Cadillac CTS: An Aussie Review

[Robert Ryan]

When was Cadillac not sold in Europe, from my understanding GM has never stopped selling Cadillacs in Europe.

In a Australia, do not know about Europe. I feel they have had a very low presence there as well.

[powervette]

'The CTS's satellite navigation system is a work of genius but it won't work in Australia'

if that's true, who will buy a luxury car equipped with w navi that doesn't work???

[mikmak]

I'm hoping that comparisons with the 300C are ill founded. I thought the interior of the Chrysler to be one of its weak points so hopefully CTS is good enough to warrant a 60K price tag. Still, once you get over a certain cost, you can get away with being porky, but remain in the cheaper bracket and your prospective purchasers start getting concerned with consumption of natural resources etc. Isn't the CTS as heavy or heavier than the Commondore [sic] ?

[mikmak]

CTS Base model: 1751kgs
Holden Calais V V6: 1780kgs

How does that work out? I thought the CTS would have a better weight advantage than this^^^

[BBDOS CV8]

The CTS's satellite navigation system is a work of genius but it won't work in Australia. All the main rivals have good satellite navigation systems.

The bottom cushions in the front seats lack adequate support and are too spongy. The driver's and front passenger's knees can easily nudge the seat temperature controls by accident.

On the test car, the brakes felt ordinary but General Motors representatives said this was due to earlier abuse and that Australian CTS sedans will have upgraded brakes.

The Cadillac, on the other hand, has a 3.6-litre V6 similar to the one in the Holden Commodore (it even sounds the same) but with a few tweaks to give it slightly more power and better fuel efficiency. It's also matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, rather than a four- or five-speed auto with the Commodore, which helps extract the most from the available power.

The bits in bold is the sort of thing that could kill it. This is polite Aussie-journo-speak encoding for 'close, no cigar - confirm it for yourself on your way to sign the BMW lease'.

Insiders are saying later this year the VEII-VF Calais/SV6 Commodores are getting DI (226Kw/308hp) and the six-speed auto, while the Omega/Berlina get the 195/5-speed.


Given the CTS is BMW/Merc 5-series sized - smaller than a VE Calais and almost as heavy but with a smaller cabin, boot and fuel tank - it's going to hurt it in the inevitable comparos. Earlier articles were saying $70-80K. It's uncomfortably dearer than the Calais-V, Caprice and Statesman. That's HSV GTS territory - Magnaride, 317Kw/425 hp and sooner or later likely the LS9.

Many US-ers on this board are saying selling the G8 without Nav is suicide. Selling the Cadillac with non-functioing nav in that market segment will be it's own punchline. Seriously, this car needs to be prepped better if they're serious.

When was Cadillac not sold in Europe, from my understanding GM has never stopped selling Cadillacs in Europe

It took the Euros a while to work out Australia isn't there too...... Unfortunately for Cadillac and GM NA, BMW and Mercedes worked this out ten years ago and you can be assured their vey competent 6-cylinder cars as sold here do not have the sorts of issues identified in this review.

[nota]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Seriously, this car needs to be prepped better if they're serious.

From the quote below it makes you wonder why GM's premiere brand and "Mark of Excellence" doesn't furnish excellent brakes in every market

On the test car, the brakes felt ordinary but General Motors representatives said this was due to earlier abuse and that Australian CTS sedans will have upgraded brakes.

I'm guessing the GM rep's 'damage control' response alludes to Oz-spec CTS receiving some sort of european braking package not seen on US-domestic CTS?

In a market sector where genuine luxury contenders distinguish their brand-credentials from pretenders through providing a depth of engineering that is traditionally above the ordinary, this invites the question: Does Mercedes/BMW/Audi etc see fit to downspec their luxury US-bound vehicles with a dedicated set of downgraded brakes especially for that market?

If these reputable marques don't stoop to it, why does GM-Cadillac?

(GMNA did similar by de-contenting Monaro brakes & tyres for Pontiac GTO )

[bone]

I don't understand why Cadillac is setting themselves up for failure in Australia. The CTS market is already more than adequately covered by Holden. I can't imagine how much this is going to cost G.M. in terms of monery and reputation.

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by Smaart Aas Saabr

Have you compared them? It's roughly the same size, a few centimetres longer sure but unless he parked them side by side...

I have, I used to own an IS250. Believe me, it's much smaller!!

[CobaltSScrazy]

this is quite possibly one of the three worst CTS reviews I've ever read. First its 5series sized in every dimension, not 3 series.

