Dts future

[Superjim]

Originally Posted by Dale Holland

In my mid sixtys, and looks like my 08 may be my last.
Will try to keep mileage down, and ride in comfort.

I am also in my mid 60's
My first 2006 DTS burned in my garage fire in Nov of 06. It already had over 35,000 miles on it.
The one I have now, I bought Christmas Eve of 06 for our Christmas present and as a replacement for the one that burned.
It now has 55,000 miles on it.

We like road trips. As if you couldn't tell.
In my opinion, there is not a better car on the road, anywhere near it's price point, for long, comfortable, road trips.

Seems like I am putting about 25,000 a year on it, which means by the time the 2011 model comes out, I will have about 100,000 on it.

At that time, I reckon I will look for a low mileage, certified, 2010 Performance Sedan, Platinum Edition. I will not be buying another new one.

My GMPP Warranty is good till Dec 24th 2011. If my driving mileage slows down a little, I might wait till the 2012's come out and get a 2011.
A 2011 would take me to 2017, fully covered under warranty.
I am hesitant to drive one, when not under warranty.
There is so much expensive stuff that can go wrong.

I probably won't be driving too much by that time anyway.
I will be well into my 70's by then, so 5000 to 8000 mile road trips will probably be a thing of the past.

That may well be my last one... But who knows???

Texas Jim

[Southern]

Well, I may be on my last one.
I am 71 and will put mileage on my 08 in "fits and starts" as we used to say.
I picked the car up on Oct 1. That's 4 1/2 months ago.
I now have 1218 miles on it.And that will be the extent of the driving, here locally. About 300/350 miles per month.
Then we take two long road trips of about 4000 miles each every year. THAT's why we got the DTS even after Cadillac screwed us on our CTS.
The dealer was a hero and the DTS was what we should have bought to begin with.

Anyway, with 10-12,000 miles per year............I can't see ever buying another one (Unless this one starts having the fine aroma of a lemon.........)


At one time, while GM was still very viable, they were going to build a RWD which would have been a combo DTS/STS I think.
Those plans are probably gone for good.
Looks to me like the DTS will just fade away with little to no improvements.......that 6 speed from the CTS would sure be sweet in this car.
And an iPod interface would be good......Bluetooth would be good........these things wouldn't cost that much to implement but I don't think GM will spend anything on this car right now.
Will it be replaced?
I don't know because I don't know if there will be a GM in 4 or 5 years?
If there is a Cadillac, it will be the CTS and it's derivatives.
As we die off, so will our cars...........


Jim you have about talked me into getting an extended warranty........

[Superjim]

Southern,

I wasn't trying to influence anyone into getting a warranty.
I was just rambling on.

I can AFFORD to pay for expensive repairs, as I am sure you can also...BUT... why should I?

I just look on it like an insurance policy that will keep me from getting pissed off when I have to pay to have something fixed.
I figure SOMETHING will happen that will make me glad I had the warranty.

One other thing, as long as it doesn't cost too much to keep it up, the less likely I am to trade it off. And as you well know, anytime you trade..it costs you. Not just money, but the hassle of getting another car.
As I have got older...I just don't like to be hassled.
That, in and of itself, is worth a little something to me.

I bought the GMPP Warranty for three years and another 55,000 miles.
It is good till Dec 24th 2011 or 104,500.
I had 49,500 on it when I got the warranty. I ALMOST waited too long.
I bought it at my local dealer.
They matched the lowest online price I could find and did not charge me any tax.

I just figured if I could drive my Cadillac till 2017 and always have it under warranty...why not?

Everybody has different ideas and preferences about what to spend money on, and thats fine, but for me, I look on the warranty as a "LESS HASSLE FOR JIM," insurance policy.

At least that is the way I rationalized the spending of the money.

Texas Jim

[c5 rv]

I would not be surprised if a version of the new LaCrosse becomes the replacement for the DTS & STS. Rumor has it that the Lucerne will cease to be and the Buick "line" will consist of the LaCrosse and Enclave.

I'm still targeting my next car for the spring of 2010 - a CPO unit to replace both current lease cars. I've been hearing about too many problems with the 09 MKS units, so unless I decide to buy new, the MKS is probably out for this round. I'm narrowing down to an 07 or 08 DTS performance or possibly Lux III. My goal is to pay cash.

[Superjim]

Originally Posted by c5 rv

I would not be surprised if a version of the new LaCrosse becomes the replacement for the DTS & STS. Rumor has it that the Lucerne will cease to be and the Buick "line" will consist of the LaCrosse and Enclave.

I'm still targeting my next car for the spring of 2010 - a CPO unit to replace both current lease cars. I've been hearing about too many problems with the 09 MKS units, so unless I decide to buy new, the MKS is probably out for this round. I'm narrowing down to an 07 or 08 DTS performance or possibly Lux III. My goal is to pay cash.

I too usually/sometimes pay cash.
I don't like payments...even at 0%.
Don't want to mess with making it every month...but that said...I sometimes finance one because the dealer will SOMETIMES give a little better deal because they get a kickback from the finance company.

Then the dealer is happy, the finance guy is happy...I go home happy...wait on the payment book...call GMAC...get the payoff and send them a check. Done with it.

Everybody wins...more or less.


