Hello all, I'm new here. For years I have wanted one of the last generation (93-96?) Fleetwood. I will hopefully be graduating from college in the next year, and have some $$ to finally get one, if/when I can find exactly what I'm looking for. But I can't find a whole lot of info on them. I for sure want the LT1 car, (or do I??), but looking at 94-96, are there any important differences between the years? Also, I want all the luxury goodies (leather seats, most options) but DESPISE the vinyl roof. Are these ever available/exist? All I ever see for sale have the vinyl roof. If that is all that is available, is that something that can be removed, and re-painted?
Is the "wood" in these cars real, or plastic?

What are key things to look for/avoid?

Welcome !

Congrats on your purchase more correctly your decision ;)

'93 uses L05 engine around 190 HP while '94-96 uses LT1 which is around 260 HP . I ain't talking about its potential for mods . If you want all the goodies then you should go for Fleetwood Broughams . I didn't like the vinyl roofs either but I gotta tell ya it doesn't look bad at all . Sure, you can remove it not a big deal .
'93-94 has a different mirrors as you can see . '94-95 has less difference than '96's considering '96 has ODBII, different audio,armrest .
Wood in these cars are fake but rest assured it's not a big problem .
Weak points ? For the LT1 engines , some manifold leaks, Opti spark probs ,dodgy fuel gauge .That's all I can remember but none of them are big troubles .
You will like Fleetwoods I'm sure :yup:

Here's a 95 FWB with no vinyl top, OEM chrome wheels, and moonroof. My advice, get the car with the options you want and don't settle for less.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/tenmark262/DSCN7270.jpg

Were there any options on the Broghm (with vinyl top) that were not available on the "base" (no vinyl?)?
I think in PA I would prefer non OBDII (makes inspections more difficult) is there any disadvantage to getting a 94/95?

Were there any options on the Broghm (with vinyl top) that were not available on the "base" (no vinyl?)?
I think in PA I would prefer non OBDII (makes inspections more difficult) is there any disadvantage to getting a 94/95?

No disadvantages to a '94/95 at all, and the '95 is typically seen as the BEST year because it had essentially every change and upgrade that was done but still had the easily tuned, etc. OBD-I system. The big thing with '94s, however, is the smaller and more awkward mirrors mounted down on the door and back further than the larger window corner ones on the '95-96. Small thing, but can be a big difference in real life. Otherwise, '94-95 is very much the same, aside from that and the '94 having 3-section lumbar vs. 1-section on the Brougham that was changed in '95.

Here's a good review of each year.

1993:
http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/cad1990/CAD93F.HTM

1994:
http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/cad1990/CAD94F.HTM

1995:
http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/cad1990/CAD95F.HTM

1996:
http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/cad1990/CAD96F.HTM

And a great site for all of the '93-96 Fleetwoods:
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/cfb.html

To answer some of your other questions:
-Vinyl roof. Base models (or the "standard" Fleetwood) came standard with a painted, smooth roof. Vinyl was an option. Then if you got the Brougham package (upgraded seats, rear gears, wheels, etc.) the vinyl was standard BUT could be deleted. The most common cars you'll find are Broughams with the vinyl, and the rarest being Broughams without. If you have to remove it, all the paint, etc. is exactly as a non-vinyl car underneath, you're just left with little "nubs" around the back window and bottom of the C-pillar where the trim for the vinyl used to be.
-Wood. All fake, plastic stuff--but very light, tasteful, and looks great.

Check this site out - it's got lots of information. http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/cfb.html

GM roughly manufactured about 80K Fleetwood/Fleetwood Broughams between 93 and 96. There's still plenty of nice examples out there to choose from. Search some of the older posts about the RPO code V4P - I think if most of us were doing it again, we'd hold out for the tow package.

Good luck!!

Not really, the tow package adds the mechanical fan and 3.42 gears with no posi.

The mechanical fan is loud, takes power away, and does not allow the addition of some aftermarket ram air intakes.

The 3.42 gearing is nice, but there is no posi.

With the current gas prices, a Brougham's 2.93 gear ratio is perfect. It allows some better acceleration over a base Fleetwood with the 2.56 gears and still keeps highway mileage around 26-27 mpg.

With my 3.73 gears & posi I can't get better than 20 mpg on the highway.... and mine is tuned for 93 octane only. Thank goodness it is not my daily driver.

My friend has his 1996 with 46K miles for sale, he only wants $6,000 for it:

http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=193499

Best of luck and welcome!

That's a nice car for six grand. My fav color - dark Adriatic blue!!

Yeah good luck. I want one too. I have a 93 that is in need of some care but I'm looking for a 95 or 96 myself.

96Fleetwood; where is your friends car. Are those FL plates? How can I contact him?

With my 3.73 gears & posi I can't get better than 20 mpg on the highway.... and mine is tuned for 93 octane only. Thank goodness it is not my daily driver.


I have the 3.73 gears & the L05 and am getting way over 20 mpg on the highway (like 23-26 depending on how fast I'm going)!

I guess it's not true that the LT1 gets better gas mileage than the L05? This is a bone stock car too!

I have the 3.73 gears & the L05 and am getting way over 20 mpg on the highway (like 23-26 depending on how fast I'm going)!

I guess it's not true that the LT1 gets better gas mileage than the L05? This is a bone stock car too!

True.. but that is it.. your L05 is bone stock and my LT1 is not.

I will get my buddies number for the '96 with 46K if you want, just let me know. He lives in Miami. I would have bought it if I had the room.

