Drew Dowdell

1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue

Funny how mercedes requires no "protection" from taxi sales, but Cadillac "needs" such from black car sales. Ignorance again. Mercedes doesn't have the fleet sales here, and in Europe it doesn't hurt them. American and Japanese luxury makes have not made any impact on Europe. Mercedes is strong in China also, they are posting record sales and record profits year after year. Cadillac has a fragile image, a lot of luxury buyers in the USA see Cadillac as the old person's brand still. The XTS has an old person's image, it should be turned into a Park Avenue Buick, let them use that for the livery car even. Cadillac should have 2 retail sedans that cost the same though, that doesn't make sense. Watch out SMK. Here in Pittsburgh more and more black car services are using E-classes for airport duty. I just saw two brand new E-classes with the transportation permit sticker on the bumper this morning on the way into downtown. The XTS doesn't have an old-person's image... it has almost no image at all. It is relatively unknown to anyone outside of automotive forums. GM does next to zero advertising on it.

Interesting, I didn't know that about white rubber. I always thought they only used it for the white wall part of the tire, not the whole thing.

I think it's the same unit the Chryslers are getting but turned longways.

The only fleet(wood?) XTS I've seen, the primary passenger didn't care about brand perception anymore....

15s for my Toronado are difficult to find... especially in white wall. The problem is that it is the same tire size as the old S-10/Sonoma, so most of the tires that I do find in the proper size are actually truck tires and not at all suitable for a vintage luxury coupe... eventually I'm sure I'll have to go to Coker tire, but that is a long way off. I have okay tires on it now with low miles, but I'm not exactly happy with them.

It depends on what a customer considers better. I prefer the comfort ride of the air Springs on the XTS and on the VSport model, a quick button push will tighten up the magnetic ride control to be as tight as the CTS. Only on the track would you find any difference between the two in performance mainly owing to the XTS's awd and CTS's lack of it. I also prefer the room of the XTS. Nothing wrong with a CTS, the XTS is just more me.

I can bump that out if people like, we just have too many tabs at the top

It an Electra Park Ave... which means it has to be an '87. It was the only year that had both composite head lamps and the 2 door. Yes, the earlier K-Car was available as a coupe... but I was thinking of this. And there was never a 2-door model of that. The 2-door Lebaron in these years was actually on Chrysler's J-Body and was much sleeker... as far as late 80s Chryslers go.

And just saw this during a quick run for groceries. I wasn't wearing my glasses and at first I thought it was a 2-door LeBaron K-Car until I realized they never actually built such a beast.

HAH where did you get that!? Yeah, I live in the snow belt and have a very steep driveway to climb out of. My old Avalanche was a Z71 but I still needed 4x4 to get out if there was anything more than a dusting of snow. I don't do any off-roading today, the CR-V, Enclave, and Toronado just aren't into that sort of thing, but I do enjoy some very mild off-roading when I have the right truck for the job. It was actually the reason I didn't mind the tupperware that came on my 2003 Avalanche... less paint to worry about scratching. No, the primary duties for whatever vehicle I get will be some heavy home improvement type stuff and then some long haul trips 350 miles across the state twice a month.

The interesting thing about Buick is that once the new Verano arrives (not the pending refresh, but the all-new one), they will likely have a lineup where 100% of the models have AWD optional. This could be an interesting marketing standpoint for Buick. Edit: Doh! Forgot one coming model that won't get AWD for a while.... oh well... so much for that idea.

This was out doing some last minute Christmas shopping the weekend before.

Interesting, I just saw the same thing but in fantastic shape.

So it sounds like Z-71 isn't really something I need to look for in a used Avalanche ... it's fine if I find one that has it, but no deal breaker if I find one that doesn't. I would like that G80 though... and it seems to be hard to find on non-Z71 Avalanches (or at least not shown in the listing)

My guess is that it moves production to the Lacrosse line and becomes a livery only vehicle... which is an utter shame because it is a fantastic vehicle especially in VSport form... it just isn't the image Cadillac is shooting for and I understand that.

Can you replace it with a LED? Then it would outlive you!

I've already noticed that for older 15" sizes and I know my friend with a B Body Roadmaster has trouble finding proper sizes

yeah, I'm not even sure I would call it a flagship really. It is just a higher level car for Cadillac to offer over the CTS. The Escalade and CTS-V will still be the flagships for now. That's not to say that I don't expect fantastic things from this car, but if Johan is already talking about a CT9... well then...

Neat. I haven't driven a Z-71 yet, but the standard models are fantastic over the road.

Gearing and torque. The 307 powered ones at least are fine up until about 45 mph and then they run out of breath.

Decades off..

'82 or '83 Right on all counts on my car. It wouldn't be for this car in particular. I'd start with a car that already had an overdrive. My 85 Continental with the fuel injected 5.0 and overdrive was capable of 25mpg highway as long as I kept it at 65 mph. That would be fairly acceptable for me. Neither of my E cars could come close to that.... And my first one had an overdrive.

You can pick up off lease Impala LTZ for cheap

There isn't a huge price difference and you do get more base equipment and such for the extra money.