Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Like I said, the general term for wagon in the US is wagon = uncool.
P.S. The leather seats in a S class are to die for. Really. Like an expensive leather jacket and not this junk the auto industry usually passes off as leather. Though Mercedes at least has the honesty to label their fake leather as synthetic leather.(MB Tex)
The nappa leather in my E55, which is probably a midrange grade, is very nice, not too hard and cheap, but not so soft that it will crease and crack. It's quality, and a big step up from standard E-class leather.
Many people still think MB-Tex is leather. It's the best industrial grade seating material.
That, or Audi. IMO you forgot these measurements: image= MB, "value"= Audi, winter capabilities (awd) = both, but the quattro is superior. BMW sadly trails down in both AWD and value.
When it comes down to American cars, I also like the 300c, though I never got the chance to drive the car yet. Great looks, a bit too blinged out, but it can be fixed by a classier, less chromed grille, and new shoes (20" non-chrome, again). There are only 2 things that currently turn me off, 1. Poor fit-finish, and 2. crappy interior materials. Too bad they never even thought of fixing those 2 problem areas, otherwise 300c will definitely be on my shopping list.
sedan and continues to wrestle with details and timing on a proposed
rear-wheel-drive replacement for the STS and DTS sedans.
Inside Line has learned that the XLS sedan and its V12 engine, neither
of which was ever officially approved for production, have been put on
the shelf while Cadillac planners focus on developing a single high-end
model to replace both the front-wheel-drive DTS and rear-wheel-drive
STS.
The new sedan is known internally as DT7, using a new alphanumeric
naming system that Cadillac is considering for its future production
vehicles (the proposed baby Cadillac is known as AT1).
According to General Motors suppliers, the DT7 would be based on a
premium version of the rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform that underpins the
Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro, and had been scheduled to begin
production in mid-2011 at GM's Lansing Grand River plant. Now its launch
may slip until late 2011 or early 2012, they say.
Production of the current Cadillac DTS is slated to end in mid-2010,
while the STS is to be phased out in late 2010, leaving a potential gap
of a year or more before the new DT7 reaches the market.
We should obviously move forward with alternative fuel research, but I believe the first place it will show up will be outside the auto industry...
It would be easier, if easier is the word, to alter how we power our homes and buildings first...we need to update the power grid, but how that power is derived can change, because it is the same power over the same lines, whereas the auto needs a complete network of alternative sources...the power company can convert to nuclear, or wind, or solar, or hydro, and the users would never know, as long as power ran thru the wires to their home or office...
If we ccan reduce the petroleum aspect of power generation by 50%, we could free up that much more oil for the cars while alternative sources are researched for the cars...with 200 million cars out there, eliminating oil/gas as a fuel source will take time, whereas an entire city or region could stop using oil/gas for power generation with, say, a nuke plant ot wind power...
Just thinking out loud...
Problem is, people ramble about the use of clean diesels in the US, how its much more efficient to buy one, due to its staggering mileage. Then we recount the costs, and found them not so economical, considering the much higher initial cost (read: MSRP) over its gas powered sibling, and also diesel fuel's costs. Then we talk about how it can at least relieve us and the US from its oil dependency. But the real question remains: just how many of us actually CARE about oil dependency as long as gas is still affordable????
Also consider thse conditions in US, compared to Europe:
Unlike Europe, theres no real emissions tax in the US, the best they came up with is the gas guzzler tax, which is so insignificant.
Diesel cars in Europe cost the same, or lower than its gasoline powered counterparts once you count in the taxes (lead and co2 emissions tax, gas guzzler, etc)
Europeans have low sulfur diesel fuel, which improves fuel economy and durability, also environment friendly. US has no such thing available.
I dont see how Americans will convert to diesel fuel unless the costs on fuel get lower, or mileage or diesel engines get much much higher than it is now. Another way is to offer federal incentives on taxes to cover the losses on overall ownership costs, but given the current state of the economy, I seriously doubt it'll happen.
Until then, I guess we gotta rely on hybrids.
MODERATOR
Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review
Thats not my point though. The point is US still make no effort to increase the use of diesel, instead pushing factories to build hybrids and fuel cell cars. How can diesel vehicles make progress this way???
Some people forget the discussion we had here months ago? At that time the story was that a RWD vehicle smaller than the then zeta, but based on the zeta + Kappa platforms, would be called the Alpha platform. RWD and smaller.
Now it's being reporting that there will be a new mid-sized RWD platform code-named Alpha. Alpha would apparently take pieces from the other platforms and be used for future Pontiacs and Cadillacs. The next generation G6 may use this architecture instead of the front wheel drive Epsilon II. For Cadillac, the new car would slot in below the CTS and also replace the much derided BLS in Europe.
If it's done right, such a Cadillac would give the brand a real competitor for the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4/S4, as long as consumers aren't hounded by the memory of other entry-level Cadillacs like the Cimarron. A smaller, rear-drive sedan and/or coupe would fit in much better with Cadillac's current lineup, however, and further help to lower the average age of the brands' customers.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/kappa-zeta-alpha-another-gm-rwd-platform-comi- ng/
My concern is that this new platform died because of the financial difficulties even though a smaller vehicle fits the times, but it is RWD and would not get the mpg of a FWD compact/midsize. However the new turbo 1.4L sure does seem to offer a good alternative. I think the issue would be development and tooling cost. The low volume "BLS" probably would not cover that cost but IF the next G6 was shared it would make a great program and Pontiac would have a great line up.
