Cadillac CTS/CTS-V

regfootball

its good news but now they are talking 2005 which is still a while away.

peccles

Would be nice if they offered magnetic ride
control as an option in the '05 MY or maybe
later in the '04 MY.

tomcat630

In story after story, the CTS is called a 'success' and 'turnaround car' for Cadillac. In early posts in this forum there were alot of "the car will flop".

What do they say now?

eaton53

Read the Bose reviews... they are quite an eye opener.

calicadi

missouri2 - So far I haven't located any aftermarket air elements that are replacement for stock. K&N and Accel have both said theirs are coming. Who knows when, given that most drivers will seek dealer service in the early years at least, therefore aftermarket demand is low. That said, there are alternatives but these would require some rework. Check out the Lund Cadillac site and see if they still have those pictures up of their Volant Cold Air Induction System. Also, check out this picture;
   http://www.urbanracer.com/gallery/gallery/event_coverage/miscella- neous/import_fest_12-7-02/car_show/0128.jpg

As to DualEx, haven't seen any posts from anyone who has installed. Question: How much of the benefit of dual-ex is negated by retaining the stock intake and its' extra weight?

Yes necros, I'd be interested in a Borla deal. Fortunately, there are Borla shops in my area. I wonder though what the Vogue system is using. Maybe Borla? I'm taking mine in for the steering check and an oil change tomorrow or Wed. I'll quiz the dealer and see what they know. What tires did you wind up getting anyway? And don't be too hard on yourself off the track. You're still the fastest Cadillac there right?

b4z

I guess the only poster taller than me is sevenfeet0. I sat in a CTS today and didn't have too much of a problem getting comfortable. Enough legroom and headroom with the seat all the way down and rocked back.

The problem is the windshield header. It is low and a little close. If I were the first car in line at a stoplight i don't see how I would be able to see an overhead light without leaning forward and craning my neck.

Anybody got any experience with this?
Do you get used to it?

By the way the black interior is very nice.

mannytranny

See what happens when you're #2 on the thread.You get messages like #2447.

b4z

#2447 is a positive post, or am I misreading it?

sevenfeet0

Very positive. The CTS is an unqualified success for Cadillac. I'm even starting to see a fair number of them on the road in Nashville.

sevenfeet0

Well, now we know what Pmdriver meant by "the manual situation isn't as dire" as we were speculating in this forum. I was thinking to myself "if Cadillac really wanted to drop the manual in everything but the CTSv, why keep the 3.2L V6 around?"

What probably happened is that the 3.6L V6 is ready, but the manual for it probably wasn't. The existing 5 speed manual probably doesn't have the torque for the new engine, or there could be other mating issues. But the 3.6L will get a *six* speed in 2005. Die hards who want to row their own gears and not pay for a CTSv will still be able to get their car, despite the smaller engine. It's not the best of situations right now, but hey, it beats the situation at Lincoln. Nice to see that Cadillac's committment to manual transmissions is still strong.

Anyone want to place bets on whether a 2005 STSv might get a 6 speed? Hey, if you want to challenge the M5, ya gotta bring the goods...

sevenfeet0

My legs are longer than my upper torso. But I still have to contort my seat into a pretty ridiculous position for a normal driver. My seat is reclined so far back, it qualifies for "gangsta lean" status. But it allows my head to be just under the headliner. No one regularly sits behind me, which is a good thing. :-)

If I'm at a stoplight where I have a poor angle of vision (which doesn't happen as often as you think), I just peer up through the sunroof and check the light that way. That has solved my stoplight problems.

bigdaddycoats

for all 2003 GM models for 60 months - very aggressive. I would imagine that CTS sales for April will be very strong.

rwisem

http://www.detnews.com/2003/insiders/0304/01/insider-124694.htm

mannytranny

Thanks for the link rwisem! Just more good news. Seems to get better and better.

dindak

I wish they had that up here. Only 48 month 0% rates for us and not on all vehicles either.

Saw a used CTS in the paper last night at a local dealer. No mileage given (so it must be bad) but it was listed at C$33,995, about C$7K under MSRP.

b4z

Excellent article that sums up CTS' last year and it's future.
Looking forward to seeing what the new 17" wheels will look like.

One thing that needs to be cleared up is whether this engine wil have 255hp or 260hp.

sevenfeet0

"GM says the output of the most powerful variant of the new engine family will exceed 370bhp, with torque in excess of 350lb ft."

Hmmmm.....apparently lots of room for improvement.

jemiller

A few highlights from the Autospeed article I posted a little while back (looks like it may only be available to subscribers now http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_1676/article.html - got lots of pix of bare blocks, cam timing actuators, etc):

2.8-4.0L displacement range (latter with spray-bore coating replacing liners)

3.6 is nicely oversquare at 94x85.6mm.

"Possible" future variants including direct-injection and 2.8/3.2L turbocharged versions.

