Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
i.e., left front driver's compartment, falling on my left shin/ankle and floor beneath.
Not an excessive amount, but more than a few drops--perhaps as much
as a cup. My dealer's service dept. was familiar with this problem, which has
apparently presented itself over the past few years, and was able to repair the
problem without difficulty. It was explained that cracks and separation of the
drain channels in the corners, as well as possible clogging, might occur.
THEN, I actually SAW a 2008 CTS, and there was no comparison for me. The curb appeal, and stunning visual image of the CTS made it by far the car for me. Bigger inside where it needs to be, and regular unleaded gas to boot! I've owned mine since OCT 07, and I STILL have to stop and just look at it when I am approaching or departing the car. I just love it!
And the new MKZ, the supposed CTS killer?? :P
The G35 is quicker and costs less. The G35 also had higher levels of noise, vibration, and harshness.
My CTS (only 500 miles to date) has higher levels of available equipment (I had to have cooled seats). The CTS has the best interior design in this class of vehicle, along with very strong curb appeal. The CTS has slightly better fuel economy, and does so on lower octane fuel than the G35.
I'm biased, of course. Buy what you like.
In city driving, I get between 17 - 18 MPG.
The sole highway trip I took (60 - 80 mph) I averaged 27.5 MPG.
Impressive for a vehicle this heavy and an engine this strong.
On another note, GM and the Cadillac team, if you are listening, you did an awesome job on the 2008 CTS. It is gorgeous! The most gorgeous and capable American sedan in many years. I do a double take everytime I see one and I still am looking forward to buying a 2009 at the end of this year. The exterior design is striking and fresh. The interior is the best interior design and has the best fit and finish that I have ever seen in an American car. But that does not mean that I don't see room for improvement. I see qualities in other directly competitive cars that the Cadillac missed and should have as well. So here are a few of my suggestions for the 2009 model:
1) BLUETOOTH - I know you are already going to have this since it's in the new CTSV. But just in case, I thought I would mention it.
2) SUNROOF COVER - The translucent cheesecloth cover for the sunroof. This is unacceptable. The cover needs to stop the light from coming through. The sun here in Florida and I suspect in other parts of the country like Texas, California, Arizona, and Nevada is just too strong. The shade needs to completely block out the sun. The other option is to offer a traditional sunroof.
3) SATELLITE ANTENNA - The cheap looking black plastic satellite antenna you are using is not the best idea. Most quality cars use a color matched satellite antenna. The BMW 328i, even the Honda Accord has a color matched cool looking antenna. I saw a new entry level Saturn sedan today in the supermarket parking lot, and it had the same cheap black plastic GM antenna stuck on the front of the roof. Come on Cadillac....I know you want to conserve costs by using universal parts. And you should wherever possible. But you should not do so when it cheapens the look of the car.
4) CENTER CONSOLE - Work in improving the surface of the plastic you are using on the silver plastic of the center console. There is a lot of silver plastic there. It looks good but I am a little nervous about scratching it. Why not use a different metallic texture like Infiniti did on the new G35? Or something that seems more like metallic. You obviously took some cues from the Audi's. But the CTS interior is still not up to the quality level of say the Audi A6 or the Lexus GS300. Why not go the extra step and really make the interior as superb as Audi and Lexus? I wonder how much it would cost to tweak a few things and bring the interior quality up another notch?? And the knobs on the CTS console are not as good as the Audi's. The tactile feel is a little plasticky when turning them versus the Audi knobs which have a tactile feel like the knobs on a fine stereo. Again, just bring it up another level. I am sure you have this higher level of refinement available. Just do it! Also there is really no room to put anything more than an iPod in the center console storage. Where are we supposed to keep our stuff? I realize that the rear air conditioning vents are there. But still. People need room to keep a small yet reasonable amount of stuff in their center console. Work on an improved design with more room for stuff.
5) SEATS - The CTS seats are good. But again. they are not as good as the very supportive and just perfectly comfy seats on the Audi's. the BMW's or the Volvo's. Why not be one of the best in seats, Cadillac?
Well, that's it. I hope you are listening Cadillac. These probably won't stop me from buying the car. But they are valid suggestions.
And when you want to hire me to give you honest opinions. I am here. :shades
“2) SUNROOF COVER - The translucent cheesecloth cover for the sunroof. This is unacceptable. The cover needs to stop the light from coming through. The sun here in Florida and I suspect in other parts of the country like Texas, California, Arizona, and Nevada is just too strong. The shade needs to completely block out the sun. The other option is to offer a traditional sunroof.”
I live in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, California.
If they come to their senses and realized that the cheesecloth sun-shade is just for toys not for a luxury cars, or build a CTS with a traditional sunroof I would buy a fully loaded one today. I'm waiting for 2009 Model hoping they'll have that option; otherwise I'll go for Mercedes, I’m sure they’re going to treat me with respect and cover my head from the sun, when I don't need it, with an opaque sunroof shade..
As for the problems, well, statistically, there are going to be some problems out there because it's just cost prohibitive to make everything perfect (even the FAA's risk analysis on aircraft assumes that there will be failures). I do have have to wonder, though, for those that trash a produce based on one bad purchase: The first time they have a serious argument with their wives do they turn off on all women and turn gay??
