palebeachbum, we used to have a '71, '72 and a '73 Imperial LeBarons, as well as two '81 Imperials, and Chrysler should never have did away with the Imperial division! The '81's still had their EFI systems and ran beautiful but, i always loved this generation of the Eldorado too, and you never saw that many around, it seemed like that everybody bought the Seville instead, probably for the four door convenience! our two '81's were; one was white with red pinstripes and red leather interior, aluminum wheels and the power moonroof, and silver with red pinstripes and red leather interior, aluminum wheels and the power moonroof! his and hers cars for several years before we sold them! wish we still had them! and they both had the am/fm cassette players that we had converted to cd players! i even like most generations of the Lincolns too, including the Mark series!
The Eldorado was RWD only from 1953 till 1966. From 1967 untill the end it was FWD. For a traditional RWD Cadillac coupe, You could only be a recent as the 1984 Coupe DeVille
Sem pogledal že par teh starih review-jev, pri temu grem pa pogledat, kaj folk kej med komentarji pravi, če jih kaki avti tud na mladost spominjajo in evo slučajno še enega Slovenca. 👍 It seems like we Slovenians like to watch old reviews. 😉
You all probably dont give a damn but does any of you know of a way to get back into an instagram account?? I stupidly lost the account password. I appreciate any tips you can give me
@Jett Dexter thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process now. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
The northstar engine was an huge failure and something Cadillac hasn't recovered from and in recent years still have quality issues with most everything.
+BrewBlaster : Well they made near 2 million Northstar cars. Longest running Cadillac production motor. The reliability issues with these cars is overstated and exaggerated.
Cadillac really made a strong comeback from the dreary years prior. The driving excitement was back, build quality was much improved and the performance was back! This body style Eldorado is very reminiscent to the 79-85 Eldorado and also the first FWD 67-70 Eldorado coupes. And 26 years later, these are still some of the best looking cars out there on the road.
@@Andyface79 The car was indeed a huge success. Both engines are fantastic. Very well executed and lived a long life. The only reason they turn into crap is from people that do not maintain or care for them properly.
@@starxlr7863 Look, I was alive during this time. Most American magazines loved the Seville. It got heaps of praise and was highly regarded. Except it stopped being covered? Why? Because there was something clearly wrong with an engine. Look American car magazines were desperate to find an American car that was competitive with Europe. They wouldn't have stopped caring unless something was really wrong.
@@Andyface79 Yes I also was around during these years and remember it very well. It was a great time to experience and sadly is not the same anymore. The Seville was an excellent competitor for many years until it was discontinued, and it was the STS that was its successor. However, you really cannot entirely rely of car magazines. They are only opinions. There's a lot of wrong information that goes into these articles. I'm very much into Classic car magazines. Hemmings is one of them, and even with Hemmings, there's a lot of incorrect information regarding much older vehicles and engines. Cadillac is definitely not the only brand to get bad reviews or ending coverage anymore. It happens to all the brands.
@@starxlr7863 Sure but in this case it is deserved. When you introduce a new line of premium cars like that, you need to make sure its not going to have headgasket issues. Period. You can keep saying they don't but that simply isn't true. It's sad, because it could've really beat europe and japan at the luxury game.
I'm seeing a lot of comments about the engine and hp figures. Let me 'drop some knowledge' as they'd say in the 90's. This 4.9 doesn't have HP, but it's got torque. But that isn't even a whole lot, the thing about these cars was the ride and comfort. The 4.9 isn't winning races, but I can bet that most are still running to this very day. Mine had 194,000 miles when I sold it. Now it's got over 235,000 from a different owner. These cars were built for highways, and long distances. You could do that tho, because you were pretty much immersed in comfort the entire time. These cars ride like you wouldn't believe. If you ever get the chance, try one out. You might be surprised.
Mine was the Seville as well. Eldorados were just a smaller version, the 'coupe'. The Eldorados were sort of the 'top dog' but the sevilles were right behind them. Mine was a 91' so it still had that weird '80's' style. The 93's look a lot better in my eyes.
Yes they can be a great engine. But that didn't happen with the one my parents had. Rocker rails shattered inside. The ride and comfort is great. My mom still drives her 1994 Northstar Seville which is the same car that replaced the first 92 Seville back in the mid 90s. I don't drive it often but when I do, that car rides exceptionally well and is extremely comfortable. The Northstar V8 is probably my favorite and is insanely fast. It has well over 300k on it and it doesn't seem like it does.
I just recently purchased a 2002 collectors series Eldo 12/2019 w 44k miles. It’s like a brand new car. Wow , what a sleeper awesome sports coupe refined final edition of the El Dorado! #313 I had dreamed of owning this model for years but never had the $50,000 to buy it. With the special features on this send off edition and the head bolt problem resolved (2000 and up models) this 2002 Cadillac Eldorado collectors series that I have is just absolutely my dream car. I step on the gas and this SOB runs like a bat out of hell, for this 62-year-old hot rod guy. Less than 7.0 Second 0 to 60 times on this luxury sport coupe highway cruiser is amazing. I have had some awesome Mustangs, Camaros, Trans Ams super duty 455s, and Z 28’s in my day. This car totally fulfills my hot rod needs in my elderly age. It was awesome seeing this retro motor week introduction of the 92 Eldorado. This will be my final life long car! ( or maybe I’ll have to find another collector series in 2038 when I’m 80) !!!
Hindsight is 20/20....they should have stayed with the 4.5 and 4.9 as both were rock solid and dependable. The North Star was quite the falter as time passed. Still the 92 is my favorite for this generation of eldogs because of the 4.9 and the sleeker body than what premiered in 93.
All those HT series engines had headgasket problems and required 5-6 stopleak tablets to keep themselves sealed. Frequent waterpump failure and trapped air in the cooling system was also a problem on HT engines. Northstars from 2003 and newer are reliable long lasting engines with great power and surprisingly good fuel economy.
