[c5 rv]

I was driving a rental DTS for the past three days while my SRX was waiting for parts. Today I returned the rental DTS with 48K miles, picked up my SRX, and went in to see my salesman. We went out for a drive in a CPO 06 DTS 1SE with 46K miles. The Performance Edition was like a different car: no freeway float, no pavement vibrations felt through the gas pedal, no torque steer, no mystery rattle in the dash. What a great car. A CPO DTS 1SE is tops on my list for next year.

 

[Superjim]

Now you know what I mean when I try to tell someone that the 1SE is not the same car as the LUX models. :banghead: :banghead:

It really can't be explained in words.... but it is SO MUCH different. :cloud9: :cloud9:
At least TO ME it is.

 

[TSS]

Come on. There is no real difference. It's like all those CTS-V folks who think their car is so different than a base CTS. oke:

 

[Superjim]

Come on. There is no real difference. It's like all those CTS-V folks who think their car is so different than a base CTS. oke:

Not too sure if this is a base model CTS or not...but I don't think it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBaS...x.php?showtopic=21775&feature=player_embedded

Texas Jim

 

[TSS]

Not too sure if this is a base model CTS or not...but I don't think it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBaS...x.php?showtopic=21775&feature=player_embedded

Texas Jim

^^ I am so unqualified to drive something like that. :helpless:

By the way, I just got another friend into a performance DTS. Caddy really needs to promote the performance more. I dare say, most salespeople don't even know all the differences or to get customers to drive one if they are not happy with a LUX DTS. My neighbor's white 2006 Perf. with only 11K miles is coming off lease in September. Loaded. Clean. Gorgeous. He is a single guy and the DTS shares space in his garage with 2 Harleys and an 08 Z51 Vette convertible. Hence the low miles on the DTS. Buyout is around 24K I think. If times were more certain, I might try to grab it when turned back in, get dealer to certify it, and replace our 01 SLS.

 

[Rantz_alot]

good post. I agree there are diferrences between the Perf and the Lux configurations, the most in my mind is the magnetic ride control and I would like to see it standard across the lines.

I drove both before buying my 2009 Prem Luv Platinum, and while I enjoyed the performance benefits of the Perf in the end it was the traditional cadillac feel that made my decision. one detail I can call out is that when I went down a curb transition to go from a parking lot into the street or when going over a speedbump, I felt and heard a much firmer and honestly a harsher experience in the perf; and that is not what I wanted in a cadillac. I do notice more freeway float but not much and for my driving the more suble ride is more important. I have owned hot rods in the past and I do luv a powerful auto (i.e my 8.1Litre Suburban), but I wouldn't drive a DTS in the manner I would drive a sports car, wrong tool for the job...

On the comparisons between a perf and a rental DTS, well that is an apple/orange thing if trying to opine on the Lux model. I have rented many base DTS and they are not the same (I am being kind); I recently had two while my dealer was doing upgrades to my navigition traffic system, and the the car is way diferrent. mush less inslultation, and as a result much more noise, a lot more noise. I actually noticed the sound of the turn signal to be notice-ably louder in the base model. the engine noise came into the cabin like I was in a malibu. The feature upgrades also add a lot to the driving experience in ways that simply are not there in a base model. And I am really enjoying the adaptive cruise feature, and the rainsense wipers which I had on my 03 Lincoln and to me it is one of the best features (it rains a lot in Oregon).

I am glad I bought my 09 Lux Platinum given they will not be available in 2010. With that said, I am sure the 2010performance Platinum is going to be an awesome car, just as that configuration in the 09 models are.

my dimes worth !

cheers, Randy

 

[c5 rv]

I stopped in to see my Lincoln salesman today. They had an 06 Buick Lucerne CXS, also with about 46K miles. (The CXS has the 275 HP N*, MRC, and 18" wheels.) The ride was similar to the DTS Performance, but not quite as firmly planted. The tires on the Buick were original and in terrible shape, which probably didn't help the ride.

I also drove a MKS with the optional 20" wheels. The ride was poor. I felt every pavement seam and there was a lot of tire noise. I've previously driven an Ultimate MKS with the 19" wheels and it felt much better. The stock 3.7 engine works hard to move the car. It will be interesting to test drive one with the ecoboost twin turbo next fall (~350 HP and 350 lb/ft of torque at 1500 RPM).

 

[rrperez]

how do you tell them aprt the dts luxury vs. the perfomance. I have an 03 dts

 

[c5 rv]

Stock, the DTS Lux III has 17" wheels and the Performance Edition has 18" wheels. The LUX III is available with bench or bucket seats while the Performance Edition only has bucket seats. Both have massaging seats (the big square button on the side of the front seats).

 

[Superjim]

Another thing...under the hood...the engine cover says...Northstar 32V HP.
I assume that the HP means High Performance.

If a build sheet is available..I think it is called a 1SG.