Who cares about the 300C???? Honestly, I highly doubt people will be crosshopping a Chrysler...with a Cadillac. Thats like me crossshopping a Turbo Cobalt with a Camaro SS, IE: not going to happen. It's similar to shopping a G8 with a 5 series...not going to happen! I hate it when people say 'well holden has this price range covered and its a larger size for the same price, ka durk a durk'...well duh, Holden is the chevrolet equivalent in Oz not a Cadillac eqivalent. OF COURSE, people would never QUESTION the PRICE of Audi/BMW/MB entry level vehicles like this because 'deyre german, yah stuttgart mOn'...yet Cadillac CTS gets compared to some calais holden or a 300? Bull S***!

A holden V6???? Funny, huh, NEVER HEARD OF ONE! Those boneheads don't know what they're talking about, ALL HFV6 TESTING ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT occurred in NA specifically in the USA! Ka durk a durk! It was all centralized here in MI and in Ontario, sheesh, way to be ignorant. Maybe it was adapted to the local market and underwent certification down under for that market, but its a GMNA design for the world. get a clue lou.

Lacking of lateral and front support? Talking about the upteenth airbag lacking for rear passengers? Because someone is a clutz hitting their temp gauges? Spongy brakes?!?!?!? ...what are you smoking?

The ONLY legit beef's I can gather are (and I didn't know this till now) the car being LHD not RHD which doesn't seem right to me, isn't it RHD in EU? and Sate. Navigation not working in Oz, yet how is that? Doesn't HSV have navi? Use the same system, duh?

CobaltSScrazy

[Exploder]

I wonder how big of a concern is it that you may hit the temp gauges with your knees? Any CTS owners say something about this?

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by Smaart Aas Saabr

Have you compared them? It's roughly the same size, a few centimetres longer sure but unless he parked them side by side...

The CTS is longer and has a longer wheelbase than an E class.

The CTS is longer than a 528i and the CTS wheelbase is within 0.3" of the 528i.

Comparing the CTS to a 4 cylinder C class or 3 series is off mark.

[a_v_s]

Originally Posted by powervette

'The CTS's satellite navigation system is a work of genius but it won't work in Australia'

if that's true, who will buy a luxury car equipped with w navi that doesn't work???

I'm curious why the navigation won't work... They should be able to just ship the CTS to australia with a different DVD containing australian maps.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by GM lover

When was Cadillac not sold in Europe, from my understanding GM has never stopped selling Cadillacs in Europe.

Most of the 1990's it wasn't in Europe.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by a_v_s

I'm curious why the navigation won't work... They should be able to just ship the CTS to australia with a different DVD containing australian maps.

Sat Orbit for the GPS? Might be the same reason the G8 Nav doesn't work here in the US.

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by CobaltSScrazy

this is quite possibly one of the three worst CTS reviews I've ever read. First its 5series sized in every dimension, not 3 series.

...

I hate it when people say 'well holden has this price range covered and its a larger size for the same price, ka durk a durk'...well duh, Holden is the chevrolet equivalent in Oz not a Cadillac eqivalent. OF COURSE, people would never QUESTION the PRICE of Audi/BMW/MB entry level vehicles like this because 'deyre german, yah stuttgart mOn'...yet Cadillac CTS gets compared to some calais holden or a 300? Bull S***!

A holden V6???? Funny, huh, NEVER HEARD OF ONE! Those boneheads don't know what they're talking about, ALL HFV6 TESTING ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT occurred in NA specifically in the USA! Ka durk a durk! It was all centralized here in MI and in Ontario, sheesh, way to be ignorant. Maybe it was adapted to the local market and underwent certification down under for that market, but its a GMNA design for the world. get a clue lou.

Lacking of lateral and front support? Talking about the upteenth airbag lacking for rear passengers? Because someone is a clutz hitting their temp gauges? Spongy brakes?!?!?!? ...what are you smoking?

The ONLY legit beef's I can gather are (and I didn't know this till now) the car being LHD not RHD which doesn't seem right to me, isn't it RHD in EU? and Sate. Navigation not working in Oz, yet how is that? Doesn't HSV have navi? Use the same system, duh?

CobaltSScrazy

The Holden Calais has equipment levels comparable, if not superior to the Cadillac. (Yes, the body is used for the Omega through to the Calais)

The Calais interior dimensions are generally greater than the Cadillac

The GM Power-train DOHC HFV6 is indeed wholly made in Port Melbourne using Australian programmed Engine Management systems.

So all in all, the Cadillac will need to be considerably better than the Calais to be a success. If there is any suggestion that it has any 'in-built use-by-date aspects' for any of its features and equipment, it will be pilloried.

Mike