[MiatsoCi]

I own the most "exotic" version of the Gen2 CTS, the Vcoupe, and I personally believe the CTS Vsport is a better looking, more expensive looking luxury car.

 

[MiatsoCi]

For right now, the CTS is the best car in class in spite of its poor image by the general public and lower sales take rate compared to the competition.

U know what is crazy John? The actual public doesn't have a poor perception of the car, its just many on GMI. Due to a lack of proper marketing the public barely knows the car exists. What makes it worse is the fact that those on GMI know that there are more apparent reasons for the drop in sales, but rather say arbitrary things that make little sense when viewed whole .

 

[MiatsoCi]

That whole lets raise the price is what bombed on the third gen cts IMO

Why would Cadillac expect buyers to pay more for a cts lease?

Add in a turbo four snooze....and barely any increase in v6 hp and you really begin to see why cts gen 2 buyers said why bother. ,the smaller diameter tires lost the presence of the second gen cts as well.

When corvette releases a new generation they up the performance to the next level and try and keep the price close to the previous generation. That gets previous owners excited to buy the next gen, they don't drop in a smaller less powerful engine and charge more for it. Cadillac should have offered an LT 1 v8 and AWD in a cts sport model and charged 50 -55 grand...I would have been interested...turbo four ? No thanks....same v6? Why even bother to buy the new car? Twin turbos cool and expensive plus it doesn't come with AWD so it's a dead issue in snow states.

Just my personal opinion. Fwiw.

The thing is that its not the CAR that isn't worth the extra $10K.. its the name (CTS) being associated with entry-level for its entire 10 year life before 2014's Gen3 showed up wearing CTS badge on an STS uniform. That is Cadillac's biggest folly. That is the reason for the price/car confusion. Again.. they would have been better off killing the naming scheme in '12 when the ATS debuted and starting the new "CTx" or.. better yet, considering the fact that the 2013 Model year was the Gen2 CTS's 5th year they could have easily called the ATS the Gen3 CTS, and brought this gorgeous car we are speaking of out as the NEW for 2013 STS.

While we're at it, the XTS should have been simply the new DTS.. the Cruze the CAVALIER, and the G6 the Grand Am.. I could go on. GM has this thing with changing names so they can say "First Ever..." It pisses me off.

 

[MiatsoCi]

It was spot on! The Cadillac cheerleaders however all came out and praised the new CTS and told of future market dominance that failed to transpire.

Ironic that the OP of that thread ended up with, and currently has, a SWEET ATS Sedan and a SWEET new ATS Coupe recently. Almost as if Cadillac predicted his behavior

 

[MiatsoCi]

This is a quote from the OP:

And give up my CTS Performance Coupe? Are you insane?

A first for Cadillac? Cadillac set the expectation bar high with the CTS coupe. Instead of turning up the "wow" factor Cadillac took a step sideways. In someways I'm sure the ATS coupe will be a superior car but the ATS coupe's retreat on the door handles alone show that Cadillac got spooked by their own success. I may buy an ATS (thinking about it) but if I do it won't be to replace the CTS coupe. The ATS sedan could make a great car for my college age kids to drive around for the summer and allow me to take some of the millage pressure off the CTS Coupe by taking to work once in while myself.

and here are his cars:

PAST:

1991 Pontiac Firebird
1992, 1996, 2004 Pontiac Bonnevilles
1999 Chevy Camaro
2007 Pontiac Torrent
2009 Cadillac CTS Sedan
2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
2013 Cadillac CTS Performance AWD Coupe
_____________________
Current Vehicles
2010 Cadillac SRX
2013 Cadillac ATS AWD Sedan
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

 

[MiatsoCi]

The CTS has a strong reputation on GMI. There's some who don't like aspects of the styling or of course question the sales or name, but overall the CTS is a winner here.

As for perceptions, I assume you mean the public doesn't know how good this car is. The media doesn't help by always drawing comparisons or otherwise talking about "old" Cadillacs, and not the "good ones". It's the 80s and 90s cars.

One poster on here had a Vsport and mentioned something of friends joking about him becoming elderly or whatever. That points to Cadillac still having a serious image problem for many in parts of the country, because I doubt that's an isolated problem.

Screw 'em. I heard the same thing from some of the young guys under 35 I know and then I murdered their Bimmers, Benz's, Mustangs, Camaros, Mopars, and Audi's then opened the passenger side door to let out one of the most Bangin Hot Asian Chicks this side of the hemisphere .

Not to mention the older people these cars are ridiculed to be owned by have REAL MONEY. They Buy, not look for the cheapest lease. Again.. Screw em. If I were that poster and was fortunate enough to own a Sweet Vsport CTS I would not give a damn what some punk in a 3 series or CClass had to say. Think about that for a minute

I get what you're saying, but that really is more about low self esteem than the car they drive . Both myself and JBZ06 drive CTS and a Vette. Ask him if he's had trouble with feeling bad about his self or purchase

 

[MiatsoCi]

It appears there is an inverse correlation between the GM fans perception of a vehicle here on GMI (CTS) and the ultimate success in the marketplace. The CTS is very well liked by the GM faithful posters here on GMI, but sales (actual acceptance in the market) are dropping like a stone!

