Cadillac CTS/CTS-V

mcgreenx

.....the bottom line is that this is a very good car that could be a great car with some tweaks...

That's the essence of what I am trying to say. And that the reason for the shortcomings is, IMHO, the anti-small car mentality of the Cadillac execs. They seem to accept that they must market a small, European-style, car to attract younger drivers, but they can't seem to embrace them. However, perhaps the improvements which are apparently in the pipeline mean they have finally seen the light.

As to door/trunk locks, I guess I have to resign myself that they are going the way of the Dodo bird.

I read somewhere, if important I can try to find it, that the recommended timing belt interval is 100,000 miles.

mcgreenx

From reading some of the prior notes, this issue may have been misunderstood. I wrote: "NO lockable compartment with a valet key." I didn't mean that the glove box has no lock. The glove box has a lock, but it opens with the ignition key. When you leave your car with a parking attendant, you leave him/her the key. My complaint is that there is no compartment, whether glove box or otherwise, that is keyed to a valet key. I want to be able to secure a few things from prying eyes, e.g., a radar detector, in a locked compartment, and not have to leave the key.

bingoman

mcgreenx - I completely agree with you. The lack of lockable storage is a major problem with the CTS as with the Catera before it.

It really bothers me that when I hand the key to the car to a hotel valet I have no control over his/her access to the entire car. I frequently have valuable cargo in the trunk, such as cameras and computers, which are heavy and difficult to carry to my room for storage (and where they would be vulnerable to various hotel attendants) which are at the mercy of an unscrupulous valet. My wife's Honda, at half the price, has a valet key to lock the glove compartment, the remote and local trunk and the fold down seat backs.

This was one major failing of the CTS that came close to voiding the purchase for me. So far I have not had any loses that I am aware of, but if one occurs it could very well make a difference on my next purchase.

I think the problem could easily be solved with a separate key for the glove compartment and a switch inside to turn off power to the trunk lock and operate a small motor driven locking movement for the rear seats.

As to the other items you listed, I am in agreement with most of them.

oldsman01

If the major complaints from owners center around the lack of a trunk and passenger side door lock cylinder, visor mirrors that are too bright, and Onstar not including the premium services, I think we can say that this car is pretty good.

eaton53

I looked at my wife's '94 SLS today... lo and behold, there was a lock cylinder on the passenger side.

So, they have been there in the not-too-distant past.

sevenfeet0

Well, there are a few other complaints that we know upgrades are coming (engine, interior, gages, XM Radio).

I've managed to rack up 200 miles in 2 days. One thing that I've come to notice is that the Sigma platform in general is tight as a tick. I haven't noticed any strange noises from this car. It seems like it was carved from a single hunk of metal. It's like my dead and buried '91 Deville was produced by a different car company.

My wife comments that she loves the seats in the car, despite the lack of lunbar support. She's says she's also not used to driving such a powerful car. Mind you my wife's last car was a '94 Ford Escort. :-)

We're also having trouble keeping the car under 70 MPH as recommended by the owners manual for the breakin period. I'm dying to take this thing up to 100 MPH. Maybe someday soon...

sevenfeet0

mcgreenx, you're right. I went back and checked the owners manual. The timing belt is changed at the 100K mile point along with the spark plugs. I've never heard of a timing belt change so late in the life of a car. I guess times are getting better since the only real significant engine maintenance (outside of oil and filters) starts at 100K miles.

On a side note, I've never owned a car with so many fuses. There are three different fuse panels on this car. If something blew, I'm gonna have to consult the manual on where to check first.

akirby

My 99 expedition was the first one that I noticed without the passenger door lock. So I think it started 3-4 years ago, at least at Ford. But if one company does it and gets away with it the others are sure to follow. Probably saves the mfr a couple of million a year.

sonjaab

When you press the valet button in glove
box (Deville) and lock it, Then give
the valet key. It can't be used to open
glove box, trunk etc...and the buttons
are disabled. My mom called one day
and said the fuel door and trunk won't
open ! 98 Deville..I said open glove box
door and check if valet button was presed
in ! sho' nuff it was !..............geo

sevenfeet0

Ford vehicles have been omitting the passenger door lock for some time. I've rented the Mercury Grand Marquis for the past three years when I travel on business. The passenger door lock disappeared some time ago.