Stepless variable cam timing with a 50-crank-degree range, roller follower valvetrain.

Dual-stage variable-resonance intake.

Engine-mounted "micro-hybrid" Bosch ME9 ECU.

Head and block sand-cast 319 aluminum with iron liners cast into the block. Forged 1038V-alloy steel crank. "Sinterforged" (I'll have to look that one up - do they mean sintered, then hammered, or do they mean sintered-at-really-high-pressure?) steel rods.

Cast-aluminum structural oil pan, snout-mounted gerotor oil pump.

Hey, a BMW-style top-mounted replaceable-element oil filter canister! Love those mess-free five-minute oil changes.

b4z

Until April 30.

On all Cadillacs, 0% up to 60 months!!

bigdaddycoats

4588 CTS sold in March. I imagine April sales will be much higher with 0%. Cadillac was up 16% in March.

wwhite2

I will consider trading in my CTS 5spd for the 3.6 6 spd in 2005 ! That's if the CTS-V is priced out of my reach

mannytranny

wwhite2 Just my idea also!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tablanke

I took my CTS into the dealer for the recall check and 6000 mile oil change (10% life remaining). I also asked them to check out the problem of the time difference between the digital and analog. To my surprise, the clocks now match in time!

The service report says, "Technician discharged clock capacitors. Technician reconnected battery, reset clock, performs to OEM specifications".

Don't know how long the fix will last, but at least there is a fix.

richm4

I was actually hoping for Cash Back instead of 0%. Although 0% for 48 or 60 months is pretty impressive if you're financing.

Does anyone think the low rates will translate into any special leasing incentives?

b4z

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forum/index.php?s=96c831dce7e4ae9175b- - fbcd2b40589e1&act=ST&f=6&t=888&st=0&#entry698- - 9

dindak

I think you can get $3000 cash back in lieu of the 0%

b4z

Don't think there is $3000 cashback on the CTS.

mannytranny

Thanks for the list info!

As to # 2447, I thought it was positive but due to being #2 on the thread ,I figured there would be more comments made. I guess that this one was a transient never to return.

eaton53

"GM says the output of the most powerful variant of the new engine family will exceed 370bhp, with torque in excess of 350lb ft."

Wow.... I wonder where THAT is going to go??

mannytranny

Just saw a used CTS manual base model MSRP $30,450. No options on it. The dealer has it selling for $27,000.
   Has 4,630 miles , two tone interior , silver color.I really expected more of a drop in price from what was mentioned in previous posts.
     The dealer calls it a CTS sport model. I asked why and the salesman said that it had a manual trans so it became the sport model. I asked what it would be called with an auto in it. He replied , "luxury". He said that's the way it always is!

bingoman

So much for another car salesman who doesn't know what he is talking about. Not unusual, but I would have expected better of a Cadillac salesman.

dindak

I'm pretty sure you get either $2000 or $3000 cash back on the CTS also.

b4z

On the media.gm site there is no mention of cashback for Cadillac.

http://www.media.gm.com/

Go to "pricing" then to "April 2003 Incentives"

oldsman01

How things change in a matter of days, now Cadillac is saying a 6 speed will be offered with the 3.6 in 05. So maybe, I should go ahead and lease a CTS now for 36 months and then see what I want to do in 3 years as it looks like Cadillac will have a tempting array of cars then. Oh, 0% financing for 60 months is now being offered? Hmmm, anyone know how close to invoice GMS pricing is on a CTS? As my Intrigue sits in the shop again, I'm really itching for a new car.

b4z

CTS is the only car that GM has that
embodies the spirit of what the Intrigue was and could have been.
A sporty sedan with European intentions.
Like I said in a previous post, the Impala may disappear in July or August.
It will be replaced by a blue 3.6L auto with minimal options.

wwhite2

Go for it you wont be sorry

MannyTranny dont rely on that post about 5 spds having poor resale . He doesnt have any solid basis to make those remarks and simple research proves otherwise and REMEMBER the 5 spd costs 1250.00 less than the automatic and is much more fun !!!

loyaltogm1

Seems like each time I buy a car, a month later GM comes out with a better financing deal!!! 0% for 60. Maybe I will get lucky one time and get the financing deal!! I guess I should have waited 4 weeks!! But I had to have that CTS!!!

oldsman01

I just hope the CTS is built better than the Intrigue. Judging from the forum, it seems to be as there have been relatively few recurring problems. Reading back through old posts in the Intrigue forum, nearly everyone was having the same problems when the car first came out. Even later models(like mine) still had alot of common problems. Blue is my first CTS color choice too. Saw one in that color last week and it was sharp. BTW, local dealer has 3 base(automatics) CTSs in stock. None in blue though.

richm4

Oh well, I lost $1500 in cash back ($1000 loyalty + $500 master card bonus) by waiting past March 31. Since I was planning on paying cash, 0% doesn't do me that much good when my cash is getting less than 1% in the money market.

