2004 Cadillac CTS from North America - Comments

Nothing, I just test drove the car. Quality was excellent.

I love this car, I'm definitely going to consider buying it.

What's nice about it is that it beats the Mercedes C and E class and BMW 3 and 5 series in acceleration, handling and price. Road and Track did a comparison between the BMW, Jag and Mercedes, plus some other ones and they gave the Cadillac the #1 rating. And since it's larger than the others, it's roomy and comfortable.

The trunk is pretty good and the seats fold down. I also like how the 3.6 V6 Auto takes regular fuel instead of premium. Where the manual gets the 3.2L it takes premium. But next year the manual gets the better 3.6L V6.

I would definitely recommend this car along with Cadillac's new STS, the Seville replacement and since they're on the same platform, it should drive similar to the CTS.

I agree, Cadillac has made big strides. For those looking for an "upgrade," I would recommend the CTS-V (with the Corvette LS1). I have been trying to buy one, but there is a long wait list for it.

This Review sounds like if it was written, by a Cadillac Dealer.

I was considering to buying a Cadillac CTS.

And I became, a bit disappointed.

However...

It's nice to see, that Cadillac is trying to be "Cool".

I must admit: The CTS really looks Nice. The one, which I drove was a Dark Alcantara Blue. Looked very good.

However, the Interior feels too Plasticky, as if it was ripped off, from a Chevrolet Malibu. For a U$$30.000 I Think, it should has a much better, Interior Finish.

The 3.6L VVT V6 Engine is very Powerful and smooth even at high speeds it was quiet. Loads of Torque when needed and fast at the acceleration; Surprisingly quick of the line and didn't struggle up hills.

The Automatic Transmission was very good. It offered smooth shifting and quick downshifting, which is important because you sure will need it. Automatic transmissions seem to be a General Motors specialty since every GM car I've driven has a great auto tranny.

The Ride was very smooth and the soft suspension, smoother quite well, the potholes and other imperfections. Very Refined, with little wind or road noise.

But they should get rid of those "Jelly Shock Absorbers".

Like most of Cadillacs, The Cadillac CTS also drives wallowy. It was very obvious to me the GM tuned it more for comfort than for good handling, The Alero exhibits a lot of body lean and generally feels very unsettled in even smaller turns. This feeling is not helped by a steering system the lacks any sort of feedback, It is on the firm side, but this firmness is fake feeling and vague.

Sadly, I didn't like the CTS.

In a consolation I must say that is nice, to see, that Cadillac is trying to get rid of that "Granddad's Car" Car Image. The CTS is one cool Caddy, unlike the Boring Seville and Deville.

The CTS-V seems to be promising with 400 CV.

But...

Cadillac should take more "Handling Lessons".

And GM should stop that, mania of cutting costs, building Cheapy Interiors, even in Luxury Cars.

I have a 2004 CTS with the 3.6L V6 and the manual suggests premium fuel for "maximum economy and performance". The manual does not suggest regular gas as a routine thing. Might want to check your manual.

WOW,

you must have high standards on handling, Read R&T they compared V6 luxury sport sedans, the Cadillac got 1'st place, it beat BMW which is known for its tight handling at the punch. If you are looking for a car the handles better I suggest a Maserati, or a McLaren, those should suit your needs.

It is an open secret that mainstream auto pubs like Road & Track and Car & Driver base their "Winners" on which manufacturer buys the most advertising pages from them that month.

Magazines like Autoweek or Britain's CAR magazine provide a more unbiased view.

The CTS may be an okay handler, but the fact is the interior looks like it was designed by a child and its overall quality and reliability is highly suspect. And if you read recent reviews of the CTS in any given auto pub you will soon realize that they are not as enamoured with the car as they used to be. Seems it just another also-ran beating out by the foreign competition.

Case in point is the XLR-V. $100K grand for a car with a 1970's interior and resale value worse than a Pinto. Plus, it breaks no new ground in the luxury set.

If its another car the got beat out by foreign competition, how come the CTS V has a waiting list?

On top gear they raced the CTS V against an Audi -- the Caddi won, go figure, he even said the Caddi wasn't worth its high price and recommended a Voxul also with the same corvette engine. The Voxul was much cheaper. (not bias.)

so... I have no argument on the interior, I've never been in a CTS, I own a 92 deville which has a nicer interior than my friend's 03 Lexus RX 330, the RX 330 I have been in, and drove, surprisingly my Caddi has more power.

Anyway I would have thought that Cadillac would have only improved its interior since then.

Just face it this is the first American car that out drives European cars in its class.

Sorry, but when you take into account quality, resale value, and the rest the Cadillac comes out last.