The CTS-V ran the quarter-mile in a scant 12.5 seconds, besting the 12.7 it takes for either the BMW M5 or the Mercedes E63 AMG. Getting back to a standstill was another hit to the Bimmer and the Benz, with the Caddy stopping from 60-0 mph in 109 feet – five feet less than it takes the M5 and six shorter than the AMG. And if you're thinking that brakes and power are easy to upgrade and that the Cadillac couldn't possibly best the Germans on the handling course, think again: the CTS-V ran the slalom at 71.1 mph, while the M5 and E63 ran it in 68.5 and 65 mph respectively. Deutschland über alles indeed.
Go to:http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/faster-than-an-m5-first-cadillac-cts-v-per- formance-test-publish/
With enormous V8 land-yachts and even bigger Escalades rolling down America's boulevards, Cadillac's doesn't have the most environmentally friendly of images. But that's a perception that the premium GM division is working hard to combat. After unveiling the Escalade two-mode hybrid, reports have begun to surface that Cadillac is considering a four-cylinder model for the American market like the Saab-based BLS it offers in Europe.
New emerging reports now suggest that Cadillac might get its own version of the highly-anticipated Volt plug-in hybrid from its sister-company Chevrolet. No telling at this point if the Cadillac version would be based on the Volt, transplant the Volt's powertrain into an existing Cadillac model, or breed an entirely new Caddy – or for that matter if there's any substance to the rumors – but sources suggest a higher sticker price than the Volt's anticipated $40k.
Now that the E63 and M5 are a couple years old, Caddy caught up :P
Here's the "story"
Cadillac won by the skin of its teeth and all the participants walked away happy. Cadillac has made a CTS-V that can best the BMW M5 for likely the cost difference of a Chevy Malibu, while BMW knows its 3-year-old M5 is still close competition for the newest CTS-V. I'm sure BMW will be glad to raise the bar again with the next M5, but for now the V is king.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=131106
What I find significant is not simply that the V was able to step in front of the competition - it is that it appears to be both a leap forward from the previous car, and that a Caddy like that exists at all. Step back a mere 10 years and tell an enthusiast that there would be a Caddy that can play head to head with the best from Germany, and they would think you were insane.
Such a car should incite the competition and make further development even more amazing.
Regards,
OW
Then again, you have to be pretty well off to buy one of these. They are much more expensive than all minivans and most SUVs. Cadillac needs a wagon because their competitors, Mercedes, BMW and Audi have wagons.
Also, I think a fair amount of people buy Passat wagons. If you get one loaded they sort of get near the base CTS in price.
And yes, Cadillac does need a model priced below the CTS.
I would most definitely be interested in a DTS-V or something like it. Of course such a vehicle would break my budget. I can always dream.
Catera = Strike Two!
CTS = HOME RUN!!!
Regards,
OW
MODERATOR
Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review
The car may offer a high-powered four-cylinder engine. However, it's been engineered to match the top sports sedans' performance.
GM is still debating whether to offer the car with both V6 and high-output four-cylinder engines. No production site has been announced, but North American assembly is likely.
If a four-cylinder model gets the green light, look for the engine to produce more power than the 260-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder GM now uses in cars like the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Chevrolet HHR SS.
CTS is light years ahead of catera.
Btw maybe I'm the only one, but I find the previous gen CTS (after the facelift) better looking than the current one. The new one would look great sans the oversized grille.
btw I love the front grille!
That said the new escalade and the old represent different images, at least to me. Whereas the old one looks classier and still suits older customers, the new one is flashy and suits younger buyers better. just my opinion.
Well that is good. Cadillac needed to reduce its average age.
I know everyone says that - but that rationale escapes me to some degree. The median age grows older every year. Older folks usually have most of the money...somebody has to build cars for them, because I can tell ya, at 55, I'm not interested in a Chevy anymore, as if I ever were. There is this continual struggle to lower the age of your buyer - and so if you do that successfully, you risk offending the old farts who like your cars, if you're CAdillac. Oldsmobile did it - look at them now, Buick did it, and has never been as strong selling since. Personally, I think they should be careful about abandoning their market, but that's just me.
Now we have that baby boomer group aging, where they are not turning into old farts anymore, at least not at the age of 60-65, maybe not even 70-75...having had imports and sports cars like Audi, Porsche, Infiniti, MB, etc, they may not be ready for the Buick Electra 225 like Dad and Grandpa were, so the auto dynamic for the next 20 years may be nothing like the last 50...
In other words, I think the last 2 generations, WWi and WWII, looked forward to the rest home at 65...Now, we see 65 as the new 50, and we have choices our predecessors did not, at least not to the extent that we did, so maybe Buick and Caddy had better design powerful youthful cars, as their geezer market will disappear and the next geezer market may not see themselves as geezers until they are 80 or more...
Change is in the air...