Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport

[rrocket]

Okay, why is it overpriced, Ron?

If I have to explain to you why a 440HP V-Sport is overpriced compared to slightly cheaper 550+ HP CTS-V that I could get about a year ago, there's no hope in convincing you with your Caddy rose colored glasses on...

Aside from the fact that it's a better car in every respect but power.

The CTS-V wasn't exactly a turd in handling with the magnetic ride control shocks....It was on par with the "M" and the AMGs of the world and I'll go out on a limb and say it would still kick the crap out of some of them...

[Northernridge]

I think Cadillac (and the rest of GM and Ford and Chysler) need to stick with name plates more. We are too used of North American makers ditching models and throwing something else against the wall to see if it sticks. Look at the E Class, Accord, Civic, Mustang (nice NA example), Camry, 911, etc. that have evolved over time and hopefully, been improved. Who wants to pay a premium for a car that won't even exist in a few years?

I think the CTS should have been the STS. CTS is the second best choice however.

[ChaosphereIX]

anyone who is complaining a sub 5 second large sedan with a TTV6 uses too much fuel is kinda missing the point big time...go buy a Volt if fuel economy is your concern

...that being said, it could be better. The Germans have had big performance and ok-ish fuel economy from their cars for some time now [look at Audi and their new TTV8, great FE from that].

[dirtyjeffer]

Okay, why is it overpriced, Ron?

If I have to explain to you why a 440HP V-Sport is overpriced compared to slightly cheaper 550+ HP CTS-V that I could get about a year ago, there's no hope in convincing you with your Caddy rose colored glasses on...

how does last year's CTS-V compare to the new CTS Vsport for the same (similar) money?...performance, handling/driving dynamics, interior, fit and finish, included features, etc.

while they may be similar in price, perhaps there are other areas where the new model is hands down a big improvement on the car as a whole.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

anyone who is complaining a sub 5 second large sedan with a TTV6 uses too much fuel is kinda missing the point big time...go buy a Volt if fuel economy is your concern

...that being said, it could be better. The Germans have had big performance and ok-ish fuel economy from their cars for some time now [look at Audi and their new TTV8, great FE from that].

But why a large sedan? I don't get it.

When I think sports car, I think Porsche, light and agile, it doesn't need to have a massive engine just to get it going. A Cayman S or a CTS VSport?

And then if we're talking large sedan, and you want power, you don't even have to accept that it kills you with its fuel usage. Tesla Model S 85Kw Performance will output 440HP, get from 0-100 in the same time as this CTS. It costs $40,000 more but with the savings on the fuel usage you'd nearly recover that in five years, sooner if fuel costs skyrocket.

Cadillac seems to be taking direct aim at more expensive, V8-powered mid-size BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi sedans like the 445-hp BMW 550i xDrive ($76,750), the 402-hp Mercedes-Benz E 550 4Matic ($75,600) or the 420-hp Audi S6 ($85,500).

It's not competing with sports cars, or the Tesla. It is competing against similar sedans from Audi, MB and BMW.

[Snowman]

[rrocket]

The Vsport is better and improved in every facet save for the power. It's also a larger car now.

Maybe...maybe not.  The Vsport beat the old (1st Gen 400HP) CTS-V around the ring by ~6 seconds.  It's slower by ~15 seconds compared to the 2nd Gen CTS-V.  I would have suspected it would be MUCH quicker than the old 1st Gen CTS-V given how much better of a handler it is.

I sure do like the styling though!!


Would love to see that comparo though!  "Old" CTS-V vs CTS-Vsport

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Cadillac seems to be taking direct aim at more expensive, V8-powered mid-size BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi sedans like the 445-hp BMW 550i xDrive ($76,750), the 402-hp Mercedes-Benz E 550 4Matic ($75,600) or the 420-hp Audi S6 ($85,500).

It's not competing with sports cars, or the Tesla. It is competing against similar sedans from Audi, MB and BMW.

I doubt that Tesla sees it that way.

Sales during 2013 totaled about 18,000 units, allowing the Model S to rank as the third top selling plug-in electric car in the U.S. in 2013, after the Chevrolet Volt (23,094) and the Nissan Leaf (22,610). Also in 2013, the Model S was the top selling car in the full-size luxury sedan category, ahead of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (13,303), the top selling car in the category in 2012, and also surpassing the BMW 7 Series (10,932), Lexus LS (10,727), Audi A8 (6,300) and Porsche Panamera (5,421). As of March 2014, about 24,600 units have been delivered in the U.S. since the Model S inception in June 2012. During the first quarter of 2014 about 4,000 units were sold.[111]

Cadillac sold 32k CTS in 2013 and have moved 11k so far this year.

Size, performance and price-wise, the Model S competes with the larger 7 series, S-class and A8/S8. Cadillac isn't in this end of the market.

