I am partial to older model Cadillacs but I was wondering if the new models are as well made as the older ones. I sat in a new STS and noticed that the door panel practically pulled away when I closed the door! The interior is so boring compared to last years Seville and not as well finished. What is everyones opinion on this?

the door handle thing might have just been the car you were in, the reilabilty now is way better than it used to be. Cadillac was at the top way back in the day. I think late 80's early 90's they really started losing thier shine with lackluster cars and crappy relability. But now they are gettin back on top. I think maybe your just partial the the old school caddys. Everyone i kno, is loving what cadillac is now doing (and these are people that would have NEVER considered owning a caddy before)

I sat in a new black STS and never noticed anything. You just don't know your own strength. :thumbsup:

The new ones are getting quality praise all over the magazine stands from reputable sources. I would say they are as good as they ever were and better. With JD Power quality surveys, they are second ONLY to Lexus, and I've mentioned this several times before. (and I like saying it) If anyone ever says other brands are better they will be bombarded by a barrage of links from yours truly PROVING otherwise! :yup: And I don't really want to go through THAT again. ;)

The problem is that many buy a used one that hasn't been well maintained and then complain about them here. EVERY car company will have some problems, but Cadillacs' issues are not nearly as dangerous, or troublesome as some others.

it wasn't late 80's/early 90's..........

...it started in the mid 70's........besides emmissions.... quality of cars just sucks.... I can make a nice list of how various parts of the quality sucks....

I am not tlaking about reliability and strength etc... the 425/TH400 is one of the most solid drivetrains from GM.... and the car itself is a tank... but some quick areas that were bad.... cheap crappy vinyl.... it cracks, is very stiff etc... that stupid wood contact paper on the door handles that rips and peels, the fact that the doors have to be slammed to close all the way (yet that '59 I looked at that sat in a barn for 20 years... dorrs closed perfectly fine!?!) just a complete lack of quality trhoughout...

... this is for all of GM... it started around '72-'74... and sucked... then Caddy had the diesel and V864.... which while great enignes, people treated them wrong, then blammed it on the car etc....

it went thru the 80's too.... interrior quality sucked.... when GM came out with the new wave of FWD cars in 1985, that took a HUGE leap over the bigger brothers ITO quality... then with the newer wave in 1991 or so, quality really started to get better... with the 1992 Eldorado/Seville and 1994 DeVille, Cadillac had a truely complete car that you coudln't complain about...

my 1989 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Royale is an example of GM's first gen FWD cars... even though it is an '89.... it is bascially the same as the 1985... except a few cosmetic issues.... but comparing the Olds to my '79.... interrior quality is much better... the vinyl is just a higher quality... feels better, dosn't crack etc... the body panels all line up nicely.... all the doors close very easy... even the drivers door which has been sideswiped agianst a telephone poll still opens/closes nice.... the overall quality put into the car was alot better.... this car also sat outside for 1.5 years before I bought it... yeah the sun faded the interrior slightly... but it didn't ruin the dash etc...

... even with my '93 DeVille... which is riding the same chassis and sporting the smae interrior as the 1985 FWD DeVille.... quality is alot better.... like the Olds... the vinyl used inside is a much better quality... while the DeVIlle came with plastic wood, the Fleetwood (and now my car) came with real wood trim... the use of that contact wood paper junk was stopped.... body panels line up, doors close nice etc....

... my '79 has 86k miles, and was owned by an old lady in Florida... so it wasn't beat on.... my mothers '89 Brougham has.... I dunno probably almost 165k on it... maybe more (speedo broke) and even those doors still close very nice... and the interrior trim on that car... including the vinyl used is a much better quality.... it isn't just age... but even though they are the smae car, they did bring the quality up alot (while giving it a whimpy enigne int he process)

with the '92+ Seville/Eldo and '94+ DeVille... they all got real wood trim, and the quality was second to none.... they were just thought of as an "old persons car" which is why they never got REAL popular....

So to sum it up... ~1972-1985 are the *bad* years for Cadillac... then 1985-1990 they got better on some models... but they also had the Cimmarion durring this time.... plus the HT4100... lack of power and bad relaibility, plus the diesel, plus the lack of quality that I mentioned.... 1991 Cadilac got all that fixed and they started their climb back up....

