Sal Collaziano

Cadillac is my favorite brand. They currently provide no adequate full size luxury option and offer no upgrade path for current owners. I'm concerned...

Well, I know who agrees with me and who doesn't.. There's nothing wrong with opposing points of view. And I don't expect to change anyone's mind... I hope Cadillac makes something right for me when I'm ready for my next car - which is probably a year away. I'd love a full-size RWD Cadillac with a smooth, quiet and powerful V8. That's what I want more than anything. If it doesn't exist when I'm ready to buy, I'll buy from somewhere else...

I think you and I want the same thing - so that's cool.. Unfortunately, Cadillac has only stated that they understand there's a "need" for a full-size RWD luxury sedan. It's not on the books yet. There are no definite plans to make this vehicle. Some top executives want it - some don't.. As of now, the XTS (which some executives have already stated they do not like) is launching with the 3.6 liter direct injected V6. The same V6 currently available in the CTS. Hyundai's launching their "Genesis" brand in France first. They will VERY likely have the brand here in America for the second generation of the Equus. An S550 owner will not be impressed by an Equus. Neither will any of the other top-tier luxury brand buyers. However, they will be intrigued in the same way they were about the Lexus LS in 1989. Hyundai isn't planning on selling a lot of Equus sedans. They've stated the vehicle exists to give people something to strive for and bring people into dealerships for their other products. Cadillac would be wise to do the same. Some other facts... Cadillac is considered to be a "near" luxury brand by GM executives. The XTS has been called a "near" full-size sedan by Cadillac executives... The ATS is not planned to receive the 3.0 liter twin turbo engine.

I think Cadillac lost a lot of customers to Lexus. These days, Lexus builds a better Cadillac than Cadillac does. I think Cadillac worried too much what BMW was doing. They tried building a BMW and failed. Cadillac is not BMW. I think Mercedes would even fail at trying to be BMW. And Mercedes is another brand that I feel builds a car closer to Cadillac than Cadillac does. Lexus and Mercedes are more about luxury than sport. BMW is more about sport than luxury - but if you look at the new 7-Series, they're getting quite luxurious.. I would have no problem with Cadillac's target being Lexus other than that's what GM is trying to make Buick. Chevy should be economy/sport Buick should be affordable luxury Cadillac should be luxury/performance Cadillac is moving down market because they're not catering to the market on top. BMW can make a 0-Series for all I care - that won't change anything in my eyes other than simply adding a bunch of customers they didn't have before. It's not like they stopped selling V8 5-Series and 7-Series cars. Cadillac is gaining an ATS - which is great - but they're missing products on top. Mercedes can cater to lower markets all they want - as long as they're still paying attention to the market on top. That's not moving down market. That's simply adding to your portfolio. If Mercedes stopped selling the S-Class in America and started selling something beneath the C-Class, than I'd consider that a move down-market. Cadillac gains an ATS. Down market but positive Cadillac loses a V8 STS. Down market. Even when the CTS replaces it, it still won't have a V8. Again, down market. Cadillac replaces a V8 DTS with a V6 car on a Chevy Impala platform. Down market Cadillac replaces a V8 RWD SRX with a V6 FWD SRX on a Chevy Equinox platform. Down market. Is it really difficult to see where Cadillac is going? Down market... Even prices are going down. Is Chevy or Buick the value brand at GM? Or is it Cadillac? As prices get lower, Cadillacs become more common - but is that in Cadillac's best interest? How desirable will Cadillac be as a brand when anyone can afford one? Driving a Cadillac used to MEAN something. What does it mean now? Does it mean you "made it"? No, that's Lexus, Infiniti, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jaguar and soon, Hyundai...

Your ex's Passat was made in Mexico. My wife used to be a service writer for Volkswagen and the ones made in Germany held together beautifully. The ones made in Mexico were horrific and very problematic. I have plenty of CTS-V owners at my Cadillac Owners community who have no trouble AT ALL admitting the M5 is a far better built car than the CTS-V. The CTS-V is an amazing car but it lacks the fit and finish of the M5. Just about ALL the CTS-V owners consider the M5 a pretty big upgrade...

