ted tcb Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Well, winter has arrived in central Ontario. We received about 20cm, or 8 inches this morning. I had fun testing my 4 Goodyear Eagle snows, combined with traction & stability control, plus ABS. Last year, I ran 2 Blizzard up front, and 2 all season Coopers on the back .. couldn't figure out why my traction/stability and ABS systems constantly were popping on Now, the car is very surefooted, stops quickly, has great control and traction. Also, the emergency systems rarely come on due to the improved traction. I had to really push the STS around corners before the "Stability Engaged" message would appear. The newer style STS sure looks familiar with my 97 rims used for winter salt. Its tough to see the difference between the two generations. Loads of fun. 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted November 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Is it a 97 or 99? 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCat83 Posted November 25, 2005 Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 Jeez, where I am in Florida it was 76F and I spent the PM in my pool drinking beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted November 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 I just came back from the store. Had to decide to put my $$ towards either -30f windshield fluid or a nice bottle of merlot. The windshield wiper fluid won out It actually tastes pretty damm good after you get past the poisonous flavour 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenJ Posted November 26, 2005 Report Share Posted November 26, 2005 Jeez, where I am in Florida it was 76F and I spent the PM in my pool drinking beer. Nobody likes a smarta$$ . . . . I just came back from the store. Had to decide to put my $$ towards either -30f windshield fluid or a nice bottle of merlot. The windshield wiper fluid won out It actually tastes pretty damm good after you get past the poisonous flavour I faced a similar dilemma Friday while purchassing a new winter coat. I found two pair of gloves I couldn't decide between. Solution: I bought both! You might have chosen a similar path and purchased both the WF AND that fine bottle of Merlot. After all, you're a Cadillac owner. Act like one! Regards, Warren There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprucegoose Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Wow, those are some interesting looking meats you have ther Ted! I have never seen snow tires with that V-tread design. Yes, I'm sure they have to do much better than the mixed set you had previously. I am curious as to how these Michelin Symetry tires will be on my Riviera. I never owned a set of them before. I don't think they will do as well as the BFG Traction TA's I had on my Eldo, but that was a heavier car. We still need a good snow to test them out! '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted November 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Wow, those are some interesting looking meats you have ther Ted! I have never seen snow tires with that V-tread design. Yes, I'm sure they have to do much better than the mixed set you had previously. I am curious as to how these Michelin Symetry tires will be on my Riviera. I never owned a set of them before. I don't think they will do as well as the BFG Traction TA's I had on my Eldo, but that was a heavier car. We still need a good snow to test them out! The tires are Goodyear Eagle P225/60R16 GW2. The OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) use them on their pursuit vehicles, as they are supposed to be the only 150MPH snow tires. Notice the little arrows ... they are directional snows, and sell for about $200 per tire. The provincial police headquarters is in our town, and every spring they put fresh meat on their cruisers ... the garage that has the contract sold me these low mileage tires for $200Cdn, balanced and installed on my 97 STS rims. Loads of fun, and nobody can keep up to me when I accelerate or brake in the slush. 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprucegoose Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Yes, I did notice the directional arrows. They look super aggressive, the only downside is they can only be rotated front/back unless you dismount the tires from the rims. That is a great deal though, you were fortunate to find out about that source! I had a less fortunate tire experience this week when my wife and kids drove up to my folks for Thanksgiving. I was up there already, as deer hunting was in full swing. Got a call that they had gotten a flat with our Riviera about 30 minutes away, so I went to change the tire (in -10F wind chill!) The tire was toast, as she didn't notice it going down till it was too late. We did find a local dealer the next day that had one in stock though (for $125 mounted and balanced) It just sucked having to replace a tire that had only 10k miles on it! I was sure thankful that they didn't have a blowout and lose control of the vehicle though! '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted November 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Kind of nice, though, that you already have the confidence in your "new" 8yr old Riv to trust it to your wife and kids. It took me a few months to trust my 99 STS to the wife and kids ... I had a few driveability issues to sort out until I gained confidence in my used purchase. How's the gas mileage on the 3800SC? My mother's Regal GS isn't really any better than my Northstar. Is your 3.8 more effiecient than the SpruceGoose's V8? 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeb Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 we bought a grand prix for my son this summer and it came with 2 sets of tires. worn out Z rated summer tires and a set of nice blizzaks. I put on some new A/s tires for him and just put the blizzaks on my STS. woohoo. let it snow. than 2 weeks after i put the tires on his GP he hit a curb and blew out a tire. he is going away to school 100 miles from home and the local tiresplus would not honor his warranty. something about corporate/independent store. I raised a fuss and they finally replaced the tire. talk about a lousy "road hazard" warranty. seems it only works at the store you bought the tire from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navion Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 I just came back from the store. Had to decide to put my $$ towards either -30f windshield fluid or a nice bottle of merlot. The windshield wiper fluid won out It actually tastes pretty damm good after you get past the poisonous flavour You could have bought a bottle of Everclear, 190+ proof. Guaranteed to melt the ice of of both your windshield and you! I wouldn't put it in your washer fluid tank though, it would probably melt it! Caution: Do not use around open flame! After using Everclear as a personal defroster , an 8 hour cool down period is required before driving! Britt Britt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted November 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 This is my drink of choice from Nov. to the spring. It removes ice and dirt, eliminates chatter, melts ice and frost. Its best served at room temperature, in an oversized glass, with red meat. It has a slight hint of aged cedar, an interesting bouquet. 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCat83 Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Pardon me for missing all of the fun. I had to spend all afternoon washing and waxing my '97 Eldo out in the sunshine this afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprucegoose Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Kind of nice, though, that you already have the confidence in your "new" 8yr old Riv to trust it to your wife and kids. It took me a few months to trust my 99 STS to the wife and kids ... I had a few driveability issues to sort out until I gained confidence in my used purchase. How's the gas mileage on the 3800SC? My mother's Regal GS isn't really any better than my Northstar. Is your 3.8 more effiecient than the SpruceGoose's V8? Oh, I really do have pretty good confidence in this car. It is in unbelievable shape, and runs/drives great. The guy who put the new tire on for me couldn't believe it was a 98 with 115k on it. In his words, "Man, it looks and even smells like a new car!" It gets about 26-27 mpg. Most of my driving is freeway. I could get a little better mileage if I kept my foot out of it I'm sure! I was only getting 21-23 in the same conditions with the Eldo, but the torque convertor wasn't locking up like it was supposed to. That probably nocked it down by a couple mpg. So what does a gallon of that "Drink of choice" run you? I should look into that for my daughter's Pontiac GP, it is always freezing up the washer hoses cause they go way out on the wipers. Poor design for cold weather! '09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi. '15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi '70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 They tested this stuff in the Toronto Sun last week. One of the ingredients is liquid teflon, and apparently it cuts through salt and dirt much better than the cheap pink stuff. The teflon fluids are purple, and cost about $2.50 a jug. I find that good winter blades are still the best defense for cleaning up the grime. Gotta love that 3.8SC in your Riv ... some would argue the 3.8 is GM's most durable engine. In my wife's 98 Lesabre, I achieved 33mpg driving to Florida at a steady 75mph with 4 people on board ... only issue on the non SC 3800 Series II is the plastic intake plenum goes around 100,000klm. On the SC, its a metal plenum which holds up fine. 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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