http://jalopnik.com/5245928/cadillac-sts+v-pontiac-g6-gxp-killed-by-carpocalypse

No surprise here. The CTS-V is a better-performing car for less money. The only thing missing from our V is the rear seat room of the STS. In addition, it apparently wasn't selling well--again, no surprise given the CTS-V's release. Overall, a wise decision on the part of GM.

The STS-V has been on the chopping block since last year. Not sure why jalopnik is only now reporting it. It's been the belief all along that once the 09 CTS-V hit the streets the other cars in the V series would go bye bye.

The STS-V has been on the chopping block since last year. Not sure why jalopnik is only now reporting it. It's been the belief all along that once the 09 CTS-V hit the streets the other cars in the V series would go bye bye.

Isn't the STS gone as of 2010? Not just the V.

Isn't the STS gone as of 2010? Not just the V.


That was GM's original plan, which is why the STS-V was already planned out. They were going to come up with a design that was to replace the STS and DTS. I'm sure that is now scrapped.

welcome to 2008


F

They were going to come up with a design that was to replace the STS and DTS. I'm sure that is now scrapped.

It better be RWD or else I'll have to buy a CTS-V.

It better be RWD or else I'll have to buy a CTS-V.

Oh come on, the CTS-V is FAR better then those cars anyway, and you know it.

welcome to 2008


F

Indeed.

Yeah I used to have one.
I agree with you guys, why would you want a slower bigger heavier more expensive car than what we have?

Oh well, may it R.I.P. Not a bad looking car, but I guess as with the XLR, it takes more than good looks to sustain sales. On the bright side, in the Automotive News article reporting the STS-V's demise, a spokesman is quoted as saying "The V series is here to stay" and future V models will be added to the portfolio. :bouncy:

The spokesman also added: "The CTS-V has been off to a very good start and we sold more CTS-V in four months than we sold STS-V's in a whole year."

It'd be great to have an STS/DTS replacement continue the trend...

Oh come on, the CTS-V is FAR better then those cars anyway, and you know it.

Yeah, I do. But I was just planning on the regular STS as I want a RWD V8 that isn't as expensive.

The article pointed to by the poster indicated that the Pontiac G6 was also going away, while, in fact, the whole Pontiac division is history.

Yeah, I do. But I was just planning on the regular STS as I want a RWD V8 that isn't as expensive.

To be honest, for the price of a standard STS, i might go the way of bmw or mercedes. I think outside of the CTS (especially the v series) that the german competitors do it very very well.
and dont get me going on bout the jaguar XF.. that car is awesome.

Dream on. I have said it before and I will keep saying it: Sentimentalty, spent development dollars, "it makes no sense," all means nothing if the sales don't justify the cost. The only thing that matters is the bottom line. If a product doesn't add to the bottom line it is gone. Note the elimination of the entire Pontiac division. If the bean counters decide that the CTS-V is not adding to the bottom line, it is gone. It is that simple. I predict that within six months all of the V-cars will be discontinued by GM in its attempt to avoid bankruptcy. Only the Corvette will remain. I own a 2009 CTS-V and I would hate to see it discontinued, but reality must be faced by everyone eventually.

Sales still rule, and the CTS-V seems to be pretty successful. Most areas have very little inventory, despite minimal discounting and no incentives, and in this economy. One can't say the same for M cars, AMG's, and Audi S cars. The CTS-V has received numerous accolades in the automotive press; it is now routinely included in discussions of luxury super sedans as a legitimate contender, and not just as a bargain, either. That kind of prestige helps legitimize the whole line, and is really helping Cadillac's image with younger buyers. I think the CTS-V will be pretty safe, unless gas hits super high levels, and even then, who knows?

The STS-V never got great press, and has had dismal sales. With the CTS-V generally being regarded as the superior car, not mention substantially cheaper, there is little reason to keep the STS-V in the line. The success of the CTS-V probably sealed the fate of the STS-V. Another question: why keep the STS in any form? It's sales are also dismal, again partly fueled by the CTS's success. I know Cadillac intends to merge the STS and DTS platforms eventually, but the DTS is still selling, so why not save some money and kill the STS, while speeding development of the successor? Or use the money to bring out the coupe?

Cadillac never gave even good press to any of the V Series of cars. The 04-07 CTS-V got a couple of mentions in commercials, but the STS-V and XLR-V got it once with the original "bullet" commercial back in 05, but that was it. Sales of both of those were never even on par with original expectations of about 2000 produced per year. Production numbers were closer to around 1200-1500 per year, which means very shortly there will have been more 09 CTS-Vs produced that all of STS-Vs left on the roads, and the LC3 engine has seen it's run.

It is that simple. I predict that within six months all of the V-cars will be discontinued by GM in its attempt to avoid bankruptcy.

You willing to put money where your mouth is? :-) I'll take that bet if you are.

jas

I see a lot of comments that Cadillac does not promote the V series cars but yet every "car guy" knows what a V is all about. It is very true that they do not run TV commercials on the V series cars but neither do MB or BMW for their high performance cars. The high performance cars are put in the hands of the people that write articles on the cars and speak to enthusiasts. You may see print ads for the V series cars in enthusiast magazines and I would venture to guess that these ads are placed in greater numbers for the V than the M and AMG cars as Caddy has to establish the brand. Why spend dollars to promote cars to people that will never even consider purchase of one? Perception takes a long time to build and it is best built through good product. It will take a long time before you convince the Euro snobs to look at a V but GM is following the proper route. They just need to keep introducing world class product under the V banner.

