1999 Cadillac Eldorado Once, buying a Cadillac meant you were too old for anything else. No more. By Ted West, New Car Test Drive .com

The moment you sit in the Eldorado Touring Coupe, or "ETC," as it has been badged, you know you're in a Cadillac. The cues and styling of the Eldorado interior say what Cadillacs have always said: "big," "lavish," "grandiose."

But dipping into the power of the forceful Northstar V8, a different breed of Cadillac comes to life. From the first takeoff this car identifies itself as a far more aggressive package than you remember, aimed at a much younger buyer. The ETC definitely has its strengths -- but it also has enough "old" Cadillac qualities to compromise the result.