While idling in drive, the car makes a rumbling/rattling sound from the rear end (it's kind of hard to describe). It doesn't do it all the time and at times its louder than others. If I release my foot from the brake, the noise stops. I'm not sure if it's an exhaust thing or not.
I've taken it to the dealership twice and they could not duplicate the issue. I picked it up Friday evening (1/26) and as soon as I pulled out of the dealership it started doing it again. I turned around and went back to the dealership and my service advisor took a ride with me again. This time he was able to hear it.
So it is back at the dealership today. Hopefully they can find and fix the issue... it's annoying!!
Have any of you experienced the same/similar thing?
not sure about the lighting issues.....most cars made today dont have the adaptive forward lighting, nor is there a side light like you refer to....so not sure about this particular issue
Well, not so much. There are a few fanboys who drop their s*** (let's say stuff) here from time to time, but mostly it's pleased new drivers and a few of the old-timers who've been around since the first CTS, a couple of whom drove both that & the new one.
You get what you give, pretty much.
Good luck with your car. I know it must be a horrible disappointment to have to deal with this. Happiness equals reality minus expectations, so given how high the bar has been set with the expectations for this car. . .
No, Mr. rcantwell, you didn't trash the entire CTS line, you merely said this would be your last GM car, which sounds like trashing the entire corporation.
But I thank you for confirming my original comments. One bad car out of 17 tells me you were waaaay overdue. As for it being a Cadillac, what, you think GM has high school dropouts building Chevy's but college grads doing the Caddy's? You get maybe better design and more goodies with the Cadillac. But the same type of guy who leaves his Coke bottles in the doors of Chevy's works on the Cadillac line.
(You think you have problems? My SECOND GM car, a Buick, before it reached 35K miles, had six water pump changes, one power steering pump AND rack assembly, new rear suspension mounts, believe there was an alternator change and, let me see, oh yes, TWO engine changes for cracked blocks. My third GM car, was another Buick, which went 60K with any problem whatsoever.).
Nobody wants a bad car and certainly nobody here wishes a bad car on anyone. But a nice objective description (realize that is hard to do sometime, especially when goated) would have sufficed.
P.S. No I don't own a CTS. Currently driving a 300C which has been trouble free for 3 years. Have considered the CTS but it doesn't offer anything more than what I have (and has a lot less space) so I'm looking at the STS.
Most forums try to ban trolls. I've seen it here in Edmunds. People who constantly tried to start arguments or are always negative, have disappeared from the forum.
I'm sure that some people looked at your original post and thought "Troll". I'd rather believe that you are an internet beginner and not aware of how your post looked.
I've had my CTS for almost 6 years. It's been exceptional, except for a few sensors which were repaired under warranty. It's my wife's daily driver and I wouldn't trust her safety to anything but a reliable car.
Retirement means keeping a car a little longer, but I would not hesitate in getting a new CTS in about a year. I hope your problems are resolved.
Basically, a brand new car should not have major powertrain issues until it is well up in miles. I can understand minor problems, like sensors, power window switches or even the air conditioning compressor being replaced. But if the block is cracked...forget it. Thats unacceptable for a brand new car with 1,800. You should not have to put up with them tearing the engine apart. IMHO, you should not accept them giving you a new engine. It is highly unlikely that the technicians at the dealership can put that engine compartment back together like the factory assembles the brand new car. As I mentioned, even Lexus makes lemons occasionally. It happens. But the question is, how will the manufacturer post sales customer service deal with it? My opinion... Cadillac needs to give you a new car and use the old one for target practice.
My 2001 Isuzu Trooper has 59,000 miles on it. I have not even had to replace brakes yet. The only things that have gone wrong were a leaky gasket on the transmission, an electric window that was rattling. Thats it.
Also have a 2002 Mazda 626 with 53,000 miles. We had a hood latch that was rattling when car was idling. Just needed tightening. Thats it.
Before that, I had a 1995 Mazda Millenia. No problems until over 80,000 miles. Then it was a transmission sensor switch that almost cost me $3,000. Luckily the service tech took pity and repaired the switch for me instead of making me buy the whole $3,000 switch assembly.
Before that, my Mitsubishi Mirage went over 140,000 miles before I sold it. I only had to replace the rear wheel bearings, hoses and belts.
I am sure that your car is the exception although I have read several posts here about people having to deal with repairs with their new Cadillacs. But I have also read posts about people having no problems at all. Its also true that I have read about Toyota people having some quality issues.
Point is that you should not expect major engine, transmission, or any drivetrain problems in the early life of a car, let alone the first 1,800 miles!
I hate to say this, but I have noticed that any products that I have bought from cars to stereos that were actually assembled in Japan were just exceptional in reliability. My Trooper, Millenia, and Mirage were all actually assembled in Japan. I am still using my Yamaha receiver and the original remote that I bought in 1994 that were assembled in Japan. Japanese work ethic and attention to detail is amazing. You want a car with almost absolutely no problems? Look for the models that are assembled in Japan. Look at Consumer Reports ratings on the Mazda 3 and Lexus, models made in Japan.
