Drew Dowdell

I'm not sure what an electric parking brake is, but I assume they would use a hand brake because it's cheap. On GM's upper models like the Lacrosse and CTS, instead of a hand or foot parking brake, there is a toggle switch on the center console that will set the rear brakes electronically. It's rather convenient AND space saving.

NHV = Noise, Harshness, Vibration

I like my men like I like my coffee: ground up and in the freezer.

The oil change on our CR-V is frustratingly difficult and messy, so it's probably wise of you to leave that to the shop. Don't try and do your own fan belt change either, you need a special wrench and it is likely equally frustrating on the Civic if not more so than the CR-V

You're not doing too bad on that Corolla. 4 years in the North east and I would have thought it would be a pile of dust right now.

I'm not sure if you realize that you are agreeing with me.... My point is that very few of the A6es in the EU are equipped like people on here think they are. Cadillac is making a mistake by not offering a diesel in the CTS as a low road base model. However, when you start getting into Audi's equipped like SMK and Croc seem to think is prevalent in the EU (~300hp V6, AWD, 19speed automatic, high end leather, every electronic gizmo ever), all of those taxes even out with Cadillac, yet the price of the Audi/MB/BMW skyrockets. It is Cadillac's fault for not offering stripped down models and 2 liter diesels. They could at least undercut the competition if they did. They are undercutting Audi on a feature for feature comparison, but only on cars with equipment that few in the EU buy anyway. While I wouldn't take an Impala LTZ over an A6 FWD 2.0 TDI, I would certainly take a nicely equipped Lacrosse with a Euro tune to it's suspension. The difference in NHV alone would be worth it.

Remember guys, there are a bunch of new engines slated to arrive from GM in the next 8 to 18 months. Revised 4-cylinder turbos, revised 3.0 and 3.6 liter V6es - some with turbos, a new 2.5 liter, more eAssist. We've already heard a rumor that the Enclave is going to go down to a 3.0 litre..... so I'm sure some changes are in store.

Denali has always been the Lux GMC, less to do with performance (over a standard GMC) and more to do with amenities.

Exactly, which is why nothing but an all-out, guns-blazing attempt would have even a remote possibility of resonating. Some lame half-hearted attempt with a rebadged flagship Buick has no business being brought to term--abort that $h!. waste of money.

The point that I've been trying to make and has apparently been lost is this: To the Europeans, the country of origin of the badge is far more important than which wheels drive the car, Ford being the notable exception to that rule only because they have a strong R&D and manufacturing base there.

The Citroen C6 is a cushy 235hp V6 FWD car that handles like a whale (because that's it's heritage) that bases where the 300hp CTS AWD 3.6 does.

Those Audis are world-class vehicles far more advanced than any glorified 9-5 or LaCrosse. Audi may offer a FWD A6, but it's aluminum intensive, drives damn well in spite of its drive wheels, and shares nothing with a cheaper VW. The A6 I had 8 months ago was nothing special at all. Even the current Lacrosse could compete with a typically equipped A6 in actual highway performance and the Lacrosse gives up nothing to the A6 in terms of interior comfort. Yet again I'm accused of Kool-Aid pissing, but how many here can actually say they've spend time in a typical car in this class in Germany on the AutoBahn.... not the A6 that is an S6 in all but engine.... but the much more typical silver Chevrolet Impala equivalent they actually drive over there. Many of you seem to have this really glorified idea of what the automotive experience in the EU is. It is NOT all loaded 5-series/A6/E-classes with V8s. It is much more frequently 2 liter diesels, cloth seats, and in the case of my A6, no CD player. We don't know XTS pricing in the U.S. much less the EU... but consider this. The lowest price A6 that isn't a 2.0 diesel with 6-speed is 42,050€.... or about $60,000. That gets you a FWD, 200hp V6 gasser with such amenities as: 16" wheels Your choice of Gray or Black cloth interior No Bluetooth No CD No Sat Radio No USB No Sunroof Now, I'm not saying the Germans will buy an XTS, because they are rather stubborn about brands.... but... and I'm going out on a limb here, Cadillac could easily provide a car with more amenities, more power, and more comfort for $60,000.... seeing as they already do that with the Lacrosse. Let's compare price with something more akin to what the XTS would ship with: Audi A6, 3.0 V6 Quattro 295hp 18" Wheels Basic leather interior Acoustic blocking glass (a 1900€ option) Adaptive headlights We'll leave off the sunroof Wood trim interior (a 470€ option) Automatic multi-zone climate control (a 650€ option) Heated and cooled seats Bluetooth USB and you come out to a total of 67,090€ or $94,751, you think Cadillac cannot provide an AWD XTS for less than that? Now... again, the Germans still won't buy the Cadillac equally equipped, and here is where I illustrate that: The CTS 3.6 AWD and all of that equipment; currently priced at 55,000€ The Germans are known for being frugal.... but their love of home team brands trumps that.

Does the A8 not belong in the European market? The A7? The A4? How about the Citroen C6?

Caught Naked: 2012 GMC Terrain Denali SPIED: 2012 GMC Terrain Denali

SPIED: '12 GMC Terrain Denali - NO Camo! It looks like GM was hoping to hide this 2012 Terrain Denali in plain view today, roaming around Detroit with NO camouflage at all! Once the engineer behind the wheels saw our camera, however, he made a quick get-away! Up front, it's very easy to see the Denali-style grille. Though we're pretty sure that grille will be chrome once this vehicle starts production. In back, we can see a new square, chrome exhaust tip. Along the rocker panels, we can see exposed fastener holes where we assume some Denali-specific trim will eventually be installed. Bright finish, Denali wheels should also on the list. Photo Credit: Chris Doane/Brenda Priddy & Company

If the instructions from Ford say 258 ft-lb, then that's what you should do. I found that when Ford calls for specific torque, they mean that specific torque... no more, no less.

Last day with this monster. Any final requests?

I can't imagine anything that might have swayed your mind recently....

Are you watching TopGear?!? There is NO love for Opel or Vauxhaul with the exception of "Oliver" and Holden rebadges. Only the OPC seems to be getting true Opel respect... and thats a very recent development. Agreed. Clarkson's writers already have a book and a half XTS jokes written. I'm not saying that top gear respects Opel. I'm saying that there is an under lying respect for the Omega, not Opels in general, in the EU.

Cadillac needs to make their lineup in the US so good (including diesels) that Jeremy Clarkson is blasting them on Top Gear for not selling them in the EU.

Worldwide, you mean. We haven't seen one here since 2000, I think. I was referring to the EU. I don't know about the case in the rest of the world

I think you missed my point. Why send the ATS or CTS? The Euros won't by those either. No, I got your point (even the unspoken part about diesels). My point is that the CTS and the ATS (I'm confident), are legitimate competitors. The XTS is not. Even with diesels, they won't sell. As I've said before, the cars could be powered by Jesus on a pogo stick and the Cadillacs will. not. sell. Everyone here needs to remember, the current CTS actually did go on sale in the EU prior to GM's bankruptcy. It went over like burnt schnitzel. The Euros are substantially more brand conscious and unthinkably more brand-country-of-origin conscious than we are in the US. It's why the Opel Antara would sell but the Chevy Captiva doesn't. Just a quick glance on some German used car websites and I'm finding undamaged 2008 CTS 3.6 liters with 20,000 miles for 10,000€ while 335is with more miles start around 17,500€ GM would actually probably be better off badging them as some sort of luxury Opel rather than Cadillac. There is an unusual amount of respect for the Omega over there. The ATS could be the new Omega.