Cars at the NFDA convention

Tony, my understanding from a dealer is that they won't get XTS chassis until April 2013. The ones you see on the NFDA floor were constructed in 30 days, and atleast one company will use the one on the floor for the crash test...
I looked over the Eagle and Federal and found the lines and design something I could live with, not anything I would look at and be happy with - but live with. The Superior roofline is horrible in my opinion...
 
I do agree that the Eagle roofline is MUCH better than the Superior (which I have mentioned in a previous post), but I do not like the Cadillac crest in the center of the landau bar, it is to big and just dont look right.
The painted top is probably making a comeback just because they figured they can save a buck by not buying the material. That is ok with me though, I do like the looks of the painted top. A crinkle paint like the old days would look nice too.
Since the cars at the convention were prototypes im sure they were listening to conversations about them, there is always a little time to change things, just like when they redesigned the wheelbase on the 1985 FWD cars before they hit the market.
 
W20 chassis

Kent Dorsey said:
Tony, my understanding from a dealer is that they won't get XTS chassis until April 2013.
Click to expand...

Another dealer has given a similar estimate. It appears the builders might need another six months to tweak their engineering and designs anyway. In the case of Superior maybe a big tweak. Hopefully, builders can stay alive selling MKT hearses and limos in the meantime.
 
I look at Tom Hoczyk's posts of gorgeous cars from the days of old,then I look at the new ones,I am afraid viagra could not get me excited about them:smileflagcan:
 
Ive stated before that I like the Lincoln offerings better than the Cadillac. That being said and looking at Baines new pics, I like the Lincoln in a HEARSE better, but like the looks of the Cadillac much better in the LIMOUSINE.
 
XTS prototype door

A demo of the Accubuilt Cadillac XTS prototype's loading door.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEXdIjYdAZ8[/ame]
 
NFDA Photos

Hi, Bill.....

Did you take these photos? If so, I'd like to use some of them in an upcomig issue of The Professional Car. Let me know if this is possible. Thanks, Walt
 
Martin Harvey said:
I agree, im quite new in the funeral industry, started in 2002 but already miss the olde 1995 Masterpiece I used to drive when I became funeral director. Those agressive looking let me think they wanted to give them a "panther" look which remove the dignity of a funeral. I far prefer our 2011 Tuxedo white Masterpiece than a brand new like this.. The classy Cadillacs are gone, or they will be back I dont know,. How can you match a lead car with this big "hot wheel"?
Click to expand...

Well said. I am glad the funeral home I work at updated our fleet in 2011.
I don't think that these will be well received by the older generation, I have had numerous comments about the fleet we have now being too flashy. These look like something you would see in a rap video.

Jeremy
 
Tony Blair said:
A demo of the Accubuilt Cadillac XTS prototype's loading door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEXdIjYdAZ8
Click to expand...


This poor guy stood on the convention floor for three days and open and closed this door.... over and over and over....

This seems like a poor design. The door wouldn't close if anything touched it. I can picture snow and ice getting in blown in. The one-piece rubber gasket goes all around the door, even on the bottom will it will get cut by caskets and removal equipment. I was told "oh, you can't make a removal with this car"

Just a poor design that will create maintenance issues down the road.
 
Absurd!

A funeral coach manufacturer telling a funeral director that a funeral coach cannot be used for removals? There is no way I would ever buy a funeral coach that I wasn't comfortable using for funerals, cremation services, and yes, removals.

Further evidence of less importance placed on meaningful death care practices and traditions.
 
Bill Carlin said:
This poor guy stood on the convention floor for three days and open and closed this door.... over and over and over....

This seems like a poor design. The door wouldn't close if anything touched it. I can picture snow and ice getting in blown in. The one-piece rubber gasket goes all around the door, even on the bottom will it will get cut by caskets and removal equipment. I was told "oh, you can't make a removal with this car"

Just a poor design that will create maintenance issues down the road.
Click to expand...

