2010 Cadillac CTS Luxury Package – What do you get?

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I see some CTS Luxury models coming up on my standard nicely used Cadillac searches, like this one at Crest Cadillac.  What do you get with this model?

The “1SD” 2010 Cadillac CTS Luxury Package is a step up from the standard CTS, and includes the Luxury level 1 package, Seating package, memory seating, and wood trim package with the 3L DI V6.

Luxury Level One Package, includes (ARH) heavy-duty pet guard cargo net, (RYJ) retractable cargo area shade, (UA6) theft-deterrent alarm system, (U2R) audio system, and (TSQ) accent lighting

In other words, you get all of the appearance and “texture” items, with the Luxury package. The Luxury model is one of three configurations for the 3L:  Standard, Luxury, or Performance.

The Luxury package is available with or without the Navigation system.

What it dos NOT have:  The Luxury CTS does not include the Luxury Level 2 package or the Performance Package, the  Rear Parking Assist, or the Adaptive forward lighting Headlights.  So if those are important to you, you will want to shop for a more highly equipped model (Like the Premium!)

Luxury Level Two Package, includes (KB6) heated/ventilated front seats, (AM9) split-folding rear seat, (N38) power rake wheel and telescopic steering column, (ATH) Keyless Access-Passive Entry, (BTV) Keyless Access-Remote Start (not available with [MN6] 6-speed manual transmission), (BTM) Keyless Access-Keyless Ignition, (K14) Automatic cabin odor filtration and (UD7) Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist

Performance Package, 18″ (45.7 cm) All-Season Tire, includes (T4F) HID headlamps, (T3U) fog lamps, (P75) 18″ x 8″ (45.7 c x 20.3 cm) aluminum wheels with premium multi-coat painted finish, (QKE) P235/50R18 V-rated all-season blackwall tires, (G80) limited slip differential (AWD only), (J55) performance brakes (AWD only) and (FE2) sport suspension

Rear Parking Assist, Ultrasonic

Headlamps, high intensity discharge with Adaptive Forward Lighting System and flash-to-pass. Windshield wiper activated

The 3L Cadillac CTS Luxury Package makes a lot of sense to me.  You get all of the things many people want in a CTS at a good price point, and you can add in the Navigation if that is desirable to you.

Can buying a new Cadillac make you happy? Scientists say yes.

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In a 2009 study, Scientists considered the relationship between different types of consumption (buying stuff) and happiness among older Americans.  Once of their result set dealt with vehicle consumption:

However, an important contribution of our findings is that we can reject the conventional wisdom that “material goods can’t buy you happiness.” In fact, two forms of expenditure are associated with increased happiness—leisure and vehicles—and vehicle spending had the largest association with happiness in our data.

Can buying a new or new to you Cadillac make you happy?  Scientists cautiously say “yes”, but it depends somewhat on WHY you are buying the new Cadillac, and how you enjoy it.

Generally a new vehicle will make you happy in relation to its social connectedness.  If you perceive the new vehicle as a leisure experience, and if it makes you feel more connected with others, then it will tend to make you happier.

If you buy it just to have the latest, newest thing, you will soon ‘adapt’ to it as a ‘new’ item, it will soon no longer thrill, and you will “need” to buy another, newer item in order to stay happy with newness.

A second main finding in the study is that money spent on leisure activities tends to generate more happiness than on material items.  So taking a vacation makes most people happier than buying furniture.   The key to this part of the study to me is that happiness comes from things that make memories for you.

If your Cadillac is a leisure item for you, a hobby purchase as well as mundane transportation, then it is more likely to be a source of happiness on an ongoing basis than if one is simply buying a generic car to get from point A to point B.  In other words, if your Cadillac makes you smile every time you get in it, then as a material purchase it is a happiness investment.

Targeting the Market

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One excellent resource when shopping for a used model is the Kelley Blue Book. Unusually, I find the interface at cars.com to the KBB info to be easier/quicker to use than the actual kbb website.  The Kelley Blue book values are based on auto auction sales values across the country.

Let’s look at the 2008 Cadillac STS-V. Blue Book® Values for a 2008 Cadillac STS -V Sedan 4D with 24,000 miles in ZIP Code 75023 on 08/09/2010: $34,695 from a private party, up to $39,695 at retail. A dealer would offer $31,325 for a ‘trade-in’ value. This last figure is not directly useful, but it does help to establish a range. If one could find a prime example for sale from an individual they are hoping to get $31K-34K from the sale. A Dealer is hoping to get from $39K to infinity.

The National Auto Dealer’s Association distributes the NADA or ‘blue and orange’ / ‘yellow book’ pricing. The NADA guides would suggest a clean trade-in value of $36K, and a dealer clean retail value of $43K.  Average trade-in is $34K.

A third source dealerships sometimes use is the ‘Black Book’ car guide from blackbookusa.com, which is updated weekly and is focused on wholesale values.  Although this information is not available online, check with your Credit Union as they frequently also carry valuing guides.  Black book online access is $397/year for daily updates or $298/year for weekly updates.

A research-based method of course is to utilize online searches and monitor the prices asked for the model you have an interest in.  In this case the three lowest 2008 STS-Vs with under 24K miles on cars.com are at $38.7, $38.9, and $39K retail, and more or less hovering at that price point for the last few months.

Of course an additional price point to keep in mind is what the automobile is worth to you.  The fact that Ferrari sells cars for $whatever amount does not make their offering worth that to me.  In this case although the STS-V sold new for $79K+, the low $30s is the amount it makes sense for me to purchase a very clean, excellent used example.   So until I can find the ‘right’ deal a bit lower than the current asking prices I need to keep shopping.

And REMEMBER when shopping — you are not in ‘love’ with any of them.  Maintaining your objectivity is the MOST important way to find the right car.