Cadillac CTS/CTS-V

akirby

Have you ever seen the markup on the M cars? Have you not see the new 1 series? I think it's safe to say that BMW will not sacrifice performance. Even their small cars are nimble and quick, but they won't come out with a plush luxo boat. But to say that they aren't profit driven is a bit naive. They make TONS of $$$.

dindak

Bad choice of words. BMW profit comes from a more controlled number of cars selling at higher margins. GM sells way more cars but at lower margins (trucks excluded). Point is, GM is more of a volume car maker and I think they should make Cadillacs more exclusive by limiting numbers and keeping margins higher.

Just my opinion, I don't know the ins and outs of car making margins vs volume.

logic1

LaNeve, Cadillac's boss, has been quoted saying he would prefer Cadillac not be a volume company. He is looking for high price buyers not many.

Still, Cadillac is probably making 3 to 4k per CTS sale. I imagine 70k units at 4k gross per pop would be very enticing.

b4z

BMW probably sells about 4-500,000 3-series worldwide.
Your figure is US sales I think.

bigdaddycoats

Jade CTS's don't sell well because they only produced 200 and stopped that color. The CTS plant has been running one shift since the beginning and has increased line speed and has been on about 12-15 hours of overtime per week. A second shift will be added to produce the upcoming SRX. GM is hoping to increase line speed and bring CTS output to 48000 per year. Just read this but can't remember where.

sevenfeet0

The door panels maybe aren't a hard-hard plastic, but it's still harder a feel than I would like in this price class. My friend's brand new G35 has a much better feel for materials on the doors than the CTS, and I thought the G35's interior materials were a little on the cheap side anyway. The Acura TL Type-S kicks both of them for the quality of materials. The G35 is cheaper than the CTS and the Acura is cheaper than the G35.

fav002

The firm ride of my Lux/Sport model is acceptable and welcome compared to the "cushy" ride of typical American sedans I've driven. However, since the car was new, I always get a mild "rattling" noise from the front suspension when going over road surface irregularities. It's hard to describe the noise and feeling, but it seems to me like some component is just loose in the front end. I took the car into the dealer and described this issue. The service manager test drove the car and said other owners have complained about the same issue, but as of right now there is no fix and Cadillac says its just the nature of the suspension. Has anyone else with a luxury/sport CTS experienced a similar problem? I believe this is tied into the "ride harshness" described in earlier posts since it's a vibrational sensation that is transmitted to the driver physically throughout the chassis and audibly front he front suspension whenever uneven road is encountered.

-FAV002

b4z

Sounds like you have the famous GM Intermediate Steering Shaft problem. Probably needs to lubed.
It has affected all of the wbody cars and trucks plus the full siize Caddies and the Alero, Malibu , Cavalier, etc.
Basically every vehicle GM produces. LOL.

akirby

I also heard that BMW sells 500K 3 series world wide. About the only non-mass market mfrs left are Ferrarri, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Panoz, Saleen, Shelby, etc.

Now if you had said 'fleet sales' then I would agree that the big three do much more than their share in that department. That was one of the asterisks on the Taurus winning the sales crown a few years ago: a lot of those sales were to Hertz! In fact Ford continued to make the Escort after the Focus came out solely for fleet sales. Large volume fleet sales to rental companies will deluge the used car market and drive resale down.

cdnpinhead

For sevenfeet0: If you haven't already, have a look at Audi.

Many of us think that Audi is the standard for interior quality. The rest of the car is "breathtakingly expensive" to maintain, out of warranty, as attested by a person whose family has possessed a couple of dozen of them over the past several years, leases all.

Seems to me that once the mechanicals are nailed down, putting in better gingerbread ought to be a simpler problem statement. OTOH, there's actual hand labor involved, but Europe is no less expensive than North America, so I'm not sure I understand how we got here.

Since the CTS appears to be there mechanically (or will be, given power upgrades), improving the interior should be a relative piece of cake.

richw5

It's amazing. I posted this morning and when I returned there were 18 messages. Beginning to feel that I know a lot of you.

FAV002-
My CTS has a rattle or thump when hitting a rail road track or some other obsticle, just like you describe; like something is loose. The rattle is harsher with the STS. My '94 STS was even worse and the ride was much harsher (firmer). As you say, I think it's part of a firm or "sport" suspension.

Calicadi-
Didn't mean to compare the CTS and STS, but that's what I drive. There is nothing like the sound of a great V8, nothing. When I press down on the accelerator, there aren't many that can keep up. I love it.

