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Is Cadillac's Image Dying and Does Anyone Care?

6186 messages,  Last post on Mar 26, 2013 at 6:19 PM

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What is this discussion about? Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac XLR, Cadillac STS, Automotive News

    

Messages Page 6 of 619

#49 of 6186 Re: Lemko..... [nvbanker] by rockylee

Nov 28, 2006 (12:55 am)

Replying to: nvbanker (Nov 27, 2006 6:59 pm)
I was defending the Lincoln MKZ and MKS against the competition. The Navigator OTOH, is a nice SUV, like I said but it lacks elegance, refinement and isn't as good as the Escalade or GL 450. The "Old and Tired" gas guzzling 5.4 V-8 was a embarrassment engine for ford to use. It has 300 hp. but feels more like 200 hp. The Navigator, does have a few features not found in the Escalade, but the same can be said about the Escalade vs. Navigator. The Mercedes GL 450, is no doubt a nice SUV, but even it doesn't have the interior design, quality, gadgetry the Escalade, offers to its customers. It is more of a Status SUV, and one has to click the option box several times before you get into Escalade levels in equipment. I also raise eyebrows to the Mercedes supposed 335 hp engine running Escalade 0-60 times identical to the 403 hp. Slade. I personally think the Merc test was done with a stop watch, and the guy holding the stop watched clicked the button a bit prematurely like at 50 mph or they secretly used a Chip or programmer for the the Merc. WHATEVER, it just doesn't add up to me and I wouldn't put it passed Motor Trends anti-gm staff.
 
I also will comment on some posters cheap shots at the UAW workers. Again, as a reminder when did the UAW assume responsibility for designing or engineering of GM vehicals ??????? I'm still waiting for my answer. I also take the UAW workers not caring about the building of the vehicals with the tools, machinery, given to them as a insult because my family did/do care, and did the best job they could.
 
So my point is this..... Lincoln and Cadillac, are turning their brands around. The Lincoln MKZ, no doubt will be a sales success and with a bit more more that is rumored to come in a couple of years will no doubt help it out. I also think Lincoln, needs to give customers a manual transmission option for the MKZ. The Lincoln MKS concept is a beauty. If it looks like the concept and if the rumors are true that Lincoln, is exploring even more gadgets to add the the already gadget filled MKS, we could have a benchmark if Lincoln adds that 3.7 Twin Turbo with over 350+ hp. It might not be as great as lets say a Lexus LS, or a Audi A8, in some peoples eyes but it will win plenty of consumers because it will offer the customer a premium value. The value concept started by Acura, has made that brand a winner. Acura, made a blunder by not giving the RL, competitive performance and did leave the 6-speed automatic and ventilated seats out of the equation.
 
Cadillac, has a chance to not only topple what the MKZ, does well with the CTS, but they have a chance to pass by BMW's 335i. If I was GM, I'd take the Direct Injection 3.6 High Feature V-6 and add two turbo's to it. They already have made this engine and tested it in the Velite. The BMW 335i run 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. I'd make sure the CTS, does it in 4.7-4.8 range and pulls a .90 minimum on the skid pad. If GM, has to charge BMW 335i prices on a fully optioned CTS, to be the new benchmark then that is what they need to shoot for. The 2008' from what we've seen appears to have a much better interior. It now just needs the gadgets like ventilated seats, Mega-Watt DVD-Audio, voice recognition system w/ Navi, and perhaps a pre-collision, adaptive cruise, etc etc etc.
 
The next STS, flat out needs a better quality interior and about 80 more horsepower. It also could use some more gadgets if they want to charge $60+K large ones.
 
The DTS, needs RWD and needs to be in long wheel-base trim only. It needs to be a big-body and give the customer bigger than Mercedes S-class interior volume with reclining rear seats with heat, massage, ventilation. It also needs some more gadgetry and should chase Mercedes, Lexus big sedans.
 
The SRX, is finally getting some much needed upgrades. It needs a shot of steroids, some more gadgetry, and it will blow the MKX, away in sales.
 
The XLR, needs to be overhauled and GM, needs to take the Mercedes SL, and make the XLR, exceed every area of advantage the SL, has over it or otherwise they might as well scrap this idea. How bout adding a 6-speed manual option or F-1 inspired Paddle shifters with 500-600 horsepower ? The XLR, also needs to tone down those sharp edges since its more likely a conservative buyer will be cross shopping it with the SL.
 
Rocky
 
P.S. NV, you know you bought the Navigator, because of the power running boards. Well thats the conclusion I got when reading about the 07' Navigator, and the former owners trading down from a Slade to a Gator. Oops, as lemko, said it might of been this years case was the consumers wanted those retro instrument gauges.

