Buick Riviera vs Cadillac Eldorado

[Guest bajtucha]

Hi!

Where can I find a decent comparison between Rivieras and Eldorados from 79' - 85' with pictures. I would like to compare interior design and equipment.

Thanks in advance.

 

Bartek

[Pat Curran]

You can google both on the internet by year and compare photos and features.  You may also want to include the Oldsmobile Toronado in your comparison.  Each one had its own distinctive looks as well as dashboards and interiors.  You can look up period road tests from Motor Trend and Car & Driver from back in the day.  From a mechanical perspective, you may want to avoid the Eldorado with the HT4100 V8 engine which was plagued with issues.  This engine was not available in the Riviera or Toronado.  

Edited August 1, 2017 by Pat Curran
additional information (see edit history)

[RivNut]

Underneath they're exactly the same.  Only exterior "bling" is what makes them different.  I'd venture to say that the Cadillac you find might be better optioned than the Riviera But that also means there's more to possibly go wrong.  Look for a T-Type with the turbo; you'll probably pay a little more for it, but it's going to retain value better over the long haul.  Avoid the '83 Riviera XX Anniversary car unless it's been well maintained and documented.  No replacement parts for the unique things it was equipped with from the factory.  You'll wind up with a FrankenRiv.

 

Ed

 

 

[1965rivgs]

13 hours ago, Pat Curran said:

You can google both on the internet by year and compare photos and features.  You may also want to include the Oldsmobile Toronado in your comparison.  Each one had its own distinctive looks as well as dashboards and interiors.  You can look up period road tests from Motor Trend and Car & Driver from back in the day.  From a mechanical perspective, you may want to avoid the Eldorado with the HT4100 V8 engine which was plagued with issues.  This engine was not available in the Riviera or Toronado.  

STAY AWAY FROM THE 4100 !! Look for an earlier model with the better powerplant

  Tom Mooney

[Paul K.]

4 hours ago, 1965rivgs said:

STAY AWAY FROM THE 4100 !! Look for an earlier model with the better powerplant

  Tom Mooney

^^^ This! 

 

If I wanted that body style in an Eldorado, either a 79 or 80 I would buy. Lots of engine swapping in those days or sure. The 79 had the same engine as the first gen Seville, an Olds 350 V8 with Bosch fuel injection. The 80 Eldo had the downsized 368 Cadillac V8 (from 425 cid  used in the DeVilles in 79)  but it had a feedback carburetor because this was the first year of computer controls for GM called the C4 system. 81 Eldos had the 368 again but it was equipped with the cylinder canceling 8-6-4 system which was a disaster. In 82 came the HT4100 engine which as mentioned had big problems with coolant mixing into the oil and early engine failure. If it were me looking for an Eldo, I would want a 79 or an 80 in that order.  

[Guest bajtucha]

1 hour ago, Paul K. said:

^^^ This! 

 

If I wanted that body style in an Eldorado, either a 79 or 80 I would buy. Lots of engine swapping in those days or sure. The 79 had the same engine as the first gen Seville, an Olds 350 V8 with Bosch fuel injection. The 80 Eldo had the downsized 368 Cadillac V8 (from 425 cid  used in the DeVilles in 79)  but it had a feedback carburetor because this was the first year of computer controls for GM called the C4 system. 81 Eldos had the 368 again but it was equipped with the cylinder canceling 8-6-4 system which was a disaster. In 82 came the HT4100 engine which as mentioned had big problems with coolant mixing into the oil and early engine failure. If it were me looking for an Eldo, I would want a 79 or an 80 in that order.  

 

I have an option to buy Buick Riviera 81' with Oldsmobile V8 307 cu in (5.0 L). Seems reasonable choice, durable, right?

Edited August 2, 2017 by bajtucha (see edit history)

[dship]

'85 Eldorado HT4100 engines VIN 623772 and up were reengineered to eliminate previous head gasket issues.  Top of the line Eldorado of '79-'85 generation was the Biarritz with the stainless steel roof and tufted/buttoned leather seats.  My understanding is that the Eldo, Riv, and Toro were all manufactured in the same plant.

 

An old friend of mine would always say to me that "Cadillac's were just Buick's with bad engines"!   

Edited August 2, 2017 by DShip (see edit history)

[Bill Stoneberg]

On 8/2/2017 at 3:52 AM, bajtucha said:

I have an option to buy Buick Riviera 81' with Oldsmobile V8 307 cu in (5.0 L). Seems reasonable choice, durable, right?

 

I have had a later model (88) Electra with the 307 engine and it was a dog. Couldn't get out of its own way. Maybe 81 is better.

[Paul K.]

7 minutes ago, Bill Stoneberg said:

 

I have had a later model (88) Electra with the 307 engine and it was a dog. Couldn't get out of its own way. Maybe 81 is better.

 

Totally agree. The 307 was a dog. The 305 Chevy motor was so much better. Not sure if they made it into any Rivieras. 

Edited August 7, 2017 by Paul K. (see edit history)

[RivNut]

Find a 79 or an 80 with the 350.  SOOOOOO much better than that 307 mutt.  It's a good engine but not powerful enough to move that car on anything but flat land or down hill.  I drove my '85 coupe to Hershey in "10 and made the mistake of coming home through the mountains of West Virginia.  Truckers were p o'ed at me for slowing them down going up hill.

 

Ed