... Cadillac has completly broke off of their American roots.... I don't like that, and it is the people like me that will buy the "old" Cadillacs (by that I mean the '90's Eldo and Seville) and dislike the "new" Cadillacs... on the same note, the people, like menitoend above, that would not consider an "old" Cadillac, now like the new ones... they are going after the European brands.... do I think they should? no... do I think they need to? yes... if they want to reclaim the "Standard of the World" title back.... but IMO, Lincoln has stayed far more to it's American roots... which is why I like the new Town Cars alot... they are everything the dream American luxury car used to be....

I have my 2 Caddys though... and will only get more int he future... all the "old" ones that nobody wants.... plus, IMO I like the teardrop dash and interrior of the '90's Caddys alot better then the weird belnd in the new wave of cars... the 90's seemed to flow nice.. the new ones are blocky... kinda like in the 50's... especially the Cadillacs.. the interriors were real nice.. they had a certain flow look to them.. they wrapped around into the doors etc... then in the 60's the changed form nice chrome tot he ugly vinyl, got boxy and such...

[QUOTE=Night Wolf]

... Cadillac has completly broke off of their American roots.... I don't like that, and it is the people like me that will buy the "old" Cadillacs (by that I mean the '90's Eldo and Seville) and dislike the "new" Cadillacs... on the same note, the people, like menitoend above, that would not consider an "old" Cadillac, now like the new ones... they are going after the European brands.... do I think they should? no... do I think they need to? yes... if they want to reclaim the "Standard of the World" title back.... but IMO, Lincoln has stayed far more to it's American roots... which is why I like the new Town Cars alot... they are everything the dream American luxury car used to be....

QUOTE]
yea and look at lincolns sales compared to cadillac. its great you like old american luxury, but the people out there that like that, is not enough for cadillac to go back to that. They HAVE to compete. They are finally in a class where they can be compared to BMWs and Mercedes'

With regard to Lincoln and Cadillac, are you two secretly referring to FWD and RWD? Most definately then Lincoln has stayed on a traditional platform all these years and stuck with it. Cadillac seems to be getting back to it's roots more and more, and for the better.

I don't feel the styling is traditional anymore with Cadillac though. I am referring to skirts and fin-like taillights or lack of. Even the sportiness of the new Devilles suggest they have targeted MB and BMW for a while now IMO.

Most people like a little more performance in their cars Cadillac is injecting a nice amount of performance. Performance/Luxury is what sells now. If you were a baby boomer would you want a Lincoln Town car over say a STS or Porche. The STS or Porche is going to make people/you feel young and vital not old and retired like a big coushy Town Car(NO OFFENSE TO SANDY OR ANYONE). Cadillac has a tough job of creating a car that appeals to its loyal customers (us) and getting new ones. Just wait Rick they will have the new DeVille out soon I am sure it will satisfy your hunger. Oh and do not forget their ultra luxo class. Cadillac is an American company therefor whatever it does is American :D.

I like my DeVille and al those cars but I also like the new ones and I do not mind movin on.

not to hijack the thread I must add Cadillac is much more reliable

NightW I really like how you summed it all up :p

I apologize if my post seems rude i am exhausted.

I don't feel the styling is traditional anymore with Cadillac though. I am referring to skirts and fin-like taillights or lack of. Even the sportiness of the new Devilles suggest they have targeted MB and BMW for a while now IMO.

They are trying to have a little essence of the classic Cadillac in the new cars though. I kinda now think that it is part of Cadillac to have "break throuhg" design.

They are trying to have a little essence of the classic Cadillac in the new cars though. I kinda now think that it is part of Cadillac to have "break throuhg" design.

If anything, to me, the new Cadillacs are sporty as hell, and that's not a bad thing, but it's the new Mercedes Benz that are starting to look like the "Old mans car" now, or the "Grandpa car."

I think the new Cadillacs have a tonne of class still, but are not that classy. Does that make sense. They are more sporty than classy, but they still have a lot of class. :p They could be more CLASSY if they had a model with fender skirts and vertical slit taillights, to keep real tradition alive, but maybe that's just me?

:yeah: i second that opinion. if everyone can remeber Cadillac has always had a hidden race inspired/more horsepower history. if you dont believe me how about the V16, the V12 the 472 and the 500? so if you ask me, Cadillac is returning to their roots and fast. they are getting back into being the "Standard of the World." to tell the truth, it wouldnt suprise me if in 10-15 years time Cadillac will have atleast one model that will compete with Bentley and Rolls. maybe. i, personally, would hope it to be a Fleetwood. (if you didnt see that coming...)

pesoanlly, when talking about stying to it's American roots... FWD/RWD dosn't really make a difference..... since 1967 the Eldo has been FWD...