mcgreenx

I took my car in today for service on the slow refueling problem (the service writer said it might even require a new fuel tank!!!) and got a new DeVille loaner. Driving it made me even happier with my choice of the CTS. I felt like I was steering a yacht.

sonjaab, the arrangement with the glove box cutoff and a valet key would be great. The problem with the CTS is that there is no valet key and there is no compartment that can be secured from anyone who has the ignition key. And even if the glove box had a different key (I changed the cylinder on a glove box door several cars ago to make a "valet" key), the CTS glove box is too small to be of any storage value. There has to be a lockable compartment somewhere.

sevenfeet0, this is the full maintenance schedule listed at www.mygmlink.com. I haven't yet compared it to the owner's manual. Have you registered your vehicle there yet? It took a few days for my VIN to be available. There is also a registration for OnStar at www.myonstar.com. You can select certain options for the "Virtual Advisor," although I find it of little or no value. Almost everything they offer can be had easily from other sources, and at a much lower per minute cost.

I'm curious: what do people here do if the dealer service department suggests plugs or transmission fluid changes (for example) at more frequent intervals than recommended?

2003 CTS

Engine Oil and Filter Change
Change engine oil and filter
Interval: As indicated by GM Oil Life System or every 12 months whichever occurs first (but it also lists 7500 miles)

Tire Rotation
Check tires for uneven wear or damage. If irregular or premature wear is apparent, check wheel alignment
Interval: Every 7500 miles

Passenger Compartment Air Filter Replacement
Change passenger compartment air filter
Interval: Every 15000 miles

Axle Fluid Level Check
Inspect axle fluid level and add fluid as needed
Interval: Every 30000 miles

Engine Air Cleaner Filter Replacement
Change air cleaner filter
Interval: Every 30000 miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid Replacement
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter
Interval: Every 100000 miles

Spark Plug Replacement
Change spark plug
Interval: Every 100000 miles

Timing Belt Replacement
Change timing belt
Interval: Every 100000 miles or every 90 months whichever occurs first

Cooling System Service
Drain, flush and refill system with new coolant
Interval: Every 150000 miles

akirby

"I'm curious: what do people here do if the dealer service department suggests plugs or transmission fluid changes (for example) at more frequent intervals than recommended? "

I would definitely change the tranny fluid every 30K using a T-Tech or similar machine that uses the cooler lines to flush almost all the old fluid. You don't really need to change the filter. If there's enough junk in there to clog up the filter it's too late anyway. I would probably do the plugs at 60K. I wouldn't go more than 6K on the oil and filter and don't forget to change the brake fluid every 2 years (it's hygroscopic and absorbs water over time causing damage internally. Why this isn't required in the service schedules is beyond me.

typeaman

I just got my cts back after getting a new engine. It took them 3 weeks. "broken shoulder pin". All seems to be running ok, although I now have a dash rattle at 1500 rpm's. I will wait to see if it goes away on its own.

sevenfeet0

mcgreenx, the maintenance schedule you copied from mygmlink.com is exactly what the owners manual says. What I'm interested in is whether or not the dealer has an "alternate" schedule. This was a phenomenon recently discussed in an article in Edmunds "Advice" section.

Actually, the manual says this car *never* needs its transmission fluid replaced (same as the brake fluid). The 100,000 mile transmission fluid change listed above is for people in crappy conditions (lots of dust, mud) or if you are using it as a livery or police vehicle (that would be a switch...a Police CTS!)

Still, I think I'd want the fluid changed at 100,000 miles regardless of what the manual stated. I know we've come a long way with these systems, but the fluid has to break down at some point.

sevenfeet0

Odometer = 275 miles

Currently, the only fit and finish issues I've seen is the Bose logo on the left side tweeter on the A pillar is loose. Also, there is a strange water-like stain on the panel between the dash and door where they meet. The stain is on the car side, not the door side beneath the defroster vents. My service tech hasn't seen anything like it. The other side of the car has one too, but it's less noticably. I'm going to clean the stain, and see if it returns.

