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Inside Story:
2008 Cadillac CTS
2008 Cadillac CTS Pinch! Ow! Pinch! Ouch! Pinch! Oh for the love of-Pinch! Uncle! You're probably wondering why all of this abuse is going on this week at the Inside Story. No, I haven't met a very freaky girl that you don't take home to Mother. And the only self-masochism I indulge in is commonly referred to as exercise. I'm simply confirming that I'm not dreaming. It appears that all of that Bob Lutz-flavoured talk regarding GM interiors wasn't just a smokescreen to send me back to the dessert cart. They actually meant it. What better place to make this new standard a reality than the nameplate known as The Standard of the World. The Oh-Eight Cadillac CTS 4 starts at $41,400, with this week's tester wearing $18,315 of additional juice.
The Cockpit
The CTS gets a three-spoke that's anything but a joke. Tilt and telescopic functions are controlled by a power toggle, while audio, cruise control, and press-to-yack keys are found on the top spokes. The smarty pants key fob is a smidge of a let-down for engine start. Instead of
a de riguer push button, the Caddy uses a rubber-tabbed twist arrangement, in the same spot where the common man would twist a key.
Headlamps get the all-important Auto feature, as do the wipers. I personally think that Auto wipers with a twist dial for sensitivity are just a sneaky way to Uptown delay wipers. More on my other conspiracy theories after the black helicopters leave. The wipers get the heated spritz switch, sure to spell the adding machine death knell for the lowly scraper. Plus, you just can't beat the steam effect in minus 30.
Gauges are crisp, and well-illuminated. There is a buffet-sized serving of menus for the Driver Information Centre, with actuation navigation for everything from fuel slurp to parking assist. Instead of crowding the spokes, the access keys are dash-mounted to the left of the driver. Parking brake is a pedal-pusher, with no discernible snag on the Dockers.
The 6-speed slushbox has a manu-mode, with proper action and minimal lag between shifts when slapped. This King of Panes gets Auto-down for all windows, with ascent for the two front positions. Heated mirrors are breakaway style, with full power positioning. The trunk release is found to the rear of the driver's side door cubby. Two memory keys exist for driver positioning.
The Centre Stack
The problem with most Navi systems is the real estate commitment, which can become distracting. The Navi panel on the CTS starts life as a sensibly-sized audio info bar, until you hit the Navi switch. That's when the screen rises up from the dash, with adjustable illumination, and touch pad sensibility. This is also the time to use the dash-mount access keys.
Climate control panels are positioned low, to the sight lines of the driver and front passenger. Temperature can benefit from an Auto cabin, or dual zone. The traction control switch is found easily, at eye level.
Cubbies!
Its not a van, so don't expect a mondo cavity selection. Only the front doors get side pockets, with mesh baggies on the seatbacks. The front cubby below the centre stack is good for a flip phone at best, with adjacent 12-volt powerpoint. Locking glove box has two stowage levels, respectably sized.
A flip door reveals the front cup holders, with removable rubber tray, and after-thought single rubber tab cinchers. Combined with the rubber bed adhesion factor, the set-up can make for some dicey moments when lifting out the Timmy's. The centre console gets a top tray, and a small lower compartment that is purpose driven. Instead of trying to figure out how to ram a laptop inside, the cavity is devoted to the organization of cell phones and MP3 connectivity, with a 12-volt DC powerpoint, MP3 plug-in, and a USB port.
The Preferred Equipment Group adds a 40 GB hard drive for your musical storage needs. Another powerpoint is found on the rear of the console. The rear armrest holds two cupholders, with no cinch system.
Look up; waaaay up!
There's Homelink think directly above the centre stack, with sunroof shade/open controls, and the expected OnStar keys on the auto-dimming rear-view. The proper name for the sunroof is 'Ultraview', with grand openings occurring for the front pane. Sliding visors get vanity mirrors with dimmer switches.
Seat treat
Both front seats receive 10-way power adjustment, including power lumbar. There's also three-step heating and cooling.
Spare care
Can a space-saver spare border on cool? The CTS unit likes to think so, hidden beneath standard trunk panel material. Your Caddy caddy will change it for you, for the first 5 years or 160,000 kilometres of ownership.
Cargo embargo
Man, and woman, cannot live by Big Bertha whacks alone. While the CTS trunk is more than ample, with a handy grab handle for closing, it can also expand into the passenger cabin, with 60/40 rear folding seatbacks. There are floor tabs for cargo net catch.
The mill:
There's a 304 horsepower 3.6-litre V6 mill under there, or so I am told. Outside of the most basic fluid checks, you're not wanted under here. Back away slowly.
The Verdict:
It's not that I wasn't a fan of the first CTS. The problem was the Anti-Caddy-ness, previously seen on the Opel-based Catera, and even further back on the laughable Cimarron.
The trick here for CTS was to provide the well-heeled consumer with a formidable driving machine, with the added task of rejuvenating the meaning of the Cadillac crest, which has fallen on hip-hop times, thanks to the Escalade derivatives. There is nothing else that a CTS could be. The quality control for this GM needs to be bottled up and sprayed with reckless abandon on the rest of the divisions. 5 stars.
Next week; Hyundai Tuscon
Michael Clark is a Winnipeg-based freelance automotive writer |
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