Do you guys think the difference in "ride quality" from the various posters is the 17" v. 18" wheels, or the sport suspension v. regular suspension? I am still confused with the different "F" packages, so I don't know if you can get 18's without the sport suspension. I do know that my '05 has 17" wheels and the ride is gorgeous. And I've heard that the bigger the wheels, the less "cushiony" the ride is. (But to me, there is just no question -- wheels are a priority with me....the 18's weren't available back in '05 except for the V, or I would've gotten them then.) Just wondering if that stuff could account for the differences of opinion.
i agree with the blind spot in the front, as well as the rear having limited visibility, but hey, I guess that's the price you pay for a car that looks stunning.
I don't get all the confusion over whether its a "3" or "5" series BMW competitor. It's priced like the 3, not the 5. A comparable 5 series is $10,000 more. That's pretty staight forward to me. I realize that not all purchases are price driven, but I think it's pretty safe to say that price range is the main driver the defines what cars people consider when looking for a new car.
Nope. GM man through and through.
2 time SRX owner and thread starter on the SRX registry.
Caddy made the new CTS a few inches wider and more STS sized but it has a coupe like close coupled interior. Like the Aurora. Physically bigger than the Intrigue but not any more room inside.
I never said I couldn't fit in it. I could probably drive that car on a 500 mile trip and other than some lower back issues for a few hours after driving, I'd be fine.
We are talking degrees here. A quarter inch more room here and half inch more room there would do it.
It's okay iof the car is not for me. I may still take a look at the CTS-V but I think the G8 GXP will be more my speed.
Enjoy your CTSs. One of Caddy's best efforts so far.
I'm assuming the car was a base car and 17" wheels.
Didn't have a problem with the ride quality or the seat hardness at all.
Ride quality was very good/excellent, but the front suspension clunked over rippled pavement.
car was very quiet. No wind noise to speak off. Signficantly quieter than my SRX.
And there was something making noise in the rear. Might have been something loose in the trunk.
It's priced like a "3" but sized like a "5". that's supposed to be an advantage to GM but some people take it the wrong way - bmw 3xx is a better car for the same price. carndriver's test of the CTS vs. bmw 3 last year actually said the CTS is more like a competitor to the 5 series, due to its size and weight. so if I can get a car that's the size of a 5 and almost as good for 12-15k$ less comparably equipped I think that's a good thing. I prefer not to get a compact car which is what the 3 series is, no matter how sporty.
as far as ride quality, all CTSs with v6 get the same springs. lower sidewalls of 18" vs 17" wheels is equivalent to stiffer springs and FE2 has stiffer shocks than base model, so both wheel size and FE2/FE3 options affect the feel.
rg
It's priced like a "3" but sized like a "5". that's supposed to be an advantage to GM but some people take it the wrong way - bmw 3xx is a better car for the same price. carndriver's test of the CTS vs. bmw 3 last year actually said the CTS is more like a competitor to the 5 series, due to its size and weight. so if I can get a car that's the size of a 5 and almost as good for 12-15k$ less comparably equipped I think that's a good thing. I prefer not to get a compact car which is what the 3 series is, no matter how sporty.
as far as ride quality, all CTSs with v6 get the same springs. lower sidewalls of 18" vs 17" wheels is equivalent to stiffer springs and FE2 has stiffer shocks than base model, so both wheel size and FE2/FE3 options affect the feel.
rg
There is no way in hell the CTS can compare in interior room with a 5 series. I close friend of mine just bought a 550. I just came out of a M45 lease, and had both it and the CTS for several days. I spent 20 minutes going back and forth comparing rear seat and trunk space between the M45 and CTS. No contest. The CTS is sized on the inside like a 3 series, even though it's as big as a 5 on the outside.
JJS, I'm confused -- you said you spent 20 mins. comparing the (Infiniti) M45 to the CTS. What's that have to do with a BMW 3-Series? Or did you mean you compared the BMW 550 to the CTS? I'm interested in this because I had been considering a BMW 3 when my CTS lease is up but assumed it would be too small. Anyway, I never thought of my '05 as being a small car in the interior, so maybe it's changed for '08...?
b4z,
Stopped at the Pontiac dealership on the way to work today just to see the G8. They had a black one parked out front. It was an incredible car for the money. I couldn't believe the sticker was only $30k. Probably a gas to drive too (all the mags love it). Other than the mileage issue, I'd pick it over a Honda Accord in a heartbeat.
JJS, I'm confused -- you said you spent 20 mins. comparing the (Infiniti) M45 to the CTS. What's that have to do with a BMW 3-Series? Or did you mean you compared the BMW 550 to the CTS? I'm interested in this because I had been considering a BMW 3 when my CTS lease is up but assumed it would be too small. Anyway, I never thought of my '05 as being a small car in the interior, so maybe it's changed for '08...?
I knew that was confusing after I wrote it. I have compared both, but I was able to compare my M45 (which is a direct BMW 5 competitor) because I had them both right next to each other.
But my friend has both a brand new 335i and a brand new 550i that I have also compared them to. The CTS has much less interior room than the 550 or M45.
