1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Review: The Final Fleetwood
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
- Welcome back to the channel! Today, I'll be reviewing the final model year of the Cadillac Fleetwood! I'll take a detailed look at the exterior and interior of the Fleetwood, take it for a drive, and give my thoughts on the vehicle. A big thanks goes out to Larry Swint for allowing me to spend time with his gorgeous Cadillac. Enjoy!
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:26 History
3:29 Exterior
11:48 Interior
21:04 Drive
26:31 Outro
Music Credits:
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Sunset Groove by Spiring
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Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
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Music promoted by Audio Library bit.ly/3PmSXkR
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Авто/Мото
For 27 years, the car is flawless.
When you floored it, all I could think of was “I’M LATE FOR CHURCH!!!”
😂😂😂
When my grandfather died, I borrowed one of these from a friend to drive from AL to TX. I loved it so much that even though I was in my 20's, I had to have one. Mine had a cell phone mounted on a floor stalk. I'd end up owning a whole bunch of the big caddies and drove them all over the country. I still have the last of the DTS platinum in white diamond with the cream and chocolate interior. I baby it since it's discontinued. CT6 Blackwing is my final Cadillac. I don't ever want an SUV and the 4 and 5 are too small. I've been a Cadillac guy nearly my entire life, and now I'm headed to BMW for that polarizing i7.
That rules, man. That would have been such a sensational ride! These were desired for any drive, but they were definitely at home on the highway
I had a ‘94 Fleetwood Brougham-
It was MAGNIFICENT ‼️
My son-in-law's grandmother bought one of these in 2006 for $5k from one of her friends who couldn't drive due to old age. The Caddy only had 16k miles & still smelled new. I remember her pulling into my driveway & at first glance I thought you could spend all day washing & vacuuming that beast. She had quite a sense of humor & said she wanted something that if she got into an accident she didn't want to feel the impact until the next day.
What a DEAL for $5K !!!
Pure luxury and style.
Truly one of the best modern Cadillacs ever made, I was very lucky enough to test drive one of these as a 20 yr old when they were brand new (because my friend's dad took pictures of the cars for the newspaper section and always got to borrow new cars for the weekend), and it was an absolute rocket ship compared to most other cars at the time, even the Camaros and mustangs most of us drove.
With just real All-American horsepower from that Corvette V8 , no weird hybrid or turbo or supercharging or complications, just raw power.
We drove that thing flat out at top speed on the wide interstates and it felt exactly the same at its top speed as it did at 60, and when it hit its limiter it was like a dog being yanked back on the leash it was good for another 40-50 mph miles per hour at least. It wasn't even close to out of breath.
(It was limited because of the comfort tires not because of any lack of safety or power.)
At the same time looking like a presidential limousine with room and comfort that absolutely no truck or foreign car even comes close to matching except maybe the newer rolls-royces.
These cars have a place in society and of course you would modernize The styling and some other key components but the basic formula of a nice large comfortable car, in versions both for the regular guy as well as those that can afford a lot of luxury absolutely have a place in society especially as America is just getting older and older and climbing in and out of those silly jacked-up trucks will just not be an option for many for much longer.
Now in my forties, I wish I had a modern version of this car to aspire to because I have zero interest of buying a fancy suburban with a garish iversized Cadillac emblem jammed on the grille that is very difficult to maneuver, probably wouldn't fit in my garage and basically looks like ninety-nine percent of the other boxes out there.
There should always be a Fleetwood and Continental no matter what.
What was the limiter set to? I'm gonna take wild guess and say 110?
And New Yorker/Imperial
Holy shit dude. Go on much??
"raw power" lmao 260 hp in a 5,000lb vehicle
@@firefoxmoz Don't know who this idiot is trying to impress.
I am glad you wore a suit because that is what this car deserves from its owner.
Felt the same way
Pure luxury and style. Times sadly have changed. We appreciate your love for these pieces of history.
