"C62030" (c62030)
02/20/2016 at 11:54 • Filed to: None
2
21|
"C62030" (c62030)
02/20/2016 at 11:54 • Filed to: None | 2
| 21 |
It was just a test drive, but it made me sad cars like this, American ones at least, don’t really happen today.
It was a 1990 Oldsmobile 98 Regency, and it was the comfiest thing I’ve ever driven. The seat was basically a couch, all the switchgear felt tactile and lovely, and even though it had the get-up-and-go of a Quaalude-laden tortoise, it was spectacularly smooth. It soaked up bumps like a sponge, and when you went over undulations in the road it rocked like a ship. It was the most fun, relaxing drive I’ve ever had. You could literally settle down into the lovely, squishy velour seats and visibility was excellent. Gas mileage wasn’t even that bad, around 25 on the highway. The doors and hood shut heavily and solidly and it was mechanically excellent. Even the engine bay was clean.
Unfortunately, the rest of it wasn’t. The rear right taillight was chipped at the corner, the windshield had few but quite large cracks that would require a full replacement, the headlights had little holes in the lenses, the headliner was sagging quite badly in three places and the power windows all worked, but only from the driver’s door switches. All these little repairs would add up to a few hundred dollars on top of the $1000 asking price, and I’m still debating whether it would be worth it. It really was a fantastically driving and supremely comfy car, which is my #1 concern when I get one.
It makes me really sad that Cadillac and Lincoln are really the only Americans who make unapologetically big, floaty cars like this anymore, without any sporting pretensions - just to get you somewhere comfortably, if not very quickly. Maybe I’ll come back to it if it doesn’t sell too quickly.
Here’s the listing:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
MultiplaOrgasms
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 12:05 |
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Cadillacs have no sporting pretentions? Have you been cryogenically frozen over the past 20 years?
ranwhenparked
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 12:07 |
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The Buick LaCrosse is still a thing.
wiffleballtony
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 12:08 |
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Maybe the XTS, if they’re still making it. Everything else from Cadillac is BMWesque. I’d say the closest thing these days to the old floaty cars is like the Toyota Avalon.
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C62030
> MultiplaOrgasms
02/20/2016 at 12:09 |
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I was thinking more CT6 or an older Deville than the V cars, but I get what you mean.
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C62030
> wiffleballtony
02/20/2016 at 12:13 |
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I think the CT6 will be a step in the right direction. The CT9 even more so.
smobgirl
> wiffleballtony
02/20/2016 at 12:15 |
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I’ll definitely support the Avalon here. Rented one and it reminded me a lot of the old Caddy I had in high school. My mom would probably love it but only if she can get one with no infotainment.
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 12:32 |
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Look for the last of the B-bodies. Those make this car look like a joke. Massive bench seats, cloud-like ride, etc. Sadly, the last of this style are Panther platform cars... Nothing like this is built anymore.
DoYouEvenShift
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 12:33 |
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Most everything made by Buick from the late 80s to now is just like that.
Tohru
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 12:34 |
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It’s a halfway point between my two cars. The 98 is a GM C-platform, with styling reminicient of my Buick A-body, but with a chassis much more mechanically similar to my Pontiac H-body.
Also, it’s in really nice shape. I’m trying to get $1500 for my Pontiac.
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C62030
> Tohru
02/20/2016 at 13:07 |
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The inside was absolutely pristine, aside from the sagging headliner. It drove like it was new, the only things that we would need to fix were the windshield and a couple little things. It only had 141,000 miles too, so it would go for quite a while.
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C62030
> DoYouEvenShift
02/20/2016 at 13:08 |
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Buick has admirably resisted trying to really fight BMW, unlike some people *cough*Cadillac*cough*, though they have succumbed to the temptation of crossovers. I actually quite like the Encore, though.
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DoYouEvenShift
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 13:14 |
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I think thats why. Cadillac is doing great things with their performance luxury cars. So Buick fills the “road couch” gap left behind.
I driven the Encore, goofy little guy lol.
The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 13:15 |
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On a related note... A friend of mine is one of those guys who you could call a German car fanboy. His family has had an A8, and he has an 05 Jetta and recently picked up a used Cayman S. I et him take my 1992 Grand Marquis for a drive right after he parked his Cayman. After he relearned how to take a physical key and put in the door and turn it, he got in. He quickly chuckled a bit as he slid into the arm rest. Not long into the drive he appreciated how smooth, effortless, and leisurely it was to drive; a stark contrast to the Cayman S he just parked. We did a side by side acceleration comparison on an empty road. The Cayman, with its extra 100 or so hp, couple hundred less pounds, and tens of thousands fewer miles, took off way faster than the Mercury. He still said the Grand Marquis felt fast. Something happens to your perception of speed when you’re in a much bigger car where you can feel low end torque push you off the line with some suspension sag and feel the hp build and peak (compared to the flatter torque curve of the Cayman).
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C62030
> The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
02/20/2016 at 13:23 |
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Absolutely. This one is very slow, but it has 215 lb-ft of torque so it does feel a little bit quick. Then you realize the lovely horizontal speedometer needle isn’t moving and quietly chuckle to yourself.
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C62030
> DoYouEvenShift
02/20/2016 at 13:23 |
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“Road couch.” This is an excellent term which I shall start using.
JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 13:44 |
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Dat red interior!
Also, kudus to the seller for using 23 pictures!
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DoYouEvenShift
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 13:45 |
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Haha, go ahead I stole it from someone else.
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C62030
> JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/20/2016 at 13:57 |
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That was literally the most impressive thing. None of them showcase the various faults, however, but I applaud him nonetheless. He was a really nice guy.
gawdzillla
> C62030
02/20/2016 at 20:00 |
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I used to only buy mazda / subaru for 15+ years, jdm fanboi
ended up buying a brand new Chevy truck (to tow my miata)
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C62030
> gawdzillla
02/20/2016 at 21:07 |
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Nice save.
Old-Busted-Hotness
> C62030
02/21/2016 at 06:50 |
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This is why I don’t get the whole “sport luxury” thing:
Performance isn’t something you can really experience in everyday driving. Yes, you can nail the throttle for 8 seconds during a freeway merge, but for the rest of your commute you’re stuck behind some Korean CUV or a dump truck, getting your kidneys bashed out by the sporty Ring-tuned suspension.
Floaty road-pillow luxury, on the other hand, you can enjoy all the time, regardless of speed or traffic. That Olds will be just as soft and quiet whether it’s behind a city bus or on a Montana freeway.
As a value proposition, road-pillow luxury just makes more sense.