Cadillac CT6 - Second Impressions

"SkyNet" (skynet-z28) 11/08/2016 at 14:11 • Filed to: Cadillac, CT6

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I took my ATS in for an oil change and free wash this morning and got a CT6 as a loaner.

If you’ll recall, this is my second CT6 loaner and I was quite smitten with the last one ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ).

Today’s CT6 was more stripped down than the last one, I assume one step up from a base model (a little bit less wood, no HUD, no Panaray sound system). Despite this, I remain quite smitten.

The CT6 rides so incredibly nicely that I had to check to make sure whether my ATS was in “sport” mode when I got back in because it felt so jarring. The CT6 is super smooth, but not at all floaty. It just feels confident. It’s not an autocrosser like the ATS, but it still handles and feels pretty good for a luxury cruiser. The steering is responsive.

The brakes were lovely, the power is lovely, the interior is still a very nice place to be. The parking lot radar system is still incredibly useful.

I did find myself missing the Panaray sound system. The standard stereo is more than adequate for most humans, but I certainly noticed a difference.

Overall, if you are looking for a unique luxury car that doesn’t float all over in the twisties, I still recommend a CT6. I’m trying to talk my wife into one.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > SkyNet 11/08/2016 at 14:14

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Question: how the hell slow is this dealership that an oil change, which should take no more than 15 mins, requires a loaner?

shop-teacher > SkyNet 11/08/2016 at 14:15

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Good to know. I would absolutely love to have a CT6. Sadly, it’s not in the budget of a middle school shop teacher.

DutchieDC2R > SkyNet 11/08/2016 at 14:17

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Wauw, that thing looks so damn good. I really miss these kind of cars on European roads.

TheHondaBro > SkyNet 11/08/2016 at 14:19

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...You got a loaner for an oil change?

yamahog > shop-teacher 11/08/2016 at 14:20

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If they depreciate like anything else in their segment, that should help :)

SkyNet > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/08/2016 at 14:20

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Not the dealer, the Skynet.

They called me within about an hour of me dropping off the car.

SkyNet > shop-teacher 11/08/2016 at 14:21

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Depreciation good sir...depreciation.

SkyNet > DutchieDC2R 11/08/2016 at 14:21

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It really does. I’m surprised how much people look at the car when I drive by.

SkyNet > TheHondaBro 11/08/2016 at 14:21

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Haha yes. I’m an investment banker, heaven forbid I miss an hour at the office.

shop-teacher > SkyNet 11/08/2016 at 14:23

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Yeah, I haven’t had good luck with late-model used vehicles ... but this may be a temptation too great to resist.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > DutchieDC2R 11/08/2016 at 14:24

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Cadillac actually does offer the CT6 in selected European markets but they’ll probably sell 23 of them because most of us Germans are badge snobs.

shop-teacher > yamahog 11/08/2016 at 14:24

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I’m hoping they do, although both of the GM CPO vehicles I’ve purchased in the past have turned around and kicked me square in the balls. I’ve had great luck with new vehicles and old beaters, but late-model used vehicles haven’t been good to me. I may have to tempt fate anyways, because I just love this car.

DutchieDC2R > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 11/08/2016 at 14:26

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Same goes for the Dutchies. In that segment, its mostly Audi’s/BMW’s/Merc’s.

duurtlang > DutchieDC2R 11/08/2016 at 14:45

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Not having an array of diesel options (or even one diesel) and no wagon don’t really help either.

By only offering gasoline sedans they simply don’t have a competitor for 75% of the luxury car market in Europe. Maybe more. Who, realistically, buys or leases a gasoline sedan? No one. The vast majority seem to be diesels and at least half wagons.

DutchieDC2R > duurtlang 11/08/2016 at 14:48

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Add to that no hybrid/plug-in hybrid options.

duurtlang > DutchieDC2R 11/08/2016 at 14:54

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Right. Forgot about those.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > duurtlang 11/08/2016 at 15:03

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Not even a diesel option or wagon configuration would generate any sales without a real dealership network. The nearest dealership offering Cadillacs is 1 1/3 hours away from me which is very inconvinient. Selling Caddies at Opel dealerships is a possibility but GM already failed with that strategy. Did they really think anyone would spend €50k+ in an Opel dealership haha.

But to be honest Cadillac would still have a very hard time selling enough cars even with the best dealer network, diesel engines, a wagon or even competetive pricing.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheHondaBro 11/08/2016 at 15:03

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If you matter, you can get one. The Toyota dealership offers me a shuttle ride. Better than nothing I guess

duurtlang > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 11/08/2016 at 15:08

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Well, if they manage to offer a Cadillac at an Opel dealership with a diesel and a wagon option and some very aggressive pricing (Opel +10%?) and some good advertisement they might get somewhere. They’ll need a product that stands out (including being significantly cheaper than the big 3) and offer it in a convenient way.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > duurtlang 11/08/2016 at 15:43

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That could quite possibly work well but they’d have to invest a lot of money and would make no profit or even worse a loss with every car sold. With slow sales in the US and abysmal sales here Cadillac is probably setting its priorities on selling more cars in the US first.

With that said, if I were in the market for a 3er class vehicle I’d seriously consider the ATS.

duurtlang > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 11/08/2016 at 15:47

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Entering a new market always costs money. A lot of money. It’s what it takes.

Had I been in the market for a 3er class vehicle I wouldn’t consider an ATS. I simply wouldn’t buy a sedan as I don’t see the point of sedans. Either coupe or wagon for me. Depending on running costs and assuming I don’t drive much a year I could do without a diesel.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > duurtlang 11/08/2016 at 15:56

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Cadillac has tried to launch their brand a couple of times in the last few decades and even offered rhd but have never seen any success worth mentioning. Now I wonder what it would take to just take an existing GM diesel, make it work in a longitudinal configuration and throw it under the hood of the ATS and CTS.

Speaking of the ATS, it is also available as a Coupe! Not that anyone would care, but it exists.

duurtlang > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 11/08/2016 at 16:03

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Cadillac tried and failed because they didn’t really try. Like Infiniti and to a lesser extent Lexus. If you offer something that doesn’t stand out and don’t invest properly you won’t gain traction in a new market. Only a brand like Tesla can pull it off as it offers something very unique.

I care about coupes, the European market cares about wagons. And crossovers, sadly.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > duurtlang 11/08/2016 at 16:25

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Infiniti does have diesel engines afaik but a thin dealership network, the same for Lexus. Cadillac, as you said, didn’t make enough effort to establish themselves in the market. They don’t even have a single dedicated dealership in Germany unlike Infiniti and Lexus. Cadillac has a long way to go, that’s for sure. They could do a slight impact in the crossover market if they wanted.

Axial > DutchieDC2R 11/08/2016 at 20:01

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And this is the look that herr direktor at Cadillac wants to axe in favor of some fucked-up, generic Infiniti-Audi crossover look...