Things were much simpler back in the 80’s. Back then cars used to fit into categories tailor made to their individual characteristics and the words “crossover vehicle” and “suv” were nonexistent.
Sports cars were sports cars. And the only people who drove around in pickup trucks were big burly men wearing construction helmets not house wives doing the daily school run.
Back then German cars were made in Germany. American cars were made in America and Korean cars were made out of wood, sticks and mud behind someone’s farm in Seoul.
Yes, those were the days but that’s all changed now...
Today, some BMW's and Mercedes-Benz are made in the U.S. and this complicates a whole lot of things...
MB’s merge with Daimler Chrysler also gave us, for the first time, cheap interiors and a questionable build quality.
American car makers on the other hand, have clued in to the rest of the world about the importance of cornering and are designing cars that can actually take a turn without rolling over and killing people.
This brings me to the brand new Cadillac STS. Those who drove the previous generation STS know how atrocious it was when turning since you had to pray hard during those emergency “Oh God, please save me!” moments when approaching a bend.
Compared to the BM’s, Benz’s and Audi’s, the old Cadillac STS was kicked to the side and beaten up by those three big Germans boys.
But much like the times, things are changing again...
Cadillacs are as much for rappers today as they are for retired orthodontists, so the new STS can't be the slouch it once was.
Instead, this new Caddy beams through corners and allows you to control the amount of back-end you want to let lose. But I’m getting ahead of myself here, let’s start with those looks first.
Unlike most people who’ve said it looks way too much like the smaller CTS, which I admit it does, I’ve tried to take a different approach and appreciate all the subtle nuances that differentiate it from its younger brother and more importantly, from its direct competition.
The STS’s look can be summed up as a collaboration between Europe, Japan and the popular “gangsta” look of today. Resulting in an absence of a distinct American feel, its chrome grill and sharp angles around the headlights add to create a menacing feel which spans the front end.
Although it closely resembles its younger brother the CTS there are some differences
Notice how much bigger and more refined the STS is, and how the lines look better too.
Its look inspires aggressiveness and elegance, while the competition have gone back to softer lines and offer more discreet styling cues. Except of course the BMW 5-series, which looks like Michael Schumacher's jaw; big, square & ugly.
The Caddie’s clean lines logically extend from the front of the car to the rear where we come to a disappointing part of this beautiful machine... as mentioned above, its resemblance to the lower CTS.
This however did not stop my neighbor from asking me whether I had gone out looking for girls in the car, after saying no I hadn’t, he replied “You should, ‘cause you’ll get them.”
Inside it feels less and less like an American car should - no, not like cheap plastics... The seats hug and support you and instead of vast space you feel snug and fitted in the cockpit. Taller drivers beware as our 6’4’ editor felt the head room reach its limit of comfort where front leg room was lacking.
Step into the rear and find more evidence American cars are changing their stripes as rear legroom is woeful. Exhaustive scientific testing has led us to conclude only leprechauns, small children and gnomes can comfortably fit back there.
You may however use it like I did and invite your mother-in-law to sit behind on a 4 hour ride from Montreal to Quebec City.
By the time we got there her chronic back pain lead her straight to her hotel room to lie down leaving my wife and I ample time to stroll about town and enjoy a fantasticly romantic dinner.
A beautiful piece of engineering; and the bridge looks good too...
This is a sexy, stylish car.
While driving, the steering wheel feels firm and just right. Usually, I like to have one hand on the wheel and the other on my significant other’s lap but in the Cadillac STS I wanted both on the wheel.
A slightly disappointing driver menu with radio interface displaying an orange and black pattern gave the car a somewhat cheap look. It reminded me of old cellphones before the use of color screens. But then again, you'll find this popular color scheme on most of the dials and switches on cars you buy.
An area where a vast improvement was made is in the interior fit-and-finish of the vehicle. The optional eucalyptus wood trim is beautiful and received praise from all those who saw it but the overall feel of most buttons and switchgear received only a slight nod and was thought to be under-par compared to the competition.
So while they still have a long way to go, they’ve made leaps and bounds to bring up the quality and standard inside the car.
America has hoped on board the 21st century, look it even knows how to greet the French
A first for American cars.
In the 60s and 70s when people used to race for “pinks” they went from start to finish on a long straight road.
In Europe however, this type of racing was considered juvenile since it did not require much skill to hold the car in a straight line and put your foot down.
As a result most American cars could not corner as well as those East of the Atlantic. That is, until today...
A beautifully crafted interior with not as much room as you would expect.
The STS is actually more competent at cornering than I imagined. It surprised me at how well it turns and how good the chassis feels. Eventhough most STS drivers are older than rock and stone and will never expose the car to its full limits, it’s great to know you can work wonders in this vehicle.
On normal roads it goes over bumps hard as the suspension feels more sporty than comfortable. We could only wish for a manual adjustment but alas it only has one setting.
One feature we liked was the “Sport” mode which transforms the car’s nature and changes it to a LeMans contender. Gear shifts are faster, it accelerates harder and feels more alive. I found myself switching over to “sD” - whenever safety permitted and, of course, a few times when it didn’t.
The Bottom Lines,
American cars used to have two major problems...
- They couldn’t corner.
- The interior was so woeful it made you appreciate the fit-and-finish of public toilets.
But the STS has solved one problem and can corner up there with the Audi’s and Merc’s. As for the inside, it feels more solid, better built and more manly but ultimately, still a little cheap.
As for the overall impression, this is a car that really grows on you. I found it so easy to use everyday on those daily trips we make to work, the shop or your local hardware store that I admire all future owners for the great experiences with this car. Plus, this is by far the easiest American car to park in those narrow and tight spots downtown.
The V6 we tested had plenty of power and is perfect to use day-to-day with the ever-rising price of gas. But if you want to enjoy the car a little more and add to its already dynamic personality get the V8.
Either way, this is a great Cadillac that stirs in me feelings of nostalgia whenever I see one drive by.
Next page: DS
