Unless I've overlooked reading something, weren't they rated the same but Toyota was listed first, even though it's second in alpha? It's like receiving "top billing" in Hollywood--stars give up money to get top billing (was just reading that about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in 'Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte'). That probably shouldn't have happened.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
I have the Consumer Reports Buying Guide from 2006 and 2009 in front of me, and in both of those, it's in alphabetical order for ties.
So I'm not sure when Lutz' book was published, but I'm guessing it was recently, so his information is inaccurate or at least not up to date.
They had an AWD model, which could rank differently, as it only made 123hp, and wouldn't match the same mileage as the FWD ones. It's possible that was rated lower (or higher, for that matter).
The clones, though, were scored identically, Pontiac listed before Toyota.
It's a very dangerous game. Indeed it shouldn't be allowed there until the Volt is old tech - it will just be stolen and copied like everything else, all in the name of fleeting joint venture profits where the Chinese state has 110% control.
It's a very dangerous game. Indeed it shouldn't be allowed there until the Volt is old tech - it will just be stolen and copied like everything else, all in the name of fleeting joint venture profits where the Chinese state has 110% control.
Our tax bailout dollars at work.
Did you see that Toyota is considering exporting US-made Camrys to South Korea? Too bad GM won't export some US metal to China.
Did you see that Toyota is considering exporting US-made Camrys to South Korea? Too bad GM won't export some US metal to China.
the key word here....considering.
The ships doing laps from S. Korea to the US and back are going back to S. Korea empty because they don't buy from us. This has caught the attention of the ever efficient Japanese. They see the opportunity to get discount shipping rates to fill the otherwise empty ships with non-union built cars from the US.
Our tax dollars work in so many idiotic ways in so many idiotic places, this is barely a blip on the radar :sick:
Does the Camry sell more than a handful in that market? I didn't know they embraced Japanese cars nor large ones. GM will kind of export US technology to China, is that close enough? :shades:
The ships doing laps from S. Korea to the US and back are going back to S. Korea empty because they don't buy from us. This has caught the attention of the ever efficient Japanese. They see the opportunity to get discount shipping rates to fill the otherwise empty ships with non-union built cars from the US.
So perhaps the answer is non-union built GMs to ship from the US. :P
GM is around $20.56/share, down from around $31 6 months ago. Ford is around $10/share, down from around $15 6 months ago, so over that timeframe at least, it's done just about as bad as GM. I'm surprised...I thought Ford was on a roll? Toyota is around $70 per share, down from around $80 6 months ago.
Toyota also pays a slight dividend, of 92 cents per share annually (used to be a small chunk early in the year and then the rest of it by year's end). GM and Ford aren't currently paying dividends.
Pretty soon we'll double dip and see another similar drop in all those share prices.
Sad to see Ford go from penny stock, bounce back, only to crash down again. If it gets back to penny stock status I may buy a few shares. I do think they'll bounce back in the long term, when the market does.
Ford's got some issues: Higher cost structure and re-emerging UAW militancy in their plants, still highly leveraged (although improved somewhat), big bet on this new "Euro" styling and still somewhat dependent on trucks and SUV's. I'm concerned the UAW is going to hurt them competitively over the decade. Americans may have appreciated they didn't take government loans, but that is just a short term thing in a country of short term memories. I guarantee you the buyer will be more impressed with price and quality, and if GM can deliver in those respects I think Ford will end up hurt by not going BK and taking the government financing and getting better UAW breaks. I think Mullaly has done a terrific job, but I'm still not a bull on their stock.
>Ford's got some issues: Higher cost structure and re-emerging UAW militancy in their plants, still highly leveraged (although improved somewhat), big bet on this new "Euro" styling and still somewhat dependent on trucks and SUV's.
Maybe one of the GM experts on this forum can help me. Many months ago I signed up for the GM Main Street in Motion event on Oct. 15 in Minnesota. It was supposed to give you a chance to drive GM vehicles head-to-head against competitors. I was really looking forward to it. Today I went to check on it, just to confirm the event details. The event web site says "The Main Street in Motion program has been discontinued." I can't find any contact email or phone number for the event, either on my confirmation email or the Web.
I tend to focus on product, and I think they're on a roll with EcoBoost, still expanding offerings. The Fiesta and Focus are brining new, young buyers to the brand.
Of course it was a C280 model as well, packing about 230hp... :sick:
Never mind the ML, the standard GL550 is quicker off the line, tows more and gets better mileage...
An AMG ML would just embarrass the Slade...
