Inside Line 2008 Cadillac CTS First Drive, Full Test and Long Term

55 messages, Last post on Jul 17, 2009 at 6:09 PM

You are in the Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Cadillac CTS, Sedan

First Drive: 2008 Cadillac CTS - This substantial 2.0-inch track increase improves handling, as it's easier to manage body roll and weight transfer. The new ZF Servotronic steering forward of the axle (a packaging measure largely related to the availability of all-wheel drive) improves steering precision. (more)

Full Test: 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI - Cadillac has stopped trying to be German, something it is not. Instead it has rediscovered itself and produced a uniquely American sport sedan without peer. That's a bold statement for sure, but name another American car like the 2008 Cadillac CTS. (more)

Long-Term Test: 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI - What We Bought: It all starts with the engine. With the 550-horsepower supercharged LS9 not being available for the CTS until next year, we were left with only two engine choices: a 3.6-liter V6 or a 3.6-liter V6. One has the benefit of direct fuel injection and makes 39 more horses. (more)

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Messages Page 6 of 6: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; Prev; Next; Last

#48 of 55 A little too little too late!!! by tonkatoytruck Jul 10, 2009 (7:20 am)
I have always owned "American" cars. So did my dad. But after two generations of loyalty, I had had enough. I bought a German car instead for my last luxury\sport sedan. My loyalty failed when "American" car manufacturers no longer manufactured their own parts from beginning to end and exported all the jobs overseas. Assembly is just a small part of the overall manufacturing process and now America is paying the price for cheaper products. My new car has been flawless, has a build quality only a European car owner can appreciate, and has more power (V8) and still gets better gas mileage than the car featured in this article. I don't place all the blame on the "American" car industry. Our government has provided no protection or any type of level playing field. Insurance, pensions, health care, fair wages, workmans comp, safety, environmental protection, etc. ALL cost a great deal of money and that is hard to compete with when it is not a concern in other third world countries. The world is changing and I have "taken the last one for the team". Do I feel guilty? Hell no!!! I will go back to buying "American" cars when GM, Chrysler, and Ford starting manufactuing their parts in America!!!!
#49 of 55 Depreciation not correct by stingray454 Jul 10, 2009 (11:30 am)
Edmunds calculated the depreciation at 41%. Check the numbers again - it was actually 35% (sold price versus purchase price). The sticker price is irrelevant if that isn't what you paid. I find it interesting that Edmunds had all these little rattles and annoyances, when Motor Trend's long term CTS has had none of them. I also think they would have been commented on far less if Edmunds had brought the CTS back to the dealer to have them fixed promptly, instead of leaving them be for a year and having them fixed at the end of the test. At least none of the problems were major. The CTS certainly faired better than my '03 Infiniti G35 Coupe. In 2 years and 23k miles, my Infiniti had the transmission replaced, two clutches replaced due to chattering (not me - I've been driving sticks for 20 years, and never wore out a clutch, or broke a tranny), the stereo head unit replaced after it ate all 6 of my CD's, numerous rattles since the day I drove it off the dealer's lot brand new, and a nasty moonroof pop sound in the roof. In spite of all the problems with the G35, I still enjoyed the car. But I wouldn't say Infiniti's quality is all that great. I think I'm going to take my chances with a 2010 CTS-V. If the quality is even slightly better than my Infiniti's, it'll be great. And I'm confident it will be. Replies to this message: tonkatoytruck (Jul 11, 2009 4:55 am)
#50 of 55 Unfortunate truth by 6sptl Jul 10, 2009 (2:09 pm)
As has been reported, reliability on the CTs has been pretty poor (check CR reliability rankings). It also looks like the car didn't get a lot of passanger service or they would have noticed the poor front passanger sitting position caused by intrusion of the tranny well into their footspace. Its a sad story that GM's "best" product is hobbled by what is simply poor worksmanship and less than stellar product engineering. AS you have mentioned The DI v6 is a world class engine but if the rest of the car doesn't measure up its a moot point. We can only hope that the new GM can live up to its promises, if not it will permanently disappear. Replies to this message: ewl88 (Jul 11, 2009 9:29 am)
