Cadillac STS Arrives In South Africa

[BBDOS CV8]

This becomes even more of a sore point when you experience the driving dynamics of these three cars – because the BMW is well superior here. It’s the only rear-wheel driven car in this trio and that, along with its independent 5-arm rear axle and that typical all round engineering finesse BMW’s renowned for, there’s little to touch this car when it comes to an enjoyable and twisty country road. Except, this version doesn’t have the power to exploit its giant-killing ability.

Yet the Audi is somewhat less fun to drive than the BMW, also due to its less involving steering feel – and the steering on that Cadillac feels even more dead.

However, if we were spending around the R300K mark, we’d buy a BMW 323i or wait for the imminent next-generation Audi A4 or Mercedes C-Class. The Cadillac makes sense for those wanting to save some money and stand apart from the crowd with a far more distinctive image. If those two factors hold enough weight, the Cadillac is a compelling option.

Hardly seems a glowing endorsement of the BLS as anything but bargain bling.

Wow, a blown, quad-cam, 32 valve 2.8 litre six can beat out a pair of naturally-aspirated 2-litre German fours. Quite an achievement. Just as well it's competing with the class below.

Better not tell you it's got a Holden-made 'Alloytec' motor.........

[patrickbec]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Hardly seems a glowing endorsement of the BLS as anything but bargain bling.

Wow, a blown, quad-cam, 32 valve 2.8 litre six can beat out a pair of naturally-aspirated 2-litre German fours. Quite an achievement. Just as well it's competing with the class below.

Better not tell you it's got a Holden-made 'Alloytec' motor.........

Actually they tested the 2.0 Litre Turbo 4 wise ass.

And look at the points total: the BLS 2.0 beat the A-4!

[davidlane]

Wow, a blown, quad-cam, 32 valve 2.8 litre six can beat out a pair of naturally-aspirated 2-litre German fours. Quite an achievement. Just as well it's competing with the class below.

Better not tell you it's got a Holden-made 'Alloytec' motor.........[/quote]

Actually the base engine is a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder. The block is from Germany and the internals are all Saab. While Holden is good, they don't provide every good thing GM manufactures. Check the facts, check the article.

[member12]

The STS is a handsome car.

I like that it's a bit more toned down than the front of the CTS.

It could use the DI 3.6L, though. Are they going with a DI Northstar?

[Hoosier Red]

Are those Malibu wheels??? They look awfully similar.

[camaro_freak]

tailights are much cooler than US spec... still a really really old looking car trying to play it cool.

The fender "bling" looks like it was stuck on with double sided tape..

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

It's always been the flagship.

The STS has never been Cadillac's flagship. The STS is the follow-on to the Seville, Cadillac's smaller luxury car. Historically, the "real" Cadillac was the DeVille--Coupe DeVille and Sedan DeVille. The DeVille morphed into the DTS. However, the top of the line was the Fleetwood. To the extent that any Cadillac vehicle occupies the space vacated by the Fleetwood, it is the Escalade.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by MisterMe

The STS has never been Cadillac's flagship. The STS is the follow-on to the Seville, Cadillac's smaller luxury car. Historically, the "real" Cadillac was the DeVille--Coupe DeVille and Sedan DeVille. The DeVille morphed into the DTS. However, the top of the line was the Fleetwood. To the extent that any Cadillac vehicle occupies the space vacated by the Fleetwood, it is the Escalade.

God forbid anyone consider the Escalade a flagship of anything!!

DeVille wasn't the flagship. DeVille was the volume seller. DTS is still the volume seller.
STS has been the flagship since the STS moniker was created. The Gen1 Seville wasn't the flagship. Gen 2 Seville made motions in that direction. Gen 3 wasn't, but Gen3 MCE was. Gen 4 solidified STS's role as flagship. And Gen5 has it by default.

Allante and XLR are/were halo cars and not flagships.
Escalade is an overblown truck and not flagship material.

[Hurricane]

Are they getting the CTS in South Africa?

[Robert Ryan]

As for the CTS's nav not working in Australia, couldn't you load a DVD with Australian mapping into it?

In a word ..NO. They would have to get an entirely new SatNav system.

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

Are they getting the CTS in South Africa?

Probably once GM has an export model ready.

[patrickbec]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Probably once GM has an export model ready.

Yes in September 2008. It will be aimed at the 6 cylinder 3 Series/A-4/C Class. The BLS will aim for the 4 cylinder Germans.

[patrickbec]

CORRECT YOUR PERCEPTIONS: The Cadillac STS is not what you'd expect from a big American luxury car.

FORGET YOUR OLD PERCEPTION OF 'YANK TANKS'

Cadillac STS: American muscle, European ride
[ See related stories ]

February 13, 2008

By Dave Abrahams

Before yesterday all I knew about Cadillac was that it was founded in 1902 by a perfectionist named Henry Leland, that it was General Motors' premium brand and that Elvis Presley bought his mom a pink one.

That's all changed with the release of Cadillac's flagship STS sedan on the South African market – and I've had a few illusions dispelled.

I expected the car to be big, and it is - but it's not as big as a Lexus LS or a Mercedes S-Class. It is, however, chunky and solid where other cars in its class are smooth and curvaceous, with lots of crisp vertical lines making it look bigger than it is
I expected it to have a big, lazy V8 – the sort of lump for which the term "Detroit iron" was coined
.

I expected it to have a big, lazy V8 – the sort of lump for which the term "Detroit iron" was coined. It's a V8, all right, but it's certainly not lazy.

The STS's 4.6-litre Northstar engine is derived from a Lotus design commissioned by parent company GM; it's all aluminium with four overhead camshafts and 32 valves, revs to 6500rpm and cranks out 239kW and 425Nm.

That's good enough to take this 1817kg blingmobile from 0-100km/h in 6.2sec and on to 250km/h, GM says, driving the rear wheels through the smoothest semi-auto transmission I've yet experienced and accompanied by a quiet but authoritative "Nascar V8" sound track.

I expected it to be roomy and comfortable in the 1950's diner idiom, all ultra-shiny vinyl and chrome-plated. Certainly, it has impressive legroom fore and aft and generous squabs that support the entire length of the occupants' thighs, but it's all neatly upholstered with light grey, tan or black leather

Rest of article:http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?...751&fSetId=381

[TuffG929]

At least somebody likes it.

[Exploder]

Well that's a pretty positive review, but will that mean high sales?

On a side note, why not sell the Cadillac SLS there?