new Cadillac CTS drive comparo - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

palantirion · 3rd January 2008, 00:50

I got invited to a Cadillac CTS comparison drive. I also invited a friend, who drives a Honda Pilot and more typically qualifies as an average American car owner. The event kicked off with some free food and a short introductory speech about the features and advancements of the new CTS. Then we were free to make our own way to the autoX course and test drive the CTS, in 2WD and AWD versions (the former had FE3 and the latter FE2 suspension), an E90 325, a C300, and some Lexus mushmobile (I think it was the ES). Here is a picture of the event:

My review:
The CTS is a noticeable improvement over the previous car, but still noticeably less refined than a BMW. The leather was top-notch, comparable to Lexus', and the interior looks really nice but is too needs to be roomier in terms of width. Cadillac FINALLY allows you to open a locked door from the inside by pulling the handle, one of my longstanding GM gripes. I wasn't able to test the Nav to see if you can now operate it while the vehicle is moving. I don't care for the pop-up screen though, as it's ugly when up and pointless when down. They would have been much better off just to make it a built-in like BMW. The car handles ok, hampered only by its weight (several hundred pounds more than the others), but shimmies over bumps more than the MB or BMW. The Lexus doesn't shimmy, but it doesn't handle either - think of a very well built "your father's Oldsmobile". The BMW was by far the best handling car, even though it was a stripper vs. the loaded Caddies. While waiting in line to drive the other cars the attendant would call out the next car as it became available. Every time he called out "BMW" both my friend an I took an involuntary step forward before catching ourselves that we had already driven it

The 325 did seem to be the smallest on the inside, but more in a cozy not cramped way. As opposed to the CTS, which was a little cramped even though there was more mathematical space. The MB C300 was ok, but came across as a "cheap" car because of the interior. I'd consider it on par with an entry-level Volvo, certainly not luxurious. It handled competently, but offered little feedback. It's ride quality was ok, but I expected more given the degree of body roll it exhibited during cornering.

Overall the new CTS is a decent car. BMWs handle better, Lexus's ride better. The visual bulk of the CTS doesn't add up to more useable interior space, but it does show up during acceleration. The 325 is just as quick to 60mph, with 70 fewer HP :yikes: The best thing I can say about the CTS is that it is inexpensive compared to its competition, but it is also cheaper.

p.s. I also noticed these fitment issues on the display CTS they had sitting static in the presentation room. This IS the same car, just the right and left of the front grill:

Here is my friend's review of the cars:
BMW:
It was the most fun to drive of the four. It seemed to have a more coherent sense of purpose in design, and seemed like a nice entry level sporty sedan. For the price, the interior had a little too much plastic and seemed cheap. I also would have preferred a less confining leg tunnel. It seemed to handle the best of the four makes we tried. Keep in mind I'm used to SUVs with plenty of room around my knees, so my preferences are biased towards lots of room. Over the years of frustrating daily commutes, I began to gravitate towards comfortable SUVs where I could stretch out, listen to an Audio Book and try to forget that I'm stuck in traffic. Driving the BMW made me wish that I had the budget to add a sportier car to my garage for when I want to actually enjoy driving rather than simply endure it.

Lexus:
A disappointingly bland car for the price. It seemed sterile and lacked identity. I felt like even if I owned one, I would have a hard time picking it out in a parking lot. It wasn't much fun to drive, and felt as if the designers were trying to shelter the driver from the sensation of driving. The steering wheel didn't transmit the feel of the road and I felt more like a passenger than a driver. Although it could have been caused by my lack of performance driving skills, I had a more difficult time getting this car to corner the way I expected, and found it harder to predict the inertia changes and weight transfers than I did the other vehicles. If I received this car as a gift I would sell it as quickly as possible without driving it much.

Mercedes:
Exactly what I expected from a Mercedes, and my second favorite of the four brands we tried, though I still wouldn't care to own one. Although it also overly insulated the driver from the feel of the road, I felt reasonably comfortable driving it and it felt very predictable in turns. A decent car for an average Joe who wants to feel like they've got something with a tiny bit of power and luxury, yet without the need to really feel the road and appreciate the nuances of driving. The sort of thing you might give to a Mother-In-Law or a member of the Red Hat Society.

Cadillac:
All in all it made a good showing for the market it is trying to capture, but it still isn't for me. Acceleration and handling seem significantly improved from what I remember about previous models. Interior was comfortable, and I especially liked the leather on the seats and dash. The wood burl accents seemed a little too artificial, as if they were ordinary plastic. Given the brand name and price, I would have expected a slightly more luxurious feel, with more open space around my legs instead of the large and not particularly useful center console. I didn't care for the slowly retractable GPS screen, nor the apparent inability to use the graphical interface while driving. Also, the graphical user interface seemed to put showiness before ease of use, much in the way Windows Vista added a lot of pretty but useless eye candy to the user environment. I could be semi-content in one of these for a weekend rental, but would prefer the BMW or even the Mercedes (not that any of these are common rental models).

kosmo · 3rd January 2008, 02:05

I guess I wont be getting the CTS-V...

