caddycruiser

Yes, I have, actually. That's the combo we have on our white '93, and it looks great, but I just think the machined-face finish blends in a bit too much with the pewter/gray paint on this car. If you check out this pic from Sal again, you'll see what I mean: He did the same swap. Plus, for as little as I can get a used set, I'd rather have the slightly flashier chrome-plated versions--still stock, as they were an option then, just a little more flash. Plus, I've just always wanted to have a set of those wheels if I ever bought another one of those cars--they just look terrific. I think I could make out well, actually, if I sold the set of wheels and nearly new expensive Michelins that are on it now, and then bought a new set of whitey's and the chromes--wouldn't make money, but it shouldn't cost me a whole lot extra, as long as I could sell what's on it now. Yet there's still something about the SS wheel combo that looks REALLY cool...more expensive, but cool.

Never thought about that. Looks cool, but not as ritzy as 100% Caddy would. Keep the comments coming :AH-HA_wink:

WOW...the voting is 45% for whitewalls and maybe chromes, but now tied equally at 27% between keeping it as is and doing SS wheels. Hmm...interesting so far B)

Trust me, I've seen such a thing photo-shopped and it looked AWFUL. Then again, I've always loved the original cladded Av as is, since I think it was one vehicle they actually got right from day one, but still. Wrap it completely around the wheels, and it looks pretty dumb...like it's just up there for the heck of it.

Somehow I don't either. GM almost never gets a fully beautiful design out with correct proportions and details that ages well, but the first gen Aurora is certainly one they did. I could never believe how it even looked cooler than the 2nd gen, which was nice, but lacked the same level of presence.

Actually, in the last year or so, Z71's seem to have taken over as the most popular choice with Tahoes and Suburbans--especially since they started offering the package in conjunction with 2wd. I know quite a few people from VA and southward that have one of those. The main reason, I think, for the popularity is that all the little details like a monochromatic paint job, burlier roof rack, and different wheels just makes a somewhat bland truck look a LOT cooler. 95% of the people who buy them could care less about any off-road suspension bits, as that's not really what the SUV's were intended for in the first place--they can do it, but most of the engineering time and $$ went into on-road performance. All that said, I'm anxious to see how the new Z71 bits dress up the new trucks :AH-HA_wink:

Actually, I do understand that one because, odd styling or not, having such great pricing structures and selling right at those MSRP's (just like Saturn did a long time ago), in addition to dealers that were set up to cater to the younger crowd and offer a ton of accessories, and having vehicles that drive quite well, are economical, and have high levels of build quality....they're VERY attractive for a lot of people. Around where we live, there's honestly a higher number of older (like retired and beyond) folks who drive them than the younger people. One, just as an example, came in to the bank I work at part-time and when someone told him his car looked really cool (a silver xA, the somewhat rounded one), he started smiling, said he loved it, that it got 40mpg, and was the best car he ever owned--a man in his mid-70's. Not to completely hijack this Malibu thread with Altima and Scion stories, but just had to bring that point up! :AH-HA_wink:

Good question--the success of that car always amazed me. I remember when they first came out in '02 and after looking at a few, I came to the conclusion that the overall quality was about the WORST I had ever seen...door and door panels that seemed about an inch thick, TOTAL, and closed with the security of a piece of cardboard, dash and console bits that even tupperware would be appalled by, etc., etc. Then the reviews, highlighting the awesome drivetrain and general handling, but then saying just about everything else was below dimestore quality. YET, and despite all of this, EVERYONE (okay, not you or me, but a LOT of other people) wanted one. I remember when I started a new job at a bank, and one of the younger ladies (early 20's) came over to talk to someone next to me about something, and said "Well I just hope I can afford one of those new Altimas before they redesign them--I love them". I was speechless, to say the least. They've improved a TON after the '05 refresh, but still come across as very thin, flimsy, and cheaply built pieces...that just happen to have a lot of power and crisp handling. Weird, just weird... If GM could come out with a car that got that kind of reaction, but wasn't such a piece of garbage, that'd REALLY give them a boost. Actually, if they can do that with the next Malibu it'd be awesome, especially if the Aura builds up some positive momentum for it...