I woudln't say that Cadillac has "finally" got performance back.... the STS/ETC, if you do the ABS trick will run an honest 14.5 or so in the 1/4.... today, that is good for a luxury car, 10 years ago, that was amazing....

But I am talking about handling/ride, styling etc... it seems like Cadillac is now trying to make ALL their cars have that "connected to the road" euro feel... along with a firm ride.... instead of being isloated form the road and having a soft ride....

... also in the styling... the 1991-1993 DeVille, IMO is one of the last real traditonal looking Cadillacs... the '93-'96 Fleetwood in some ways also. the '94-'99 DeVille while not like the '93, still kept the nose, which had an American look, and the mini tail fins along with the tall slim vertical tail lights... in 2000, the nose looks european and the back lost the tail fins...

Also, compare wheel base and length of the car.. classic American luxury cars had a long wheel base, and even longer body length.... the front wheels were placed about midway of the engine, and the rear wheels were placed FEET from the back of the car... yeah, it may not be good for handling, but it made the car look, and ride very nice... european cars have always had the wheels pushed to the corners... and Cadillac is doing that more and more, even Chevy did that with the new Corvette... that and the styling of the nose of the Corvette also shows CHevy is trying to compete with the european brands... we need to make the American car something that everyone else tries to copy, not us trying to copy them....

I also don't like the random 3 letter names either.... Eldorado/Seville/DeVille/Fleetwood would have been perfect..... here is an example... the upcoming XLR-V.... what does that mean? say it out loud and kinda fast...... it sounds like excell argh-vee.... makes no sense at all... again, copying what MB and BMW have been doing for years.... the Seville is now called the STS.... adn the DeVille a DTS? c'mon... "yeah, so do you want to go in your Town Car or my DeVille" or "do you want to go in your Town Car, or my D-T-S? it just dosn't sound right.... espeically for Cadillac... if you go on their site, the only 2 cars that have a real name, are the DeVille... which is getting killed, and the Escalde, which they can't change that becuase the rapper crowd would have a hard time trying to pronouce the 3 letter jumbles... or ryme them in songs :rolleyes2 which brings arounther thing.... no more will Cadillac be mentioned in songs.... witht heir new cars atleast... becuase CTS/XLR etc... just dosn't sound right....

I do give them alot of credit for bring the brand back into action, and people realizing what it is... but they did it at an expense of everything they once ment.... let's say they called the XLR an Eldorado... witht he correct marketing, that could have went really nice...... have a '59 Eldo convertible crusing on the road, and say "once standard of the world" then show the XLR either crusing, or burning out or something, and say "The new Eldorado by Cadillac, creating a higher standard" or something more catchy like, "The all new Cadillac Eldorado, an American legend reborn" of course it would sound better, but that is why people get paid big bucks to come up with marketing ideas... and I don't :)

I can go on, but I gotta run into town and do a few things... I am interested to hear other peoples opinions...

all i can say is sometimes, times change and things change, and for cadillac is was for the better. the ''loyal'' customer base was simply not enough, if it was they would not have abandonded the way they were doing things. Cadillac was heading into trouble. We all love the fender skirts, fins, vertical tailights, etc, of the past, but times change, things evolve.

Things do evolve, but I only hope it is not on a whim, or a short-lived fad because certain things are timeless, like class.

Things evolve only because people demand different, or become bored with something. Also technology increases, but I'm thinking they could have kept a little more tradition, style wise.

There always would have been plenty of older folk who have no problem buying a NEW Cadillac with fins (like mine) and skirts today. In fact, THOSE are the used cars we seem to praise now.

yes, "regular" cars DO evolve and such....

.... but i think luxury cars deserve to remain true to their roots.

1965 Rolls Royce:

http://www.1motormart.com/gallery/65rr01.jpg

2004 Rolls Royce:

http://www.myautoworld.com/autos/a_2004_Rolls-Royce_Phantom_MAW-2.jpg

this is just a quick example... time definitly DID show it's place.... but both of these cars are unmistakebly RR... look at things like the headlights/fog lights in realtion to the grille, the belt line, the roof line etc.... and these 2 cars look different, yet very similar...

1965 Cadillac DeVille:

http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2000/tc_mac/cady6501.JPG

2004 DeVille:

http://199.239.248.45//images/stk/2004/cd2004deville01.jpg

Besides the wreath and crest.... there is nothing similar between the 2.... the classic, calssy look is gone... THAT is what I mean....