#51 of 55 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Cadillac CTS First Drive [KarenS] by dgs4 Jul 11, 2009 (12:26 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Jul 26, 2007 11:07 am) What is this crap I'm reading all the time here about "supporting the home team?" Why? So I can drive around in an inferior automobile? No, American car companies have a lot to prove to me before I ever purchase one. Their complete lack of innovation, quality, fuel efficiency, and reliability over the past 25 years has soured me to ever owning an American car, regardless of whether it's the "home team" or not. The only thing I support is my wallet, because Obama sure as hell isn't going to give me a handout. And my hard earned money goes to the better product, not the home team, which is why I own a 2009 Honda Fit, made in Japan and proud of it. The American car companies could only dream of having a subcompact as fuel efficient, reliable, well made, and fun to drive.
#52 of 55 Re: Depreciation not correct [stingray454] by tonkatoytruck Jul 11, 2009 (4:55 am)
Replying to: stingray454 (Jul 10, 2009 11:30 am) I hope you plan on keeping your planned purchase for a long time because 41% depreciation is deplorable. I would get an M5 or an E63 instead if it were my money. I would also check true delta's website for more info on Cadillacs reliability.
#53 of 55 Re: Unfortunate truth [6sptl] by ewl88 Jul 11, 2009 (9:29 am)
Replying to: 6sptl (Jul 10, 2009 2:09 pm) Agree the CTS's reliability has been subpar. I chose a infiniti G35 over the CTS and haven't regretted my decision. I will consider the CTS when my G35 lease is up IF GM gets the reliability, worksmanship up. The performance and look of this 2nd generation CTS was good but if you're paying extra for a luxury brand, you shouldn't suffer in reliability.
#54 of 55 CTS reliability by sevenfeet0 Jul 13, 2009 (12:48 pm)
I'm not sure that we can pass judgement on the CTS' reliability until we see more data. A single data point is useful but ultimately lousy to rely on for a statement on the entire line. That being said, I'm surprised that if you had such problems getting a dealer to take a problem seriously that you didn't take your business elsewhere. My dealer wouldn't have left those issues lie. Rattles are hard to isolate, but I've had a similar radio issue with my Cadillac SRX. The solution? Replace the entire radio assembly. Problem solved.
#55 of 55 G35 vs. CTS by azcardude Jul 17, 2009 (6:09 pm)
I bought a new 2008 G35 S. A few months later, my next-door neighbor wanted a new car, but said that my Infiniti just didn't have enough bling for him. He knows I'm a life long car nut and asked me for suggestions. I told him about the Cadillac CTS and went with him to see it, drive it, and help negotiate his deal. He bought a shiny, black CTS with more bling that any house on my block needs. At least the car is a looker. It needs some sort of salvation. The bad experience started with the purchase at the dealer. Our experience at the Cadillac dealer was not a good one. I was ashamed that this dealer in Tempe, Arizona even considered itself as a purveyor of upmarket automobiles; especially when compared with the treatment received when I bought the Infiniti. It is now a year later, my Infiniti is a dream. Fast, tight, no rattles or squeaks, and I've never had a problem yet. I even got the wheels chromed to add some bling. After a year, I'm embarrassed about having recommended the Cadillac to my neighbor. I'm so glad he loves the looks of the car, because he'd shoot me otherwise. First, the dealer never followed through on most of the promises during the buying experience. His car has been plagued with problems from the moment he bought it. In addition to the myriad of squeaks and rattles that you have mentioned, he has had problems with the dash lifting and warping, the sunroof leaking and noisy. The real spoiler has lifted off of the trunk lid. The NAV system has broken twice. Various windows have stopped working. The sound system has checked out of service a few times and....the list goes on and on. The most disappointing thing to me is to ride in the CTS and listen to all of the rattles and groans of the body, especially when the body flexes going over a bump of any kind. I was so excited about the future of Cadillac when this car first came out. Now it has proven to be just another pretty car that is built far inferior to its competition. Will GM ever learn? The engine and tranny are nice; i will give it that. But, then again, after driving his CTS and then getting back into my G35, I smile from ear to ear and am thankful I bought what I did.