makfu

Honda uses cable linkage last I checked and the shifting action of their tranny is super slick (best in the industry, IMHO). -Mak 08 CTS FE3 with 6 on the floor.

Almost exactly 46 grand (before tax, title, etc.). And for this car, (given how massively difficult it is to actually get allocation for a manual) you pay sticker. As of right now, there are only about 60-80 of these cars in existence (LGR is producing about 20 a month starting in October). Getting this car was a real saga - if you order one like it, make sure you are ready to wait (and wait...). That said, there is something so wrong and yet so right about a Cadillac with a stick shift. For me at least, it makes the car. -Mak 08 CTS FE3 with 6 on the floor.

Heh, interesting you should mention that - It actually feels very much like the Getrag (or as I like to call it, the gutwrench) 5-speed in that it's very notchy. Either the linkage was changed or the journalists don't know the difference between notchy and rubbery. Rubbery would be the traditional feel of Tremeck 6 speed's (balky and difficult to find the detents) whereas the Asin-Warner 6 speed feels notchy (easy to find the detent, but a lot of resistance putting it in to gear). Both conditions are symptomatic of mechanical linkage transmissions, though having had a shifter cable break on a cable linkage transmission in the past, I will take mechanical linkage anyday. That said, it is not the slickest shifting manual, but it gets the job done (and is just more fun than the manumatic, even if GM's 6 speed autobox is a marvel of an automatic, which it is). I might add, the auto "journalists" always heaped praise on the old 5-speed German built Getrag, but in truth it was, by any reasonable standard, an awful mess of a tranny (in both the CTS and the E39 BWM 5er). It was notchy, had terrible gear rattle and was generally a noisy mess. The Asin-Warner, while also notchy, makes hardly any noise and generally feels more "solid". -Mak 08 CTS FE3 with a 6 on the floor.

The very first pictures of my 2008 Cadillac CTS with the FE3 package and 6-speed manual. This car is equipped with every available option, sans AWD, as that is not available with the FE3 package. These pictures were taken just after the car was delivered to the dealership and prior to prepping the car. I take delivery on Tuesday evening. By the way, it is interesting to note that these most recent examples of the 08 CTS sport much tighter exterior panel gaps than I have seen on any vehicle. The front fascia to hood gap is practically non-existent, which was a long standing sore spot for the first generation CTS. I couldn’t locate a single misaligned panel or trim piece inside or out. One has the impression, visually, that a lot of effort went into building this car. -Makfu 08 CTS FE3 with a 6 speed manual (finally)

In related news, earlier today, Detroit based General Motors (NYSE:GM) finally approved production of Mak's new 2008, 3.6 DI, FE-3, 6-Speed Manual equipped Cadillac CTS after repeated delays. When asked about this recent development, Mak stated, "Holy crap, I never thought these clowns were going to actually build my car. You know, I must REALLY like the new Cadillac CTS to have put up with all the misinformation and months of missed-production dates". While a positive sign, this news did not impact GM's shares, which closed down $2.21, or 6.11% after GM reported a much larger than expected operating loss and a whopping 39 billion dollar non-cash accounting charge. -Mak 08, FE3 CTS 6-Speed (Note to GM: It might help if you could actually deliver cars when you say you will.)

Which clearly didn't flag your lack of proper capitalization. -Mak 08 FE3 CTS with 6 on the floor on order

Yeah, seriously, it really helps an argument if it is at least readable. And while we are on the subject, I wish that certain people would at least make a rudimentary attempt at proper punctuation and spelling. A "..." is not a substitute for a comma, semicolon or period. Punctuation, spelling and grammar are not about elitist sensibilities, they are about helping the reader process what you have written. I am not asking for people to be perfect, but it would just be nice if some would at least give it a try. Here is a good hint: every post I write first in Word (or, if you prefer OO Writer). By doing such I can catch the most egregious spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. I don't do this to appear smarter; I do it so that people can read my comments more easily. -Mak 08 FE3 CTS with 6 on the floor on order

I am very pleased that a deal was struck and that I was wrong. -Mak 08 FE3 CTS with 6 on the floor on order

