1992 Cadillac Brougham D'Elegance review from North America

A/C pulley, battery cable, headliner sag.

I have always admired the 'classic' Cadillac look...meaning mostly the 81-92 Fleetwood Broughams but am especially attracted to the 1990-1992 models due to the composite headlamps and body cladding as well as the improvements made in this final version before the revised 'modern' look of thte '93-96 models. I was considering those last year model Broughams as well... but when I saw some pictures that had them parked side by side... I just felt the older ones just looked classer... more distinguished... ie old style elegance!

I bought this Fleetwood Brougham D'Elegance off of Ebay locally when it didn't sell for a 'too high' price. I really liked how this model was loaded with virtually every option. This car is beautiful and everything works just great. I wish it had the rare sunroof, wire wheels, and 350ci engine. Instead, this one has the 305ci with now 159,900 miles on it, and...you would never know by driving it nor by looking at it. It is a beautiful dark/royal blue with the interior being the same in leather. I really prefer the D'Elegance's tuffed (?) seats verses the standard interiors rather plain and frankly, less comfortable look. I had sat in two other standard Brougham cars and it just wasn't the same. I feel rather spoiled now though, it would more difficult to get a 'lesser' version if I needed to replace this one.

I have only replace a bad muffler and a noisy a/c pulley, that's it!

I have gotten as high as 26 mpg on the highway and that was in the mountains of Colorado!!! Can any of your big SUV's do that? Typically it gets 16-21 mpg in mixed driving with a light foot. Surprisingly though, I tend to drive much more conservatively in this car versus any other car I've had except for the brief period I had an '94 Deville (I was hit in it on a

first date' with a lady after I had gotten it from my parents...4 days before!)

This car is beautiful though my buddies either give me grief for it looking like my grandparent's car or they really admire it... they really are all over the board so-to-speak when it comes to their opinion on it. I kid you not, I have gotten more thumbs up or other congrats from bystanders for this car... than any of my buddy's in their $50k and up SUV's...its rather amazing. Of course, if an older Cadillac isn't in good shape, then it's an eyesore. I was told by a limo fleet manager who ran the largest fleet in the USA that the '90-92's were the best in terms of quality than other years and types of GM vehicles due to internal and little known competition. You won't see these models with broken deteriorating bumper fillers either. There was a marked improvement in bumper filler material/quality.

I highly recommend these models as they are body on frame vehicles which means a great ride, easy to service, inexpensive to service, and with plenty of room to repair when necessary as well!!! try that on newer small engine compartment cars.

GM 305's and 350 cubic inch motors typically last a long time and have proved the test of time. My father just got rid of a Caprice with the 305 motor and it had 220,000 miles with much more left. Other tales of high mileage motors such as these are abundant as well. I want the 350ci motor though for passing other cars when I am loaded down with people/stuff or when I am in the mountains. Otherwise, its fine everywhere else... it really is.

Of course, another reason I got it was that its relatively easy to work on...and has ROOM to do work on it. My Caddy doesn't have any electrical issues which is great because it has plenty of accessories that could potentially go wrong. You know, I've heard the criticisms of late '80's and early '90's GM vehicles quality problems... and rightfully so I might add. But, this car shows virtually no signs of having any quality issues, it has almost 160000 miles on it and YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT by driving it or inspecting it on the inside or outside. I'm very pleased with it.

The D'Elegance model was the top of the line in the Brougham series and included things that were options on other models though curiously they didn't get some of the newest features that the Front wheeled drive Fleetwood series got like:

-keyless entry

-rear a/c vents

-instant mpg computer

etc. but these did have ABS II, better shocks and bushings as well as speed sensitive steering.

These were an old design from 1981 and most of the customers of these preferred less technology (things to go wrong and were sometimes difficult to understand) reliability like the vehicles they were accustomed to.

Only negatives are surprising amount of wind noise around A pillars, as noted by reviewers at the time, and drivers seat doesn't go back far enough for taller people.