Texas Jim

 

[Southern]

I DO like like the mag ride of the perf sedan. Other than that I don't feel any difference in the ride or handling. Both are FWD and a good RWD will run off and hide from both of them.
Believe me I can outhandle the DTS perf with a standard 265 HP CTS.

The engines are interesting.
The Lux is actually quicker off the line than the Perf. More torque. I am sure the Perf has more top end, and passes better (More HP).
As stated never compare a perf to a rental base car. Compare you perf to my lux 3 if you must.
Slightly better performance overall.
My lux 3 has slightly more lux than the perf.
What some call "float" I call "compliance".
Renault has proven (By winning the world championship) that a winning race car can have very generous body movement if the suspension maintains contact with the ground, so the old "no suspension" that US performance cars had, is not necessary.
In truth that is what the mag ride does. You still have a long travel shock, but the compliance is better.And faster.
I like the way the Perf comes down off a bump while in a turn.
Where my lux will lurch to the side a bit, the Perf just goes on as if on rails.


As I have said before, IMO the DTS is a good, maybe great, value.
It is a very nice compromise.

 

[Tomko]

Back when I was shopping I drove both a 2008 Lux III and Performance back to back on the same expressway, on-off ramps and back roads.

The first difference that I noticed between the two was the tip in, or sensitivity, of the accelerator pedal. The Performance has a very touchy gas pedal from a dead stop. I found it very hard to get the Performance to launch as though I was driving with passengers in the car or like driving a limousine or hearse. Perhaps after more than an hour of seat time I would get better at it, but I really didn't like this. It's launch was like a BMW's in the sense that a very small movement of the pedal - say 1/4 inch - generated maybe a 20% opening in the throttle. This makes the car feel lighter and more powerful, but this almost completely blew me off of the Performance.

I also really wanted to like the Magnetic Ride Control, and it was very good. The car never felt like it was gliding over the road. It always felt very glued to the road, especially going around clover-leaf on and off ramps. Very confidence inspiring. However the 18 inch tires generate more road noise than the 17s on the Lux III. As well, the overall ride was noticeably stiffer than the Lux III. It was not bad at all, closer to that of a big Mercedes-Benz, but it was no where near what you may know as a traditional Cadillac ride. Although on perfect roads, the ride difference would have likely been imperceptible.

The Lux III rode quieter, with less noise and bump intrusion to the seat of my pants. There were times when at highway speed on my bumpy road course it felt like the car had sort of lifted off of the road. This occasional glide or magic carpet ride did not inspire my confidence in the same way that the MRC and Performance did.

If you like to be the first person away from a red light, if you still do a little race with the car in the next lane every couple of days or so, and if you are not overly concerned about the absolute comfort of your passengers - you are not chaufering your elderly family members - then a Performance is likely the car for you. Otherwise look to the Lux III.

But most importantly, you have to drive them back to back. I drove five hours to be able to do the comparison and I'm glad that I did. If you drove them blindfolded, I swear that you would think that they were two separate vehicles.

 

[c5 rv]

... If you drove them blindfolded, I swear that you would think that they were two separate vehicles.

My salesman balked when I suggested this test. So much for the customer always being right. :hmm:

 

[V-Eight]

come on. There is no real difference. It's like all those cts-v folks who think their car is so different than a base cts. oke:

v8>v6

 

[z06bigbird]

The ride still won't match my (former) 1964 SDV. 1964 Continental (suicide doors) was 10 times smoother than the Caddy. A lot slower than the Caddy too. 68 Continental had the power and the comfort.

Sorry for stealing thread.

 

[z06bigbird]

v8>v6

There actually is a difference between the V and the reg CTS. The V has a couple of extra chrome name tags on car.

 

[V-Eight]

As well as a better interior, front and rear bumpers, suspension and some other goodies.

 

[TSS]

As well as a better interior, front and rear bumpers, suspension and some other goodies.

I bet you are one of those folks who also thinks there is a big difference between an 80's Regal and a GN too, right?

 

[V-Eight]

I bet you are one of those folks who also thinks there is a big difference between an 80's Regal and a GN too, right?

Well, one can do 0-60 in 5.5, the other would do it in about 10. So yeah, there is a difference.....unless we're talking about Turbo T's or WE4. Sure, the platform and a lot of stuff is the same, but there is a heck of a lot of differences. I sure know I wouldn't buy a CTS but I'd buy a V.

 

[TSS]

^^I was joking. By the way, 0-60 in 10 is optimistic I think for a 80's Regal. My dad had an 84 and it was pretty taxed out with the non T 3.8. Memory is telling me it was rated at about 120HP or so. In the 90s, the 3.8 was bumped up.

Bottom line, back on topic, is that the performance and non-performance DTS really are different animals, despite looking very much alike to the casual observer. (ie. Regal/GN; CTS/CTS-V; Omni/Omni GLHS; 300/300C).