Lexuslsguy

I must admit, they have come a long way and are no longer grandpa's boat. I have not had a chance to test drive one but I have been reading plenty of good reviews. Listen to that transmission shift too. Anyone else test drive one or seriously consider a CT6 over the 460? The features are quite impressive on the Platinum trim. I particularly like the magnetic ride and night vision.

dlbuckls10

I had the opportunity to drive the CT6 and I wasn't impressed. Road noise, video arcade dash, poor craftsmanship and the ride wasn't extremely smooth. My 460 ride nicer. Great reviews but I was disappointed and expected more when I drove it. Just my personal opinion and I can't wait to drive test drive a G90 to see if it as good as the reviews.

droclex

It is a handsome car, for sure, but I would wait for them to sort out the transmission bugs and later find a CPO at a bargain price. I think $88K for a new CT6 example really is going hurt when the sharp depreciation kicks in.. A well optioned V6 AWD is much less and performs almost as well. A much better value IMHO.

On the transmission issues:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...nsmission.html

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...n-failure.html

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...-2017-ct6.html

The G90 might be a better choice if buying brand new..

Lexuslsguy

Interesting, did you test drive the model with the magnetic suspension? A lot of the reviews talk about the quality of the interior although my previous experience with Cadillac interiors have been sub-par. What engine did you test?

SW17LS

I've driven several CT6's in different trims. I would not consider the Platinum trim. Issue is it's not an $80k car, the interior has hard plastics in places which you expect in a car that starts in the 50s, hard plastic lower pillars, seat components, lower dash panels. These parts carry over to the Platinum trim. It's also not as smooth and refined as the LS or other cars in the flagship level.

What I would consider is a mid 60s 3.6 Luxury model. That price to me is something that would make sense as a step down from the LS. It's just not to the same caliber, even when optioned up. The bells and whistles are there, but the basic underlying car is not if that makes sense.

What you should look at if you want something cheaper is the Genesis G90. Much more a legitimate flagship car.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the CT6, it's a great looking car but it's not appealing north OF $70k IMHO.

1BlinkGone

I've only driven one CT6- a late 2016 Platinum 3.0tt. My perception, though not arguing, was different than SW15LS's. Please grant me this in spite of this being the Lexus forum.

The car we drove was a very well-built example. Drove it twice the same day. Myself & a salesman, and went and brought my wife back for another drive. Fit & Finish was impeccable, perhaps a benchmark for US autos, and I don't say that flippantly. Door gaps, hood & panel alignments, etc,... perfect. Interior trim & pieces, the same. The doors had "that quality sound" when you closed them. I really looked the car over, more than once. The paintjob lacked any orangepeel and was far, FAR better than what has come from BMW & MB on their "luxury cars" in the last two to four years. The Germans should be ashamed.

The exclusive-to-Cadillac 3.0tt engine is a pure GEM...sounds very 'German' in the purr at the rear tailpipes sitting at idle, as well as how the engine sounds when you have the hood lifted as it sits there, idling. Much the same when under power on the road. A very refined mechanical sound. Impressive. Turbo lag was pretty mild. ALMOST vague, unlike many turbo cars...the BMW 750iL immediately comes to mind. The 404hp/400tq ft lbs 3.0tt is PLENTY for this car, even with weight in it. I haven't driven the CT6 w/the 3.6 engine and I'm not interested in it, so I can't speak to that option.

We had three adults in the car the second test-drive, and the car just hauled butt. Actually, we pulled a very steep, 3-mile grade right outside the dealership on the interstate like an early 90's Dodge RAM truck with a Cummins diesel (yes I've driven them numerous times). Effortless. And I didn't have to ease into the throttle pulling the grade. It just went- like a dog after a steak. Very quiet at-speed (conversations between front & rear passengers were easy with low voices- no raising your voice at all) Wind noise was almost non-existent @ 65mph; and the car handled and rode exceptional, and no I didn't have any issues with the 20" wheels or mag-ride shock system (which I had my guard up expecting some issues..there were none) Overall handling and in-traffic, the car felt far smaller than it was. Nimble on its feet.