I will gladly bleed the cooling system on a HT series engine before I timesert a northstar black at 16-24hours of labor. I can change a waterpump on a 4.9 in 7 minutes! Never seen a N* avg more than 14-16mpg (according to the DIC display). But frequently got 28mpg out of a 4.9. (synthetic oil, synthetic tranny fluid)
Dropping the northstar & keeping the HT series around longer wouldnt have done GM no favors with the billions they probably spent developing "the standard of the world" turd of a 4.6 :-)
Will C The N* you drove must have had issues as mine averaged 19-21mpg. I guess a 4.9 would be a more sensible choice over a N* if I were in the market for 20+ year old worn out Cadillacs. You'll cuss either one when you have to replace the headgaskets on them. To each his own.
They finally realized their mistakes and found their niche. A big pushrod V8 is light, simple, compact, and can be just as efficient and nearly as rev happy as a DOHC engine. Sure, specific output isn’t as good... but who cares when you’ve got power to weight and great fuel economy in a larger displacement engine that’s actually smaller than the DOHC competition.
Loved these when I was a kid. Thought they were so boss! That nose dive was wicked though 😂 It’s such a classic car and that interior is so plush and comfy looking.
I was the same when I was little to being in these cars. I do remember that nose diving and remember it so well. I'm glad that was resolved on the newer Cadillac's. My mom drives a 1994 Seville and is the same one from when I was little. Its still such a comfortable riding car. I have a 1999 ETC and is the same in comfort and performance.
The aurora especially. It had its very own version of the northstar motors. And it was even better than this. It was made to replace the aging toronado, that gm killed in 92 thanks to their boneheaded decisions of not including a v8. That last gen of toronado was absolutely beautiful.
They were cool cars but too bad nobody bought them and are very rare today. The Aurora along with the failed Alero pretty much put an end to Oldsmobile.
The Aurora was a seriously cool car. It's too bad GM didn't work on Oldsmobile more or that they waited too long to try to do something about sagging sales, they were the only one of the lesser brands that was putting out something new and innovative. The Aurora and Intrigue were interesting. The Alero was just a rebadged Grand Am, although it looked better.
Novusod, the Aurora and Alero didn't help the bean counters at GM change their minds, but the knife was already out for Pontiac, Olds, Hummer, Saturn and Saab years before GM killed them.
I'd love to see and/or hear a Motorweek podcast or sit-down interview with John Davis and hear his thoughts on how vehicles have changed or what they have become over the years since Motorweek first aired. More interviews or just casual "round-table" style conversations with former Motorweek staff (Lisa, Craig etc) and hearing their different experiences would be neat too!
That soft ride comes at the expense of a soft suspension setting, which will promote nose dive on top of it's front heavy front-wheel drive layout.....
To be expected. It's a front wheel drive with a big V8 so all the drive-train weight is right up front much of it forward of the front axle. Pauly Wallnuts was able to avoid such a nose dive because he either had a body in the trunk or some bricks and chains to sink a body.....the extra weight in the truck evened out the vehicle. ;)
mipmipmipmipmip That's why you have to have the package ready and the hole dug cause if you don't, you'll be there all night digging. Who's knows who might show up while you're digging, you might have to dig a second hole, you could be up all night digging fucking holes! LOL (Nicky Santoro)
So many memories in my friend Greg's 92 Eldorado... Damn near died in it one time going 96mph on a joyride. Fairly fast with a 4.9L . Although the horsepower is higher then these guys are saying, more like 225-240 range. I also remember racing a 3000GT and smoking them all the way. These are badass rides to say the least. It's also most nessesary to wear black OJ Simpson gloves when driving.
Every Eldorado from late 1960s on, every Olds Toronado, every Buick Riviera, every Oldsmobile Aurora, the Impala SS, the Cadillac Allante, the Ford Taurus SHO.... just to name a few. ;)
I have a 2002 eldorado which was the last year they were made. The northstar is a great engine if well maintained. Plenty of power and still gets looks.
I have a 02 Eldorado ETC too. It's a fantastic car and turns heads wherever I go. Matter of fact I get more thumb ups and compliments on this car than any other car I have owned! And I have had alot of nice cars.
@vTHExUNKNOWENv I'm 43, is that young? I like older Caddies, but the ones from about the mid-80's to the 2000's were definitely second- (or third-) tier luxury cars. I did always like the look of the '92 and on STS/Seville, though, but the serious improvements in dynamics and quality started with the second generation of CTS. I mean, Cadillac is still second-tier when it comes to reliability, but the Germans are no better in that regard.
The 4.9 was a GREAT engine. Smooth, decent power. Please remember that in that time 200 hp and 275 ft. lbs was not far off from a 1992 Mustang GT (225 hp). Just 5 years earlier Eldoados had 130 hp...this car had 70 more hp that recent eldorados. NorthStar. Neat idea, but typical go-cheap as possible GM budgets meant that NorthStar would be problematic!! Find a 1992 with the 4 9, add some lower restriction mufflers and enjoy 220hp and 290 ft lbs!!
boy it was a great shape, but was so 90's GM in all the best and worst ways. My grandma got a new seville every 2 years so I got to know these models pretty well. In fact I took a 99 STS to prom. Loved it then, and they still look great now, but the rest of the vehicle sure hasn't aged well.
What a gorgeous car! No one really talks about the incredible high speeds of these cars. My 1990 STS with a LW2 4.5 would reach 158mph without much fuss. I loved that damn car!
Haha, oh I'm sure you've driven PLENTY of STS's! Hell, it's been a long time since I've seen a Corvette with that low of a speed.. Guess what? I also own an '87 LTD with a 351w and 2.73 gearing that hits 148mph, GPS confirmed. Go ahead, call me a liar.
Brad Nimbus oh you’re a liar no doubt about it. Having been in the auto repair business afforded me the chance to drive tons of cars. A stock 1990 vette top speed is 155-160+ depending on rear gear. No way a caddy with 50-70 less hp is doing the same. You do tell great fairy tales though.
The Northstar bolt problem was solved by 2004. My 2000 Eldorado ETC engine overheated and my latest 2002 ETC is stored in my garage awaiting the Northstar Performance repair by The Car Wizard! I got it for $225 at Copart in Oregon.