I remember being a kid in Saudi Arabia(the land of the Chevy Caprice) and seeing a Fleetwood for the first time. It was a sparkly metallic gray. I had recently seen Demolition Man movie where they had a Caddy concept car in one of the scenes. Seeing the Fleetwood was like seeing a concept car in real life. These and the W140 were the biggest boss cars around with a slight mention of the Roadmaster and the E38
This was my favorite car my parents owned growing up.
Ours was white with red interior, my dad id 84 now and still drives an 07 Cadillac XLR V.
I have my grandfather's 96 Fleetwood Brougham. Still mint. He bought it brand new off the showroom floor back then. I still remember them taking the plastic off of it. Dark blue he gave it to me 4 months before he passed in 2015. Its currently sitting at 43k miles. The last thing he had done to it was rust proofing the undercarriage.
You had better TAKE CARE OF THAT CLASSIC !
@@pwilson6439 definitely only driven spring and summer and in my heated garage.
I LOVE older cars that are in mint condition and completely stock. It’s like a time capsule ❤❤
Beautiful car! The last TRUE Cadillac. IMO
I currently own a 94 and a 96. I have owned two other 96s a 95 and my first was a 94. They are AWESOME cars.
This is a massive car. The side chrome treatments are beautiful and to me they make the side profile appear sleeker. Very clever cup holders to accommodate mugs! A really grand automobile!
One of my closest friends currently has a 94 Fleetwood. Its a beautiful burgundy color. Its parked in the back of my house as it needs some minor repairs but it rides beautiful. Last of the body on frame cars. Cadillac was in its bag in the 90s with the homerun STS and related Eldorado of which I own a 98 ETC.
I am a Lincoln guy but I always loved this Caddy and model year very classy and I love the button tuff seats these cars had class that is sadly missing even from the most expensive overpriced luxury cars of today.
Thanks for the video. Caddy's were a true icon. Shame they couldn't react to market trends
I took one of these out on a Test Drive in 1996. It was the last year and I was thinking that I should buy one. I did wear a suit to drive this car too! But that wasn't so abnormal in 1996. I loved the car and couldn't believe how fast it wass.
I was really disappointed when Cadillac discontinue this car. It was obviously due to low sales even though it did have a few years run, as far as this generation. But the problem was they let the previous generation body style go on too long, even long after Lincoln had redesign the town car back in early 1990. So by then a lot of people had already fallen in love with the new Lincoln Town car, and Cadillac basically showed up too late to the party with this one. But this generation and body style was basically the last real Cadillac with the exception of the DeVille.
Just got this same year car given to me from my great grandmother! 20k miles on it mint interior, no leather cracks and the dash is not cracked either. Lived a sheltered life in Tennessee and its Rust free. So pumped to drive it enjoy
I had a '94 Brougham and it's sister, a '94 Buick Roadmaster Estate. Both great driving cars. The build quality wasn't great (they were both built at a Chevy truck plant) but they were the last of their kind. My advice would be to get ONLY a 1996 because of the OBD II diagnostics that was introduced for that year. That really helps in dealing with the myriad electrical problems these cars had.
Comfortable yes for sure. Great driving cars: I am not so sure. For that when you turn the steering wheel the front tires should respond. Not tons of slop in the steering. 1/8 turn and nothing happens is not a Great driving car. Gm in general has been known for shoddy build quality. That and hiding fatal flaws coupled with other things, is why majority of Americans buy foreign cars now.
THESE WERE BUILT IN ARLINGTON< TEXAS. My 1991 Caprice Classic has no build quality problems. My 1996 DID, however, as it leaked from the windshield and the backlite (rear windshield) which eventually ROTTED OUT THE FLOORPAN !!
@pwilson6439 the 91 model year B Bodies were built in the Willow Run Assembly in Michigan.
The most beautiful Cadillac ever made. One of my favorite car the Cadillac ever made. Thanks for reviewing and sharing. You are just dressed just find to review the car.
always loved these.... best in black just like you've got there... it's almost a limo but w/out needing any stretch... last of the kind, classic American luxury barge. I wish they would make them like this again.