This is a bad picture, but compare my '79 and my '93... there are also the pics in my sig.... now compare both of them to the 2004 DeVille....

technology my DeVille's are vasty different... carb/FI, FWD/RWD, uni-body/full frame etc.. etc...

but look how similar... yet newer the '93 looks... the headlights, grille, bumperette.... shape of hood, belt line etc... they are all very similar... same ting with the back of the car....

THAT is what I mean... go ahead and make something newer... but keep the same basic classy styling that you are known for... no sense changing a good thing.... and what made Cadillac go downhill in the first place was an extreme lack of quality within the car, and a host of "bad" enignes which made the cars not very reliable... that is what made Cadillac get a bad reputation... not the styling... read any of those thigns that says the downfall of cars, and you will hear about the diesel/V8-6-4/HT4100.... NOT the way the car looked....

even my '79 looks similar to the '65... the biggest difference is the headlights... Cadillac used side by side lights since 1957... but from '64(?) to '68 they went with the stacked..... but simple things like, design of the grille... bumper... way the car V's out in the middle (as Cadillac has done.... forever.... until the '90's) and that is what makes both of the cars classy.... park them next to each other, and for being 14 years apart... they still look similar.... IOW they are unmistably a Cadillac...

Good examples Rick, but where does that leave the Cadillacs that people put Rolls Royce grilles on. :hmm:

Keep in mind, that is just an '04 DeVille too... which is the last "traditional" Cadillac before they are all..... 3-letterified...

2005 STS:

http://x.wieck.com/pv/WKA/2004/01/14/WKA2004011457454_pv.jpg

Cadillac claims the egg-crate grille and vertical tail lights on it are a "classic touch" (what the girl said at the NYC car show) I say it is BS....as the "new wave" of cars don't look anything like a '65, '75, my '79 or '93 or even that '04..... I realize that isn't the DeVille's replacement... but I bet the "DTS" will just be a bigger looking STS.... just as the CTS which shares it's edges with the XLR and SRX and maybe even the ESV or EXT.... now these 3 letter things are getting annoying, so I'll stop...

Look at the 2 pics of those Rolls again...notice how in each, the center of the hood is raised (similar to Cadillac) but also the fender is raised.... on both the '65 and '05, both cars have those short and stubby front bumpers... even though the '65 has a chrome bumper, and the '05 has the integrated bumper, they both are similar in shape... Cadillac used to always have huge and massive bumpers... especially on the front.... '55 DeVille anyone? and now, with the "new wave" of cars... there is no front bumper... in the center, it is even witt he car, and only on the edges does it protrude a little bit.... Also on the Rolls, compare that "crease" that starts vertically in the front, then goes along the belt line.... that again, after 40 years stayed... THOSE are the things that keep a car traditional, not weather technology takes place or not but the interriors are a great place where luxury cars can shine.... look at a 30's Cadillac, I have sat in one... for it's day, it was wimply the best car you could get, look at a 50's Cadillac... or Benz, or Rolls, and the interriors were top notch, and even though today, there has been so much advancement, these timeless interriors are still very useable and fasionable but I saw some pictures of the interrior of that Rolls.... it is unlike anything else I have seen.... the real object with such a luxury car would be to make the outside look classic and tradtional, yet new... while completly engulfing the person with rich luxury inside... and keeping some traditional touches within the cabin too.... I know I used Rolls, it was the first thing that came to mind... and Rolls and Cadillac never were really direct competitors (maybe in the 30's?) but the same can be said with Mercedes-Benz, which was more of a competitor.... hell, even Lincoln, their new wave of vehicles, especially the trucks have complete interrior throw-backs... and it looks good.... fender skirts, tall and slim tail lights, big wide intimidating grille with headlights right along side, big chomre bumpers, big bore V8's and sheer size and mass are what makes a Cadillac... a Cadillac.... and sadly, none of the new Cadillacs have any of this :(

About the vertical taillights. I remember the salesman saying (when we picked up Dad's new DTS) that Cadillac has them again. :hmm: Thing is, you have to brake to see the red-LED vert. lights, and when they are off it looks like EVERY other car. Nothing special there, although I cannot understand why every car manufacturer doesn't use LED's if they are so long lasting and cut battery waste.

I'll take my verts anyday, and I think my car's ass is the most classy thing about it. :D Chromed trimmed to boot.