I don't know, I used to frequent many car shows around here and you may be surprised how many "car guys" never knew the V series existed. At best they think everything is a V1.

Here is some more breaking news. Barak Obama was elected President!

2008. This news is older than dirt.

jvp,
I already put my money where my mouth is when I bought a 2009 CTS-V (my third CTS-V). Never the less, reality is reality and GM has financial problems. Keep dreaming.

jvp,
Never the less, reality is reality and GM has financial problems. Keep dreaming.

I agree they're having financial problems. However, the V is a profit center. It's a SMALL profit center, all things considered. But it's pulling in a profit nonetheless. The engineering and R&D is already bought and paid for. Sales of the V are gravy for GM.

Their guns are aimed at things that AREN'T moving. I've said this before in the same forums: GM will more likely shutdown entire vehicular lines rather than stopping specific models of vehicular lines. Since the V is part of a somewhat successful CTS line, there's no reason to think it's history. Unless the CTS itself stops selling.

Watch CTS sales, not sales of other vehicles. When the CTS starts to falter, THEN be worried about the V. For now, it's very unlikely to go anywhere except out the door of the Cadillac dealers.

And no, I'm not dreaming. :-)

jas

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I was going to try and stay out of this fray, but given all the years I spent in the car business and as a dealer I feel I need to mention a couple of points...

- A lot of whether the CTS-V continues will depend on some of the component suppliers for the car. For instance, if GM actually enters bankruptcy, and one of the component suppliers makes other pieces for GM vehicles and gets shafted on some of the outstanding contracts, etc. then one of two things could happen. 1.) The supplier could go under, and those specialty component parts for the V could go away, leaving GM to attempt to source similar parts from other vendors, which they may not choose to do for such a low-volume car. 2.) The supplier may simply choose to no longer supply the specialty component part to GM, and again, due to limited production volume GM could choose to simply not source a replacement and discontinue the car. You might be surprised to know just how many specialty models Detroit automakers have killed over the years because of supplier issues...

- Something else to consider regarding the V's survival is production capacity. Here normal CTS sales could actually hurt the long-term survival of the specialty V. If regular CTS sales continue to do well - and perhaps even increase - GM may choose to trim its costs for supplying the production capacity by lessening the number of different models built at Lansing River (where the CTS models are produced). It is also possible this potentiality could come into play with the new CTS wagon and CTS coupe coming down the pike. If those two models start to sell in good numbers then CTS-V production may be cut so GM can produce more of those "mainstream" models that share drivetrains, etc. with the normal CTS.

Just some things to consider.

Look, I love the CTS-V. That's why I bought one, because I wasn't sure just how long GM would, or even could, produce them, and I wanted to make damn sure I got one.

And I'm not saying that the V is definitely going to get "cut" in the near future... But it could.

You folks that are saying that "all the engineering's paid for", etc. and that the car is such a big profit center for GM perhaps are missing the fact the fact that the CTS-V is an extremely low production automobile. Way too low production to consider it as any sort of major dollar contributor to GM's bottom line. IMHO, it is surviving right now by basically flying under the radar. Once the cost-cutter, bean-counter, accounting types get far enough down the balance sheet to find the ultra-small line-item labeled "CTS-V" then its days will be numbered. Honestly, I doubt GM's percentage profit per unit for a CTS-V is nearly as high as a standard CTS, simply because of the specialty parts it contains and simple economies of scale.

Honestly, no one can say, for certain, either way, as to whether the CTS-V will survive for any length of time... Not even the guys at GM for the moment. Actually, I was a bit surprised it even showed up on the order sheets for 2010. But mind you, just because they can be ordered doesn't gaurantee - at least not yet - that 2010 model CTS-V's will be produced. I certainly hope they will be, and chances are now they will.

However, I wouldn't hold my breath for a 2011 model, especially if the plain-jane CTS wagon take off and if they release the 2011 coupe early and it hits a home run...

BTW, how many of you know your '09 CTS-V's wheels are built in and sourced from Korea?

Dallara




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As I said, jvp, keep dreaming. You think the V series represents a profit. Prove it. I don't think it represents a profit and apparently neither do some of the other posters in this forum. I give the whole V series six months, tops.

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As I said, jvp, keep dreaming. You think the V series represents a profit. Prove it. I don't think it represents a profit and apparently neither do some of the other posters in this forum. I give the whole V series six months, tops.





Just so the record's straight...

As a poster I am NOT one who ever said that the CTS-V didn't produce a profit. Far from it. IMHO, the CTS-V probably produces a profit currently, or at least a projected one if all supplier, vendor, and other cost issues remain the same for the foreseeable future. I just don't imagine it contributes any significant black ink to the bottom line. It's numbers are just to small at this point.

I just don't want anyone inaccurately interpreting my post above.

Thanks!

Dallara



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