By wood and leather wrapped doors, you mean plastic made to look like leather and plastic made to look like wood. Other than that these were lovely cars.
At least they have real chrome bumpers not not like Mercedes BMW and Audis and even Rolls-Royce have plastic
@@kennethfernstrom1297you can chrome plastic if you paint it with metal paint first. I don’t think those cars had chromed bumpers made of plastic ever.
I still think cadillac and buick pulled off the styling better than chevy did
I caught that too. He needs a bit more research. But he does do a very good job and I like the videos.
@@auvomesilampi6325 what I meant by chrome bumpers had real steel behind the chrome plating
Wow, what a stunning car. TY for sharing. 👍👍 I still drive a pristine 2006 Lincoln Town Car, yes a beautiful car, but this car beats that in a lot of ways.
Hang onto your Lincoln, nothing newer than 2011 compares to your Luxury and Durability
TOWN CAR IS STILL MIGHTY SWEET !
Another fantastic video review James!
I used to work at the Arlington plant that built these, worked on this and the Roadmaster prototype platforms known then as the GM-350 program.
ARLINGTON BUILT, YEAH !
What a gorgeous car. The owner definitely has taken great care of this classic Cadillac. I bet you really enjoyed reviewing and driving this beauty. Nice job as always James 🙂🙌
Hi James I cannot thank you enough for reviewing this Absolutely Beautiful 96 Fleetwood Brougham, quite possibly the best Cadillac Fleetwood ever made. I currently own a 1990 with the 5.7 Liter Engine and it is MINT MINT MINT like this one, and is equally as Beautiful. I also absolutely LOVE this body style and the great engine it had. What a GORGEOUS American Car. We will never see the likes of these again, which is very sad. Your Review as usual was extremely knowledgeable and beautifully shot with the great music and video quality. BRAVO... !!!! Your Channel is so great for us guys that LOVE these Caddy's. Thank You James... !!!!
LOOK AFTER YOUR CLASSIC 1990 MODEL.
one of the most beautiful cars ever made !!!
I was a teen when this car came out. I didn’t like them then, but it looks a lot nicer now. 😂
Magnificent vehicle.
Thats when you knew you owned a luxury car. Love it !!!
Nice feature having the beautiful old buildings in the background. It was definitely the right back drop for such a car.
Love Cadillac and All american cars and love USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😚😚😚😚🇺🇸❤️❤️❤️❤️
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
My parents owned 2 and they were incredible cars. True Luxury. Great video. Thank you
Wow, this is a very well maintained Fleetwood.
I love it. As soon as I got into my 50s I instinctively started wanting a big American luxury car.
I want to sit in the back and say "Home, James!". You and the car looking great!
This is a beautiful car. I use to own an 84 Coupe Deville, two 91 Eldorados, one Touring and the other the Biarritz and one 1992 Eldorado. The thing I loved to most about those cars, except the ride of course, were the fiber opticx lights on the fenders and also inside over the rear window. Cadillac eliminated those fiber optic light beginning with the 1992 Eldorado. Now I have only one Cadillac and that one is a 1965 DeVille Conv.
This is the car my dad is looking for. I’d love to find one in great shape like this one and buy it for him! Those who have one don’t sell them and its clear why
What a truly stunning automobile! The essence of pure class!
It looked "Custom made" for you sir.
What a wonderful review & the way presented, "classy" 👌👍
Always good to see one of these final Fleetwoods! It's crazy to think that these are now a 30+ year old design... I still think theyve aged incredibly well, along with the rest of Cadillac's 90s designs. The LT1 has also aged pretty well .... something that sadly can't be said for the Northstar.
Great video brother, and the suit was a great addition!
I have 4 of the Iron Head LT1s, three of them have 300,000 on them and still pull hard, and still have the factory Rotors, Distributor Caps, and Water Pumps. The 4th, has on 15,800 on it
Come on now, almost 30
I've always liked these Fleetwoods. Cadillac really nailed it, conveying an elegant and conservative sense of visual presence that was both powerful and restrained, which was quite an achievement considering the lower third of the car was a vast expanse of chrome. I'm sure that grand dame appreciated you dressing for the occasion. I know I got a kick out of it.