As an old timer... a "Baby Boomer", even I know that Cadillac had to "change with the times"; but, the fact that the traditional rear wheel drive, 4-bbl carb V-8 Cadillac deVille was outselling all of the newly redesigned FWD Caddy's combined in the, (confusing for new car buyers) 1980's; which should have given them a clue that if they had stuck with their tried and true models, perhaps with some modern updates, (instead of pulling the rug out so quickly), that their clients still wanted them! And maybe Lincoln wouldn't have outsold them for the first time in history. Further, perhaps the once world standard of excellence of "Cadillac" (Hence the old expression, "It's the Cadillac of...") wouldn't have become the automobile industry's bad joke they became. At that time Lincoln retained the Lincoln Town Car, but in a downsized version; although it was still a very large car by today's standards, (to we traditional American luxury car buyers it was fairly small). But even so, Americans still bought them in droves! Proving that they still wanted the larger "Luxo-Boats" they had seen their fathers drive and grew to love. I can still recall the thrill when my father would bring home his new massive, powerful and luxurious Cadillac's, Lincolns and even Mercury's with the sticker still in the window! He would allow me to sit on his lap and let me think I was driving, you needed binoculars to see past the hoods lol! Kids today will never know how those beautiful old cars with their 400+-ci engines''s would purr you to sleep with their relaxing deep-rumble as you laid on the bed-sized back seats with Pop at the wheel effortlessly driving her down the freeway. (do they even call them "freeways" any longer?) Thankfully, I kept my 1988 Lincoln Town Car, with a few subtle modifications, she has resided in my garage for over thirty years (as of 2019)... now I only take her out on beautiful summer days. I live in The Netherlands now and you should see the reaction of the locals, especially the younger ones lol! Most of them have no idea what it is even. "What is that big old thing?" I miss the days when the only car on American roads were MASSIVE RWD American cars, with the occasional, and laughable to Americans at that time, odd Porsche or BMW. Now they are all gone, we will never again see a traditional American luxury car that once dominated our roads. Oh well, I guess time marches on, but at what a sad cost.
I've always liked these cars, the one thing I believe Cadillac should have done was extend the wheelbase while reducing the massive overhang in order to improve proportions and interior space. That back seat was tight.
My 93 Eldorado ETC had a DOHC 32v 4.6L made 295hp and one of the faster cars around in 1993, had no problem gapping mustangs and camaros, mine was geared more aggressively for the mountains and beat just about everything i raced from a red light, surprised the shit out of a bunch of BMWs
Yes they are insanely fast! I love them myself and everything I own minus the my 1961 Cadillac and Dodge Ram is powered by the Northstar V8. My mom has a 1994 Seville and the same with that is super fast!
You're not complaining...much. If only you had known that the Northstar had a 100% total failure rate for years and years! That killed Cadillac for me.
Thanks to MotorWeek for this great blast from the past. On the one hand, after several years of contradictory changes and downsizing, Cadillac finally did something semi-rational with the 1992 Eldorado. It seemed to recapture a little bit of what made the E-cars so special so many years ago. But wait! If the Eldorado was such a great Cadillac, contributing something extraordinary to the brand and to GM overall, then why did GM stop making them? Why no more Eldorados? Answer: even though they were good, they were not great and GM had no hope of making them better. GM had a golden opportunity in the mid-1980s to make the E-body Eldorado, Seville, Toronado and Riviera into great cars that could shine and beat back the imports. But GM instead gave its customers lackluster, overbaked front-wheel-drive cars that weren't sufficiently different in any way from either the C-body deVille, Electra/Park Avenue, Ninety-Eight or the A-body Celebrity, 6000 STE, Century, Cutlass Cierra. While the 4.9-liter V8 is an improvement for the '92 Eldorado (for what it is), why is a V8 necessary in a downsized luxury car in the first place? The whole downsizing program was meant to standardize not just on front-wheel-drive and unibody construction, but also on smaller, lighter cars with smaller engines and better fuel economy. So then GM turned around and gave their front-drive cars bigger V8s? Why bother with downsizing and front-drive in the first place? Buick had 3.8 and 4.1-liter V6s. Why not take a cue from Ford's highly competitive MN12 program and make the Eldorado compete with the Continental Mark VIII? Buick's 3.8 turbo V6, coupled with a rear-drive Eldorado with a competitive body design, could have given Ford a run for their money. And what good did all of GM's alphabet soup do for the company's long-term outlook? Of all the A- H- C- and E-body cars, they may have been adequate but none were memorable. Front-wheel-drive and unibody designs no doubt played a vital role in GM's navigation of the 1980s and 1990s auto industry, but it now seems clear that none of these car lines ever came within sight of greatness. They were all lackluster, cookie-cutter designs derived from the dubious X-car (Chevy Citation). Maybe this is part of the reason why GM killed off Saturn, Oldsmobile and Pontiac. And now, even with fewer divisions, the legends of decades ago are just antique cars or fading memories...
Minimalism doesn't sit well with the word luxury,sill better than all the weird stuff Cadillac put out afterwards and i believe this 92 was the better of the bunch
If they'd just used a detuned version of a Corvette engine, geared more towards smoothness and quietness than all-out power, these would still be timeless classics. The NorthStar was a great engine...until it wasn't...and it became the latter all too quickly and all too frequently.
No that was with the HT4100 that continued with this engine the 4.9L. The Northstar was a huge improvement. The cooling systems must be properly maintained at its service intervals. The Northstar is by far the BEST high performance V8 and the last true breed V8 built by Cadillac.
@@starxlr7863 Nope!! The Northstar was NOT a reliable engine until maybe 2005 and beyond. I have been told by numerous people including a couple Hi Performance Shops that Northstars were notorious for head gasket failures and oil leaks. Besides!! Pushrod engines are miles better than an OHC design simply because they have fewer internal parts and they are more modifiable which is what people should be doing anyway. Im a hot rodder at heart so I hate leaving my vehicle engines/transmissions stock. Lol I did what Chevrolet refused to do. I took a stock 1996 Chevy S10 SS with the 4.3 V6 Engine and added all the nice power and fuel efficiency they didnt want me to have. And there is still wwaayy more to pull out of that engine.