The CTS buzzes. I'm beginning to love it too. Kick the accelerator down, the buzz starts and I'm past the turkey that was blocking the road. Now, what I just said is probably not politically correct, but it was fun. And that's what Cadillac's should be, fun to drive.

Also, my '94 STS had the trunk pull down. It didn't always work properly, was a real pain when it didn't and was expensive to repair.

Logic1-
Many of my co-workers (before I retired) drove BMW's. after a few years they rattled, especially the convertibles. My fear is that the "firm suspension" on the CTS will cause it to rattle after a while. Hope not.

I'm not sure what the door panel material feels like on our CTS, but I will check when My wife gets home from work (somebody in our family has to pay for the cars).

Take care (drive safely),

Rich

sevenfeet0

Re: Audi

Been there, tried that. The A4, A6, and even the A8 have no chance of fitting my legs. Which is unfortunate since I like Audis. My wife's dream car is an Audi TT, which is really quite comical. It's physically impossible for me to drive that car at all, let alone comfortably. I can barely squeeze into the passenger seat. I've told her one day we'll get her one. But if you see her on the road, it's most likely she'll be alone.

BTW, I do agree with you on interiors. In a way, Cadillac borrowed a lot from Audi (and the rest from Lexus) on the current Seville and Deville interiors. Not bad manufacturers to borrow from.

shifty4

Be aware that the CTS trunk light remains on anytime the trunk lid is unlatched. Many earlier cars had a mercury switch which turned off the trunk light when the lid was moved downward. On the CTS the lid must be latched.
Inadvertently pressing the "trunk open" button on the key fob unlatches the trunk lid but the lid only moves about 1/2 inch and may not be noticed.
This may be fairly obvious to most but I learned it the hard way when my CTS sat in the garage for 4 days with the trunk light on.

oldsman01

Funny you mention the harsh ride compared to an Intrigue. I have an Intrigue and have test driven a CTS twice. What really impressed me with the CTS was how it not only handled tighter than the Intrigue does, but it took bumps in the road very well. Not Deville cushy, but certainly not harshly. The Intrigue has a habit of making rather small marks in the pavement rather noticeable, whereas the CTS seems to glide right over them. The only place I've seen a CTS criticized for a harsh ride is in MT's recent review. If anything, I think GM got the ride v handling equation just about right with this car. I hope they begin to do this with other cars as well. After having an SLS as a rental for a week earlier this month, my Intrigue felt nearly as harsh as an 80s Camaro over bumps.

oldsman01

You can thank all the tree huggers that complain about how mercury is bad for the environment for the elimination of mercury switches in alot of cars and other applications. Residental HVAC thermostats are another area where mercury switches have been used for years(and are very reliable) yet now many manufacturers are going to the noisy(click) and less accurate bi-metal switches in thermostats.

oldsman01

As I've said before, when I first test drove a CTS I was impressed by the quality of the materials inside. They don't look as rich in pictures and I frankly had been very let down by the look of the interior until I actually sat in one and touched things. Some parts may not be LS430 or even STS grade, but certainly on par for the CTS's price range.

logic1

Cannot remember which car, but there is a very funny photo of Kareem Abdul Jabaar driving with his head and shoulders protruding out of the open sunroof. How he got in their is anyone's guess. Maybe a trick photo.

bingoman

If I leave the trunk lid open on my CTS with the engine off, the light goes out after about 10 minutes. The monitoring system is designed to prevent battery drain when parked. If your light stayed on for days you should check with your dealer for a fix.

akirby, re: as to BMW plush luxo boats, I'm not sure what your definition is, but after a ride in my friends 745i I would think it meets my definition. And doesn't BMW now own Rolls Royce?

sevenfeet0

It was a VW Rabbit :-)

akirby

I don't think anyone would call a 745i a plush luxo-barge. It's a large luxury sport sedan with more emphasis on sport than luxury. Compare it to a Deville, Town Car or even a LS430 and I think you'll see the difference.

b4z

Wasn't that Wilt Chamberlain that advertised the Rabbit when it came out in '75-76?

sevenfeet0

Yes, it was Wilt. My mistake!

logic1

Oh dear. My bad. Yes. Wilt had far more a sense of humor then Mr. Jabaar. I was pretty young when I saw the photo. Whoever was in it, it is very funny and something, I am sure, tall people everywhere can appreciate.

bingoman

I guess it depends on how you define 'plush luxo-barge'. LOL, Personally I preffer small cars, except I wish they had larger trunks. I had a '74 Mustang II. The storage space in the back was so small we called it a valise.

b4z

Maybe we are talking about 2 different ads.
Because Wilt was able to fit into the car.
The point of the ad was to show how much roomy it was.
I think Kareem was quite a bit taller than Wilt.
So maybe it was Kareem after all.
Sorry if I confused anyone.
Also, I feel really old remebering an ad from
25 years ago.
CTS!

lenscap

There was a short article in the August 26, 2002 issue of the industry trade magazine Automotive News called "Luxury import owners ignore CTS."

