I ordered the spare tire option, haven't recieved the car yet so I don't know if it will be on it.
True, it all depends on IF a matching spare wheel & tire actually fits into the compartment. Usually if it can, it's then an option, but as it is without...not sure if anyone has actually verified the size of the new compartment, yet.I recommend getting a real spare. Wheels here or on ebay. I paid $52 plus $20 shipping, and it is like new--polished 17 inch. No need to pay more than $100 including shipping. Plus tire. Also, some dealers have tire depts, and they sometimes have used Caddy rims. I believe most Caddy rims will fit lug nut pattern, 115mm, except 2008 CTS. 2008 CTS now uses 120mm pattern.
I measured the compartment and the 18" All Season wheel/tire combo. An exact replacement wheel/tire combo will NOT fit into the spare tire compartment. The 18" wheel/tire is too deep to fit. A big part of this is because the spare tire compartment lid is about 2" thick. Unlike the thin/flimsy lid on my 2004 CTS, this new lid is made of some sort of molded fiberglass. It is very sturdy....not sure if anyone has actually verified the size of the new compartment, yet.
MOST CADDY RIMS WILL NOT FIT. 2008 uses 120mm. My mistake. You will have a hard time finding one for about a year. You could contact a national junk yard like LKQ. They will eventually have on rim for a 2008. Expect to pay at least a hundred, maybe more. I don't know if they charge for shipping or if they ship between their yards.I recommend getting a real spare. Wheels here or on ebay. I paid $52 plus $20 shipping, and it is like new--polished 17 inch. No need to pay more than $100 including shipping. Plus tire. Also, some dealers have tire depts, and they sometimes have used Caddy rims. I believe most Caddy rims will fit lug nut pattern, 115mm, except 2008 CTS. 2008 CTS now uses 120mm pattern.
Every manufacturer does things like this. It isn't new.GM needs every gimmick to try and make a few dollars.
My salesman dropped the $250 charge because we both know it's bull$hit.
GM needs every gimmick to try and make a few dollars.
Wait a second- so you guys think a wheel, tire, jack, tub and lug nut tool are free? Perhaps GM is picking them off a tree in Lansing and just ripping you guys off by charging for it?Every manufacturer does things like this. It isn't new.
You don't think that there isn't already enough markup on a Cadillac to "throw one in for free" do you? My truck had a spare tire, no additional charge, but a Cadillac's spare I gotta pay for? Come on now.... :bigroll:Wait a second- so you guys think a wheel, tire, jack, tub and lug nut tool are free?
The base price of the car was calculated without the spare tire and jack, plain and simple. I much prefer the inflator kit and foam anyway, especially for my Wife who I don't want changing a tire in the middle of BFE if I'm not around.
While it's easy for you to cavalierly declare that they should "just throw it in", $250 x 80,000 CTSs = $20 MILLION dollars (per year) extra cost to GM. If they save 20 million on spare tires AND give you a perfectly useful (some would say superior) alternative in the inflator kit, that's 20 million more they can use to improve other areas of the car.
Personally, I would rather have the more luxurious interior and exterior with a tire inflator kit then have GM cut corners on the car so they can include a clunky spare tire.