G. David Felt

It is far more common these days for MB to sell this vans like that (alongside the S Class) than it is for GM to share those two lots (Caddy and Chevy), of which they have reduced over the years btw. Not one Cadillac dealership in the Phoenix valley area shares any space with any other GM make. Washington state is down to a single dealer up north that carries all GM product lines in one massive building, but they did post a sing for a new stand alone lot for Cadillac. I suspect that is part of the continued Cadillac is apart from GM strategy. I believe in the next few years all Cadillac dealers will be stand alone.

^ +1 I would agree with Bill, at one time I would have thought RAM was safe, but now they are hanging on by name and hard core loyalist. If it was not for the Cummins loyalty this line would be dead. With all very tired and aged products, Sergio is killing off everything just about. The only line I see any strong value left in is Jeep. All this to keep the Lazy socialist Italians building crap Fiats and now crap Alfas again.

+1 ^ So true, you would think some other auto company would have broken down the VW auto and discovered the cheat software earlier.

The Buick Envision will sell to those that see Cadillac as too expensive and an old persons auto. They want a family luxury CUV and this fits that image. I can see families buying this rather than a Cadillac.

Mitsu just needs to merge with Mazda and a few other small auto companies to be one larger company with a complete product line.

This could bankrupt FCA if it is true. Be interesting to see if their diesels can pass the same test the college did on the VW autos.

At this point, the report would probably increase the criminal investigations and fines and really bankrupt VW. So for them at this point, better to buy back the cheating crap and destroy it and move on. Still like to know how much they will pay for buying back the auto's and if the CEO really knew as little as he claims. I find this hard to believe.

I can speak from experience, that Sprinter vans have nothing of the sort of feel you state. Car and Driver needs to get some real drivers as the Sprinters have the same numb feel in handling as any other van out there. They're work vans. Who expects them to spend r&d dollars on "feel". Is it a variable rack where it is easy in a parking lot or driveway and then slow on the interstate? That's about all that needs to be a concern about their steering "feel". ..if you ask me.. Sprinters are just numb to the point of frustration. You be in a lot and the turning radius is terrible, you cannot feel if the auto is at the extreme ends till you hear the power steering pump squeal. Feeling of going down the road is just as numb. The system is tight and does its job, just the feedback sucks as you cannot really tell what it is doing. I expect a more positive response. They isolate you way too much. Like I said Numb.

Sergio proof that he is an Idiot and failing in leading FCA. Rapes all product lines to prop up the crap Fiat brand and the history Alfa that should have stayed dead.

I can speak from experience, that Sprinter vans have nothing of the sort of feel you state. Car and Driver needs to get some real drivers as the Sprinters have the same numb feel in handling as any other van out there.

The people who don't have Jag dealers near them... Not the mention the people who don't want Jaguar maintenance after the warranty runs out. So true as the reliability of Jags is terrible. I would hate to have to pay for the repairs of these poor quality so called Luxury autos.

According to this story in AutoWeek Sept 1 2009 MB does have the newly created Daimler Van division based in the same building as MB USA autos. They took back the 350 dealers via Dodge and agreed to have 120 certified MB dealers sell and service the Sprinter line of vans. Quoting the story: "The average dealer would have to invest $30,000 to $50,000 in the Sprinter franchise and put up a sign, dedicate service and sales personnel and purchase some special tools and equipment, said Lieb." So this validates that MB treats the vans as a separate unit but still as a Luxury division that has built up a reputation, the low end auto's and the van lines dilute and take away the Luxury impression of MB dealerships. Back to the ORIGINAL THREAD, What does CADILLAC mean to you? CADILLAC is a LUXURY dealership, with World Class Service for World Class Quality Auto's that DOES NOT compete in the Commercial van market, DOES NOT compete at a Ford, Chevy, Honda, Mini, Toyota level. Cadillac only COMPETES in the Luxury market, which is a step above the Acura, Buick, Lincoln, Infinity, Lexus mid level of Luxury. This is the same level that BMW and Mercedes-Benz has competed in until recently with their diluted product lines. At this focus point, Cadillac will in time surpass BMW and MB due to them becoming the Toyota / Chevrolet of Europe.

Clearly family tweaked to match the rest of the auto line up. Not a fan of these 5 cylinder turbo motors with high HP and lower torque. To much proof that you can have lighter engines with better Torque and equal HP. DOHC design just does not win me over. Reason why I have never been won over as a fan of asian auto's for the most part. Same with Euro auto's, while I like some of the body styles, not a fan of most Euro engines.