Amen! Though I think the Lucerne is a great car in general, there's still nothing there that really makes EVERYONE take notice. That's really what they need, but they never seem to fully figure it out. I've seen a few at a dealer, one of each model, and the only one that really stood out to me was a black/neutral CXS with chromes, but even then, it was still "nice for a Buick" in my mind. Compared to the LeSabre, for instance, this car is in a completely different universe, but the homely front end and general soft look to the body, the continuing 3.8L use, etc., still leave quite a margin for improvement--a margin they HOPEFULLY will take care of in the future. As for the Lacrosse, don't even get me started...it only looks DECENT if you get a full-boat, loaded CXS model in a proper color like black...beyond that, it looks like some kind of 6 year old Taurus that got shrunken a bit, some puke-inducing Buick wheels thrown on, an off-roader suspension height, and a mis-matched interior. Driving wise, not bad, but certainly nothing great. Much better cars than they're predecessors, but that's not saying much. It'd also be nice, just for once, if the only really "nice" models weren't just the most fully loaded, expensive trim lines--not saying put 18" chrome alloys and 2-tone leather on the base Lacrosse CX, but for god's sake, ditch the gawdy hubcaps and mousefur cloth, please! Not every car has to be a carbon copy of the 300, but at least it stands out and caught attention from EVERYONE from day one...something derivative, ho-hum blobs of cars will never do.

Well, because crooked doors or nasty interior materials are in a different league than something like what you see in that picture, which is an INTENDED design feature. Not sure exactly why they did it, but it clearly isn't a "screw-up" per say. Now if the gate hung funny, with weird gaps on each side when closed, maybe...but not that. Basically, weird design doesn't equal poor attention to details.

Well, it's interesting, but it doesn't really "knock your socks off", at least not in pictures. Doesn't come across as something that would have people gawking at you on the street or asking all sorts of questions...a few people "in the know" would notice, but that's about it. To everyone else, it just looks like a goofy, uglier version of an old Vette, and that has a LOT to do with it not getting more $$$.

So the whole factor that it IS a Chevy with different stickers and a new snap-in grille piece doesn't register with people? They must REALLY love the Pontiac image or something...

Sixty8panther...HAHA, I was just waiting for a comment like that to come up! Wire wheels are pretty cool on these cars, but not exactly my taste, so I'll say no to that for now. mute...that's actually the same kind of way I feel about that combo--not typical classic Caddy, but still looks OEM, in a really cool way. Plus they'd be a lot easier to clean than all the little openings in the Caddy wheels.

The units in the Rendezvous and Rainier are actually the same size and wiring wise, those are just two different versions you have pictured there--the Rendezvous one older and the Rainier's newer--so the faces are organized a little different. So, either one from the Rendezvous or Rainier *should* fit, but the wiring might take a little figuring out.

Interesting breakdown so far: 17% to leave it as is 50% to put on a set of whitewalls (and also, maybe, chromed stockers) 33% to do a set of SS wheels So, the general consensus is to go full stock with some WW's, but anyone else want to comment on why or why not to go with the SS wheel/Deville cap combo? Like I said, I like the look but not the extra cost, but still wonder what others here think of the looks of it?

Good lord...why do they try so hard to REALLY give the Canadians some excessively pathetic choices? Is there any real reason....like a re-badged Chevy as a Pontiac fetish up there, or what?

Yeah, I know. They're VERY expensive and, from what I've read, of horrible quality. A lot of people still use them though. But I am sort of wondering what good choices I'll have. This past summer, we put a set of 70k warranty Kumho Touring 795 A/S whitewalls on the '93 and I really liked them...until I bought this '95 and noticed, #1) how much smaller they looked than my Michelins, even though they're the same size, and #2) how mine feels tighter on the road, which could be a lot of things, but is also partly the tires. I'd get another set of Kumho's based on their price alone (the lowest) and their general quality, but I'm not so sure I want something undersized after driving on these great Michelins. Only other good choices, I think, right now are Yokohamas or Coopers.

