caddycruiser

It didn't sizzle me at first...but pictures aren't giving the real effect of it, at all. It's classy, crisp, and big Cadillac without being over the edge as much. Maybe boring to some, but we'll see in more time. I trust Peter DeLorenzo when he calls it his best in show, period. That doesn't happen unless it's THERE, and as he said tonight on AutoLine in reference to forum & web chatter (such as "it looks like a Taurus") you simply have no idea until you see this car in person, from the shape to the sheer size of it. Can't wait for it, Epsilon II AWD & all. Great. The STS never sold, the DTS is old, and this seems great, hopefully to sell in big numbers. http://www.autoextremist.com/ The Autoextremist Best in Show: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but Ed Welburn’s troops at GM Design have been on a roll for several years now, and they’ve done it yet again with the sensational Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept. Wonderfully proportioned and craftily rendered, the surface detailing alone on this machine is nothing short of a clinic on how it’s done. Combine that with an interior design and execution that’s simply second to none, and the XTS Platinum has everything a car worthy of “best in show” accolades must have from where we sit. The Cadillac XTS Platinum not only has a majestic presence, it’s clearly the direct spiritual successor to the magnificent Sixteen concept from several years ago. The XTS Platinum will allow Cadillac to take its rightful place again as the ultimate expression of American luxury, and the new Standard of the World. Not nitpicking a proportion here or there, just want to see more. It's not a big Lacross, Malibu, etc., it's a BIG Cadillac, and one done great. Zeta can't be everything and, honestly, for this car, Sigma aside, I think EP-II with the DI 3.6L, Hybrid and whatever else are good moves. Just my take

This is a Zeta platform car...ahem...not an old F-body. Even FE2 suspension as on the V6, it's quite firm and planted, largely not feeling any different than the FE3 SS because of the lighter V6. The Camaro doesn't "melt" to the road as well as the G8 does, which many have commented on, and can get a little bobbity at times or not as natural at the limit, but a Zeta is a Zeta and there's a natural balance in this chassis--it's just been nipped and tucked quite a bit to make it fit the Camaro lines. Otherwise as someone asked, winter it's not bad at all--my G8 GT tracks like a tank, especially after new A/S GY tires--the main issue is just the 20" summer Pirelli's. Once it gets cold, the summer treads get hard & glassy and start to loose grip let alone with any moisture. Not the best in that regard, but with proper tires it's such a balanced chassis and with Stabilitrak, etc. it trucks right along.

Ahahaha... Just sitting in traffic at a red light, and looking around me, 4 ladies in an Acura TSX behind the ball'd Vette & beside me were looking and chuckling, others in a minivan were pointing and I think trying to distract the back seat kids...just perfect. Add a vag to a Toyota, one typically going 37mph in a 55 with Dilbert behind the wheel and ta-da...good idea

It's one of those things no one ever could figure out, but I remember first discussing it on a Saturn Aura forum after a member working at a dealer noted it as a 2009 vs. 2008 difference at the time. Then more and more people did. Can't confirm totally, but it sure seems like decontenting you can't see...same as the triple laminated windshields on things like the Malibu/Aura. Another noise quelling factor noticed by some & not others. Having an '08 & '09 copy of the same model for a few months, I could confirm it. Alas...Roger...any word on anything they can't get for the car yet, parts wise?

Awe, I felt the same way when I had a '07 Malibu 1LT 2.2L for a month while my Fleetwood was being rebuilt. It was no Caddy, but cool old car to new car with new everything, comfy, smooth, efficient, new electronics, etc. and a lot more front legroom had me okay to be in the 'Bu. I enjoyed it. Boring as hell, but it was nice to see what having a perfectly perfect daily appliance of a car can be like, rather than a special. Kinda disappointed to give it up and get the Fleetwood back right before Christmas '07, but I adjusted Good review on the Impala. I still miss the 3.5L/4-spd from my G6, what a little torquer that sips. Vroom. As for the tinny doors...you're not imagining things. I don't know what it was specifically, but going from '08->'09+, the same thing happened to the Malibu. Well, marginally so, but something was different. Just not the same or as "whoosh" and I swore there was always just a hair more noise that got in my '09 vs. mom's '08. Think, decontenting, insulation or otherwise, under the skin and you'd have the right idea. Likely what happened to Impala too, insulating parts just got removed rather than the actual sheetmetal design changing.

Well, you know...just takes some extra momentum in the wrong direction. Split...eek...

Going a bit fast, someone pulled out I think, he hit ice on already cold & hard summer tires...and...ta-da...splitsky. Thankfully, from what I've read, just a scratch on the noggin, as you might be able to tell from the driver's side. It split just close enough through the passenger. Lots of these have been meeting such fates, but actually, not most because of the driver. Tons of rear enders, things falling on the cars, T-boned, etc. Matter of fact, a local yellow one that got a crumpled up butt was reconstructed where my brother works & he decided to bring home a full V6 dual exhaust system they removed & would have scrapped...not the faintest clue what he'll do with it, but apparently scrap for other exhaust systems. Of course. He is related to my father... There have been a lot of "holy..." G8 splitters, rip in halfers, and such, like any other car, too...