Cause sales make the better car. I think the various wins in comparisons say different.

 

[MiatsoCi]

My wife and I rented the movie "Entourage" the other night. The real star of the movie was the Cadillac Ciel. As I watched it being driven, I got more and more p****ed off. That car is a REAL Cadillac. Not some warmed over four banger Malibu with a facelift. None of Cadillac's current offerings, including the bland CT6 have the swagger that was once Cadillac. The Ciel just reminds us of what "Cadillac" used to mean.

CT6 looks damn near like a hardtop Ciel... I think we should rejoice

 

[MiatsoCi]

Gen 2 was a great car... in 2008. Driving one now it feels unwieldy and extremely cheap. Gen 3 doesn't feel like that because Gen 3 was built from higher quality materials and sits on a much better, more agile chassis. Price is the #1 reason this car isn't selling. #2 is the styling, though I think it's more elegant than Gen 2.

I'm gonna dispute that one:

Lack of variants is the #1 why this CAR IS SELLING (thus the 1730 deliveries, mostly retail, not selling would mean like 0-700. See RLX. See Q70). A Coupe. A VSeries. A Wagon. A Convertible. All available last go around.. not anymore

Let's not forget either that last year there were certainly fire sale bargains going on Gen 2s to move 'em, thus boosting sales numbers then and deflating them now.

No damn marketing is #2 reason its sales are down. 2014 MCOTY, yet no one knew about it because Cadillac advertised it with monkeys. Best performing car in its segment. Most dynamically styled. Outside of enthusiasts... Who Knu?

Price is #3.. but ot because it isn't worth it. It is. Because the price was not perceived to be worth an ENTRY level car named CTS for the past 10 years. The price would have been worth a car named STS tho.

All that being said.. #3 is the last on the list for a reason. It almost immaterial. Had Cadillac marketing done its job, they could have sold an Impala "rework" (its like the chicken and the egg) for a starting price of $46K. OH WAIT!!! That's the REAL #3. :

2016 Cadillac XTS
Luxury vehicle
MSRP: From $45,295
MPG: Up to 18 city, 28 highway
Towing capacity: 1,000 lbs
Horsepower: 304 to 410 HP
Engine: 3.6L V6


2016 Cadillac CTS
Luxury vehicle
MSRP: From $45,560
MPG: Up to 21 city, 31 highway
Towing capacity: 1,000 lbs
Horsepower: 268 to 420 HP
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder, 3.6L V6

 

[MiatsoCi]

I think we can all spot the gmi member with low self esteem here.

The things you write are hilarious.

Yeah. I have low self esteem because I beat a few Germans cars and have a good looking girlfriend. Call Dr. Phil.

I guess I should join your band wagon and talk trash about GM in every single post. Then I can be one of the Cool Kids.

 

[MiatsoCi]

Bottom line is that Cadillac is down because of lack of product, revolutionary change to a 112 year business, a corporate BK 5 years ago that made management re-prioritize, and American self loathing of.. well anything American. All that, and Cadillac is still as prestigious as at the very least Jaguar and Lexus, with more heritage than either. LOOK AT CADILLAC SALES and then speak. Actually analyze them for the briefest of moments and U will come away with as much confidence as I. As long as Cadillac stays the course, providing vehicles with the DNA that is embedded within the “ATS-CTS Stepping Stone” then everything they put forth will add to overall sales volume without a need to fleet heavily.

5 vehicles versus Benz, BMW, and Audi’s 10+ and their sales numbers are indicative of that fact. These other brands are picking up sales in areas where not only Cadillac does not offer vehicles YET, but in market segments that encroach very easily on mainstream market makers. There is no way a buyer should be trying to decide between a Mercedes CLA and a Honda Civic, Ford Fusion, or Chevy Malibu LTZ, yet it is happening. The “xLA” Benz models are them moving down market and doing so while touting themselves as the king of luxury in terms of sales. That is BS.. and if Cadillac did it people would refer to it as a return to the days of Cimmarons and such. The CLA is a CIMMARON.. it just has the advantage of the fact that its donor car is a non-exported to NA Mercedes. What makes it worse is that the car that the CLA is based essentially competes more with a Sonic than a Cruze.

Don’t be discouraged Caddy. While the haters look to convince U that U must CHANGE while being the SAME.. from 20 years ago.. moving forward will yield untold reward. If Cadillac continues to provide a level of technology, quality and innovation just on par with the Germans, let alone beating them on some fronts, with proper and unique styling, in time, sales will rise.
Knowing GM, when they are passionate, and heavily invested in themselves, great cars have always been produced


Patience