STAINLESS STEEL
Finally got yourself a 96 Fleetwood to review! It would look so good alongside my Lincoln 😆 man time flies! glad to see your channel is thriving, you deserve it 😄 Love the suit too James 🤵♂️👌
Great Video!!! What a beautiful car!!! These were even available with an ultra soft crushed velour seating surface....
Best late Fleetwood review on RUclips.Your production quality captures the street presence and experience of riding in the car.
STREET PRESENCE IS EXACTLY RIGHT ! BA- BAMMM !
@@pwilson6439 EXACTLY! Might CarPlay the audio, HID bulb update the headlights and LED the taillights. Mild 17" Bridgestone Whitewall Turanza EL400's. But that's just me.👊🏾
James, what a BEAUTIFUL car…and you do clean up nicely! Hah Was hoping you’d blow that traditional Cadillac 4-note horn!! 🎺🎺🎺🎺
Horn sound great
Last TRUE Cadillac!!!
Beautiful land yacht....
Bucket list car for me... I have owned many Roadmasters of the era but never had a Fleetwood.. One of my favorite looking as well... the purple interior was common Cadillac interior color, but very rare on other GM cars... I am pretty sure the window buttons are plastic, but very well done in chrome... Roadies have the same switches... the switch panel surrounds are metal as are the door handles... that key fob is very unusual... ive never seen one that looks like it, most Cadillac had normal square keyfobs..... I miss having a big car myself... my perfect spec would be dark cherry exterior with wine red interior
I remember driving that on the BQE. It was so smooth it felt like I was floating.
Love cadillac
What a beautiful Caddy! I love these last gen 90's B bodies. Personally I've always wanted a Roadmaster sedan but if I could find/afford a Fleetwood that was clean enough, I'd love to own one.
Always thought this era of Cadillac was gorgeous. Great review. Thank you.
For the most part, I’m a huge Ford fan (especially the Panther platform) but the GM B and D bodies hold a special place in my heart. I used to own a ‘94 Roadmaster Estate Wagon with the LT1 and it was amazing. The reason this Caddy does it for me is because it is full-size, RWD, V8 powered and has a full frame. This is truly the best Caddy of the ‘90s!
That has to be a perfect specification for that type of Cadillac Fleetwood. Thank you for the informative video.
I have a 1996 Fleetwood Brougham in the medium Garnet red with tan interior. The only options this has over mine are the chrome wheels, the sunroof and the CD player. I have the full size spare option, and the rear vanity mirrors. I love mine, and it always gets compliments when I'm driving around.
BEAUTIFUL COLOUR COMBO !
Oh my goodness. A beautiful car and thank you forva fantastic review. These arebthe kinds of cars that I miss.
I love the way this style of Fleetwood looks. Had I not bought my 78 Biarritz, it would have been a tie between one of these or an 80s model. My grandma had one that had a “Body by Fisher” badge in the bottom of the door panel. Fleetwoods are smooth rides and simply elegant cars.
Looking good - the car and you.
Beautiful cadillac
Thanks again for your hard work and efforts to help promote the GM Car Clubs James !
Back in 96 my Seville was at the dealer's having the transmission dropped. I didn't realize at the time that they were doing it because I was having an issue and it was under warranty. I was living in Alexandria, VA at the time and received a call that my father had suffered a major heart attack and I called the dealer to check on my Seville because I needed to drive to PA right away. That's when I was informed the transmission was out of it. They sent someone to pick me up and gave me a brand new Fleetwood to drive to PA. It drove like an oversized cloud. That's how dealers get lifelong customers, through their outstanding service.
That's a Cadillac. So far from what they do today.