From the article:
"After nearly nine months of CTS sales, Cadillac is readjusting its targets for conquest buyers. The goal of stealing entry-luxury buyers from such prestige brands as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz is proving difficult. Cadillac sees more opportunity in winning owners of premium mid-sized vehicles such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, according to CTS Marketing Director Jay Spenchian...No prestige import is among the top several CTS trade-in vehicles."

Sales data shows the following trade-in breakdown:
39.3% Cadillacs
34.6% non-GM vehicles
26.1% other GM vehicles

The data also shows:
39.9% of CTS buyers are women
Average age of buyer is 55

This is in no way a negative post. I just thought people would be interested. Obviously the car is selling well.

akirby

I guess if you're comparing the 745i to a Miata it might seem that way. I was just emphasizing the difference between a sports-oriented sedan like the 745i and a luxury oriented sedan like the LS430.

akirby

Speaking of competition, the 2003 LS was unveiled today at the U.S. Open in N.Y.

http://media.ford.com/newsroom/releases.cfm?id=93

logic1

Someone going from a Honda or Toyota to a Cadillac over an Acura or Lexus is not a conquest? Many people not trading in their base Acuras and Lexi for a base Cadillac most likely are trading up. When Cadillac has something like the CTS to trade up to, then you will see the base Acuras and Lexi trade ins.

cdnpinhead

can do to gain market share and attention: Sell the thing successfully in Europe.

When you're shooting down A5 in Germany at 190 kph and a CTS comes around in the left lane, it'll be noticed. Of course, you need to realize that minivans routinely come around in the left lane at 160 kph, so it's all relative.

If you want to compete with the Europeans, you need to sell against them, on their home turf, successfully, for a number of years. For a variety of reasons, the Lincoln LS, which started out to be a BMW-beater, became a BMW-beaten, mostly due to Ford acquisitions and politics.

One hopes the CTS will take up the cudgel and be successful. Otherwise, many of us will be driving Infinitis, BMW's or Audis.

Just a thought.

logic1

I tend to agree with you, but for a differing opinion on European/US marketing success read this by Jerry Flint at Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/2002/08/26/0826flint.html?partner=yahoo&referrer=

The topic is the Solstice, but the general arguments remain the same (except there will never be a Chevrolet version of the CTS).

lenscap

Many people trading in entry level Lexuses and Acuras are not trading up as you may think. The TL and ES 300 have two of the highest repeat purchase rates. Many buyers of these cars are sticking to the same price range (and same car) as they were driving before.

cdnpinhead

re: logic1

Thanks for the link. Definite food for thought.

sevenfeet0

Cadillac may have been hoping to see a lot of BMWs and Mercedes in on trade, but that's not going to happen immediately. It will take some years, and some evolution of the product and the brand.

First, Cadillac has to make the CTS class leading in every aspect. That is the way you attract buyers and win magazine reviews. Take the Infiniti G35. One of my best friends just bought one. He previously drove a Honda del Sol. Again, he wasn't trading a BMW or Mercedes either. He's just 33 years old, single and moving up in his purchase choices, like a lot of CTS owners.

Infiniti took many cues from Lexus in the launch of this vehicle First, study your competition carefully. Don't limit yourself to one bogey competitor. Infiniti realized they could fit themselves nicely between the personality (or lack thereof) of the Lexus ES300, and the sporty personality of the BMW 330i.

They crafted an attractive and distinctive body, an attractive interior, an "over-the-top" powerful base engine, competent handling, a choice of suspensions and wheels, and some unique features for the class (reclining rear seats).

Finally, they priced it to move. Anyone could get a well appointed one for $35K. My friend paid $33.5K for his. All these features caught the attention of the car magazines. In recent tests, the G35 either came in first or nearly first in every test.

