About Cadillac's Technology...

Newmonarch · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-07, 05:54 PM

Hi Guys!

I am new in this forum but I have to say something ( Lets say, question to it lol )

Some guys are saying that Cadillac is very bad car against its competitiors. ( Mercedes, Bmw ), is this true? Those cars are very bad, or good , I mean in if you want to compete this cars against european rivals, how can you say about the technology that cadillac have?

I want to buy a Cadillac Eldorado 1999 or 2000 model. But I learn that its front wheel drive and I hate fwd cars. Can we translate into rear wheel drive in someway? And can we put more power to the Nortstar V8 4.6? What about the quailty of interior? İs it like Mercedes, Bmw, or rubbish European cars? Does these cars has an Esp system?

And what is magnetic ride control?

codewize · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-07, 06:22 PM

The first part of this is actually referring to refinement and NOT technology. It's always been an understanding that German manufacturers made a better product. Better craftsmanship and more refined finish work.

I personally don't feel this is the case anymore. MB, BMW and others do NOT fare well at all on the repair lists.

Secondly the Eldo is the one Cadillac that has ALWAYS been front wheel drive.

If you're going to by a Northstar powered car get something post 2000. There were several important changes to the engine design in 2000.

The interior in recent American cars, especially Cadillac has come a long way. I've never owned a benz or a BMW but I think they actually have a long way to go to compare to the newer Cadillacs. They have stayed the same and Cadillac has progressed.

If the interior of my Cadillac was anything like a Benz I wouldn't drive it. I think al those cars are poorly layed out. Materials are good, usually fit and finish is good but I cant stand the layout.

I'm not even going to get into the power discussion. Very few of those cars will keep up with a Northstar powered Cadillac.

I don't know what ESP is

Magnaride now known as RSS or Road Sensing Suspension is only on the Touring Sedans. The shocks are filled with an iron impregnated oil and can are automatically adjusted based on driving conditions up to a few million times a second.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newmonarch

Hi Guys!

I am new in this forum but I have to say something ( Lets say, question to it lol )

Some guys are saying that Cadillac is very bad car against its competitiors. ( Mercedes, Bmw ), is this true? Those cars are very bad, or good , I mean in if you want to compete this cars against european rivals, how can you say about the technology that cadillac have?

I want to buy a Cadillac Eldorado 1999 or 2000 model. But I learn that its front wheel drive and I hate fwd cars. Can we translate into rear wheel drive in someway? And can we put more power to the Nortstar V8 4.6? What about the quailty of interior? İs it like Mercedes, Bmw, or rubbish European cars? Does these cars has an Esp system?

And what is magnetic ride control?

CadillacSTS2003 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-07, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codewize

The first part of this is actually referring to refinement and NOT technology. It's always been an understanding that German manufacturers made a better product. Better craftsmanship and more refined finish work.

I personally don't feel this is the case anymore. MB, BMW and others do NOT fare well at all on the repair lists.

Secondly the Eldo is the one Cadillac that has ALWAYS been front wheel drive.

If you're going to by a Northstar powered car get something post 2000. There were several important changes to the engine design in 2000.

The interior in recent American cars, especially Cadillac has come a long way. I've never owned a benz or a BMW but I think they actually have a long way to go to compare to the newer Cadillacs. They have stayed the same and Cadillac has progressed.

If the interior of my Cadillac was anything like a Benz I wouldn't drive it. I think al those cars are poorly layed out. Materials are good, usually fit and finish is good but I cant stand the layout.

I'm not even going to get into the power discussion. Very few of those cars will keep up with a Northstar powered Cadillac.

I don't know what ESP is

Magnaride now known as RSS or Road Sensing Suspension is only on the Touring Sedans. The shocks are filled with an iron impregnated oil and can are automatically adjusted based on driving conditions up to a few million times a second.

only 2 parts were wrong
Eldo was not always FWD
all LATE models since like the 70s+ are FWD
but the 1st Eldo i know was RWD

and add on the Magride is not RSS they are two different systems and magride is only available on the STS not "touring sedans" (saying that would include the deville which doesnt have Mag)

chubbyranger · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-07, 07:34 PM

The Northstar pumps out 275 - 300 HP depending on the model you buy. It needs more power why? To me the only reason people buy a Benz is for the hood ornament because I have never understood the attraction for any other reason. A BMW is truly a fun car to drive but a whole different experience than a Cadillac. I drive my STS because I like riding in it - not what people say about it.

lbwd · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-07, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newmonarch

Can we translate into rear wheel drive in someway? And can we put more power to the Nortstar V8 4.6?

