Aside from an Escalade, would anyone here buy a Caddy? IMO, just the name evokes 'Florida geriatric retirement community mobile'. Regardless of how this car performs (which is all hearsay for now), I would never own one. 550hp, 7-800. Doesn't matter to me. GM needs to do some serious damage control to fix the image of their marques. While this is a step in the right direction, it's still too little too late from my point of view.
I dunno Boner. The LAST vehicle on earth I would acquire is an Escalade; or any SUV/SAV, for that matter. But I've noticed for several years that SOME of GM's effort to produce good cars within certain of their brands is starting to pay dividends. With the C5 Corvette (I used to own one - heavily modded by Guldstrand), there was dramatic improvement over C4 and predecessors. C6 elevated the bar even more. Cadillac moved beyond "just" the geriatric crowd several years ago with it's initial CTS and derivative models. The Aussie Holden derived GTO had it's flaws, but was still a hellava car at it's price point (my best friend/car buddy had an '05 with a few good suspension mods; 'really liked that car; nothing ever went wrong with it, either) Hell, even the new pedestrian Malibu is gettting great reviews.
So I think GM has made real progress. Styling is always subjective, but this new CTS-V, at it's probable price point and all around performance envelope, deserves a serious look from any sports sedan enthusiast. Build quality is another matter; but the German mfgr's have fallen far, far down in their QC ratings. IMO, they've got a lot of "reputation repair" work to do, too.
Last, but not least, Bob Lutz, GM's resident "car guy" senior executive, appears to be having quite an impact. It's taken awhile, and at age 70+, 'dunno how much longer he'll be at GM. I hope it's long enough to see his input fully come to fruition.
'Not defending GM; they dragged their butts for decades. There's steady improvement, though. But more to do; that's for sure.
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Dan
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Daily Driver
'02 M5 (Chiaretto Red Metallic w/black napa full heritage leather/wood trim/leather Euro cntr console/BSW speakers and sub) Sig series Dinan S/C'd S3 package/ Dinan S3 clutch-flywheel/Dinan high capacity oil cooler /Dinan forged aluminum wheels/Dinan SSK/Dinan - Brembo BBK/Stg 3 Dinan - JRZ suspension/monoballs/275-35-18 RA 1's all around
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The "Predator"
'02 996TT w/X50 (slate grey metallic w/full natural grey leather, small carbon package, aluminum trim pieces, exterior color painted wheels, etc, etc).
EVOMS Stage 4 (640hp/615tq)
PSS9 w/F&R H&R sways and EVOMS F&R shock tower braces
Sachs clutch and Porsche SSK
Toyo RA-1's 245/18 fronts; 305/18 rears
I dunno Boner. The LAST vehicle on earth I would acquire is an Escalade; or any SUV/SAV, for that matter. But I've noticed for several years that SOME of GM's effort to produce good cars within certain of their brands is starting to pay dividends. With the C5 Corvette (I used to own one - heavily modded by Guldstrand), there was dramatic improvement over C4 and predecessors. C6 elevated the bar even more. Cadillac moved beyond "just" the geriatric crowd several years ago with it's initial CTS and derivative models. The Aussie Holden derived GTO had it's flaws, but was still a hellava car at it's price point (my best friend/car buddy had an '05 with a few good suspension mods; 'really liked that car; nothing ever went wrong with it, either) Hell, even the new pedestrian Malibu is gettting great reviews.
So I think GM has made real progress. Styling is always subjective, but this new CTS-V, at it's probable price point and all around performance envelope, deserves a serious look from any sports sedan enthusiast. Build quality is another matter; but the German mfgr's have fallen far, far down in their QC ratings. IMO, they've got a lot of "reputation repair" work to do, too.
Last, but not least, Bob Lutz, GM's resident "car guy" senior executive, appears to be having quite an impact. It's taken awhile, and at age 70+, 'dunno how much longer he'll be at GM. I hope it's long enough to see his input fully come to fruition.
'Not defending GM; they dragged their butts for decades. There's steady improvement, though. But more to do; that's for sure.
As much as I despise SUV's, I have one as a matter of necessity. For me, their sole purpose is utilitarian, but if one needs the luxury to go with it, not many do better than a 'Scalde.