I tried the OnStar personal dialing. It worked pretty well but it is expensive. The "my number" command spits back the number way too quickly; you can barely write it down fast enough. Personal Dialing does sound like it comes in handy if anything so you can operate hands free, especially in high traffic situations. But I don't think I'll get in a habit of using it constantly. I probably will expand the minutes for the first year. I haven't tried the Virtual Advisor yet. That sounds like it would be useful if you are in the car ALOT.

bigdaddycoats

to see how the new V6 will be. have driven a couple current CTS's and the motor is pretty good. I just think it needs to be better in order to compete with the competition -G35,BMW 3 and so on. I think the CTS is a great first attempt into this segment. No not everything is perfect, but no car is. The styling is awesome and the interior is pretty good - maybe just needs some higher quality materials. I just hope that GM keeps the prices in line with the competition or maybe even a little less - especially with the upcoming V. The CTS may in size be more comparable to the 5-series but it is in competition with the 3-seies class of cars. Keep the pricing right and make improvements here and there and the CTS will continue to be a success.
One more thing before I go - it always seems that it takes GM a long time to respond and make changes on their vehicles. The sigma platform is supposed to be easily changeable, well show us that it is. It can be done. The G35 has been on sale since March and as of now there is a newly designed trunk lid. That is a short amount of time and Infiniti has already fixed what some had called a bad trunk lid design. just my thoughts.

richw5

Friends,

I can't believe all the postings over the weekend. Mcgreenx's list was excellent and everyone else's comments added to the discussion.
I only hope that someone from Cadillac reads the postings on this board. They need to listen to their most important marketing exec's, CTS owners.

Again, congratulations to sevenfeet0. Hope the CTS lives up to your expectations. We are more than pleased with ours. While the CTS is my wife's daily driver, it's become our car of choice for weekend shopping trips and drives to the country.

As for the question of oil changes, everything I've read about the oil change indicator (on Cadillac's)is that it's extremely accurate. I'll change my oil by the indicator unless it's been accidently reset. Then it's 3000 miles.

My Cadillac dealer's service department has been exceptional, considering I didn't buy either car there, so I would trust them if they suggested changing transmission or other fluids out of schedule. When I explained to them, that my STS was about to go out of warranty, they performed several thousand dollars worth of warranty work, without prompting. That's a good service department!

I saw two CTS's over the weekend and waved at each one. They returned the wave, so I was happy. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I was just having fun, after all, the CTS is a fun car to drive.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

Rich

sevenfeet0

My wife is currently driving the CTS from Atlanta to Nashville so I decided to catch her on the OnStar Personal Dialing phone, if anything for the novelty of it. She reports that the car is driving smoothly and she's having a great time. In our case, we've previously made this trip in her old car ('94 Ford Escort, basic, loud, no power) or rental Mercury Grand Marquis' (large, boring, not that fast, did I say large?).

Her only complaint is that she can't drive as fast as she wants since we're still in the break in period. This is a good thing since I think the black CTS is going to be bait for the state troopers! I have to figure out a way to permanently mount my Valentine 1 in this car. However, the distance she will travel this morning will bring the car up to 500 miles, to which we can push it a little harder going forward.

sevenfeet0

The new V6 should be very interesting. It'll also be the biggest resale problem for us "early adopters". I suppose Cadillac could keep the 3.2L V6 around as an entry level engine and save the 3.6L V6 as a option.

Automobile Magazine is reporting that the CTSv will be the LS6 'Vette engine that is rated at 350 HP, but insiders say it will really be closer to 400 HP (!). The transmission choices will be a six-speed manual or a 5 speed manu-matic (good for me and my long legs). They also said the price will be about the cost of a well optioned BMW M3. That's well north of $50K. Ouch.

