[BeelzeBob]

Okay. Think back to 1994.. What was the difference between the models? Concourse, DeVille, Fleetwood... Which had what?

Thank you!

(Still trying to figure out what I want for my next car.. Whatever it is, I want it to be BIG and inexpensive, if possible...)

 

[BeelzeBob]

If you could also go through some of the changes as the years went on, that would be nice as well..

Thanks in advance...

Sal

 

[Ralph]

To be general, Fleetwoods are less numerous and more expensive and classy! I wish you included the 91 model year, but I guess they are getting too old. (except mine! LOL)

Aren't the differences mostly cosmetic, the '94 had fenderskirts, but I don't they were true skirts you could remove. There were supposed to be more options available on Fleetwoods, but too few to really make much difference, only appearance-wise. According to my Consumer's Reports 1994 edition, the Deville Concours is built on a stretched version of the Seville platform. The Deville came with a 4.9 litre and the upscale Concours got the all aluminum 4.6 Northstar. The Fleetwood was built on the same chassis as the Buick Roadmaster, and Caprice. If I'm not mistaken, I think some optional colors were available for the Fleetwood.

I would love to know production contrasts in numbers between Devilles and Fleetwoods starting in 1991 because I see about 10 Devilles for each Fleetwood (of all years). I don't think too many people were willing or able to pay the extra 5 grand (in Canada for the Fleet. IMO.)

 

[BeelzeBob]

Amazingly enough, the '94 DeVilles can be had for around $5k. That's unreal, if you ask me.. I might just get one of those. I've been looking at them and the only thing I'm not crazy about is - no center console.. I wonder if I can add one in. - I doubt it.. Otherwise, I think the DeVille is exactly what I'm looking for..

Not sure whether I should go for the Concourse or not. I know it has the Northstar - but is that a good thing? I wish they had heated seats, too.. I don't see any of that on these DeVilles... I think it's time for a BIG car.

 

[Ralph]

I know you like center consoles, but I thought you had a Eldorado, that nice pearl one? Did you sell it? What cars do you own right now Sal??:burn:

 

[BeelzeBob]

ETC was sold last year. Right now I have a Vette (Summer car) and a Dodge Shadow (Winter car). These are rough times so I just want one year-round car. Nothing to pay storage fees for in the Winter, and one insurance bill. And - one maintenance bill.. I sold the Caddy for the Vette but I've regretted it ever-since.. The Vette is a killer car, but just not the car for me...

Sal

 

[Katshot]

Something odd about the administrator of the Cadillac Forums NOT having a Cadillac

The Fleetwood has ALWAYS been the top of the line Cadillac. Their ultimate luxury sedan. Through the years, the Fleetwood ended up as just an upgraded Deville but always maintained it's place as the ultimate Cadillac. In the mid 80's, the FWD product line was in full swing and Cadillac started thowing names around their lineup, most notably the Fleetwood name. For a short while there were TWO Fleetwoods, one FWD, and one RWD. Cadillac finally dropped the "Fleetwood" name from the RWD car leaving it to be simply called the "Brougham".
The RWD car was pretty much abandoned by Cadillac throughout the rest of the 80's and into the 90's, left to survive on only minor "token" upgrades, while they concentrated on their FWD cars. Finally, in '93 a new RWD car was introduced. The RWD Fleetwood was "reborn" with an entirely new body and interior, but a pretty much "carry-over" drivetrain. Unfortunately, plans for a new engine were put on hold for one year. The LO5 Chevrolet 5.7 V8 was the engine for '93 and '93 ONLY. In '94, the Fleetwood was "BLESSED" with the addition of the LT1 V8. It was already used in many other full-size RWD cars in various GM lines, and had accumulated quite a following.
The RWD Fleetwood was back and it was the largest production vehicle on the market (even several inches longer than the Suburban). Unfortunately, it was to be the vehicle's swan-song since even as Cadillac was building their "D" body RWD Fleetwood, along side it's Buick and Chevy "B" body sister cars in Arlington, TX, GM had already decided to kick truck (SUV)production into high-gear and they realized that they needed more production room to do it. So it was decided that the Arlington plant would be "truck-central" and that meant the slow-selling B & D cars would be sacrificed. Since it was already decided that '96 would be the last year for the big RWD brutes, GM again pretty much let the cars sail into oblivion with little or no upgrades for the remaining couple years of production.
I hope this gives you a feel for what the differences were between the cars.

