By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
I would assume a CTS-V would have few options. It looks like the Nav system is a likely option since it wasn't featured in the show cars, but there's always time to change that decision. I haven't seen pictures of a sunroof with the current prototypes either, so that might be another option. Otherwise the car will probably cost no more than $53K-$54K fully loaded, which is what Cadillac insiders predicted when they said a CTS-V would cost about the same as a fully loaded M3. This assumes of course that a dealer doesn't try to install a carriage roof or something else silly on this car (and I wouldn't put it past some dealers).
This is probably competitive pricing considering you get a completely different drivetrain from the normal CTS (engine, transmission), a new dash cluster and those expensive Brembos. It's s shame there won't be a automanual for the time being since they could probably sell a lot more of these cars than the 2500 or so they expect to move.
As for the floor mat tips, I'll have to keep them in mind. My original intent was to wear out the original factory mats and buy a new set in the darker charcoal color. I'd like to meet the genius that designed the CTS's two-tone interior and made the decision to use the light grey color for the carpet
I too cringe when I think of anyone else washing my black CTS. The only good news is the guy who does the washing at my Dealership is a longtime friend and fellow car enthusiast. But in the past one fellow messed up my Deville's aluminum wheels with some spray cleaner. Never could restore it to it's original look. Was I upset!
My CTS has the Dark Pewter interior, which I really like. An all black interior would be preferred, but it's OK. Like you, I'm contemplating buying a V series in a few years. I will not make the same "mistake" I made last time: keeping a new car 12 years and out of warranty. These new cars are just too hi-tech to run around without a bumper-to-bumper warranty for our protection. Any failure can be a big ticket expen$e. The car will be out of warranty in 4 years, so unless I buy an extended warranty, I think I'll trade it in for a newer model CTS (as you say, if I'm wealthy enough!). We'll have to see what GM does with this new exciting car line.
Under stand the 2003 CTS has a 1970 filter similar to compressed straw to keep the bugs out of the cockpit.
The 2003 Impala has a K11 Air Filtration System-includes pollen filter and the 2004 XLR has the same filter.
Unless the 2004 CTS has a PROPER air filter guess I will buy an Impala as I need a pollen filter. Can not afford a XLR.
Send your comments to GM so they can install one in 2004.
Berry
My 2003 has an air filter for the interior of the car. I do not think it's straw based filter. From the Owner's Manual, I think it's similar to the engine's air filter (a rectangular .5" thk paper "picture frame" style filter). My car's interior has stayed very clean so far. The Manual says to change it every 15,000 miles. My '91 Deville didn't have any filter so this is a big improvement. Cadillac HAS to have an equal or better filter than the Impala. That's the way the GM pecking order works. I'll look further into this...
I suspect that the CTS-V will be alot like the Impala SS of the '90's. The first year was Black only, then as it caught on, other colors were added. Cadillac will be watching how popular it is. It should be noted that when I say "popular" I mean SALES, not just people's positive comments. If enough people ask for Blue, they'll add it.
https://www.mygmlink.com/main/US/en/cadillac/intlink?inturl=/pdf/- go2content/manual/US/en/cadillac/2003cts.pdf
Personally, from one allergy sufferer to another...I don't think it makes that big of a difference whether your car has a pollen filter or not. The pollen is still going to get you when you exit/enter the car. I wouldn't base a car buying decision on that one feature alone although it IS a nice feature and does seem to help while driving.
Rich
Over the course of my lifetime, I've had 6 red (variations of) cars, 3 black, 1 green, 1 blue, 1 white and 1 chestnut color car. Most were dark colors and showed dirt. I still loved each one.
My current black car looks like a "black mirror" when it's freshly washed and waxed. Still my wife loves our Diamond White CTS and that's all that matters.
So if I had the cash to buy a new CTS today, I would have a hard time picking a color.
berrycherry - automole is correct, the interior air filter and running the airconditioner is the only thing that helps my allergies in the spring.