The UAW didn't have to go with the nuclear option. Hopefully this is just a political ploy by Gettelfinger to help sell the membership. That said, I don't think this will be over quickly. I think GM, along with all the analysts, was caught badly off-guard, believing that Gettelfinger understood just how precarious the situation really is. I believe GM went back to the table to try and keep talks going, but I don't think they will reach a settlement quickly just because the Union didn't declare an impasse. I have generally been pretty neutral regarding the UAW and Unions, recognizing their value in protecting members from employer exploitation. That said, Unions in recent times have proven largely ineffective and, in more than a few cases, badly corrupt. Yes, years of GM mismanagement has played a part in this situation, but there is no escaping the fact that neither the UAW nor GM can survive more than a very short strike. The UAW and its members would be foolish to think GM will blink, because just as the UAW is in no position to ask for anything, GM is in no position to grant anything. Econ 101, if a company cannot make money and it is more financially viable to terminate a company’s operations, then you close the doors and go home. With years of losses, only 19 billion in market capitalization and 200 billion in assets, how long before a raider / private equity firm walks in and parts the company out, once it collapses financially due to an extended strike? What will the Union do then? I think we are witnessing the final violent death throes of the American auto industry and the end of any meaningful organized labor in North American manufacturing. Toyota, Honda, BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai and Nissan don't pay UAW wages and benefits and they certainly don't guarantee employment and product investment. GM, Ford and Chrysler are nearing the end of the road. If you want to get an idea of where that road ends, take a look at the history of the British domestic auto industry. -Mak 08 FE3 CTS with 6 on the floor on order (soon to be a BMW if the UAW doesn't get back to work).

For me this is pretty simple equation (that is driven by practical concerns). I have an order for an 08 CTS that has been delayed for a whole host of reasons (namely availability of the manual transmission and wood packages). This, for me, is the final straw. If the Union isn't back on the job by next Monday morning, I am cancelling my order and I will never return to GM or any UAW populated shop. It's a damn shame too, because I was really looking forward to getting my new CTS, but I am not willing to put up with further delays and I am not willing to support Union on this issue. They were wrong to go on strike and they are wrong to believe they have a right to force GM to continue to pay wages and benefits that put them at an outrageous cost disadvantage especially if GM agreed to job guarantees, etc. My patience with Detroit, both Union and GM, is nearing an end. I will be just one more fraction of a point of market share lost by GM. I hope both parties are pleased with their performance. -Mak 08 FE3 CTS with 6 on the floor on order (soon to be a BMW if the UAW doesn't get back to work).

I don’t know what planet your finance people are living on, but having financed 60k+ vehicles before at over 2%, there is no way it should be 1 grand a month to finance 49k+tax at 0% APR unless it’s 48 months or less. And that lease deal is ridiculous (is GMAC’s estimated residual that crap?). My estimate, including 8% sales tax, puts the finance cost at $890 a month for 60 months at 0% (and rarely do 0% deals go for anything less than 60 month terms) and 0 down. Even a 4% APR at 60 months, you should still come out under 1 grand a month. If my dealer had put numbers like those in front of me, I'd have walked the hell out too. -Mak 08 CTS FE3 3.6 DI with 6 on the floor (on order)

Nope, it doesn't do that. HOWEVER, I did forget it's most endearing trait: it has (what appears to be) only an 8.5 gallon gas tank. Even with it's 30MPG fuel economy, I have to fill the damn thing every 250 miles or so (sooner if city diving). Not since the Pontiac Sunfire have I hated a car this much. -Mak 08 CTS FE3 3.6 DI with 6 on the floor (on order)

And where is the MEDIA on this? I mean, really now, this is Pinto level screwup. Funny thing is, I thought the FJ was pretty neat. -Mak 08 CTS FE3 3.6 DI with 6 on the floor (on order)

I don't know about the Kia, but the brand-new 07 Hyundai Accent monthly rental I have right now (while waiting for my 08 CTS) is an absolute pile of crap. 1. Driver seat arm-rest BROKE OFF after 1 day with the car 2. Terrible grouching, metal creaking from somewhere rear of the C pillar when cresting the lip of any driveway or big bump 3. Rattle coming from somewhere around the rear driver-side door and rear seat deck 4. Jiggly, jello-like body structure with pronounced steering column shake on bad road surfaces 5. Dash buzzes under hard acceleration (which is always) 6. Suspension tuning that is both jittery AND oscillating on undulating road surfaces (like old-school Detroit suspension setups - boing, boing, boing...) 7. Incredibly gutless engine that can't maintain 75MPH in 4th going up even the mildest interstate grades 8. Transmission hunts between 2nd and 3rd on moderate inclines 9. Shifting between neutral and drive while the car is in motion causes a terrible "THUNK!" from the trans Having lived with this car nearly a month, I can honestly say that it makes me dream of the luxury of a Corolla or even a Cobalt. The only good points are that exterior fit and finish is pretty good and interior textures used on the plastics look pretty good. Sadly, those two points, which impart the impression of quality, will likely sell a number of these otherwise atrociously rubbish cars. -Mak 08 CTS FE3 3.6 DI with 6 on the floor (on order)

