Bulldog 1
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Had some fun with Cadillac yesterday, before I head out to the Lexus Performance driving school on Sunday.
Featured a road course, 0-60 drag strip, a 20 minute city drive where I started off in a CTS with cylinder deactivation and then swapped into an Escalade, finally a demo in a CT5 of the self-parking assist and the collision avoidance braking system. Unfortunately, due to South Florida's predictable afternoon thunderstorms with lightning, the event was abruptly halted 20 minutes early. We were simply told, "Event is over, please head directly to your cars in the parking lot." Personally, I think they just didn't want to give us our parting gifts
Overall impressions: The ATS-V with the twin turbo V6 pumping out 464 HP is a worthy opponent and so capable when you consider Lexus is putting out about the same HP from their RC and GS V8's. The car has massive Brembo brakes with confidence boosting braking power; excellent take-off power from a dead stop or power braking; a very well laid out interior with securely bolstered seats and a very space age looking red glow from the instrument cluster. The CTS - of you get the 3.6L V6, will smoke the tires going around the road course. I think I was the only one who did, 'cause I know what an Apex is
Going directly from the CTS 3.6 to an ATS 2.0T was a huge letdown. The CTS had the live rear view camera that can be flipped to a traditional mirror - but why would you? Somehow, as modern as Cadillac attempts to become on the outside, their gauge package and interior just aren't pleasing. The touch controls were annoying because you must slide your finger left or right at just the right pressure to raise and lower your temperature, raise or lower the air fan and adjust the radio volume.
I know, as I've stated many times publicly, that I am NOT interested in driving anything 4-cylinder turbo. The transition from the CTS, which was a sedan, to the ATS which was a coupe, was dog-like. Then, off to the drag strip for a 0-60 run in the ATS-V. THAT was fun! Didn't see any gauges to judge boost, but the TT is immediate and powerful. It was the most potent, and capable of the bunch. Shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, it held the road and did not squeal the tires.
The most surprising events were the ride alongs where one of the racing instructors demonstrated the self-parking feature, a real treat if you've never experienced it. The car is intuitive to seeking open spaces on its own based on your selection of the left or right turn signal and did a perfect job of hands off parallel parking. The sudden, neck jarring jolt of the Collision Avoidance system was unnerving, but did prove that the system works. We came within inches of a simulated pedestrian staring at his cell phone and the car slammed to a halt. It did the same while approaching the back of a simulated stopped vehicle.
My least favorite ride, of course, was the Escalade. Sorry, but I am not a truck, crossover or SUV person. We had to shuffle one car back, and as I was the lead car, I got stuck with it at the rear. Too much weight, no live rearview camera? In something that big with poor visibility, you'd think the rearview camera mirror would be standard.
Nobody was allowed to drive the CT6 flagship sedan, but it was on display inside where everyone could sit in it. I can imagine with the 3.6TT engine out of the ATS-V that it's an adequate ride. All in all, it wasn't really about tearing up the track, but getting out and feeling what Cadillac has to offer. One cannot escape the fact that despite their marketing efforts, it's still a car that appeals squarely towards one market segment.
We actually had a 2011 CTS, the last generation in between ES models, and while it was fun to drive, had plenty of power, and the Cadillac prestige, it was missing so many standard Lexus features you take for granted because with Lexus, well....they're already there without paying for an extra package.
The ATS leaves a lot to be desired and would push me to another brand for a better car; the ATS-V is a monster for those not desiring to go $10K more for a CTS-V; the CTS if you purchase the 3.6 is a great car to drive; the CT5 seems alright and has a nifty combo of traditional speedo and tach gauges mixed in with virtual LCD screen images of other functions like volt, gas, temp etc. The live view weather radar on a 10" screen was very impressive. Can't understand why anyone buys an Escalade, but I'm not the truck person, so my opinion here doesn't really count. Felt like I had to work extra hard not to exceed the boundaries of my center lane on the City drive it's so large.