Although, I guess spreading out the payments through 48 months dulls the pain a little.

jemiller

If Holden decides to compete head-to-head with Ford, it'll go in a Commodore/Monaro to compete with the Ford Falcon XR6 and its 320HP turbo 4-liter 6. Right now the top-of-the-heap Aussie sedans are V8s of 385-400HP.

I'd love to see it in a four-wheel-drive next-generation Saab 9-5. I'd love to have an excuse to buy another Saab, but the power levels one sees at the top of that segment in the US these days do not work with FWD.

oldsman01

What do you think of the new Saab 9-3? Right now I'm torn between the CTS and the 9-3. I've never really liked Saabs in the past but the new 9-3 is sharp. And it offers alot for the money. It doesn't help the same dealer sells Cadillacs and Saabs so I can sample both in one stop. Part of me says go with a CTS but part of me says try something different(I've always owned American marques)with a 9-3 lease then do a CTS once the more powerful versions are available.

jemiller

I've been in a new 9-3, but haven't yet driven one. It's a smaller car, which may be good or bad depending on what you're looking for. It's front-drive, which for me is a negative. And - this applies to both the CTS and the 9-3 - there's only one automaker from whom I'd buy a new model in its first year of production, and that's Toyota.

The aesthetics of the 9-3 are opposite-poles from the CTS - the shape is smooth almost to blandness, the interior is all soft curves and very Euro-conventional, but the materials are better quality and more solid.

Back in the '80s I used to say that Saab (or pretty much any of the top-tier Euro makes) spent more on one seat than any US manufacturer spent on an entire interior. Some Detroit models have improved on that front, but the gap hasn't been closed completely.

sonjaab

CTS has 0% interest for 60 months only. No cash
back...........
GMS (General Motors Stock) price for GM employee
or family is below invoice. Not to be confused with General Motors Supplier price which is higher.
Rich ...called the Caddy dealer on that $299 mth.
lease deal. Base , stick....36 mths..12 miles yr.
$29xx down plus tax & tags. I can get it with GM
discount for $250 mth. I hate leasing ...rather wait for the V-8 and buy it!...........geo

sonjaab

My sister is turning in her troublesome leased BMW x-5 and coming back to the fold so to speak and gonna lease a Saab 9-3. They are running a $299 mth. lease on those too. I said get a CTS !
She just looks down her nose at American iron !
I say NOTHING when I pick her up at the BMW dealer
in my Caddy when she makes ANOTHER warranty repair
trip!........LOL......................geo

b4z

Why not finance for 60 months since it is 0%?
You can put the difference in the bank.

If you borrowed 20K it would lower you payment by
$83month.

sevenfeet0

Doesn't your sister realize that Saab has been owned by GM for the past several years?

A have a friend who bought a 325i a couple years ago, but ditched it due to the frequent trips for repair. And even normal maintenance trips are cheap at BMW.

b4z

$3-400 every time you take one in. No exceptions.
Saabs aren't any better.

BMW=Broke Man's Wallet

sonjaab

Thats why I said "back to the fold"...LOL.....
She can lease that saab for around $250 with the GM employee deal too.
Her and her husband always have a flavor of the day vehicle ! She has had a few BMWs....$$$$$$$ Always something pricey to fix. No wonder they always lease.
Her 318 & 325? ragtops were fun to drive tho !
BRO-in law always cries that a PM stop for his MB
or BMW cost as much as one of his dump trucks !!

jemiller

Y'know, it's funny how different people have different results or perhaps different expectations.

We've got two BMWs and a Saab (70K, 28K, and 150K miles respectively) right now, and so far as I can tell the people who have cost problems with maintaining them are people who know little about their cars and will take what the dealer tells them as gospel - and the dealers, whether GM, BMW, or anyone else, are more than happy to take advantage of this situation.

In my experience, BMW parts pricing in particular has been surprisingly reasonable if you're prepared to look around for the right sources. Certainly no worse than Ford or Toyota. Ford, in particular, appears to be cutting its parts inventories to the point that some parts seem to go NLA within five years after the vehicle goes out of production - and the one thing worse than an expensive part is no part at all.

sonjaab

You are so right about that ! It kills me that they run to the dealer for everything ! On a leased car no less! If I had a leased one the only thing I would do is change the oil. But they insist on bringing them to the dealer for that genuine $100 dollar oil change or $$$ PM service.
Me: Any $19.95 GM dealer or oil change place is just fine. Or if its a non-warranty covered repair the little repair shop up the street is
just fine for a tune-up or brakes at 1/2 of what a dealer would charge.......................geo

BTW: Local BMW and Benz shop gets 90 bucks hour labor...GM dealer gets 55........Little shop 35.... MUst be the overhead.