LOL

Absolutely not.

There are no power upgrades now, unless you consider exhaust a cool power mod. Are you trying to impress someone?

I can't make a decision for you, but I will say that Cadillac has much more class, inside and out, than the others you mentioned. I also feel that you will like how the Cadillacs hold the road. Why don't you test drive one?

dwight.j.carter · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-07, 08:29 PM

get one 2005 or newer and your rear wheel drive on the CTS,STS,XLR the DTS is still front wheel drive and the eldo was halted in 2002.

hueterm · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 04:01 AM

I'm almost sure the '67 Eldorado was FWD, as it came out after the '66 Toronado which wasn't that the first FWD car (or some kind of milestone i.e. first from the U.S.; or first modern FWD car)?

**Jesda** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 08:48 AM

The Eldorado "as we came to know it" was a FWD car. Its early iterations especially in the 1950s were RWD.

codewize · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 10:25 AM

Really? I have honestly never seen a RWD Eldo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadillacSTS2003

only 2 parts were wrong
Eldo was not always FWD
all LATE models since like the 70s+ are FWD
but the 1st Eldo i know was RWD

Right the Deville has RSS. Whats the difference? I haven't heard anything about magnaride since around 2000 or so. Knowing that, I made the assumption that they just changed the name. I guess that was a bad assumption. My apologies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadillacSTS2003

and add on the Magride is not RSS they are two different systems and magride is only available on the STS not "touring sedans" (saying that would include the deville which doesnt have Mag)

codewize · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 10:27 AM

Got it. Thank you for clarifying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesda

The Eldorado "as we came to know it" was a FWD car. Its early iterations especially in the 1950s were RWD.

rippypartsmaster · #11 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 10:47 AM

Isn't magride or magnaride the suspension system put into the XLR?

submariner409 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 11:35 AM

MagneRide was/is used on late '02 (after 02-01-02) and '03 STS, Corvette, and some Ferrari, and I understand Lamborghini may show up with it in one of their models. Not sure about STS or XLR now. It is not available for retrofit. It literally transforms a Seville STS into a top-class fast sport coupe, and the parts are hideously expensive.

rippypartsmaster · #13 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 12:36 PM

Edmunds says that the XLR has "Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension"

misfit6794 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 02:30 PM

Back to the original post. I don't think cadillac is behind in technology, they have alot of the same stuff that benz,bmw, and lexus have. Granted an LS can parallel park itself, its the only car that can. I think its more of a problem that cadillac doesn't have more models to compete with. Lets compare caddy with benz. The c-class has a coupe, covertible, and sedan, plus high performance (amg) and all wheel drive models. Look at the new cts, no coupe, no convertible, no v (yet), no awd. Now the sts does offer all wheel drive and a v model, but the e-class offers a diesel and a wagon. The dts isn't even in the same league as an s-class, and you can't get a dts coupe or high performance model, or with awd. An s-class you can get a coupe, an awd sedan, or a twin turbo V12 if you feel the need. Cadillac has nothing to compete with the cls, slk, or the r-class (unless you count the srx). Their suvs match up, but thats about it. The xlr is great competition for the sl, but for those looking for excess, you can get a twin turbo V12 in the benz, you can in the caddy. I think cadillac's main problem is they just don't have the model depth and line up that other luxury car makers have. If you want to buy a 90,000 dollar sedan like an s-class or a bmw 7-series, a dts just isn't gonna cut it, and caddy has nothing to offer.

You can blame gm cost cutting for cadillacs issues. Granted the new cts is an awesome ride, but there is still the perception that its just not as good as foreign cars. You can blame gm for that too.

Cadillacboy · #15 (**permalink**) 10-13-07, 03:00 PM

Cadillac always been a brand that is a pioneer of the advanced technology . I always place Cadillac on a different place than other brands .May be MB has a name especially W140 seemed to set standard in its class despite some failures but still Cadillac is the best for me .
Even though I am devoted Caddy fan and lover I have to say GM can be blamed for their mistakes . BTW, I am strictly against that Cadillac should never become European because it's all American and I don't think Europeans make better cars than Americans .