Not really. Cadillac, in particular, has done some real losers over the years......Cimarron, DeVille V-8/6/4, 5.7L diesels, the 1980 Seville, Catera, and 1Gen CTS were all prime examples. (I personally also consider the XTS a loser, but there are those who disagree with me, and I respect that). The Lincoln Versailles, MKS, last-generation MKX, and MKT were also quite unimpressive.....essentially rebadged Fords. I've also seen several newer (mostly smaller) Mercedes models that did not impess me.

 

Just concentrate on modern models. Do we really need to discuss the Cimmaron or a 80s Seville?

 

I dont recall you ever owning a Mercedes-Benz?

 

I wasn't talking about just ownership. I drive and/or review a LOT of vehicles that I don't (or never did) own. I didn't own any of that long list of failed Cadillacs, either, but I'm well-aware of their failings.

Believe it or not, I actually liked the Cimarron's body, trim, colors, and interior (I considered it handsome). It was the inexcusably poor drivetrain I couldn't stand, with the carburated, stumble-and-stall, 82 HP in-line four and harsh-shifting 3-speed automatic....base versions had an awkward-shifting 4-speed manual). It was simply terrible.........so wimpy and underpowered (even by my conservative, non-aggresive standards) that I probably could have made it back to the dealership quicker by walking LOL.

 

I wouldn't consider the gen one CTS to be a loser, it brought a lot of sales to Cadillac and a completely different type of customer(ie younger) to the brand. Granted the interior design did SUCK, if that is what you are referring to.


I'd still like to see Cadillac give the luxury 2 seat roadster another stab. Personally I loved the XLR, the styling was just insane. They did right by putting it on the Corvette chassis last time, they did wrong by not using Corvette engines.

 

Yes, you hit it......that was mostly the reason I panned it. The interior was clearly not up to Cadillac standards....IMO it was barely up to Chevy standards. The ill-fated Cimarron of 20 years earlier that everyone likes to laugh at actually did a lot nicer job inside of trim quality. The 1Gen CTS was not terribly well-assembled, either, with noticeable creaks and squeaks even brand-new. The 2Gen CTS was, IMO, an enormous improvement in several areas....I considered buying one before the Verano came out.


I think that was part of the idea behind the XLR's marketing. It was being aimed at an older, more mature buyer-base that probably wasn't seeking the noise and brutish low-RPM torque of a Corvette power plant. They would have preferred the sophistication and refinement of the Cadillac 4.6L Northstar...despite the Northstars's oil-consumption and other mechanical problems.

Right now, though, with a new flagship and three new car-based SUVs on the way, I seriously doubt if Cadillac has enough funds left to develop a new 2-seater. But, you never know...a lot of things and secrets go on in the industry behind closed doors.

 

GM Junk.




I was a devote GM guy, I have owned 15 GM cars since 1987, after the last 2 I owned being buy backs because of a multitude of issues and the HORRIBLE service from GM dealers, I will never again look at or purchase a GM product.

 

It wouldn't be very hard or expensive for them to put a new body on the Corvette, which is what they did last time. $20-30k markup, it would be a very profitable vehicle, even if it didn't sell in huge numbers. Problem is they might not have the capacity at the Bowling Green factory, they're cranking out as many Corvettes as they can right now.

 

I don't see where it hurts to bring them up. When you have a long pattern of something in the auto industry, usually, the more examples, the better. It is true, however, that Cadillac is a very changed company in the last 7-8 years or so.

And, no, we don't want to get too far off-topic, which is the new Chevy Traverse (and a possible Cadillac version of it)