Excellent review, so pleasant to watch and full of interesting informations. Such cars are so unusual for us in Europe, definitely a very different vision of luxury. Thanks for this video)
Fabulous review on a fantastic car! Thank you Larry for letting James film your outstanding Fleetwood.
One of my favorite vehicles! ❤
Thank you so much dad!!!
@@JW_Reviews you are welcome! I am very, very proud of you
Beautiful and imposing car. Late 80s and early 90s were the second fifties for the American car design.
My dad used to work for the local GM dealer in Oman and he told me that these Cadillacs were reserved for the members of the royal family. Only in recent years I've come across privately owned examples and I must admit that I love these gorgeous Fleetwoods
Gorgeous car. I’d kill to have that car.
Wow, finding a Cadillac like this, at our timeframe, in this shape is just remarkable, kudos to the owner. I love your overview, and your personality makes it worth watching. We rented a new ’94 Deville in March of 1994, after flying into (PDX) Portland Oregon from AZ, we drove it down the coast and back through the Willamette Valley. It was a great experience, and such a beautiful car, (Carmine Red?). I have never driven a new Cadillac for a week before and will never forget it (I was just 35 at the time). When we returned the car, the only mishap was a rock chip and crack in the windshield. Thank you for helping me relive that long ago trip, love your videos, will watch them all as I have time.
I once owned a 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood in white with a light beige interior and a white vinyl top. It was a beautiful car. The engine was more powerful than a 260 HP engine should have been. I think it was the 330 pounds of torque that gave it an extra zing. The car you reviewed looks like it has a broken self-leveling rear-end motor judging from the height of the rear end. Mine broke and had to be replaced so, I know how high the rear should be. Otherwise, it is a gorgeous car. Also, if you turn off the traction control, you will be able to leave a 15-foot strip of rubber behind.
330 LB-FT of TORQUE, yeah baby !!!
What a gorgeous Cadillac.
Very nice. I love Fleetwoods. My favorite was my Mother's 62. I had an 82 that I liked a lot as well. Enjoyed your video.
beautiful land yacht.... it's a cadillac
I remember seeing these in car magazines. Time flies.
What real luxury ended with from US manufactures. Real Cadillac, beautiful car.
I bought one 2010, still own it. 1993 Fleetwood Borugham. Goldmetallc with Carriage roof. Came from Florida, and when I cleaned it the first time I could picture the first owner in front of me as Seinfleds dad. I found a toothpich, one US dime and a Werther's original and a golf pencil under the seat.
Great review of the last “real” Cadillac! Filming and sound are awesome. Love the external shots ( not sure if there was a subliminal message from the cemetery) they would have made a great commercial back in the day. Good work!
20:35 The footrests for the Fleetwood were discontinued halfway through the 1977 model year, because the downsized Fleetwood shared its 121.5" wheelbase with the Devilles and no longer had the extra 3" of legroom offered by Fleetwoods from 1965 through 1976. But, the 1993 Fleetwood, while retaining the 121.5" wheelbase of the previous year, had the firewall 2.5" closer to the front wheels; enabled by the discontinuation of the last "big block" Cadillac engine for 1982 ('85 for the limousine). So, for the first time since 1976, the RWD Fleetwood had enough legroom to justify the footrests, at least for smaller passengers. I'll bet some owners added them.
SOME VERY GOOD INFO HERE.
I had a 1974 IMPALA CUSTOM COUPE in the 1980s, with the 121.5 INCH WHEELBASE. REALLY BIG CAR !
Great job on the video. I enjoyed your enthusiasm for a truly great car. I also love that '96 Caddy...the epitome of luxury. My first Cadillac was a 1979 Coupe de Ville in Opera window, Landau roof, burled walnut interior trim. I enjoyed that car immensely and acquired it when I was a young driver. It too had the fiber optics indicators on the front and the cornering lamps, which are so handy when making a turn. Whose brilliant idea was it to do away with those? The drop-down license plate in the back to conceal the fuel intake was also a great idea. I currently own a low milage 2014 Cadillac XTS which is a luxury sedan. Very elegant and includes high tech and interior/exterior lighting at night that is so classy. A wonderful car but frankly it doesn't ride as smoothly as my previous Cadillacs. Still, I'm committed to owning this iconic brand. I learned the secret long ago that luxury cars tend to depreciate faster than other vehicles because the owners who buy new like to trade every year or two. So I have typically purchased a 2 or 3 year old car and saved a bunch of money. My present 2014 is showroom condition and frankly, having driven newer models I like my better. They seem to have downgraded them in the past several years while making them look more like SUVs... I wish they'd get back to more traditional styling.