They also talked about the SRX and had a spy picture of the interior. If it wasn't for the manu-matic (surrounded by a nice patch of wood), you'd be hard pressed to tell the interior from a CTS. The center stack looked identical. Couldn't tell what the gauge cluster looked like from the photo. Even the door sills looked identical, right down to the two-tone treatment. Of course, the car was a test mule, so things could change. They also said the car would be more softly sprung than the CTS with some off-roading capability (probably no better than the Acura MDX competition). It will get the 3.6L V6 and the 4.6L Northstar V8, which has already been discussed around here.

bigdaddycoats

I would really hope that they will not price the CTSv in that range. The CTS is a great car but still is behind in overall packaging than that of a M3 and thus should be priced accordingly. The modifications that the v will receive do not cost GM all that much to do - a GM executive told me that even though that is the case, it will be priced on the basis of "perceived value". Even though the V8 will not cost much more than the V6 to produce the perceived value increases the price. Did I explain what I am trying to say?

On the subject of price - I hope that the SRX is priced competitively with that of the MDX and the RX300 since that seems like it would be the main rivals.

As for the 3.2 in the current CTS I believe that motor is being phased out. I think the Saturn version is being replaced by a Honda motor and the CTS is getting the new 6 and I think in Eurpoe a new V6 is replacing this 3.0 Opel design.

And congratulation on your car. I hope that when the new 6 comes out I can afford one for myself.

sevenfeet0

Better known as "what the market will bear". I'm sure that BMW could sell its cars for less, but why bother when people are falling over themselves to pay premium rates?

The CTS has gone through two prices increases this year. The first was a base price increase; the second was the elimination of chrome wheels from the LuxSport package as a standard feature. And sales are still climbing. I've always thought that Cadillac needed to price themselves closer to the Infiniti G35 to make sure they soak up market share, but that doesn't seem to be GM's strategy. GM seems to want to price the car as a "BMW 5 series room for a 3 series price".

The CTSv will br priced in the M3 range, but if you compare it to an M5 ($70K+), it's a bargain. If Cadillac follows through with interior upgrades and an engine that gives the M5 a run for its money, then they may have something.

fjk57702

The base car was introduced @ $29990 and still is at that price I think. However, some of the optional equipment is more expensive.

necros

Just an FYI to anyone out there who cares. I have a base model CTS, which cuts off top speed at 124. After this weekend, on a trip down to New Mexico, at 1am, I now know what the top speed message says.

Do I win?

fav002

Nope, necros, I've got you beat at 135...

Hey, I'm going closed-course road racing this weekend at Waterford Hills. Check it out: http://www.waterfordhills.com/

I'll post pictures and maybe a vid after the weekend.

-FAV002

mannytranny

Hi Y'all,
Just had to have fun this weekend so I was just driving around near the drags strip. Never realizing that this was the Saturday that' grudge runs' as they are called were on, I just wanted a new schedule,so I decided on the spur of the moment to check it out. I was planning on September but that event was cancelled.

This was the day of the event ! After I paid the fees I went to TECH. All they wanted to do was have the centers of the wheels removed(as a precaution) so that they couldn't come off during a run. I told the tech that it was not easy to remove the centers so he just left them on. He did want to know why I was there. I said "for the fun of it".

I had no camera to record the event and no real time to do anything but get in lane #1. The stares were amazing. Some people just stopped to look at the car. One guy said that he would be watching my runs because he could tell his 'grandfather' who just bought a CTS, oh, well..

I was only in the lane for about 3 minutes when our lane was next to go. I did the first run with traction on, and shifts at near 3400 to get my feet wet so to speak. 17.81 and 78mph. (o.K. I missed third gear)

The second run was almost 45 minutes later. This one also had shifts at or about 3400 but I had traction OFF. 16.53 and 83.4mph. The third run was an hour and 10 minutes later. This time I shifted at redline but I should have not shifted into 4th but I figured one more try. This one was 16.3 and 86.4 mph.

Unfortunately there were no more runs because the track was closing in 30 minutes. Must get better in R/T as well.(.78)

Well, I had FUN, FUN, FUN, and even personel at the track were impressed. I think the techs and other racers didn't realize that it was a manual transmission car. After the runs the others in the lane gave me more recognition than before. I even got waves and smiles. Lane #2 that was aside even looked more closely at the car.

In the three runs I didn't red light but the cars in the other lanes did twice.

