Beautiful weekend

[Guest my3buicks]

Took the Reatta to 3 shows/cruises over the weekend, put about 75 miles on it - the weather was fantastic here.  Todays show actually had another Reatta convertible at it, a white with blue 90 convertible with 25K hard miles on it, it has been for sale in the area off and on, if anyone see's it advertised or listed and want an eyeball account, private message me - It had around 16K miles when the current owner got it about a year ago.

 

Had a guy actually argue with me that my Reatta was made in Italy, I told him that was the Caddy and he insisted he was right.  I told him to believe what he likes and walked away. 

 

Had a Viper sitting beside me today for sale and unbelievable the Reatta had more people around it today than the Viper.

 

Had the top down most of the weekend and when I got it home from the show today I put the top up and let it sit in the sun for a couple hours to make the top nice and wrinkle free again. 

 

 

[olbuickman]

Keith, The Cadillac Allantes body came from Italy on a 747. The car then was then final assembled at the Lansing craft centre.Olbuickman

[ScarredKnightfan]

Sounds like a great weekend!

 

I'm not all that surprised your Reatta got more attention than the Viper.  After all, don't see too many Reattas anymore ... whereas the Vipers are still around quite a bit, it seems, anyway.

 

 

Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com

1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve

"We had lots of fun" __ Dickey Lee __ 'Rocky'

[91vert]

I noticed that your car is for sale but I don't see it listed here.

Is this not a good place to list ?

[Guest my3buicks]

Keith, The Cadillac Allantes body came from Italy on a 747. The car then was then final assembled at the Lansing craft centre.Olbuickman

 

I sold them new so know the story - the guy was so off base It wasn't worth going into the full logistics of the Allantes build

[Guest my3buicks]

I noticed that your car is for sale but I don't see it listed here.

Is this not a good place to list ?

I have it listed on the main AACA buy/sell and the main Buick buy/sell

[KDirk]

Keith,

A bit off topic but since you sold Allantes and now own a Reatta, do you have any thoughts on which car is better (highly subjective, I know). Seems like the Allante gets more attention/respect as a collectible in the making, but I see many in nice shape for sale at surprisngly low prices. Seems the interior switchgear and digital displays don't fare as well as those of the Reatta and the styling is a love it or hate it proposition. I like the looks of the Allante and have considered one now and again but it seems to have all the same potential downsides as the Reatta with greater cost of ownership.

I'm just curious about the perspecive of someone with expericence and knowledge of both cars, now that 25 years have passed, as to which one holds up better in your opinion.

KDirk

[KDirk]

Delete - dupe post.

Edited June 8, 2015 by KDirk (see edit history)

[Bushwack]

Keith,

A bit off topic but since you sold Allantes and now own a Reatta, do you have any thoughts on which car is better (highly subjective, I know). Seems like the Allante gets more attention/respect as a collectible in the making, but I see many in nice shape for sale at surprisngly low prices. Seems the interior switchgear and digital displays don't fare as well as those of the Reatta and the styling is a love it or hate it proposition. I like the looks of the Allante and have considered one now and again but it seems to have all the same potential downsides as the Reatta with greater cost of ownership.

I'm just curious about the perspecive of someone with expericence and knowledge of both cars, now that 25 years have passed, as to which one holds up better in your opinion.

KDirk

 

I owned a '93 Allante (first year with Northstar engine).  I don't think we're comparing apples to apples.  The Allante was better engineered, better ride and gets a halo above itself for having the Northstar (although the 1991-1992 years were better built mechanically). Also, the history of how the Allante came to be (Pininfarina design, Italy made shipped on 747s to the US), didn't share many parts with other GM cars, it was a Cadillac (which use to mean something) and that it was built to be direct competition with the SL Benz...makes for good story.

 

The Reatta may have been hand assembled but unlike the Allante, the Reatta shares parts with other GM cars (kind of like the original Audi Quattro of its day).  What the Reatta has going for it is design.  As a coupe, I think it's a better looking car then an Allante hardtop.

