At the dealer yesterday looking at the CTS and I was sort
of perplexed by looking at the vehicle front end. The car's
bumper below the grill extends very close to the ground.
I know this is supposed to be stylish, but I have never owned
a vehicle that is so low to the ground in that manner.

What concerns me is snow. While I understand that properly
plowed main streets will not be a problem, it's the rather badly
plowed side streets that I am concerned about. I can easily see
how the CTS would become a plow within itself and in doing so,
could scratch/dent/damage the front bumper.

Any thoughts?

Also, quick question about the sunroof....

All the cars I looked at had the roof exposed for the sunroof.

I presume there is a button you push where a ceiling cover
electronically extends out to hide the sunroof when you don't
want light coming in?

Snow: we are currently 25" above normal for snow fall this winter in Iowa; I've had no problem with the front end; I'm sure that there is not as much clearance as some cars, but normal safe driving practices (speed, etc.) have sufficed so far for me.

Sunroof: Yes, there is a power sun shade that can be stopped in any position you want.

No snow down here, so can't help with that but I haven't had any problems with the air dam scraping on driveway entrances or 'speed bumps'. There is a cloth cover that extends to cover the sunroof - still lets in some (very filtered) light.

My current vehicle is an 05 Cobalt SS/SC, which is also very low. There's been a few times where it's scraped the ground going in to and/or out of some very steep driveways, however nothing drastic. I think the front overhang of the Cobalt is longer, which would increase the chances of it hitting anything, so hopefully the CTS will be even less of a problem than the Cobalt has been.

I don't drive it in the snow much, but the low bumper has never been a problem (the crappy tires and extra power have, though!).

Live in Colorado. I have had absolutely no problems with the front end in the snow. (Mag chloride/de-icer and the paint...that is another story).

(Mag chloride/de-icer and the paint...that is another story).

You too? I left the mag chloride on the chrome a little too long and got a small amount of corrosion on the chrome strip above the rear license plate.


NJRonbo, we've had a ton of snow here the last 1.5 months and my street never gets plowed. I've had no problems whatsoever with clearance.