Frankly, this program was a gimmick. It didn’t work. What did work was the Aura being a genuinely excellent car. I have driven it. It is easily one of the best sorted FWD cars on the market today. With the early transmission software issues purged, the drivetrain is among the best in class with the 3.6, the chassis is a really well tuned version of Epsilon and the interior is very good both in packaging and fit and finish. Word of mouth is driving Aura sales and, provided the cars hold up well, I think we will see big numbers from the Aura over the next 3-4 years. Like many of the most recent GM products, one doesn’t have to make any excuses for the Aura; it is a genuinely competitive product. As for the new Accord, I don’t know where to begin. I am a Honda fan. I think Honda makes really excellent products and the Accord was my pick for best family sedan for as long as I can remember. It has been vastly superior in both engineering and design to the ever drab Camry. The Accord may not have been the best seller, but it was the benchmark by which all other family sedans were judged. The current gen Accord was not pretty, but it was interesting and slick in its detailing. Furthermore, Honda had a unique design language that it had spent a lot of time cultivating. The ultimate culmination of Honda’s rakish, cowl-forward design ethos is best highlighted in the current Civic: it is slick, modern and well thought out. In stark contrast, the new Accord is a mess. It is just plain ugly. Not in the passable, won’t offend, Camry bump on the nose sense. It is ugly in the “it will drive sales away”, 96 Ford Taurus sense of the word. In the initial photo’s, the headlamp / front bumper / hood-line, from an offset angle, look mismatched and give the illusion of poor fits. This is further exacerbated by the visible hood-front fasciae gap, which is very un-Honda like and a terrible design flaw in that the too-small grille should have been brought up to the gap-line to hide the seam. The side view looks like a cheap copy of a Chris Bangle BMW, with the awful inset character line and a knock-off BMW hockey-stick C pillar. The rear-end is typical Honda and is clean but devoid of detail and doesn’t match the rest of the car. This is the kind of amateur-hour styling disaster I would expect from Hyundai or Mitsubishi, not from Honda. To top everything off, Honda has thrown away 25 years of class-leading interior design in favor of yet more BMW imitation? The interior ergonomics may still be good, but the design copies one of the worst aspects of post-Bangle BMW interior design, namely the slab like interior surfacing. I don’t know what idiot is running Honda design, but such a blatant (and poor) knock-off of BMW design elements should be a humiliating embarrassment for one of the world’s great auto companies. The new Accord may yet sell well (and I am sure it still has Honda’s characteristically excellent driving dynamics and build quality), but I would be embarrassed to own one because I know the BMW crowd will be smirking all the way. -Mak 2008 CTS FE3 3.6DI with 6 on the floor (on order)

