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A couple of more comments: the CTS throttle is a "fly by wire" type. That is, it's all electronic, with no mechanical connection. The computer controls everything. Sitting still, if you floor the pedal while in Park or Neutral, the engine will top out at about 3000 RPMs. You can't rev it up to 6000 RPMs, like you can do in other cars. This is a protection feature to prohibit the driver from popping it into gear and damaging the transmission. Or over-revving the engine and damaging it. Interesting huh?
More later... -Jer:>)
From your post it seems that you can already do better than MSRP, but if you want to save another $1,300 email me at FAV002@yahoo.com. I don't know how much the 04's will go up in price, but you'd be really lucky if your dealer honors 03 pricing on a 04 with the new engine.
For others interested in a certificate, this offer ends June 30th. It would be great if this incentive program was available when the CTS-V comes out, but I think that's highly unlikely. I have my deposit down at the Cadillac dealer for the V-series...still waiting for final pricing before making a commitment.
My CTS at the Race Track
I have one car with a blue back light. While sitting at the dealer on the night of pick up, I thought it was disgusting, but on the short drive home, I found it to be very relaxing and pleasnet to look at, and now when I'm not driving that car, I sorta miss the blue. I find that to be true of the orange background as well. So maybe there is a method to the madness.
thebug...
Just curious...
"The longitudinally mounted V6 features a stiffer, stronger cylinder block, forged steel crankshaft, improved lubrication, better cooling and higher fuel pressure delivery to improve fuel injectors. Aluminum cylinder heads feature an improved combustion chamber design to reduce unburned hydrocarbons and a drive-by-wire throttle system for better emissions performance."
And the tech inspectors at the latest autocross had a heck of a time finding my throttle return spring.
The GM Media release seems to back-up my comments: "The longitudinally mounted V6 features a stiffer, stronger cylinder block, forged steel crankshaft, improved lubrication, better cooling and higher fuel pressure delivery to improve fuel injectors. Aluminum cylinder heads feature an improved combustion chamber design to reduce unburned hydrocarbons and a drive-by-wire throttle system for better emissions performance."
If I'm wrong, thanks for the correction, as I hate to mis-state things. -Jer:>)
I took it to the dealer and asked them to have their "ding/paint" specialist look at it while they replaced my radio for its high pitched hum on FM and took off the dash lens to clean it on the inside. Paint guy said he wouldn't touch it. The dealer then went to their affiliated Chevy body shop next door and they gave me a $1400 estimate to paint the whole driver side. I have the Red Garnet paint. It makes me sick to my stomach.
After 2 days and a new radio from GM, the radio still hums so they still have the car.
I want the car to look like new again. Am I dreaming? Where can I get the best result to try to match the paint? Are GM dealers the only place to go? Can Maaco do quality work? Money is not really the object. The car is brand new and I plan to have it for a long time.
Forlorn in Virginia.
Maaco typically is *not* it. The dealer's shop may be, but isn't necessarily. Nor does it have to be a "GM shop" - many if not most dealerships send their bodywork out to independents anyway and everyone gets the same color data. Check BMW and Audi message boards and see what recommendations you can get there. I've had my best results dealing with medium-sized independent shops.
Most shops make their livings off insurance jobs, but not all are created equal - some are MUCH better than others. Surface preparation, attention to detail, and VERY careful color matching are critical, and you want a shop that knows how to remove and reinstall trim and moldings and mirrors and etc. PROPERLY.
Are you putting in an insurance claim on this? Getting insurance companies to pay for properly removing/reinstalling trim moldings, etc. can be a PITA.
thebug...
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6049&sid=17- 3&n=156
They looked at all CTSs on their lot and found 3 with the same problem. We've had a lot of cloudy days here with rain or showers on and off for over a week with more to come. The problem is quite noticeable now. The moisture really shows on the surround.
The advisor claims that GM knows about the problem and has known so some time that it was a supplier defect. The part is on back order until July. The part replacement cost is near $600.
The TSB that you referred to was for another leak problem and not just the surround moisture. No mention about sealant as a fix just a new part.
j1205 Sorry to hear about the scratches. I have a scratch on the front of the hood and asked about getting it fixed. They want $300 to paint the entire hood. They will not do just a scratch even though it is only about an inch long.
I'm not sure if the CTS vandals are running amuck but I just had an egg thrown at my car earlier this A.M. right on the parking pad. So it had to be someone walking by. The kids are still going to school and have about three weeks to go yet. Luckily I saw it and cleaned it off before damage was done to the paint. Mine is a black CTS.
500 hp is just plain scary.
That is like 650 hp in 1960s horsepower.
The CTS-V is Cadillac's "entry level super car". The next generation should get the Northstar V8 (Turbo?) engine and stay at 400 plus horsepower. It's Cadillac's M3.