Remember chrome!! Americans used to have a love affair with CHROME, what the hell happened!!?? ;)

And how about some side-door mouldings for ding protection on the new ones while we're at it! :mad:

yeah, I have heard multiple people say the '00+ DeVille has the vertical tail lights...

what they mean is, at night, with the running lights... NOT brake lights... only the outter edge is lit up, to make it looks like they are slim and vertical, but when you apply the brake, the whole thing lights up bright....

they are very expensive to produce, install, and repair... it isn't practical to put them on a $20k family sedan, using a 3cent light bulb is alot more easy, and cheaper to repair/replace.....

... I don't think anyone has truely seen the beuaty of a '91-'93 DeVille untill they saw the back of it on a nice night.... the tail lights are one of my favorite ever put on a car... very slim, and tall... but there are THREE vertical bulbs... not just 2 like my '79 (which has a reflector on the bottom part) but the whole thing is a light... at night, it looks NICE ('79 looks kinda wierd, as if the bottom is cut off) then when the brake are applied, the whole light, not a portion of it, lights up.... then the glow form the license plate light reflecting off the chrome surrounding it.... these are the things that make this a great, and traditional car...

American cars + excessive chrome = one lovely site.... just not when it is the cheap and crappy water color "chrome" painted on to plastic, that then rubs off over years and makes everything look like crap.... as used in my '79.... damn, they cars were nice, but quality was just bad....ugh....

I'll see if I have any pics of my car at night... showing the tail lights.. I don't think I do...

yeah, I have heard multiple people say the '00+ DeVille has the vertical tail lights...

what they mean is, at night, with the running lights... NOT brake lights

That doesn't count! By "running lights" I assume you mean the clear "back-up" lights?


Here is my Dad's DTS taillights and mine. Notice the sporty stance of the swooping DTS rear window. There is sure not much of a back bumper on mine, and I would feel a good whack if rear-ended! Which is more classy though :D :

Interesting opinions, I would have to say that I agree with Night Wolf because I think cadillac has lost some of its unique class (purely American). A Cadillac should still exihibit the soft, nearly isolated ride, that has been their trade mark ever since they started. I admit the new STS is a nice looking car but the interior is bland, it doesn't even look any different then a Toyota Camry inside. Cadillac used to have a very unique interior like no other brand. The new STS is just based on the lower line CTS, I think they should have come up with a new platform for this car, why pay $50,000 for a enlarged CTS. I am afraid that Cadillac has lost its uniqueness, who wants another BMW copy cat? :(

Like Night Wolf said, the classic styling of Cadillac has been lost. I did see the Photos that were posted comparing the Fleetwood to the new DTS, the Fleetwood is much more authentic Cadillac. Where is the chrome, the Fleetwood has a lot of chrome and the DTS is just plastic trim.

When I pulled the door shut on the STS, I did not pull any harder then I do on my Grandfather's 1985 Fleetwood (FWD) and his door panels are on their solid as can be. Even the doors make a better sound then the brand new STS, a very solid thump. I am glad that Cadillac has been doing well in all the quality surveys but I never go by those surveys anyways, look at Consumer Reports (they have always said that Cadillac is so unreliable).

Consumer Reports (they have always said that Cadillac is so unreliable).

Consumer Reports are crap. We had a big discussion about them once and problem with them is bias if I remember correctly. They allow a lot of advertizing from certain manufacturers, so who are they going to favour? ;)

The respected one seems to be the JP Power, as well as respected sites like:


www.thecarconnection.com

this is why i say they should bring back the Fleetwood. what a shock to the industry that would be. maybe incorporate tail fins somehow and fender skirts. the other day i was looking at the interior on a 96 Rolls Royce and the interior was not much better looking than that of a 96 Fleetwood. just some chrome around the woodgrain was all the Rolls had (it was kinda overkill on the woodgrain IMO). oh and a faster engine. other than that it didnt look like the Rolls had much on the Fleetwood. Cadillac stayed traditional until 2000. the Fleetwoods and Devilles' body style was just rounded off instead of being square plus a few other add ons to the engine and interior. 2000 it all changed, guess for the new millenium Cadillac wanted a change. change is good but atleast one model should still have a traditional look to it. i think now that will be the Deville, it is going back to rear wheel drive and also a new body style, we'll see how it comes out. of course it wont be a Deville anymore. a DTS. :cookoo:

I have been around a '00-now DeVille and the quality is completely different to yours and my 92/93. The '93s have more detail in them it seems but the current ones have a nice ora to themselves that is unlike say a $20,000 car. I like them both.