On another note, the problem is, I don't live in Japan. I see our economy falling to pieces around us. Toyota has now replaced GM as the world's largest automobile manufacturer. Most everything, furniture, cars, clothes, electronics, appliances, that
we buy is made in China, South Korea, or somewhere else but here. Thanks to VOIP, everytime I call any help desk or tech support, I am talking to India, Pakistan, the Phillipines, and the Dominican Republic. We are buying most of our oil in the middle east at almost $100 per barrel. So if all the manufacturing and jobs and MONEY are moving overseas, what do we expect will happen to the U.S.? The only successful large American corporations are those that have brought their manufacturing and customer service overseas. It's the only way they can survive. That makes the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of us are continuing to get rich. But the rest of us are sucking wind and it will get worse. We are flushing ourselves down the toilet. What do we expect? We are reaping what we sew.
I salute GM for stepping up to the plate and building the Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, Chevy Malibu and GMC Acadia. I am sure there are more great models to come. And the new 2009 Lincoln MKZ from Ford looks awesome as well. I read earlier a post here that someone had a Chrysler 300C with no problems. Detroit is building these cars and giving it their best shot because they don't want to throw in the towel and they believe they have a chance to come back. They are showing that America can still build world class cars that can compete. I am drooling over the Cadillac CTS and the new Lincoln MKZ coming out looks pretty impressive.
http://www.lincoln.com/reachhigher/?intcmp=B_MKS_LFutureVehicles_ReachHigherHome- - - - - _20080128
I think they are now for the first time, rivaling Lexus IS350, Infiniti G35, Audi A4, BMW 328i and Mercedes C Class. If the cars are good, I for one will give them their due consideration.
Yes I am a sucker for an underdog, especially an American underdog. I hope that Ford, GM and Chrysler are able to pull a comeback out of their hat. I want to support the American car industry before it is relegated to being small cottage manufacturers just making trucks and cars for the U.S. government. I hope that I get a good trouble free car. The 2009 CTS is still the front runner. I am watching these forums closely. I am hoping that Cadillac and GM in general is not willing to give up its' gains by not taking care of customers.
I do have some suggestions....
For those who are experiencing issues with their vehicle, go to the CTS Group page and look through the discussion list for an appropriate place to post the problems you're experiencing, i.e., brakes, transmission, engine, etc. Believe it or not, but there are manufacturer reps that lurk throughout our Forums. I'm not saying there is one here as I honestly do not know, but I have seen a rep or two make their presence known and offer assistance....especially in the discussions concerning mechanical issues.
If you are having a good/bad experience with the dealership, you can post a review for them via the Dealer Rater & Reviews system. This is an excellent way to inform others in your area of your experience. You can begin here: http://www.edmunds.com/dealerships/drr/jump.html
And finally, you can post a review about the vehicle itself in the Consumer Ratings & Reviews. Begin here: http://www.edmunds.com/apps/ratings/ratingsIndex.jsp
Some posts have been removed and I trust that everyone is capable of keeping the personal jabs and insinuations to themselves.
Thanks for your future cooperation.
gottavio
Don't get annoyed at trolls . BTW , I had a CTS 2005 , and I now have a CTS 2008.
I agree that the mech's are very genuine and will do their best in repairing the problem . They are the true customer service, not the B.S. and partial truth the service center tells you.
I was reading the lastest reviews here on Edmunds for the 2008 Cadillac CTS. One of the comments was the the "front seat cushions should be longer". I was kind of thinking the same thing when I sat inside one. Interesting that I read that here in a review. For those of you that have already purchased the 2008 CTS, do you feel or did the thought ever cross your mind that the front seat cushions seemed a little short?
I don't doubt that a mechanic would say that, but c'mon--that's absurd! As a mechanic he probably only sees problemed cars, so I think he has a bit of an adverse sample selection bias.
The problems usually will shows up in the first couple of years...
So, in the first 2-4 years a full third of GMs engines will fail? Yeah...I'd take that percentage with a boatload of salt.
I've now driven my CTS on a 450 mile trip, one way. My body has adjusted to the difference in seats, and I find the car quite comfortable on longer trips. I also realized that the entertainment I have with my CTS far outweighs the seat length.
My AWD has every option. I had a blast in the Idyllwild snow a couple of weeks ago, and felt very secure in the worst of weather which confirmed my suspicion that this was the best decision I made.
Take the time, drive the BMW and Audi. The seats are a little better, but try to figure out how to turn the radio off without having to read a book.....
Good Luck!
Ridiculous assertion. No manufacturer of any product with a defect rate like that could survive in today's competitive environment.
All castings have defects, but only a very few slip through the inspection & classification processes meant to eliminate the ones that will actually fail in service. It's not too far-fetched to posit that 30-35% of automotive castings have surface indications of one size or another. So long as the defects aren't linear & beyond the length that experience has shown could allow them to grow into something significant, it's no harm/no foul.
Something like what the meaning of "is" is. There are defects and then there are rejectable defects.