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I happen to like the wheel volume control, but I heard they changed that, too. Win some, lose some. I hope they make the overhead light switch/dimmer an easier-to-adjust rotating knob and move it to the driver's fingertip area. I suppose they put it where it is so the passenger can adjust it, but like the CC control, I find it inconvenient. Little nitpicks, I know, but why not get perfection? On that subject, for a real little, but nice touch, I like the placement of the door trunk opener button. Someone gave it some thought. And I love the GM door locking function that permits the driver to press the lock button, hear three chimes, then lock his/her door and not have to wait for the passengers to close their doors. Five seconds after the last door closes, the doors lock. I had it two cars ago and missed it in my last (non-GM) car. Little touches can mean a lot in everyday use, IMHO.
Detroit's labor costs are a function of unionization and collective bargaining. It has only indirectly to do with efficiency of production (though Detroit has some work to do on flexibility of plant tooling, quality of supplier relationships, etc. too.)
The ultimate solution to the labor-cost problem, if you buy into free trade, is to follow the prevailing trend in US manufacturing and move production to some place where unions, pensions, disability insurance and other such impediments to the greater glory of capitalism are minimal or nonexistent. Please note that China is expected to be the third-largest auto market by the end of this year (overtaking Germany) and you can see why all the manufacturers are scrambling like ants to get in there. China artificially suppresses their currency (not just to suck heavy industry investment out of the West, but to protect their own steel and textile industries from foreign competition), does not permit more than a token level of imports (so much for 'free trade'), and does not permit foreign control of 'joint venture' companies, so in the end everything Volkswagen, GM, etc. do ends up controlled by the nephews of local government officials, but that's another story...
Virtually all of the big-selling 'Japanese' cars sold in the US are made in the US or Canada. The Japanese moved production to the US because it was (and is) cheaper than producing at home - Japan's costs are much closer to US costs than to, say, China costs. At the time, ten to fifteen years ago, there was also huge political pressure to reduce imports. Japanese plants in the US, though, are typically located in lower-cost areas, are non-union and the manufacturers were given all manner of tax incentives by the states they located in.
Since these are US operations, they are accruing pension liability, but as yet the 'tail' is very small compared to GM and other US manufacturers.
And this being way off topic for a CTS board, it'll be my only post on the topic.
Johnny CSK......Yea some dealers are a PIA about that gm in the driveway coupon and/or any GM/employee/family--supplier deals......
Take a ride to PA or NJ instead! Use GM buypower to find your CTS and take a ride there.
I have given away 6 or so of those "coupons" and most folks have had no problem using them. Except on a Saab. Still waiting for more!
LOYAL TO GM:
Just go to http://www.gmfamilyfirst.com
Log in with your sponsors SS#....BAM ! Your in!
A special version of GM Buypower pops up, then put in your zip code and it shows all the dealers in your area. Pick out your car....
GM deal price right there.......NO Muss or fuss.
If you don't have it handy e-mail me the car vin#, dealer and zip code. I can tell ya!
Now some dealers will try to lowball your trade. Me.. I find 3 of the same vehicles. Like my 02 Deville. Go to 3 caddy dealers. Tell them straight up ! Whichever gives the best trade $$
I buy there ! Trade price varied from 12k to 16.5k.....Guess where I bought ?.......geo
If anyone from Cadillac is reading this, I really think that most people ordering the sports package would be willing to pay a little extra to have some type of interior accents included.
Actually the leather that is NOT perforated is fine, but the perforated leather on the seating surface stretches like crazy. I'm 160 lbs with a 32" waist; I don't think I should have a permanent butt print in my front seat.
The thing that really killed me was when I left a couple of CDs in the case on the passenger seat and when I picked them up 2 days later I had a straight line imprinted in the leather from the edge of the case...those CDs are really heavy you know (sarcasm/pun intended)!
The line in the passenger seat has pretty much disappeared (after a few weeks of driving with the occasional passenger) but the drivers seat butt print is still there.
I've had 3 cars with leather. Counting all my family members cars I've probably ridden in at least 7 or 8 more and seen the way they wear over a period of several years. NONE of them (even after 5-10 years of daily driving) have the butt print stretching that my CTS has after 12k miles...and it started to be noticeable around 2k miles!
FWIW I wouldn't let it scare you away from the car...the benefits of owning the CTS far outweigh it's few flaws. The seat leather WILL stretch to a point and then it doesn't get *much* worse after that.