I do not really know what to say, I think Cadillac is trying to just completely restablish a new design base for the most part and get into the hearst of the younger population because the older people like most Lincoln buyers are dying out literaly. It was time to become fresh and not use the names that had been used for 30+ years. I cannot say whether Cadillac is trying to be like the Euros instead of making people like American cars again.

In my opinion Cadillac is very distinct from the Europeans in that their/our cars are whoopin but in recent reviews! :bouncy:

Cadillac is beating them at their own game and setting real standards.

STS is a fine name but they probably do not need to be loosing the name DeVille I know a lot who think thats a pretty cool name.

I have been around a '00-now DeVille and the quality is completely different to yours and my 92/93. The '93s have more detail in them it seems but the current ones have a nice ora to themselves that is unlike say a $20,000 car. I like them both.

I do not really know what to say, I think Cadillac is trying to just completely restablish a new design base for the most part and get into the hearst of the younger population because the older people like most Lincoln buyers are dying out literaly. It was time to become fresh and not use the names that had been used for 30+ years. I cannot say whether Cadillac is trying to be like the Euros instead of making people like American cars again.

In my opinion Cadillac is very distinct from the Europeans in that their/our cars are whoopin but in recent reviews! :bouncy:

Cadillac is beating them at their own game and setting real standards.

STS is a fine name but they probably do not need to be loosing the name DeVille I know a lot who think thats a pretty cool name.

Cadillacs still ride much smoother than a BMW or MB. Even my Dad's DTS is quite smooth compared to my aunts BMW 735i. European tradition has been to have a firm ride for more handling, the opposite seems true for American cars. I prefer not to have my spleen shoved into my pancreas when I hit a bad pothole. :yup:

Ralph... by "Running lights" I mean... the tial lights at night WITHOUT the brakes applied... then you'll see what I mean....

Cadillacs still ride much smoother than a BMW or MB. Even my Dad's DTS is quite smooth compared to my aunts BMW 735i. European tradition has been to have a firm ride for more handling, the opposite seems true for American cars. I prefer not to have my spleen shoved into my pancreas when I hit a bad pothole. :yup:

I agree.

I think it is of Cadillacs heritage to have a smooth ride. Thats one reason I think they came up with RoadSensingSuspenion was so they could have the best of both worlds.

Night wolf, I agree a lot with your points. Regarding the LED vertical taillights, notice the Seville's LED 3rd brakelight is about the same width as your taillights, albiet a lot longer. There's no problem seeing either the 3rd brakelight or your tails, so I don't buy into that arguement. The '65-'68 were the oddballs, but go look at a '69 or newer, looks a lot more like your two cars. With my car, even simple stuff like the taillights and cornering lights/side markers have tons of detail in there design. The cornering lights act as running lights, with a low wattage amber bulb prependicular to the lens. However, upon use of the turn signal, a high wattage clear bulb, placed 45 degrees from the lens lights up and illuminates the corner. Having both in one housing keeps from cluttering the side of the car and keeps it simple. The taillights have a clear section on the top and bottom, and a red section in the middle. When you apply the brakes (or taillights are on) all three sections light up red. When you back up however, the bottom section goes to bright clear leaving the top two red. No extra backup light husings on the back of the car. It's the attention to detail that set Cadillac apart back in the day. Even my cornering light is pretty ornate, with a metal crest, and a chrome inner and outer ring.

Now my friend recently told me that Cadillac had lost its prestiege because they refused to change with the times. He says that most people that are young want a german or japanese import, most just think of an Escalade when you say Cadillac. Now even the older generation who was loyal to Cadillac want a Lexus (boring). I just don't understand, what happened to people respecting a nice comfortable ride in a stylish car, that was still made in America? During the 1950s people used to debate if Cadillac was better then Mercedes and even Rolls Royce, I never hear anyone compare Cadillac to anything besides Lincoln.
I am afraid that if Cadillac discontinues its classic names it will head in the direction of Oldsmobile (a company that I really used to like). People have always associated Cadillac with the Deville, Seville, and Eldorado, not STS, DTS, CTS, XLR.