Here's a couple of photos to enjoy. The full album is located here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskEy5fxR
Featured a road course, 0-60 drag strip, a 20 minute city drive where I started off in a CTS with cylinder deactivation and then swapped into an Escalade, finally a demo in a CT5 of the self-parking assist and the collision avoidance braking system. Unfortunately, due to South Florida's predictable afternoon thunderstorms with lightning, the event was abruptly halted 20 minutes early. We were simply told, "Event is over, please head directly to your cars in the parking lot." Personally, I think they just didn't want to give us our parting gifts
Overall impressions: The ATS-V with the twin turbo V6 pumping out 464 HP is a worthy opponent and so capable when you consider Lexus is putting out about the same HP from their RC and GS V8's. The car has massive Brembo brakes with confidence boosting braking power; excellent take-off power from a dead stop or power braking; a very well laid out interior with securely bolstered seats and a very space age looking red glow from the instrument cluster. The CTS - of you get the 3.6L V6, will smoke the tires going around the road course. I think I was the only one who did, 'cause I know what an Apex is
Going directly from the CTS 3.6 to an ATS 2.0T was a huge letdown. The CTS had the live rear view camera that can be flipped to a traditional mirror - but why would you? Somehow, as modern as Cadillac attempts to become on the outside, their gauge package and interior just aren't pleasing. The touch controls were annoying because you must slide your finger left or right at just the right pressure to raise and lower your temperature, raise or lower the air fan and adjust the radio volume.
I know, as I've stated many times publicly, that I am NOT interested in driving anything 4-cylinder turbo. The transition from the CTS, which was a sedan, to the ATS which was a coupe, was dog-like. Then, off to the drag strip for a 0-60 run in the ATS-V. THAT was fun! Didn't see any gauges to judge boost, but the TT is immediate and powerful. It was the most potent, and capable of the bunch. Shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, it held the road and did not squeal the tires.
The most surprising events were the ride alongs where one of the racing instructors demonstrated the self-parking feature, a real treat if you've never experienced it. The car is intuitive to seeking open spaces on its own based on your selection of the left or right turn signal and did a perfect job of hands off parallel parking. The sudden, neck jarring jolt of the Collision Avoidance system was unnerving, but did prove that the system works. We came within inches of a simulated pedestrian staring at his cell phone and the car slammed to a halt. It did the same while approaching the back of a simulated stopped vehicle.
My least favorite ride, of course, was the Escalade. Sorry, but I am not a truck, crossover or SUV person. We had to shuffle one car back, and as I was the lead car, I got stuck with it at the rear. Too much weight, no live rearview camera? In something that big with poor visibility, you'd think the rearview camera mirror would be standard.
Nobody was allowed to drive the CT6 flagship sedan, but it was on display inside where everyone could sit in it. I can imagine with the 3.6TT engine out of the ATS-V that it's an adequate ride. All in all, it wasn't really about tearing up the track, but getting out and feeling what Cadillac has to offer. One cannot escape the fact that despite their marketing efforts, it's still a car that appeals squarely towards one market segment.
We actually had a 2011 CTS, the last generation in between ES models, and while it was fun to drive, had plenty of power, and the Cadillac prestige, it was missing so many standard Lexus features you take for granted because with Lexus, well....they're already there without paying for an extra package.
The ATS leaves a lot to be desired and would push me to another brand for a better car; the ATS-V is a monster for those not desiring to go $10K more for a CTS-V; the CTS if you purchase the 3.6 is a great car to drive; the CT5 seems alright and has a nifty combo of traditional speedo and tach gauges mixed in with virtual LCD screen images of other functions like volt, gas, temp etc. The live view weather radar on a 10" screen was very impressive. Can't understand why anyone buys an Escalade, but I'm not the truck person, so my opinion here doesn't really count. Felt like I had to work extra hard not to exceed the boundaries of my center lane on the City drive it's so large.
Here's a couple of photos to enjoy. The full album is located here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskEy5fxR
