Considering going back to a Deville from my Beloved V4P Fleetwood?

[N0DIH]

Ha! Funny, my wife said the opposite!

She still likes the FW a lot and that is the benchmark and it is hard to find any new car worthy of it... Buick PAU might be Buicks Flagship, but it ain't no Fleetwood! And neither is the Deville.... They, even today, are STILL a class apart, the FW slot is still sadly missing from Cadillac's lineup....

Well, there is the 2000-up S500....

I am only 41 now.... I am not that old now am I?? AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

I could see you in a Park Avenue Ultra, not so much a deVille.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Don't get a W220 (2000-05) S500.....loads of expensive problems, especially on the early ones.
And you can't seat six.

[N0DIH]

That is what I had figured, 5 computers, and they were problematic back in 1999 when they were at the VPC (Vehicle Processing Center) in Aberdeen....

I loved the car, but not sure about them..... Love how we have to pay for factory poor design....

[96Fleetwood]

Very interesting logs, neat stuff! We need to meet up and do some tuning on the Wagon.

I doubt any 3800 series will get 27-31 mpg in our traffic. That is the problem with where we live, despite it being highway driving it is more stop and go than anything else. That really hurts the LT1.

I can't think of any solution that will satisfy your needs without giving you a new car payment.. and that will just void any fuel savings.

Here are some interesting wagon finds. You will have the same problem with a wagon though, it is not a Cadillac..

If those 6 door Cadillac Limos were not so bulky, that would be the best bet!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-...QQcmdZViewItem

This one is modded, so gas mileage won't be great:
http://www.impalassforum.com/vBullet...d.php?t=198388

Stock low miler:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/car/659315339.html

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

The post '03 W220s are a more reliable car, but they're still ~$30,000. So it's like either late W140, late W220 or a post '96 E38 7 Series.

[N0DIH]

Righto, that is the problem. I have a budget, no HIGHER than $8K to get something that does better than I have now. My concern too is I have sooo many miles that I am going to start upwards of $$ for repairs. It runs great really, I love it, and that is soooo hard to give up. Remember, I ran a SS Silverado from 0-105 mph uphill (prem gas run) and his front door was at my front bumper 0-70 and my rear bumper was at his front bumper by 105.... The LT1 is NOT a slouch!!!

I had my 3800 in my 91 Bonneville and it got me 25 consistently in the rat race of Rand daily from Darien, WI (got on 12 @ Elkhorn, WI) and got off at Lake Cook Rd. And got 25.... Calculated and consistent. That drive sucked. The car was good for 29-31 on the highway pretty consistently.

So now that I can tune, I can do more with it. And 27-31 is what a lot of people are reporting for highway SC 3800 mpg. So the car I drove, putzing all city, no highway was 20.3 (on the dash...). Cruising instant was showing in the mid to high 30's a lot. If that means much....

I have mentioned a 6 door to my wife as the economy car for the Suburban! We could take trips and such no problem! It would be great, but she doesn't wanna park it!

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Why not another LT-1 B/D body? I'm sure you can find many for under $8,000. Or heck, even another 4.9L DeVille/Fleetwood?

[96Fleetwood]

... or make a brand switch to this!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Execu...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...Item#mainimage

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

I should ban you for even suggesting that, ELIAS!

[pompste]

Originally Posted by N0DIH

Ok, as some of you know, I drive a lot of miles a year and with gas prices out of hand, I am thinking of selling my 80 Turbo T/A and my 94 Fleetwood and getting a 2000-2005 Deville, preferably a DHS, but the other car in mind is a 98-up Park Avenue/Park Ave Ultra.

Ok, stuck with a need for 6 pass seating (meaning 6 seat belts) Ranger mentioned the 2000-up cars are technically a 5 pass and don't have a seat belt for the middle front. Was that a DHS thing only and Devilles have it?

Is there a reason to go with the Buford over a Cadillac?

mpg is important, looking to get in the mid 20's combo, higher the better. My FW is a tow package car and never has got that good, 22 best. But 3.42's and the LT1 torque sure is fun....
6 pass seating is mandatory. No if ands and buts. Well, 6 butts....

Thoughts? Any other rides I should consider? I do have a strict budget and car payments are not an option...

No rice burners, might consider a beer burner, but that would be hard to accept too, I want my $$ supporting my country somehow...

Only way to get 5 people in the 2000 & up DHS/DTS models is if the 5th person is a child.I`ve tried it in my aunts 2003 DHS.All carmakers have shrunk the interior space of their luxury rides compared to previous generations.

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

Have you ever considered a Panther chassis Ford? They really were great cars back in the day and I love the look of the 90's Town Cars. They are okay on gas, roughly 16-18 city and 24-27 highway, but are VERY roomy and comfortable. We can easily fit 6 adults, with an unprecedented amount of comfort, in my friend's '94 TC.

[N0DIH]

But it is a Ford....

The DHS and Deville can both seat 6, the middle front isn't the biggest seat in the world, but the kids are still small enough to fit. Nowdays they are having to put room in between the door and the seat for the airbags.

I am leaning towards the 3800 SC, it can make good power, with minor mods easily beat a N* or LT1 even. And being smaller engine, get potentially better mpg if driven (like I do often in my FWD!). I just hate the idea of going away from Cadillac.... Still GM at least. Still need to look more at the Cad....

[96Fleetwood]

Have the 3800 SC owners been able to tune for 87 octane or E85? I know most of those owners are more performance oriented so the gas mileage did not matter as much as modifications and 1/4 mile times. I know premium by me is almost $4.00/gallon!

I put 87 octane in a DTS rental and it did not like it. There was knocking at WOT and the power decreased dramatically. I am guessing it could be tuned for 87 or E85?

I know there is a certain amount of brand loyalty but sadly the Town Car, Grand Marquis, and Crown Vic are all that is left to fill the void after the demise of the B & D bodies.

[96Fleetwood]

Did you consider a Town Car Touring? There is a thread about them, seems interesting.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-Li...QQcmdZViewItem

Can't beat that price for all the options.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Stop....listing.....Fords!