The 2008 Cadillac CTS

CTS

I’ve had the car for a day now and so far its been surprising. Before I picked up the car I thought the thing I would like the most in the car would be the interior. I had checked the CTS website and I was really looking forward to the “Ambient Interior Lighting”. A lot of cars have it but the CTS has a unique version that uses LED’s that go along the dash from one end to the other. But, I quickly found out the version of the car I was reviewing didn’t have the ambient lighting, I don’t know if its not available as an option in Kuwait or if it just wasn’t an option in my car but I wasn’t able to experience it.

CTS

With one of the things I was looking forward to not available I had to find something else to take my interest and I quickly found it as soon as I hit the 5th Ring Road. The CTS has over 300hp and as soon as I slammed on the gas the engine let out a brutal grunt and took off. At high RPM’s the engine gets really loud and aggressive which is surprising because the car gives a civilized impression. Another thing that surprised me was the “Driver Shift Control” which allows me to manually change gears. Unlike most of the ones I have tried before the Cadillac’s transmission was pretty fast and responsive. I’ve been recently trying to cut down on my speeding and the CTS wasn’t helping.

CTS Inside

Everything isn’t perfect and I do have my problems with the car. For one thing I found the audio and navigation system sluggish. Firstly the car I am driving only has the European map installed. I don’t know if a local map isn’t offered yet but without one the navigation system is useless. Going from menu to menu and raising and lowering the volume is also a hit and miss affair. Sometimes the system doesn’t respond to my commands or responds after a few seconds delay. After experiencing this issue a number of times I am convinced its a software issue and the system problem needs an update or a reboot. Another thing that I didn’t like was the location of the fire extinguisher, its located in the middle of the passenger side foot area. Nat didn’t know if she should put her feet on top of the extinguisher or stretch them out over it but it was really annoying and uncomfortable.

Those were the only negatives I could find in the car although I would also have liked a reverse cam since its become like a standard but other then that the car is fully loaded. There is a USB socket where you can plug in the iPod and the navigation system turns into a TV although I couldn’t catch any channels but thats a good thing since KTV sucks. The sunroof is amazing because the whole roof is a large glass panel which really brightens up the interior.

I have the car till tomorrow evening so I will still be driving it some more. The price of the car if anyone is interested is KD13,000 with the all wheel drive version costing slightly more.

Jan 18, 2008

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20 Comments, add your own...

1. Khalid | January 18th, 2008 at 7:40 pm

I think thqat the fire extingisher is probably in the wrong place. Somebody must’ve changed it’s place. Because there’s no way that it’s place is under the carpet.
2. A E R O | January 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

The extinguished should be on top of the carpet of course, but in other cars (Audi A4) it is also in the passenger side in a very uncomfortable place… Kuwait laws i suppose.

Question: why are the new Cadillac’s not popular in Kuwait? or the Middle East for that matter? Any ideas?
3. SoS | January 18th, 2008 at 11:01 pm

ehh! it doesn’t look that civilized man, it has a semi-sports car look to it.
4. STING | January 19th, 2008 at 2:01 am

A E R O
This car is not popular for two reasons First, cuz this car it has many Malfunctions. The second reason Al-Ghanim service garage is boring and not good. (the best in kuwait is toyota garag and ford)

Another thing that I didn’t like was the location of the fire extinguisher, its located in the middle of the passenger side foot area
WTF
What colors available from inside. Is there a black color of the Interior?
and what about the CTS-V when it will be Available ? http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/experience/news_ctsv.jsp
5. abdvllah | January 19th, 2008 at 3:27 am

It’s the beginning of the end for American cars I tell you.
6. Damon Dash | January 19th, 2008 at 4:23 am

very nice car but i think bit overpriced, i have the previous generation CTS and its a decent car, unlike many American cars you get the feeling you are driving a German car instead
7. vampire | January 19th, 2008 at 9:49 am

there feel different when u drive a Cadillac

there is a white 1992 fleetwood in the house garage now
8. lilokuani | January 19th, 2008 at 10:18 am

i like ktv
9. SAM540 | January 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