[mixmanmash]

anyone who is complaining a sub 5 second large sedan with a TTV6 uses too much fuel is kinda missing the point big time...go buy a Volt if fuel economy is your concern

...that being said, it could be better. The Germans have had big performance and ok-ish fuel economy from their cars for some time now [look at Audi and their new TTV8, great FE from that].

But why a large sedan? I don't get it.

When I think sports car, I think Porsche, light and agile, it doesn't need to have a massive engine just to get it going. A Cayman S or a CTS VSport?

And then if we're talking large sedan, and you want power, you don't even have to accept that it kills you with its fuel usage. Tesla Model S 85Kw Performance will output 440HP, get from 0-100 in the same time as this CTS. It costs $40,000 more but with the savings on the fuel usage you'd nearly recover that in five years, sooner if fuel costs skyrocket.

Recover 40K in fuel? What are you smoking?

Facts and data from fueleconomy.gov, converted over to Canadian figures and using gasoline prices in Saskatoon (which is a lot cheaper than other places I might add)

Fuel cost for one year at $1.329 per liter and $0.11987 per kwh (from my power bill, no off peak in SK), driving a distance of 24,000KM in a year at a 45/55 city/highway split.

CTS: $4200 CDN
Tesla: $712 CDN

So in five years if fuel costs never go up (HAR!) the Tesla Model S would save only $17,440, not the 40K hyperbole figure I threw out first.

If I were able to purchase a Tesla, I'd also invest in solar/wind generation at my home, and then I'd never pay a penny again for driving to work. You can't say the same thing for gasoline, no one is building a refinery in their back yard as far as I know, so a CTS owner in my same place would find themselves shelling out $20 every day to go to and from work. $100 a week! Better ask for a raise.

Cadillac seems to be taking direct aim at more expensive, V8-powered mid-size BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi sedans like the 445-hp BMW 550i xDrive ($76,750), the 402-hp Mercedes-Benz E 550 4Matic ($75,600) or the 420-hp Audi S6 ($85,500).

It's not competing with sports cars, or the Tesla. It is competing against similar sedans from Audi, MB and BMW.

I doubt that Tesla sees it that way.

Your math doesn't factor in the costs associated with adding solar / wind generation at your home.  And do you have any data to conclude that you would be able to generate enough to charge the batteries fully in a day?

[scooby9]

The updated styling looks pretty good except for the rear. It reminds me of the old DTS.

[Erik]

The day Ron actually buys a CTS V, or any recent GM product, I've got a nice fedora I'll eat.

BTW, nice job by Cadillac. Hell of a nice sports sedan, priced very competitively.  I can't wait to see what they do with the V!

[wing]

That's a lot of electricity from the grid ($60k infrastructure)

[PJungnitsch]

Saskatoon's actually a pretty good place for solar:



Alberta compared to Germany:



Solar panels like cold, bright places.

[rrocket]

The day Ron actually buys a CTS V, or any recent GM product, I've got a nice fedora I'll eat.

BTW, nice job by Cadillac. Hell of a nice sports sedan, priced very competitively.  I can't wait to see what they do with the V!

I already know that's BS and you aren't a man of your word.  I was about to go lease the cheapest GM just so you'd have to pay up and you waffled and changed the "rules" of the bet.  Remember?  I certainly do...

You can't be trusted with bets of this sort.

But seriously...who doesn't like a CTS-V or a C6 Z06, C7, etc....I'd rock any of those!

[dirtyjeffer]

speaking of C7, saw my third one yesterday...a nice black one...i only saw it quickly, but i could have sworn it had T-Tops (or some sort of open roof)...perhaps they all have this and i didn't know?

[rrocket]

speaking of C7, saw my third one yesterday...a nice black one...i only saw it quickly, but i could have sworn it had T-Tops (or some sort of open roof)...perhaps they all have this and i didn't know?

Targa, baby!

[dirtyjeffer]

speaking of C7, saw my third one yesterday...a nice black one...i only saw it quickly, but i could have sworn it had T-Tops (or some sort of open roof)...perhaps they all have this and i didn't know?

Targa, baby!

yea...do they all have that, or is that some sort of option or trim?...it looked pretty sweet.

and for those counting, that's 3 C7s and still not one Mazda6. 

[Snowman]

Saskatoon's actually a pretty good place for solar:



Alberta compared to Germany:



Solar panels like cold, bright places.

Okay, but how to you factor in the drain on the battery for producing heat in the car?

[rrocket]

Saw my first C7 in the Flesh up close today.

Really?  I seem to recall you sitting in 2 different ones at the AutoShow...

[rrocket]

In real life up close. Saw one in Florida in the winter but it was on the highway.

There's one at the local parking lot for the StarBucks/Canadian Tire gas bar.  It's been here since last year.  If it wasn't the first in Windsor..it must be close to the first.  It's black.