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We had the gas-tank sensor fail on our '97 Lumina about a year ago. The repair was like $1,000...and the car was, of course, out of warranty. So my father wrote a letter to GM, eventually conversed via telephone to the director of customer service for Chevrolet Motor Div., and had GM write us a check for about half the repair cost. That made the difference right there in whether we'd purchase a Camry or another Chevy to replace the Lumina...
http://www.gminsidenews.com/
Scroll about halfway down the page.
Just for some perspective, she drives a '00 Maxima SE (loaded) and he drives a '99 M-B E430 Sport. They are long-time foreign car customers. My Mom's lease is up next month, so at my urging they went to see the CTS.
SHE LOVED IT. She is completely head over heals for the CTS. She said it feels "tight" in the steering and handling, something that was missing from domestics she had driven before. She is going to put a deal together for a White Diamond/Neutral car with the luxury pkg. Don't think she'll spring for the lux sport...she doesn't really need it. I am so thrilled...can't wait to get my hands on that car!
It's interesting your mother went for the car. My wife considers the styling "very masculine", but yet she loves it anyway. But I'm sure your folks (and therefore you) will have a good time with your new purchase.
Im going to stop by and look a dealer lot over tonight. preliminary homework phase started.
As far as exterior colors, I chose black. The car looks great in this color but it's so hard keeping a black car clean. The dark blue color is nice too, but the same rules apply regarding keeping it clean. The pearl white color has been a favorite staple at Cadillac for several years now. It's nice without being "rental car white". I've seen lots of Caddies in this color over the years, but I haven't seen a CTS yet.
I attached the hose to the valve and drilled a hole in the plastic tool carrier and used a short piece of a plastic valve cape as a nut to hold it in place. What an improvement for maintaining the spare. I did the same thing to my wife's Honda.
By the way, I just passed 10,000 miles on my White Lux Sport. It is running great. Only two problems that I can think of, a clunk when I go over a particularly sharp dip, (it may actually be a seat belt latch or some other loose item in the car, I haven't yet localized it) and the radio automatic volume control which reduces the volume to a whisper when I come to a stop, such as a traffic light.
As to the color, the White Diamond is holding up better than I expected. It remains relatively clean looking for quite a long period under normal city driving here in L.A.
Maybe we can add the CTS to the list of GM cars that have intermediate steering shaft problems?
If you want to feel particularly good about GM, and the CTS in particular, check out the Lexus ES300 board. Looks like the people plunking down $35,000 for the Camry, er, I mean ES300, have quite a little transmission problem on their hands that Lexus won't own up to.
Kind of makes the CTS fuel fill problem seem like small potatoes...
rbenavides- Like bingoman I have a Diamond White LuxSprt. Also in an urban area, NorCal vice his SoCal, it holds up well. It's garaged and I use my California Duster, before I take it out, to remove any dust, fine dirt and pollution residue. That way any moisture in the air (I'm right on San Francisco Bay) won't glue that crude to the surface. I have only seen Orange, White, Silver, Blue and Black on the road here. Just my opinion but it seems the angular lines of the exterior don't stand out as much on the darker cars. The neutral interior is just that...neutral. I would have preferred a lighter shade like in my old Seville. The wood trim and pewter sections of dash and door panels provide some break to for the eyes. Frankly, I'm too focused on what's going on in traffic around me to pay much attention to the color. It only when I get to step back and just look at it parked that I appreciate the color.
This is my second defect, the first being the easily repaired twisted fuel filler hose.
BTW, I've used the OnStar several times for finding destinations and making a restaurant reservation. (I tried one year of the second level, whatever it's called.) I'm not convinced it's worth the money, but it's really convenient when you need it. I still can't get used to how quickly and accurately they know where you are. Even the Virtual Advisor locator is uncanny.
Also, after 3000 miles I'm getting about 21.5 mpg in city/expressway/highway driving. How does that compare to others?
My only advice is to "Pick the color that appeals to you"! That's all that matters. After you drive the CTS, the color will be second to the driving fun. Personally, I like red.
As far as fun goes, last night we had to drive my step-son to Bloomington, Illinois. It's about a 380 mile round trip from our house. The CTS was rock solid at 85 mph. Had a chance to hit 110 mph for a short distance, but drizzle and road construction kept us to 80 to 85 mph for most of the trip.
