Category Archives: CTS-V

More Unsolicited Cadillac Commercials: “The Valet”

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This is the second in my continuing series of unsolicited commercial ideas for new Cadillac commercials.  This one is titled, “The Valet”:

[Setting:  Two young women, Yw1 and Yw2, each twenty-ish, are waiting with a number of people to retrieve Yw2’s car from a valet stand outside a posh restaurant.  A Blues Club is next door. Two men are talking near the curb to the side, Driver2, late 20s, an Entrepreneur, dressed in a suit, and Musician1, a musician.  WifeofDriver2, late-20s,  is standing just behind Yw1 and Yw2, chatting with another couple. The Valet staff includes HeadValet, at a Valet stand, and Valet1, Valet2, Valet3.   Driver1 is a Mid-30s successful business woman and Mother.]

[As commercial opens, focus on Yw1 and Yw2.]

Yw1:  “I mean, my Mom drove a Cadillac, and loved it, but my Grandfather drove a Cadillac for goodness sake!  I want a luxury car for OUR generation.”

[Driver1 pulls up to the Valet parking in 2010 SRX.  Valet1 runs over and opens the driver door while Driver1 exits the SRX.  Valet 2 and Valet3 stop and turn to look at the car and at Driver1]

Driver1: “Thank you”

[Driver1 hands the keys of the SRX to Valet1]

Valet1:  “Sweet car.  Is this the new SRX with the 2.8L Turbo V6?  On  the new custom Cadillac platform?”

Driver1: [smiles]  “Yes, I decided to treat myself.”

Valet1:  “Good choice!” as he jumps into the SRX and carefully pulls away

Headvalet nods to Driver1 as she enters the restaurant.

[Valet1 drives SRX to park; Valet2 still standing to watch the SRX go by.  Quick focus on Valet2 who looks down at the key he is holding, a BMW key, and waits to watch the SRX go by to be parked; then on Valet3 as he realizes he is holding a Cadillac key and runs off to retrieve it from the parked cars]

[cut; time gap as car pulls over][Valet3 pulls up in a 2010 Cadillac CTS-V.  ]

Driver2 shakes hands with Musician1, and walks over toward the people waiting for the Valets to retrieve their cars.  Valet3 is out of the CTS-V, and is now holding the door open on the passenger side.   Yw1 and Yw2 are both staring, mesmerized at Driver2.

Headvalet to Driver2:  “Sir, your Cadillac…”

Driver2 –holding his hand out toward the people waiting for their cars — says “Darling, are you ready?”

Yw1 and Yw2, each mistakenly believing Driver2 is talking to them, both reply “Yes.”

WifeofDriver2, stepping past Yw1 and Yw2,  smiles at them then laughs with Driver2 as she gives him a quick peck on the cheek, then climbs into the CTS-V.  Driver2 shrugs at Yw1 and Yw2, then walks around and enters the CTS-V also.

[cue music, roll titles; Welcome to the Next Generation of Innovation — Cadillac]

Man our old LaSalle ran great… Learning to be Frugal

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Automobile News has an article / essay arguing that many auto dealers are finding that regular customers are trading ‘down’ — buying less expensive luxury cars to replace more expensive luxury cars.  Other buyers are shopping for used cars, or buying out their lease at the end of the lease.  Some buyers are focused on not giving the appearance of buying a new car — so they need the same model and color of car, or buy a less obviously ostentatious car, say a sedan instead of a convertible — so as not to appear to be doing well.  A related article is about how fewer people are financing cars, or financing less of the car deal, and F&I offices in dealerships are reducing staff.

Searching Google, there are thousands of hits for the phrase Frugal the new black.  Very popular topic, Frugality.

Is frugal the new ‘black’, meaning much more popular these days?  Many of the Generation that lived through the Great Depression in the United States (and the rest of the world for that matter) became stereotypically frugal for the rest of their lives.  Suddenly going from the heyday to rampant unemployment and food lines left a permanent memory of shortages, one they always kept in the back of their mind.  “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without” was a household aphorism.

As more and more people learn to cut back on excess, pay off  their debts, and live within their means, is it possible that this will be a permanent sea change?  Will we see the market for new cars continue to stay at the current reduced levels, and the market for used cars continue to be at elevated levels?

How can we be frugal with our Cadillacs?

1) Wash and wax it yourself.  Savings:  up to $10/week
2) Keep your new car for 8-12 years instead of buying a new car every 4-5 years.  Savings:  up to the cost of a new Cadillac.
3)  Maintain your Cadillac; oil changes, oil filter, air filter are all easy to maintain and to learn to maintain.  Savings:  Around $30/oil change doing it yourself; about 1/2 for filters buying online vs buying retail.  A Helm’s shop manual (the official GM shop manuals) is invaluable for this — check ebay for used copies!
4) When you need new parts replaced that you can’t do yourself, ask if you can buy the part online and bring it to the Mechanic.
5) Keep visiting Caddyinfo.com for helpful advice and support.  Questions always welcome about your Cadillac.

Do you have other favorite Frugal Cadillac habits?

Best Cadillac skidpad results ever?

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I suppose the new CTS-V with magnetic ride suspension is the current Cadillac record holder for ‘official’ 200 foot skidpad performance at 0.92g (as measured by Edmund’s)

The previous CTS-V, XLR-V, STS-V as I have mentioned tended to top at 0.87g on a 200ft skidpad, although Motor Trend did manage to record a 0.90g with a 2005 CTS-V.

In a report on the 2006 XLR-V, Car & Driver notes that although they only measured a skidpad of 0.87g, Cadillac claimed a skidpad of 0.94g was attainable.  Since Cadillac and Car&Driver measure in different places (surfaces and atmosphere and method matter), then not a surprise that they might achieve different results.  But Cadillac’s claim would make the XLR-V the skidpad champion, and not the new CTS-V.

In a 2005 report, Road & Track summarized several V Series and non-V series models performance numbers:

2004 CTS 0.83 g
2004 CTS-V 0.87g
2005 STS 0.81g
2006 STS-V 0.88g (estimated)
2006 XLR 0.87g

In a model update 6/2006, Road & Track noted that the XLR-V would do 0.87g on the skidpad.

So, what we need is a no-holds barred V-Series face off, to determine who the best Cadillac corner carver is.   The test data seems to give the new CTS-V the nod, but until the Cadillac Sedan with the Cadillac Chassis and Corvette engine has gone head to head with the Cadillac Roadster with the Corvette Chassis and Cadillac engine, we just won’t know for sure.