DouglasABaker · 3rd January 2008, 02:35

Thanks for the review Palantiron

I test drove a new CTS-V (the old model) before settling on my M, and the biggest concern I had was that the interior materials didn't seem to be very high quality - too much plastic for that expensive a car. It sounds like they have addressed these concerns in the new version (which, as a former US auto employee makes me happy - I might have a good reason to buy American for my next car!).

Anyway, a couple of observations / questions if I might:
1. Could you tell if the wood trim was real wood or imitation? It can be hard to tell (like our dashboards!) without seeing an edge since the two blend so much these days...
2. I wouldn't place too much stock in the grill being misaligned unless there were a lot of those types of quality issue. For whatever reason, my company (not GM, but close!) used to use prototype vehicles for show and they occasionally had small issues (since they were prototypes!). It may also have been a former test drive unit that needed to be ummm, "retired" after some uh, "aggressive" driving. I obviously don't know one way or the other, but I would suggest withholding judgement on fit and finish until you are looking at a vehicle on a dealer lot. If those have issues, then, well...
3. Did you have a chance to ask about the upcoming V (may be out already, but I don't think so)? While a CTS is interesting, unless it comes with 400hp and a 6 speed it just doesn't do much for me :P At $30-40K less than a new M5, I suspect it may attract a few folks...

d-

DouglasABaker · 3rd January 2008, 02:37

How come? He drove a regular CTS, not a V. The V is as close to the CTS and the M is to the 530...

d-

Diny · 3rd January 2008, 02:43

The dealer at which I bought the M5 had a CTS-V for the exact same price as the M5. I debated getting the CTS-V for a while but then I remembered that I went there to see the M5, not the CTS-V (that I couldve gone to see at any dealer).

I do like the "fact" that they improved on the new one. I like the looks better and the interior is shaping up to be better. My boss leased a regular CTS and now has the new one in his sights.

DouglasABaker · 3rd January 2008, 03:06

Diny -

Were you going to look at an E60 M5 or an E39? I can't believe the CTS-V was priced anywhere either - an E60 should have been more than a new CTS-V and an E39 should have been much less I would have thought...

d-

Diny · 3rd January 2008, 03:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

Diny -

Were you going to look at an E60 M5 or an E39? I can't believe the CTS-V was priced anywhere either - an E60 should have been more than a new CTS-V and an E39 should have been much less I would have thought...

d-

E39. It was the one I ended up buying. A MY 2000 with 59k miles.

DouglasABaker · 3rd January 2008, 05:53

Interesting - I would have expected that vehicle to go for considerably less than a V, although now that I think about it, the V is off the last chassis and over a year old, so I guess it makes sense...

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DRM · 3rd January 2008, 06:09

A Caddy, 325, Lexus, and small Merc?? Earl, you have waaaay too much time on your hands!!

palantirion · 3rd January 2008, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

Anyway, a couple of observations / questions if I might:
1. Could you tell if the wood trim was real wood or imitation? It can be hard to tell (like our dashboards!) without seeing an edge since the two blend so much these days...

-I thought it looked ok, but if you KNOW wood you won't be impressed by wood trim on any vehicle south of a Rolls

At best they look like high-quality laminate - no grain depth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

2. I wouldn't place too much stock in the grill being misaligned unless there were a lot of those types of quality issue. For whatever reason, my company (not GM, but close!) used to use prototype vehicles for show and they occasionally had small issues (since they were prototypes!). It may also have been a former test drive unit that needed to be ummm, "retired" after some uh, "aggressive" driving. I obviously don't know one way or the other, but I would suggest withholding judgement on fit and finish until you are looking at a vehicle on a dealer lot. If those have issues, then, well...

-We'll see...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

3. Did you have a chance to ask about the upcoming V (may be out already, but I don't think so)? While a CTS is interesting, unless it comes with 400hp and a 6 speed it just doesn't do much for me :P At $30-40K less than a new M5, I suspect it may attract a few folks...

-No, I figured we already know enough. V8 from the Vette, either a 6-spd man or auto, probably the same crappy clutch and shifter as the last one. Time will tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRM

A Caddy, 325, Lexus, and small Merc?? Earl, you have waaaay too much time on your hands!!

-Free food and walking distance from my house