[SpeedyArizona]

I was driving in downtown Phoenix and saw a new DTS limo conversion driving along. I guess it was privately owned also, no dealer licence plate. It looked pretty good though, jet black with black tinted windows and chrome door handles. It didn't have a normal rear door either, it had a big door in the middle near the driver's door.

I just wonder who was in it...

 

[ElDawgg 2G]

Hello...
From your description it sounds like you saw a "dedicated funeral car"
...the middle door is the give-away, although some of the styling cues are changing
(...depending on the coach builder.)
Funeral cars have this "middle door" whereas limousines are 4-door.
Funeral cars can become "limo-like" when the front-facing middle seat is flipped
on a hinge so that the forward-facing middle seat back, when flipped, becomes a rear-facing seat bottom.
Sometimes funeral homes will hire their funeral cars as limos.

If you want a dedicated "party car" look for 4-door models.

 

[mccombie_5]

I think he means the door wasnt above the rear wheel it was just behind the drivers door....

http://www.bilrevyen.no/aktuelle_modeller/cadillac/images/Cadillac_DTS_limo_02_M448.jpg

Maybe like this without the glass between?

ANd i should hope THAT one in the link isnt used to carry corpses or mourners

 

[ElDawgg 2G]

Hello...

Mccombie: there may be some differences in these cars "across the pond."
My experience from driving these cars is that these cars come in 2 styles:
4- and 6-door models.
The 4-door models are dedicated limousine "party cars";
and 6-door models are dedicated funeral cars.

The car in your link is definitely neither of these...I think the Presidential limo is a "one-off" as it is the only one of its' kind that I have seen. I, too, would hope that this vehicle was not used for funeral service.

Sometimes to hide the middle doors, the handle is removed and replaced with a "remote button" so the car has a 4-door appearance. Most people who rent limousines are not aware of this distinction...in fact, they might even be shocked to learn that the car that they were in last night for their "party" is really a funeral car!

I'll keep looking as these cars become more ubiquitous.

 

[mccombie_5]

Yes, it is true here that the four door cars are usually limousine services and the six door ones are funeral cars, but there are some limos with a setup similar to the presidential one, like here in the UK some limos have a larger second door,a and a window behind it, rather than the door window door setup....


It is difficult to see on this one but here is a Rover Stretch, and it has the door door window setup

http://www.cambs-exec.co.uk/images/collection/limo_man.jpg

I drove my Uncle's limousines for a living some years ago, and he always has conversions of three types in his fleet; the door window door veriety, the door door door veriety, and the door door window.... the conversions are slightly different in pricing, (the DDR setup is cheaper, followed by the six door conversion and topped off by the door window door "stretch")

 

[ElDawgg 2G]

Hello...
Interesting pics...I'll keep looking for one here as I have never seen any like that (with door/door/window).

Maybe it has something with the license and registration of livery vehicles (?)...although anyone with a driver's license can operate a standard limo. A chauffeur's license is required for the super-stretch variety.

Happy Motoring

 

[mccombie_5]

Hello...
Interesting pics...I'll keep looking for one here as I have never seen any like that (with door/door/window).

Maybe it has something with the license and registration of livery vehicles (?)...although anyone with a driver's license can operate a standard limo. A chauffeur's license is required for the super-stretch variety.

Happy Motoring

Its mainly that, the "door door window" limos do not need a PCV lincense......

Superstretch limousines do.

Ah i remember the days where you either had a Standard car or a 70" stretch, you couldnt get much bigger than that!

How times change eh?

 

[ElDawgg 2G]

Hello...
I am currently driving a 2006 DTS while my 2000 STS is in the body shop after a collision with a low-lying pole in a parking lot...seems that I didn't make a deep enough right turn and drove over the pole which crunched in the bottom of the front passenger door...more on that later!

My opinion is that the car would lend itself quite nicely to limousine modifications.
It handles great with adequate power...for a 4009 lb car!
Cornering is level and nosedive when braking is greatly reduced.
I can only imagine what the reinforced professional package (susp/brake) would add to this car's remarkable characteristics, although I would probably wish for more power when driving the super-stretch.

On a personal note, I do have a few humorous (?) stories from when I drove on nights and weekends...

 

[mccombie_5]

I drove as a night and weekend driver, i once had Sean Connery in my car!!!

He insisted on sitting up front on the way back, and front was such a mess! It was a 1978 Cadillac Fleetwood, actually, that had the door door window layout (i think)

P.S. i found another picture of a limo in door door window format:

http://www.ivoryladyweddingcars.co.uk/merc exec.htm