My best friend had a 96 Eldo TC with the STS package and the h.o. Northstar. It was very quick and he got 190k out of it with careful maintenance. Towards the end of its life, everything that could leak, did leak, and he finally got rid of it when he could no longer get parts for it, like heater and coolant tubes that rotted out. And it was plagued with electrical problems too, like the power trunk pull down quit, causing the trunk lid to stay cracked open, as well as HVAC controls that refused to do as they were told. His car had the automatic rear ride control struts which also went out twice. Brakes were also a constant problem. The interior materials held up very well, and just the drivers side seat heater was an issue. The trans was perfect and he never had a problem with it. And he never had rust problems either, so far as body rot. Was it a good car? Not really. Did it need constant attention? Absolutely.
Up until the 90s if you bought a car you knew you were getting something with a personality, depending on the country it was coming from. Germany was quality and precision, Japan was research and technology, Italy was style and sportiness, USA was pure all-round comfort and pride. The nineties. Now that I think about it, they made some of the best cars like they knew things were about to change. The E39 5-series BMW, the FD Mazda RX-7, the Alfa Romeo 156 and this or, even better, the MK VIII Lincoln. What a bunch of beauties. Fuck SUVs. You'll never have me.
You know, I thought that a properly optioned Corvette c706 was the closest thing we in the United States ever had to a luxury Grand Touring car. Shows what I know.😂😅
Probably won't happen. Not just Cadillac, but if you look at all makes there aren't many 2 door cars on the market anymore. The El Dorado, Coupe DeVille, Continental Mark #, Riviera, Monte Carlo, Sebring, Lebaron, Cordoba, Avenger, T-bird, all dead and long gone.
I bought mine because of the front wheel drive. My 1994 Eldorado plows through snow nearly as well as my Subaru. Very sure footed and excellent all season traction.
Underappreciated in hindsight. It didn't have the performance of some other personal luxury coules of the time, but the 4.9 with automatic was about as trouble free as they came. It wasn't the sexiest car on the pages or dealer lot, but great for singles and childless couples.
So much optimism for a car/brand that took another 10+ years to find its feet...still, there is something oddly appealing about the endangered species of the large luxury coupe. I'm not very drawn to luxury, but a coupe fits my idea of it so much more than a giant sedan, and the age of the vaguely affordable luxury (as opposed to premium or sporty) coupe is long gone.
The 3/4 rear view of this Eldo is timeless. One of the best looking Cadillacs ever.
And then you open the hood....
@@Andyface79 The 4.9 was not that bad, pretty reliable( well....max power was low but torgue not that bad?)
I always thought this generation of Eldorado/Seville were very attractive. I still like the look 26yrs later.
palebeachbum In Europe it s still a beautiful real American V8 car. The onliest kind of American cars that we love😍
palebeachbum Definitely Beautiful
Agreed, best looking Eldo since the original 1967 model(when The Eldorado went personal luxury FWD platform)
Just clean lines all around, inside and out. It's still just as gorgeous as when it was new!
palebeachbum, we used to have a '71, '72 and a '73 Imperial LeBarons, as well as two '81 Imperials, and Chrysler should never have did away with the Imperial division! The '81's still had their EFI systems and ran beautiful but, i always loved this generation of the Eldorado too, and you never saw that many around, it seemed like that everybody bought the Seville instead, probably for the four door convenience! our two '81's were; one was white with red pinstripes and red leather interior, aluminum wheels and the power moonroof, and silver with red pinstripes and red leather interior, aluminum wheels and the power moonroof! his and hers cars for several years before we sold them! wish we still had them! and they both had the am/fm cassette players that we had converted to cd players! i even like most generations of the Lincolns too, including the Mark series!
As someone from the UK I love seeing these old reviews of cars we’d never see our side of the pond. Love that Cadillac.
Still looks good today. Only wish they made these rear wheel drive.
I'm looking for one with less than 100k miles. It's still a handsome design.
The Eldorado hasn’t been RWD since the mid 60s.
The Eldorado was RWD only from 1953 till 1966. From 1967 untill the end it was FWD. For a traditional RWD Cadillac coupe, You could only be a recent as the 1984 Coupe DeVille
@@jamesslick4790 there was a 85 fleetwood coupe
@@chrisxaf1237 85 was FWD. There were NO RWD DeVille or Fleetwood coupes after 1985, And there were no RWD Eldorados after 1966.
I love this old retro reviews I think they're awesome kind of a time machine. Greetings from Slovenia
Sem pogledal že par teh starih review-jev, pri temu grem pa pogledat, kaj folk kej med komentarji pravi, če jih kaki avti tud na mladost spominjajo in evo slučajno še enega Slovenca. 👍
It seems like we Slovenians like to watch old reviews. 😉
You all probably dont give a damn but does any of you know of a way to get back into an instagram account??
I stupidly lost the account password. I appreciate any tips you can give me
@Tomas Abram Instablaster :)
@Jett Dexter thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process now.
I see it takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Jett Dexter It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my ass :D
The style and design of this car is Timeless
I could live with that interior!
It still holds up today. Beautiful car inside and out.
Like your lab!
Thank you! She's a sweetie.
this is a MANS channel! begone!!
@@steve75112 Dude, just...shut the fuck up
I wish Cadillac still made a coupe that was more about comfort than all out performance.
Sedan57Chevy They did. It was called the ELR. No one bought it.
maybe cause it was golf cart
The northstar engine was an huge failure and something Cadillac hasn't recovered from and in recent years still have quality issues with most everything.
+BrewBlaster : Well they made near 2 million Northstar cars. Longest running Cadillac production motor. The reliability issues with these cars is overstated and exaggerated.
+David Topchiev :These Eldorados are worth more now than Sevilles.
That engine growl, above average interior, and good styling I wouldn’t mind owning one of these
I love Cadillac Eldorado, confortable, beautiful interior, trunk space, great space interior and V8 4.9 200hp 270LB FT torque
Cadillac really made a strong comeback from the dreary years prior. The driving excitement was back, build quality was much improved and the performance was back! This body style Eldorado is very reminiscent to the 79-85 Eldorado and also the first FWD 67-70 Eldorado coupes. And 26 years later, these are still some of the best looking cars out there on the road.
Except it wasn't because the Northstar was a piece of crap. If it had been executed better, than yes that would be true.
@@Andyface79 The car was indeed a huge success. Both engines are fantastic. Very well executed and lived a long life. The only reason they turn into crap is from people that do not maintain or care for them properly.