If I may make a few suggestions...
As it gets closer to time for you to get one...talk to your dealer about taking different ones home for the weekend.
Get it out on the highway for AT LEAST two or three hours.
Make sure that you like them in general.

When it actually IS TIME to buy one...take the one YOU WANT and do the same thing. Make a two or three hour trip in it.

I have driven several, at different times, when mine has been in for service. It has been a big surprise at how different some of them drive compared to each other.

Some are great...some have (at least to me) a jiggeley/floatly uncomfortable ride on the highway. They are not very solid/stable at highway speeds but you will never notice it just driving on the freeways around town.
The body has too much motion ...it is never still as you drive down the highway.

I found some of them very tiring to drive for a long distance and some of them are GREAT. You can drive all day and not be tired.

Texas Jim

[c5 rv]

Taking it overnight or the weekend is a good idea. I figure I'll have a couple trusted dealers start looking for cars coming off lease a few months before I have to have something. They should know what's coming in, the expected miles, repair history, etc.

[Superjim]

Originally Posted by c5 rv

Taking it overnight or the weekend is a good idea. I figure I'll have a couple trusted dealers start looking for cars coming off lease a few months before I have to have something. They should know what's coming in, the expected miles, repair history, etc.

Very good idea.

Jim

[ryannel2003]

Alot of the cars my dealer gets are low mileage, rental cars. I don't think I would ever want to purchase a former rental car. You know how people are with them...

[hoppysport]

I love the suggestion that Cadillac should make the DTS on a RWD platform. I love the Lexus LS460, and believe that it's the best car made today. I value reliability and workmanship, and the LS has that in spades.

I am very impressed with the fit & finish on the 06-09 DTS's. The LS460 should be the DTS's benchmark. Cadillac should make the new DTS with RWD, and an AWD option for snowbelt States.

When I was searching for an 06 or 07, I was looking for a DTS in great condition, and only one owner. I would have preferred an 07 because of the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty, but the one I found was just too perfect...an 06 Luxury ll, Black Raven with Ebony interior, with Sunroof and Nav.

I had to make some compromises because of the incredible condition of the car. The paint is as glossy as when it rolled off the line...and the interior looks and smells like now. The car was Cadillac serviced, with all records.

I was in the market for a very specific car...a large, comfortable car with a vast interior, great seats, great legroom in the back, quiet, and a huge trunk. So here's what's out there: BMW 750 ($85,000), Mercedes-Benz S550 ($90,000), Lexus LS460 ($70,000), Audi A8 ($80,000), Jaguar XJ ($60,000), Lincoln Town Car ($45,000), Mercury Sable ($33,000), Hyundai Genesis ($40,000).

The German and British cars were erased quickly...I don't want to be at the mercy of Horst and Niles, with their lab coats and clipboards. Owning any European car out of warranty is the stuff of expensive nightmares.

I hate Town Car. Its fit and finish is terrible. I actually liked the Mercury Sable with its huge 21.5 cf trunk and incredible rear legroom. I just couldn't warm up to the body and hard seats.

The Genesis was a pretty nice car, but since I was buying used, there weren't any on the market.

So the choice was very simple. The Cadillac DTS. This is the first FWD car I've ever owned, and I am not a fan. However, it does drive beautifully...and it's a real mountain goat in the snow, when paired with Bridgestone Blizzaks.

So when it comes down to it, there aren't many choices out there for a large, reliable, spacious, quality luxury car. If Cadillac changed the platform to RWD/AWD and continued to improve quality, gas mileage, technology, and body, they could own the marketplace...especially in the $50,000 and under luxury catagory. And interestingly, they would own the luxury livery business...which is nothing to sneeze at.

[Aron9000]

Originally Posted by hoppysport

And interestingly, they would own the luxury livery business...which is nothing to sneeze at.

The Town Car will be king of that market until its discontinued. Those old boats don't break down. Its very common for them to have 300-400k on them with only regular maitence, orginal trans/engine.

[hoppysport]

Aron, boy oh boy are you sure right. As much as the Town Car isn't for me, they go forever, and are as reliable as any. That's why they are the default cars for livery services.

That Ford V8 is very strong, simple, and easy to fix. No need for a 4-valve-per-cylinder engine. You can go to any mechanic and have them pop in a rebuilt tranny for $800.

I never understood the Northstar. It's terribly designed, and costs an arm and a leg to fix. From what I read on these forums, Cadillac finally got the bugs worked out for the 06 and up models.

I've driven many Town Car's, and they have a pretty decent suspension on bad roads. However, the interior fit & finish isn't the best. The DTS blows the Town Car away, interior-wise.

Chevy was supposed to use the Holden HSV Grange as its 2010 replacement for the Impala. Cadillac should jump in and use the Grange as the DTS replacement. It has RWD and I believe AWD. It's HUGE inside, and comfortable. It looks like an Audi A8.

http://www.autocult.com.au/img/galle...RevNews199.jpg

Cadillac would blow the Town Car away with this model...and they'd own the luxury livery business. I guess it makes too much sense to GM and Cadillac.

[Southern]

Not that it couldn't be done, but that would require some serious reworking of the body.
Doesn't look like a Cadillac.
Looks like a Toyohondanisan.... or an MKS.........