Of course, Mercedes drivers wouldn't be so tacky in the first place. These are not vehicles for racing...
And really, the whole "Standard of the World" thing is a joke in the first place. Just Government Motors arrogance at it's finest (and ignorant as always) right there, this sort of ridiculously slanted comparo is nothing out of the ordinary for them. Remember the Lexus RX vs. Chevy Equinox campaign a few years back? :sick:
Cadillac doesn't even have a direct competitor to the C300 (I think I saw C300 in the text), at least until the ATS comes out. Then a comparison would make sense.
Well, I can see now why GM canceled these events. Not even those "in the know" re GM had any inkling about them. Maybe I was the only person who signed up for the MN event, who knows... I know I won't fall for any such events from GM in the future.
Here it is in plain-truth, easy to understand English. Caddy is getting better but the old slogan is just that. Caddy USED TO BE The Standard of the World...then GM got very, very ill...GM lost it's edge and won't get it back by lying in advertising.
Unfortunately, Cadillac is getting a little ahead of itself by once again advertising “Standard of the World.” Here’s what’s missing to substantiate that claim:
1. Sales – Cadillac is outsold in its home market by Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz; 2. Cadillac sells almost no cars outside the U.S. because no one other than Americans want them; 3. European brands including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley are sought after and sold in most countries around the world. Mercedes, Audi and BMW each sell about a million cars per year worldwide. Cadillac sells fewer than 200,000, almost all in one country.
So to suggest that Cadillac is the “Standard of the World” is simply not true.
I went to one that they held back in 2004. I remember driving a Malibu, which was my first experience with a car with electric steering, and didn't like it one bit. Also drove an Equinox, and the thing felt so unstable that my friend who went along for the ride started hollering "Don't flip us over!" Oddly, I felt more comfortable behind the wheel of the Suburban they had. While it would have been a beast to parallel park and maneuver in really tight corners, at speed it felt like a more nimble vehicle.
I also remember driving a Jeep Liberty, and liking it, a lot! Maybe that's why GM didn't invite me back?
My father in law's number one complaint and regret about the Cheapquinox he bought a few years ago is that it feels "too light" on the highway. I think that's his way of saying unstable.
So you are not alone. Thank god, it hasn't cost him a fortune to keep running, however. I asked him if he noticed the flaws on the test drive and why'd he buy it, and he said "well, it's for Gloria (my mother in law), and she liked it and wanted it. No wonder they are still married!
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
That video was hilarious. Typical lying, misleading, and general disinformation from GM. What do you expect from a bunch of thieving incompetents that ran a bankrupted bailed out company.
However, Mercedes should slap themselves for making such a slow "sports sedan." What the 0-60 time on that thing?
Granted, those Luxury marques serve the general populace on other continents.
GM might was well have compared that new Escalade to the W126.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Funny you mention that, I noted the exact same issue with the Vue I test drove. I even wrote a review and shared here on Edmunds.
That experience has made me skeptical of Electric PS to this day. The most recent bad experience was with a Passat and it hasn't improved any if that's the state-of-the-Electric-PS-art.
On the plus side, I did think that generation of Equinox was very roomy, when it came to legroom. It was comfortable. A friend of mine, who ultimately bought a 2006 Xterra, test drove an Equinox and I went along for the ride. As a passenger, I thought it was a decent vehicle, and sound insulation was good enough to muffle the sound of that 3.4 Chinese pushrod. My biggest beef was with the handling on the one I had driven a couple years before.
My buddy did like the Equinox, but liked the Xterra better...probably for the more rugged, youthful, "cool" factor. I hate to say it, but the first-gen Equinox doesn't really have much of a "cool" aura about it.
Mercedes' estimate is 7.1s to 60mph for the C300, though the RWD model was discontinued.
The C250 takes over as the entry level model. The C300 only comes as a 4matic now.
Any how, it's not slow and that's not what the car is meant to do anyway. It's a loss leader for those $339 lease deals Mercedes can advertise, then up-sell you to a C350 or E-class.
Incidentally, that Cadillac costs $28,655 more than the Mercedes they chose to compare it to.
Passenger room was good, but that seat was too low and the seat cushions were spongy and unsupportive.
Cargo room was also compromised by (very) intrusive shock towers in the cargo area.
They did compensate for that with a nifty two-tier cargo system.
Those did not make up for the lifeless electric PS and ancient Chinese pushrod engine, though. Note the Malibu Maxx' 3500 engines were more modern and made more power and got better gas mileage. Why the 'nox didn't deserve those upgrades? Beats me.