Nice looking car at a good price! Unfortunately I'm not quite ready to buy yet. Hopefully early next year (should be graduating college at the end of this year).
Also, I really want a black one.
What is rough average fuel economy on these (LT1, no towing package)? I drive daily mix of highway and some small roads to work but more than 50% freeway type roads. My current Jeep gets MAYBE 15mpg if I'm lucky. Hoping to get something more comfortable AND save some $$ on gas.. just keep the Jeep for snowy days.
If yall are really getting 25+mpg, that would be awesome.

Nice looking car at a good price! Unfortunately I'm not quite ready to buy yet. Hopefully early next year (should be graduating college at the end of this year).
Also, I really want a black one.
What is rough average fuel economy on these (LT1, no towing package)? I drive daily mix of highway and some small roads to work but more than 50% freeway type roads. My current Jeep gets MAYBE 15mpg if I'm lucky. Hoping to get something more comfortable AND save some $$ on gas.. just keep the Jeep for snowy days.
If yall are really getting 25+mpg, that would be awesome.

Ideal situation, highway cruising and a freshly tuned stock car, mid 20's.

Around town, again ideal, and very light on the pedal, upper teens.

They were rated at 16/25, and that's actually pretty close. The best I've ever achieved on a bone stock '95 Brougham is 20-21 highway, and get 12-15 if only doing around town (REALLY in town, 0-40, stop, go, stop). Most do better, however, and mine is due for a tune-up.

But they're heavy cars, with not great aerodynamics, but also still the right amount of power and the typically efficient Chevy small blocks, so mileage is far from awful--at least with a stock, properly tuned, car.

With my LT1 wagon, I am getting 17 in the city. All I have for mods are a Borla exhaust and cold air intake.

My Fleetwood used to get 26-27 mpg on the highway with the 2.93 gears.

The LT1 does not and never got better mileage than the L05.

I don't want to step on toes but if Jay is not interested, I certainly am.

I have the 3.73 gears & the L05 and am getting way over 20 mpg on the highway (like 23-26 depending on how fast I'm going)!

I guess it's not true that the LT1 gets better gas mileage than the L05? This is a bone stock car too!

But they're heavy cars, with not great aerodynamics, but also still the right amount of power and the typically efficient Chevy small blocks, so mileage is far from awful--at least with a stock, properly tuned, car.

Exactly, it's all relative - it's significantly better than any SUV of that weight class. Our Tahoe only gets upper 16s mpg when cruising on the Interstate. Try to find an SUV that gets mid-20s and you'll most likely be stuck with a tin can 4-cylinder box. If you want to talk about bad aerodynamics, ask me about the GMC Conversion Van - same L05 engine and 14 mpg, highway! I really think the Fleetwood sip fuel well on the Interstate - mid 20s is about what I get in many of our 4-cylinder cars...

I really love the last generation Fleetwoods----really the last of the "long" Caddy boats.I hope to own one someday.
I`ve always been amazed that those big last-generation Fleetwoods did`nt have "concealed" windshield wipers.It seems with all that body space,they could have hidden the wipers.My slightly smaller 1995 Deville has hidden wipers---and both body styles are similiar in design.It seems the Fleetwood`s extra body length of 15" over the Deville`s of that era came in the longer rear end and slightly longer engine compartment.

When i`m in the market to purchase a '95-'96 Fleetwood,it`s good to know i can begin here on this site.

Was the Fleetwood or Deville considered "higher" in the Caddy line?
I want the RWD, so I'm not even considering a Deville, I'm just curious. Also think the Chevy engine will be simpler/cheaper maintenance than a FWD northstar.

If we're talking mid teens town and mid 20's highway that sounds great to me as far as fuel economy. My Jeep BARELY squeaks out 18-20 on the highway, and more like 12-15 around town. Plus I think the Caddy is probably faster. And I'm sure it's more comfy.

I do wish it had real wood though, I've always thought fake wood is one of the easiest things you can do to make a car look "cheap".

What about the earlier Fleetwoods, before 1993 - do they use real wood in the interiors?

Was the Fleetwood or Deville considered "higher" in the Caddy line?
I want the RWD, so I'm not even considering a Deville, I'm just curious. Also think the Chevy engine will be simpler/cheaper maintenance than a FWD northstar.

If we're talking mid teens town and mid 20's highway that sounds great to me as far as fuel economy. My Jeep BARELY squeaks out 18-20 on the highway, and more like 12-15 around town. Plus I think the Caddy is probably faster. And I'm sure it's more comfy.

I do wish it had real wood though, I've always thought fake wood is one of the easiest things you can do to make a car look "cheap".

The FLEETWOOD name is reserved for "very special" Cadillacs--quoting past Cadillac literature.The Fleetwood IS higher in line than the Deville.
I`ve got the fake wood trim in my Deville--it looks real.Some Cadillacs from the past really do have "real wood" trim.
The Fleetwood weighs about 500 lbs more than Deville`s of that era.If you keep from flooring the accelerator pedal on these 2 ton plus behemoths,you will get decent gas mileage in the city.They get much better highway mileage-- surprisingly good mileage for such a heavy vehicle.
If the state you live in bases your yearly license plate renewal fee on the "curb weight" of the vehicle as they do here in Michigan,be prepared for an increase in the fee.

Good luck to you on getting a well-maintained last-generation Fleetwood when you decide to do so.It really is a classy,imposing vehicle.

Don't forget to mention that the Brougham package was the top of the line Fleetwood. Just because it's big doesn't mean it's a Brougham. Make sure it's badged