@@starxlr7863 Look, I was alive during this time. Most American magazines loved the Seville. It got heaps of praise and was highly regarded. Except it stopped being covered? Why? Because there was something clearly wrong with an engine. Look American car magazines were desperate to find an American car that was competitive with Europe. They wouldn't have stopped caring unless something was really wrong.
@@Andyface79 Yes I also was around during these years and remember it very well. It was a great time to experience and sadly is not the same anymore. The Seville was an excellent competitor for many years until it was discontinued, and it was the STS that was its successor. However, you really cannot entirely rely of car magazines. They are only opinions. There's a lot of wrong information that goes into these articles. I'm very much into Classic car magazines. Hemmings is one of them, and even with Hemmings, there's a lot of incorrect information regarding much older vehicles and engines. Cadillac is definitely not the only brand to get bad reviews or ending coverage anymore. It happens to all the brands.
@@starxlr7863 Sure but in this case it is deserved. When you introduce a new line of premium cars like that, you need to make sure its not going to have headgasket issues. Period. You can keep saying they don't but that simply isn't true. It's sad, because it could've really beat europe and japan at the luxury game.
I'm seeing a lot of comments about the engine and hp figures. Let me 'drop some knowledge' as they'd say in the 90's.
This 4.9 doesn't have HP, but it's got torque. But that isn't even a whole lot, the thing about these cars was the ride and comfort. The 4.9 isn't winning races, but I can bet that most are still running to this very day. Mine had 194,000 miles when I sold it. Now it's got over 235,000 from a different owner. These cars were built for highways, and long distances. You could do that tho, because you were pretty much immersed in comfort the entire time.
These cars ride like you wouldn't believe. If you ever get the chance, try one out. You might be surprised.
Mine was the Seville as well. Eldorados were just a smaller version, the 'coupe'. The Eldorados were sort of the 'top dog' but the sevilles were right behind them.
Mine was a 91' so it still had that weird '80's' style. The 93's look a lot better in my eyes.
Torque?? You saw how awful it launched right? XD
Yes they can be a great engine. But that didn't happen with the one my parents had. Rocker rails shattered inside. The ride and comfort is great. My mom still drives her 1994 Northstar Seville which is the same car that replaced the first 92 Seville back in the mid 90s. I don't drive it often but when I do, that car rides exceptionally well and is extremely comfortable. The Northstar V8 is probably my favorite and is insanely fast. It has well over 300k on it and it doesn't seem like it does.
This Caddy has aged beautifully.
I just recently purchased a 2002 collectors series Eldo 12/2019 w 44k miles. It’s like a brand new car. Wow , what a sleeper awesome sports coupe refined final edition of the El Dorado! #313 I had dreamed of owning this model for years but never had the $50,000 to buy it. With the special features on this send off edition and the head bolt problem resolved (2000 and up models) this 2002 Cadillac Eldorado collectors series that I have is just absolutely my dream car. I step on the gas and this SOB runs like a bat out of hell, for this 62-year-old hot rod guy. Less than 7.0 Second 0 to 60 times on this luxury sport coupe highway cruiser is amazing. I have had some awesome Mustangs, Camaros, Trans Ams super duty 455s, and Z 28’s in my day. This car totally fulfills my hot rod needs in my elderly age. It was awesome seeing this retro motor week introduction of the 92 Eldorado. This will be my final life long car! ( or maybe I’ll have to find another collector series in 2038 when I’m 80) !!!
I always wanted that car.
Check out those tailpipes!
Hindsight is 20/20....they should have stayed with the 4.5 and 4.9 as both were rock solid and dependable. The North Star was quite the falter as time passed. Still the 92 is my favorite for this generation of eldogs because of the 4.9 and the sleeker body than what premiered in 93.
All those HT series engines had headgasket problems and required 5-6 stopleak tablets to keep themselves sealed. Frequent waterpump failure and trapped air in the cooling system was also a problem on HT engines. Northstars from 2003 and newer are reliable long lasting engines with great power and surprisingly good fuel economy.
I will gladly bleed the cooling system on a HT series engine before I timesert a northstar black at 16-24hours of labor. I can change a waterpump on a 4.9 in 7 minutes!
Never seen a N* avg more than 14-16mpg (according to the DIC display). But frequently got 28mpg out of a 4.9. (synthetic oil, synthetic tranny fluid)
Dropping the northstar & keeping the HT series around longer wouldnt have done GM no favors with the billions they probably spent developing "the standard of the world" turd of a 4.6 :-)
Will C The N* you drove must have had issues as mine averaged 19-21mpg. I guess a 4.9 would be a more sensible choice over a N* if I were in the market for 20+ year old worn out Cadillacs. You'll cuss either one when you have to replace the headgaskets on them. To each his own.
They finally realized their mistakes and found their niche. A big pushrod V8 is light, simple, compact, and can be just as efficient and nearly as rev happy as a DOHC engine. Sure, specific output isn’t as good... but who cares when you’ve got power to weight and great fuel economy in a larger displacement engine that’s actually smaller than the DOHC competition.
Loved these when I was a kid. Thought they were so boss! That nose dive was wicked though 😂 It’s such a classic car and that interior is so plush and comfy looking.
I was the same when I was little to being in these cars. I do remember that nose diving and remember it so well. I'm glad that was resolved on the newer Cadillac's. My mom drives a 1994 Seville and is the same one from when I was little. Its still such a comfortable riding car. I have a 1999 ETC and is the same in comfort and performance.
Please post the 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora and Buick Riviera. Those were a big deal when they hit the road.
The aurora especially. It had its very own version of the northstar motors. And it was even better than this. It was made to replace the aging toronado, that gm killed in 92 thanks to their boneheaded decisions of not including a v8. That last gen of toronado was absolutely beautiful.
They were cool cars but too bad nobody bought them and are very rare today. The Aurora along with the failed Alero pretty much put an end to Oldsmobile.
please post review of APV Lumina
The Aurora was a seriously cool car. It's too bad GM didn't work on Oldsmobile more or that they waited too long to try to do something about sagging sales, they were the only one of the lesser brands that was putting out something new and innovative. The Aurora and Intrigue were interesting. The Alero was just a rebadged Grand Am, although it looked better.
