2008 CTS: First Drive and Impressions

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

The way I see it...I have no doubt they can make a very competent BLS and a great price. You know why? Look at the CTS's price point, and all it offers (and it's a larger car). You get a lot for your money with the CTS, it's a great value. It's see it going something like this: a BLS is going to come around or before the CTS'S MCE. Then, Cadillac can move up the CTS in price and features to squarely move it into 5-Series territory. I think Cadillac has it's product strategy sorted out now, it's just going to take some time to see it implemented. Until BLS comes, CTS is going to have to straddle the line between attracting 3-series buyers in price and being a 5 series competitor in style, options, etc. It's just the way it works for right now.

The only problem is that GM has this inane ability to build small cars that are truly entry level. There's this idea at GM that small cars = cheap and cheap quality. And that just cannot happen on the BLS.

It needs to be within 4-5 inches of the Delta platform AND have the CTS interior AND price it in the low $30K's.

I hope GM can do it. But history says otherwise.

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Like I said. Cadillac has problems, and I don't intend on giving them a break. Whatever happened to them mid-way through this renaissances, they have botched things up. Their products, especially the '08 STS, are worthy of derision. And I am no longer willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, as I've been very patient over the past 5 years. Not on their products. Not on their dealership. Not on their service numbers. Not on their strategy. At this point in time, they need to earn my respect.

I think SLS is world class. I think STS is trash. I think the A6 is in dire need of a update -- 3 years ago. M45 is junk but has decent performance numbers. E-class is beyond mid-cycle and is old; I would not underestimate Mercedes. 5-series is at mid-cycle and continues solid sales. GS is a wannabe.

I don't believe Cadillac's problem at this point is engine horsepower. Even with Northstar, it's still mid-pack. It will need it in a year or two.
They problem is perception.
I believe CTS is a solid step in that direction, but a more concerted effort on Cadillac's part to standardize th current look and feel of the entire lineup will need to take place because Cadillac is once again taken seriously on a global scale.

Oh yeah... don't start me on Cadillac with OHV engines.

Like I said, I'm anxious on seeing how Cadillac has dealt with the CTS interior. And I'll post my review once I get to experience one first hand.


I've never said Cadillac was "Standard of the World." I think they've got a long way to go before even starting that tagline again.

I think it has to be a particular way. Whether or not it's a "true" luxury buyer... or someone wanting the luxury image. What these buyers have in common is the want/need for image. It has to be a certain way in order to get both buyers; otherwise, you're not pulling the entire segment.


Of course the transformation has started. It is the current results of the Renaissance I have major questions with. I don't believe Cadillac has received their desired results. Unless they intended to lost significant sales of the STS after the 1st model year? Unless they intended for XLR to sell 3/5ths of the annual production? Unless they intended to extend the DTS's life, after announcing 4 years ago, their intent to phase out the DTS? Unless they intended SRX to sell so slowly?

Something has happened at Cadillac during the course of the Renaissance.
I don't believe their goals were met.
Why else would they be tearing out entire lineups and moving to corporate platforms?

JLM. We've never agreed on Cadillac. You're an owner. I want to be an owner. I don't believe Cadillac has a world class product. I believe they have a competitive product that may convince some to come to Cadillac. I believe that they have built a solid mid-range product. Not a standard setter. Not a world beater. But competitive.
I just don't believe Cadillac has the appropriate product to win a sale from my demographic. Not now anyways. I'm not convinced that CTS is that product either.

mgescuro,

You are correct, we do not agree regarding our overall opinion of Cadillac. But I believe that is simply because we have different requirements, experiences and I have purchased and owned late model Lexus and Cadillac models and personally evaluated for purchase Mercedes-Benz CLS500/CLS55 AMG/SL500/SL55 AMG and BMW 545i/M5 with Cadillac's STS V8/STS-V and XLR/XLR-V as my preference luxury models of choice.

In contrast, I did not find any of the luxury models I evaluated from Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Lexus, trash by any measure. I did find for my requirements Cadillac's STS V8 and XLR one of the best designed luxury models within their segment. Additionally, Cadillac's STS-V and XLR-V provided an even stronger performance overall and is my current preference for replacement of my Cadillac STS V8 and XLR with Mercedes-Benz's CLS63 AMG/SL55 AMG respectively.

I continue to believe luxury buyers have various requirements and some will choose Cadillac and some will choose Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Audi, Infiniti, Acura and so on. Cadillac's success will remain within the minds and hearts of luxury buyers. In my view, it is a mindshare war for Cadillac to win and to a very large degree they have made their first phase success. I am an example of a conquest and competitive luxury sale in favor of Cadillac STS V8 and XLR. Living with these two cars from Cadillac has been simply a superb experience and clearly was in Cadillac's favor when it came time for me to consider high performance replacement upgrades.

Cadillac's business results in my view is the responsibility of GM/Cadillac and as a Cadillac owner I wish them the very best. But that is not of high concern to me. I care most about world class service and car products of high quality, beautifully styled, wonderfully designed, intelligently featured and technologically advanced with best in class systems integration. All of the cars I evaluated in my final selection meet these criteria, with Cadillac ranking #1, best in class for my requirements. I simply believe Cadillac has world class products in the STS V8 and XLR along with others I reviewed from BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

It will be GM/Cadillac's mission to gain the preference of other luxury buyers as they have succeeded with me.



JLM

[Lawnchair8]

Haha, you said NVH. Nice write up.

[ChevroletRevived]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

The only problem is that GM has this inane ability to build small cars that are truly entry level. There's this idea at GM that small cars = cheap and cheap quality. And that just cannot happen on the BLS.

It needs to be within 4-5 inches of the Delta platform AND have the CTS interior AND price it in the low $30K's.

I hope GM can do it. But history says otherwise.

The future is bright! GM has changed, I assure you.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

The future is bright! GM has changed, I assure you.

GM hasn't proven me wrong yet.