cadillac seems to be popular again...with young and old...sales are goin very well, the company has really reinvented itself, THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. FOr all those complaining right now about the new design, they would be complainin the same when the company wouldnt be doin well and people wouldnt like cadillac because of it. cadillac is settin a name for itself again, if that means they have to copy the germans than so be it. THAT IS WHERE THE STANDARD OF TODAY IS. if cadillac wnats to be the standard of the world again it has to beat the competitiors at thier own game. GONE ARE THE TIMES OF LOTS OF CHROME AND SUPER PLUSH RIDES. and hell, i enjoy that too, but i'm not complaining about cadillac at all. Im loving the new look!!! Do any of you have any idea how many compliments i used to get on my DTS? Or when i first got the CTS, i got so many compliments, PEOPLE LIKE THE NEW LOOK. sometimes in life, you cant just go do your own thing, sometimes you need to compete to stay ahead. and this is what cadillac is doing.

cadillac seems to be popular again...with young and old...sales are goin very well, the company has really reinvented itself, THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. FOr all those complaining right now about the new design, they would be complainin the same when the company wouldnt be doin well and people wouldnt like cadillac because of it. cadillac is settin a name for itself again, if that means they have to copy the germans than so be it. THAT IS WHERE THE STANDARD OF TODAY IS. if cadillac wnats to be the standard of the world again it has to beat the competitiors at thier own game. GONE ARE THE TIMES OF LOTS OF CHROME AND SUPER PLUSH RIDES. and hell, i enjoy that too, but i'm not complaining about cadillac at all. Im loving the new look!!! Do any of you have any idea how many compliments i used to get on my DTS? Or when i first got the CTS, i got so many compliments, PEOPLE LIKE THE NEW LOOK. sometimes in life, you cant just go do your own thing, sometimes you need to compete to stay ahead. and this is what cadillac is doing.

Have you posted any pics of your CTS??

Have you posted any pics of your CTS??
i posted one, but it was the autotrader picture, i dont have a digital camera, so ive been kinda lazy posting. :)

[QUOTE=Caddy Man]cadillac seems to be popular again...with young and old...sales are goin very well, the company has really reinvented itself, THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. FOr all those complaining right now about the new design, they would be complainin the same when the company wouldnt be doin well and people wouldnt like cadillac because of it. cadillac is settin a name for itself again, if that means they have to copy the germans than so be it. THAT IS WHERE THE STANDARD OF TODAY IS. if cadillac wnats to be the standard of the world again it has to beat the competitiors at thier own game. GONE ARE THE TIMES OF LOTS OF CHROME AND SUPER PLUSH RIDES. and hell, i enjoy that too, but i'm not complaining about cadillac at all. Im loving the new look!!! Do any of you have any idea how many compliments i used to get on my DTS? Or when i first got the CTS, i got so many compliments, PEOPLE LIKE THE NEW LOOK. sometimes in life, you cant just go do your own thing, sometimes you need to compete to stay ahead. and this is what cadillac is doing.[/QUOTE

Cadillac is more then capable of doing its own thing, a unique car sells. Do you think the first BMWs, Toyotas, and VWs were liked at first? NO! Cadillac needs to continue on its traditional route and eventually others will follow. If you don't like traditional Cadillacs drive something else. Their are plenty of traditional Cadillac buyers willing to buy Cadillacs traditional products. Nobody, in the general public likes traditional Cadillacs because it is not "trendy" to like cars that older people like.

Silver, you have a good point...

...and it is the older people that have the money to buy these expensive luxury cars... not some 16yr old high school kid talking to his friends about how their cars is faster becuase it has more valves :rolleyes2 and by "older people" I do not mean 80+... but I'd say.... maybe late 30's/early 40's... which isn't even "old" but these are the people that have the money to buy them... what the CTS-V is targeted and what I used to see alot of ETC and STS being bought by.... when they were new... businessmen in their 40's wanting a luxury car....

Cadillac IS doing something "right" as far as getting more sales, and getting the name out... they could have just done it a different way.... just like Mercedes has their nice big classic luxury cars, they also have the smaller sports cars.... I think if Cadillac kept a "tradtional" lineup with the DeVille/Seville/Eldo/Fleetwood.... even under limited production... then also made their new cars, that would be really good... ok, maybe not all 4.. but the DeVille.... you just have to have, and an Eldorado... which is a 2 door personal luxury car... only thing out there now that may some near what an Eldorado was, is the XLR... which is far far form any Eldorado.... if Cadillac had their lineup now, but kept the DeVille as their top line full size, all-out luxury car (then maybe have the Fleetwood as an upgraded DeVille....again?) and the Eldorado just as it always was... smaller, but still nice size, 2 door, sporty, but classy styling.... with same interrior/features as DeVille.... that would be really cool... this could be the traditonal part, then allt he models they have now would still be fine... the DeVille would not become a "DTS" and the Eldorado, becuase even now, Cadillac never filled the area of the Eldorado.... you either got to get a CTS or XLR... none of whcih come near to what an Eldorado is...