Novusod, the Aurora and Alero didn't help the bean counters at GM change their minds, but the knife was already out for Pontiac, Olds, Hummer, Saturn and Saab years before GM killed them.
Thank you for posting this video! It is appreciated. It is again great to see more of the old GM footage.
dude got in and slid the bass down right away lmao
So beautiful. This was when Cadillac was at it's best.
I'd love to see and/or hear a Motorweek podcast or sit-down interview with John Davis and hear his thoughts on how vehicles have changed or what they have become over the years since Motorweek first aired. More interviews or just casual "round-table" style conversations with former Motorweek staff (Lisa, Craig etc) and hearing their different experiences would be neat too!
That would be great if John Davis could be honest. His older shows were good, but in the new shows, he's just kind of a cheerleader.
I feel like he probably hates all the new touch screen and drive for you crap like most car enthusiasts
Always liked the look of these. Similar to the early 80s that looked great and even the late-60s that really looked great.
Gorgeous looking car, please do the Fleetwood Brougham!
My dad had a pearl white exterior with a red interior, loved that car
Got one runs great
I really liked the stying of these cars back in '92.
I owned two of these. Very pleasant car to drive. Very attractive.
When I was a teenager... I wanted one of these and a Lexus SC400. I loved the style of them and the interiors. Hard to find a clean one today.
4.9 v8 was way better then the northstar when it came to reliability.
Had a 1994 Deville with the 4.9. Only reason I got rid of it was I was tired of looking at it.
and a starter under the intake manifold? what the hell...
If I ever bought another Cadillac, I would only get one with the 4.9l. Such a good engine.
👍
+zzzhuh Lol! Exactly what I'm looking! The one without the North Star!
Beautiful And Timeless
Beautiful Eldorado.
I want one of these new NOW. Far more appealing than any 2020 Cadillac on offer. This design as aged very well to my eye, inside and out.
I know I love my 92 for many many years it's been a great vehicle.
I love the CD and Cassette combo! bring it back
I know bring back the CD and Cassette combo so I can listen to my old cassettes again.
Must needed !
Love the nose dive of the ELDO. I miss the 90's Cadillac car line ups!!!
what a nose dive
almost scratches the asphalt
That soft ride comes at the expense of a soft suspension setting, which will promote nose dive on top of it's front heavy front-wheel drive layout.....
To be expected. It's a front wheel drive with a big V8 so all the drive-train weight is right up front much of it forward of the front axle. Pauly Wallnuts was able to avoid such a nose dive because he either had a body in the trunk or some bricks and chains to sink a body.....the extra weight in the truck evened out the vehicle. ;)
ScarabChris Excellent post! LMAO
RayEttler the Lincoln Mark VII was the same way, it’s the suspensions
mipmipmipmipmip That's why you have to have the package ready and the hole dug cause if you don't, you'll be there all night digging. Who's knows who might show up while you're digging, you might have to dig a second hole, you could be up all night digging fucking holes! LOL (Nicky Santoro)
In my opinion, this is the optimum design for Cadillac. It has the perfect lines. I had a ‘94 and it was a lot of fun and comfortable.
The last couple years they made these were really good looking cars.
So many memories in my friend Greg's 92 Eldorado...
Damn near died in it one time going 96mph on a joyride.
Fairly fast with a 4.9L .
Although the horsepower is higher then these guys are saying, more like 225-240 range.
I also remember racing a 3000GT and smoking them all the way.
These are badass rides to say the least.
It's also most nessesary to wear black OJ Simpson gloves when driving.
This was very much an attractive vehicle for Cadillac, both inside and out and so far ahead in all ways of its predecessor.
Transverse V8 fwd? Not many of those.
Always love that intro and exit music when this was appointment TV ha.
Every Eldorado from late 1960s on, every Olds Toronado, every Buick Riviera, every Oldsmobile Aurora, the Impala SS, the Cadillac Allante, the Ford Taurus SHO.... just to name a few. ;)
I have a 2002 eldorado which was the last year they were made. The northstar is a great engine if well maintained. Plenty of power and still gets looks.
I have a 02 Eldorado ETC too. It's a fantastic car and turns heads wherever I go. Matter of fact I get more thumb ups and compliments on this car than any other car I have owned! And I have had alot of nice cars.
Love to see 1990 Cadillac brougham
I love the nose dive when stopping 😍
Paulie Walnuts approves of this review. Now off to get some gabagool!
Oof, maddon!
Good brakes!!! Almost lifted the back up! I can only imagine what would happen with the Northstar in that baby.
They don't make Cadillacs like that anymore
Yes, they're much better now.
Thank god.
@vTHExUNKNOWENv I'm 43, is that young? I like older Caddies, but the ones from about the mid-80's to the 2000's were definitely second- (or third-) tier luxury cars. I did always like the look of the '92 and on STS/Seville, though, but the serious improvements in dynamics and quality started with the second generation of CTS. I mean, Cadillac is still second-tier when it comes to reliability, but the Germans are no better in that regard.
Loving that rear end and taillights. Interior is understated and tidy. I’d be happy to own such a handsome car!
Yesterday’s jingle, “Best of all, it’s a Cadillac”.
The 4.9 was a GREAT engine. Smooth, decent power. Please remember that in that time 200 hp and 275 ft. lbs was not far off from a 1992 Mustang GT (225 hp). Just 5 years earlier Eldoados had 130 hp...this car had 70 more hp that recent eldorados. NorthStar. Neat idea, but typical go-cheap as possible GM budgets meant that NorthStar would be problematic!! Find a 1992 with the 4 9, add some lower restriction mufflers and enjoy 220hp and 290 ft lbs!!
Totally appreciate the audio and visual restoration !! Can you do the same for your Cadillac Deville 2000 Review ?
O(j{>((P0p0p
boy it was a great shape, but was so 90's GM in all the best and worst ways. My grandma got a new seville every 2 years so I got to know these models pretty well. In fact I took a 99 STS to prom. Loved it then, and they still look great now, but the rest of the vehicle sure hasn't aged well.
What a gorgeous car! No one really talks about the incredible high speeds of these cars. My 1990 STS with a LW2 4.5 would reach 158mph without much fuss. I loved that damn car!
