Cadillac Owners Forum banner
1 - 20 of 41 Posts

· Registered
None
Joined
·
16 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Is it just me???!!! I waited for months for the release of the new generation CTS because I was such a fan of the 2nd generation CTS. When Cadillac released photos of the third generation CTS design, I was in awe. It looked incredible....Then I saw one in person. I have to say, the design, to me, seems boring and a bit cheap. I particularly hate the black behind the grille, doesn't it look like cheap plastic back there. The rounded back end looks like a more boring version of the new cls. It also seems overly stretched and narrow to me. This is Motortrends care of the year??? WTH???

Then I read the reviews and decided I must be wrong. Every article had nothing but praise for this car, particularly when it came to its styling. Also, the performance is apparently amazing. Well this made me happy because the 2nd generation CTS was a bit slow when you compared it to something like a 535. Oh wait, so is the new CTS- 6-6.1 0-60, and that's only if you use the RWD; I have yet to see AWD numbers. So this "amazing" sports sedan is right on par with a Honda Accord V6, great. To be fair, all the praise was for the nice shifting and great handling. However, lets not forget, this is an American sports sedan. European cars have traditionally been better at handling because in America we like to punch it on the onramp and fly down open highways, not twisties in the French country-side. I do appreciate good handling but I would also appreciate decent acceleration numbers in Motortrends car of the year.

I was still convinced I was wrong and this new CTS actually looked nice. Then I saw a 2nd and 3rd generation CTS driving on the highway next to each other (both black). There was no comparison for me, the 2nd generation CTS looked bolder, younger and sized appropriately for someone under 60.

One last complaint- It annoys me that Cadillac switched their design philosophy to exactly that of the Germans. So instead of driving a Cadillac we are simply getting Cadillac's take on the 5series, EClass and A6. I very much appreciated how the CTS went in between the 3 and 5 series. The 3series always seemed too feminine and dainty while the 5series always had a 40 year old and up vibe to it. The CTS filled that void nicely, but no more.

Finally, before I am ridiculed for being so completely wrong, and I must be wrong because everyone who has reviewed this vehicle disagrees with me, I have to point this out. If this car is soooo great, why don't it's sales reflect it. The luxury marked this year is up 14 percent, yet Cadillac sales are down 5%. In the business world that is cause for major concern.

Please, tell me where I am wrong. Make me see why this car is beautiful and amazing. Otherwise I am going on the cheap and getting a 2nd generation CTS or joining the masses of D-bags and getting a 535, because I think these cars at least look good.
 

· Registered
2010 Cadillac Escalade
Joined
·
671 Posts
I'm getting a oil change now at the caddy dealer on my V coupe and the 2 same 14' CTSs are still here on the showroom floor....they have been here since April! $66k marked down to $49k for a 2.0 premium. I actually don't mind the new one, If they made the rear as aggressive as the front then it would be perfect!
 

· Registered
2012 Black Diamond 6MT V-Wagon
Joined
·
308 Posts
They dialed back the edgy styling for the more conservative World market. I like my 2012 Wagon because it is an executive hot rod. Now it's a luxury supercar. Nothing wrong with that but it has moved a little further up for my taste and budget. CUE and electronic nannies that I'd rather not pay for.
 

· Registered
2014 CTS Vsport Premium
Joined
·
550 Posts
No contest, 3rd gen. The creased styling of the previous generations already look SO dated. The LED light pipes are an amazing accent. I do have to agree that it looks like the designers shot their wad by the b-pillar and kind of gave up in the back.

Interior quality is in a whole 'nother league also, and CUE actually has enough processor power to work.

Lastly, kind of hard to argue with 300 lbs lighter.
 

· Registered
Gone; ‘09 V, ‘13 V coupe. Curr; ‘14 PG Vsport prem w/Kona interior
Joined
·
6,189 Posts
If they're soooo great why is there a glut of them sitting on dealership lots and GM had to shut down production in august because there was a 215 day surplus.

Apparently a lot of people don't see it like you.
 

· Registered
Gone; ‘09 V, ‘13 V coupe. Curr; ‘14 PG Vsport prem w/Kona interior
Joined
·
6,189 Posts
CTSVsport said:
If the previous version were so great, why did they have to price them so cheap to sell them?
You mean like this?

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/12/cadillac-offering-huge-discounts-on-some-models/

That's a big part of the problem with the Gen 3 CTS's. GM misjudged what potential customers would be willing to pay.
Same for the CTS V Sport and worse, the ELR (ridiculously overpriced originally, now can be had for $20-25k below the original MSRP).

The Gen 2 CTS's were lauded for their excellence in engineering and tech, and for their bold, uniquely American styling which is what attracted so many buyers.

The Gen 3 CTS is a great car for sure, but for many of us the styling has gone all soft and dull like the European makers GM is trying so hard to emulate.
 

· Registered
2014 CTS Vsport Premium
Joined
·
550 Posts
The discounts bring the prices down to about what list was on the previous generation ... Which were discounted at the end of the year also.

I agree Cadillacs desire for pricing parity with the Europeans might have been a bit aggressive, but that has nothing to do with the new cars being light years beyond the previous generation in design, engineering, execution, and quality. A stock Vsport is faster around the Nurburgring than a Gen 1 "full V", and almost as fast as a second gen with 100 more HP. The new chassis absolutely smokes the last gen, the new V is going to be something amazing.
 
1 - 20 of 41 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top