Incidentally, Honda copied the stackable cargo tray idea for the CR-V, and that became the best selling SUV in the USA.
Have you driven the Traverse, Acadia, Enclave trio? I've gotten upgraded to them several times and was actually impressed. Quiet, smooth, comfortable and a decent handler for its size. I think they've gotten the kinks out of them by now. If I was looking for a larger CUV I'd certainly consider them.
Passenger room was good, but that seat was too low and the seat cushions were spongy and unsupportive.
Yeah, but I'm used to that in a car! :P
Cargo room was also compromised by (very) intrusive shock towers in the cargo area.
I had forgotten about that. I didn't notice it on the test drive, but then someone on Edmund's mentioned it, and the next time I saw one at an auto show, I sure took note! It seemed like the Saturn Vue of the time, while shorter overall, had a better laid-out cargo area. Odd, considering they were the same basic vehicle, but maybe Saturn did something different, and better, with the Vue's suspension?
I do remember driving a Vue at that test drive thing in 2004, and liking it better than the Equinox, but still not as much as the Liberty.
Note the Malibu Maxx' 3500 engines were more modern and made more power and got better gas mileage. Why the 'nox didn't deserve those upgrades? Beats me.
Yeah, I thought they really shot themselves in the foot with that. In addition to the Malibu/Maxx, the G6, Saturn Aura, and GM minivans started using that engine as well, while the Equinox suffered with the 3.4 right to the end. I always thought that if it was an engine shortage issue, they should have given the 3.5 to the Equinox and let the minivans have the 3.4!
Oh well, at least with the way they did it, Uplander guy got an Uplander with a decent engine! :shades:
I test drove a Saturn Outlook, so yeah. And I did like it. Had visibility issues, and no backup cam was even available back then, so that was a deal killer.
I actually backed up on to a curb at the dealership. LOL
To be fair it was a tight parking lot, full of cars, unfamiliar. You simply can't see behind you at all. A backup cam should be made standard.
I ended up with a minivan instead. None of the large crossovers matched the space or fuel efficiency.
I would definitely consider one if I were shopping in that class again.
If you've got kids and you're ferrying them around or moving their stufff, its really hard to beat a minivan IMO. We had them until the kids finished college. We downsized to a CRV. Its a decent enough vehicle, but honestly I miss the room and comfort of something a little bigger. The CRV has a good quality rep and resale, so after its paid for I may move up. But no Pilot - I just find those things butt ugly for some reason.
I thought they really shot themselves in the foot with that
Here's my speculation about what happened. Tongue-in-cheek, naturally.
Bean counter shows up. Finds out they're done with the tooling for the old motor, to make way for the more modern 3500 mill in the Malibu Maxx.
Asks, why don't we re-use this "metal stuff" somewhere else?
He's told they don't have any more capacity and they're making newer/better engines in the USA anyway.
Comes up with an ill-fated plan to ship the tooling to China (that part is true) and build the old, outdated motors there, for dirt cheap of course. Put it in a car with steering so numb no one will notice. Let's see...
Equinox! Bingo. Bean Counter gives himself a huge bonus, hires more bean counters to count the savings, then to calculate the optimal rebate level to sell a car with a crappy, outdated engine that should have been discontinued.
***
At least that was the old GM.
The new Equinox has modern engines with direct injection. Yeah they've got a few issues but at least they build a competent vehicle with a modern engine.
I'd rather see GM try to succeed and experience speed bumps vs. trying to fail and succeeding at it.
I just looked it up on Wikipedia, and it appears the Chinese 3.4, known as the LNJ, was only used in the 2005-2009 Equinox and Torrent.
The North American 3.4 was known as the LA1, and last used in 2005, when it showed up in the Impala, Monte Carlo, Grand Am, Aztek/Rendezvous, and the minivans.
Here's what Wikipedia says about the LNJ..
"The 3.4 L LNJ is a 204-cubic-inch (3,350 cc) modified version of the normal 3400 engine. It includes a modified intake manifold, oil pan, engine cover, and fuel system as well as electronic throttle control. It is built in China and imported to Canada for use in the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. The LNJ makes 185 hp (138 kW) and 210 lb·ft (285 N·m)."
Maybe rsholland was the only one who attended the DC event. Or maybe GM was so pissed you didn't show up, they canceled all future events. Yeah, that must be it.