You Lucky *beep*!!
I think the CTS is an amazing looking car! I like it.
The fire extinguisher truly is in a very odd place. However, this is not a problem with GM, its AlGhanim’s fault…
However, Mark’s comments have made me question the car’s quality. A Cadillac should have a luxurious feel…which means no room for errors on the inside.
Pure power is not the main reason to get a CTS…If you want just that, a person would go for a Mustang or a Charger SRT (If they want American Cars that is).
10. Holla | January 19th, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Yeah they are a bit overpriced for american cars which is a shame and V division is even more. if caddy wanted to compete with german cars they should have made them cost less at least in the beginning to give ppl an incentive to try them out.
11. SAM540 | January 19th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

Holla,

Given the rise of the EURO over the USD, the caddy should be very cheap compared to its Germen couterparts…Sadly this is not the case.
12. Tan Go | January 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

i never drove, or owned,, or will ever drive or own a US_made car,,,
cadillacs or not.. they’re all destined to the junkyard
13. Damon Dash | January 20th, 2008 at 5:28 am

that’s just a stereotype Tan Go, you’re a car racist :) they are all cars we should love them equally even Chinese cars LOL
14. bo9agr | January 20th, 2008 at 8:35 am

I think the new CTS is overpriced, pricy & expencive !!

wanna have power & luxury in a reasonable price? get a Lexus.
15. UncleBenz | January 20th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

LOL now you left all the mechanical, suspension, drivability, response time, power, maneuverability, fuel consumption, etc .. and concentrated on the USB socket, the GPS system and the fire extinguisher ?

The fire extinguisher installed here in kuwait following the law and you can take it off and install it any other place!

Man you better concentrate on Shawerma review :)
16. Mark | January 20th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

well i review what i think is important. fuel consumption honestly is not a priority on my list. And about the fire extinguisher, you must have misread the kuwaiti law because it says you need to have the extinguisher in the car, it doesn’t say you need to have it in the middle of the passenger side area. In the 300c its in the rear for example, in the mercedes its under the seat driver side. this was the only car i have been in where the extinguisher is actually in the way.
17. Damon Dash | January 21st, 2008 at 3:09 am

that’s not a big deal you can remove it ,police never check for it , the law was actually rejected but still enforced on new cars, you can have the dealer itself remove it for you before even picking up the car for the first time which is what i did.
18. Lunardream | January 29th, 2008 at 1:19 am

Dude, you don’t want a CTS. My sister-in-law crashed a one, with minor damage, mainly the hood and the front . Al-Ghanim was asking for like 350 KD for the front left lamp!!!! the hood itself is like 150 KD without paint. They even asked for the whole fix with parts for around 1200+ KD. I did it using Al-Ghanim parts with discount for around 400 or less. Moral of story: stick to cheap-ass Asian cars.
19. Maz | April 14th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

I bought the car since one month. It is extremely nice because I like Cadillac in general. I didn’t find the “Ambient interior Lighting” as I’m getting level II luxury package which has the most luxurious options. So, I discovered that “Ambient Interior lighting” is not an option to be offered in Middle East. I checked with Cadillac car agency in UAE and they confirmed my thoughts, they don’t have this option as well.

Regarding the navigation, I got the CD after a small fight with the agent. It’s installed and works properly. It has all Middle East maps, so try to get your version. The fire distinguisher is not placed in that position by the manufacturer, but by your car agent. Mine came inside a box located thrown the trunk.

I think all CTS been sent to Middle East has that crystal taillamps (Like the photo you posted), while the one from USA has red color. Basically we are getting our cars from the same source (maybe China, Taiwan, whatever…but not USA).
20. DJ_PAIN | November 15th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

I think that the CTS is really great and it’s fantastic. Am just tellin u all if u don’t take care of a car she will be a junk. The Cadi if u take care of her she will do the same 2 u.

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