Methinks thou doth protest too much. [Edit - of course we now all know the CTS DOES have telescoping control anyway ] I own 3 vehicles, none of which have telescoping wheel. Guess what, I don't miss it. I ALWAYS had it as far in as possible when I had the feature anyway. I will say though, the Lexus way of tilting the wheel up and out before getting out of the car is a NICE, luxury touch.

Plus, my Explorer has adjustable motorized PEDALS for short drivers - something Toyota/Lexus has never offered I don't believe and which is available on many Ford/Mercury/Lincoln models.

I think we've had this discussion before... but perhaps it depends on how you define the 'segment'. I'd take a loaded one of these over a loaded GS350 every day. Plus, this car comes in LOTS of flavors, which I believe gives it wide appeal.

 

Here it is, right from Cadillac's web site on the base model:

You might have missed it because I don't think it's a separate 'control'. I believe you just 'unlock' the wheel with the lever, and can then tilt OR telescope the wheel by pulling it in/out.

 

Nice review Marshall This is a beautiful car. Lutz is taking too long to release the CTS-V beast

 

I agree...it is confusing. Threxx can explain it better than I can...he is an expert on this car. The way I understand it, and according to the price stickers and computer printouts, the AWD car had the FE2 Sport package with all-season tires. The FWD car had an Non-Sport FE2 with all-seasons (There is both a Sport FE2 and Non-Sport FE2. ) The FE3, which the dealwrship did not have in stock at all, ie the Sport FE2 with high-performance summer tires. The base FE1 does not come with the DI engine.....both of my test cars had the DI engine.

Confused? Yes.....so was I, and some of the Caddy people there weren't much help either, until Threxx helped me out with a detailed explanation...he knows the underpinnings of this car inside and out.

Here is the way it goes, the way I understand it:

FE1..........all-season tires...............................................Non-DI engine.
*FE2..........all-season tires...........Non-Sport Suspension.......DI engine.
*FE2..........all-season tires,..........Sport Suspension.............DI engine.
FE3..........summer-only tires........Sport Suspension.............DI engine.

* Indicates my two test cars. No FE3's were in stock, and Threxx had already driven the FE1, so I didn't bother with it.



Possibly.....but I have driven enough different cars, under enough conditions, to usually know the difference between drivetrain, wheel bearing, tire, and wind noises. This was almost definitely wind and tire noise....probably, at least in part, from the bigger tire footprints on this car generating more noise from rolling friction and different tread design....and possibly from a less-than-100% perfect seal on the right rear window.


You're right that I generally don't care for funeral or me-too colors, but that does not mean that a paint color necessarily has to be Hemi Orange or Chrome Yellow either to be attractive. There are a number of beautiful and classy colors that don't necessarily belong on a fire engine......Amythist, Coral, Copper, and Aqua are good examples. Problem is.......on most vehicles, you never see this. All you usually see is beige, white, black, maroon, dark blue, and several different shades of gray and silver. It simply gets monotonous after a while.....if I said anything different, I would not be communicating my true opinion.

White Diamond Pearl, though, can really be beautiful and classy.....I mention that whenever I run across it in a review.....as I have with the last several vehicles I've looked at.

My low opinion of the last CTS was, in part, not just based on interior looks, but its hardware and the materials used....which I thought were more appropriate on a Korean econobox than a 30-40K luxury/sports sedan.....and I'm not even sure about that now when you look at the quality and looks of today's Hyundai Accent.

I agree, however, with your assessment of the last-gen CTS handling, which, in general, is far better than other non-V Cadillacs.


The problem is that, with age, often comes feet that are as spongy as the brakes.....which, of course, does not make for a good combination, as witnessed by the number of old folks that end up driving through plate glass windows or into crowds. You live in Florida.....you know exactly what I am talking about.

In answer to an earlier question, I mentioned that I check out all of the high-tech functions that I can understand or figure out. However, I'm not terribly proficient or knowledgeable on some of the newer stuff like iPod, MP3, Bluetooth, etc......so, admittedly, my reviews are not the best ones to read for a detailed explanation of their capabilities. You would do a better job in that area than I would.

Go look at this car for yourself......I'm sure there is a Caddy shop near you. I think you will be amazed at the difference between this car and the old one......and I don't say that lightly.

 

Cadillac is a brand with heritage and history - decades of it. I find it odd that you choose to focus the history part of your review on the worst products that Cadillac has ever put out in its bean counter years.

But otherwise, solid review as always.

 

I think the new CTS is really a great product. However, outside the front end, the rest of the car looks nearly identical to the old model. I saw my first one drive by yesterday and stop at a light. It took awhile from the rear view to tell that this was the new model.

From the front, there is no mistaking it.

 

Thanks for the review MMarshall Appreciate all of the work you put into these reviews. It's just awesome.

 

Some pics

 

My eyes!

Those wheels are horrific.

 

Yeah good thing those aren't stock wheels... lol

How 'bout some interior shots now?

 

That was not done hapazardly. I wanted to cover the CTS's predecessors and Cadillac's reasoning for bringing the CTS about in the first place....not the more traditional full-size Cadillacs. The new CTS is simply the latest in a long line of compact/mid-sized American-market Cadillacs......most of which were poorly conceived and executed. Fortunately, this latest car does not follow in their footsteps.

 

You can tell the new CTS from the old one a lot easier than you can tell the new CTS from its own brother STS. Having said that, though, I agree that the difference between the new and old CTS, looks-wise, while significant, is not that great.

And as you note, the most discernable difference outside between old and new CTS is in the grille and headlights.

 

Actually they are, Threxx......that's the FE4 package.

 

Thanks. Got another one coming up probably late in the week or early next week......per request, the new 2008 Honda Accord V6 Coupe.

Now that I'm retired, though I don't have unlimited time for it, I DO have more time for them than I used to.

 

http://www.gminsidenews.com/fo...51593