I dropped off my 99 Catera at the Friendly Local Dealer for service, and picked up a 2008 CTS. I had the CTS for a day, and went from Catera to CTS to Catera. It made for an interesting comparison. Interesting, they both had about the same number of miles - about 24,000. There is a strong, and expected brand familiarity/similarity. That is no surprise.
The big surprise is the sound. The CTS has a high-pitched tinny sound as it accelerates. In distinct contrast, the Catera has a low pitched, throaty sound. The contast is striking. I've read the road tests and the CTS is apparently quicker, but does not feel that way. Going from one to the other, they subjectively accelerate the same.
The steering in the CTS feels better. Less play and crisper. The brakes in the CTS are overboosted and feel more Detroit than Europe. The conclusion? The CTS is very similar to the Catera. There may be many technical differences, but there are more similarities. They're doing a good job, and I hope the news from Automobile Magazine is not true about the demise of the Cadillac V8.
The big surprise is the sound. The CTS has a high-pitched tinny sound as it accelerates. In distinct contrast, the Catera has a low pitched, throaty sound. The contast is striking.
Actually, I am glad to hear that. I had my '97 since it was new and have about 100K. Today I was hearing the "throaty sound" and was wondering if I had an exhaust system problem. I can't remember what it sounded like when it was new.
I dropped off my 99 Catera at the Friendly Local Dealer for service, and picked up a 2008 CTS. I had the CTS for a day, and went from Catera to CTS to Catera. It made for an interesting comparison. Interesting, they both had about the same number of miles - about 24,000. There is a strong, and expected brand familiarity/similarity. That is no surprise.
The big surprise is the sound. The CTS has a high-pitched tinny sound as it accelerates. In distinct contrast, the Catera has a low pitched, throaty sound. The contast is striking. I've read the road tests and the CTS is apparently quicker, but does not feel that way. Going from one to the other, they subjectively accelerate the same.
The steering in the CTS feels better. Less play and crisper. The brakes in the CTS are overboosted and feel more Detroit than Europe. The conclusion? The CTS is very similar to the Catera. There may be many technical differences, but there are more similarities. They're doing a good job, and I hope the news from Automobile Magazine is not true about the demise of the Cadillac V8.
I can't remember what it sounded like when it was new. 
