Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans
10007 messages, Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 7:40 AM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
|
|---|---|
|
Replying to: 150mphclub (Aug 16, 2007 5:35 am) Maybe it is my age or simple sentimentality. . . I don't know anyone who has been as "loyal" as I have been. Somehow this makes me feel a tiny bit like I am betraying a long time friend for no "good reason." I actually hope that American car makers can make world cars, just as the Germans, Japanese and others have done. I actually think if I get a 2008 CTS, I will be possibly going back to what I could have had on a 2004 Audi A6 2.7T, well equipped. Looking at another Audi or an Infiniti or even a BMW, on the other hand, seems like I would be buying a new car. Somehow a 2008 CTS that is about at the content level of the 2004 A6 2.7T S-Line, seems "not right." The heck of it is, as evidenced by more than one post on this site, it is sometimes easy to acquire a European car that -- at MSRP -- is $10,000 more at MSRP for less than the less expensive American car. If a $45K CTS leases for about the same as a $55K German, there will be little motivation to "be automotively patriotic." The STS, last time, turned out to be less money to buy but more money to lease (which actually meant that the residual on the STS was really low.) So, a new Caddy is desirable for many reasons, but may also be unattractive when considered and compared to a European or Asian versions. My 2005 all optioned A6 is a prime example of a car that keeps getting younger, when stacked up against the newest 'Merican metal. 
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 16, 2007 7:19 pm) Just a cursory comparison: Audi--250hp on premium fuel, 5 speed automatic. CTS--300hp on regular fuel, 6 speed automatic. I don't "have a dog in this fight". My brother sells Audi. My father drives Cadillac. I own neither, but am considering both for purchase in early spring 2008.
|
|
|
Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 16, 2007 7:19 pm) The lease residuals I have seen for a 2008 CTS are: 24 mo 69% 30 mo 64% 36 mo 59% 48 mo 50% How do those compare with Audi, for 2008? - Ray NOT a leasing expert..... |
|
|
Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 16, 2007 7:19 pm) Other than the lack of a bluetooth phone system (which I don't think an '04 A6 had either), what is the new CTS lacking v. the rest of the class? The old A6's NAV was basically a joke, while the CTS' flip up touch screen is at least competitive, if maybe not class leading. The G35 and 335i are still my favorite entry-lux level cars, but the CTS doesn't seem like a last gen product to me. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: 150mphclub (Aug 17, 2007 5:31 am) I have grown to expect Bluetooth, pushbutton start, smart key, voice response for audio, nav and phone and a host of other "content" items. It is true that a 2004 Audi would have had only a 5 speed auto, but it would have been an SLine with 265 HP and 280 ft pounds of torque at under 2K rpm and I assume it would have equalled or been quicker than the new 2008. The issue is that the 2008 CTS seems to be just about where the cars Audi was manufacturing in June 2004 were. The 2005 A6 3.2 that I have commenced mfgring in July 2004; it is, I think, ahead of the CTS by some distance by my definition of "content." The fact that the CTS seems to be about $10K less is not a bad thing, but if the lease prices are close, well why bother with the CTS? The 2009 A6, if I can time it, might be a more satisfying , higher content (by my definition) and higher performing choice. The new CTS is a great effort and only about 3 years behind Audi, BMW and Infiniti -- If it is priced right, however, I'll overlook this (probably.)
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 17, 2007 3:51 pm) If you like gadgets, great. I don't. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: 150mphclub (Aug 17, 2007 7:00 pm) |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: 150mphclub (Aug 17, 2007 7:00 pm) Oh, and don't forget the multiple-motor exercising "feature" that moves the seat/mirrors/radio presets/temperature setting/mood lighting every time a different driver gets in the car. For my car, that would be about twice a year.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: cdnpinhead (Aug 18, 2007 4:39 am) While I am griping, how about, "if you want heated seats on that car (a real nice gadget where I live), you must also buy the $1700 sun roof that eliminates two inches of much needed head room."
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: 150mphclub (Aug 18, 2007 6:01 am) My wife can't drive an automatic, but fears she'll have to learn; she has pushbuttons on her BMW sport steering wheel, but doesn't know which one raises and lowers the volume on her stereo; cruise control -- "fuggetabouddit." I do think, however, she has come to envy (slightly) the ability to walk up to the car with a "full load" and have the car unlock; and, I know she wants a phone that responds to the command "dial number 123-4567." The former is mainly for convenience (I don't use the pushbutton start that often for the simple fact that the FAT key is not comfortable to leave in my pocket -- but I do like the auto recognition feature) but the latter is for safety and I do believe that "big brother" will start escalating the fines and other punishments if we do not "succumb" to Bluetooth with totally hands free and eyes free in-car telephoning. I have the built-in cradle for my wireless and, frankly, I am such a luddite, I still call it a car phone, choosing NEVER to remove it from my car even though it is about the size of a pack of gum (no I do not own an "i"-anything, it is a super small Sony phone that fits into the Audi cradle and uses the roof antenna and car's battery for power.) The cars that I like to DRIVE, have an array of "gadgets" typically that makes voice command, Bluetooth, etc, more and more "safety features" by virtue of the distraction reduction such technology permits. Parktronic -- well, even my "I'll row my own" wife, loves front and rear parktronic (on her X3.) We both enjoy the Xenon lights, LED usage and the fact that the lights turn with the steering wheel. AWD with a neutral or rear bias too is a technology we love -- maybe "gadget" suits, often the phrase used is "content." Memory power seats, I can take them or leave them since 99% of the time, I'm the only person who drives my car. However, I'll admit to having one button on the auto adjusting seats and mirrors programmed just to reduce what little inconvenience that 1% of the time may cause. I've got surround sound, sat radio and a 6 disk CD changer, don't own an ipod and wouldn't bother to populate a hard drive -- but Radio Tivo using the hard drive, well, "instant tang!" I grew up in an era where only the wealthy had a/c and power steering and brakes -- and only the really wealthy had power windows. Hard to find cars today without this "content." A 2008 anything that lacks these "choices" in a climate where the Japanese and the Europeans and even some of the Koreans have this stuff, seems to be a step backwards, no matter how much horsepower and gears you offer. I don't mind anyone's decision to deselect content (or gadgets) -- what I mind is bringing out a near LPS car as a 2008 model where so many cars (some at even lesser prices) have had this level of content available since 2004 (and earlier.) I mind not having the manual transmission offered if you want AWD -- but, I'll accept the auto shifter, since it has the 6th gear and the adaptive mode. You say potato and I'll say potaato. . . . 
|
|
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2007 Lexus GS 430
2011 Acura RL
2011 BMW 5 Series
2010 Volvo S80
2010 Audi A6
2010 Infiniti M35
2010 Infiniti M45
2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2010 Cadillac STS
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
