Lame!
I still remember how seeing the first gen CTS in person was transformative, when the dominant design language at the time was still the jellybean
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Lame!
I still remember how seeing the first gen CTS in person was transformative, when the dominant design language at the time was still the jellybean
1958carnut (07-10-2019),mbukukanyau (07-09-2019)
GM fails to succeed for by failing to stick it out with one strategy and improve on it. CTS had finally achieved parity with 5 Series, now its dead. STS was so close before it was killed, Why did they not just name the CT6 DTS and call it a day?
Cadillac's rebuilding effort has been a series of fits and starts since 1992. Whenever it looked like they were getting traction, they lost it. That's no way to build a brand. That's the difference between Cadillac and, say, Audi, which has elevated itself to top-tier luxury status (or at least very close). Audi has been consistently putting out strong and image-building products for at least the last 15 years or more, despite nearly dying in the 80s.
Last edited by Murrow; 07-10-2019 at 07:56 AM.
1958carnut (07-10-2019),CadillacSA (07-10-2019),Ed753 (07-09-2019),gkr778 (07-10-2019),ryannel2003 (07-11-2019)
Tell yourself whatever you need to.....................
Your "friend" he's on vacation, right?
I remember when the Gen I's came out, very modern almost futuristic; today, they just look old and cheesy.
Can you have a talk with my friend megeebee?
"Why did they not just name the CT6 DTS and call it a day?"
Because they named the Deville, I mean DTS, the XTS?
Current: Hidden Content Hidden Content
Past: '17 Cruze; '15 F150; '14 Volt; '13 MKX; '13 Silverado; '13 Fusion; '11 Ram; '10 Commander; '08 Sierra; '07 Rendezvous; '05 Ram; '04 Grand Cherokee; '03 F150; '01 Silverado; '00 Jimmy; '99 Sierra; '97 Ram; '96 Mustang GT; '96 Jimmy; '90 Escort GT; '89 Ranger; '84 Omni; '76 Malibu; '78 LeMans; '85 Escort; '82 Lynx; '75 Sierra
This is really true. It's Cadillac has been taking two steps forward, then one or two steps back for a long time.
The 1992 Seville and Eldorado were (and still are) two of the nicest Cadillacs ever. The purists will scream something about FWD, but those were beautiful cars inside and out and Cadillac did FWD as well as anyone. They never changed the Eldorado until it was discontinued, but in 1998 they rolled out a new Seville. It was still a beautiful car, but the design was softer, less bold. It was a minor step back. Then the STS replaced Seville in 2004 and that was a major step back, at least in style and practicality (interior room), if not performance.
IMO, even the thing happened with CTS. The first one was a kind of polarizing design, but it certainly got noticed and got Cadillac considered by a younger crowd. The second was a really good car, but again had a somewhat softer appearance that wasn't quite as head-turning. Great car and successful, but (my opinion only), something of a step back in image; it made Cadillac seem less edgy. Then the 3rd gen CTS came around. Great sports sedan, but the higher price and compromised interior room was a major step back. And while it's a pretty car, it was no longer really a head-turner.
Ever notice that whenever Cadillac launches a new car, it gets pretty good or even great reviews. 2008 CTS, 2013 ATS, 2014 CTS. And every time, the media treats it with the "Cadillac is Back!" headline. Forgetting that despite setbacks, Cadillac has built some great cars in recent decades. But they treat every new launch as the first good Cadillac since the 1950s.
Last edited by ksr; 07-10-2019 at 11:01 AM.
Drives a 2019 Cadillac ATS Coupe and a 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
In the past, I've had a 5th gen Camaro, a CTS sedan and coupe, two 3rd gen Firebird Formulas, a convertible 4th gen Trans Am, a Reatta, a couple of Monte Carlos, an Avenger coupe, a couple of Cavalier hatchbacks, a Saturn SC1, and a Cherokee.
1958carnut (07-10-2019),jesda1 (07-10-2019)
Everyone has an opinion... For me and I actually looked at a gen 1 CTS in the early 2000's, and was not blown away by styling or interior. When the 08 came out, I literally bought the 2nd one the dealer had in sept of 07 and paid sticker, something I had never done before. So for me, the Gen 2 was something special, and the Gen 3 did not inspire me to replace my Gen 2, which I still own and think is a fantastic looking car. So for me, it is the complete reverse as you. Sales wise, the gen 1 and 2 produced very similar annual numbers. So there is about the same number of people in your camp as mine. What caddy has not produced yet is a design that bowls nearly everyone over getting sales up to the sum of your camp and mine.
CadillacSA (07-10-2019)
What's lame about it?
True. I had 2 original design CTS. I loved them. When I had my '03, in April of 2002, many people would stop and ask about it. We've become so used to what was called "Art & Science" design that we forget what an important watershed it really was. Other automakers adopted aspects of it for years afterward. Cadillac did not follow through though. Thanks to Mr. Lutz and his "saved" STS, things cooled off quickly. The CTS continued to sell in huge numbers while the STS fell off a cliff.I still remember how seeing the first gen CTS in person was transformative, when the dominant design language at the time was still the jellybean
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity. "
W.B. Yeats- 1919
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1958carnut (07-10-2019),Mr.Buttons (07-10-2019)
I actually agree with you that the 2nd generation car was prettier and the interior was miles better. I bought one, a coupe. The thing I think that it lost over the 1st generation was, to me, the edginess. They toned down the Art & Science look. The 1st gen car was a "love it or hate it" sort of design, but it definitely drew attention. You get used to anything over time, but when that '03 launched, it was really radical. The 2nd gen car to me was softened to broaden its appeal, but it lost that certain "out there" impression that Cadillac had created, an impression which I think helped the brand.
As you point out though, sales numbers were about the same. So maybe it didn't hurt anything.
Drives a 2019 Cadillac ATS Coupe and a 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
In the past, I've had a 5th gen Camaro, a CTS sedan and coupe, two 3rd gen Firebird Formulas, a convertible 4th gen Trans Am, a Reatta, a couple of Monte Carlos, an Avenger coupe, a couple of Cavalier hatchbacks, a Saturn SC1, and a Cherokee.
JimmyDiablo (07-10-2019)
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity. "
W.B. Yeats- 1919
.
jesda1 (07-10-2019),ryannel2003 (07-11-2019)
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity. "
W.B. Yeats- 1919
.
Mr.Buttons (07-11-2019)
Mr.Buttons (07-11-2019),sdotjeezy (07-11-2019)
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