So what about the CTS? Well, Cadillac designed a distinctive package, although it isn't as easy on the eyes for some people. The drivetrain and suspension is top notch in anybody's book. But other details suffered. The engine planned for launch wasn't ready in time, so the old Catera engine was substituted (modified of course). Buyers upgrading from their old non-luxury cars wouldn't care as much, but BMW and Mercedes owners looking to trade know the difference.

The interior worked for some people but not others. GM is world famous for thinking of the interior last in its products. The CTS interior got some things right: the new Bvlgari-inspired guages, the in-dash 6 CD changer, the comfortable and supportive sport seats. But they missed a few obvious points, like a full guage package, an analog clock in the center of the dash for all passengers to see, a larger glovebox, a light and AC in the glovebox, a larger center storage area, and nicer soft-touch materials all around.

The pricing for the CTS was pretty good, but not as agressive as the G35. The G35 may not have every last je-ne-se-quois detail of the BMW 330i, but at its price, it proves irresistable to many buyers. In every written comparison test, the G35's pricing made it a steal even if testers still liked other cars slightly better.

Finally, there is the press. The G35 has won over the press with all of these features. In the Road & Track test, the CTS came in 8th out of 11th. Mind you, even the R&T editors said that none of the cars in the test sucked. When my friend and I went to shop for the G35, the magazine articles were everywhere. Infiniti knows that many buyers spend a lot of time researching their purchase decision in the media.

And still I'm buying the CTS. It will be ordered tomorrow. The shortcomings aren't enough for me not to make a purchase. The CTS also has an advantage of being one of the few cars in its class with legroom enough for my legs :-). But if Cadillac is reading this, they need to understand that there should be nothing less than 100% execution in the luxury car market. Anything less means a product doomed to just being another enty in a crowded field, rather than the car that everyone's talking about.

cdnpinhead

but seriously, thanks to sevenfeet0 for an interesting and helpful post.

My LS is proof positive that I thought (in '00) the U.S. auto industry could compete with the rest of the world. Since I will only drive manuals, the LS has dropped off my screen, and now the CTS has come up.

Hang in there, and bring on the upgrades (hopefully added one-at-a-time on the option list).

logic1

The TL and the ES 300 are soft riding FWD Japanese Buicks. Buick in fact has the highest purchaser loyality in NA. I suppose it is no coincidence the Japanese Buicks have their repeat fans.

The CTS is about as far from a Buick as a car can get (see the posts about 20 up saying the ride is too harsh). I hardly see how they would compare to the CTS.

This is not a comparo site. But if there are comparos to be made, they would be with the LS, 3 and C series. Maybe the IS. Maybe the GS. Acura does not even make a car in this league.

oldsman01

I've said this before, but I'll say it again. Cadillac might as well just forget about the snobby "me too" aging yuppies that are dead set on MBs and BMWs. They would never consider a Cadillac no matter how good it was, even if the Pope recommended it himself. What Cadillac should do(and seem to be getting a good start at) is redefining themselves while attractine new customers(read those moving up) while not turning off traditional buyers. Granted I've always liked Caddies, but I'm 27 and like the CTS alot. It's high on the list of potential new cars when I'm in the market in a year or so. Judging from this forum, the car has struck a chord with more younger and "non traditional" Cadillac customers than any of their previous offerings. Keep the CTS on a steady diet of upgrades and improvements, keep the price in line, and bring on the "V" series performance version and Cadillac will have no problem keeping generation Xers(and Yers or whatever they are pegged) out of BMW showrooms.

regfootball

the snobby "me too" aging yuppies are part of the auto style setting crowd that dumps buckets of money into car mfrs. pockets.

automole

The Automotive News article is a perfect example of how people draw false conclusions from statistical data. I don't understand how the author came to the conclusion that "The goal of stealing entry-luxury buyers from such prestige brands as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz is proving difficult"

Sure, the data might show that BMW/Mercedes/Lexus owners aren't trading their current vehicles in on CTS's. One reason for this might be that they're not buying new luxury vehicles due to the poor economy...another might be that they are trading UP to the next better model of BMW/Mercedes/Lexus. Typically car owners stick with their current car (if they're happy with it) or trade up to a nicer more expensive car. The CTS is basically an entry level performance/lux sedan and would be a lateral trade (not necessarily a trade-up)for BMW/Mercedes/Lexus owners.

