I can't wait until I can try a new one!! I've had an '04 CTS with the Opel 3.2/M5 combo as my demo since last Thursday, and I'm very, very sad to report that now that I've put my requisite 400 miles on it, I have to put it back on the lot (I try to drive as many used cars as I can before they hit the lot to make sure they're 100%...)

Other than the horrifically terrible dash, I can't praise this car enough. With 28k miles, its as tight as a drum. Not ONE squeak or rattle, even in the 5 degree cold this morning!! The Opel 3.2 purrs, and the M5 is tight and smooth...never once a missed shift, no matter how hard I drove the car...and I drove this car HARD. This was my first time driving a CTS, and I relished every minute of it. All I could think of is how much fun the '05+ with the 3.6/M6 must be!!

This car is a base model, without the Sport or Luxury package...all it has is heated leather and a sunroof as options. The only quality issue I saw is that the clutch pedal hangs after depressing it and letting it go when cold in the morning...10 minutes of driving freed it up every time.

But wow...this interior is really, really bad. I realize the Luxury package with more goodies and wood enhances the inside, but the fact that Cadillac even produced a base model this bad makes my head hurt. Other than the leather on the seats, I don't see one thing about it that's better (or in some cases even as good as) our Comp G. The criss-cross patterened plastic on the dash and door panels SCREAMS cheap. The center stack displays COMPLETELY wash out when glare hits them right (say, from 2-5 PM every day, depending on the direction traveled), and is obnoxiously hard to see even if simply wearing polarized sunglasses. Add to that the fact that the ergonomics for the stack are pretty awful (I love the 5 button DIC in the GP...its super easy...so WHY do I have to keep scrolling just to get the outside temp in this damn thing?!?!??!!?!?), and I have to say I can see why the interior has been bashed from day one. Obviously, I know this is being addressed in the new car...but still, I thought my GP was bad??? This thing is a Cadillac for crying out loud, and its no better in any way I can see, and worse in a few...

However, I've never seen a car that makes sweet love to the road the way this car does. At 100 MPH, it is rock solid...more so than an F body for sure. The ride/handling compromise isn't a compromise in any way...its absolutely perfect. I've never seen a mid-sized sedan (outside of a GXP GP) I can drive STUPID fast into a turn, and get the flatness and predictability of this car...

I dare say a new body CTS will replace the GP someday...if the old one is this good, I can't wait to drive a new one...

 

I'm glad that you had a chance to experience that Jason. The CTS does have pretty nice chassis dynamics. Mine has the 18" performance package and the ride is still very compliant. In fact, I wouldn't mind if it were actually kicked up a notch in stiffness and had slighty quicker steering. All in all though, it makes other RWD cars like the 300 or GTO feel like grandma's Buick in the twisties. It's a shame that most of the people who own a CTS won't ever push them beyond 4/10ths.

And yes, the 3.6/M6 is a sweet combo.

 

Its funny, I was thinking of your car when I was driving this one over the weekend. I remember you said yours was an '06 M6 with the Sport package...that's gotta be an incredible ride. I don't mean to bash the interior so hard...I think that if I'd driven a nicer one (as I said, this one is the least-equipped CTS I've ever seen), it would've left a far better taste in my mouth. The issue I have is simply that Cadillac felt it was ok to make a base one like that in the first place...

But I have to say, its the FIRST car I've ever driven that I literally felt the ride/handling equation cannot be improved. Our Comp G grips beautifully in turns (I guess you could say I DRIVE my cars in twisties ), but the ride is definitely too stiff...I can see where the mags were correct on that, too. I don't mind it, but my girlfriend dislikes it. Also, obviously with FWD the Comp G pushes more, but it still remains a great example of FWD handling IMO. The only car I've driven yet that's any better is the beloved GXP GP. The thing that got me with the CTS was not only the handling, but the vault-like stabilty and feel at high speeds. The Comp G is great at 100, but you FEEL it...I guess I can't explain it. The Caddy feels like its simply loafing along. I also agree about the comment regarding the 300...its not anywhere close. I drove an '06 300C as my first demo for 3,000 miles last summer (before I started driving all the different used cars), and the float in turns was pretty bad, but about what I expected from the car. I thought if I had the choice, I'd buy the 300 over the CTS based on the Hemi, a slightly better interior, and the style. Now? No way...