Sounds like it was rushed, hopefully it can be refined. I like the concept.
 
Tony Karsnia said:
A funeral coach manufacturer telling a funeral director that a funeral coach cannot be used for removals? Further evidence of less importance placed on meaningful death care practices and traditions.
Click to expand...

Tony....It's not a refection of the importance placed on meaningful death cars. It's simply stupidity as well as a startling reflection of the caliber of people now employed by this firm. They know nothing. This kind of idiotic statement is further evidence that those people charged with actually running the company for the monied New York investors are completely out of touch with the reality of these vehicles...their functionality as well as the way they look. It appears to be a case of the blind leading the blind. They need a big broom in Lima to sweep the deadwood (and dead heads)out of this operation. These are the idiots that are leading the iconic Superior and S&S brands to the abyss. They obviously haven't got a clue. When you think about it, it's a real tragedy.
 
While I agree with your statements regarding the coach manufacturer, Keith, I politely disagree that this is no reflection on meaningful death care practices. I realize choice of removal vehicle varies from funeral home to funeral home, but there is a large percentage of funeral directors who won't consider using a hearse for removals no matter what. I personally think this has more to do with the funeral director's comfort level (many don't like driving a conspicuous vehicle) and some of it has to do with practicality (one director covering several locations, not wanting to waste time running to a distant location to switch out a van for a hearse prior to making a removal.)

Unless a family specifically asks us not to bring a hearse (in the case of a housecall) or, on very rare occasion a nursing home has asked that we not bring a hearse, I prefer to use a hearse for removals and have found the practice to be highly accepted and appreciated, especially now that more nursing homes are offering what many call the "walk of honor" whereby a special quilt is placed over the cot during transport from room to vehicle while staff line the halls to bid farewell to the resident as the family follows behind the body. Sometimes we will invite a family member to help place the cot into the vehicle and close the door. Again, met with great acceptance, prompting many families to comment, "we're so glad you brought a hearse!"

Personally, I've always wondered why it's ok for a person to ride in a hearse on the day of their funeral, but not on the day they die. Circumstancial to personal preference and area tradition, I know, but death is death and hearses are supposed to be designed to transport people who have died. In this era of less-traditional services, tell a funeral director that this new hearse isn't meant for removal use, and many of them will believe that and change their practices. I know of at least one firm that has done exactly that upon purchasing a pair of Eagle Echelon hearses.

:my2cents:
 
Tony
THANX for your insight on vans vs hearses. When my first wife passed at home under Hospice care, the funeral home was told "do not bring a van!" Respectfully, they showed up with a very nice grey S&S.
I understand the vans have their place like perhaps nursing homes, crime scenes etc, but the families should have a say when it is possible.
 
I have good friends who believe in using vans... some of them say, "a hearse is a ceremonial vehicle..." I have a colleague FD who responds, "a hearse is meant to ferry the dead... whether in a casket, shipping container or stretcher, and that's what we intend to use it for..."
We have a local pastor, that when we make a home removal has taken to walking outside, lining family members up in a line to the hearse and he starts reading scripture as we exit the home... to me, that moment and that hearse is part of the ceremony that plays out over the next few days. It would lose something to me to place that stretcher in a van at the end of that "procession"...
It is just another part of our business that sets us and our service apart from others. When I got in the business there was reference to the "death denying station wagon" as a way to soft pedal death and act like no one really died... (minivans were a couple of years from being manufactured...)
 
Whats the deal with the hearse sporting purple "mood" lighting? Looks like one of those awful party limousines. All it needs is a disco ball and some fog machines and grandma will be off to the great rave in the sky...
 
Joseph McDonald said:
Whats the deal with the hearse sporting purple "mood" lighting? Looks like one of those awful party limousines. All it needs is a disco ball and some fog machines and grandma will be off to the great rave in the sky...
Click to expand...

Purple has been a funeral color since way back, even before black, and in many states it is the standard reconized color for funeral procession lighting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top