Product drives image and good product can change the image of a brand very quickly. Detroit and the (ever stupid) press love to talk about brand perception and the lag between product excellence and public perception. This is fallacy as there is very little lag between perception and reality; the problem with Pontiac (and to a slightly lesser extent Buick) is the product isn't good and hasn't been good for a very, very long time. Put simply, this isn’t a marketing problem, it’s a product problem. The G6 is by far the worst realized, decontented (in terms of chassis tuning, interior fitments, drivetrains, etc.) and poorly executed of the current Epsilon products (now that the Malibu is being replaced with a thoroughly reworked version). The G5 is a joke, the Torrent is, like the G5, a mediocre rebadge of a mediocre SUV, the Grand Prix is simply dreadful beyond words and the GTO (those still on dealer lots) are badly outdated V-Platform based Monaro’s (a good, but bland car). The Solstice is the only really good product Pontiac has, and a single niche low-volume product will not help Pontiac if the rest of their product is garbage. The Sky works because, when people walk into a Saturn showroom, they see the Aura, the Outlook, the new Vue and (soon) the Astra. Had they walked into the same showroom 24 months ago, Saturn’s sales would still be in the crapper along with Pontiac (and the Sky’s sales would be falling off the map along with the Solstice). Now, to the question if Pontiac can be saved or if it makes sense to kill the brand? First off, killing Pontiac (or Buick) is not in the cards at the moment (for a whole list of reasons) and likely won’t happen in the near-term. GM’s grand plan is pretty simple: grow outside NA, invest strategically in NA to make sure they stem the market share slide, get NA to at least break even in the next 24 months through cutting labor costs and then consider how to potentially grow NA market share sometime in the mid-2010’s as they start to gain back some credibility and aren’t continually bleeding red ink in NA. For GM to be successful with its turnaround strategy (I will ignore all the problems of labor contracts, etc, as that would require a far large post) GM must execute well on EVERY new launch just to maintain share. This means no more half-baked products as highlighted by the entire current Pontiac lineup (sans Solstice). The good news is that GM seems to be showing real signs that it really has, at long last, finally fixed its product development process. For the last 18 months, across the globe, GM has executed with very un-GM like consistency and has managed not to flush anything resembling a turd onto the market. Killing Pontiac and further decimating their dealer base gains GM nothing right now (that may change). It would just further alienate GM’s dealers and accelerate retail market share decline in the short term, something GM management feels it must stop at all costs (a notion I agree with BTW). However, the problem is GM really only has the resources, as you correctly surmise, for four major brands. What Mark LaNeve and crew have decided to do is group GMC, Buick and Pontiac into a single amalgamated full-line fourth brand. Now, I don’t know if this is a workable long-term strategy, as no one in the automobile world has tried this before (Lincoln-Mercury doesn’t count because it’s hardly full-line, and both brands have been mismanaged from day one), but as it stands right now, GMC-Buick-Pontiac doesn’t have the product it needs to even validate if this strategy can work. Let’s imagine, however, a world in which the model lineup in GMC-Buick-Pontiac showrooms looks a little different: • Pontiac with a really good G6 (high-feature power-trains all-around, G8 like interiors, etc.), the new G8 and perhaps a really good low-end car (think Americanized WRX’ish entry-sport) and the Solstice. • Buick with a Statesman based Park Avenue (identical to the Chinese Market model), a plush Epsilon mid-tier Lexus ES like FWD car, a sexy low-volume halo coupe and the Enclave. • GMC with its current lineup of full-size SUV’s, Trucks and the Arcadia. Now that would be a showroom with some compelling product and would likely drive the kind of volume that GM has been trying to build for GMC-Buick-Pontiac shops by shoveling crap like the Torrent and the G5. The obvious rebuttal to this statement is that the volume segments of each of these sub-brands would overlap full-line brands like Saturn and Chevy. My assertion is that if GM designs the product with unique and compelling characteristics and styling, this doesn’t matter. It is fully possible to sell essentially the same product, but differentiate it in compelling fashion (this is done successfully today by many automakers). The notion that GM should remodel itself into a clone of Toyota, wherein Chevy makes mainstream products and Cadillac makes luxury products, is absolutely, in my mind, the worst advice GM could follow (and, as Toyota is demonstrating with Scion, is obsolete thinking). GM DOES, however, need to start properly leveraging its brands by producing top-notch cars with striking styling and compelling driving characteristics that fit the targeted demographic. Ultimately, it all comes down to product. There is a good chance we would not be having this discussion if Pontiac (and Buick) had really excellent product. Right now, the product is anything but great and THAT is the ongoing root cause of the perception issues facing these brands. -Mak (08 CTS with 6 on the floor… when it finally arrives)

Have you driven a late model 9-3? Just in chassis tuning alone the 9-3 is worlds better (along with its Opel/Saturn brethren) than the G6's gut jiggling nonsense. I won't even get into drivetrain, interior, etc. The 9-3 is actually a very good car. As for cookie-cutter, can you get much blander than <insert Buick/Pontiac W-car nameplate>? Seriously, Saab might be a little too opelized (and the 9-7 is a travesty), but (US) Buick and Pontiac is just a sea of rental grade cars. Granted, the new G8 looks fantastic and hopefully Buick will get the terrific Holden Statesman/Caprice based Park Avenue that China has, but until then, I can't imagine plunking down money for anything other than an Enclave. My question about your Intrepid revolved around my interest in what attracted you to the car. I am certainly no GM (or domestic) loyalist (I drive both GM and BMW products right now). Not that I am implying that the Intrepid is a bad car, I just could never imagine wanting such a car (a Charger absolutely). Then again, the LH cars, W cars and G cars are all large front-drivers, so maybe it’s that type of car you like (I will say I had a 95 Aurora and thought it was a great car despite crummy large car FWD handling characteristics). -Mak

I almost went with the Crystal Red. Please post pics when you get it and congrats! -Mak

I am not terribly worried about it. My current CTS has proven quite reliable and was one of the first 500 off the line. So much time is spent in engineering (using CAD based FEA) and pre-production that a lot of issues are worked out before hand. In this day and age, you can't use the whole first year / monday car arguments anymore. Either the car is engineered and assembled reasonably right from production car 1, or you might as well pack it in. Will year two see some fixes and improvements? Sure. So will years 3, 4 and 5. Having bought several early first year cars, I can tell you that it's the company's comittment to getting it right that matters (infact the most problem prone cars I have ever owned were 2nd and 3rd year cars). -Mak