Panaray- maybe the best car audio system BOSE has ever done. (and I DON'T like BOSE one bit. had them in other cars...the ones I had were utter trash IMO) While Cadillac could step-up the interior pieces here and there just a smidge, those would be in places normally out of sight or not in body contact. Interior comfort was EXCEPTIONAL. Seats, armrests, etc where-ever arms, legs, elbows make contact with surfaces...all bueno. IMHO the Platinum interior is heads above the other models; and I prefer the entire Platinum package FOR MY TASTES (yours may vary)... The transmission performed well, though I hated the CT6 auto start-stop feature even though it was very unobtrusive (and can be bypassed with simple brake pedal finesse or manually switch it off on the dash); having said that, I'm waiting to see how the transmission user reports suss-out with the CT6, but I'm shamelessly a CT6 Platinum fan. Add to that it's built in NA, and yes I desire one and it's on the SHORT LIST. hehehe Having said that, I am quite enamored with the LS460 and a few other Lexus models. (GS F, LX570) But... would I throw-down @$88k for a loaded CT6 Platinum? Absolutely.

If I had one gripe, well, three, (1) I would like the B pillar back just a tad further (line of sight, not egress or exit issues); (2) I'd like a slightly more generous trunk, (3) would like a 12v outlet in the front of the passenger compartment. Are any of those deal-breakers for me? NOPE.

Personally, it would be quite awhile before I'd consider the Genesis, even at $60k. I like the Hyundai Sonata for your garden-variety commuter sedan, but for me, Genesis needs to make some serious strides forward before I'd park my cash there. While it presents itself as having moved above the general Hyundai line, it hasn't...not as much as they'd like us to think so. This is not a slam...and everybody is different. I know South Korea aspires to the the next Japan and they are doing a commendable job; but they are not there in every field....yet. IMO, YMMV, etc... For Genesis to be considered a true, LUXURY vehicle, they are not there yet. I give them another 2-4 years. I thought they'd get it together & conquer from their last iteration of Genesis...and they haven't... yet. Customer service after-sale needs much improvement, too. They can do it. I hope they pull it off.

SW17LS

The issue is at $88k you should have quality materials throughout. Should not have a hard plastic B pillar, should not have hard plastics at the bottom of the dash and doors...the CT6 does, even in Platinum trim. The interior experience is just not that of a near $90,000 cars when you compare it back to back with $90,000 cars that start in price closer to $90k. The basics in those cars are much higher end. Otherwise I agree with you its a great car, well built, great looking, the TT engine is a great engine (as is the 3.6), it rides good and is comfortable (not as smooth and refined as the LS).

The issue is that $88k price. Do you realize what you could buy for $88k? You could buy an LS460 L with every option pretty much. You could buy a loaded 740i. You could buy a loaded A8L. For $8,000 more you can have a base S550. Its just too expensive at that trim level for what it is, all of those vehicles are just much better made, more attractive luxury packages at that price. No Lexus fanboyisms here, I wouldn't buy an $88k LS460L either, the other cars you can get at that price point are just better.

Like I said, $66k I was sold until I drove the G90 for $69k.

The CT6 Platinum TT is about $10k overpriced IMHO. If that car were $78k it would be a no brainer, but at $88k, I'll take a nicely equipped 740, A8L, or even stretch a little and get an S Class.

Have you driven the G90? You should. And the after sale experience is all new this year...

comotiger

Sadly, the LS also has hard plastics on the B-pillar, and the bottom half of the door panels etc. They just don't seem to go with the rest of the car. Even more surprising is the dash. My 2014 fully-loaded car has a hard dash. Not leather-finished like the upper door panels. I learned recently that the LS600h has a leather dash. What gives?? I realize the quality of the material may be better than on the CT6, nevertheless, it is surprising.

droclex

One thing I will note about owning a Cadillac - I've owned a DTS and an XTS - my dealer experience was quite good. Certainly anecdotal and not to say that all Caddy dealers are paragons of customer service, YMMV. But my dealership's service center was exceptionally good.. I was very fortunate to have a service adviser who never played games and always took care of whatever issues I noted, no questions asked, no "could not reproduce condition" excuses. I actually would go back to Cadillac for that reason alone. And on the contrary, while my Lexus dealership experience has been fine, I do notice a more "rush you into a loaner and out the door" dynamic, less eagerness to assist and a more prevalent tendency to second-guess concerns/occasionally nickel and dime/upsell. Nothing egregious - like my brief Grand Cherokee nightmare - but slightly disappointing in comparison to my Caddy owner experience. Again, could just be an aberration. I'm sure that for every good Caddy experience there are multiple ***** shows.

