That is exactly the sort of information I want to hear about.
I am not old, I'm 41. Very fit. But when I take trips, I end up driving for 6/8/10 hours at a time and I need a car that is very comfortable. That means it has to be quiet, I want a soft, smooth ride and I want great seats.
Where could I rent a CTS for the weekend ?
Enterprise rents CTS's. At least they do here in my area. Dallas Ft. Worth. Most of the Caddy dealers have an onsite Enterprise rental office.
The seats in the CTS... to ME, don't seem to have much cushion in them and the seating position didn't FIT ME. On anything over an hour drive, they made my knees and hips hurt.
I also rented an Impala a couple of times. Overall it fit me a lot better than the CTS.
Remember, the CTS is REAR WHEEL DRIVE and the impala is FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.
if you are really looking for soft and roomy, I don't see a CTS in that equation.
CTS is mid sized but the interior is a bit more "intimate" than that implies.
CTS is meant to take on beemers, 5-series size for a 3-series price. it is not directly in competition with the Impala IMO.
rg
I rent cars on weekly basis. Impala is one of the worst cars I have rented! (I admit Buick Rendezvous, Saturn Vue and Pontiac Vibe were much worse). What I did not like? Handling! It handles like a boat. Interior – crappy, fit and finish none existent. Now, I am talking about rentals so they usually crappy, though they are good indication of cars underpinning. However, I do like the Malibu. Decent handling. Room etc.
CTS is a sports sedan and as such is not the greatest long trip cruiser. However, to say Impala is a better car is a far stretch! I would never ever buy an Impala….there are just too many better cars in the same price range…
another family member got a new Impala about the same time I got the CTS. it's pretty nice but it's certainly no Cadillac.
I heard second hand that he kinda wishes he got a CTS instead. kids are grown so the family car thing is not an issue. don't know if $$$ was.
platforms are different, mainly front drive vs. rear drive and in my mind that is a big difference in the car's purpose and functionality.
the CTS thin seat technology also has lead to complaints about comfort. caveat - make sure you pay attention to options that affect comfort and handling when comparing cars. for example some folks complain about CTS's handling when it is a base model with higher profile tires (smaller rims), slower steering gear and soft shocks/stabilizers. Y42 steps up a lot of equipment that improves response and handling, but gives the car a more firm ride.
CTS is a sposrts sedan and as such is not the greatest long trip cruiser. However, to say Impala is a better car is a fatr streach! I would never ever buy an Impala….there are just too mnay better cars in the same price range…
I didn't say the Impala was BETTER CAR than the CTS.
All I said was that it FIT ME BETTER than the CTS.
Driving position, comfort of the seats for my body shape, smoother ride ...etc etc etc.
I agree that there are a lot of nice cars in the $30,000 price range.
I just got back from a quick trip to the dealer on my lunch break. I sat in a rear wheel drive CTS with a battery that worked so that I could adjust the seat. I still don't like the narrowness of the cockpit under the steering wheel on the right side. My knee rests firmly on the side of the console and the accelerator is too far to the right for me to comfortable.
The CTS is a nice car, but I don't like how it feels when I sit in it.
So... I sat in a bunch of other cars. It seems like the Impala, the Buick Lucern and the DTS are all built on the same platform. They share the same seat setups, shifter, steering wheel, etc.
I think I am going to buy a DTS.
What other cars are about the same size as the Impala/CTS/Lucern and are better ?
It is impossible to say which car is better. Yes, there are some objective criteria but one should rather say “what car suit me better”. I like cars that handle well. Recently, when my CTS was in for repairs I got a loaner – a DTS. I agree, very roomy car. But I did not like it. It does not suit my personal taste, preferences.
Altenguy, have you looked at the new Malibu? It has good reviews. I drove many time the old version and liked it. Try. You might be nicely surprised.
I do not know your budget but Camry V6, Accord, Maxima are all good cars. You cannot go wrong with any of them. Unless you are a GM man…….than your choices are limited…
Altenguy, have you looked at the new Malibu? It has good reviews. I drove many time the old version and liked it. Try. You might be nicely surprised.
I sat in it. Its not for me. Its narrower than the Impala.
Quote:
I do not know your budget but Camry V6, Accord, Maxima are all good cars. You cannot go wrong with any of them. Unless you are a GM man…….than your choices are limited…
I owned the Honda. The driver's cockpit is pretty small. I'll check out the Camry and the Maxima.
I was just reading some brochures. The Impala, Lucern and DTS all have a 62.6" track +/- 0.2 inches. The Lucern and DTS are 115.6 wheelbase. The Impala is 110.6. I don't really like how any of them look. Ugly !
So you want a big car. Your choices are limited.....new Ford Taurus? Boring car but apparently had lots of room. I had good luck with Ford in the past...
I want a car the size of a CTS or Honda Accord that is very comfortable and that has a nice interior. The Impala is 5 inches shorter than the DTS. I'd take it over a DTS if they could be equipped the same. Ie ventilated leather seats.
I better go back and sit in a 2008 Honda. They are larger than the 2006 that I had.
I am really disappointed that the CTS didn't fit better. I love the interior of that car.
