has bought since then, so he doesn't hold a grudge.
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The dealership was also taking delivery of a bunch of late model specialty cars bought at auction - still had paperwork on the windshields. Saw a R8, CL65, small Aston cabrio, Porsche Turbo cabrio, etc.
Gee, the Kat goes to New York City for a few days and the mice break out the drum set and party in his Meow Mix dish. :P
Okay, we'll have to remove *all* political comments from this point on, except as relates to presidents' cars. This is a violation of "off-topic" rules in the Member Agreement, as is, of course, any personal attacks. Anyone who wishes to experience the True Horror of political discourse in America may certainly drop into the Yahoo Government and Politics Answers Department, and may god have mercy on your soul if you do.
Speaking of NYC, I actually saw a '66 GTO cruising around Columbus Circle. It was the only "classic" car I saw in all 6 days running around Manhattan. It's just too dangerous for a classic on those streets I think.
I wish I had my MINI in NYC instead of the sleep-inducing Camry I was driving. Still, I haven't lost my chops. Essential tools in Manhattan are: The Horn; Two-foot driving on brake and gas; panther-like reflexes; talking NAV system; passenger to spot parking spaces.
There are worse rental cars - I hope you didn't get a Hertz 40K mile Camry with a worn out suspension - I've heard stories.
I didn't drive in NYC, found transit to be an adventure. When I travel to places with highly refined transit systems, I like to sample them - as where I live, the networks aren't so hot yet.
Even here, horn is near the top of my list, along with constant 360 degree vision to guard against incompetents. NYC would chew up Seattle area drivers and leave them a quivering broken mess :shades:
I only got intimidated once...by a guy in a turban driving a Hummer with a front winch and plow lights, who was singing to himself and bobbing his head back and forth. I waved him in front of me. Stay in your weight class, I always say.
This was a pretty new 4 cylinder Camry automatic. I felt...oh, I don't know.....old.
I love driving in NYC. Used to do it a lot more though.
My favorite car for it was my '85 Dodge Colt. Had the turbo suspension/tires (basically SS race slicks), just without the turbo. Man, that thing had reflexes, and fit anywhere. Just had to be careful shooting for a hole, since it didn't have enough power to get there quick!
Oh yeah, the other key? A manual trans, so you can be in the right gear when you needed it, and take advantage of compression breaking. 2nd gear can be your best friend when you are mixing it up!
Driving in Berlin is as close to a zoo as I have got - even there, the horn is the most used instrument, which surprised me at first. One of these days maybe I will brave Manhattan.
A rental spec 4 banger Camry is pretty much an old persons car, makes sense.
It took me a few minutes to remember that you don't turn on red in NYC. Oops!
I was also amazed, having visited many friends apartments, how badly you can live on $100K a year in Manhattan, after taxes, rent, parking, food costs and the price of admission for things. You'd be nuts to own a car in NY. They *punish* you for it.
Comments
Also quite a few W126 and older Mercedes:
I love the North Korean parade, both for the assortment of mourners who are either brainwashed or great actors, and the cars. Don't they blame the USA for everything from power outages to bad weather? Yet look who is leading the procession. Like most dictators, that family had a thing for MB, down to the point where there was a North Korean copy of the W201 (190 series). I present the Kaengsang:
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I remember looking at a new '86 in a Caddy dealer showroom in Sharon, PA. Geeze, was I disappointed. Even the seats looked uber-thin. Whatever year they stretched the rear quarters a bit, and whenever they started using the 4.5 liter, I always thought a dark green Eldo might make a nice used (excuse me, 'pre-owned' in Cadillac-speak!) car.
I don't think they ever did stretch the rear quarter panels on the '86-91 Eldorado, although they did on the Riviera for 1989, and I think the Toronado got it for 1990. Sometime around 1988, maybe 1989, they did give the Eldorado a bit of a "power bulge" in the hood that gave it a bit more presence. And I think it was also 1989 that they started using the 4.5, but not positive on that. I used to have all that stuff memorized, but I've found that, as time goes on, I tend to pull a Ronald Reagan moment from time to time!
Those shrunken '86 E/K bodies were designed for a bleak future with expensive, scarce gasoline and ultra-restrictive fuel economy standards, but by the time they were released, gas was cheap and free-flowing again, and there were enough loopholes to keep the economy standards at bay, so these cars really came out at the wrong time. Plus, once buyers found out they were going to be downsized, they rushed out to buy one of the last '85's, while they could still get one.
Plus, the market was starting to shift, anyway, and coupes were beginning to lose their popularity.
Another problem is that GM launched the N-body Grand Am, Calais, and Somerset Regal coupes the year before, cars that were very similar in style, looked close in size (to my eye, at least, the '86 Eldorado/et al actually looked smaller than they really were), but much less expensive.
The car that Lincoln missed big time with was the Fox based 4dr Continental. Why didn't that ever get the H.O. version of the 5.0? They could have certainly made something semi-sporty or "touring" out of that platform.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
He was a great leader. The concept of senility was far overplayed by the liberals much as anything about Bush was overplayed--e.g., gas prices being Cheney's and his faults: has anyone complained about gas prices these days being the fault of the Prez wanting higher prices to make it easier to spend money on green energy? :sick:
I always call them Hillary moments because of all her testimony that she couldn't recall information: "I can't recall."