 

One more thing: Cadillac marketed the heck out of the Allante. GM wanted the car to be 1st choice for those shopping an SL.  On the other hand, we know Buick did a poor job marketing the Reatta.  GM tried to make the car a poor man's SL and we also know it was bad timing for the Reatta to get into the market while in Allante's shadow.

 

I didn't have any problems with the Northstar (had 65,000 miles when I sold it) but plenty people did. If I recall, two main issues were oil consumption (one quart every 1,500 miles) and bad gaskets.  Otherwise it was a great engine for its time.  Reatta has a terrific engine but also has some thorns to deal with (Teves/accumulator and wheel speed sensors).

 

If I had to decide between the two, I'd chose the Reatta.  In an Allante, you're driving a cruise ship (soft ride) with an IP that's tough to read (and confusing) in sunlight. In a Reatta, the confinement one may feel in the car enhances a more personal driving experience.  And the 16 way seats feel better then the Allante's (even w/o thigh bolster support).

[Guest my3buicks]

HHmm, one of the biggest differences in my mind is the operation of the top - the Reatta is so much easier.  Back when the Allante was new I was demonstrating how to put the top down(I had gone to one of Cadillacs training seminars and was one of 2 "certified" Allante saleperson in the dealership).  One of the steps was giving the top a push when down to lock in place prior to closing the tonneau  cover, when I pushed it down the rear window shattered sending little squares of glass all over the showroom - Cadillac flat bedded that car back to corporate and a change in design followed.  Our dealership had that car replaced and was allowed to have another one for stock.  I find the outward design of both Reatta and Allante to have aged well.  I think the interior design of the Reatta has aged better than the space ship control look of the Allante.  I don't agree with Bushwack on the seat comfort, I found the Allante seats to be more comfortable overall.  I think the Allante's engine issues over the years has killed it's desirability.  Even when at shows when talking about the Reatta, people often make comment on the Allante and always comment on the poor engines, unlike the glowing comments one gets on the Reatta's V6 engine.  Whether comparing apples to apples or not, the Reatta was directly marketed against the Allante - some of the "benefits" listed are 5' tighter turning circle, 17% more interior room, more efficient, and of course cost. I agree with Bushwacks comments on marketing, the Reatta's marketing was dismal at best and aimed only at one market segment, the empty nesters totally ignoring one of the biggest potential customer basis of professional women.  I do think at the time regardless of how nicely done the Reatta was the Allante did just have a more luxurious expensive feel to it overall.  I don't see the Allante gaining collector potential any quicker than the Reatta since the Caddy has the bad engine stigma.  The numbers built bode better for the Reatta's future collectability over the Allante as well.  I seriously considered an Allante after the white Reatta burnt last summer and even looked at a few but total cost of ownership and that nagging reliability issue kept me from climbing into one.   

Edited June 8, 2015 by my3buicks (see edit history)

[KDirk]

An intersting take. I will say the Northstar spooks me. That is how I ended up with a Reatta to start; I really wanted a 99-02 Eldorado but having personally witnessed a number of Northstars pull the head bolts and leak from the half case seal, I stayed clear and went for the Reatta instead. Needless to say, I've no regrets though I still really like the look of the last gen Eldorado. The Caddy 4.9L PFI V8 was a great engine (have it in my Deville and it is essentially the V8 version of a 3800 in terms of reliability). Even it's predecessor, the 4.5L PFI V8 was a good engine but just a bit lean in power for the size of the cars it went in. If I were to ever consider an Allante it would be a non-Northstar, counterintuitive though that may seem.

In any case, my interest and bias in favoring the Reatta is not likely to lessen so I've little interest in starting over with another car and the associated learning curve. Still, I wouldn't entirely rule out an Allante if I had room and budget for another car and the right deal came along.

KDirk

[Guest my3buicks]

KDirk, they still intrigue me lol - AND you could even have a Polo Green convertible