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Is Cadillac's Image Dying and Does Anyone Care?

6189 messages,  Last post on Jun 14, 2013 at 7:47 AM

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

    

Messages Page 548 of 620

#5467 of 6189 Replying to bumpy. by carfanforever

Sep 18, 2008 (11:14 pm)

The current STS is not selling well. It is smaller than the car it replaced, and that reminds me of 1986, when Cadillac replaced the bustleback Seville, which was a big car that was popular and sold well, with a much smaller European-inspired car. That car did not sell well either. I think history is repeating itself.
 
The XLR is a great luxury sports car, (Light-years better than Cadillac's last attempt at this type of car, the Allante) but is has failed too. I think that only underscores my point. People in the market for certain cars will not buy a Cadillac, no matter how good it may be.
 
The Escalade is a good full-size luxury suv. That is an important market now, so Cadillac needs the big truck.
 
Finally, the DTS is the heart & soul of Cadillac. The only problem is that we should have had a new one by now. Cadillac really dropped the ball not investing in it's bread & butter car.
 
A stretched CTS? I would agree if it is stretched to the proportions of the 1998-2004 Seville and replaces the current STS. I do think the CTS variants arriving next year will help, but I do not think CTS variants alone are enough. Cadillac needs new big car products, world-class big car products like it used to do in the past.

#5468 of 6189 Re: Replying to bumpy. [bumpy] by 62vetteefp

Sep 19, 2008 (4:58 am)

Replying to: bumpy (Sep 18, 2008 8:54 pm)
but it looks like Caddy is getting a rebodied Saturn VUE.
 
A little more than that. Actually it sounds like it should almost be considered a new architecture?
 
Theta Premium
GM is preparing a premium version of Theta. Reports differ, but the general consensus is that it is a combination of the current Theta and elements of the new Epsilon 2 architecture, with some Lambda components as well. So far, the only models are the Saab 9-4X and Cadillac SRX. Despite the fact that these vehicles are loosely based on Theta, which is often used for small CUVs, it is believed that these will actually be midsized, since many have predicted that the 9-4X replace the similarly sized Saab 9-7X. There are also rumors of 7-seater TE (Theta-Epsilon) models under development.
 
Vehicles using Theta Premium:
 
2010 Saab 9-4X
2010 Cadillac SRX
 
I currently drive an Enclave but if they came out with a 6 seater CUV I would go to that. Just need to be able to carry 4 kids. Luggage space is not that important to me.

#5469 of 6189 Re: Replying to bumpy. [carfanforever] by lemko

Sep 19, 2008 (5:08 am)

Replying to: carfanforever (Sep 18, 2008 11:14 pm)
I bought my DTS because it is similar to the 2002 Seville STS I previously owned. I would've bought a new STS, but it is a way smaller car than my 2002 model and I often get the new STS confused with the CTS as they too close in size. I also seem to prefer the interior of the previous STS to the new one.
 
I realize the DTS is just a facelift of the 2000-2005 car, but it works for me. The facelift makes the car look a lot sleeker, the old taillights reminded me too much of an old Lincoln Town Car, and the interior is way nicer than the 2000-05 car.
 
I would've LOVED it if I could get a RWD/AWD DTS. Maybe next time?

#5470 of 6189 Re: Replying to bumpy. [carfanforever] by sls002

Sep 19, 2008 (7:40 am)

Replying to: carfanforever (Sep 18, 2008 11:14 pm)
The bustleback Seville did not sell that well, about 33,000 per year. The first generation Seville sold at nearly 50,000 per year. However the small Seville sold at a 20,000 per year rate at first, but finished up at 25,000+.
 
The Deville used to be the best seller of the Cadillac line. Now the CTS is the best seller, perhaps because of price. The DTS (or Deville) is second best. The Escalade is next 35,000. The STS and SRX sell at the same rate, about 22,000.

#5471 of 6189 Re: Replying to bumpy. [bumpy] by sls002

Sep 19, 2008 (7:44 am)

Replying to: bumpy (Sep 18, 2008 8:54 pm)
The CTS is on a dead end platform. What I mean is that the CTS will be the last production model on the sigma platform. The so called global RWD platform (Pontiac G8, Camaro) will replace the sigma.

#5472 of 6189 excitement over the CTS by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Sep 19, 2008 (10:53 am)

"It's normal to draw some attention at a car launch, but the whooping, hollering and waving the CTS received from passers-by was something quite unprecedented. Barrel-chested and with a deep furrow in its brow, it's a menacing, extravagant beast that seems to elicit an instant response from people."
 
Showing off a real swagger (Mail & Guardian)

#5473 of 6189 Re: Replying to bumpy. [lemko] by bumpy

Sep 19, 2008 (11:19 am)

Replying to: lemko (Sep 19, 2008 5:08 am)
Speaking of the 2nd-gen bigbody Deville, I saw one today tagged 'DHS'. Any idea what the H was supposed to stand for? Hearse?
 
I also saw a CTS with a full brown carriage roof, a V-type grille, and some sort of flower-petal wheels.

#5474 of 6189 Re: excitement over the CTS [steve_] by circlew

Sep 19, 2008 (11:40 am)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Sep 19, 2008 10:53 am)
"When the going gets twisty, however -- as tested over the Outeniqua pass -- the CTS does not deliver on the implicit sportiness in the spec sheet. Although it has good grip, it does not inspire confidence or handle in a razor-sharp manner. It favours wider, longer sweeps in which it can use power reserves, as opposed to the delicate switchbacks that favour more precise machines."
 
Regards,
OW

#5475 of 6189 Re: Replying to bumpy. [bumpy] by lemko

Sep 19, 2008 (11:42 am)

Replying to: bumpy (Sep 19, 2008 11:19 am)
That had to be an older car. The big Caddy had three levels around 2000-03 or so: DeVille, DHS, and DTS. Don't know what the "H" stood for."
 
As for tacky add-on CRAP like carriage roofs and stupid wheels, blame that on the owner and the dealer that provides that garbage, not Cadillac. I keep my cars free of that stuff.

#5476 of 6189 Re: Replying to bumpy. [bumpy] by sls002

Sep 19, 2008 (11:45 am)

Replying to: bumpy (Sep 19, 2008 11:19 am)
DHS was the high luxury sedan. This model was sort of a replacement for the old Fleetwood models after they discontinued the RWD Fleetwood. I think that this started around model year 2000.

Messages Page 548 of 620

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