I owned a 2000 Cadillac DeVille DTS and remember the turning radius was atrocious. Sometimes I had to make a three-point turn in the middle of an intersection - which is dangerous and embarrassing. The same scenario happened a number of times in a 2000 Lexus RX300 I also owned.. Lexus, however, fixed this problem in 2004 - and I can attest to that...

Has the turning radius "problem" been fixed in the DTS?

I only test drove an 05 Deville and do not remember making any U-turns in it. But I will say that my 2006 is far more nimble then my 1995 Town Car ever was.

Thank you.. Well.. A 1995 Lincoln Town Car was far, far, far from nimble at all.. It's basically the same as a 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood.. A 2006 DeVille is another story altogether - especially the DTS...

Not sure if there were any changes in the suspension in the 2006 MY. I do know that 17" wheels are now standard and that they did rework a lot of stuff and its not just a reskin of the front and back end.

Really like the older 2000-2005 body style but the interior on the 2006+ is so much better.

A while ago I found this article talking about some of the design features of the 2006+ DTS:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/wip/0905wip02.html

If anything it has gotten worse.
A quick check seems to say that the 2000 had a curb to curb turning circle of 41.4 feet.
My 2008 has a circle of 42 feet.

Thta's what FWD will do to you.

Doesn't bother me. I gave up doing U turns along about my second big car.

If anything it has gotten worse.
A quick check seems to say that the 2000 had a curb to curb turning circle of 41.4 feet.
My 2008 has a circle of 42 feet.

Thta's what FWD will do to you.

Doesn't bother me. I gave up doing U turns along about my second big car.
That's a real shame because Lexus figured out how to fix the problem and their RX is front wheel drive.

I don't know the exact FEET that it takes to do a u-turn...but when ever I have to do one...an old country song always comes to mind.

"Give Me 40 Acres and I'll Turn This Rig Around." :histeric: :histeric: :histeric:

Texas Jim

I don't know the exact FEET that it takes to do a u-turn...but when ever I have to do one...an old country song always comes to mind.

"Give Me 40 Acres and I'll Turn This Rig Around." :histeric: :histeric: :histeric:

Texas Jim
Yee gad! Yeah, I know what you're talking about.. I like the DTS - especially the Platinum - and actually - especially the Performance one that you have.. Why does one have to sacrifice the Platinum features if he/she wants performance - and vise verse? I would consider a new DTS but these are some of the things that bother me.. I don't want a 275 horsepower full-size luxury sedan, first of all. And if I have one, it must have all the chrome and features of the Platinum.. So there's my first set of problems.. Then I have the laughable turning radius and a lock stalk that sticks into my flesh when I rest my arm on it... I guess forget it...

Yee gad! Yeah, I know what you're talking about.. I like the DTS - especially the Platinum - and actually - especially the Performance one that you have.. Why does one have to sacrifice the Platinum features if he/she wants performance - and vise verse? I would consider a new DTS but these are some of the things that bother me.. I don't want a 275 horsepower full-size luxury sedan, first of all. And if I have one, it must have all the chrome and features of the Platinum.. So there's my first set of problems.. Then I have the laughable turning radius and a lock stalk that sticks into my flesh when I rest my arm on it... I guess forget it...

The turning isn't really THAT bad...I was exaggerating a bit. :) :) :)

The newer Performance Editions, ONLY come in Platinum.
Or at least that is what I understand.

So if you want Platinum AND Performance...You got it.
And the ECM and TCM on the newer ones can be tuned for more Performance.

That is what I want to get next year. Performance Sedan PLATINUM.

What "LOCK STALK" are you talking about?

Texas Jim

I tried to build a performance platinum on Cadillac.com but couldn't. Maybe I was looking in the wrong spot.. The lock stalk is on the rear end of the door by the window.. I lean my arm up there - especially when the window is opened...

Pullin' 'er into a parking lot space IS kind of like docking the Queen Mary. But I'm getting use to it. I'm one of the weirdos who, after driving a RWD car for 4 years (300C), prefer the solid handling feel of FWD, especially when the roads are slick. So I'll take the large turning radius. Wonder if the new LaCrosse has a turning radius issue.....

(I can see why you'd lean your arm on the door top sill. The arm rests are useless. I constant hit the lock/unlock button when put my arm down).

check this out, it may solve your problem :-)

And look out Jim, it is in your preferred color!

it has it all and just into to dealer stock

http://www.cadillac.com/ws/nvlWindowSticker.cd?dealer=114386.0$BOB%20THOMAS%2 0CHEVROLET-CADILLAC-HONDA$345%20NE%20THIRD%20ST$BEND$OR$97701-5133$541$382-2911$541$388-4782$Ron%20Bamer$541$382-2911$541$388-4782$true&year=2009&VIN=1G6KD57929U144835&model=DTS&mmc=6KD69&pvc=544&bac=114386.0&UDName1=isGMBuyPower&UDValue1=true&isGMFF=true&GMS=junebug

copy and paste the entire link into your browser url and the inventoryitem should come up

