Late 90's Buick Riviera

93gsxturbo wrote: Around here (Milwaukee) they are all hood rat cars by now. Mismatched wheels, dents, bad tint job, no plates, just waiting to hit you without insurance. Out in the sticks, I could see wanting one. In Milwaukee, its asking to get pulled over.

As another Milwaukee resident, I concur...they are ghetto beasts just like the Bonnevilles, Luminas, DeVilles and other GM crap of yesteryear. I live in Riverwest and our nickname for anything full-size GM from the 90's is "target practice," for more than one reason.

SlickDizzy wrote:

93gsxturbo wrote: Around here (Milwaukee) they are all hood rat cars by now. Mismatched wheels, dents, bad tint job, no plates, just waiting to hit you without insurance. Out in the sticks, I could see wanting one. In Milwaukee, its asking to get pulled over.

As another Milwaukee resident, I concur...they are ghetto beasts just like the Bonnevilles, Luminas, DeVilles and other GM crap of yesteryear. I live in Riverwest and our nickname for anything full-size GM from the 90's is "target practice," for more than one reason.

I think it's that way in most ghettos. It seems like in the Chicagoland area however that ex-rental fleet Dodge Chargers have been the staple of the ghetto for a few years now.

This is a tempting proposition. I've always wanted a 3.8 SC, it's a 2 dr, and it looks like I can get pretty decent examples locally for well under $2k. I have a full 15lb bottle of nitrous, and probably most of what I would need to build one of those up as a challenge car. Would be a comfy ride to Florida

Pretty cheap down here

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3728402194.html

But I think I would do the Mark 8 first for that pricing:

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3744071484.html

Not to derail, but the Mark VIII (or IIX?) popped into my mind as a competitor for the Riv, too. Does the Lincoln share a platform with anything else FoMoCo? I've seen one slammed to the ground with modern wheels that actually looks pretty seriously badass. Anything go-fast relatively available for them?

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, the perfect name for one of these is...

Geraldo Riviera

(With apologies to fast_eddie and Tom Celica)

alex wrote: Not to derail, but the Mark VIII (or IIX?) popped into my mind as a competitor for the Riv, too. Does the Lincoln share a platform with anything else FoMoCo? I've seen one slammed to the ground with modern wheels that actually looks pretty seriously badass. Anything go-fast relatively available for them?

i believe that they are a fancy Thunderbird..

I believe you're right. And I believe I like this a lot.

It looks like a giant stepped on it.

I know. I thought the picture was distorted at first.

Mark VIII is a modified MN12 (thunderchicken) Chassis with Cobra 32V HP. Common kit to take out the air bags is to use modified TBird pieces.

I've driven both extensively. The mark 8 moves nicely from a roll.

I like the Mark VIII, but I like the Riviera more.

From a mechanic's perspective id way rather own the riviera.

Back when I was actively considering a nice Riviera as my DD, I did a search on youtube, and came across an alarming amount of S/C Rivieras with rod knocks. I am not saying the engines are rubbish, but rather that it seems that finding a well-taken care of example is really paramount with these.