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As for the most important thing that needs changing in regards to the CTS exterior...I would say the wheels. I like the current styling of the wheels, they just need to be bigger in both the base model and luxury performance CTS's. It would also be nice if the car had a stainless exhaust tip or if the exhaust was completely hidden from view. IMO it doesn't make much sense to have a cutout in the rear valence and then have and ugly plain looking pipe; either hide it or give us something to look at. Other than that, I wouldn't change ANYTHING with the exterior other than possibly offer a 2 door model.
the new motor is all new: 60 degree v6 3.6 liters
4 cam and i think 260 hp...but even though autoweek reports they're testing a v8 cts in europe, i don't think it will happen or the reports aren't accurate. i don't think the v8 (small block or the northstar) won't fit w/o major
surgery. you might see a halo version made by gm's
version of ford's svt. it would be mostly for bragging rights with a limited production run and
the cost would be outrageous. jackg
One of the benefits of the LS1 V8 is its compact design. Overhead cam shafts may be high tech, but they take up more space (height). This is one of the reasons why the current C5 Corvette uses an OHV engine since it has a very low hood line. The 4.6L Northstar could probably never fit in the CTS engine bay, but the LS1 apparently seems to fit.
Also, there is precedent for engine changes after the first year for a model. The 1992 Eldorado and Seville had the older 4.9L V8 but changed to the Northstar V8 for 1993. In that regard, the usage of the massaged over 3.2L V6 in the current CTS isn't much different than Caddy strategy a decade ago. Sometimes engine timelines and car product timelines don't quite match.
Horsepower comment: my car has a little over 6000 miles and I have yet to be embarrested either intown or on the expressway. I recently drove from Phoenix,AZ to Detriot,MI and the car responded very well under all conditions. While I don't drive at the red line neither am I a poke-a-long kinda guy. 250 or 260 hp might be nice but I don't believe it matters all that much. I do have experience driving cars with much more than 220 hp.
The car has been serviced to correct refueling problem (twisted fuel tank filler hose)and wet carpet problem (leaking body seams per bulletin 02-08-57-005, replace carpet). Out of service one week, parts delay. Everything A-okay for now. Don't expect much more in the way of problems. We enjoy the car very much.
fueledup: Cadillac already made the rear end you desire...just trade the CTS for a Catera!
-I feel for you...I would be PO'd if I got my CTS back with grease stains! Hearing your story doesn't make me look forward to taking mine in for service.
cadman88: 'IF' the CTS had double the HP it has now the BMW, XLR, Corvette, etc, etc, etc would be in trouble...
This dealer (Rydell in the San Fernando Valley) does a great job of servicing. And if the service department people give me any grief my sales lady is all over them. As for clean, they wash the car every time I bring it in.
I've been in Cadillac dealerships all over the country with my Catera and now my CTS (just got back to Los Angeles from Phoenix, Houston and Chicago) and have gotten good service at all of them.
The CTS DOES play CDRW's. You have to burn them as a standard audio disc and close the session however (multisession discs won't work).
And as for a 400 HP V8 when the XLR only gets 320 HP or so, the CTSi will be Caddy's first "V-series" car, like Mercedes' AMG of BMW's M cars. M3's and CLK AMGs all have lots more horsepower than stock versions of most of their upscale cousins. Of course, the XLR is likely to have a "V" version of itself someday.
car with an ohc motor, just seems to make more sense than the added cost. forget about that great front end of the c5 if it had an ohc small block. when gm replaced the 3.8 in the intrigue with the shortstar there were a fair number of people that preferred the power curve of the ohv over the new motor. this isn't a knock on the s/star; sounds like it's a good motor. but; if you do alot of local, around town driving, ohv's
imo, are better motors. also, maintenance on ohc
motors (not gm's though) can be ridiculous: the v6
3.0 in the audi a6 and a4 neeeds to have the timing belt (rubber) replaced around 70,000 miles;
cost is approx 900-1000 $. jackg actually the
3.2 does have the rubber timing belt (probably because it's a euro designed motor) and will require changing around 60k i think...
too much vibration)...come to think of it, maybe they used one bank of the v8 for the 4 cylinder application instead of a v config...the water pump issue with the ohc design is a definite problem area, that's one reason why the audi is so
expensive to have the timing belt replaced, they recommend doing the pump when you do the belt!
direct injection has been tried for years and is used in commerical diesels...that would make a huge difference in fuel economy and performance.
there were problems with driveability when mitsubishi tried to market it, but i'm sure the software they use now can make it doable. jackg
High tech is great, but it loses its allure if its so cutting edge that it leaves you stranded on the side of the road too often.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see GM (I'm a stockholder) and Cadillac produce a high tech marvel, but only if it is reliable and more functional (practicality anyone?)than its present engines and those from its competition. It should not be complex just for the sake of complexity.