I think it's a quality issue from the leather not being pre-stretched before cutting and assembling the seats combined with the fact that the seats could use just little bit more firmer padding in the butt region.
Still love my CTS.
MannyTranny, Still waiting for the replacement transmission to arrive at the dealers. Have an appoitment set for the 18th
Concerning a trade on employee purchase, I have traded and bought 7 vehicles with my local Chev./Cad. dealer in the past 8 years and have never had a problem. They have been very helpful, maybe because I have dealt with the same saleman each time. Just found out he moved last week, so I hope they will still be as workable!! If not, I will be shopping around with the other 2 dealers in my area.
GM employee/retiree/family deal $32,778.
Diamond white, 3.6, auto, 1sb, lux pk.
Right car huh?
Remember there is a 5.9% int. deal up to 60 mths.
And a $750-$1000 GM loyalty bonus to boot !
Also WE pay NO adv. or DOC fee charges either.
Enjoy!.....................geo
It had instructions on care etc. of the leather in your new Cadillac.
Did any of you folks find this tag/brochure in your new CTS? I wonder if GM changed suppliers for 03 or CTS only. .....geo
Some of you may recall Bob Lutz's decontenting
that started a year and half ago.
One of his brilliant ideas was to have thinner leather glued to a vinyl surface.
This was specifically mentioned on the Malibu.
I don't think it was ever implemented though.
Personally, I think Cadillac should go the other way and get Connelly involved. perhaps a complete Connelly package. It would be great for marketing.
Sort of like lexus's involvement with Coach.
Perhaps someone can steer (no pun intended) us to a site that has all the ins and outs of leather tanning and dying, etc.
Lexus offers a analine leather in the LS 430 that is softer.
Mercury offers a glove soft leather in the Marauder that is really nice.
When I had my Intrigue some of the people complained about the quality of the leather. Saying it looked too much like vinyl.
It turns out a Olds engineer "harlanc", was a regular on that thread and he told us it looked like that because it was actually a higher grade of leather.
The natural look leather that is available on the M3 is beautiful to my eyes.
Maybe someone can clue us in on what makes great leather.
http://www.irvingtanning.com/leather_glossary.htm
The leather IS high quality in my opinion. GM just chose to go with the perforated leather and THAT's the problem. They should have either pre-stretched the leather better or gone with a higher grade (thicker) for the seat bottom and back.
They were very popular years ago.
Read this -
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- _code=coverstory&loc_code=index&content_code=06335996
Some dealers will NOT do GM employee/family, coupon deals either. They don't have too.
Last year NO dealer near me would do GM deal on a new CTS, So I got a new Deville instead......BUMMER! I wanted one BAD!
The dealer Gen. mgr. will show you the GM "rule book" on employee/retiree purchases as far as adv. fee and DOC fee.
I paid NO DOC ($40 max. in NY) on my Deville last year. Neither did my cousins who just purchased a T-B and a Vibe with the family deal.
IN NY.. tax is computed on sale price, minus trade (if any).....Then rebate (if any), loyalty bonus, GM card points etc. is deducted
The rest is just plain ol' vinal (spl)!
...........geo
Customer found out that Nissan was only putting leather on the seating surface. Everything else was vinyl. Nissan lost.
Since then most automakers are using embossed vinyl everywhere else on the seat.
And have to disclose that.
You can still contact the dealer via their website as long as they have one.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=9&article_- id=704
Skip-shift? Hopefully there'll be a skip-shift-killer plug released about fifteen minutes after the V-car hits the showrooms.
Nivomat? Say it isn't so...IIRC it's been an expensive, dubiously-reliable PITA on just about everything it's ever been on. I'd have sooner seen GMPD spend the money on some adjustable thigh bolsters on the seats, or something other than a pedal-type parking brake - the whole world of CTS-V driving country isn't Midwest-flat.
MOST NEW FIRST YEAR AUTOMOBILES HAVE SEVERAL TECHNICAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE USUALLY FIXED FOR THE SECOND YEAR MODEL.
PLEASE ADVISE.
Just kidding.
Leaks into the floorboards.
Clocks not synching.
Whatelse guys?
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE PROBLEMS SHOULD SCARE A PERSON AWAY FROM PURCHASING A 2003...MOST ARE MINOR PROBLEMS THAT CAN EASILY BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY.
Or, by simply locating the caps lock... :-)