Do here too...now a month in. WOW, that was a quick month. I told her to "drive it a little hard sometimes, break in properly..." and the other day when I was around I heard that SIDI 3.6L shriek, gravel flying, and VROOM down the street. Apparently she just drives like that now, caressing it like her newest baby down the road, but enjoying every minute of power. Note to self. NEVER, EVER, NEVER, EVER recommend a 4-cyl anything to mom or dad again based on "peppy" and "more efficient". Thanks to the Malibu, however terrific a car it was, they'll never go for it. This thing...unpractical and all...it's the bees knees. She was still debating stripes over the holiday too. My brother was showing her pictures of different varieties, she decided then that she liked the "hockey stick" one down the side and asked him "can you get that painted for me?" because he's a collision tech. I had to step in and "WHOA...wait a minute..." because you can't turn that back, said there are GM OEM decals if she really wanted it, even just to see. The result? "Then again...I just really like it all silver, the way it is..."...

Hah! It's one vehicle he had I know NO story on...he just had it & has a few pictures of it in the garage with a chain swapping the engine. Might just have been a flipper. He did a LOT of this stuff 20some years ago. The pictures still amaze me, vs. what he accomplishes now, although now there's another job involved

Scope it out...scope it out...I hate when co-workers get new cars and don't tell me or anyone about it

Same here. The frigid has me worried...clock ticking to get the car cleaned, not looking good. I could come dirty, but frostbitten & dirty...eh Solid maybe. Watching weather, daily.

Good stuff. Having ordered various pieces for these cars in recent years...I think one thing unavailable are the "straps" that attach the chrome panels to the body. Actually, several of them were unavailable for years now, as I couldn't get them when rebuilding my '95 either. The body shop did great work piecing together a few key old ones, even broken, masterfully. If that's it, not a huge deal, and at least there's only 1 or 2 on a front fender. Seems like most else is good to go. Ah...an Impala. Well, at least you should have a lot more front legroom Otherwise, eh, but GM, so not bad.

Cool, thanks! I knew they had come up in conversation at one point, but couldn't remember all of them. Nice to know...wish I could get more of my grandfather's oldies. Will have to dig next time I visit.

You mean they freak out over snow in Missouri as much as Delaware? Wow... ...then again...it must actually be a really limited amount of regions in the US that are "schooled" in white stuff...PA, New England, midwest (or not...), etc. Otherwise, worthless

In box #1, I had these too, and if I remember correctly from many years back, they belonged to my great great grandparents? I couldn't tell you what's what, however.

Didn't fully realize until I saw this a few times how well dad staged these 2 pics, or at least the first one. Cool car...and now that I also remember it...he had it through getting married, they drove it to Delaware at least once, and then I think it met its fate one night via a really big deer. He got it home, but it was too damaged to bother trying to get back in shape after 15 years or so of PA rust and such, and it actually became a backyard ornament at our house in PA under a tarp. Thinking back, even really young, I distinctly remember him dismantling/cutting it apart piece by piece and even helping move the engine or part of it somehow...sad...sort of... ...and no WONDER he despises any kind of mudflaps, splash guards, etc. now...

A Sunbird! My babysitter had one of those...light blue...coupe...mid/late 80's...then they traded it for a silver '92 Grand Am, the first of the new design. Either car, they enjoyed. I remember "smelling" the new '92 Grand Am, hah, my first new car experience as a small child How, again, did they go from SunBIRD to SunFIRE...? Was there a valid reason for that at the time? The fact that there was a model year gap?

Wow, I, uh, blocked up another OCN thread...didn't I...

...more of the ones dad bought, fixed up and either drove a little or just flipped for profit... Mercury Cougar: Ford Galaxie: Ford Ranchero: MG B GT: Datsun truck...odd, but even did an engine swap, etc.:

Buick Wildcat...this was grandma's, but in the box. Apparently quite the beast and they'd tow the camper trailer with it to the beach every summer they had it: The ones dad bought, fixed up and either drove a little or just flipped for profit... '57 Chevy...did most of a ground up, an engine swap from a full size Blazer, Mopar seats, etc. Turned out cool. I never understood the "front" thing...but he had a reason:

...more that dad actually had for a long time... '70 Dodge Coronet. Bought it needing restored, in original olive green, then eventually it became this. I loved this car. SO cool. Loved riding in it, going to shows, etc. '68 Dodge Coronet 440. Just bought it at the end of the summer...needs a lot...a work in progress...majorly:

The ones dad actually drove for a long time... '70 Chevelle: '69 Chevy Truck: '79 GMC Van. Had this from '94-04, pre Roadmaster. Bought it in need, fixed it to very nice then let it degrade to crap over the next 10 years:

There's more...I know there are...including mom's Monte Carlo and various rides from the grandparents, but here we go on the 'rents rides as I found in one box. Seen before, but what a treasure trove. The full link I'll keep adding to: http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/Old%20Cars/ And some pictures, mostly dad's, but we'll start with some of mom's... Plymouth Aero...she had 2 of these back to back: '89 Chevy Corsica...traded the '83 Monte Carlo for this "family car" in '92. Had it for 5 years.

Hah! And back then I apparently had INSANE thick hair too...where'd it go? Lots of memories from that '69 truck. Like riding in back with a dog and trying not to step in one of the many holes all over the bed floor, for pavement view. Jeez...I just realized someone's white briefs are on the clothes line out back...how classy... ...nevermind;-)

Eh, I could take a winter in the 50's with sun, just enough for a hoodie. Other than that, sun me...