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Review of 2008 CTS


southern

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Well, I wasn't even in the market.

Our main driver, a 2003 Nissan Murano only had 51,000 miles on it and was in fine shape.

My little "toy", a 1998 BMW 2,8L Z3 took up the other slot in our garage and was safe from trade as I loved it.

But I keep up on the basics of what is going on in the automotive world. And I keep pulling for GM and Ford to make it.

GM finally understands, it's the product, stupid.

And then I started seeing the first pix and the reviews of the new 2008 CTS...........

That changed everything.

The testing at the ring in Germany was the one that pushed me over the edge.

I had to go see that car, even if I wasn't going to buy one.

So off I went to Val Ward in Ft Myers.

"I would like to see a 3.6DI with FE2" I told the sales guy.

"So would I" he responded.......

This wasn't going well........

Anyway, I test drove what he had.....

a FE1 3.6 VVT without anything else on it and it was a fine motor car. and it was gorgeous. and it had me hooked.

And my wife wanted to know....what the hell was going on?

Well, I had to confess to her, that owning a brand new Cadillac car had been a dream of mine my whole life.

And I am 70.

It had been a very long held dream,.

For most of my life, I couldn't afford a Cadillac.

For the last few years, I wasn't motivated by what cadillac had.

And now, this.

The FE1, 260HP CTS was magnificent....but there were "better" ones....

But you had to order them....

And besides I didn't have any place to keep it.......my wife was adamant. The Murano had somehow became "hers: in these conversations and she wasn't going to trade it in. She loved it.

Now I was looking at the BMW......I wonder............NAH!

The BMW had been a great find and it is one of the best cars I have ever owned.

IT could do 140 and get there quick and never rattle or squeak and gets 30MPG at 70 MPH.

Nothing is better than top down motoring!

It is a great car.

Was.

Was a great car.

There was no other choice.

It all happened on or about Nov 29, 2007.

Val Ward got an unsold 3.6 Direct Injection FE2 car in. It didnt have a lot of the things I wanted..HIDs, HDD, Sunroof, Etc.....

But it was what it was and i drove it.

It isn't the greatest off the line machine known to man. I have owned several cars in the past that would beat it off the line.

But it gathers itself quickly, and by 4000RPM is rolling pretty good.

The exhaust has changed from a luxury car to an absolute screaming performance car. (Some say it is the same exhaust system as the vette?)

Not nearly as fast as say a BMW 335.........but close to a G35.......and just as fast as an ES 350..........all cars that I drove while trying to talk myself OUT of a CTS........

But it runs well. Very well. and keeps running well on up to numbers that I won't ever explore.

And it stops. Very solid brakes. Easily modulated.

And it turns. It's good to get back to RWD again. I didn't explore it's limits, but at long last I have a car again that doesn't plough when you hustle it along.

It is in fact a Sports Sedan.

A very good sports sedan.

A world class sports sedan.

And it is much more sporty than most luxury sedans at this price point....or a good bit above........

And it is more luxurious than most sport sedans..........

What a great balance of attributes.

The new design is a raging success IMO.

Art and Science Cadillac calls it.

Good call. Just my opinion, but the exterior is far more classy and far more sporty than any of the competition.

The new interior is far, far better than the three mentioned above. There is absolutely nothing that I have seen on the market that can compete with the interior of this car. It just continues to get deserved rave reviews.

It has a ton of technology. Direct Injection. Steerable Headlights. HDD. XM and Fm and AM and iPod. Rewind radio.......rain sensing wipers that not only start

when the windshield gets wet, but starts in the interval mode and then adjusts the interval according to the rain rate.......

I finally broke that day............

I ordered a Radiant Bronze (I never buy "common") 3.6 DI FE2 2008 CTS with every possible option except AWD.

I came home and put my beloved BMW up for sale. It sold in less than a week to the first guy that looked at it.

I'm gonna miss that car.

I know there are some great cars out there. And i can't afford some of them.

$100,000 for a motor car is just not going to happen.

But for $43,000 (GMU) this is the most amazing car I have ever driven, much less owned.

I'm sorry, but there is no Infiniti. No BMW. No Lexus that can touch it for the money...

Yes my life long dream has been realized.

It really DOES make you feel good to drive a Cadillac .... especially if it is back to being the Standard of the World.

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Southern,

Your article was some of the finest "reflective-prose" on any subject, I have ever read on this forum, and a number of magazines or books for that matter.

My smile continued to broaden, as I read on. Wow, I thought, I wonder if GM would pick this up and carve it in stone for their employees.

I would be further surprised if some sort of creative writing was not in your background.

And of course, congratulations on your choice!

Add power to leave problems behind. Most braking is just - poor planning.
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Southern,

Your article was some of the finest "reflective-prose" on any subject, I have ever read on this forum, and a number of magazines or books for that matter.

My smile continued to broaden, as I read on. Wow, I thought, I wonder if GM would pick this up and carve it in stone for their employees.

I would be further surprised if some sort of creative writing was not in your background.

And of course, congratulations on your choice!

No, no creative writing......unless you want to count my second place finish in the Town Wide essay contest in 1950.

The town wass Mt Holly NJ and I went to Sacred Heart School there.

The essay was "Safety in the Home, School and Street" and was sponsored by the American Legion.

I wuz dynomite, I tell you, dynomite!

I spent my life as an electronicer, first in Test Equipment, and then in Computers. The big stuff, not PCs.

All sides of the house, Hardware, Software, Instructor, Management.

The car continues to impress.

Still doesn't have many miles (1200), but enough to where it is broke in and I can shower down on it at will.

I understand the engine will loosen further, but right now I am getting about 17MPG in the suburbs and 23MPG on the interstate at <>75 MPH.

It has had one problem.......

Came out one morning last week, and I couldn't get into it.

The Keyless entry didn't work.

Had to open the Fob and retrieve the key.

Devil of a time opening the Fob. Had to use Pliars. Good enough design, bad execution.

Once I goit in the problem was obvious.

Absolutely no primary power. None.

Popped the hood.

Put a battery charger on it and it maxed the charger (<>12 amps) and after 1 hour I still didn't have even interior lights.

Apparently the battery was shorted.

Called the dealer.

I assumed they would come get it with a flat bed, but the lady at the dealership said they have "traditionally" had some problems

with batteries (I don't like the sound of that) so she dispatched the Road Assistance Esacalade (not bad wheels for a service vehicle!).

The guy that came out had been with the dealer for 37 years!

Anyway, he used the key, opened the door, popped the hood, hooked up a massive hot shot, that allowed him to open the trunk (no key slot - Bad design) and replaced the battery.

No problems since then.

I do love this car.

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