maying856

iTrader: (31)

Cadillac is an OK luxury alternative. The exterior is legitimate, however, inside the interior you can still see remnants of cheap american car plastics. The attention to detail is lacking, and I hate the CUE multimedia system which is unresponsive and leaves fingerprints everywhere. The only car I would ever consider investing in would be the CTS-V Coupe.

NormV

The only plastic available on an XTS from the front seat is the map pocket and speaker surround if I remember correctly. There is one piece of padded vinyl on the door and more padded vinyl on underside of the dash. Both the doors and dash finish with leather, aluminum, and wood. The seats are fully wrapped in Opus leather, not just seating surfaces.

dal20402

The XTS interior is Cadillac's best effort yet (better than their allegedly more upmarket CTS). It's legit. I'm looking forward to seeing if they can keep it going with the new CT6, which will compete more directly with the LS, being larger and RWD.

But Cadillac has a long way to go before they can match Lexus's reliability and durability record.

NormV

That may be so from the back seat, but the driving that most of us do Lexus is falling behind and resting on it's laurels.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/Super-Luxury-Cars/

SW17LS

Again, Lexus forum. If you want to talk to a bunch of people who agree with you?..join a Cadillac forum.

Gbp

What do power and driving engagement (the two main criticisms against the LS460) have to do with durability and reliability?

For a car used as a freeway cruiser, rather than a canyon carver or shotgun accelerator (although I don't think anyone would complain about the ease of merging into freeway traffic or passing other vehicles), the LS460 does a great job. One could argue that some of its European counterparts handle better and have a better road feel, but the interior comfort, ride quality, fit and finish, material quality are top-notch.

When you add the LS's reliability and durability, and (at least for the LS460, pricing), it's easy to understand why the LS460 is a desirable choice among cars in its class.

IOW, I'd compare the XTS to the LS460 based on the merits of each, rather than trying to show that the LS460 is inferior to other luxury cars. IMO, it isn't, and the argument doesn't help the case for the XTS.

SW17LS

Not to mention there is nothing dynamic aBout a FWD CTS, V Sport or not.

Devh

If resting on it's laurels places it in the number 5 position after an almost 10 year run where the others have built new cars from the ground up twice over is quit astonishing for any car.

If there are going to be compromises to be made it should be tilted towards towards luxury not sportiness. Most car manufactures have lost sight of this philosophy including Lexus.

Trumpanche

One thing to note on an older 460 like yours and mine is that they don't have the laminated side window glass. Your next one might be better on the side window buffeting noises...

dal20402

Confirmed. I test drove two 2007s with the tempered side window glass, and bought a late-build 2008 (3/08) that includes the laminated glass. The difference is quite noticeable.

roadfrog

Considering that Lexus is as good as it is, it can afford to rest on it's laurels. They're that good. BMW and MB may not rest on their laurels, and that may be half their problem when it comes to reliabilty.

dlbuckls10

Well said! The Lexus LS trumps any Cadillac. I owned a Cadillac with all the problems that came with it.

Dryrunner

iTrader: (1)

When the XTS was first coming out, I was all in. I read all the hype and reviews. Then I went to the LA Auto show and sat in it. When I closed the door, I knew the car was just another bad attempt at copying Lexus and the Germans. I got out and never looked back. So happy with Lexus.

roadfrog

Yes indeed. I sat in one as well in Vancouver at the auto show and it wasn't hard to see the cheap material choices. Even the Hyundai Equus and the KIA K900 felt better in workmanship and materials.