smokes

Sharp Cadillac bodyline creases came in the late 1960's in an effort to lend a bank-vault image in cointrast to the increasingly aerodynamic vehicles that were hitting the market back then. While the RoadRunner was a streamlined rocket, Cadillac went out of their way to make their cars appear architectural and immobile. When one is rich, so the thought was, aerodynamics are irrelevant. By the end of the 1970's, Cadillac became synonymous with "land yacht", abandoning all performance and, sadly, much of its top-notch quality as well.

But go back to the first 50 years of Cadillac's existence, and they were among the biggest AND fastest, most sleek and modern machines on American roads.

These pre-1960 Caddies had a presence that attracts everyone -- they have CLASS. While new Caddy models have dramatically improved the quality and performance, the styling is highly polarizing, to be polite. It's not quite as bad as Bangle, but come on, they will never win any beauty contests...

my favorite car is a motorcycle

3wheeler

brodelsam

Chuckie_A

You want curves and flow? Get an Infiniti.

skierpage

tonyola

way_down_east

First go to www.fiskercb.com. You can go buy those cars now. And they're impeccable... I saw a bunch of them out on Rodeo Drive during the Concurs d'Elegance on Father's Day last year. Believe me, they're well finished cars.

While I'm also waiting to see what Tesla-esque problems will arise with it, I'm going to be waiting with my name on the pre-order list, 'cause I pre-ordered one earlier today. This car is more pratical than the Tesla, less expensive, and although it can use gas, my guess is I'll probably have to force myself to use the gasoline engine so the gas doesn't go sour more than depending on it to get around.

EIA is estimating that gasoline will average $3.50 this spring. Next year it will be $4, and by the time my number comes due in 2010, gasoline will be $5.00 a gallon and spending $80k on this will seem much smarter than buying a Panamera or Quatraporte. The end of an age is upon us.

stevejust

Not to change the topic, but, folks, here you have it: the car Cadillac should be building if their automotive designers weren't stuck in CAD Class 102: How to Make Rectangles.

Fisker builds beautiful modern cars on competent running gear, and Cadillac builds "art & science" sheet metal boxes on equally competent hardware. Fisker will charge astronomical prices but sell out and Cadillac will offer year-end closeout sales. Why?

Styling AND tangible quality matters. Fisker offers both in endless quantities. Hell, even Lexus is starting to have sheetmetal that, while not my cup of tea, can be distinguished from Mad Max, while still keeping quality high. Cadillac has finally upped the quality, but it's styling has not attracted a larger chunk of the market. Lexus has stolen half of Caddy's market share from under GM's nose!

Word to Cadillac: hire Fisker as coachbuilders. "Body by Fisker" would sell much better than your current "Body by Led Zeppelin" automobiles do.

my favorite car is a motorcycle

NovaloadMissesPolar

txturbo930

@DoctorNine: The wheelwells look new Camaro (the weakest part of the design on both cars) and the rear end makes me think of a contemporary Auston. Regardless, it's just so long and low and curvy... I don't want to drive it, I just want to *lick* it.

kleinlowe

@3wheeler: Apparently they're American. I thought they were German. There you go.

@sos10: Amen.

Euromobile

akirachan

sos10

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Overall though, it's an attractive car, more so if it's claims are remotely connected to reality.

Paul Y. can't think of a better, shorter handle

goatrope

yellofury * * * * *

Braff is Thad Longlove

smokeydog001

Miscellanea

mangasm

3wheeler

Fitty7lax

bmoredlj

Pixel

Ash78

JB_Jeep

poxpopulus

POLAЯ

AustinMiniMan

DoctorNine

camp6ell

Stoatmaster

3wheeler

kleinlowe

Also... why is the "no it won't" needle on my probability gauge dancing around so much?

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Ash78

poxpopulus

Not a bad car.

Dr.Danger, Hasta la victoria siempre!

camp6ell