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Comments
Regards,
OW
The early Cadillac's were mid-priced cars (like Buick is now). When GM took over Cadillac, they made it the top of the GM line.
Regards,
OW
I would hardly call any Cadillac World Class at this point, let alone the Standard. Quality, Workmanship or Service. Just my opinion.
The desire to reverse this is always available. The culture needs to own that desire.
Regards,
OW
When you talk about "World Class", you have to define what you mean by that. I think in some sense the Rolls Royce is world class, but only in the sense that it is a very recognizable luxury car. The Rolls is not a sports sedan, which is another class entirely.
Cadillac does own the "Standard of the World" slogan because they did win the Dewar Trophy. That did not make them a World Class whatever though. I think that some Cadillac models (Car&Driver has rated the SRX best since it was introduced) are competitive with their competition, and this does make them world class, but not best in class.
Huh??? :confuse: I was just at the dealer 2 months ago and inquired about the headlight assy. on my Aunt's 1988 Park Ave. (it was cracked when someone backed into it). They still had 3 in stock at the Boston warehouse. And this is for a 20 year old car!!!! As the SRX gets older, you will still be able to get parts and service for it. Contrary to popular opinion, GM is NOT going anywhere.
Yes in 2004 Nissan/Infiniti had problems with the brakes on the QX and Armada. They have been remedied and no major problems have occured since. As a matter of fact JD power rates the 07 QX with above average reliability.
Cadillac does not have an intelligent key in their Escalade, nor a folding flat 3rd row seat, not even a push button start. Nissan Maximas from 2004 and up have either a push button start or fob to turn to start, without ever using a key (intelligent key). Cadillac doesn't even offer that on their Escalade, matter of fact they still use solid rear axles, and OHC engines. GM will continue to fail unless they meet the build quality of standards of imports, not to mention import luxury manufacturers.
Truer words have never been spoken.
The new CTS and revised STS interiors are but a step in the right direction. The ergonomics in Cadillacs have been improving as well.
Regards,
OW
That'll give 'em a jump start for sure!
Regards,
OW
First of all, GM OWNS Holden, and part of GM's restructuring has been to marry these foreign divisions w/ US divisions to streamline the design process, as well as share global platforms to cut costs.
What good would striking a deal w/ BMW or Mercedes do. Then people would say Caddy couldn't cut the mustard and had to buy from the Germans to compete w/ them.
I believe the biggest gripe the car mags had w/ the CTS in comparison w/ the 3 series was that it was too big (heavy). But the CTS gives you a 5 series sized car for a 3 series price. Yet they don't think it would be fair to compare the 5 w/ the CTS because the 5 comes w/ equiptment not available on the CTS because of the price difference. So I think it would be fair to say that Caddy gives you the same quality car for the same price as BMW, only the BMW handles better because it's smaller, and the Caddy is more comfortable to ride in because it's bigger. And don't give me any bs about quality, because the Germans have had their fair share of quality bugs as of lately.
OHC...puhleeze. GM/Cadillac would never use such an inferior engine on its flagship SUV. They went with the more potent OHV design.
Regards,
OW
My SRX has a DOHC V8 and an independent rear suspension. It also does not have McPherson struts.
The Escalade is a rebadged Chevy anyhow and not a real Cadillac.
How true it is. Nice for a truck but not the World Standard for SUV's in terms of overall performance, style and luxury.
Regards,
OW
Really? I thought the CTS platform was front struts and multilink rear?
"Suspension & Handling
Suspension 4-wheel independent design that utilizes a short/long arm, coil-over strut with anti-sway bar in front, and a modified multi-link with anti-sway bar and automatic rear level control system in the rear; both benefit from monotube performance shock absorbers "
It is a shock absorber that also contains the spring and is the action by which the wheel camber motion is controlled and is a structural component. A vehicle with an upper control arm and a lower control arm is not using a McPherson. Sure it is not the same as having the coil ride on the lower control arm but the camber action is driven by the control arms and therefore not a Mcpherson.
Looks like some sort of Macpherson derivative with a pseudo-wishbone upper setup.
Wow, you better stop using those DOHC engines right out of the 1920s then. At least the OHV engines are more modern
My 2002 Cadillac Seville STS had a DOHC Northstar V-8 and my current 2007 Cadillac DTS Performance has the same engine. To be brutally honest, I can't tell the difference between how well a OHC/DOHC engine performs versus a OHV design except that the pushrod engine has more of a punch with the torque. I miss that little "kick in the butt" with the OHC/DOHC designs.
I'm not sure where this world commission is that determines what is out-dated and what is world standard choices. I want a car that has lots of torque and doesn't have to wind to 5000 rpm before high torque appears and then it's time to shift again...