My comments were not directed at GM in general, but Caddy in particular. While all American brands carry a certain degree of mediocrity, some have it more than others. I think most would agree that the Z06, the FGT, and the soon to be ZR1 are genuine forays into the premium/supercar realm (all of which I would be happy to own, BTW). But Caddy has just failed one after the other. The XLR was (I think) their last attempt at a premium auto to top their lineup. Well, gee, still don't see too many of those driving around.
Like I said, this new 550hp offering is a step in the right direction, but to me, a Caddy is a Caddy.
Aside from an Escalade, would anyone here buy a Caddy? IMO, just the name evokes 'Florida geriatric retirement community mobile'. Regardless of how this car performs (which is all hearsay for now), I would never own one. 550hp, 7-800. Doesn't matter to me. GM needs to do some serious damage control to fix the image of their marques. While this is a step in the right direction, it's still too little too late from my point of view.
And therein lies the problem. Everything but the DTS doesnt fit your bill but you think it does (the real problem for GM). Until people on this board dont think this GM is screwed. And the DTS is a good car to ride in the back of....
Pimp Slade owner
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2006 E60 M5 - Black Sapphire Metallic - Brushed Aluminum over Black Merino extended - everything but the ski bag, 3M clear bra, 50% Huper tint, IPod
mods : Evosport Pulley
2007 Cadillac Escalade (wife's car)
2004 530i - Silver Grey Metallic (gone to wherever it is lease cars go)
Last edited by Groovdog; 10th January 2008 at 20:49.
As much as I despise SUV's, I have one as a matter of necessity. For me, their sole purpose is utilitarian, but if one needs the luxury to go with it, not many do better than a 'Scalde.
My comments were not directed at GM in general, but Caddy in particular. While all American brands carry a certain degree of mediocrity, some have it more than others. I think most would agree that the Z06, the FGT, and the soon to be ZR1 are genuine forays into the premium/supercar realm (all of which I would be happy to own, BTW). But Caddy has just failed one after the other. The XLR was (I think) their last attempt at a premium auto to top their lineup. Well, gee, still don't see too many of those driving around.
Like I said, this new 550hp offering is a step in the right direction, but to me, a Caddy is a Caddy.
GM has done great and I hope they stick it to the Japanese car companies. Look at their new RWD platforms.....sweet.... but not for me.
I admire this caddy even though I would never get one. GM hasn't cracked our demographic.....but this doesn't mean GM can't kick Toyota in the balls.
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"Aerodynamics are for people who cannot build engines"...... Enzo Ferrari
This car will be a tuners dream... a simple pulley change will net a 40 or 50 hp bump... and swapping out the SC for a TT kit will easily add 250hp without having to mess with any engine internals.
The perfect companion car would the new ZR1... which can be modded just as easily.
We are not so lucky when it comes to modding the M5..... the Gpower Super charged M5 sells for over 250k! You could buy the ZR1, the caddy, and mod the sh*t out of both them for less money.
Having owned a CTS-V I don't know if you could pay me to take the new one! I had serious problems with my CTS-V and GM was trying to deny warranty work even though the dealer was on my side. To put a differential in a car that is not rated for the factory HP is very irresponsible. To then try and deny warranties on broken or cracked differentials is outright irresponsible.
While it looks nice and the numbers sound good I can't forget that GM will be backing it and possibly fighting warranty work.
"Chevy engineers said that the new LS9 was created to "match up favorably" with the V10 found in the M5 and M6. The supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 has 620HP and 595 lb-ft of torque, with 535 lb-ft available from 2,600 RPM and a 6,200-RPM redline. The high-revving, naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 has 507 HP and 385 lb-ft of torque, and goes all the way up to 8,250-RPM."
another high hp gas guzzler from caddy, with no attention paid to interior, im suprised they are still on the radar of gen x & ybeing babie boomers are over the hill. i would take the 65 grand this car cost and put it into rebuilding a w124 hammer personaly, to out class everything on the streets including the m5, couldent drop that kinda cash for a car that has cup holders,and a bed bath and beyond cloth headliner. call me crazy
Last edited by Phantom of the Opera; 11th January 2008 at 04:04.
Well......
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