I swear...the harder you drive a CTS, the more it begs to be driven harder. And indeed, it is a crying shame most CTS owners will never realize how good their cars truly are...

 

The current CTS doesn't impress me at all - it's, IMO, average or below average depending on the category in question.

I have high hopes for the new one, but I've just almost never heard anyone say they were impressed by the CTS unless they have a history of being a fan of GM vehicles. When you know you're doing a good job is when the people who don't normally praise you start to praise you, or at least accept you. The current CTS isn't managing well at that, at all.

 

No offence taken on the interior, Jason. I freely admit it falls short, although the '05 and up is quite abit nicer.

If you ever get a chance to drive a newer one, like an '06/'07 with any one of the sport packages, go for it. You'll really feel the difference compared to the base model.

 

The current CTS is selling better now - at the end of it's run, than it did at intro.

 

When will the '08 CTS be avialable? I'm in love with that car.

 

Oh come on...lay off a little. Even the automotive press has always been impressed with the handling and performance of this car, and appreciated the fact that the styling, while somewhat polarizing, stood out from the typical Japanese me-too near luxury car. So I dare say the car has gotten some praise.

My "history" of being a fan of GM vehicles isn't tainting my vision here...ever spend a weekend with one?? I can appreciate the fact that the interior is without question lacking, but its a damn impressive machine otherwise, and even the auto rags tend to back that up.

 

Disagree. That car has gotten all sorts of good press (and good sales), with the only real complaints I've noticed centering around the interior styling and the fact that the steering wheel is a bit large and has the old school detented tilt mechanism (which has never been much of an issue for me).Agree, except I personally don't come down that hard on the interior from a materials/quality standpoint.

I think they screwed up by trying too hard to be different, to follow the "science" part of the "Art & Science" theme too liberally, giving the dash a cold, PC like appearance. Except for the center stack (which is where much of the PC feel comes in), most of the plastics are actually soft to the touch, as I recall, and are not super cheap. But the textures and patterns are so far from the near-lux norm, it throws people off. I think the dash is mistakenly called cheap, when it is really just a little too off the beaten path. My biggest beef is with the center stack, really, and not so much with the unique textures / patterns on the dash and door panels...

 

Even the Hamster on "Top Gear" gave the driving dynamics of the CTS praise. And "Top Gear" HATES all American cars with a passion.

 

Agreed on all counts. My favorite attributes were the handling and ride dynamics, and I got very used to the steering wheel mounted volume wheel. I thought I would hate it, but it was really cool!

Sold it to get the Vette, you gotta do what ya gotta do

 

I rented a CTS for my Dad last year. It was the 2.8L 210hp engine. It was pretty aural--loud but good sounds. Nice ride/handling--yeah the int needs soem work but we liked it.

I wonder if GM could find a home for the 2.8L elsewhere?

 

It is going to be used in the Euro CTS and the Turbo version is used in the current 9-3 and will be used in the next 9-5 as well. I would like to see it end up in the 9-4x w/ a bump in hp to go with it, because if it is going to stay at the current power level I would rather see the 2.0T DI Ecotec.

 

So all 3.6s for the new CTS then.

I was thinking a litle closer to home--G6, Aura, Malibu and my Cobalt!! (yeah it would be a squeeze)

 

The 3.6 is becoming the mainline V6 for GM. The 2.8 while nice and different won't become a mainline engine for the US where power matters more than economy. Besides there is no cost difference between the 2.8 and the 3.6 so why use it when fuel is still relatively cheap, compared to say Europe.