The STS-V should get a "turbo or "Twin Turbo" version of the Northstar at 500 horsepower. Maybe, just maybe, the V12 will be used instead of the V8. It's Cadillac's M5.
A Cadillac "Super Coupe" will be produced with the V16 engine, followed by "Sixteen" style sedan. Probably 750 horsepower.
Government regulation, oil prices and/or insurance costs could change the all of the above in the blink of an eye.
Just my thoughts.
b4z - I agree, but I want 260 hp. My Vette was awesome with 345 hp at WOT (Wide Open Throttle). I can't even imagine 400 hp in the CTS or 500 hp in anything else. It's scary and probably dangerous.
My wife hit a goose driving home from work the other day. No damage to the CTS and the goose walked away. The rubber air dam pulled loose, but I was able to put it back in place without a problem.
Rich
The CTS will shift 300 rpms short of the fuel cut off.
Sometimes hp ratings can be misleading.
I will guarantee that the CTS will be as quick as the G35.
Looks like the CTS will use every one of it's 255 ponies. Which should make for a quick car.
I'm more likely a CTSv customer as long as they're using the Corvette motors than if they went Northstar, and I'm more likely a CTSv customer as long as they're normally aspirated vs turbo.
I still don't buy the CTSv as M3-competition - it's just flat too big. The S4 and C32 are a little closer to the mark - although they're still a fair bit smaller - I don't think your typical C32 driver was ever a serious potential-M3 customer. Just very different cars.
When are they going to give us European style rear fog lamps to reduce these multi-car pile ups in dense fog. You can blame the drivers for driving to fast in unsafe conditions, but you can also reduce their severity with proper equipment. Most of the hardware is already installed in the CTS. That's what those two areas under the backup lamps in the rear panel are for. I sure would like to get the rest of the equipment, the lamps and the wiring, to install myself.
I personally had one experience on the autobahn (A-6) on a foggy day. New in country, hopped on the autobahn for my normal drive to work, could barely see the front of my car. While at about 60 mph, several cars passed at, at least double that speed, took the next exit, and never got on the autobahn again on a foggy day.
I couldn't see their headlights coming up through the rearview mirror, so I know they couldn't see me. Even with the fog lights on. Imagine this in a gray or gray like car. It's just by chance that I wasn't in the hammer lane. I think people just don't care when there's a hazard. We tend to think, that'll never happen to me.
I sometimes say to friends that do dangerous things, "you're the kinda people we see on the news".
thebug...
Watch this!!
fog lights: The problem here is that a whole lot of Americans generally don't know how to drive. That includes all the little details like WHEN to use fog lights, driving lights, etc. So you put this stuff in the cars and a significant proportion of the fools on the road go out and runs around with them on all the time, and another significant chunk can't even be bothered to turn on their headlights when it's pouring rain so why would they bother trying to find another switch?
It's a problem everywhere, not just in the U.S.
;-)
My wife and I have had 4 Lexus products and are a bit spoiled with Lexus quality and service.
In considering a different car, we have decided to go with a 6 cylinder version, automatic with premium options; i.e. moonroof etc.
We are considering the following: Lincoln LS6, Jaguar X-Type 3.0, and Cadillac CTS 3.6 (coming out in 04).
We would appreciate your experience and comments on quality, service, reliability and performance on the above automobiles.
Also, we hear that some domestic manufacturers give a special discount (on top of negotiated deal)for customers who leave foreign manufacturers; i.e. Toyota, Honda, etc; to purchase domestic products. Is that true and how do we find out about these programs.
Thanks to all who take time to respond.
Most drivers may be idiots but we still have to live (I hope) with them on the road. Better driver licensing regulations might help, but we already know that 90% of the drivers on the road are better than average, or at least they think so. LOL!!
Seems like GM is just looking for excuses to offer discounts - speaks volumes about their products.
Great deal!!!!!!!! Hope you enjoy the ride. it's a great car.
Have fun driving this holiday weekend. Can't wait to hear back after you put some miles on.
P.S. I found driving the CTS addictive. Went looking for some two lane roads.
I will have my CTS back by Wednesday. Took it in to have the custom dual exhaust system installed. The holiday weekend added a day or two to the installation process. Can't wait.
bingoman: I agree, it would help to have rear fog lights, but even better with some type of automatic on/off system like the auto headlights on with wiper usage feature on the CTS. Not sure how they would swing that though.
thebug...
I think the biggest complaint is the fact that most of us have two clocks that are out of sync (one is a little slow), and no temp gage. This has been corrected with the 04 CTS. I think it has a temp gage now, in place of the clock. As I read through other boards, I see a remarkable difference in owner satisfaction.
I've had my CTS for six months now @12,500 miles. Not a single problem. Can't seem to put the darn thing away. Love driving this car. And now you can go with the CTSv that offers even more.
I don't think you'll be disappointed. Test drive one and let us know what you think.
thebug...