New 2008 Cadillac CTS
Posted by bensto in Cadillac on 02 21st, 2008
Original Cadillac’s CTS luxury sport sedan debuted in 2003 with bold “art and science” styling and sporty chassis tuning, it heralded a new direction for America’s traditional luxury brand leader. While well-rounded and an acceptable performer, the CTS never fully lived up to its guarantee of matching the top import nameplates in this class. Additionally, the CTS’s plasticky and unrefined cabin furnishings fell far short of the level of luxury and quality exhibited by class standouts like the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series.
With the debut of the extensively reworked 2008 Cadillac CTS, virtually all of the first generation’s faults have been addressed. Overall body dimensions are similar to the original CTS, but there are an additional 2 inches of track width to give the sedan a more powerful stance. This impression of substance is highlighted by aggressively styled fender flares and a new grille that takes cues from the Cadillac Sixteen concept car.
Inside, the entry-level Cadillac’s cabin is constructed of higher-quality materials. Buyers have a choice of attractive carbon-fiber or real wood accents, and these frame an aluminum-trimmed center stack and console. Bright metallic accents also stylishly adorn the gauges, primary controls and dash vents. Backseat passengers enjoy more than an inch of additional rear legroom, thanks to slimmer front seats.
If the passengers in the 2008 Cadillac CTS are happier, the driver will border on giddy, owing to the extensively retuned suspension and new powertrains. Cadillac chassis engineers spent a great deal of development time on Germany’s famed Nürburgring road course, and it shows on even the well-controlled standard setup. Two additional sport suspension choices further dial up the fun.
While the base 258-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 is carryover, Cadillac also offers a high-output version of that engine for the new CTS. Both CTS engines are available with a six-speed manual transmission or a new six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is also a new option with the base engine this year as well.
While it might not qualify for “Standard of the World” status just yet, the Cadillac CTS has evolved into a much more capable car all the way around and can now more than hold its own against entry-level luxury sport sedan rivals from Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz in terms of both luxury appeal and driving prowess. Before you decide on any of these competitors, this heavily reworked sport sedan from America is worth a test-drive.
read comments (0)2008 Audi A3 Overview
Posted by bensto in Audi on 02 21st, 2008
The 2008 Audi A3 is solid hatchback wagon, a little smaller than its pricier sibling, the A3 is now Audi’s least luxurious car. Even though it has been on sale in Europe since 1996, U.S. buyers didn’t get a split at it until the second-generation A3 arrived here for the 2006 model year. This delay has been attributed to Americans’ general dislike for hatchbacks and wagons, but with gas prices and environmental attentiveness rising, Audi gambled that its versatile luxury hatchback could win a few converts.
The 2008 Audi A3 is a bit of an enigma. In terms of body style and base price, one could cross-shop it against performance hatchbacks and wagons like the Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 or Subaru WRX. At the same time, the A3’s Audi badge puts it into consideration with other entry-level luxury cars, and only the Volvo V50 and Saab 9-3 SportCombi come close to being direct competitors.
Therefore, the 2008 Audi A3 should be considered an alternative to both segments, but realistically, only those luxury buyers who can live with its highly compact hatchback layout will find it truly appealing. If you’re one of those people, and you can steer clear of the A3’s pricey options list, the base A3 2.0T is a pretty good bargain considering its lively performance and handling and high-quality interior. The 3.2 Quattro is a different matter, as its additional standard feature content causes it to start 8 grand north of the 2.0T. In that price territory, we can think of a lot of other entry-level cars — BMW 328i, Infiniti G35 or Audi’s own A4 2.0T — that would be more satisfying to own.