Not that I haven't posted these a million times already, but thought I'd "refresh" a bit on each of the 3 B&D's in the driveway: #1) '92 Roadmaster Limited sedan, White w/ Red leather, every single option available including Tow Package. Bought by my father in March '03 with 183k on it. Now has 193k and is going strong and looks great. #2) '93 Fleetwood Brougham, Cotillion White w/ Garnet Red leather (VERY rare), very "basic" optioned, with only the Brougham package being added. Bought by my father in July '03, after he sold his '69 Chevelle for it, with 88.5k on it. Now has 103k and looks great, with its main mission as the "spare" car in the driveway, used by my brother to get to school or my mom when her Suburban is in the shop. #3) '95 Fleetwood Brougham, Medium Marblehead Metallic w/ Lt. Neutral leather, only a couple options like the Brougham package, Security package (alarm & fuel door lock), and full-size spare. Just bought by me last week with 117k on it and in beautiful shape, even better than our '93. So, in essence, it all started with the Buick and has only grown since then...

One thing, as a past owner, with the whole Midgate and rear window issue: While unlatching and lifting the window out to put it wherever (either on the designated "holster" on the Midgate or in the bed), wasn't the easiest, it did afford one VERY well thought out design issue--if you needed to extend the bed space/length, but also wanted to keep both the bed and cab closed out to the elements, you could keep the window in place, where it sealed up against the bed cover panels, and just drop the Midgate. Having a power roll-down window is easier, but it also completely eliminates being able to do that, since you can't just keep the window in place by itself and the Midgate down...unless the GM engineers have come up with something similarly as clever to incorportate both features.

Nice, and I LOVE the non-4wd factor...also the Summit White :AH-HA_wink: That's all we ever buy living near the beach in Delaware, even though no dealer around here ever carries anything but 4wd's. I don't have the first clue where people even use it, other than one friend saying "Well, when it rains or snows I put it on Auto". Okay...but we've never even so much as slipped much at all, with just 2wd and a locker. Mom's ride, Summit White '04 LS 2wd:

GMTruckGuy74... You know why the last car looks so much like the one you saw? Because it IS that car! It's interesting to see what other people say, especially when it comes to such a rare, oddball car like this. Right now I'm swaying a little more towards the chrome Brougham wheel w/ whitewall. Actually, like you mentioned, the standard machined-face wheels with ww's would also look nice, and they really do on our white '93--but with the pewter/silver coloring of this car, I think they blend in just a bit too much. A factor the chrome ones would eliminate. Here's what I mean, looking at a pic of Sal's car when he first bought it (before the chromes): My goal is to keep it largely stock, with the exception of a few minor things like a K&N intake system and swapping in a Roadmaster climate control unit, since the Caddy one is awful. No real suspension or exhaust changes, as I like it the soft, soothing character it has now, combined with the roaring Vette power under the hood. Fun combo :AH-HA_wink:

Haha, thanks. Yeah, I've had those "borrowed" pics around for quite a while too. Didn't you end up putting a set of the chromes on your car when you had it? What tires did you use? I still really love the SS/Deville wheel combo too, just for an added bit of sport on this big boat, but don't like the fact that both the 17" wheels and tires would be quite a bit more expensive to buy than the 15's would. Don't worry about the upkeep...EVERY car in the driveway is damned near immaculate, even though we don't have a garage, and this one will only be better because it's all mine :AH-HA_wink:

I agree. I'm all for keeping the 5.3L, as it seems to have hit on a perfect combo of size/power/economy/durability, but see absolutely no reason for the 4.8L. It's like they just keep it around just to SAY they offer another V8...even though it'll soon lack things like the DOD and power increase that is making the 5.3L even more attractive. That said, it's dumb to keep offering it as the "base" engine in Tahoes and some Silverados--just put the 5.3L in all of those, and save any extra dimes you get from not having to offer both for future improvements on the 5.3L. It's like the dumb combo of a 305 vs. a 350...the only difference being that there was actually quite a noticeable difference in power between the two (the 305 pretty much sucking, at least stock in most apps), and the 350 making you wonder, "Why the hell do they even bother offering the 305?"

Just added a poll above...in addition to any comments (LOVE the hear them :AH-HA_wink: ), you can also vote. Oh, and keep in mind--I'm 19, going on 20 soon, and in college--but won't have the car up here with me until next year, as a Junior. Gotta say, though, it's SO cool to drive such an old-fart barge with whitewalls on it, yet still blow away people from red lights and literally never get noticed speeding on the highway (REALLY doesn't stand out at all).

But how MUCH? From the side looks of it, it just seems like maybe different tinting on the headlights...anything else that's actually noticeable?