Just when it was getting good the track closed but I'm going back in two weeks (weather permitting).

I'll try to keep everyone posted.

I have to add that the CTS performed extremely well. When I had it at redline it felt like the car was gliding down the strip. I did feel that the single exhaust does hurt it though. It felt like it wanted to go more but was holding back.

Overall...JUST GREAT !

b4z

Sounds like fun!

It has been over 10 years since i have been to a dragstrip.

Looks like you might be able to squeeze into the 15's at around 88 mph.

My '87 IROC weighs 3400 lbs and has 215 hp. It's times were 15.5-15.8 secs @ 88-90 mph.

Fairly close to yours in mph. My camaro has killer torque but it lays down at 4800 rpms.

Have you thought about shifting about 500 rpms short of redline?

Looks like your trap speed is telling us that the CTS is actually producing 220 hp and Cadillac has not overrated the engine.

Let us what happens on your next trip down the quarter. We really need to get a CTS on the dyno too. Anybody up for that?

sevenfeet0

Here's proof that Cadillac has a little ways to go in changing their image. This isn't going to change with one car...

My wife was out driving the CTS today and called her sister. Her sister asked if she was on a speaker phone, and my wife said "Yes, I'm calling from our new car." Her sister asked "What kind?" and my wife replied "the Cadillac CTS".

Her sister then said, "You must feel like your 90 years old". My wife replied, "Nope! More like 25!"

dindak

Ya but most women don't know much about cars. My wife's friend thinks Toyota makes motorcycles and that Pontiac and Buick are separate car companies.

bigdaddycoats

As far as I can tell the chrome wheels are still part of the Luxsport package and the base price has remained the same since launch. Some packages and options have increased. Do you think the price will increase with the new 6? And I do agree that the CTS should be priced closer to the G35.
I find it interesting that the manual G35 coupe is the most expensive model. I imagine that pricing for the G35 manual sedan will be handled in the same manner. It is a unique pricing schedule that Infiniti is using with the G35 - more sport orientated content and a higher price for the manual vs. the automatic. Maybe it is a pricing model that GM should use with the CTS. Most people that opt for the manual in a CTS are doing so to get more of a sporty driving experience not a price break.
So here is my suggestion - price the manual CTS higher than the automatic but include a tighter suspension, bigger tires and unique wheels, better brakes and xenon lights and the rest of the luxsport package.
Has anyone noticed that the silver color is going to be replace by platinum? Same color or different?

mannytranny

Thanks for the great feedback. I did enjoy my day at the drags although I only got in the three runs. It's the most fun I've had in years with a car yet alone a CTS.

Why did you suggest shifting at 500 under redline?

akirby

Because shifting at redline isn't always the fastest. You want to keep the engine at max torque as much as possible so sometimes shifting early is the best way to do that. Depends on the torque curve of the engine and the gearing.

b4z

I am looking for that gm engine site but can't find it.
I was looking to see at what rpms does the CTS make max hp and torque.
My Camaro redlines at 5500 rpms but lays down at 4800 rpms.
Back in the '80s when IMSA and SCCA road racers were running Corvettes they shifted at 4400 rpms, which interestingly enough was where max hp was and it saved the engines for the endurance races.
A lot of times running a car up to redline just makes more noise and not any more acceleration.
That is evidenced by mannytranny's second run where he shifted at 3400 rpms but still went over 80 mph.

akirby

You also have to be mindful of how many shifts you're doing if you're looking at 0-60 or 1/4 mile times. For the 2000 Lincoln LS with the 3.31 rear gears you could hit 60 in 2nd gear (only one shift). Very early models came with a 3.58 rear which normally would give slightly better times but in this case it caused an extra shift to 3rd just prior to hitting 60 so the 0-60 time was either the same of slightly worse. So it's always a tradeoff.

fjk57702

I think that the CTS's gearing was carefully chosen to optimize the 0-60 and quarter mile times. Also to max the top speed. Some have moaned about wanting more of an overdrive, but the top speed is setup for 5th gear.