What I want is a "better" engine whether its high tech or low tech. I don't want them to spend so much money trying to build an engine that no one else has and then have no research money left to work on awd cars or classier interiors or in other words, the rest of the car to keep it competitive.
Also, in case you haven't noticed, they share their excellent technology with the rest of the auto world, so their high tech stuff wouldn't be exclusive for long e.g. Onstar,XM Radio, Night Vision(?),the transmissions the sell to BMW
No company can say its up there with the best the world has to offer and not have some 'high tech' going on, and buyers expect it to be reliable as well.
Some folks think complexity = unreliable. Well duh, if you don't engineer and build it properly.
There are plenty of companies that build reliable 'high tech engines'. Its about time GM jumped into this arena more.
I agree that GM should not sell those types of technology's to other car company's, in a few years every car company will have Quadrasteer!!, why doesn't GM just keep it for themesevles only?
Not bad. GM earns money on cars it does not even make or sell.
Bingoman
Whatever new technology arrives on the market, you can be sure that if the initial creator does not license it out, then the others will simply design (or copy) their own versions of it to stay competative. Audis have OnStar too!
Just giving credit where credit is really due.
Auto companies share components all of the time. Remember when Jags had GM tranny's? The Honda S2000 has a differential made by Mazda. GM and Toyota share engine control sensors. GM will now use Honda V6 engines. BMW and Chrysler share I4 engines. The list goes on and on.
I hear the Quadra steer is quite impressive actually.
I've looked at a couple of hundred posts and can't find the reference to high oil change costs. Can someone give me a post number?
They don't list the CTS. Under 2003 models you'll still find the Catera!! And no prices, just "Contact your dealer." Haven't looked lately, but Chrysler posted list prices for every combination of policy type and years and mileage of coverage. Very frustrating.
Many previous Japanese and some European innovations were not new in the sense that they had been field tested in their home markets before being shipped to America. Unfortunately GM field tests most of its products on us (Any one remember the exotic Cadillac variable V8 that was supposed to run on a different number of cylinders as needed?). With more imports building ever more complex new products outside of their home markets in places such as South Africa, Mexico, Canada and America these products are being field tested in America and some misses are bound to show up (even though some brands will down play them or blame them on the customers).
Cadillac is still rebuliding its customer service and can't afford too many misses. After its customer service is more fully repaired it will be better able to deal with "miscalculations" like the Toyota engine sludge or the Lexus ES300 tranny problems in stride.
I'm not suggesting that GM should stop innovating engine design. What I'm saying is that the engine is just part of the package. I prefer a package that is greater than the sum of its parts. If Cadillac upgrades the engine without upgrading the rest of the car, other car makers will field a competitive engine that may not be as good but they will perhaps outclass Cadillac with the rest of the car and limit Cadillac's potential sales. Some of the prior and present day BMW engines lack(ed) overwhelming power and/or sophistication, but they made up for it by putting these small engines in small cars with good MT and a good balance of other features.
The current CTS engine is no slouch. If Cadillac put the CTS on a diet and made several hundred pounds disappear, it would seem like a much greater engine. It could, as many others have speculated, simply add a blower and create more hp from the same engine. As I said before hp and high tech bragging rights are not always the only or best solutions. The new engine slated for the CTS will add hp and that certainly won't hurt, but most people will compare the CTS to its rivals in many more areas than the power or sophistication of the engine.
Personally, I don't know what Cadillac's future engines plan(s) might be. I just hope it works on a high level. I suspect that outside of the enthusiasts on this and similar boards, that is all most people care about.
Its got all the goods, bose,roof,chromies,
bun warmers etc....You know I have wanted
a CTS badly but the dealers near me that
have any (5 in central NY) won't do GMO/
GMS deal on them. Oh well I will enjoy
this pearl white beauty and in 5 yrs I
will take a shot at a V-8 CTS !...geo