Rich
Was side- swiped the other day going uphill after completing a 90º turn and I saw the other car skidding coming down at me from the side. The road was lightly wet. I guickly swerved but too late and no where really to go. From the sound of the impact I thought the damage was going to be even more. Caught the area just at the bottom of the rear door, across the wheel and into the back fender. The wheel is being replaced because it has a gouge and several deep scratches. The rest of the damage is mostly cosmetic but will require body work and painting. Because of the color BLACK it will need a greater area to be blended in.
The other driver( 1990 Grand AM ) didn't have insurance when I asked for the info. Went inside the car , used ONSTAR to get the police to respond. Onstar pinpointed the spot( two lane rural road ) and the township police were dispatched to the scene. I told Onstar that everyone was O.K. and no need to stay on the line. Thank you Onstar! And to think that I was debating about keeping Onstar. I am definitely going to renew.
No airbags never deployed. I don't know if they impact wasn't enough to set any off or the DELAY mode was in effect. (I have an early build CTS )I don't think any airbags were necessary but the police did ask if any bags opened.
On another note...........I want to see a CTS V in person. I think that $45-$50,000 should be the top. Cadillac wants to make it appeal to more and newer buyers, then this works, especially for me! After seeing the pics, I want the black and of course, the awesome manual transmission!!!!!!!!
Went to dealer last year and they didnt know if it had one or if it could be changed. It does not show in any Cadillac Model info but the 2003 Impala does and the XLR. Guess Cadillac is behind on paper work, or maybe it was added later.
Berry
Guests will be the Cadillac Sixteen, Cadillac Cien, XLR and SRX.
I'll be there.
Rich
The Impala SS happened 'by accident', and only because there was virtually no engineering and no development costs involved - a few parts from the cop-car bin and a set of wheels and that's about it. It may have been a bit better than a basic Caprice, but it wasn't particularly fast.
The CTSv has some serious development and engineering behind it, there's real content in it. That also means that GM has to ask real money for it.
Suprised to see the analog clock replaced with a analog temperature gauge. I guess if they can't sync the digital and analog clock - they get rid of the analog clock!
I also have a black CTS car and I just love driving it. I'm glad to see that you got the gauge instead of the clock as in the earlier models. For a first year car, it has had some minor inconveniences. If I had to do it all over again, I would definetely buy this car. I especially love weekends when I can drive on rural roads on the way to visit my brother. The car handles just so well.
Hope you will enjoy your new drive. Any options other than the lux pkg.?
Congrats!! What's the manufacture date on your CTS? (See sticker on driver's door.) Mine is Feb03 and it has two clocks.
For all the clock watchers:
My two clocks have stayed in sync so far... They both were exactly 10 minutes slow one day, but somehow they both corrected and caught up when I wasn't looking. I was driving when my wife noticed that the digital clock was 10 minutes slow. I checked the analog clock and noticed that it had exactly the same time (10 minutes slow). I thought "I'm gonna have to pull out the owner's manual", but forgot to do it when I got home. The next time we drove the car, both clocks had corrected and were in sync. I would chalk this up to an error/misperception on my part, if my wife hadn't been along and noticed it too. I think I read somewhere that the digital clock can correct itself based on a radio timing signal. Perhaps that is what happened.
Went to the dealer today to order the dual exhaust system, $750 installed. Takes two or three weeks to get the parts. So I'll have it done the last week of May. I think they have to change the lower portion of the rear bumper to accommodate the pipes, and I forgot to ask if that's included in the total. If not, it's too late, I'm going for it. The CTS looks nice with dual pipes.
Noticed a small problem just the other day with the diversity antenna. The double sided tape melts when it gets hot out. In my area this is probably going to be an on going problem, because it gets really hot here. The dealer advised me not to fix it myself, but if it becomes a recurrent issue, I won't have time to take it in every time, huumm. So far, only the inside has losened. Has anyone else experienced this?
