mmarshall

The alphabet soup that some luxury-car makers use is indeed confusing at times (Mercedes, Acura, Cadillac and Lincoln all bear some guilt). But, after a while, to some extent, you get used to it......particularly people like us here on CAR CHAT, who use those terms and discuss cars every day.

IS-SV

Sure CHIT CHAT enthusiasts can figure it out, even though they rarely buy a Caddie or Lincoln.

But the key difference between the worst alphabet soup names of Lincoln and the best alphabet soup names of Lexus, BMW, Mercedes is the intelligence in the numbering schemes that designate "approximate" engine size.

LexFather

As a car freak, even I am confused by all these meaningless names and so many brands doing it wrong.

The G Man

Except for the Lexus hybrids, the numbers on the model number makes no sense.

G Star

iTrader: (2)

the Caddy Escalade, ESV is the luxury SUV of choice for almost everyone, its only competitor is the Range Rover.

The Escalade and CTS is keeping them known.

The G Man

Who is the everyone that you are refering to? I sure would not want a $90000 Suburban with leather seats.

jaseman

I remember, long ago, when someone said they owned a Caddy, it actually impressed you. It was the luxury car to own, only surpassed by Bentleys and Rolls Royces. Not so much anymore.

Without major changes, they will continue to play second fiddle to the likes of Mercedes Benz, BMW, Lexus, etc..

While the CTS is nice, it's still not up to par with an MB E-Class or 5-series Bimmer. Need proof? Take a 2-hour road trip in one. The same can be said across the whole line-up. It's comfy, quite, and powerfull seeming, until you slide into one of it's competitors. Then it starts to just feel like a cheap knock-off. And it's like this across the whole line-up.

Caddy's big problems?
- Platform sharing
- The GM parts bin
- And overall lack of refinement

The vehicles that share platforms are almost literally rebadged Chevys. The Escalade is a prime example. Take an Avalanche, add leather seats, some extra sound deadening material, and slap on some gold Cadillac emblems. There is nothing special about it other than that. Doesn't ride any better. Interior is only on par with a Buick. It's just a Chevy truck.

Caddy's that aren't platform based, still rely heavily on the GM parts bin. Everything from suspension components to switches and buttons. This may help GM shave cost, but it also compromises the overall refinement of the car. Get behind the wheel and play with all the controls. The window switches feel cheap, the AC vents are the same as in a Caprice or G6, and even the radio is 'parts bin' material.

So there is just no refined, luxurious feeling you used to get in old Cadillac's. They don't feel special, like they used to. You could be sitting in any GM vehicle for the most part. It doesn't feel any different the a nicely apportioned LaSabre.

And no new platform can save them. A 3-series contender? It'll most likely be based on a G6 platform. And that wont cut it in the Luxo-market. Anyone remember the Catera (the Caddy that zigs). IRRC, it was nothing more than a rebadged Cavalier. If Caddy was smart, they'd start from the ground up, and design any new vehicle as their own, stand-alone units. Let the engineers and designers drive a Mecedes for 3 months as R&D for what works, and how a luxo-cruiser should feel. Then throw the GM parts-bin out the window.

Unfortunately, it wont happen. GM needs to get as much milage out of platforms and parts as the can to stay alive. So Caddy will still be pulling from the same box of parts as everyone else. Witch will just keep them mediocre compared to the competition.