#50 of 6186 Re: Standard of the World? [thomasw] by rockylee

Nov 28, 2006 (12:59 am)

Replying to: thomasw (Nov 27, 2006 2:44 pm)
Consumers NOT Reported, is more like it.....
 
Isn't the bible that some of you consumers think it is. Whatever, we won't kick this dead horse again.
 
Rocky

#51 of 6186 Re: Lemko..... [terry92270] by rockylee

Nov 28, 2006 (1:02 am)

Replying to: terry92270 (Nov 27, 2006 7:26 pm)
LOL, whatever .....You know you'd rather be driving a Slade. At least you wouldn't have to worry about being stranded along side of the road yelling for help in a Escalade !!!
 
Rocky

#52 of 6186 Re: I would say: [sls002] by rockylee

Nov 28, 2006 (1:08 am)

Replying to: sls002 (Nov 27, 2006 2:30 pm)
sls, What ?????
 
Rolls Royce with their wimpy gas hawging V-12. Why buy a Rolls, when a Bently is the same thing only a bit better ?
 
The Cadillac Sixteen would be the greatest 1,000 hp/1,000lbs tq. car ever made and could be driven as a daily driver unlike the Bugatti, which needs maintence every other day at Ten$ of thousand$ a pop.
 
I'm with lemko, it would out class everything and would be "The Standard Of The Universe".
 
Rocky

#53 of 6186 ... by anythngbutgm

Nov 28, 2006 (7:15 am)

lol, How many Escalades do you think sell in Europe??? And the SRX as the Standard of CUV's? lol. Sales don't really back that conclusion up. I've looked at Kia's that had better interior quality than the CTS.
 
And as far as performance is concerned, I don't care if Caddy had a 1000 hp, Autobahn eating monster with a 6-speed manual, sport suspension and a big fat whale tail a la 911 Porsche, if it is sharing a showroom floor with a Front wheel drive DTS sporting wire wheels, a landau roof and curb feelers, with some greasy slimeball salesman named "Slick rick" trying to sell me a car with an AARP discount, I still wouldn't go near a Caddy dealer.
 
And a line of pickup truck based SUV's that were enrolled in a "Pimp my Ride" workshop is not how you "One-up" the competiton... Last I checked, Benz, BMW and Audi weren't scrambling to build an EXT fighter...
 
Sorry, Cadillac will always be the "Standard of GM"... A Standard given by those who have never experienced what a real luxury performance BRAND brings to the table. It's more than just one or two cars mixed in with a bunch of duds.

#54 of 6186 Re: ... [anythngbutgm] by lemko

Nov 28, 2006 (7:42 am)

Replying to: anythngbutgm (Nov 28, 2006 7:15 am)
The last time a DeVille had wire wheel covers was 1993. Where the heck have you been? Curb-feelers, et al are AFTERMARKET. If you have a problem with them, blame the owner of the vehicle, not its manufacturer. I've seen plenty of pimped-out Bimmers, Benzes, and Lexi. My salesman had a professional demeanor and I was never offered an AARP discount. Get with the times!

#55 of 6186 Re: ... [lemko] by rockylee

Nov 28, 2006 (7:55 am)

Replying to: lemko (Nov 28, 2006 7:42 am)
I agree "anything" is lost in the past and still hates GM, as he did in the 1970's or 80's. One of these days he will get bad service from his foreign car dealer and then what ?
 
I guess everybody dislikes something and "anythings" bone is with GM.
 
Rocky

#56 of 6186 Re: ... [anythngbutgm] by imidazol97

Nov 28, 2006 (8:37 am)

Replying to: anythngbutgm (Nov 28, 2006 7:15 am)
>"Slick rick" trying to sell me a car with an AARP discount,
 
What's wrong with AARP discounts. I've used them since 50. I'll bet if I stop at the BMW dealer they'll find an equivalent--maybe GARP discount oder Deutsche ARP.

#57 of 6186 Re: ... [imidazol97] by rockylee

Nov 28, 2006 (8:44 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Nov 28, 2006 8:37 am)
ROTF !!!!!!
 
Rocky

#58 of 6186 Re: I would say: [rockylee] by sls002

Nov 28, 2006 (8:49 am)

Replying to: rockylee (Nov 28, 2006 1:08 am)
The Cadillac Sixteen could outclass everything, if, and only if, Cadillac builds it to outclass everything. However, GM in general, and Cadillac in particular, tends to build stuff to industry average rather than set new standards for the class. The Saturn Aura does indicate that GM may be changing. I am not sure how much of an improvement the 2007 SRX interior really is though.
 
Bentley is now owned by Volkswagen, and is not the same thing as a Rolls anymore. Bentley does have two E's.

Messages Page 6 of 619

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