balthazar

We can all guess at what will or will not happen in the future, but I wouldn't call that "reality". Here's another point to ponder: BMW, mercedes and lexus sales have all been on a steady increase for many years. Meanwhile, Cadillac was on a steady decline for many years, coming off the luxury segment volume record (that has yet to be even approached).... but Cadillac reversed that trend completely, posting larger volume percentage gains than it's competitors in recent years, I am certain. That alone speaks volumes for the degree of change at Cadillac vs. the competition.

I'm mixed on this. No, I don't live in or near Flint, and I do not challenge the decline Flint has seen, but there are unquestionably some emotional (vs. factual) statements in the opening post ("How can you wonder why you're losing sales to foreign competitors when you have shown so little loyalty to your home town?"). Would I like to see Buick still in Flint- of course so. Do I think Flint is neccesarily 'owed' another 100 years of auto production? It has to make sense from a business standpoint.... does it??? When Buick sold over a million units per year, Buick City was completely vital to that. With Buick volume in the -what... 275K range??- now, there is no way anything close to that 80,000 workers would be required. What it was will never be again. But that's to be expected- there are no guarantees and very very few manufacturing facilities ever last as long as Buick City did- it beat the odds many times over as it is.

classicalpontiac.com & performanceyears.com both have active classified sections. poci.org should, tho I don't know offhand if it's in fact online (I get the monthly as a club member). There's always ebaymotors, of course.

1933 Cadillac Fleetwood Aerodynamic Coupe, shown at the World's Fair.

>>"I think with temprature changes and changes in humidity a FI car is goin to be easier to start up and drive than a carburated one. "<< While there may well be a measurable difference, please be advised that it is by no means difficult to start a well-tuned carb'd car regardless of the weather- cars & trucks were only carb'd for like 80 years or so. You do not fuss with carbs regularly- they don't care to sit for a few years without running- but beyond that they are hands-free. I drove 2 different 28-ish yr old cars with 4bbls as daily drivers thru some very tough Jersey winters- no motor/carb problems whatsoever. I rebuilt the one since it sat for at least 3 years, but the other, which sat less than 1 yr, I never touched. It's not an issue.

>>"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.