How DOES your Cadillac make you feel?

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Last year Cadillac ads asked, “When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?”

How does your car make you feel?

I love automobiles.  I love the independence, I love the machinery, and the autonomy.  One can get into an automobile and go; it gives options.    Just the raw fact that an automobile can move under its own power, at speed, and corner well is in itself delightful.  It is one of the ultimate tools — utility, entertainment, transportation all in one.

So what are my expectations of the current Cadillac line, when I get into a new Cadillac?

I am looking for elegance and poise.  I am looking for detailed, thoughtful engineering.  For purposeful nuances; “This feature was included because it aids aerodynamics and it perfectly ties out the styling cue along this line”.

Cadillac is a full line manufacturer, and offers a variety of vehicle types and models.    Each Cadillac model offers a different take on luxury, elegance, utility, convenience, economy, efficiency, and performance/sport.

“How does my Cadillac make me feel?”  seems a trite question when examined without the soundtrack and cut-away video.

When I get into my Cadillac I appreciate the fine leather.  The wood touches.   The terrific reliability as I start the engine.  The performance and sportiness as I pull into traffic.  The luxury appointments and entertainment options as I cruise down the highway to my next event.  The detailed engineering that brings it all together in an efficient platform and vehicle that is within the means of many.

How does it make me feel?  Like I am very glad I drive a Cadillac.

Comparing the 2008 Cadillac STS-V and the 2009 Cadillac CTS Sedan

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I have been shopping for a nice, low mile 2008 Cadillac STS-V.   After test driving a new 2010 Cadillac SRX Premium Model, it struck me that a 2009 Cadillac CTS Premium Collection might be a terrific car for me, in that it captures all the cool features in the current Cadillacs, almost fits my budget, is a newer vehicle, and gets the high MPG that the STS-V would not.

Both of these vehicles are ‘fully loaded’, and share a lot of features.  The STS-V has a longer wheelbase (116.4″ vs 113.4″) which goes to more rear leg room,  and weighs more (4,394 lbs vs 3874 lbs largely due to the added performance gear).  Otherwise, what features would one have that the other would not?

Equipment on the STS-V not available in the CTS or similar but different:

  • Engine, Northstar supercharged 4.4L V8 DOHC MFI, Variable Valve Timing (469 hp (349 kW] @ 6400 rpm, 439 lb-ft of torque [595 N-m] @ 3900 rpm) 13/19 mpg
  • Head-Up Display, 4-color, reconfigurable, with digital readouts for vehicle speed, selected gear, Adaptive Cruise Control indicator, audio system information, high-beam indicator, fuel level and 5 language capability (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish)
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Steering wheel, heated
  • Headlamps, IntelliBeam, automatic low/high beam control
  • Audio system with navigation, AM/FM stereo with Bose 5.1 Studio Surround sound system, 6-disc in-dash CD/DVD changer and DVD-based advanced navigation, Bluetooth phone interface, includes seek-and-scan, digital clock, Radio Data System (RDS), TheftLock, AudioPilot automatic volume control, weather band, digital signal processing, rear passenger A/V jacks and 15 speakers
  • Premium Steering Gear, ZF
  • Tires, P255/45R18 front and P275/40R19 rear, Pirelli, W-rated, EMT, blackwall
  • Chassis:  Sigma 1 with FE4 suspension

Features available on the 2009 Cadillac CTS not available on the 2008 Cadillac STS-V:

  • 3.6L Variable Valve Timing V6 DI Direct Injection (304 hp [226.7 kW] @ 6400 rpm, 273 lb-ft of torque [368.6 N-m] @ 5200 rpm) 17/26 mpg
  • Adaptive headlight system
  • Accent Lighting
  • Ultraview sunroof (the STS-V has a sunroof, but not the Ultraview)
  • Audio system with navigation, AM/FM stereo with CD/DVD player, MP3 playback, Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound 10-speaker system and HDD-based navigation with XM NavTraffic/Real Time Weather, 8″ pop-up screen, Radio Data System (RDS), 40GB Hard Drive Device (HDD), USB with audio connectivity with steering wheel controls
  • Tires, P235/50R18 V-rated all-season, blackwall
  • Chassis:  Sigma 2 with FE2 suspension (or FE3 with Summer Tire package)

My conclusion?  After driving both, the Cadillac CTS Sedan has more edgy styling.  Clearly the more expensive Cadillac STS-V has more features even than a Premium Collection CTS.  It will likely depend on the examples of each I find in my shopping as to which one gets the final nod.

I’ll have the keyless access in my Cadillac please

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Tucked into the Premium package of the Cadillac SRX and Cadillac CTS or available as a separate feature of the Luxury or Performance models is the Luxury Level 2 option package.  Here is the example from the 2010 CTS order book:

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

I had seen “Keyless Access” as a feature of the SRX Premium, but that simply confused me.    All Cadillacs tend to be keyless access right?  They all have remotes to lock or unlock the doors, etc.

What Cadillac is featuring with the Keyless Access Options is the idea that you never have to get the key fob out of your pocket or purse, it just has to be with you.

  • Keyless Access – Passive Entry: allows you to simply walk up to the car and open the door.  If it senses you have the key with you, the door unlocks.
  • Keyless Access – Keyless Ignition: press the brake pedal, and push a button to start the Cadillac.  If it senses you have the key with you, the car starts.

These may sound to you like “so what”? options, but let me assure you that in person in the Cadillac, they are very cool.  It is fun to simply walk up to the Cadillac, and have it recognize you and open the doors.  It is fun to push a button to start the car, and have it crank right up.  Of course the gauges and digital displays on the instrument panels of current Cadillacs are busy at startup putting on a digital display, so it all becomes entertainment.

Keyless Access is a desirable feature, and one I will shop for in my next Cadillac.