My Vision of Cadillac

[mgescuro]

*sigh*

Cadillac does have a history of racing.
In fact, Cadillac is still racing or have we all forgotten??

http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/...race/index.jsp

[2002 Caddy]

Whoops I missed that one...

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

*sigh*

Cadillac does have a history of racing.
In fact, Cadillac is still racing or have we all forgotten??

http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/...race/index.jsp

mgescuro,

Yes, you are right on target here and winning races as well. But even more important in my view, is the design and experience is being applied to production Cadillac models such as the V Series and XLR, CTS, STS and SRX.

I have researched most regarding Cadillac's XLR and clearly the advance chassis, suspension and powertrain designs are very impressive along with compounds, systems integration and advance technologies. Based on what I am hearing regarding the second generation CTS-V, it will be interesting to see in person as the auto shows come around. I am hoping some of the latest advance technologies are present. I was very impressed with the second generation CTS and my dealer is saying the CTS-V is being enhanced to the level of the STS-V. I am thoughtful about that statement, because in reality there are advance technolgies that are removed in the STS-V for racing technologies. It is not a show stopper for me. But I do consider it a take away.

But, I may be surprised once I begin to research the new CTS-V when material becomes more available.

JLM

[Narcissistic]

im late. but all GM and Ford have to do to turn the tide against japan, china, and korea is make better cars, make more astheticly appealing cars, and make dependable low end gas savers+youthfull gadgets for teenagers. and improve thier warranty policies. Cadillac is definatly moving in the right direction since 2003.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by Narcissistic

im late. but all GM and Ford have to do to turn the tide against japan, china, and korea is make better cars, make more astheticly appealing cars, and make dependable low end gas savers+youthfull gadgets for teenagers. and improve thier warranty policies. Cadillac is definatly moving in the right direction since 2003.

It certainly is that easy. But it is something that GM and Ford have had a problem of realizing.

For luxury, Ford had what can be considered 3 of the most respected luxury nameplates in the world: Aston, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Now all gone, except for a small holding in Aston.
Lincoln remains a higher trim-level of a Ford. And it will take at least 1-2 model generations (7-10 years) before Lincoln can properly align itself to the global luxury market.

Cadillac started its renaissance in 2001. It really didn't get it off the ground until 2003. And it fell on its face in 2005. But they started up again in late 2007. And they're using less costly, non-exclusive platforms and technology to do it. I'm not happy that they didn't get it right the first time. And I'm still not happy that they went back to platform sharing. And I'm still not happy about the Cadillac dealership experience. But it's a start. And CTS is a car that is certainly capable of competing with the 5-series BMWs. The concept Provoq and CTS Coupe look very promising.

So we'll see, I guess.

[Narcissistic]

couldnt agree more. I've always wanted imports to succeed ( that's what feeds me ), but as i get older and my concerns for the economy grow, i really want to see the big 2 ( since well, it's chrystler c'mon. lol ) succeed and help feed all of us the way they had prior to the japanese invasion in the late 70s.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

And they're using less costly, non-exclusive platforms and technology to do it. I'm not happy that they didn't get it right the first time. And I'm still not happy that they went back to platform sharing. And I'm still not happy about the Cadillac dealership experience.

The things you expect visa vie the quoted topics are not something a brand that doesn't break $80k does. XLR-V doesn't count as the brand breaking $80k either.

You are trying to hold Cadillac to Bentley standards which frankly is ridiculous. The only non super luxury car company who does that is Lexus and that is only because Toyota can offer incentives to dealers to upgrade (as in they have extra cash to throw around).

Most Cadillac Dealers I've been in are just as nice as Mercedes and BMW dealers, even if they share space with Hummer, Saab or even Chevy.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

The things you expect visa vie the quoted topics are not something a brand that doesn't break $80k does. XLR-V doesn't count as the brand breaking $80k either.

XLR itself bases over $80,000.
What are you trying to expect from Cadillac? Is it not supposed to be "The Standard of the World?"

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

You are trying to hold Cadillac to Bentley standards which frankly is ridiculous. The only non super luxury car company who does that is Lexus and that is only because Toyota can offer incentives to dealers to upgrade (as in they have extra cash to throw around).

I hold Cadillac to a higher than plebian status because it is supposed to be better than plebeian status.
And if Cadillac cannot figure out how to be better than plebeian and pedestrian, then it has no business competing with the world's best, and it should be no better than Acura and Lincoln.
Furthermore, Cadillac cannot survive on the CTS family. They need to figure out how to make its other cars just as popular.

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

Most Cadillac Dealers I've been in are just as nice as Mercedes and BMW dealers, even if they share space with Hummer, Saab or even Chevy.

Come to California and visit the crapfest Cadillac dealerships where an XLR sits next to an Aveo... or all the Cadillacs are shoved to the back under a tree.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

XLR itself bases over $80,000.
What are you trying to expect from Cadillac? Is it not supposed to be "The Standard of the World?"


I hold Cadillac to a higher than plebian status because it is supposed to be better than plebeian status.
And if Cadillac cannot figure out how to be better than plebeian and pedestrian, then it has no business competing with the world's best, and it should be no better than Acura and Lincoln.
Furthermore, Cadillac cannot survive on the CTS family. They need to figure out how to make its other cars just as popular.


Come to California and visit the crapfest Cadillac dealerships where an XLR sits next to an Aveo... or all the Cadillacs are shoved to the back under a tree.

You are right about Cadillac not surviving on the CTS, it must introduce the Alpha (3-series/C-Class) fighter and more importantly needs an S-Class competitor to solidify itself as a true luxury car brand.

As you have pointed out in other posts, Cadillac must be a "full line" luxury brand like Mercedes Benz, nothing against BMW, but Mercedes has a longer history and a wider selection of "established" luxury lines.