The 9-3 is a vastly better car than Pontiac's epsilon effort and what, besides the Enclave, does Buick have other than tired old W and G cars? Also, looking at your list of past, current and future cars, I don't think you are Saab's target market or would even understand the appeal that Saab has. BTW, why did you buy a Dodge Intrepid? -Mak 08 CTS 6-speed on order

I haven't figured that out yet (I might keep it, I might not). It's relatively low milage but a lot of those are NYC city miles (aka the worst roads imaginable). The same roadways turned several of my previous (Japanese I might add) cars into piles of squeaking, rattling junk after roughly the same number of year/miles. That said, it has been very well taken care of and has been garaged, so people keep asking me, even today, if I just got it. It's still a really nice car, if I don't keep it, hopefully it find a nice home. -Mak 03 CTS with 5 on the floor

I will indeed post pics as soon as I get my car. That said, we could all be waiting a while as manual trans cars haven't been released to production yet. For those that don't know, I have actually been a long-time C&G member (5+ years) - I just happen to lurk. I used to post more often back in the early days (I don't know if the old board archive is still up, but I had several long winded posts). In a rare bit of a good news for GM - for my last 6 cars (excluding my Mini Cooper - yes I have one) I have always cross-shopped BMW, Audi, Lexus, etc. While I love my 03 CTS, there is no doubt that the primary reason it beat out my other choice back in 2002 (an E39 BMW 525i) was because, while it offered a similar ride/handling setup, looked bitchin and was of roughly equal size, it was a lot less money. That it cost less than both a comparably equipped 3 and 5 series offset the weird interior and initial concerns about the quality of the product. As it turned out, the quality of the product proved to be truly first rate; I still can't get over how remarkably solid and noise free my 03 is even after years of brutal NYC commutes (though the interior is still weird ). This is the first time where I didn't even consider another brand, I saw the 08 and I wanted it. Put simply, it is that holy grail of marketing hacks everywhere: The Must Have Product. These are the types of products GM needs more of, and, at least by volume of models, seems to have a fair number of on deck (the G8, Camaro and Vette SS are just three that come to mind). In my mind, all the 08 CTS has to do to make me happy is look like it did at the autoshow and in the recent pics (a.k.a. one bad motha) while still offering the great chassis setup of the current car. That the new interior looks brilliant and that it STILL costs less than a 5, or even comparable 3 series, sure doesn't hurt either. -Mak 03 CTS with 5 on the floor

So, after more than 5 years with my 3.2l powered, 5 speed manual (all options, sans automatic) CTS, I just ordered a 2008 CTS in Raven Black (cashmere interior) with the 3.6DI V6, 6speed manual + summer tire package and all other options sans AWD and the engine block heater. The total MSRP was just a tick over 45k, which is a bit more than I had expected. I should have a build date soon. -Mak 03 CTS with 5 on the floor

Some of you may remember me from a few years back; I bought my CTS in April of 2002 (I haven't posted in a while, but have been lurking). I am still driving my early production 2003 CTS (fully loaded except for the automatic) nearly five years later. After roughly 80,000 miles, I can honestly say I have enjoyed my CTS more than any car I have ever owned (which includes BMW's, Mini's, Honda's and an Aurora). I am still amazed at how utterly solid the chassis is after years of pounding NY City commutes. The 3.2 has also proven solid, if unremarkable and overall, I have to say that the build quality of my CTS is fantastic. If I could have imagined what I wanted my next car to be, this is pretty much it. I bought the CTS, over a 2002 E39 BMW 525 because the CTS was cheaper but very similar in driving dynamics and, most importantly, looked like nothing else on the road. To me, the CTS looked like the Cadillac's of old - stacked headlights, strong character lines and a truly imposing road presence. The new CTS takes those cues to a different level. When I look at this new car, it fixes all the things I don't like about my CTS; the wacky interior, some overly busy styling bits and barely average panel gaps. The attention to detail in the styling of the new CTS is pretty stunning. For example, look at the effort put into the front fender to A pillar seam, or the gentle but also aggressive wheel-well flare. Everything flows and fits beautifully on the exterior. The interior is also stunning in that it looks like a Cadillac without losing the techno-aggressive feel that makes a CTS something different than a 3 series or C-class Mercedes. Most importantly the new CTS, once again, looks like absolutely nothing else on the road. It is still an Art & Science car and to my eyes is especially reminiscent of the very first Art & Science concept, the Evoq (look at them side by side, and you will see what I mean). For the first time ever, I won’t be comparison shopping as I know exactly what my next car will be:an 08 CTS. Well done GM. -Mak 03 CTS with 5 on the floor.