29th Jul 2005, 21:56
The gentleman critiquing the STS is correct. I am an American living in Ohio, and my STS is great on straight roads or mild turns with civilized camber. But some of these country roads resemble his description of UK roads, and the car quickly becomes a handful. A mate of mine lent me his BMW, and it was like night and day! Nimble and sure footed, the Beamer had at the worst of those roads, and made the whole experience a lot more pleasureable. The STS is only what it is named for-Seville Touring Sedan..
25th Nov 2007, 13:58
I think the STS corners very well for its size. It may not compare with a BMW, but who wants to spend that much money on something that won't be supported by BMW in a few years? Not me! If you have a problem with the traction control, just turn it off. The STS has the sport suspension and in my opinion, does a very good job with putting the car around corners, little if any body shifting. Sounds like someone is working for BMW.
14th Jan 2008, 05:42
I traded in 04 BMW for a used 2000 STS. Once the factory warranty expires be prepared to mortgage your home to keep the BMW on the road. With a shrinking dollar be prepared for maintenance shock.
14th Jan 2008, 09:26
This is another example of someone who bought a car that is totally unsuitable for the use that they intended for it.
The Cadillac STS is a full-sized, luxury cruiser with good power and decent handling. Any car can be pushed past its limits, and this car was never intended for sport racers to throw it into hairpin turns at high speeds. The "'70's comedy car chases" is exactly how he drives this car, if he's making it bottom out and throw sparks off the undercarriage like an old episode of "Streets of San Francisco."
The "gas mileage in the teens" is the final indication of somebody totally thrashing and abusing this car. My Cadillac STS Northstar gets 27 mpg on the highway.
If you want to beat the crap out of a car, you don't deserve to own this Cadillac. Sell it to someone who will appreciate it.
8th May 2010, 21:29
This car really doesn't handle that bad. I question if those claiming it does have actually driven or even ridden inside the car.
It does have way too much power to be a FWD car though. The fact that it's 275 or 300hp in a FWD layout explains the hydroplaning issues.
21st Aug 2022, 22:32
I think you are taking us for a ride, so to speak. Very few Cadillac STS's were shipped to the UK. Only a few for research purposes as they wouldn't have passed the Euro emissions test! Also, there is a 4.6 V8 and not a "350" for the power plant and furthermore, it doesn't have hubcaps!!
8th Apr 2003, 18:10
It's not the 300 horsepower that's the problem, but the appalling dynamics. In the US with smooth, straight roads, the STS is probably a great car. Come to the UK and things are different. Uneven surfaces, lots of tight corners, variable surfaces, odd cambers etc etc. To say the Caddy struggles is an understatement. Every time you open her up, the traction control goes nuts. What is the point?
I have driven countless cars with more than 300 horsepower and have had no problems with any of them. Even my old 377 horsepower twin turbo Lotus Carlton was more useable. It's nothing to do with not being prepared to use it, but with putting one of the finest engines ever built into a chassis that would struggle to deal with a third of it. Outside the US, cars are designed as packages, with dynamics to match the power of the engine. Try a Lotus Carlton or a BMW M5 and you'll know what I'm talking about!