Or maybe the Twin Cities (pop. ~2.5 million) isn't a big enough market to warrant GM's marketing efforts. :P
I offer the following video in response to the numerous GM and in this particular case - Cadillac detractors who frequent this forum. It seems the Cadillac did very well in comparison to the AMG Mercedes that was almost double the price:
Cadillac has done an outstanding job of developing a car for the general buyers in the high end. The detractors are allowed to ramble on and on in their old days stories of how they believe Cadillac or GM used to be. But reality is here. They are producing cars and people are buying them with satisfaction.
One comment to make is that many want to compare the narrow slice market of speciality cars in companies that are sold to a tiny minority. Actually, as I was driving 1.5 miles this morning to get to the local quick market which has excellent coffee (decaf) that I love, I was NOT worried about whether my car was able to get to 60 in 4.0 seconds vs 4.3 seconds. In fact, like most people's driving that variation in the ability to speed (or drag race) or corner really didn't cross my mind. On the other hand, the ride did because the driveway to the local quick market that I like has some roughness over the herringboned brick sidewalks our local municipality has laid. So isolation is important.
I recognize that a few hang their every car valuation on the top end abilities of a car which they will never buy, own, or possibly ride in. Much like sports fans weighing every football star's ability or lack thereof to best another team's star, a few internalize the ability of a CTS-V to go really fast and value it as part of themselves. And there is the entertaiinment value. But in everyday driving, it means little. Instead it's the typical cars produced that make the difference. And Cadillac has been producing those, along with other parts of GM.
I know it's fashionable to knock anything GM, but I think recent Chevy commercials beat the daylights out of Ford's lame commercials, e.g. young stereotypical owners at a press conference. I don't find one appealing thing about them. Truly lame.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Sales just indicates perceptions regarding "luxury standard" around the world that people prefer.
Cadillac isn't the "World Standard" of luxury automobiles, although they once were. Not knocking their current product line or their future interesting candidates...just the typical GM arrogance.
The point is, don't advertise what you are not.
Agree Ferrari is the Standard for best car...no question! I was astounded to see their QC during engine build. Fantastico!
But in this case the heritage advertising makes the current product look ludicrous. It's just an appeal to those who remember Cadillac from long ago and want to think it's still that. At best this will make the average Cadillac owner even older than he is now.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Duh, why wouldn't they use the tagline "Standard of the World" which is probably still owned by them. It's called using heritage in advertising.
Well, as I indicated, to me it just cheapens ANY brand when the advertising is so obviously false. The CTS is a great car, why not find a different way to advertise it? Because Caddy is NOT the standard of the world. And most people know that.
The heritage is old. People say quit talking about the old GM, as the new one is different. But the old untrue tag line is still a good idea? :confuse:
Comments
So I'm not sure when Lutz' book was published, but I'm guessing it was recently, so his information is inaccurate or at least not up to date.
They had an AWD model, which could rank differently, as it only made 123hp, and wouldn't match the same mileage as the FWD ones. It's possible that was rated lower (or higher, for that matter).
The clones, though, were scored identically, Pontiac listed before Toyota.
Our tax bailout dollars at work.
Did you see that Toyota is considering exporting US-made Camrys to South Korea? Too bad GM won't export some US metal to China.
the key word here....considering.
The ships doing laps from S. Korea to the US and back are going back to S. Korea empty because they don't buy from us. This has caught the attention of the ever efficient Japanese. They see the opportunity to get discount shipping rates to fill the otherwise empty ships with non-union built cars from the US.
Does the Camry sell more than a handful in that market? I didn't know they embraced Japanese cars nor large ones. GM will kind of export US technology to China, is that close enough? :shades:
The ships doing laps from S. Korea to the US and back are going back to S. Korea empty because they don't buy from us. This has caught the attention of the ever efficient Japanese. They see the opportunity to get discount shipping rates to fill the otherwise empty ships with non-union built cars from the US.
So perhaps the answer is non-union built GMs to ship from the US. :P
Ford is around $10/share, down from around $15 6 months ago, so over that timeframe at least, it's done just about as bad as GM. I'm surprised...I thought Ford was on a roll?
Toyota is around $70 per share, down from around $80 6 months ago.
Toyota also pays a slight dividend, of 92 cents per share annually (used to be a small chunk early in the year and then the rest of it by year's end). GM and Ford aren't currently paying dividends.
Pretty soon we'll double dip and see another similar drop in all those share prices.
Sad to see Ford go from penny stock, bounce back, only to crash down again. If it gets back to penny stock status I may buy a few shares. I do think they'll bounce back in the long term, when the market does.