Dave, I don't understand what you said at all... the Seville used an LED 3rd brake light that ran the length of the runk lid.... look at an '00+ DeVille at night, when onlyt the tail lights are one, it "appears" to have a slim vertical tail light, but then the brakes are on, the whole light fills in...

I agree with you, the attention to detail on these cars were unlike any other.... atleast your car was made in a time where quality was a concern... in 1979, the object was to make thigns as cheaply as possible.. and it shows throughout.... but one neat feature that really was never mentioned in ads or anything.... but my '79 has a total of 11 interrior lights, that when on... lights up the inside of the car like it was daytime! try that with a simple dome light and some floor lights on newer cars....

I have the same corerning lamp, the houses has both bulbs in it, except unlike yours which uses the same area, but different bulbs (really neat) mine has seperate lens on each, although, mine is a really cool high quality plastic (not) with a plastic crest and the cool wings above it on the parking lamp.... this lens has a slight crack, which allows water to get in... I have yet to fix it, but you get the idea...

Also are the tail lights... well, whole back of the '79..... nice tall and slim... note the cool crest w/ wing badge in the middle of each tail light.... in plastic... but nonetheless, still cool....

Yea, while the componetry of the late 70s was going downhill, its still very apparent that much detail went into the design of the car. Looking at that pic of the back of the car, it still has that unmistakeable style. Sorry about the confusion on the Seville 3rd brakelight, I got a bit mixed up. At any rate, notice how the height of the Sevilles LED 3rd brakelight closely matches the width of your Devilles brake lights? Figure out how to shorten one, that would make a neat custom.

sorry to ask again... but I don't understadn what you mean....

the Seville's 3rd brake light is thin.... only about 2/3" wide... something like that, but it is the length of the trunk lid....

... both the tail lights on the '79 and '93 DeVille are about 2" wide....

1995 Seville STS:

http://i19.ebayimg.com/01/a/02/d8/e0/9d_4.JPG

Night Wolf, I did not realize how good of condition your '79 Deville is in. Is that the orginial paint? What type of wax/polish do you use? Wow not even a sign of rust, and these Cadillacs are not known for their excellent rust proofing + the fact they are now 25 yrs old. Truly its condition is impressive :thumbsup:

yes, it is the origanal paint...

there are plenty of little flaws, light scratches, chips etc... but the fact that the paint is Acrylic Enamel (seems to be more tough then BB/CC) and the color, makes then very hard to see....

when I bought the car, the paint was oxidized... I didn't know how bad it was until I waxed it... and so far I have waxed it twice... with each wax, the paint has gotten darker, more shiney and more reflective.. so I think another 1 or 2 waxes will really bring it out...

I used to use Meguires Gold Glass... that is what the first wax was... but the best wax I have ever used was this stuff I got from a vender at the '04 car show in the Javit Center in NYC.... the website is on the bottle.. it is called Simply-Z-Best... has swirl-remover built in.. use it on glass and at speeds over 50mph, the wipers are not needed, cleans everything up nice... I am very, very happy with it...

the car was owned by an old lady in Florida, it was undercoated with that tar stuff when new... I have the recipt for that, had 768 miles on it at the time.... it stayed a FL. car it's whole life until about 3 years ago... the lady passed away, son didn't want the car and sold it to his friend, who is the guy that I bought it form... he said that he used it daily... so I am assuming the winters too... which is not cool, and on the underbody there is light surface rust on alot of things.. maybe from salt or maybe from the salt air in FL. the last document I have is in '96 IIRC and it had 56k on it then, it was an emmisions testing thing, and according tot he paper, it passed with a nice margin... I think the guy put 20-25k on it, as I bought it with 84,288.... now has 86,020 or so....

the worst part of the body is the left rear door, somehow the paint chipped and rusted the door, it bugs me and looks like crap... I don't want to fix it myself, becuase it'll look even worse (my body work skill stays liited to the Olds) so I will bring it to a paint/body shop sometime next year...

I was going to post pics... but my supporting member thing ran out and i don't have anymore sapce, so I gotta renew it.... when I do, I'll get the pics up...