Anyone who would pass on the CTS because of something like this, isn't ready to give up their BMW and is just looking for excuses.

For the record, I have never used the flash to pass method.

 

wow, just wow... CR never ceases to amaze.

 

I would use flash to pass if people knew what it meant.

 

I have it on my car and never used it. My wife didn't know it was until I told her and says she couldn't care less for that feature.

 

Why can't you just turn the lights on and off really quickly. It accomplishes the exact same thing.

 

that's stupid!
they had to nitpick!!

 

What else is new about CR. They always do that you know. Regardless of if they give a GM vehicle a positive review or rating I'm never going to have a good view of them. Sorry but they built a bad reputation for their selves in my mind and I'm never going to trust or like them. That's just me.

 

Laughable! They got everything right but because it doesn't have flash to pass it's a no go? Ridiculous...

 

You guys need to realize that the details matter, especially in the luxury car business. European buyers are used to their brand sweating everything, even things that don't seem to important to you. All the details everywhere on the car matter and leave an impression, especially when the price is high.

Even my Pontiac GTO has flash-to-pass which I use regularly.

 

You guys need to realize that the details matter, especially in the luxury car business. European buyers are used to their brand sweating everything, even things that don't seem to important to you. All the details everywhere on the car matter and leave an impression, especially when the price is high.

Even my Pontiac GTO has flash-to-pass which I use regularly.

Absolutely details are important, and of course I realize that. And it's espessially amplified in the luxury segment. But it's not as big of a deal that this guy is making it out to be. Details? The CTS details, plenty of them. Look at the interior, the exterior; all around there's attention to detail.

 

Um can't you just put the high beams on/off?

 

ha yeah... My Grand Prix has the flash feature.... to bad i have NEVER used it and NEVER will

 

Ok, so I'm going to be the GMI student and wait for the teacher to answer my question...

"What the heck is flash to pass?"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=l3UAfi_QImE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsDyyxi9vv4&NR=1

BTW- I looked around for a good explanation, this is the closest I could find, apparently other Cadillac's don't have it either...
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-dts-forum-2006-beyond/110952-o6-dts-no-flash-pass.html

CobaltSScrazy

 

Ok, so I'm going to be the GMI student and wait for the teacher to answer my question...

"What the heck is flash to pass?"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=l3UAfi_QImE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsDyyxi9vv4&NR=1

So I'm confused. Is 'flash to pass' flashing your brights or is it to turn off the lights for a second? Each video shows a different thing.

I've done that turn off the lights thing with truckers at night before. The flashing of the brights I've only understood to mean either someone wants you to get out of the way, or I used to see it in oncoming traffic as a way to warn people that there is a cop ahead.

This feature may be missing on the CTS, but anyone one who thinks this a legitimate reason to write off the new CTS has serious bias problems.

 

We've just heard that GM is working on fitting flash-to-pass for their HID-equipped vehicles, but the fix isn't slated to arrive until around 2010.

:blink:
I don't understand. The 9-5 has had HID and flash-to-pass for quite some time.

I thought GM cars were undergoing a reevaluation in which they were conscientiously removing the areas where parts fit and exposed screws could be seen, so parts would flow more nicely. They were also removing the "dummy plastic" fill-in parts, so it doesn't look like your car is missing a feature.

Apparently something got missed.

This day in age, flash-to-pass should be a given.
I would chalk this up to GM cost cutting.

I would be concerned that my car doesn't have that feature. Then again, I"m nitpicky.
I wouldn't buy a car that has projector headlamps with halogen foglamps. it's a very tacky look.

 

This day in age, flash-to-pass should be a given.
I would chalk this up to GM cost cutting.

I would chalk it up to just plain forgetting, because up until Shenhar reviewed the CTS no other reviewer mentioned it, or seemed to give a damn that it was absent.

Did Car and Driver mind? Edmunds? Road and Track? Motortrend? Dan Neill? How about any user reviews on these forums?

When GM screws up, they deserve to be criticized for it. I believe that 100%. But this is just nitpicking, pure and simple.

 

Flash to pass can be added with a software flash (Assuming the stalk has the movement, which I don't see why it wouldn't), so this could be fixed at any point in a model year cycle.

 

I could have sworn I flashed the lights on my CTS the other day.

Maybe I just flashed the high beams? I don't know but I didn't have a problem with it.

CR of course is ridiculous but thanks for the heads up.

JB

 

From the description in the blog, it sounded like the headlights needed to be on in order for flash-to-pass to work.
Turn off your headlights... and then try to flash-to-pass... Do they work then?