That would be faster than a Corvette. Highly doubtful
You can doubt it but unless you've driven one your opinion doesn't really mean much. 150mph+ is capable in quite a few Cadillacs
Brad Nimbus That car was not faster than a corvette. I know bs when I read it. I have driven plenty of sts’s to know that. Nice try though
Haha, oh I'm sure you've driven PLENTY of STS's! Hell, it's been a long time since I've seen a Corvette with that low of a speed.. Guess what? I also own an '87 LTD with a 351w and 2.73 gearing that hits 148mph, GPS confirmed. Go ahead, call me a liar.
Brad Nimbus oh you’re a liar no doubt about it. Having been in the auto repair business afforded me the chance to drive tons of cars. A stock 1990 vette top speed is 155-160+ depending on rear gear. No way a caddy with 50-70 less hp is doing the same. You do tell great fairy tales though.
Price equal to $67,000 today
That driver almost disappeared into the those seats with that color combo.
You're right on the misses John. Like the Seville, more gauges, more lumbar support, and less power steering boost were needed.
The Acura’s less pleasing styling still looks pleasing till this very day... And it still works today lol
My favorite car ....I think , -- Cadillac , this not a simple car , this SYMBOL of EPOCH ....Salute from Russia ..
4:20 Kenny Rodgers "Lady" Perfect Caddy song. Captured a little moment in time there...
Midtown Madness!
the start of Cadillac reinventing itself...a couple years later with the northstar engine, this is one of caddy's top ten
I could sleep inside this car with that interior those seats look so comfy.
I daily exactly one of these but it's a '94 and a beautiful metallic green. It's a beauty
Very beautiful car!
The Northstar bolt problem was solved by 2004. My 2000 Eldorado ETC engine overheated and my latest 2002 ETC is stored in my garage awaiting the Northstar Performance repair by The Car Wizard! I got it for $225 at Copart in Oregon.
we need more retro reviews
I got a 91 with a 4.9. Always runs strong.
As an old timer... a "Baby Boomer", even I know that Cadillac had to "change with the times"; but, the fact that the traditional rear wheel drive, 4-bbl carb V-8 Cadillac deVille was outselling all of the newly redesigned FWD Caddy's combined in the, (confusing for new car buyers) 1980's; which should have given them a clue that if they had stuck with their tried and true models, perhaps with some modern updates, (instead of pulling the rug out so quickly), that their clients still wanted them! And maybe Lincoln wouldn't have outsold them for the first time in history. Further, perhaps the once world standard of excellence of "Cadillac" (Hence the old expression, "It's the Cadillac of...") wouldn't have become the automobile industry's bad joke they became. At that time Lincoln retained the Lincoln Town Car, but in a downsized version; although it was still a very large car by today's standards, (to we traditional American luxury car buyers it was fairly small). But even so, Americans still bought them in droves! Proving that they still wanted the larger "Luxo-Boats" they had seen their fathers drive and grew to love. I can still recall the thrill when my father would bring home his new massive, powerful and luxurious Cadillac's, Lincolns and even Mercury's with the sticker still in the window! He would allow me to sit on his lap and let me think I was driving, you needed binoculars to see past the hoods lol! Kids today will never know how those beautiful old cars with their 400+-ci engines''s would purr you to sleep with their relaxing deep-rumble as you laid on the bed-sized back seats with Pop at the wheel effortlessly driving her down the freeway. (do they even call them "freeways" any longer?) Thankfully, I kept my 1988 Lincoln Town Car, with a few subtle modifications, she has resided in my garage for over thirty years (as of 2019)... now I only take her out on beautiful summer days. I live in The Netherlands now and you should see the reaction of the locals, especially the younger ones lol! Most of them have no idea what it is even. "What is that big old thing?" I miss the days when the only car on American roads were MASSIVE RWD American cars, with the occasional, and laughable to Americans at that time, odd Porsche or BMW. Now they are all gone, we will never again see a traditional American luxury car that once dominated our roads. Oh well, I guess time marches on, but at what a sad cost.
I've always liked these cars, the one thing I believe Cadillac should have done was extend the wheelbase while reducing the massive overhang in order to improve proportions and interior space. That back seat was tight.
When Cadillac truly started to get their groove back.
My 93 Eldorado ETC had a DOHC 32v 4.6L made 295hp and one of the faster cars around in 1993, had no problem gapping mustangs and camaros, mine was geared more aggressively for the mountains and beat just about everything i raced from a red light, surprised the shit out of a bunch of BMWs
Yes they are insanely fast! I love them myself and everything I own minus the my 1961 Cadillac and Dodge Ram is powered by the Northstar V8. My mom has a 1994 Seville and the same with that is super fast!
a local dealer of mine got a 99 eldo in emerald green, and its rather fetching even after all these years
You're not complaining...much. If only you had known that the Northstar had a 100% total failure rate for years and years!
That killed Cadillac for me.
Great designs age very slowly. This '92 Eldorado still portrays elegance and power.
Nene Valenzuela Although I loved the STS, I always thought the Lincoln Mark VIII was a better looking car than the eldo of that vintage.
Dude you aren't adding anything to the conversation by copying and pasting the video description.
