Should Cadillac Be Exclusively Rear Wheel Drive?

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by t-rex

There's room for FWD Caddies. A Lambda Escalade would probably be an improvement over being a tarted-up Chevrolet. Any revived Eldo would of course have to be FWD.

Of course there's room for FWD Caddies.... so long as Buick is killed off....

[Taglane]

I think it's right the Converj is FWD. But that and the SRX are the only exceptions.

[Tone]

I think the question misses the mark -- it confuses the customer experience with engineering platforms.

The more interesting question is -- what should be the essence of the Cadillac driving experience?

Answer that, then pick the best engineering solution to deliver that (which may very well be RWD, but who cares as long as it delivers the right experience?)

I would say Cadillacs should "road eaters" -- capable of covering ground over real roads rapidly, safely and easily. The sedans shouldn't ape sports cars (outside of limited-production V-series), but instead provide enough torque, grip and braking to make them easy to drive quickly on real roads (not race tracks).

Given that definition, I would submit that XWD or RWD would probably work equally well for the Cadillac range -- assuming they are sufficiently developed by engineers with a nice feel for the right ride/handling balance. From all the reviews, it sounds like the current CTS hits the mark pretty closely ...

[oklapike]

Defintely RWD only. This is kind of how I see it (assuming GMNA ends up with only Chevy, Buick, Cadillac): Chevy goes as a FWD/RWD mix (60-70% FWD/40-30% RWD), Buick goes as F/AWD understated comfort luxury, Cadillac goes as R/AWD brash performance luxury.

[Canuck]

RWD based with AWD optional should be a choice. Caddy should have no FWD models. Buick can offer the FWD models. I am willing to cut GM some slack with their money problems and needing new product in the short term. The new SRX is acceptable but Cadillac should never offer a FWD only model. The Cadillac model has to be AWD only if the platform is FWD based.

Keep Cadillac focused on being performance luxury.

[Mr. Burns]

Buick = FWD luxury (lower end Lexus, higher end Toyota)
Cadillac = RWD sport-luxury (BMW, higher end Lexus)

[2002 Caddy]

I would say above a certain size and price point... Yes they should all be RWD/AWD... But I could tolerate a entry level FWD/AWD "one off"

So my answer is... CTS or Bigger? RWD/AWD
Smaller then a CTS? FWD... Maybe... a very reluctant Maybe.

[AndrewGS]

Everyone is equating RWD with performance. Cadillac should offer a performance option on all models, but Cadillac should be isolated, comfortable, precise luxury as a rule.

[PA Dweller]

You should add a 4th selection to your poll, other.

I don't think a pure FWD car should be in Cadillac's lineup, but an AWD (XWD preferably) is just as good or better than a RWD vehicle. Even if it's on a FWD platform like Epsilon II.

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Everyone is equating RWD with performance. Cadillac should offer a performance option on all models, but Cadillac should be isolated, comfortable, precise luxury as a rule.

you just described buick.


cadillac isnt that anymore, or at least it shouldnt be. the cts is what cadillac needs to become. there should be a rwd/awd option. zero fwd for cadillac. the new srx needs to go away, or figure out a way to make it awd only or rwd/awd. the srx should be an x5/6 comptetitor. alpha caddy- 3 series, cts- 5 series, sts- 6 series, dts- 7 series. cien and sixteen when the time comes, if ever. and xlr.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by chakis24

you just described buick.


cadillac isnt that anymore, or at least it shouldnt be. the cts is what cadillac needs to become. there should be a rwd/awd option. zero fwd for cadillac. the new srx needs to go away, or figure out a way to make it awd only or rwd/awd. the srx should be an x5/6 comptetitor. alpha caddy- 3 series, cts- 5 series, sts- 6 series, dts- 7 series. cien and sixteen when the time comes, if ever. and xlr.

Would you describe the non-AMG versions of Mercedes as performance cars? Cadillac can deliver RWD, top-level luxury cars with comfortable suspensions that aren't "floaty" like the old days, just comfortable and precise. MRC could instantly take you from pure comfort to a sporty ride, as well as going from sporty to pure performance on the Velocity models, like the STS and STS-V do today.

Buick should be basically the same, comfort and precision, but in FWD, with no top-level performance models, at a lower price. Just offer MRC as an option that gives them the same ability to bring the handling and ride up to a sporty level.

[ausrutherford]

The only FWD Caddy i accept is The converj, after that forget about it.

[jmlee0695]

Originally Posted by LeSabre

It was originally & should remain so.
GM/Cadillac ****ed up! Plain & simple.



!!

Shoudl every car be RWD? Originally, all cars were RWD.

[LeSabre]

Originally Posted by jmlee0695

Shoudl every car be RWD? Originally, all cars were RWD.

No, we are talking Cadillac here & yes, all Cadillac's should be RWD some models w/AWD as an option. No excuses for any FWD Caddy's existing, including the Converj production model, whatever it is officially named.

[nferr]

The consumer should have a choice. Offer a mix of RWD-FWD. With AWD as an option.