mannytranny

When I shifted at around 3400 on run # 2, I did notice that I got to 60' somewhat faster. The 1/8 mile was also faster comparing 10.62 to 10.67 sec.. But the speed at 1/8 mile was better at almost redline, almost 68 as compared to 65. It seems to me that it lost more after the 1/8 mile. Possibly because of my shift into 4th. I thought that the best torque was near 3400, maybe I'm wrong. That's why I shifted there first.

fjk57702

Max torque is at 3400, but max horsepower is at 6000. When you shift, the next gear should let the engine run at say 3400+ for best performance. So if you shift up at 3400, the engine will be running slower. Shifting in the 5-6000 range will probably give better performance. What you need is practice/experience.

mannytranny

Ah, yes.... I have not been to the drags for many years. I feel like I have the experience but I definitely need more practice.

When I get my return tries at the track, I hope that I can get more runs in. Part of the problem is that it is "open runs" so everyone and anyone gets there. Motorcycles are not as plentiful but there are many rails that are there and they eat up a lot of the time just staging. When I went years ago, the wait was about 20 minutes top and the fees were a lot less for even more time to get more runs.<p. I had hoped to experiment more but the time was gone so I'll wait . I believe there are only 2 more events this year and each one has higher fees than the previous one so I hope to get there earlier and hope for no rain.

mannytranny

Who would believe that we are talking about CTS Cadillacs.

I only wish that I could find another Cadillac in the area to race with/against. Double the fun!

The sales staff at the dealer saw the numbers on my car when I came home because I must pass by there on the way. They were curious enough to flag my in earlier today to ask if I really went to the drags. When I said "of course", they wanted to know my times and speed. They never had a Cadillac do anything like that before. Made their day! It's the talk of the dealership.

akirby

We have quite a few Lincoln LS owners autocrossing and getting the same reaction (they laugh until the see the times, then they get real curious), although I don't know if any are in PA. You could post in the guest forum at llsoc.ibforums.com and see if anybody's interested.

sevenfeet0

The chrome wheels are being stripped from the LuxSport package. It's already listed that way on Cadillac's website, although www.gmbuypower.com hasn't caught up yet. The chrome wheels now cost $750 MSRP (so I've been told by my dealer).

The Sterling color is being replaced by "Platinum" and one of the other colors is getting replaced too. The Dark Pewter interior color is being replaced by Ebony. I've was told by my dealer that the Sterling color was not considered dymanic enough and the dealers asked for a change.

And as for transmissions, historically automatic trannies were more complex and therefore cost more. But in the last 30 years, slushboxes have replaced manuals as the choice among most buyers. It's most likely down to the point where just the small numbers of manual transmission customers (5-10%) make that choice more expensive for the manufacturer. Yet they still charge more for the slushbox since they always have and people never question it.

Infiniti is unique in the fact that they are pricing their transmissions by true economics rather than a hidden price increase of MSRP. It would be nice if others would follow suit, but I wouldn't bet on it.

baron87

This has probably been going on for awhile, but I have begun to notice that many 16-18 year-old highschoolers in my area, Hinsdale/Burr Ridge/I.H.P., SW Suburbs of Chicago, seem to be driving what are either used Lexus ES300s, BMW 3-Series, even some M3s (gasp!), or their parents old(er) cars. To me an interesting trend...rather than their parents buying a new Camry for their use, or the like, they seem to be buying certified pre-owned luxury vehicles.

Certainly, I'm going to talk to my dad about getting a certified used CTS, or comparable, instead of the planned purchase of something like the new Grand Prix, or a Camry. Im sure one could get a CTS for a fairly reasonable price a year from now. Ah, the excitement is building...

...especially, since an SRX or Escalade is probably headed our way this spring. I'm already getting giddy; there are four new models arriving in 2003!! The ESV, XLR, SRX, and V-Series CTS!! Wow...can't wait.

bigdaddycoats

My guess would be that total cost of a manual transmission coming from Nissan/Infinit is much lower than the cost of one offered by GM. For the simple fact that Nissan/Infiniti has a wider range of vehicles available with a manual. In Europe I think I read that something like 90% of cars have manuals. So, I would seem that GM could use this knowledge to develop manual transmission for use in the states at a reasonable price?
The CTS has sold well so far, I am curious as to how well this trend will continue early in to next year when consumers know that a stronger 6 is on its way?
I have been a GM fan for a long time and I hope that they can really start to give us products that people want. They have started on the right direction and I hope it just gets better.

sweetjeldorado

Don't forget about the 500+ hp 7.5 liter V12 and 6-speed autos with technology ahead of its time in higher end Cadillacs also.

