Topic: First Drive: 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

[lebowski]

The steering is the problem with the Q50...

Ahh, gotcha. I'm glad I can now dislike it for a more objective reason

[Fobroader]

Chrome around the windows is fairly universal, depending on the model. I don't see it as a big deal one way or the other.

I agree.  It doesn't seem like that big a deal to me either.  A selective use of chrome remains tasteful, in my view.

I hate chrome but it will not prevent me from buying a car. Chrome removal is as easy as plasti-dip these days.

[EV-Light]

errr another Cadillac with too many things I dislike...that dashboard is inadmissible in car this expensive, the logo is a total failure and the overall design looks - shall I say dated?

Here's some eye candy...

[Fobroader]

errr another Cadillac with too many things I dislike...that dashboard is inadmissible in car this expensive, the logo is a total failure and the overall design looks - shall I say dated?

Here's some eye candy...

Heres some more BMW eye candy   

[Oldsguy]

Dated? Those BMWs look far more dated than the Cad. They look like every BMW built in the last 15 years or so.

[Noto]

Here's some eye candy...

...hmm, the back end of that Bimmer looks an awful lot like the rear profile of a WRX

[Oldsguy]

Reminds me of the '97 Grand AM I had back in the day.  Not good.

That's absurd. How are they in any way similar? You can say you don't like it, fine, but don't make such silly comparisons.

[Weels]

Turn that tach sideways & move the speedo in the middle.   First thing I saw with the Caddy's dash was my old Grand Am. 
It's the only real negative to me in an otherwise really nice car

[Noto]

Suffice it to say that it is not 'becoming' of a Cadillac to be lacking in sophistication.

Here's my take on a constructive criticism of the display:

1) the screen doesn't flow with the rest of the display.  It looks like the gauges are just framing it, albeit not integrated.
2) the screen size is good, but the amount of information displayed is rather...lacking.  Who needs to see fuel range or trip computer information THAT prominently while driving?
3) the gauges themselves just seem basic.  They're not 'ugly', per se, but they don't evoke any more excitement than those found in the last gen Mazda3.  That is to say, I would expect those block numbers in a Mazda, a Subaru, Toyota, etc., but not a Caddy if its CEO makes bold assertions of "premium or die"

[JacobBlack]

2) the screen size is good, but the amount of information displayed is rather...lacking.  Who needs to see fuel range or trip computer information THAT prominently while driving?

My constructive criticism of your constructive criticism:
Those screen segments are all individually customizable. You can put what you want in there.

[Oldsguy]

It's a $55K car, and the metal bit on the dash wasn't properly aligned. I nit-picked how crappy the vents on the CLA were, and Jag's plastic paddle-shifters, so why not this?

Overall though, the only jarring thing about the interior was how quickly the centre-stack gets smudgy (Caddy includes a little micro-fibre cloth to wipe it clean); the rest of it is really good, with the use of real materials one of the more solid points. I'd like to put the highest-trim 2.0L against an IS350 and see how they line up.

I didn't think the misaligned trim comment was especially heinous, but you should include a picture. On most sites that wouldn't be necessary but around here  - where the reviewer made a federal case over a misalignment of about 1/16" on an Impala - you need proof to back it up, otherwise it is just considered normal Autos.ca GM-bashing. I actually winced more with the requisite remark in the intro about land-yacht Eldorados. They haven't made those cars in at least one human generation, let's move on please.

I agree with you on the touch controls and center stack concept. We have enough shiny black plastic to attract fingerprints, we don't need any more.

[Fobroader]

2) the screen size is good, but the amount of information displayed is rather...lacking.  Who needs to see fuel range or trip computer information THAT prominently while driving?

My constructive criticism of your constructive criticism:
Those screen segments are all individually customizable. You can put what you want in there.

What kind of info can you put in there?? G forces? Boost? Diff temp?? Oil pressure/temp?

[JacobBlack]

What kind of info can you put in there?? G forces? Boost? Diff temp?? Oil pressure/temp?

oil/water temps I'm fairly sure.
But yes your point is a good one.
It can be audio, nav and trip computer info only.

[Fobroader]

What kind of info can you put in there?? G forces? Boost? Diff temp?? Oil pressure/temp?

oil/water temps I'm fairly sure.
But yes your point is a good one.
It can be audio, nav and trip computer info only.

Thanks buddy!!! 

[Noto]

2) the screen size is good, but the amount of information displayed is rather...lacking.  Who needs to see fuel range or trip computer information THAT prominently while driving?

My constructive criticism of your constructive criticism:
Those screen segments are all individually customizable. You can put what you want in there.

Then here's my my constructive criticism of your constructive criticism of my constructive criticism:

If those screens are individually customizable, why would you choose to put those screens up for the photos instead of something more tell-tale of the capability of the display?

...or did you just forget to close the centre console lid again ?

I know it sounds like I'm saying that information isn't useful, but the point I was trying to make was more so on the lines of the information displayed there is rather large and should be better filled. 

I hate to say it, but this makes the Caddy's dash look decidedly plain and less engaging:


...isn't that the point that GM is trying to make?  It should be attractive, not just functional.  Subarus are functional.  Cadillacs are supposed to be gangsta luxurious.

[Oldsguy]

I hate to say it, but this makes the Caddy's dash look decidedly plain and less engaging:


...isn't that the point that GM is trying to make?  It should be attractive, not just functional.  Subarus are functional.  Cadillacs are supposed to be gangsta luxurious.

Jeezus, what is that fugly piece of crap? It looks like a Nintendo game.   

[JacobBlack]

Jeezus, what is that fugly piece of crap? It looks like a Nintendo game.   

It's a Chrysler. I thought you liked the domestics?

[Noto]

Sir, Nintendo is beautiful.

2015 Chrysler 200.  At first, I thought it had too much going on, but it grew on me.  A lot.  It's quite nice, and at least daring.  The same cannot be said about the ATS's gauge cluster.  I don't think it's perfect, but it has dimension and a trillion ways to customize it to show only what you want.

At one point, I had the digital display showing me my speed in 3 separate regions!  Kinda fun, in a horrifically distracting sort of way

[Oldsguy]

Jeezus, what is that fugly piece of crap? It looks like a Nintendo game.   

It's a Chrysler. I thought you liked the domestics?

Those are Italian now.

[Jaeger]

That Caddy dash is pretty fugly.