The data merely says that Cadillac isn't stealing away CURRENT customers of BMW/Mercedes/Lexus and the like. What it fails to recognize is that EVERY purchase of a CTS represents one less BMW/Mercedes/Lexus that is sold. According to the data 60.7% of CTS buyers are NEW Cadillac customers (customers that were 'stolen' away from other brands)...I would think this would be a good thing for Cadillac who is trying to grow their customer base.

When I bought my CTS I traded in a 300M (non-BMW/Mercedes/Lexus vehicle). I had considered the BMW 3 series, Mercedes C class, Lexus, Infinity, Audi A4, Jaguar X-type, VW Passat, and Lincoln LS as potential new cars and in the end I picked the CTS. With that in mind, I represent one less sale for BMW, Mercedes, or Lexus.

-Oh, and one thing that really drew me to the CTS was the fact that it didn't have any current association with "snobby aging me-too yuppies"! There's a strange 'aura' about the CTS that's difficult to put into words. Just my personal opinion, but the car seems to express a kind-of #@$&-you attitude that spits in the face of all the current cookiecutter snobmobiles. The CTS has a kind of hip coolness to it that ALL the other entry sport sedans lack.

dindak

I disagree. People will look at Cadillac if they have the product to back up the claims. Solid performance and reviews will get the word on the street. Cadillac is cooler now than it has been in years. The Escalade and EXT have started the trend with sports and entertainment celebrities and the cars will follow if they are good. CTS for 2004 with upgrades may just be the ticket as the current model (which is very good on it's own) is already selling like crazy.

lenscap

Let me start off by saying from a pure sales point the CTS is obviously a success. It is selling very well.

That being said, Cadillac's goal of stealing BMW, Lexus and MB buyers is proving difficult. I don't have the numbers here, but Cadillac wanted a certain percentage of trade-ins to be from those three marques. And actual trade-ins have not met that projected percentage. That is not a conclusion the author drew, it is a fact.

Also, note that quote about stealing buyers from Lexus, BMW and MB proving difficult was NOT from the author, but from the CTS Marketing Director Jay Spenchian.

As for owning a BMW, Lexus or MB and trading up, that happens over time. Many times people buy cars in the same price range for years. It cannot be assumed that someone, for example, buys a 3 Series at age 35, a 5 Series at age 40 and a 7 Series at age 45. Most people buy several 3 Series, then several 5 Series and then move to the 7 (if they're still happy with BMW). Lateral purchase moves are common. Cadillac was hoping to get a bigger share of these lateral moves than they actually are.

Further, it's not just trade-ins, but new car sales. People are buying cars in this price range. 3 Series sales are up. C Class sales are up. ES 300 sales are up (although this is a different type of car). These are buyers Cadillac had hoped to court but are not getting in the volumes they wanted.

The point is Cadillac is getting fewer BMW, Lexus and MB trade-ins that they had hoped for. But if the car proves to be good over time and Cadillac continues their fine recrafting of the brand there is every reason to believe this will change.

necros

dindak, I disagree that many people will look at the Cadillac if they have a good product. There was a very interesting cover story in Business Week several months ago that discussed this phenomenon. For many baby boomer types, it's more a philosophical objection against Cadillac: It was their parents' standard of luxury, and they've rebelled against it. Baby Boomer's children have no such aversion to the brand, but they're not quite ready to buy them (myself, fav2002 and oldsman01 excepted. automole, are you a youngster, too?)

But just so everyone knows, I'm going to put the CTS's money where it's mouth is. On September 28, at Coors Field, in Denver, Colorado, I'll be dragging my CTS out to the SCCA Solo2 Summer Season #13 to put it up against BMWs, Corvettes and more. As far as I know, I'm going to be the first one racing a CTS in SCCA's Rocky Mountain region (at least in Solo2). So, we'll see how it stacks up where it counts.

mannytranny

I can't believe all of the people that have used my CTS as a test car. Just this morning a friend asked to see my CTS and was so surprised to see three pedals and off we went on another drive.I have never had any other car that was so looked at and test driven. I don't know if Cadillac wants to just let it go but I am surprised at how many people are not aware of a manual transmission in the CTS.When I see someone looking at my car at a shopping center I usually say that I'll bet them that the Caddy has a manual transmission and a quarter is the bet. I don't tell them that it's mine til they see inside and I usually get the quarter!I only had the car since June and have given over 20 test spins to family and friends.

It's a black CTS with manual trans, luxury pkg. and sunroof.I have 2550 miles on it now.

