Only for you die-hard Caddy fans...

[CADILLACSIXTEEN]

I was driving down the street the other day, and I found myself behind a Cadillac Catera. Now, I have never been a huge fan of the Catera since its the most un-Cadillac vehicle in my lifetime, however I do give Cadillac credit for seeing the future and trying to get into the mid-size sedan game a while back, even if it was a failure. This was an impressive move for a GM brand to do in the mid 90's considering it was something out of the ordinary!

Anyways, I was behind it and I noticed that the turn signals in the back were yellow LED's. WOW! this impressed me? LED's on a Catera? I never knew this. And, I might be wrong but the regular brake lights looked like LED's also.
Regardless, this led me to thinking... Why on earth would Cadillac not put LED's on the CTS, considering it was the replacment of the Catera. The rear lights on the CTS look all nice and Cadillac-like untill either the brake is applied or the turn signal is on. Then you see round, rectangle and every other shape under the sun, light up before your eyes! Gross. The CTS is the only vehicle in the line-up, with exception to the current Escalade, which doesnt have LED's in the back.

Does anyone know why something like this occured? Hopefully, the next gen CTS will not make this mistake!

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by CADILLACSIXTEEN

Why on earth would Cadillac not put LED's on the CTS, considering it was the replacment of the Catera. The rear lights on the CTS look all nice and Cadillac-like untill either the brake is applied or the turn signal is on. Then you see round, rectangle and every other shape under the sun, light up before your eyes! Gross. The CTS is the only vehicle in the line-up, with exception to the current Escalade, which doesnt have LED's in the back.

Does anyone know why something like this occured? Hopefully, the next gen CTS will not make this mistake!

ACtually... that was probablyt he biggest question about the CTS... why it didn't use LED's... especially, since they've been on the Cadillacs for nearly a decade already.
Escalade does use LED on the center brake light.
I'm assuming BLS doesn't have them either.

I'd hope/except the new CTS will have the LED's.

[SonicAerio]

Although very malibuish in looks.....I actually like the catera for what it was at the time

I also like the LEDs in th rear...and that is a good question....maybe they are saving it for a refresh?

[megeebee]

Actually, the Catera was not a failure. Sales were near projections, and it had the added distinction of bringing a high percentage of non-GM customers in to the fold. I read in 2000 that fully 45% of Catera buyers traded in a non GM vehicle. Sales were poor at the end of the production run, yes. But it did, as you say, get Cadillac in the game while it developed the CTS ( which,
admittedly should have been started years before.) I had a 97 Catera and loved it. Solid and nimble. The interior I quite liked, aside from the fake wood bits. The materials were of very high quality. It was certainly superior to its Japanese competition, but probably not the Europeans.

[cyboexpo2002]

Originally Posted by megeebee

The interior I quite liked, aside from the fake wood bits. The materials were of very high quality. It was certainly superior to its Japanese competition, but probably not the Europeans.

Considering it was built in Germany, that was unfortunate. Also I've heard some of the early Cateras had electrical gremlins (my uncle's father will attest to that one).