Test drive Cadillac STS 2004 - 2007 Sedan

New Cadillac STS - feel like an astronaut

Everyone knows that under Cadillac it produces luxurious cars. However, many still, at the mention of this brand, recall only a pink car that Elvis Presley gave his mother. And in principle, this is all that we know about Caddy. Yes, and dealers themselves recognize the Cadillac brand is still known in Russia too badly. At least in order to consider it as a competitor Audi, BMW, Mercedes or the same Lexus. I wonder if it will be possible to change this situation in the new large Cadillac STS sedan? So far, there is no answer to this question yet, but we will see what this American is capable of.

One of the advantages that the Cadillac brand is practically not promoted in Russia (although the launching pad for this simply excellent Elvis tried) is that the STS owner will not look on the road, like another businessman bought himself a standard and, by and large, Already boring Mercedes (in fact, this company makes excellent cars that deserve all sorts of praise, but, you see, Meros is now on the road, well, a lot).

Speaking of competitors. From representatives of the General Motors concern, which owns the Cadillac brand, you can sometimes hear that STS is competing with cars such as Audi A8, BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-class. It seems that this statement is too bold. Like it or not, but STS has not yet reached these models. Moreover, in almost all parameters. For example, the STS is closely at the back. Of course, you can’t rest on the backs of the front seats there, but it will not work to sit freely, throwing your foot on your foot. Therefore, it would be more correct to say that STS is still competing with Mercedes E-class, the five BMW and Audi A6. Although the STS dimensions are more than the above cars.

Feel like an astronaut
To not speak there, and the Cadillac STS design is not bad. The car looks serious and impressive. It feels aggression in it, this car does not dissolve the snot and does not try to be like someone. And it's okay that such an expressive design may not be liked by everyone.

The insides of the car are decorated in Americanly gorgeous. But it is in the American, whatever one may say, and cars such as Audi A6 or there BMW 5-series are made somewhat better and, or something, more thoroughly. For example, a little embarrasses not the most expensive plastic, which is used in full swing for STS decoration. And the design of the salon itself is made without any interesting chips. The basic equipment of Cadillac STS, especially with a V8 V8 engine, includes a lot of things, and the list of options turns out to be the joy of the buyer just tiny, cool skin Tuscany, hatch, heating the rear seats, a full-wheel drive system and cruise control.

And one advice can be abandoned from all the above options, but do not deprive yourself of a cruise control! And not because it is terribly useful (in fact, this is a controversial issue). It is just that this thing will force your friends and business colleagues, who, for sure, are not going on the very last buckets, say ah and a fig to themselves. After all, Cruise Control on STS is a whole system that is able to maintain a distance to ahead of the car. And the most important thing in this case on the windshield of the car will be projected indications of the speedometer, the speed turned on, the rotation signal and other things! Believe me, this thing looks really cool and if a person is ready to pay $ 74.9 thousand per STS with a 4.6 -liter engine. with a capacity of 320 hp, then having given $ 2750 for such a toy he will definitely not go bankrupt. And he will receive a lot of pleasure, entertaining her his comrades. In addition, the system for projecting data on the windshield makes the machine a truly cool, but in the STS salon without this bump is somehow not enough sensation of a very expensive car. Everything is solid, high quality, but without the necessary chic in such cases.

Need to think
But on the Cadillac STS road, it is more reminiscent of European cars. Its suspension is no longer so clearly tuned towards comfort, although the fans of American cars in Russia may not like this change. Whatever it was, but STS on a more or less even road proved to be a collected and whole car that behaves well even in quick turns (electronic shock absorbers are used in the STS suspension, but this Cadillac did not surprise something like that on many machines of such class). Not the ideal, of course, but for an American is just fine.

Yes, and praise the 8-cylinder engine also does not interfere. Still, he gives out 320 hp. And it allows the king to feel on the road his power is enough to perform absolutely any maneuvers and at absolutely any reasonable speed. Perhaps the engine is the most important advantage of this car. With him, Cadillac STS costs $ 74.9 thousand and if you compare STS with cars such as BMW 545i (333 hp) or with Audi A6 4.2 (335 hp), it turns out that the same five stands in Russia $ 105 thousand yes, without a doubt, the BMW 5-series is better than Cadillac STS, but the difference is $ 30 thousand. This is still the amount.

But does this mean that STS is the best offer in its class (for sure, this is how the manager at Cadillac car dealership will say). The question is more than controversial. After all, if you compare STS with sophisticated BMW 5-series or Mercedes E-class, then the price of the caddy will really be attractive. However, look at the cars a little easier. The same Audi A6 4.2 with all -wheel drive costs about $ 90 thousand in the store. And the difference is $ 15 thousand. When talking about such steep cars, it does not look very significant. Or take, for example, the new Lexus GS430 (283 hp). This car in a very rich configuration costs about $ 82 thousand. So if I had $ 80 thousand in my pocket. (Something I dreamed in earnest), then in this case I would have to think tightly what to take. Let the engine of the same Lexus and smaller than Cadillac, but the Lexus brand has a well -untwisted brand (in Russia it is appreciated at least no worse than Cadillac), as well as a well -known quality. And you can also dream about Audi A6
 

Source: Auto.mail.ru