CTS Sport - Flashy looks, performance & luxury

CONS UPDATE 1/21/08 I just replaced the Bridgestone Tires - They wore evenly and gave 37,640 miles of service - WOW The car has never been aligned since new - this is a big plus as well

The time came to honor my promise to give my son a car. I've been driving a 2001 Lexus IS 300 since new and my son would be more than pleased to accept the keys I needed a new car for myself. Since I really like a sporty 4 door sedans and I don't mind the attention a sharp looking car draws, I began to narrow down my choices.

Lexus's 250/350 looked very good from the start, I also like Acura's TL, but High HP FWD turns me off in nice climates (torque steer). I'm not fond of the new BMW 3 series styling or it's pricing. I've always thought the Cadillac CTS looked sharp, but I worried about reliability issues.

Then I saw a Black CTS with the 18" Wheel Appearance - Performance package - wow! Then I read that Consumer Reports gave the CTS a recommended buy! I knew I had to give the CTS a much closer look.

The CTS final assembly point is Lansing, Michigan (see link to plant assembly line photo below). The 2 million square foot facility was completed in 2001 and 1800 employees work to assemble the CTS, STS and SRX vehicles there.

Well I bought the CTS Sport in a Light Platinum with Ebony interior and a luxurious wood interior trim.

The CTS with the 18" Wheel Appearance Package really sets it above the rest of the CTS line-up. The package includes all the hidden goodies included in the optional performance package like bigger brakes, performance suspension, exhaust etc. Then it adds the appearance stuff, different grille with stainless mesh insert. Special styled rocker moldings, larger SS exhaust tips, Sculpted rear spoiler and beautiful 18" polished 12 spoke wheels.

I added on the Luxury package which adds every luxury gadget I've ever come across. This includes every comfort option you could ever want or need. I selected the optional 5 speed automatic transmission (Hydra-Matic 5L40-E) which is manufactured in Strasbourg, France. A 6 speed manual transmission (Aisin AY6) is the standard transmission and it is manufactured in Anjo City, Japan

Then I added the Auto express sunroof and 6 Disc CD Bose stereo to complete my lap of luxury. XM Satellite radio and OnStar come pre-equipped on the CTS.

The power is supplied by a 255 HP 3.6L VVT (dual overhead cams) all aluminum V6 (manufactured in St. Catharines, Ontario) coupled to my optional 5 speed automatic transmission its a very smooth combination. The auto features a very nicely incorporated manual shift mode accessible with a right flick of your wrist. Pull back and it down-shifts to the next lower gear. Push up and it up-shifts. All 5 gears are accessible this way. My Lexus with push button controls did not allow access to 1st gear. This car is rear wheel drive with a 3.42 drive ratio. I have found 70 mph yields an engine speed of 2250 rpm, good for less engine wear and highway gas mileage (3000 rpm in the Lexus at 70 mph).

Now the best part for todays times, everyone likes power, but not always at the cost of economy. With the CTS you get it all. This car will sprint to 60 mph in well under 7 seconds and I have been routinely getting 22.5 mpg in mixed driving. I have averaged 25.5 mpg for a full (17.5 gallon) tank on my 70 mph expressway commute. This achievement is with a very new (tight) engine with less than 1700 miles on it. The engine comes with Mobil 1 in the crankcase and the filter can be changed from the top of the engine with no mess.

The fit and finish is really excellent - equal to my Lexus. The warranty is good 48 months or 50,000 miles.

Update: The interior is well laid out with the exception of the glove box which is big enough to hold gloves and not much else after you put the owners manual in it. The wood trim with the luxury package looks very good. The power seats have very good adjustment along with power lumbar support.

The car comes with (2) numbered remotes which are directly linked to preferences the user (driver) can preset. When you use your remote (1 or 2) everything goes to your presets - seats, radio, AC temp, info center display etc. Very nice, you can also turn on or off another seat feature, when you open the door the seat will travel all the way back making it easy to enter the car. Then press your preset number on armrest or remote and seat will return to your preferred setting. The armrest incorporates a storage area inside and also a large space underneath. The armrest padding for your arm is thick soft leather.

The steering wheel has 4 presets you control on the left side of the wheel and a neat volume wheel and button in its middle which allows changing audio sources (CD, Satellite, AM-FM). I currently have buttons 1 & 2 to search up or down on the radio channel and 3 & 4 raise or lower AC climate control. Also on that subject the climate contol has a complete digital passenger setting control which can be turned on or off. The steering wheel also has a button for using the OnStar Cell Phone feature. The rear view mirror automatically adjusts (dims) for high beams glaring into your eyes and has OnStar and a nice digital compass built in which is configurable for wherever on the globe you live based on magnetic fields which effect accuracy.

The rear seating is adequate for adults (not great) and the rear armrest has 2 cupholders built in and are usable when folded down. The Bose stereo has 8 speakers including a 10" sub-woofer which is close in performance to the 12" Alpine my son put in my old Lexus. However the Bose stereo allows full volume with no distortion.

Driving impressions: The performance is really smooth and linear. The interior is very quiet much better than my IS300. However, turn of the stereo and floor it the engine flat out sings some serious performance sounds - very nice. Steering and handling is very sharp and precise. I have found the brake pads put off a bit more dust than the IS300, but not excessive like BMW's.

Mechanical assessment: I have had the car up on jack stands and have inspected the chassis. The suspension components are heavy duty and well engineered. The rear end suspension features NOVIMAT shocks by SACHS. These shock are self leveling using no external power source very ingenious and they keep the HID headlights aimed properly. Put a heavy load in the trunk and back seat and within a couple blocks the shocks will have the car leveled.

The undercarriage features sheet metal panels designed to flow air smoothly under the car reducing drag and noise. My IS used plastic panel to do the same and that car was recalled by Lexus for one panel that fell off on many IS's. This won't be an issue with the Cadillac with their approach. I have read the rear end differential is the weak point for those who like repeated stop light drag racing starts. I would imagine with limited use of full acceleration starts the rear end will not be a problem.

Back in 1985 I bought a new Corvette which I always felt was an excellent performer. I was recently looking at the performance testing and compared that Corvette to the CTS. They figures were almost identical, this car is a very solid performer. 0-60 in 6.7 sec, 1/4 mile in 15.2 sec. Top Speed 142 mph with a EPA rating of 27 highway which the car can actually do.

The trunk space is very good and the pass through is very useful. The car doesn't include a first aid kid like the Lexus. However there is a mounting spot in the trun and GM sells the kit on thier website. Fold down seats can be had as a $300 option, which would greatly increase cargo hauling capabilities.

Some links to my CTS photos, just copy and paste in browser:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport/100_0840-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport/100_0839.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport/100_0889.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport/100_0828.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/CTSSporttopdownview.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport/2006CTSSportSticker.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport Package/cadillac_cts_lasplash9_001.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport Package/CTSRearSuspension.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport Package/CTSFrontSuspension.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport Package/CTSSafetyTechnology.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport Package/CTSSafetyCage.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mjdart/Cadillac CTS Sport Package/CTSAssemblyPlantLansingMichigan.jpg

6 speed Transmission fact sheet
http://media.gm.com/division/2005_prodinfo/powertrain/whats new/Transmissions/05 Manuals/05 AY6 description.doc

If you buy a Cadillac this site is an excellent source of information. Its a typical internet owner's forum.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/