Necros.........I am taking my CTS to the strip the third week in September, it's an open event with time runs, grudges for all comers. Can't wait to see how the time will really be at the drags.

Does anyone else get to race( I mean perform some speed , like go very fast) at traffic lights? It has happened to me again this morning, This time it was an LS along side with a person who just glared and dared. Well, when the light changed I saw him in my rear view mirror looking very astonished. Yesterday it was a Jeep ( I don't know why) and the day before it was a VW and a Lexus. Some of the drivers were young , while others were a lot older.

I have had no real problems with the CTS and just think that it is so much of a pleasure to drive. The handling is excellent and I like the real road feel.

dindak

There was a time not so long ago that no one would touch a VW. Unreliable mediocre crap is all they were selling. Today they are hot with strong product and attracting many different types of buyers, most whom have never driven a VW before. If they can do it, Cadillac can also.

If you build it they will come (eventually). The task ahead is to keep getting better and keeping quality high also. It may take a few years but even my most anti-American car friends admit, the CTS is a good car.

necros

I understand what you're saying, but the people Business Week interviewed disagree with you. According to them, many Baby Boomers wouldn't buy (or even look at) a Cadillac regardless of how good they are. It's analogous to old people today who would never buy a VW or Mercedes because they equate them with Nazism. (I'm not, of course, invoking Godwin's law here. ) Business Week's opinion was that Cadillac had a long, hard road ahead of it: Current lux buyers won't look at a Cad because of ingrained prejudices; people who will look at a Cad aren't monied enough to do so. Yet. They predicted a hard decade for Cadillac even if they produced excellent cars.

dindak

Nothing in life is easy (I have a copy of that Business week by the way). It will no doubt take years to repair the damage done, but I still think it can and will be done.

Time will tell.

logic1

If the CTS is selling more than originally projected -- which it is -- I fail to see how it is not finding enough buyers.

sevenfeet0

It will indeed take years, but the damage can be undone. Take a look at Chrysler. In 1988, Chrysler was avoiding the bankruptcy scythe for the second tine in a decade. They made crap like the Diplomat. Cheap K-cars which saved the company earlier couldn't compete against domestic brands, much less imports. Even a halo car like the TC by Maserati turned into a K-car inspired joke. Chrysler styling was boring and uninspired. Chrysler engineering wasn't much better. Chrysler quality was abysmal.

Bob Lutz turned that around. He told the stylists, "Pretend you don't work here. Design what you've always wanted to design." He took a sledgehammer to old established business processes inside Chrysler that no longer worked. The result was the first LH series, the Viper, the Prowler, the Neon, etc.

What happened next was that people came back to Chrysler. People who would have never dreamed about buying their products were in the showrooms. It took several years to repair the damage, but Chrysler clawed its way back to respectability. Their styling led the industry. Engineering improved dramatically. Quality got much better, but still not Japanese quality. Hopefully the acquisition by Daimler-Benz will help that long term.

Cadillac (and GM) can do the same. The current product line is okay, but not enough to compete with the Lexus/Audi/Mercedes/BMW (LAMB) competition. The CTS is a good first step. As new product continues to get introduced, Cadillac can make a better case to buyers in the market for a luxury car.

Great new product can always overcome bad old product. No brand is unsavable. You can always remake a reputation with great product. Hell, even Firestone is still around after last year. The only reason that Oldsmobile is dying is because GM didn't try hard enough. Don't necessaily concentrate on selling to the most people. Work on making the best possible product. The sales will come.

Then make sure your dealers network knows the new rules. They must treat people differently than the past. We chose one dealership over another in Atlanta because the one we chose treated my wife with complete respect as a co-buyer, even though I was the obvious car nut. Personal relationships matter, especially in the high end car market.

And me, I'm also putting my money where my mouth is. My black CTS with autotrans, sunroof, gray-pewter seats, bose stereo, bun warmers, folding rear seat and HID headlamps has just been ordered. My wife put her foot down on the Nav system ;-).

fav002

You've had some great posts here lately, congrats on taking the CTS plunge! I totally agree with your comments about resurrecting a brand. If you look at what Nissan is doing now with some attention-getting and cutting-edge styling running across their product line, they are making a strong resurgence. If Cadillac can execute on their new product line and turn out superior V-series vehicles, I think they have a strong chance of reviving the brand and going after a whole new customer base.

-FAV002

logic1

Oh man!!! No NavSystem??? Joking. Congratulations Sevenfeet0. That sounds like a real nice set up.