As for Japanese cars don't break down--I have been collecting complaint posts asking for help with those Japanese brand cars failing their owners in my Watched Items page. I can link to some of them if lykourinou needs help finding them.
Sometimes I realize that people live in the past and think they can still hang problems of the 80s and 90s where a higher problem rate occured for some owners of US brand cars rather than stepping into the current world where JDPowers ratings show US built cars on a par with the Japanese brands. Things have changed in the build of US brand cars; and things have changed in those Japanese cars.
Does anyone have a link to the JDPowers ratings. I have to look through lots of bookmarks to find the last ones I saved and can't find it quickly.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The rest of the world is also behind GM for having DOHC engines and independent rear supsensions. Although GM is starting to sway and build cars backwards. 2007 Buick Enclave DOHC engine, 2007 CTS DOHC engine.
GM does have DOHC engines. Their 4 cylinders are either all, or mostly all DOHC designs. The V6 and V8 engines are a mix.
Intelligent keys are cute, but not needed for anything useful.
Why is Porsche the most successful earner year after year? Because they make junk? They are rolling in the dough so it must be that their customers are "not in the know" regarding pride of ownership.
That pride is long gone from everything except US Trucks and the Corvette, IMHO.
If they keep offering CTS, Malibu, Lambda, Camaro products that prove reliable and strong enough to win back from the rest of the World, the tide will eventually turn back. Time alone will tell.
Pontiac needs to get rid of the "G" designation and Buick needs a car with a soul or die.
Regards,
OW
There's still no substitute for CUBIC INCHES--as opposed to litres. The mid-50's to the early 70's were the glory days for those kinds of cars. The ultimate would be a 1970 Buick Electra with a 365 HP 455 driving a 2.56 axle ratio--loafing along at about 1,800 RPM at 60, it could be kicked down to second and blast to 75 with no strain whatever at 15 MPG--those days and engines are gone for good. The engines were still large into the 70's, but they became strangled with emissions gadgets. I still keep one on hand, 'tho--I've got my 4th '77 Mercury Grand Marquis in 23 years. It has a 460 with a 2.5 axle ratio--only 202 HP, but the torque from the displacement is incredible. Just by default of their size, these engines were virtually indestructible--they were designed to power motor homes and trucks. Placed in a 4,700 lb. chassis and running around 1,900 RPM to move a car is like they're not even working.
If the coming trend over the next 10 years is indeed to smaller engines to meet mileage requirements, then we'll be back to screaming little four cylinders that will work their hearts out like they did in those hilarious Castrol ads back in the 80's. High specific horsepower can indeed be gotten out of little engines, but they can't make the torque that gives you that satisfying feel of effortless performance.
The single worst mistake Cadillac ever made was in placing that disgusting 4.1 litre engine with 125 HP in the full size chassis--a chassis that just three years earlier had 425 cubic inches. You literally had to go back to the late 40's to find performance that was as sluggish as those cars--'49 six cylinder Chevy territory. I remember driving a couple on used car lots just to laugh at them. Cadillac lost so much momentum with that boondoggle, plus all the other GM blunders, an entire generation only remembers Cadillacs as trash. My frame of reference is the Cadillacs of the mid-50's on--cars easily the equivalent of anything BMW or Mercedes can produce today.
And by the way remote start...is cute, That is what the 56k Escalade has. I had remote start that came with a Viper alarm that I had on my lowrider back in 1997.
As of today I have offiically given up on them I wanted to get my mom a full sized SUV. I have decided on the QX, just talking to these guys in here helped me to realize, that GM wont' change. I refuse to pay full price for outdated technology. Besides the reveiws on the Escalade are horrible, I was literally ignoring them. Hoping that GM would turn it around and offer what other manufacturers offer, most consumers have been burned. Sucked in by the looks and left broken hearted due to mechanical failure.. If we built cars that way we build weapons....we would have an owner loyalty, a hundred times stronger than Toyota or Nissan.
I'll be hanging out in the Infiniti forums.....
That's what always frustrates at GM...every once in a while they do really good things in the midst of the usual games.
BTW, the wallet ripping on the imports is mainly due to the U.S. auto companies themselves. High costs have driven their quality and profits down so their cars, including Cadillac ARE NOT the Gold Standard of the world. Yes, the cars do not break as much but the craftsmanship and quality of parts/materials is inferior.
Can they be the standard? Only if the desire is there. Do I have faith it will happen? Not really. The competition has a HUGE lead and the desire is in spurts and dies.
Regards,
OW
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/COL14/802210312/1015/BU- SINESS02