I did have a problem though. As I turned off I55 for gas, I hit a bump on the ramp and the "Service Stability System" message came on. I hit the OK button and when we got back on the road, everything was normal (no return of the message). I told my wife that if the message came back, I'd pick up the car at her work and take it to the dealer for service.
Calicadi - My wife's perspective is pretty much the same as mine. She loves how her CTS handles and constantly tells her sons about how much fun it is to drive. Marie has never been vain, but I think she takes pride when friends and co-workers comment about her car. At 5'2", she feels that the car was made for her. Unlike me, she has never liked the "Big Old Boats" of the 50's and 60's. Now if only they could make carpets that would stay clean, the CTS would be perfect, in her eyes.
Rich
The CTS got 22 mpg on our last trip to Springfield, IL (this past spring) with high winds and rain. The return trip (no rain or winds) gave us 27.7 mpg.
Also, our gas milage seems to be directly proportional to the sum of the BMW's that are next to me at stop lights. I know if the CTS were less fun to drive, the milage would go up.
Rich
I am getting about 21.5 average mpg, that's mostly city driving with some highway.
I now have 4200 miles on CTS and no major problems or concerns. Had oil change done at 3000 miles and got to check out the entire under-carriage. Quite clean and impressive!
Our local dealer has 5 CTSs in stock as of today, 4 autos and 1 manual. There is someone testing driving the manual later today. The sales staff figures that it's sold. It's blue with the sport package. I'm still waiting to see the new black interior but there are none here yet. The copper one is the first one that I've seen but it's not for me. All of the others are white. The prices are still holding with no great discounts necessary to sell CTSs.
I still love my black CTS and I think it's just a great driving experience every time I get in and go...go...go.
They are also saying it will spin to 7800 rpms which I feel is just flat out bad information.
This is from the SEMA show.
certainly it won't make (ex:) 395hp @ 7800 rpms.
The Z06 Vette not only doesn't make it's hp at that rpm it doesn't even go to 7800 rpms.
Afterall, it is a pushrod engine.
I am doubtful redline is past 6500-6800 rpms.
According to autoweek.com carnews.
Tried to post the link but is is greater than 115 characters.
"Let's start with Cadillac's V-Series
As Cadillac works to reestablish itself at the pinnacle of the global luxury field, explosive but refined performance is one of the "must haves" for true credible "player" status. That's what every V-Series vehicle will provide - a true rush, but delivered in a sophisticated, dynamic and uniquely Cadillac way.
We teased you in August with a sketch of the soon-to-be Cadillac CTS V-Series the first in a new line of high-performance luxury vehicles. You'll get to see this vehicle in the flesh early next year. When you do, you'll see V-8 power that will approach 400 horsepower, a six-speed close ratio manual box, 18-inch rubber and a look that's all business."
Has anyone noticed that Buick and GMC aren't getting performance versions? No more Regal T-types are due...at least, not yet.
I have the LuxSport and have driven in rain with no problems. That means no skids under normal conditions. I've driven a Catera with traction control on snow with pretty good control, so I would expect very good control with stabilitrak II, which, unfortunately is only available with the LuxSport option.
Buick and SLP Engineering are going to
produce a Regal based GSX soon.......
oldsman01 I've thought about the antenna, and it's a possibility, but the fact that the problem has advanced from a mild fuzziness, to significant "detuning," to no AM sound whatsoever, except slight reception when the radio is first turned on, suggests to me that there is an electronic component that has failed/is failing. I should know more in a day or two.
If it were 3.0 litres or less it would be different.
If they did design it to go to 7800 rpms it would make more than 400 hp.
I understand there is a DOHC version of this engine in the works.
But i don't think it is scheduled to come out next model year.
I feel that he is wrong about this. And meant 6800 rpms or even less.
rbenavides: No K&N filter yet. I've been watching, and expect one soon, but nothing so far. Interestingly, their application guide lists the Cavalier under Cadillac. Is that some kind of snub?
If not, why do Nascar engines go over 9000? I don't think the number is a mistake and can't wait to see that engine. Maybe it'll shut up all the DOHC snobs out there. Even if you never exceeded 5800 rpm, just knowing it was capable of high revs would be cool!
And they've been going out of their way to tease us on this issue. Hmmmm....
hp engine that needs to meet emmissions standards and provides good driveability.
Ever heard a NASCAR motor idle? rumpeta rumpeta.
All kinds of valve overlap.
How much does a NASCAR motor cost 40-50K or more?
If this engine truly does spin to 7800 rpms then it must not be a LS6.