Cadillac CTS (2005 - To Date)
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
The Cadillac CTS might look exotic and otherworldly but its actually a very savvy used buy, sharing common parts with other General Motors products. As such, you get tried and tested mechanicals with a welcome dose of exclusivity. Go for the 2.8-litre car and youll even have affordable running costs.
On the face of it, recommending a used Cadillac to a British buyer who would normally look at an Audi A6 or a BMW 5 Series would appear to be an act of the grossest folly. Like baseball, rootbeer and Adam Sandler, Cadillacs have never translated comfortably to a British sensibility but the CTS is different, sharing many underbody parts with more common General Motors tackle. Heres how to snag a used one.
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The tale of the tape shows that it is in fact larger than a BMW 5 Series in most significant proportions. This had us scratching our heads for a while but goes to explain why Cadillac was so confident that this car could make inroads into the executive car market, offering, as it does, a little extra. While the styling isnt what you might call pretty, its definitely distinctive. Those front wings look as if they could pare steak, so definite are the crease lines, and the bluff front grille and smeared back headlamps are about as far from Boss Hoggs chosen form of transport as its possible to get.
When this car arrived, the sort of buyer who avoided the usual BMW/Audi/Mercedes triumvirate in favour of something different like a Saab, a Lexus or a Jaguar suddenly had something else to consider. The interior is where many sales are often won and lost and its a case of good for a Cadillac. The gimmicky features and chintzy trim of the old Seville STS model were consigned to history, the CTS featuring neater lines, higher quality materials and a more logical layout. All things are relative, however, and by the standards of the class best, it still left a bit to be desired.
The excellent thumb wheel control on one side of the steering wheel for example, is countered by four buttons marked 1,2,3 and 4 on the other. I still have no idea what they do. The cabin quality feels at best what youd expect from a well-built mainstream saloon like a Peugeot 407 or a Ford Mondeo. Still, the same could be said for some Saabs and Jaguars, so perhaps the Caddy isnt too far off the mark there.
The Cadillac CTS isnt going to afford you the luxury of a tonne of stock to choose from, so you may have to compromise on trim/colour etc. 2005 model year cars start at around £16,000 for a 2.8-litre V6 Elegance with the Sport Luxury opening at just over £17,000. A 3.
6-litre version is only marginally dearer, reflecting the lack of buyer interest in the bigger, thirstier engine. Insurance is a very reasonable Group 15 for the 2.8-litre cars the same as a Peugeot 407 2.2 - and Group 16 for the 3.
8-litre model.
The CTS has proven a very reliable car. When checking one over, look for damage to trim or minor body imperfections. In this sector of the market, such damage knocks used values hard. Your best bet will be to bag a low mileage used car from one of the approved dealers.
(approx based on a 2005 CTS 2.8) Whilst it would be easy to assume that for such a low volume model spares prices would be punitively expensive, thats not really the case. If you were figuring that the General Motors parts would be Vauxhall-cheap, then youd be labouring under a similar misapprehension. Prices are on a par with class rivals.
Power comes courtesy of either a 2.8 V6 or a 3.5-litre V6 good for 255bhp. With the 2.
8, theres the choice of Elegance or Sport Luxury trim. The 3.6 V6 comes in Sport Luxury or Sport guise. Those looking for a BMW M3 alternative, will appreciate the smoking CTS-V.
With a 400bhp 5.7-litre V8 up front, the CTS-Vs Corvette motor will push it through 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 165mph although these are very rare cars, never officially imported. The 3.
6-litre CTS is no slouch, notching off the sprint in 6.7 seconds. It was available with the option of a Getrag manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox that benefits from electronic management and offers three different programs selectable by the driver: Sport, Winter and Economy. Apart from engine brake facilities, the new automatic transmission offers an intelligent shift control that avoids downshifting during cornering. An all-new rear-wheel drive chassis was developed for the CTS, using independent suspension, and the ride is a good deal firmer than you might expect. Admittedly this isnt saying a great deal, for the typical expectation of a US car is that it will corner with all the elegance of a frog in a sock, but the CTS feels pleasantly together.
Its still no BMW 330i but it at least offers the keen driver some jollies. The steering is precise with a meaty on-centre feel and the variable power assistance never feels intrusive.
There are two ways to look at a Cadillac CTS. One is that it offers an exclusive and cut-price alternative to the usual tackle without the sort of flaky mechanicals that usually come with buying a left-field choice. A slightly more cynical view is that many of the CTSs parts are offered more cheaply and easily in something like a Vauxhall Signum. With the steepest part of the depreciation curve out of the way, maverick buyers may well be tempted by the handsome Caddy.
On almost any objective basis, a BMW 5 Series is a better car. Is it more likeable though? After a spell behind the wheel of the big-hearted CTS, Id say no.