I owned a 96 Fleetwood in gold for many years and loved it. The only flaw was in profile the trunk was just too short. Other than that, it was a great car. Powerful, comfortable, and lovely to drive.
Very accurate review. Among my numerous upscale vehicles, were a 1989 Brougham deElegance and a 1993 Brougham. For me the 89 was superior to the 93. As mentioned, the 93 had much cheaper quality. The carpet did measure up to the deep pile of the 89. The 89 had plush tufted velour seats and more traditional formal styling. The 93 had multiple issues, including CD malfunction, peeling bonded leather drivers seat, and premature rust though of rear wheel openings which allowed moisture in trunk and rear seats. Not quite The Standard of the WORLD, a Not so grand finale for traditional OTT excessive luxury of Cadillac. So sad to see what now wears the Cadillac name.
I really did enjoy the full review, I watched the entire thing. It's a car to admire that is for sure, I could only dream of owning one myself ! Thank you for sharing
They have a really nice one of these at my local car museum, the Martin Auto museum in Phoenix. It shares a lot of the same parts as my 1994 Corvette! Same engine, same steering wheel, same turn signal stalk, same sun visors, etc etc. . .
What a beautiful piece of luxurious Cadillac history
I appreciate that you wore a suit for the video. Some reviewers wear shorts and t shirts while showing luxury cars. It doesn't show well to me. Very professional.
Absolutely love these cars I’d love to have one
Enjoyed the video James, great job detailing the Cadillac Fleetwood.
Confess you just left a funeral and got into that beautiful car and drove it away like Ruth Gordon did in "Harold and Maude" For a long time I kept looking for one with the cloth interior and they are hard to find. Also I keep seeing fewer used ones for sale.
I bought my son a beautiful 1996 Fleetwood Brougham in Dark Calypso Green, way too much car for a kid but he loved it and had to have it. He loved it so much he loaned it to a friend who totaled it for him.
I had a 1999 coupe de ville. Loved it ! Had the northstar engine. Got 22 mpg around town and 27 highway. Exact same bodystyle. And those buttons on the instrument cluster gives u more info than just what they obviously have printed on them.
The last year for the Coupe deVille was 1993. If your car was a 1999, it was just called Deville by that time.
what a beauty. I wish Cadillac could have continued along these lines and evolve the Fleetwood sedan as a classic Cadillac and not some kind of euro sports sedan.
Yes great looking car thanks 👍
Again what a video, I enjoy so much as we over here in the UK never get to see cars like this, in the condition of what you are driving. keep up the good work James.
Greetings, Sir. Please know that I have enjoyed your videos, especially this one. I like Fleetwood Broughams of any year. Your attire is quite smart and a nice compliment to you and the formality of the car. Please keep up the good work; as your videos are well done. Best regards, Jimmy
I waited to watch this video due to the automobile featured. I loved this body style when it came out. Cadillac really did a good job with the successor to the 92. I like the fact that its has been kept the way it rolled off the assembly line. I hate it to see these beautiful motorcars customized as I've seen some. That's blasphemy in my book! Great video Sir, glad that I am one of your subscribers!
I guess that's why I prefer standard classic cars over luxury cars. I enjoy a car that impresses me, not a car that's trying to impress everyone else.
Queste sí che era un’automobile davvero bella come anche le sue antenate. Eleganza massima, stile senza tempo…
Excellent review of a stunning automobile. As usual you did the car right.
Class act, classy channel, thank you J ;)