Heck it's not even summer yet, and we are in the low 80's. The inside of the car gets much warmer, especially in the middle of summer. It can get up to 160 degrees in a parked car.
fav002: Really nice pics of the CTS. Very professional shots.
BTW, one of the salespersons told me that the 04 CTS will be in the showroom Aug 03. Not sure if this is fact or fiction after reading all the other post.
Speaking of color, last night on the Las Vegas Strip, I saw a two tone (maybe jade and silver, but difficult to tell in the dark) CTS. It had California plates I didn't know they offered a two tone. Not that I would get one, it's just not listed in the color options. Must be a West Coast thing.
thebug...
Read all I could about the CTS here and took it for a test drive at the dealers... absolutely loved it!!! Bought it after a week of haggling over the price, got it at 0%. Just signed today!!!
My CTS [feels great to say that
Base 2003, White diamond with light neutral interior, automatic.
Can't wait for the delivery next week and take it out around town for a spin...
Hope to participate in this forum more often from now on and have something to contribute.
Surely, I will be taking it out for a long trip this summer and put it to the test...
Any experiences, advice would be much appreciated.
Megh
Look forward to hearing more from you about your great new car.
As far as warranty extensions, I guess it matters on how long you keep the car and how many miles you put on it. My trade in vehicle when I bought the CTS was 9 years old but had only 42,000 miles on it.( 4700 miles a year) Come to think of it my new CTS already has 7100 miles and I had it for 10 months. Hmmmmmm!
I have only purchased one (against my best thinking) becaused the vehicle was used. Encountered one high dollar situation (with a deductible) during the period of the warranty, which turned out to be less than the warranty itself. All other items that broke during the course of the warranty weren't covered. Funny how that happens.
Because of what I've experience from years back to date, I know I don't need an extended warranty. Here's some food for thought.
Consumer's Digest recommends not. That's on any item, (car, boat, TV, appliance, etc.) That's beacuse an arbiter has already figured in a win/loose situation to their advantage. They (CD) sites the fact that (with cars anyway), most will trade before (or milage will close it) the manufactures warranty runs out,average 4 to 5 years, second many will not need or use it for any thing major (covered by the free warranty), third, as above, you already have a manufactures warrany, and forth, in most cases (greater than 90%), really high dollar repairs are encountered well beyond the period of the longest offered extended warranty. So the warranty underwriter's pay little to nothing, you pay a bundle. We have to remember, that the goal of an insurance underwriter is to collect and invest, not pay out.
They also say, that if an item is going to break, it's going to happen (in most cases) within the specified manufactures warranty. Otherwise it will be okay.
For those seeking an extended warranty, I use this for an example; Review your current situation. Look at the items you own that have survivied years beyond the said manufactures warranty (and in many cases the manufactures life expectancy),vs. how many have not. Count the dollars you would have spent, or spent on extended warranties. Do the math.
In my case, I would have wasted lots of money. Extended warranties do in fact provide peace of mind, if that's what you're after. Otherwise the (free) four year bumper to bumper manufacture warranty is plenty.
Is it a gamble? Of course, but in my opinion, and experience, it's to the consumer's advantage not to purchase, and as always, each to his own.
thebug...
thebug:
What sort of benefit/performance enhancement (eg, how much additional hp) is expected from the dual exhaust? Any idea if it will increase cabin noise?
wwhite2:
Craps at Mohegan Sun, I like how you think. :-)
down side; you can only lose your stake.
up side; you can win thousands of dollars on a good roll.
warranty:
up side; you can lose the cost of the warranty.
down side; thousands of dollars in mechanical repairs.