 

[BeelzeBob]

What types of options/features did the Fleetwood have over the DeVille and Concourse?

 

[Katshot]

There really aren't a lot of options that the Fleetwood had that weren't available on the Deville, whether comparing RWD or FWD versions to their own. Most of what was optional on the Deville, was standard on the Fleetwood. There are some trim type items that were ONLY on the Fleetwood, and certain upholstery patterns etc. I generally suggest the Fleetwood Brougham if purchasing used since there are several items on them that are not on the leser models and once you're talking used, the price isn't all that different. The other issue is that fleets never (or at least rarely) use the "Brougham" models whereas "standard" models were commonly used in fleets. So that would mean that generally speaking, if you buy a Brougham, you don't have to worry about whether the car was beaten up in a fleet before you got it. Oh, and BTW, the rear fender skirts WERE removable.
The "Concours" was the precurser of the DTS and was generally thought of as the more sporting of the breed. Less chrome, stiffer suspension, wider black wall tires, and even a front center console with individual seating versus a bench seat. It also recieved the Northstar before the rest of the Deville line.

 

[elwesso]

Something odd about the administrator of the Cadillac Forums NOT having a Cadillac

 

[elwesso]

FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM!!!!!! YOULL BE GLAD YOU DID!!!!

You can get em dirt cheap, they run forever, and most owners are old people so you can be pretty well assured that they were well taken care of!!!!! Its not a go fast car like the eldorado or seville, but it is still a really nice car.... The sound system is really good too..... And, if you want to upgrade it a little, aftermarket parts are easy to find via the impala SS!!!

 

[elwesso]

95 is probably the best model year to come by........ Right, kevin??

 

[Ralph]

How does the "Sixty-Special" fit into all of this? I think it was optional only on the Fleetwood? I would like to know what was on this model compared to a regular Fleetwood? (other than the fancy heated and cooled seats) Wouldn't the 60 special be the ultimate Caddy, then??

 

[kcnewell]

That's a matter of opinion.....I don't like Fleetwoods at all. ( Too big and clunky I.M.O. ) So it might be the ultimate to some and not to others. It's all so subjective.....You really can't say which is better 'cause it all depends on individual taste in cars!

 

[Ralph]

Yeah, but option-wise, the Fleetwood had the most, right? I'm not saying it's better than any other model, personally I like the last Eldorados the most. But the 60 special should be the tops. And remember KC, to most people on this Forum, my car is small 'cause it's FWD, not big 'n' clunky.

 

[kcnewell]

I'm talking about the big ol' boaty four doors that GRAND PA'S drive......Yuk!

 

[Ralph]

I bet you don't like the Buick Roadmaster, or Impala's, Caprice's then?

 

[kcnewell]

I'm not a big Buick fan, Impala's just a Chevy, Caprice? LOL!!

 

[BeelzeBob]

I don't know if I want to get the Fleetwood because it may just be too big for what I need. I know I said I wanted BIG but I'm used to driving my Vette and before that - an ETC.. So I think the DeVille will be okay.. But I will keep it in mind. If the price is right - I just think I like the way the DeVille looks ALITTLE better..

I can't believe the NEW DeVille is basically the same size inside as the STS - which is basically the same size as the ETC.. What the heck is going on in the world? This is why everyone is buying SUV's...

The last BIG car I had was a 1979 Sedan DeVille.. That was BIG to me..

 

[Katshot]

FYI: The Fleetwood 60 Special was NOT a big RWD boat. It was offered on the smaller FWD platform. And it was just a slightly stretched FWD Fleetwood.