Looks really early 90s to me
the mark viii had a better chassis (rwd & double wishbones), but I never got it's exterior styling...but I've always loved the mark vii (and vi, too)
Yeah cuz 200hp 4.9 v8 makes a lot of sense
Thanks to MotorWeek for this great blast from the past. On the one hand, after several years of contradictory changes and downsizing, Cadillac finally did something semi-rational with the 1992 Eldorado. It seemed to recapture a little bit of what made the E-cars so special so many years ago. But wait! If the Eldorado was such a great Cadillac, contributing something extraordinary to the brand and to GM overall, then why did GM stop making them? Why no more Eldorados? Answer: even though they were good, they were not great and GM had no hope of making them better. GM had a golden opportunity in the mid-1980s to make the E-body Eldorado, Seville, Toronado and Riviera into great cars that could shine and beat back the imports. But GM instead gave its customers lackluster, overbaked front-wheel-drive cars that weren't sufficiently different in any way from either the C-body deVille, Electra/Park Avenue, Ninety-Eight or the A-body Celebrity, 6000 STE, Century, Cutlass Cierra. While the 4.9-liter V8 is an improvement for the '92 Eldorado (for what it is), why is a V8 necessary in a downsized luxury car in the first place? The whole downsizing program was meant to standardize not just on front-wheel-drive and unibody construction, but also on smaller, lighter cars with smaller engines and better fuel economy. So then GM turned around and gave their front-drive cars bigger V8s? Why bother with downsizing and front-drive in the first place? Buick had 3.8 and 4.1-liter V6s. Why not take a cue from Ford's highly competitive MN12 program and make the Eldorado compete with the Continental Mark VIII? Buick's 3.8 turbo V6, coupled with a rear-drive Eldorado with a competitive body design, could have given Ford a run for their money. And what good did all of GM's alphabet soup do for the company's long-term outlook? Of all the A- H- C- and E-body cars, they may have been adequate but none were memorable. Front-wheel-drive and unibody designs no doubt played a vital role in GM's navigation of the 1980s and 1990s auto industry, but it now seems clear that none of these car lines ever came within sight of greatness. They were all lackluster, cookie-cutter designs derived from the dubious X-car (Chevy Citation). Maybe this is part of the reason why GM killed off Saturn, Oldsmobile and Pontiac. And now, even with fewer divisions, the legends of decades ago are just antique cars or fading memories...
O sick! I did not know you could have this generation Eldorado without a Northstar!
I had a 79 Eldorado. This might be the next one 🤔
Minimalism doesn't sit well with the word luxury,sill better than all the weird stuff Cadillac put out afterwards and i believe this 92 was the better of the bunch
Ahh can't get enough MWRR!!! It's my childhood all over again. I don't even give a shit about 90% of the cars... I just love the style!
Me too. I grew up around these cars and miss those days. I'm so happy to have one finally!
If they'd just used a detuned version of a Corvette engine, geared more towards smoothness and quietness than all-out power, these would still be timeless classics. The NorthStar was a great engine...until it wasn't...and it became the latter all too quickly and all too frequently.
I seen a 2000 Eldorado at a car show this year. The owner did a 383 V8 swap. It's a 470hp sleeper. 🙂
Once caddie introduced the northstar v8, I've heard that engine was junk due to head gasket issues
No that was with the HT4100 that continued with this engine the 4.9L. The Northstar was a huge improvement. The cooling systems must be properly maintained at its service intervals. The Northstar is by far the BEST high performance V8 and the last true breed V8 built by Cadillac.
@@starxlr7863 Nope!! The Northstar was NOT a reliable engine until maybe 2005 and beyond.
I have been told by numerous people including a couple Hi Performance Shops that Northstars were notorious for head gasket failures and oil leaks.
Besides!! Pushrod engines are miles better than an OHC design simply because they have fewer internal parts and they are more modifiable which is what people should be doing anyway.
Im a hot rodder at heart so I hate leaving my vehicle engines/transmissions stock. Lol
I did what Chevrolet refused to do.
I took a stock 1996 Chevy S10 SS with the 4.3 V6 Engine and added all the nice power and fuel efficiency they didnt want me to have.
And there is still wwaayy more to pull out of that engine.
Beautiful
My best friend had a 96 Eldo TC with the STS package and the h.o. Northstar. It was very quick and he got 190k out of it with careful maintenance. Towards the end of its life, everything that could leak, did leak, and he finally got rid of it when he could no longer get parts for it, like heater and coolant tubes that rotted out. And it was plagued with electrical problems too, like the power trunk pull down quit, causing the trunk lid to stay cracked open, as well as HVAC controls that refused to do as they were told. His car had the automatic rear ride control struts which also went out twice. Brakes were also a constant problem. The interior materials held up very well, and just the drivers side seat heater was an issue. The trans was perfect and he never had a problem with it. And he never had rust problems either, so far as body rot. Was it a good car? Not really. Did it need constant attention? Absolutely.
If you can find one in good original condition.....With the 4.9.....They make very good work cars.
I said "dayumn" when they showed the backseat. It looked like mini recliners, lol.
Up until the 90s if you bought a car you knew you were getting something with a personality, depending on the country it was coming from. Germany was quality and precision, Japan was research and technology, Italy was style and sportiness, USA was pure all-round comfort and pride.
The nineties. Now that I think about it, they made some of the best cars like they knew things were about to change.
The E39 5-series BMW, the FD Mazda RX-7, the Alfa Romeo 156 and this or, even better, the MK VIII Lincoln. What a bunch of beauties.
Fuck SUVs. You'll never have me.
Always liked these cars from afar, guess I should have got one...
You know, I thought that a properly optioned Corvette c706 was the closest thing we in the United States ever had to a luxury Grand Touring car. Shows what I know.😂😅
I wish caddy makes a new el dorado....that just screams pure american luxury bliss and made the brand cool.
Probably won't happen. Not just Cadillac, but if you look at all makes there aren't many 2 door cars on the market anymore. The El Dorado, Coupe DeVille, Continental Mark #, Riviera, Monte Carlo, Sebring, Lebaron, Cordoba, Avenger, T-bird, all dead and long gone.
Need the review of a later model Eldorado with a Northstar. Preferably the top dog ETC
I like how the tester's clothes match the interior.
For it's intended market (the elderly), it was a hit.
That was a nice looking car and a great engine
Classic design. I love my 98 STS.
VERY NICE COLOR,
AND I' WISH TO HAVE ONE IN THIS 2023;. FIRST GOOD...
If only Cadillac would have switched back to rear wheel drive. These could have been even more prestigious.
I bought mine because of the front wheel drive.
My 1994 Eldorado plows through snow nearly as well as my Subaru. Very sure footed and excellent all season traction.
This brings back memories
I just bought a 1992 eldorado touring coupe,
Underappreciated in hindsight. It didn't have the performance of some other personal luxury coules of the time, but the 4.9 with automatic was about as trouble free as they came. It wasn't the sexiest car on the pages or dealer lot, but great for singles and childless couples.
So much optimism for a car/brand that took another 10+ years to find its feet...still, there is something oddly appealing about the endangered species of the large luxury coupe. I'm not very drawn to luxury, but a coupe fits my idea of it so much more than a giant sedan, and the age of the vaguely affordable luxury (as opposed to premium or sporty) coupe is long gone.