You pays your money and you takes your chances.
wwhite2: Where the heck is Mohegan Sun anyway? Sounds like a good idea, but too far to drive. In my area, we have a few casinos in the back yard, and as I gaze out the window, I see a few in the front yard too. But I don't play craps. Too costly. Local's don't gamble, it's a live and learn thing.
bingoman: I don't pay for auto repairs (up keep) or gasoline. My organization provides an allowance (and I bank it). They cover the cost of everything but auto insurance. In regards to extended warranties, each to his own. I'd rather keep the money.
Enjoy the ride!!!!!!!!
How did you get to choose this car over others?
Just returned from a 2,000+ mile roundtrip out to the midwest from Connecticut.
The car ran great! Had the oil/filter changed before leaving and the DIC showed 78% oil life left when I got back home.
Also, I installed an aftermarket XM satellite radio for the trip. Liked it a lot. I listened to either XM or the CD player most of the time.
The ride was smooth and the car handled great on the hills in Pennsylvania.
I still think I'm the only one on here with a cashmere color CTS. But, I like being unique.
My CTS was built Oct02. Hopefully, I have the "faster" air bags.
oldsman01: I hear ya. OnStar also says you can test your system by saying "Get my Location". Well, that doesn't work either. Although that could be tied directly to the phone issue..probably is. Guess I'll need to call them and pitch a fit. I paid for it, I expect the service.
2003cts: In 3 times for the same problem and still not fixed. In my state (Washington), and most others I think, that's immediate cause for invoking the Lemon Law. Thought of that??
re phone number for OnStar personal calling: Tell OnStar to give you a number for another area. There are no long distance charges, so the area code is of no consequence to you --it only matters if you expect a lot of inbound calls from people who otherwise would be local, and even then it's those people who pay the long distance, not you. Then later when a local number becomes available, OnStar can switch you --at least according to the OnStar rep I spoke to (it came up because I plan to be moving in about a month so I may want to change my number after the move). If you're like me and don't plan to give the number out to many people, doing a subsequent number switch shouldn't be too burdensome.
Without the rear bumper modification, it's $750 plus tax, (doesn't look as nice) and with the bumper modification, it's $1,100 out the door. I'm going for the bumper modification so it will look as well as it does on the 04 CTS.
Originally, I spoke with one of the installers, and he told me I had to purchase the entire kit, as in grill, wood trim, side skirts, and bumper. I was going to scrap the idea altogether, but a manager left me a message later in the day, and then faxed me an invoice with pipes and bumper modification only. Pretty good deal. $1,100 taxes included, installed and out the door.
Takes a couple of days with color matching, paint, and application. Will have it done the first week of May. Not sure if I'm supposed to go through Cadillac, or straight to the shop.
rsteph: Congrats on the purchase. On OnStar, I live in Las Vegas, and have a local number for Cleveland Ohio. I did it so people there could call me as a local call. They (OnStar) didn't even question it, they just did it.
thebug...
thebug...
2003cts - Let us know what happens with the Cadillac Regional or National (if necessary) Reps. If a new CTS spends that much time in the shop, there is something definately wrong. Cadillac should replace the car.
Concerning the transmission "sport mode", as usual, sevenfeet0 is correct. We stopped using sport mode after the first few months. Well, once in a while at a stop light, we might just turn it back on.......
Last night, when my wife (Marie) returned home from work, we went shopping. Marie always lets me drive "her CTS" when we go shopping. She turned to me and said that "the CTS was the best handling car she's ever driven". Marie loves her CTS and admitted she'd been "lead footing" it again.
As for "On-Star", I've decided to renew my subscription, based on many of the comments on this board. I'll just renew with the basic service.
Clocks - Our dash board clock seems to be keeping accurate time. Still I wish we had the digital clock in the radio and a temp gauge in the dash.
Rich
Check with your state's department of commerce and insurance to find out what the lemon laws are where you live (virtually all states have some legislation). Hopefully, Cadillac will do the right thing with this car since they can't afford disgruntled customers in this stage of their comeback. This kind of thing happens to a small subset of virtually all car buyers for any make. The real test of customer service is how they address the situation to make you happy.