 

I've never used flash-to-pass, nor I have ever seen anyone use it when passing me.

I don't use it simply because I know no one that even knows why you're doing it.

 

thats is absolutely right! the majority of GMI members will know because we know a thing or two about cars... but i can promise you that pretty much everyone in the united states has no clue what flash to pass is... I like Nsap have never used it nor have seen anyone else you it because simply people would just think your being an A hole... this guy is so effing full of it. please its a joke

 

My 2000 DTS has this feature. I have yet to try it on my '05 CTS.

 

I thought flash-to-pass was mainly on motorcycles? None of th cars I've driven have flash to pass. But then again, most people are too stupid to know how to use flashing outside of anger...

 

Boo hoo! So it doesn't have flash to pass. Too bad, but I don't think this should be a deal breaker. Turn the highs on, turn them off. Sure it reminds me of my '83 Chevy wagon back in the day, but I don't consider this the omission of must-have technology.

 

Chalk me up as another guy who doesn't know what flash to pass is. I've never done it and never will... I guess I can buy a CTS now! Whohoo!

 

And you're in Europe, the alleged hotbed of 'flashing to pass'.

 

Frankly, I think the omission of a dipstick and a temp gauge on a 3-series is a much bigger deal than this.

 

OH SNAP... NO U DIDN'T!!!

 

Are we even deffinatley sure that it is not on the CTS? my moms tahoe has it and my gf cobalt too

 

Actually, I think it's irresponsible of automakers to offer this. People don't know what it means... they aren't trained to use or understand 'flash-to-pass'... what if someone in their BMW pulls up behind you and flashes... you might assume they're saying "Hey, it's okay, you stay ahead of me" or "Excuse me, your gas filler door is open".

I think this flash to pass thing is actually going to cause more accidents than it will avoid... if I see soneone flash I assume it means they want me to go faster... I'll speed up just as they pull out to pass... and *CRASH* they get creamed by the semi coming in the other direction. All because they flashed to pass me. They should be concentrating on driving, as should I... not playing with silly morse-code flash signals that no one knows.

I was going to buy a 3 series, but not now! I might accidentally use flash to pass and cause or get into an accident. No thanks, I'll have to find a vehicle without this feature of death.

 

I've always thought "flash to pass" was hitting your brights for a second. You do this by pulling back on the stalk and then letting go. My Enclave, with HIDs, has this as did my prior CTS, also with HIDs. This makes me wonder as Shenhar even states: "Subsequently, we discovered that our Buick Enclave lacks flash-to-pass as well." Uh. I have a fully loaded Enclave and it has flash to pass. I JUST checked.

I also wonder if it's something that works with the DRL (daytime running lights) on. I know they're mandatory here, so maybe it works with the DRLs but not when DRL is off. As it's settable folks with a CTS and HIDs should try and let us know.

 

yes thank you i think this guys is retarded!

 

All I know is that every bimmer I see has large body panel gaps that no one ever notices but me; even worse than the old plastic Ion.

 

i have it on the 2004 malibu and my bro's 06 cobalt both LS'.

CobaltSScrazy

I usse that very rarely, basically to tell someone what an idiot they were and why i dislike thir driving style.

CobaltSScrazy

 

That and most folks don't even move over.

I recall watching a program on the CBC a number of years ago where a Canadian was commenting on how well they drove in Europe. He was waxing poetic about how drivers will move over when you flash them to the CBC reporter in the car with him somewhere in Western Europe. He then came up on a car, flashed. Flashed again. Flashed repeatedly and then began to swear. It was very funny. He then tried to regain his composure claiming he must've found the only European who was unaware that he had to move over when flashed. The CBC reporter said nothing, just smiled. It was priceless.

I find most people don't pay much attention to traffic behind them. Flashing does little, other than expend a bit of energy on behalf of the car and your fingers as you pull on the stalk.

 

I'll bet it has it and he just didn't read the manual, perhaps the operation is different than his illustrious BMW's. Even my 2007 Sierra has flash to pass.

Update, FLASH TO PASS IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE 2008 CTS!!!

Look at pic, taken from GM's online ordering guide:

 

I called it!

Someone needs to email this guy and point out his stupidity to him. Let's keep a lookout for an apology too, although I doubt he'll give one.

 

Owners manual page on the subject:

 

Aaahh Haaa!!!!

For vehicles with HID, the low beam headlamps must be on to activate high beam headlamps

That SHOULD NOT be the case -- ever!
Flash-to-pass should be active at all times -- not just when the low beams are on.