| Re: Open Letters to Cadillac Corporate
I really like the way Cadillac handled the CTS and XLR projects. They both have good targets to aim for on the market and with the competitive pricing, it's going to be very hard to ignore them for the value that they really are. But there seems to be an undergoing issue with the STS, as far as the styling is concern. Some faithful followers like myself can't seem to help but feel like the '05 STS is a bigger, bulkier version of the CTS. It seems to be having some kind of identity crisis. Some say it looks like a cross between a CTS and a Deville. I guess in time, it will wear off on us that are currently disappointed.
I must admit that the styling of the STS disappointed me quite a bit, I was expecting something more along the lines of the Cien or XLR, with a bit of interior styling from the Eighteen. While the styling cues here fits the CTS very well, they leave something more to desire on the STS. The STS is thought of as the flagship by many, and yet, it doesn't seem to have an established target on the market.
If the CTS has the BMW 3 series and the smaller Mercedes-Benz in it's sights, the STS needs to have the BMW 5 series and the middle road Mercedes in it's sights as well. I feel that in order for Cadillac to take over the market from BMW and Mercedes, they need to play on the "playground" that BMW and Mercedes built for themselves and their fans. The CTS is doing very well in this case, but the STS already seems to need to play catch up.
BMW and Mercedes have established themselves in the aftermarket, as well as the market, attracting younger and older fans alike. Aftermarket is where BMW and Mercedes actually retains their buyers for the long haul. With after marketing, the buyer of the vechicles can actually make thier cars, their very own, with it's own distinct look and feel. I just turned 29, and have been a big fan of the Seville and Eldorado since '92. My Family at one time owned three Sevilles (a base model '92, a '96 STS and a '97 STS). My family still feels that the Seville and STS can be just as superior as the Mercedes and BMW, as long as the effort to improve is there. And for the longest time now, I wished that I too, could make my car "mines".
Styling is just one end of the spectrum, of course, the other side that has many Cadillac followers giddy is the performance side. We're just wishing that Cadillac would be more accepting to this notion. We're not asking for anything outrageous, just the chance to make our cars just as respectable as our peers, who seemingly to turn their noses up at us, whenever they see us coming. We know that you take pride in the work that you do in house, but believe it or not, the car buyers have ideas for these vehicles as well, that's both performance wise and styling cues.
I know what this company is capable of doing, if you play your cards right, you could very well run the table in the industry. But you keep slapping on the muzzle everytime your projects finally start to get some "bite" to go with that loud "growl". Many fans of Cadillac, such as myself, are waiting on you to grab the competition by the throat and force the industry and the critics to take notice once and for all. You have the means, we know you do after seeing the STSi a few years ago. What we're asking of you is to stop teasing us and give us the Full Monty once and for all. We can't drive concept cars, but at least give us the ability to make our own cars, our very own "prototypes".
Once again, I'd like to commend Cadillac on the CTS and XLR projects. These two should be mainstays for many years to come. Making subtle styling cues to these two cars should be the only major changes over a time. The pricing of the XLR and CTS raised a few eyebrows, considering the performance of the CTS over the XLR. But other than that, great job with the CTS and XLR, and we all know you can only get better. | 
