balthazar

>>"You're still not being realistic."<< No; you're not getting it. Cadillac has changed drastically. The average age has dropped notably and sales have shot up dramatically in the last 8-some years. This is not a coincidence nor a random occurance. It is younger consumers reacting to a now completely competitive product. That wasn't there for the most part 10 years ago. THAT is what is and what will continue to draw consumers to the marque. >>"If they didn't appreciate this when they were younger, why would they when they are older?"<< Because the product has changed drastically, and for the better! It's a brand new ballgame. >>"They aren't just going to wake up one day and say, "I'm going to buy American from now on.""<< But for some reason you seem to think they'll say 'I'm not going to buy that attractive, driver-oriented sport sedan because it's American.'

>>"The reason Pontiac V8s aren't around anymore is that they couldn't be cleaned up enough even with FI to meet emissions standards."<< You know the reason is that the 14th floor pulled the plug on Divisional Engineering and implimented the "corporate" motor; why even post the above?

The only Pontiac motors with FI were in '57-58. There are no more Pontiac V-8s after '81- the rest were Chevrolet/corporate motors. I was thinking more of PFI; TBI should be doable on a PMD intake. You need to tap into the enthusiast base (because a few undoubtedly have done it) and you will get your answers. Again; it's really not overly cost-effective or of particular benefit unless your sister is going to hold on to her 'bird for many many years. There's a mountain of advice & experience available making a carb system work like butter & extremely little retro-fitting TBI to a PMD mill. Your choice.

I've have/had 2 very long running ones- one based off my last name & a 'cartoony' one from a previous job. Some old friends still use the first one; I'm fine with that. Then there's the anatomy-based one.... :wink:

I haven't seen what's involved part-wise with the Holley FI kit, if it involves an intake manifold (which I don't see how it couldn't, then no; a SBC kit will not work on a Pontiac motor. Chevy & Pontiac V-8 parts do not interchange. A good-condition & well-tuned 4bbl set-up is in no way less 'streetable' than a FI set-up- take it from a guy with as many miles under his belt in carb'd vehicles as FI. Check: http://www.nitrostreet.com/efi.html http://www.amesperf.com/ or ask on the boards at: www.classicapontiac.com www.performanceyears.com

I've yet to read that a land rover or G-wagon is 'wasting a valuable parking space'. Wonder why that is... oh, right; because

9-yr old instant impression: "Ugliest thing ever; uglier than those Lego-block cars." (he means the scion x-cube). I shudder to think of the upcoming accident scenes involving these wheelbarrow-sized cars.

If that's the case, C&D needs to either unilaterally blast every truck they test or stop f'ing testing trucks!! Print magazine circulations are dwindling; watch the desperation level rise inversely.

That's a rather outmoded mindset (largest = bestest). The Seville has been above the deVille in the heirarchy since '76, and the STS is still above the DTS today. Don't tell me it's price range doesn't reach above the DTS's. Even the Eldorado was higher on the ladder than the DTS... and it too was smaller. Makes sense, right?Yes; the DTS a bit of an anomoly, but I would hate to see Cadillac turn a cold shoulder to that consumer base; I'd much prefer a gradual 'turning' of that demographic, and with that in mind I'll 'allow' the DTS to continue without hassle. The previous gen was a real sweet design to boot, tho I'm not as hot for the new one. That leaves us with the current STS. I do not know offhand the projected or the actual sales numbers for it, but I sure see a steady number of them here in BMW/MercedesLand. They look more upscale on the road than the CTS to my eye, but I have not investigated them up close yet. Seems very compatable and very in step with the CTS- more stately and polished, more mature, even tho the rear end is a lil flat.

Is the DTS especially aspirational?? It's certainly not the Cadillac flagship- never has been. How are Lexus' SC and LS doing, number-wise? Aren't they less than 10K per year each? By sales, aren't around 50% of lexus sales SUVs? Is the RX somehow aspirational? Didn't think so. What model Cadillacs are selling more than others is really immaterial. The marque has grown their sales in the past 10 years at an enviable clip. It's one thing to have a sparkling reputation, a loyal following, a drooling media and lead the segment (3-series), but it's quite another to come out of nowhere with a new product, take a huge bite out of the segment and moves 60K units annually by it's 3rd year (CTS). Give credit where credit is due.

Funny how opinions work, eh?Seriously, I've never cared for the spindy-spoke rim look, esp those where the spokes get narrower towards the outside. They look weak & dainty/effeminate & expose too much of the brakes. Maybe on an exotic with big rims and big expensive brakes, but it's posing on a FWD econobox, IMO. The Cobalt's are a bit flat, but I prefer them proportion-wise over the needle-thin spokes on the acura.