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I want tires like those for my car.
Wow, welcome aboard 'Smiley'. Want to see some crappy posts, head over to the GM news forum.
Oh, as for my Ronald Reagan moment comment, whenever I think of that, it's not Ronnie in his old age that I think of, but moreso of when he pulled that stuff on purpose on tv, and make Dan Rather look like a bit of an idiot...
Don't you want the post removed referencing President Ronald Reagan in a negative way, even though not intentionally? Or are some political references okay and others not?
My post was in response to the Reagan comment.
>"I don't care what some hairlip "
!!!!!!
You may want to read the lMembership Agreement rules about denigrating other posters. " href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/harelip" target="_blank">"harelip" is used in a negative context, indeed. Also, using that is hurtful to people who have cleft lip deformities. Perhaps That post should be removed?
The link is at the bottom of the page.
http://www.edmunds.com/about/membership-agreement.html
This is my final post responding to you. :sick:
Back to cars. :shades:
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
This'll irritate old newbie even more, but I don't think a slight diversion like this is deadly or anything.
I watched Rather for years, as Walter's successor. But I do think he threw it all away when he pulled that stunt that eventually got him canned from CBS. Pretty dopey.
I loved when Reagan, at the start of his second debate with Fritz, answered the 'age' question with, "I will not, for my political benefit, mention my opponent's youth and inexperience". Even Fritz laughed.
Ronald Reagan driving a car.
It's a concept car so it's not fair to expect someone to identify it!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Anyway, I kinda cheated, clicked on it, and found out what it was. Looks like that style laid the groundwork for a lot of GM design in later years. I see a lot of Saturn in it, as well as '88 Cutlass Supreme, and even 1993 Camaro.
Oh, and "Mark my words, meathead! You're gonna see Reagan in '80!" -Archie Bunker, c1976. :shades:
Reagan also had a postwar Studebaker.
Here's an oddball:
This image is too big, but it's cool
Funny how that divisive figure somehow seems more affable than the past decade of either idiocy or arrogance that we have been blessed with...but that's as far as I will venture into political babble :shades:
GM Citation IV concept in 1984
It's based on a J-car innards but very slick aerodynamically
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
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Very close. It's a 1976 Buick. I was gonna say Regal at first, but I looked it up, and turns out it was a Century with, of all things, a V-6!
And it does bear a very strong resemblance to a '77-79 LeSabre, in front...
1978 LeSabre:
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This is the one I meant to post.
Today's odd sighting - yellow first generation Seville, real wire wheels, little old lady driver - I'd wager a lot she's an original owner. Also saw a Peugeot 505 and an early 80s Isuzu diesel pickup.
A friend of mine, brought over his new C4S, less than 50 miles on it, and made me drive it.
It made the same scraping sound in the front when I transitioned from a side street when the light turned green.
It still bothers me. He's let my drive all the cars he has bought since then, so he doesn't hold a grudge.
If you want to look under the hood, well under the front at least, here is another pic I took a while ago:
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Used by Truman Eisenhower and Kennedy.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Doesn't have to be politically correct. And, more of a road-going locomotive than a car.
Bur really, the Kennedy era Lincoln reflects the era the best in my eyes, too bad it ended as it did.
Ike's inaugural Caddy is cool too
The dealership was also taking delivery of a bunch of late model specialty cars bought at auction - still had paperwork on the windshields. Saw a R8, CL65, small Aston cabrio, Porsche Turbo cabrio, etc.
Had a big wind-up toy key mounted on the back.... hilarious...
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Okay, we'll have to remove *all* political comments from this point on, except as relates to presidents' cars. This is a violation of "off-topic" rules in the Member Agreement, as is, of course, any personal attacks. Anyone who wishes to experience the True Horror of political discourse in America may certainly drop into the Yahoo Government and Politics Answers Department, and may god have mercy on your soul if you do.
Speaking of NYC, I actually saw a '66 GTO cruising around Columbus Circle. It was the only "classic" car I saw in all 6 days running around Manhattan. It's just too dangerous for a classic on those streets I think.
Non-Essentials: The directional signal stalk :P
I didn't drive in NYC, found transit to be an adventure. When I travel to places with highly refined transit systems, I like to sample them - as where I live, the networks aren't so hot yet.
Even here, horn is near the top of my list, along with constant 360 degree vision to guard against incompetents. NYC would chew up Seattle area drivers and leave them a quivering broken mess :shades:
This was a pretty new 4 cylinder Camry automatic. I felt...oh, I don't know.....old.
My favorite car for it was my '85 Dodge Colt. Had the turbo suspension/tires (basically SS race slicks), just without the turbo. Man, that thing had reflexes, and fit anywhere. Just had to be careful shooting for a hole, since it didn't have enough power to get there quick!
Oh yeah, the other key? A manual trans, so you can be in the right gear when you needed it, and take advantage of compression breaking. 2nd gear can be your best friend when you are mixing it up!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
A rental spec 4 banger Camry is pretty much an old persons car, makes sense.
I was also amazed, having visited many friends apartments, how badly you can live on $100K a year in Manhattan, after taxes, rent, parking, food costs and the price of admission for things. You'd be nuts to own a car in NY. They *punish* you for it.