Randy

http://prod3.gmautobuilder.com/BuildYourOwn/Cadillac.byo?year=2009&mmc=6KD69&modelname=DTS


DTS Performance Platinum, Unique chrome wheels, DVD-based navigation, sunroof, Lane Departure Warning, front and rear footwell lighting, illuminated sill plates, chrome grille, Platinum badging, chrome door handle accents, leather-wrapped console and instrument panel top pad, premium floor mats and trunk mat, Alcantara(R) luxury ultra-microfiber upper trim, genuine light ash wood trim with decorative inlay, French seam door trim, chrome rings on steering wheel. Map coverage not available in Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and portions of Canada.

check this out, it may solve your problem :-)

And look out Jim, it is in your preferred color!

it has it all and just into to dealer stock

http://www.cadillac.com/ws/nvlWindowSticker.cd?dealer=114386.0%20THOMAS%20CHE VROLET-CADILLAC-HONDA$345%20NE%20THIRD%20ST$97701-5133$541$382-2911$541$388-4782%20Bamer$541$382-2911$541$388-4782&year=2009&VIN=1G6KD57929U144835&model=DTS&mmc=6KD69&pvc=544&bac=114386.0&UDName1=isGMBuyPower&UDValue1=true&isGMFF=true&GMS=junebug

copy and paste the entire link into your browser url and the inventoryitem should come up

Randy


It is all ok except for the black interior.

Don't like black interiors...not good down here in Texas where it gets to 110 in the summertime. :cool2: :cool2:

aaaahh yes, that long southern heat. it defn calls for a lighter color. it would work well here in the Pacific Northwest (although today it will be 103 degrees hottt). You would have to order a linen/cocoa combo or just the al linen would be fine for the South if you are ok with the all white color; I have seen one here and all white might be tough to keep clean.

for me the white diamond exterior with the ebony platinum interior sounds appealling

I have had all white interiors before.
I like them.
I wish they still had the SNOW WHITE leather like they used to have.
I really liked that. I don't mind keeping one clean.

Texas Jim

I'm with Jim on this. If I could I would get a...........
Dark Red DTS with all white interior.....................OR a White DTS with an all Red interior.

Not hard to keep them clean if you don't get them filthy to start with............

I wold prefer to have RWD.
Better turn ratio.
Better handling.
Less maintenance expense.

I'm with Jim on this. If I could I would get a...........
Dark Red DTS with all white interior.....................OR a White DTS with an all Red interior.

Not hard to keep them clean if you don't get them filthy to start with............

I wold prefer to have RWD.
Better turn ratio.
Better handling.
Less maintenance expense.


A Dark Red DTS with the SNOW WHITE interior would be a really pretty car.

I am puzzled by your "LOWER MAINTENANCE) comment.
What unusual maintenance expenses have you encountered?
Mine has been real low maintenance...so far.

68,000 miles...
Change the oil every few thousand miles.
Replaced the cabin air filter a couple of time.
Replaced the engine air filter a couple of times...(It probably needs replacing again)

Rotate and balance the tires every once in a while. (Free)

Thats about it for maintenance on mine. At least so far. :cool2:

Texas Jim

Southern,

I lied to you. :canttalk:
My car is almost 66,000...not 68,000 as I said in the previous post.

Texas Jim

I wasn't talking about your car. I rarely do.
I wasn't talking about my car. I have a new one.
I wasn't even talking about Cadillacs in particular, tho Cadillacs may be the only manufacturer that thinks that FWD and luxury go together.
Strangely enough..................most cadilllacs are RWD.............but not their flagship...........?
What I was talking about was Front Wheel Drive as opposed to RWD.

FWD costs more in maintenance than RWD.
Always has and always will.
1- more copmplex. Several cars I have owned have had provblems wirth half shafts and the protective boots.
What happens is the boots wear or tear.
This is very very common.
You can replace them at that point, but it is not cheap.
Once they have lost their integrity, dirt and grime gets into the half shafts and it is just a matter of time until they go bad.
We are talking some real money here.

2- FWD has very poor Weight balance. This results in a huge amount ofthe weight on the front.
Aside from the inherent problems of performance, this puts a lot of stress on the front end. Any independent shop will tell you that FWD has a lot of trouble with disc brake warping and shocks (Struts) going bad.

In any event, in 50+ years of driving I have never had a problem with any drive components on a RWD (My Dad once had to replace some U joints on a Chrysler, but I never did) and have replaced a couple of half shafts and boots on FWD of various manufacturers.


http://www.smartmotorist.com/car-accessories-fuel-and-maintenance/maintenance-recommendations.html

http://wikicars.org/en/Rear-wheel_drive

Southern,

Acknowledged, understood and agreed with. :) :)

Texas Jim

I would also say it has gotten worse, my 02 DTS can whip around no problem, but an 08 I rented was awful with Uturns.