On the dealerships, the main reason Lexus was successful is due to it's separate dealerships that are well designed and have an "upscale" look and feel to them. Although in Cadillac's case it maybe sharing space with SAAB but if/when SAAB gets a good "Audi" lineup it won't be much of a problem.

[t-rex]

After examining the dealer situation, I've concluded that Cadillac MUST stand alone. No Saab. No Hummer. And for the love of all that is holy, CERTAINLY NOT CHEVROLET. At least not in North America.

There's a reason you can't buy a Rolex at Wal-Mart...

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by t-rex

After examining the dealer situation, I've concluded that Cadillac MUST stand alone. No Saab. No Hummer. And for the love of all that is holy, CERTAINLY NOT CHEVROLET. At least not in North America.

There's a reason you can't buy a Rolex at Wal-Mart...

Yes, having Cadillac "stand alone" would be best, as Lexus and Mercedes are (at least all that I know of).

I was just saying it would be "workable" with SAAB - of course about that "Audi" lineup.....

Come on GM - get serious about SAAB or sell it.

Back to Cadillac for a sec - GM needs to sell the SLS in the U.S. - if Ford and Chrysler can offer extended wheelbase Town Car/300 models so can Cadillac, and the the STS or SLS is not the "S-Class" competitor either, would be more like the Sixteen except "toned down" to the 80K range the S-Class starts in.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Come to California and visit the crapfest Cadillac dealerships where an XLR sits next to an Aveo... or all the Cadillacs are shoved to the back under a tree.

That's because those dealers don't see a reason to invest. We have one crappy Cadillac dealer here (Suburban in Troy) but the rest are quite upscale, maybe a bit more "old fashion" instead of the more "modern" look BMW and Mercedes push, but just as posh.

Every new Cadillac dealer I've seen has been up to par or better than BMW and Mercedes, even when paired with Chevy. The new Suburban (same group as the crappy one go figure) out in Ann Arbor is Hummer, Saab, Cadillac and Chevy and is building what looks to be the nicest dealer I've ever laid my eyes on. I'll grab some pictures this summer when they are finished. Or maybe CobaltSS can drop by when he has some time and snap some as he lives over there.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

That's because those dealers don't see a reason to invest. We have one crappy Cadillac dealer here (Suburban in Troy) but the rest are quite upscale, maybe a bit more "old fashion" instead of the more "modern" look BMW and Mercedes push, but just as posh.

Every new Cadillac dealer I've seen has been up to par or better than BMW and Mercedes, even when paired with Chevy. The new Suburban (same group as the crappy one go figure) out in Ann Arbor is Hummer, Saab, Cadillac and Chevy and is building what looks to be the nicest dealer I've ever laid my eyes on. I'll grab some pictures this summer when they are finished. Or maybe CobaltSS can drop by when he has some time and snap some as he lives over there.

My problem is that I haven't seen a "worthy" Cadillac dealership in the SF Bay Area in about 15 years. I've seen then downgraded, merged, or fall into disrepair.
And if those dealerships have "no reason to invest," then perhaps Cadillac needs to rethink its dealership strategy.

If Cadillac believes its core market is outside of CA, and prefers to concentrate its efforts outside the largest car market in the US, that's fine. But somehow that strategy seems flawed, don't you think?

Don't you think that Cadillacs should deserve better treatment than sitting next to an Aveo? Expecially if it's an XLR?
Don't you think that Cadillacs deserve better than being shoved to the back in a "Chevy-Hummer-Cadillac" dealership?

In fact, why do those dealerships exist in the first place?

I continue to believe that Cadillac is and will be a full-line luxury car brand and therefore deserves standalone ONLY dealerships worthy of the Cadillac name.
Cadillac's dealership inconsistency is unforgiveable.

[LesabreLtd]

I think Cadillac lost it when they heavily downsized their cars, I believe the 1985 series. I remember when I was at the Miami Auto Show and looking at the small Cadillac El Dorado... I was in the driver's seat when an mature couple peeked in and asked me what I thought of it. I remember saying it's too small... doesn't feel like a Cadillac, I prefer the Lincoln Mark. The wife told the husband... "See... that young man is right, the car is too small". I chuckled... I could never figure out why GM did this. If someone can afford a luxury car... they wouldn't care about gas mileage or the price of a gallon of gas. Ask the execs of the Big Oil companies.

[stanczyk]

I personally think there's too many models on this list...
I think Caddy should focus on premium cars.. CTS should be the lowest range model in menu (I don't think that Cadillac needs
SLK , BMW 1, or A3 counterpart )

they deffinitly should make a proper competitor (STS ?) for Merc S and BMW 7 and AUDi 8, ..but maybe more oryginal, according to what Caddy says in ADVerts , that they want to make cars for indyviduals, ..even maybe ecscentrics ...so maybe sth like Citroen C6 model would be good idea !?

what do You think?

I also think there is an interesting concept (that I prevously rejected , thinking that XLR is great car! and is "enough car" for Caddy in sports segment ) that cadillac should unlished a supercar/personal luxury supercar against rivals...
Imagine sth beetwen Sixteen concept and overgrown XLR , !(in a sense: like SLR McLaren is daddy for SL, and I think more)... maybe with 500 cu.in V8 engine (let it be exotic)..that would be Cool !
Cien concept - like supercar looks cool but I think supercar from caddillac should remind more SLR (image, sound) than ZONDA or Lambo LP 640,
It should be beautifully designed (A&S) Muscle car !
Where caddy will find performance V12 in GM ?.. powerfull V8 is traditional and there's no problem for GM: it can come from ZR1 Vette (600+ BHP should be enough)
GO GO Caddy