Either they were trying to annoy you specifically... or they merely wanted to offer a wheel that was better looking than these awful rims:

bcs296= >>"GET REAL.... You aren't understanding something: Right now, the old people who drive Cadillacs drive them because of what Cadillac was in their times."<< And what of the younger buyers that have dramatically dropped Cadillac's Average Buyer Age by roughly 10 years over the last 10 years? Why are they buying? Stories from their grandparents, I suppose? >>"In the future, Audi/MB/BMW/Lexus/Infiniti drivers aren't just going to start buying Cadillacs because they "got old.""<< How about because they appreciate a dynamic, quality product that's thoroughly competitive with an American edge? No; couldn't be that.

You obviously never saw it in person. I did, I found it quite architecturally beautiful, esp the lobby. Designed by the famous Albert Kahn, who did a vast quantity of industrial/administrative buildings, it has a lot of detail that's tasteful and grand at the same time. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985.The red neon atop the building is gone now, unfortunately. Small shot of the detail inside: from above:

What were you expecting/hoping to see, razor?

If we were talking about toyota sales volume, I could see something on the order of "5" sales, but we're in the Big Leauges WRT GM sales levels; a V-6 is worth the cost of development. Choices is part & parcel of why the GMT800 achieved such high marketshare.

tannersoc- Take a look at Cadillac's sales & marketshare in -say- 1998 vs. today, compare mercedes/lexus/bmws marketshare performance over the same period, and you will realize how the implication that Cadillac is not right in the thick of the segment is laughable.

What; it's impossible? Doesn't dovetail neatly into the stereotype??

And that's called what..........?That's right: media bias.

Well let's see...., in that you've come out repeatedly and adamantly against anything remotely 'retro', that smiley either means absolutely nothing or that you're absolutely twisted.

Are you asking for Buick's initial location, or General Motors'? The Buick, Complete History shows a photo that's captioned 'the first General Motors headquarters' at 127 Woodward Ave in Detroit (and the building is so lettered in the pic). Chronologically, the pic is placed in discussion of 1909-1910 text. Now, Durant had more than one office, of course a prominent one in Flint in the early years. Which one, if any, was considered the 'headquarters' of GM- I'm not sure. Functionally, the headquarters was wherever Durant was. But I can't substantiate official "GM" headquarters beyond the above at this writing; it's the only visually-identified building I've seen a pic of yet this early. 'Headquarters' can refer to either/or the location of the legal organization (GM was organized in NJ in 1908, but I've yet to hear they ever maintained a physical presence in the state), or the physical offices. Ground was broken for Buick's first automotive manufacturing in September 1903 on West Kearsley St in Flint, across the street from the Flint Wagon Works. But in Jan 1904, The Buick Board voted to dissolve the Buick Motor Company "headquartered in Detroit" and organized a new firm with the same name, "headquartered in Flint". A new, much larger facility was begun in 1905, not sure of it's address, but it had an 'office' building prominently up front. In 1905, a Buick print ad stated the company had factories in Jackson & Flint, but the bold type said 'Buick Motor Co, Jackson MI". It all gets confusing rather quickly. If anyone has the time, there are a GREAT & fascinating series of threads on early MI auto factories and 'what's there' today at http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/6790/78791.html Myself, with a dial-up connection, have only gotten thru about a third of the threads and I need to go back to the start and take some notes.

Yes- it's bloated in appearance. Wheels/tires look disproportionally small. The way the grille 'overlaps' the headlights is really awkward. Mirrors (since we were 'treated' to a close-up) are ungainly & cumbersome-looking compared to even the GMT800 manually-extendable mirrors. GMT800 Tahoe beltline seems obvious in it's inspiration. Overly-thick C-pillar will undoubedly contribute to blind spot. 2 completely different door handles on the 4-dr are ridiculous. Rear fender scallop is a bizarre optical illusion. Really; this couldn't be farther from groundbreaking and presents no valid arguement whatsoever for switching. Wonder if the media will pick up on it this time around?

Or is it more 'sort of Ford'? OMG you are twisted. Allow me to quote a well-known message board poster: You need to get your eyes checked!!

I'm not a huge fan of this generation of big Buicks, but there's nothing stylistically wrong with it, just on the plain side. This treatment, tho, is not great: the rims suck ass, the car is riding too high (inches higher than stock!), and any convert with 600+ HP needs a hard boot; not a folded top. White car on white background doesn't help the impact here either. I hope it's running Buick power. Buick was working on turbocharging even back in this era but decided there may have been certain longevity issues with 800+ HP (liability not a concern??), so they offered 360 instead.

Daily: ice tea. Never: coffee. Often: milk from cereal bowl, tho I am trying to eliminate milk as much as possible.