More on Cadillac.

"Your boy, BJR" (jerseyshoreben)
01/17/2014 at 03:19 • Filed to: Cadillac

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I figured I should follow it up. Lets address the elephant in the room: no, that is not my photo, I found it on google. So, out of all the Cadillacs I could chose to head a follow up to a pro-Caddilac write up, why that one? Why the "downsized" yet still huge 6 seater, 2 door, fwd, wheezing v8, malaise era car? Why that caricature of a car? Because to me, that's the quintessential Cadillac. Somebody saw that car, decided that it was the best thing they could buy, dropped an excessive amount of money on it, and treasured it.

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While I never really liked Cadillac, I am absolutely, completely, head-over-heels in love with the IDEA of Cadillac. A yankee stab at vault like german luxury, and the stately, elegant brits.

I have a very specific view of Cadillac, so I will tell you my story with Cadillac. The first time I ever sat in a real luxury car, other than a limo, it was a Cadillac. It was September 2006. My parents divorced earlier that summer, and my mom started seeing my stepdad shortly after. It was either the first or second time I met him, and we rode in his car, a silver 2006 STS with black leather interior. I'll never forget the smell of the leather.

Growing up my parents had (in purchase order) A white '84 Buick Skyhawk GT (dads) and blue '88 Toyota Tercel (moms), A '95 Ford Contour (moms) and a '93 Thunderbird LX (dads), a 2001 Chevy Prizm (moms) and a 2001 Ford Focus wagon (dads), a '87 Toyota Pickup (Moms), a 2004 Taurus (moms), and a 1989 Saab 900 (dads). The point I'm trying to get across is that even when we had a car that may have once been somewhat luxurious (thunderbird, saab), they were kind of beaters by the time we got them.

This STS was the nicest car I had ever been in in my life. The 2 most luxurious cars I had been in before then were a '95 Olds Eighty-Eight Royale and a '00 Mercury Mountaineer. And within 6 months of dating Chris, my mom got a Cadillac of her own- a 2007 CTS, the first car I ever drove. That car became instantly idolized. We went from a sideswiped taurus to a brand-new low slung (to me) sports/luxury sedan literally overnight.

What I'm trying to say, is that although I would look totally bitchin' in a 1929 Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake, I will never own one. Rolls-Royces are cars for the glitterati, the world's elite, royalty. But you know what? I bet you if I work real hard and save up I can buy a new Cadillac with all the extra features. That's what Cadillac is. It's the most "real" luxury car out there. It's the realistic dream for the blue-collared and working class.

I remember, in the months that we were broke, it was just my mom and I, and we were looking into possibly giving up my dog, Chris would come by to take us out. I'd open the door to whatever cadillac was that he had, be it his STS, his DeVille, any of his CTSs, or even his brand new XTS, climb into that leather wrapped back bench seat, and I'd have a look at the good life. I'd be rich for the evening. I would love it when the smell of the leather seats would stick to my clothes afterward. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you do, when you look down and see that crest on the steering wheel, you feel special.

Know what? when writing this piece, I had the strongest feeling to peruse craigslist or ebay for a period deville or fleetwood like the one pictured, and put my BMW 2002 up for sale to buy one. Now I realize that half of everyone who reads this's head just explode. "Trade one of the most iconic sports sedans for a fat leaky gaudy Reagan-era loathsome luxe-barge?" you might be ask, and I'd have to pause. Not for too long, mind you, but I'd definitely stop to think.

DISCUSSION (2)

VCustoms > Your boy, BJR
01/17/2014 at 06:34

I Love Cadillac, I have a 2002 STS, and as front wheel drive as it is, it's an awesome car to drive. Put the new Caddys and Bimmers side by side today, and the Bavarians aren't getting a cent from me.

Bandit > Your boy, BJR
07/27/2015 at 18:52

Here’s some more love for your post, you needy bastard.