Ditto.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Anyone know what happened to this event? Thanks.
At $5 a share I'll buy some Ford stock, sure.
Dumbest ad ever. Giant gas guzzling V8 beats a Benz that costs half?
Try again with an AMG ML. :lemon:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/gm-debuts-new-front-center-airbag-w-video/
Never mind the ML, the standard GL550 is quicker off the line, tows more and gets better mileage...
An AMG ML would just embarrass the Slade...
Of course, Mercedes drivers wouldn't be so tacky in the first place. These are not vehicles for racing...
And really, the whole "Standard of the World" thing is a joke in the first place. Just Government Motors arrogance at it's finest (and ignorant as always) right there, this sort of ridiculously slanted comparo is nothing out of the ordinary for them. Remember the Lexus RX vs. Chevy Equinox campaign a few years back? :sick:
Cadillac – Don’t Call it “Standard of the World”
Unfortunately, Cadillac is getting a little ahead of itself by once again advertising “Standard of the World.” Here’s what’s missing to substantiate that claim:
1. Sales – Cadillac is outsold in its home market by Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz;
2. Cadillac sells almost no cars outside the U.S. because no one other than Americans want them;
3. European brands including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley are sought after and sold in most countries around the world. Mercedes, Audi and BMW each sell about a million cars per year worldwide. Cadillac sells fewer than 200,000, almost all in one country.
So to suggest that Cadillac is the “Standard of the World” is simply not true.
Regards,
OW
A buddy from edmunds attended (rsholland).
I also remember driving a Jeep Liberty, and liking it, a lot! Maybe that's why GM didn't invite me back?
So you are not alone. Thank god, it hasn't cost him a fortune to keep running, however. I asked him if he noticed the flaws on the test drive and why'd he buy it, and he said "well, it's for Gloria (my mother in law), and she liked it and wanted it. No wonder they are still married!
Maximum Bob: The Big Three are Gov. Motors, Volkswagen, and Hyundai
However, Mercedes should slap themselves for making such a slow "sports sedan." What the 0-60 time on that thing?
Granted, those Luxury marques serve the general populace on other continents.
GM might was well have compared that new Escalade to the W126.
That experience has made me skeptical of Electric PS to this day. The most recent bad experience was with a Passat and it hasn't improved any if that's the state-of-the-Electric-PS-art.
My buddy did like the Equinox, but liked the Xterra better...probably for the more rugged, youthful, "cool" factor. I hate to say it, but the first-gen Equinox doesn't really have much of a "cool" aura about it.
Mercedes' estimate is 7.1s to 60mph for the C300, though the RWD model was discontinued.
The C250 takes over as the entry level model. The C300 only comes as a 4matic now.
Any how, it's not slow and that's not what the car is meant to do anyway. It's a loss leader for those $339 lease deals Mercedes can advertise, then up-sell you to a C350 or E-class.
Incidentally, that Cadillac costs $28,655 more than the Mercedes they chose to compare it to.
Cargo room was also compromised by (very) intrusive shock towers in the cargo area.
They did compensate for that with a nifty two-tier cargo system.
Those did not make up for the lifeless electric PS and ancient Chinese pushrod engine, though. Note the Malibu Maxx' 3500 engines were more modern and made more power and got better gas mileage. Why the 'nox didn't deserve those upgrades? Beats me.
Incidentally, Honda copied the stackable cargo tray idea for the CR-V, and that became the best selling SUV in the USA.
Yeah, but I'm used to that in a car! :P
Cargo room was also compromised by (very) intrusive shock towers in the cargo area.
I had forgotten about that. I didn't notice it on the test drive, but then someone on Edmund's mentioned it, and the next time I saw one at an auto show, I sure took note! It seemed like the Saturn Vue of the time, while shorter overall, had a better laid-out cargo area. Odd, considering they were the same basic vehicle, but maybe Saturn did something different, and better, with the Vue's suspension?
I do remember driving a Vue at that test drive thing in 2004, and liking it better than the Equinox, but still not as much as the Liberty.
Note the Malibu Maxx' 3500 engines were more modern and made more power and got better gas mileage. Why the 'nox didn't deserve those upgrades? Beats me.
Yeah, I thought they really shot themselves in the foot with that. In addition to the Malibu/Maxx, the G6, Saturn Aura, and GM minivans started using that engine as well, while the Equinox suffered with the 3.4 right to the end. I always thought that if it was an engine shortage issue, they should have given the 3.5 to the Equinox and let the minivans have the 3.4!