When all is said and done, who the hell cares about the CTS-V? Does anybody buy it? No. How many CTS-Vs does Cadillac sell? It just doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Cadillac needs a V8 that sells like a GS460, a 550i, an XF, a E550, an M56 and so on and so on and so on... The CTS-V is a hard core enthusiast car that you see very far and few between on the road. I can see tons of the aforementioned V8 vehicles before and after I see a new CTS-V. Cadillac needs a mid-size and a full-size luxury sedan with a V8 - just like everybody else. Or they're going to follow down the same stupid road as Acura. In regards to the other brands who are making 4s and 6s for their vehicles - that's a GREAT idea. Those versions simply compliment the V8s. Cadillac doesn't offer the V8s anymore. They're abandoning that part of the market. You're okay with that? Where does a current CTS owner go as he moves up in the world and wants a better vehicle? A FWD V6 XTS? No. Same question for the STS owner. Where does HE go? XTS? No. How about the DTS owner? He goes from a V8 FWD vehicle down to a V6 FWD vehicle that sits on the same platform as a Chevy Malibu.. Wow, that sounds exciting. What a move up. Mercedes and BMW can sell their full-size luxury sedans with hamsters powering the thing - I don't care - as long as they still offer V8s for those who want them. I'm going to be in the market for another car soon - and I want to go back to full-size luxury. What does Cadillac have for me? NOTHING. So they're losing business from people like me AND people who already own Cadillacs who want to move up to something better. Not good...

The scary part about the STS is how it's being replaced by a car that's even less powerful. How's that for moving backwards?

The problem with the current CTS is it's interior volume. It may be big on the outside, but it's small on the inside. It's in between the 3-Series and 5-Series on the inside. The new CTS it supposed to level that playing field. You're right about GM being a truck heavy company. It's unfortunate that Cadillac must suffer as a result of that.. Cadillac has trouble pricing vehicle with the competition because they cut too many corners. Even the new CTS interior - while I find it to be the most attractive in it's class, it's the cheapest. I have a feeling Lincoln is going to be very competitive in the coming years. Acura is an afterthought to me. I doubt we'll be seeing anything significant from them. Hyundai is another story.....

The V8 RWD SRX (which didn't sell well simply because it was odd looking) was replaced by a FWD V6 Equinox. The V8 RWD STS is going away - and NOTHING is replacing it (The XTS is not a replacement for the STS). The V8 DTS is being replaced by a V6 that rides on the same platform as a Chevy Impala and Buick LaCrosse.. Who cares if the V6 has slightly more horsepower than the Northstar? It's lacks in torque.. And the Northstar in the DTS was weak for the segment it competed in anyway. So the V6 may be just as good as the V8 in the old DTS. Wow. Great news. It's still too weak for a full-size luxury sedan. A new CTS will replace the old CTS and will probably be a little bit bigger to compete more closely with cars like the 5, E, GS and M.. All these cars will offer V8s. The 550i (plus the 535i inline 6), the E550, the GS570 (coming next year) and the M56.. I don't even want to get into the Jaguar XF and 429 horsepower Hyundai Genesis coming next year). So technically, the STS is being replaced by a V6 CTS. Cadillac is abandoning the V8 market in the mid-size and full-size segment. I think the ATS is a great idea - but it's still a move down market. Not that it's a bad thing, however.. Cadillac needs a good 3-Series competitor. What do people here generally think about Cadillac moving down market?

Very nice work! This place is looking really great.

I was one of those people who wanted to buy the site.. The first thing I would have done was upgrade to the latest version of the software and then market the HELL out of it.. I like this place and it's good to see it owned by somebody who cares again...

To me, the 300C is Chrysler's best product - and it doesn't hold a candle to the 750Li..

Marriage is the worst business contract in the world. Sorry to get off topic here.

Peace and quiet. But I'm married - so that's a thing of the past.

Good one!

The discussion is about your favorite "exercise".

I should be really cool and say sex - but my favorite exercise is tennis - though I never get to play it...

I really wasn't comfortable with that feeble looking picture of me.. I took this about an hour ago (2am)...

The Sonata is the Malibu, the Azera is the LaCrosse and the Genesis is the Lucerne (if we're talking Buicks)... I do believe the Azera is getting a major update very soon - along with the Kia Amanti - which happens to be a very nice mid-sized luxury car. I rented one for a few days...

Cadillac doesn't have anything that's roomy, luxurious and as powerful as the Genesis at ANY price - never mind $40k.. The V-Series is far too harsh to be considered a luxurious vehicle. Also - not everybody finds the Genesis sedan boring...

How about $75k for complete anonymity? If people are willing to pay $75-$80k, why not $40k? As for the Azera, it really doesn't compete with the Genesis. It's much softer riding - not nearly as sporty, and not nearly as technologically advanced. Plus, not as powerful. Oh, and FWD.. It really doesn't interest the same crowd..

I'm anxious to take a seat in this car. I'm really liking the "new" Buick...

Buick's new products are too nice to get rid of. Like the Oldsmobile Aurora - which should have lived on as a Buick (or anything) - the Enclave and upcoming LaCrosse are excellent vehicles.. Not having these in the GM lineup would be a big mistake. And not that we don't already know this, but Buick is a prestigious brand in China - a very large, developing market.

My favorite band is Death. Chuck Schuldiner screams - but you can understand every word he says. He also makes sense (especially in his later albums before he died) and is an amazing guitarist... Suicide Machine: "When it comes to living, no one seems to care... But when it comes to wanting out - those with power will be there..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8vqGzUlyqE