Service aside, any CT6 for nearly 90k is just too much of a stretch. I truly believe it is a solid 40-60K car being forced to pose as a top tier superlux contender, perhaps even against the wishes of its own designers. Motoman does a great job explaining what it does very well, but in a subtle way noting how it doesn't quite hit the mark. He says mercifully, "this car is a signpost of the learning coming out of GM for future cars to come." I read that to mean it's very good, but not quite there yet..


On top of where it falls short - no V8, ride quality, small trunk, overall size/legroom, a little too much hard plastic, turbo-lag, transmission programming, CUE - the depreciation is extraordinarily severe and there are several more compelling, fully realized flagship options with fewer compromises, such that SW15LS and others have mentioned. IMHO the CT6, like the second gen CTS, had great potential as a value proposition and as a "tweener," even if it isn't being promoted as such. I just don't think it is meant to be a direct competitor to the A8, LS, S550, 7-series, even though it approaches/matches their price tags..

comotiger

I know this is nitpicking, but on the 88K Platinum edition, the rear window sun shades are still manual (oh no, you actually expect me to pull up and snag the shade on a hook ) and the driver's seat does not have thigh support extension. On the flip side the 2017 LS still does not offer massaging driver's seat.

droclex

[QUOTE=comotiger;9695299]I know this is nitpicking, but on the 88K Platinum edition, the rear window sun shades are still manual (oh no, you actually expect me to pull up and snag the shade on a hook )

Kuhan

I saw this car one day at a grocery store, and I was like wow this car is nice! Would I buy it? No.

SW17LS

My LS460 doesn't have any hard plastics in any of these areas. All these areas are padded vinyl...dash is padded vinyl up top stitched lower dash.

If you think those areas on the LS are hard plastic you need to experience "hard plastic" lol Those materials are very good padded material in the LS.

Compare an LS to an ES in these areas. The CT6 has material similar to what's found in the ES.

1BlinkGone

As has been pointed-out by other CL members, other MFGS are making the same shortcuts in interior materials. I'm not put off by that...now, for all the tech the new BMW7 series offers, the interior is much of a yesterday's stale rehash...and just plain boring, IMO. And I think they've taken the tech too far. While one may, or may not like what MB has done in the S-class interior; no-one can accuse Mercedes of resting on their laurels...nor Cadillac both in interior, and exterior. Its amazing that, in the fullness of time looking back, there are certain "gems" the public passes over and never "gets"...oftentimes its because of perception, ignorance, or peer influence- ie the Impressive factor. While I'm not suggesting anybody here is wired like that, I'm certainly not. I could care less about what my neighbor or colleagues think of the marque on the hoods of our cars. Not trying to impress anybody...just desiring what WE like, and what we live to drive.

BTW, I'm referencing the 445hp 750i and not the 320hp 740i, because the power delta between the CT6 3.0tt and the 750i is more equitable...and the CT6 still has a weight advantage.

As far as value, Everybody sees 'value' differently. Your parameters might not be mine, nor mine, yours. That's cool. For example, the price-gouging program BMW uses, and the delta between a fully loaded CT6 Platinum, and a fully loaded 750iL is over $25k more in price (750i base price is $94,600; just equitably equipped to the CT6P is over $104,000!), I'd have a very hard justifying the Bimmer...especially with the myriad of mechanical headaches that come with it, and more time in the shop than on the road or in our garage.. The CT6's issues are relatively few in contrast. And I've been a Bimmer fan for decades...Yes, I've priced out both cars & have the build sheets on both. BTW, while at the dealership I inspected another CT6P on the showroom floor with the 3.6 in it. Once again, fit and finish was top-shelf and like the 3.0tt we drove. Paint, etc. Dark metallic grey with a black interior. Just stunning. But I digress.

re: Lexus, however, theLS460 is DEFINITELY on the short list here, FWIW.

As far as Mercedes, we have friends at our local MB dealer, one of them is the sales mgr. We would really like to bless them with a sale when the time comes...the problem is, the S-class, though ICONIC, is, for me anyway, MEH. And no offense, but I don't like the looks of the Genesis, either. Too many cues stolen from Germany...with a hint of Bentley thrown in here and there...like it has an identity crisis. Why can't they be original...and take a bold step of their own...like umm... Cadillac? Just blabbin here, and I'm rooting for the Koreans to really blow us away with their "Luxury" cars.

lol Yep, I'm shopping... carefully. Peace out!

Tec80

When tempted by the flash and "style" of the new, think of the resale values of 5-10-year-old examples of the same brand's flagship. And think of where those examples are. Are they on the road, or in junkyards? cargurus.com is a good place to check resale/average sale prices.