Oh well, at least with the way they did it, Uplander guy got an Uplander with a decent engine! :shades:
I actually backed up on to a curb at the dealership. LOL
To be fair it was a tight parking lot, full of cars, unfamiliar. You simply can't see behind you at all. A backup cam should be made standard.
I ended up with a minivan instead. None of the large crossovers matched the space or fuel efficiency.
I would definitely consider one if I were shopping in that class again.
Here's my speculation about what happened. Tongue-in-cheek, naturally.
Bean counter shows up. Finds out they're done with the tooling for the old motor, to make way for the more modern 3500 mill in the Malibu Maxx.
Asks, why don't we re-use this "metal stuff" somewhere else?
He's told they don't have any more capacity and they're making newer/better engines in the USA anyway.
Comes up with an ill-fated plan to ship the tooling to China (that part is true) and build the old, outdated motors there, for dirt cheap of course. Put it in a car with steering so numb no one will notice. Let's see...
Equinox! Bingo. Bean Counter gives himself a huge bonus, hires more bean counters to count the savings, then to calculate the optimal rebate level to sell a car with a crappy, outdated engine that should have been discontinued.
***
At least that was the old GM.
The new Equinox has modern engines with direct injection. Yeah they've got a few issues but at least they build a competent vehicle with a modern engine.
I'd rather see GM try to succeed and experience speed bumps vs. trying to fail and succeeding at it.
Honda is their own worst enemy, mostly due to styling. The sad thing is I hardly even mention them any more - lack of interest.
The North American 3.4 was known as the LA1, and last used in 2005, when it showed up in the Impala, Monte Carlo, Grand Am, Aztek/Rendezvous, and the minivans.
Here's what Wikipedia says about the LNJ..
"The 3.4 L LNJ is a 204-cubic-inch (3,350 cc) modified version of the normal 3400 engine. It includes a modified intake manifold, oil pan, engine cover, and fuel system as well as electronic throttle control. It is built in China and imported to Canada for use in the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. The LNJ makes 185 hp (138 kW) and 210 lb·ft (285 N·m)."
Or maybe the Twin Cities (pop. ~2.5 million) isn't a big enough market to warrant GM's marketing efforts. :P
CTS-V vs Jag XF-R vs Merc E63AMG
Cadillac has done an outstanding job of developing a car for the general buyers in the high end. The detractors are allowed to ramble on and on in their old days stories of how they believe Cadillac or GM used to be. But reality is here. They are producing cars and people are buying them with satisfaction.
One comment to make is that many want to compare the narrow slice market of speciality cars in companies that are sold to a tiny minority. Actually, as I was driving 1.5 miles this morning to get to the local quick market which has excellent coffee (decaf) that I love, I was NOT worried about whether my car was able to get to 60 in 4.0 seconds vs 4.3 seconds. In fact, like most people's driving that variation in the ability to speed (or drag race) or corner really didn't cross my mind. On the other hand, the ride did because the driveway to the local quick market that I like has some roughness over the herringboned brick sidewalks our local municipality has laid. So isolation is important.
I recognize that a few hang their every car valuation on the top end abilities of a car which they will never buy, own, or possibly ride in. Much like sports fans weighing every football star's ability or lack thereof to best another team's star, a few internalize the ability of a CTS-V to go really fast and value it as part of themselves. And there is the entertaiinment value. But in everyday driving, it means little. Instead it's the typical cars produced that make the difference. And Cadillac has been producing those, along with other parts of GM.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Of course, sales figures have nothing to do with quality.
The actual "standard of the world" in terms of the best car you can possibly buy probably goes to Ferrari.
Cadillac isn't the "World Standard" of luxury automobiles, although they once were. Not knocking their current product line or their future interesting candidates...just the typical GM arrogance.
The point is, don't advertise what you are not.
Agree Ferrari is the Standard for best car...no question! I was astounded to see their QC during engine build. Fantastico!
Regards,
OW
But for luxury, it is definitely NOT Cadillac.
I don't see how idle boasting is a good advertising strategy.
Well, as I indicated, to me it just cheapens ANY brand when the advertising is so obviously false. The CTS is a great car, why not find a different way to advertise it? Because Caddy is NOT the standard of the world. And most people know that.
The heritage is old. People say quit talking about the old GM, as the new one is different. But the old untrue tag line is still a good idea? :confuse:
If Toyota was advertising "The Reliability Standard of the World" I would have the same complaint. And I bet this forum would, too.