And anyone who waits for an American car, is making a mistake, regardless of model, it's going to die in a few short years.

Our dealers here are asking lease rates for the new $25K Pontiac Solstice that are significantly more expensive than a $35k BMW 325i.

Now, which car is going to have better resale value in three years?

I also suggest you look up the proper name of GM's subsidiary in the UK.

If American cars only last a few short years how come my Caddi is lasting so long, 14 years, much longer than a few short years, and still running like new. This is no exception, in the past my family has owned a Olds Cutlass 212K, and an Olds Cutlass supreme 196K, both ran like new when we traded them in. We have never owned a Japanese or European vehicle, in fact, why should we when GM has been so good to us.

Sorry, Vauxhall.

Is there a Cadillac dealer trolling in this website?

Why are you trying so hard, to convince the CTS is a better car, than BMW 5-Series and Lexus GS, when most of reviews, stated, the CTS still loosk and feels like an overpriced Chevrolet?

Seriously, you are fooling yourself with these "owner reviews".

Spare me of that "Media Bias" thing, that you gm fans cry so much about. If they were biased, then GM wouldn't be going down the hill badly.

YES. I'm telling you. With probably the exception of the Corvette, GM NA makes garbage.

As for the Top Gear comparo, Jeremy Clarkson conceded the CTS-V was better on the track, however, for the everyday use in UK, you better off with the Audi S4. And he does has a point.

The CTS-V is overpriced for the UK market and it's only available with LHD. How GM can get more silly, selling a LHD car to a country where the steering is on the right side of the car?!

That's why the recommended the VAUXHALL (It's not Voxul!) the Vauxhall Monaro VXR, which is pretty much a Holden Monaro which you Americans, know as the new Pontiac GTO HA!

Your precious Muscle Car icon is actually an imported car from Australia.

BTW: I've driven the CTS 3.6 V6 Sport, and it's far from being a "true sport sedan". It's relatively quick, but overall it felt stodgy to drive. The suspension is too soft, and the steering is overassisted. It simply doesn't inspire any confidence at all. At least, it doesn't cope well with the winding lanes of England, but I'm pretty sure it copes well with old grannies driving along Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

You've just proven what I've said all along - American cars are a crapshoot. Your family just lucked out with models that obviously weren't built on a Monday, Friday, or holiday.

Check out this site if you don't believe me. There are signficantly more complaints about American cars than of foreign cars.

You also bring up another point about American cars - they are usually "one offs" as far as attributes.

Yeah, the CTS-V may be good at going around the Nurburgring, but what about the cheap interior? Its ugly looks? Its horrible reliability? Its horrific resale value?

When I buy a car, I buy for the complete package since I don't have the money or space for eight different cars.

OK, first of all I don't care about the Holden Monaro and how it's a Pontiac GTO. This is the case for many auto companies, dodge make the engines for the new Mitsubishi trucks, Isuzu makes the diesel motors for GM, My engine the 4.9 litre V8 is basically a 350 Chevy small block with a nicer intake and exhaust.

I, much like you love to drive, and love automobiles, and I would never make a generalization like spelling (Vauxhall) OK!!? I could do the same for you: (And he does has a point) its and he does HAVE a point. See, its dumb and has nothing to do about cars.

I love American cars, I love their rich history, I love everything about them, there is no reason that I shouldn't love them. I love the way my Caddi floats down the road. European cars are great too. I have driven them, My cousins BMW and my friends Mercedes ML 500 and I could see how, The BMW especially, could handle "The winding lanes of England."

However, I don't like Japanese cars. In my opinion they have that cheap feel to them. As I said earlier I disliked my friends Lexus RX 330, the seats were hard unlike the soft and plushy seats in my Caddi. The wood trim was fake, and cheap looking in the Lexus, also unlike my Caddi which has real wood trim, and yes, Real wood trim was available in the deville gold package, which is what I have. My other friend has a Highlander, same story.

So I think we can come to a conclusion, My dream drive would be a never ending drive down a road through Arizona where I can cruse along in my Caddi at 110, not stopping for any reason. And perhaps yours would be a challenging race around the Nurburghring or a never ending trip through the winding lanes of England. Who knows, that's what makes driving so great its like flying, your free.

Over here in america, our caddys get the V8 not the crappy 3. something you talked about. That could be one reason for lackluster performance.

Are you guys nuts, comparing a 30,000 dollar CTS to BMW 5 series and Lexus GS's that cost double or more. The CTS is awesome for the price, offers its own highs and lows, and overall driving experience. If one can't afford a BMW 5 series or a mundane Lexus, this is a good car to have some fun in.