Used 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood
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Edmunds' Expert Review
Vehicle overview
Understand one thing about this car. It is huge; the longest production car sold today. It is not easy to maneuver. But boy, does it go fast in a straight line. A Corvette LT1 motor lurks under the acreage that is the Fleetwood's hood, and gets this 4500-pound behemoth to 60 mph quicker than a Dodge Intrepid ES. Big antilock brakes haul the freight back down quickly, as well.
Inside is enough room to carry six very comfortable passengers, and the trunk swallows more stuff than many minivans will (with all seats installed). Dual airbags, ABS and traction control all come standard on the Fleetwood, and prices start at just $36,000.
New this year is a revised center armrest with lots of storage and dual cupholders, pre-wiring for Cadillac's Dual Mode (analog and digital) cellular phone, and a new audio system. One interesting carryover feature is the chime that reminds drivers to turn off their turn signal if they've traveled more than half a mile with it blinking.
The Fleetwood represents the last of the monster Cadillacs. At the end of the 1996 model year, it goes out of production so that General Motors can convert its Arlington, Texas assembly plant to build highly profitable trucks. The front-wheel drive De Ville is poised to take over the Fleetwood's duties, but the experience just isn't the same. Time is running out on this traditional rear-wheel drive luxo-barge. Grab a piece of history while you can.
1996 Highlights
Final year for the longest production car sold in the U.S. Updates are limited to a new audio system, revised center storage armrest and prewiring for Cadillac's Dual Mode cellular phone.
Scorecard
| Overall | undefined / 5 |
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood.
Trending topics in reviews
- comfort
- engine
- appearance
- spaciousness
- road noise
- fuel efficiency
- interior
- acceleration
- handling & steering
- driving experience
- maintenance & parts
- doors
- oil
- brakes
- cup holders
- climate control
- reliability & manufacturing quality
- towing
- transmission
- value
- wheels & tires
Most helpful consumer reviews
5/5 stars, Hey Mac, this is a neat Fleetwood
Rod,
4dr Sedan
This Fleetwood is the 70th car I've owned in my life, and the 2nd Fleetwood (the previous one was a 1994). I have never owned a car newer than the 1972 model year until I broke the streak with a 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora in 2006. Since that car I have only owned 1994-2001 GM cars (3 more 98-99 Auroras, 94-96 Roadmasters, a 2001 Eldorado ETC, 1996 Cadillac DeVille etc.). Before then I have owned 1956-1966 Ford Thunderbirds, Ford Falcons, Fairlanes, Galaxies, and a couple of Mustangs. I have owned a few slant-6 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Valiants. Around 1989 or so, I FINALLY woke up and switch exclusively to GM! I have owned 1963-197s Buick Rivieras And Skylarks/GS. And I have owned other 1962-1972 Buicks, a Pontiac or two, and a few nice 1971-72 Chevelle Malibu's. I tell you all that to say this: The 1994-96 Buick Roadmasters and Cadillac Fleetwoods are the best over-all cars I have ever owned. This particular Fleetwood has the trailer towing package which includes a 3:42 gear, stronger transmission, harder body to frame bushings, stiffer springs, larger anti-sway bars, and heavy duty cooling, including transmission fluid and engine oil cooling. (One of my 1994 Buick Roadmasters also is a towing model). Oddly enough, even the normal Fleetwoods have a stiffer suspension than her Buick Roadmaster and Chevy Caprice sisters. You'd think the Chevy would rank the stiffest and the Cadillac the softest, but no. On top of that I put Monroe Severe Duty shocks in the front and Monroe coil-over shocks in the back of all my 1994-1996 GM B/D bodied cars. Actually I stiffen the suspension on all my cars for decades now. Okay on with the 1996 Fleetwood. IT IS FAST, smooth, quiet, comfortable and I would call it a touring sedan. Not quite as fast as my 2001 Eldorado ETC, but a much firmer and sure ride and handling. With the 3:42 gear I get about the same gas mileage doing 80mph on the freeway or around town--17-20 mpg. The original price for the Fleetwood Brougham is around $8-12,000 more than the Roadmaster Limited. With that you get a quieter car, better suspension, traction control, easier to use seat belts, (they retract at both ends, the Roadmaster has a stationary anchor on one end, making you "feed" the seatbelt back to its stored position, a PITA) and one of my favorite options that is missing on the Roadmasters-Retained Accessory Power. The door panels and other interior parts are more substantial and do not squeak or rattle like the Roadmaster's do. The gauges on either car is lacking, but more so on the Fleetwood. (The 1991-1993 Roadmasters had the best gauge package, but not the LT-1 engine). The HAVC controls on the Roadmasters are more versatile than on the Fleetwoods, so I always replace my HAVC controls on my Fleetwoods with Roadmaster controls. A bit of modification for mounting is needed, so it is not a simple swap, but the effort is WORTH it if you like to have full manual control of your fan speeds. Basically the Fleetwood with the towing package compares to the 1994-96 Impala SS or Caprice Police Car in many ways. And it is much more RARE. Plus you get that extra bit of luxury and comfort reserved for Cadillacs!
4.75/5 stars, Best car on the planet (for the money)
David P.,
4dr Sedan
Absolutely best car on the planet for the money. Excellent cars can be had for $4-6,000. Make sure to buy one which has been properly maintained all its life. Trashy ones make for good parts car. Parts are expensive. Only buy the LT-1 (94-96). I car-pool my deep-red 96 Brougham to an expensive, snotty prep school and proudly enter the drop-off zone amidst BMW-X5,Range Rovers, Porsche SUV. For the same money, I can buy one for each day of the week.
4.5/5 stars, True American Luxury
Dunbar,
4dr Sedan
The vehicle is excellent in every way except for driving over rippled surfaces
that are close together. The suspension seems loose when this happens
but that is what GM intended. I owned a Mercury Cougar XR7 with a much
firmer suspension. Maybe that's why the Fleetwood's suspension seems
rubbery at times.
5/5 stars, Executive Sweet
Alton Hall,
4dr Sedan
Just got my '96 base Fleetwood Sedan with only 41,000 miles on it - basically just broken in. This is the best car I've ever owned. It is comfortable, powerful and fuel efficient ( regular gas and 26 mpg hwy ). The LT 1 engine is one of GM's best. It is quiet, roomy and elegant inside. For a big car, it handles quite well and is easy to maneuver. I highly recommend this car. I am proud to drive it and it makes me like a distinguished executive. My other favorite features are the twilight signal indicators, the rear wheel drive and the gas fill cap behind the rear license plate. My only disappointments are that there are no handy storage pockets on any of the doors and the glove compartment is way too small. If you can find one, grab it up because that aren't too many nice ones around.
FAQ
Is the Cadillac Fleetwood a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 1996 Fleetwood both on the road and at the track. You probably care about Cadillac Fleetwood fuel economy, so it's important to know that the Fleetwood gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Fleetwood has 21.1 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Cadillac Fleetwood. Learn more
Is the Cadillac Fleetwood reliable?
To determine whether the Cadillac Fleetwood is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Fleetwood. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Fleetwood's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood is a good car. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 1996 Fleetwood is a good car for you. Check back soon for the official Edmunds Rating from our expert testing team Learn more
How much should I pay for a 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood?
The least-expensive 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood is the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood 4dr Sedan. Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $0.
Other versions include:
What are the different models of Cadillac Fleetwood?
If you're interested in the Cadillac Fleetwood, the next question is, which Fleetwood model is right for you? Fleetwood variants include 4dr Sedan. For a full list of Fleetwood models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more