J "CaddyLac"

bigdaddycoats

What exactly is closed course racing? Is it a timed event with just you running around the track? How do you get to do it? Can anybody go this weekend, with any car? Sounds like it would be fun. Hope you have a blast!

mcgreenx

Got the fuel filler hose kink straightened out and can refuel with ease now. They even put in five gallons of fuel testing it. But I kinda liked having a "kinky" car. As I mentioned, I got a new DeVille for a loaner and was that ever an eye-opener. I was ecstatic when I got my CTS back. I "had" to drive to a meeting yesterday, about 150 miles round trip, and I think I've fallen in love with the CTS. It's a dream to drive, especially after a day in the LandYacht. I'm happier than ever that I opted for the CTS and for the LuxSport. BTW, the DeVille had no dimmer on the visor mirror light, and only one door lock, so I have to take those two items off of my "nitpick" list. I still would like a dimmer, but at least Cadillac is an equal-opportunity cost-cutter, not just chiseling on the CTS. My other annoyances still stand, but the thing I find I am missing the most is the variable lumbar support. While the CTS seats are comfortable, after about an hour it would be nice to be able to adjust the back pressure point. A mechanical adjuster couldn't be too expensive, could it?

I wrote a while back about my dead battery, and have a theory about what happened. It hasn't recurred, and the battery checks out OK, no bad cell. The auto-cutoff, I think Caddy calls it the "Battery Saver," is working, I was happy to learn. After listening to the radio for about ten minutes with the ignition off, the power cut off. However, the owner's manual says that if you turn on the headlights after the ignition is turned off, the Battery Saver won't operate. The lights will stay on indefinitely. While I don't recall turning on the lights after turning off the switch, nor do I recall that the light switch was "on" after I got a battery jump, that's the only scenario I can come up with that would account for a dead battery, given the fact that the battery checks out, the Battery Saver cutoff is working, and the problem hasn't recurred.

On another subject, I can't understand why the CTS is always compared to the Bimmer 3 Series, and not the 5. I have to drive an American marque for business reasons, so the issue is academic to me, I am not a BMW prospect, but the CTS and the 5 are almost identical in size, and while I think the 5 is (for now) the superior car, it is also $10K more. Comparing the CTS to the 3 is like comparing avocados and artichokes, IMHO. Or is it peaches and cream? Whatever. Just my $.02.

johnnylinc

The reason the car rags compare the CTS to the 3-series is simple: Price. The Civic-sized 3-series sedan (as well as the Merc C-class) costs more than a comparably-equipped CTS, so the "experts" lump them together. The problem is that the CTS is never, ever given credit for its superior interior room, storage space, and longer wheelbase, nor are the safety aspects of a larger car ever mentioned. Comparing cars of similar size, rather than similar price, makes too much sense, so it probably won't happen.

b4z

I walked to school when I was 16-18. LOL.

akirby

Caddy is not on the bleeding edge of engine and tranny technology. The S-type and 745i already have a 6-speed auto in production. And I don't see a V12 powered Caddy or 6-speed auto on any dealer lots. It can't be "ahead of it's time" if it's not here yet.

Note that I'm not saying that they're behind, just that they're not way ahead of everyone else.

akirby

I don't think what you experienced with the radio is the battery saver. I think you have delayed accessory power just like the LS. The radio, windows and other controls will work for 10 minutes after the ignition is turned off or until the door is opened. Check your owner's manual. The battery saver feature should take a lot longer than 10 minutes to activate. I had it on my 1995 Ford Ranger pickup.

cartesio

You are quite right about the 6-speeds. Also, Jaguar 2003 S-types now have six-speed transmissions, and you can get an S-type of 400 hp!
CTS is still a remarkably beautiful and impressive car...