Test drive Cadillac STS 2004 - 2007 Sedan
I decide everything myself
Philosophers have long noticed: only a person without complexes is truly free. If, choosing a business class car, you are ready not to look back at the majority, then STS is for you. The most prestigious American brand, European technologies and ... Russian passport. Bandertleli, come closer! ..
The usual, of which there are thousands in Moscow, a building made of glass and concrete, nearly slim rows of elegant leoplets, mazds, chevrolet. It seems impossible to stand out against their background. But there is enough fleeting gaze to notice him. And no longer stop thinking about him ... After all, he was completely different and turned out to be likely accidentally.
Of course, someone loves his own elegant brunettes, someone lush blondes. And perhaps this car will seem too brutal for someone, and its design is unfinished, too far from the current washing and botanical trends. It seems to me a rare combination of severity, insolence and internal power. Even from afar, STS is more impressive than any of the cars standing nearby. Near this five -meter giant, hypnotizing an unusual appearance by vertical headlights, and even makes it freeze. But this is far from its most interesting side. Because under an amazing design, the body pierced by electronic nerves, a smart suspension, a powerful and very thinly designed engine, are hidden.
Everything is unusual in the car. To start with the fact that according to the passport this Cadillac is not at all from Michigan. He is one of the first to be collected in Kaliningrad. And running ahead, I’ll say that he gives out his Russian origin only with a sign with the automotive logo under the hood.
What is STS? When the Seville model debuted in May 1975, the Americans proudly called the smallest Cadillac the most richly equipped car on the planet. It was he who later received the world's first on -board computer. In the fall of 1988, when the third generation of the model was already produced, the Option of Seville-Turning Sedan or STS abbreviated. The European style, exclusive equipment and road manners of a real car for the driver presented his advertisement. The current STS, already the sixth Seville, appeared in the fall of 2004.
The first riddles And just ... Is it really impossible to come up with something more refined as a key to this treasure of extraordinary talents? Prostitsky, with an ordinary iron sting, is a completely earthly type of keychain.
But Cadillac recognized me in advance. The transmitter in a simple key chalk unlocked when my door approaches. So, where is the ignition lock? Well, yes, of course, the motor is launched by the button. I touch the button with a finger, and after a second the arrows came to life on the dashboard. Music began, earned climate control, and somewhere far ahead, under a long hood and a thick layer of soundproofing, the engine must have rumbled. You can hear it, only well, thousands to three and a half, increasing the momentum.
However, the Russian American does not intend to maintain a sense of enthusiastic adoration in me. Furning inside, I involuntarily notice the nuances that are not characteristic of most large and expensive cars. The finish is by no means as rich as you expect. The leather upholstery of the doors is so wrinkled, as if it had already been washed about twenty times, they are so accepted, you see, in Oklahom and Texas! And the natural tree on the front panel is very similar to polished plastic.
But most importantly, at first it seemed to me here unexpectedly ... crowded. Very thick, typically American backs of chairs, the ceiling presses, back due to a narrow part of the doorway in the lower part of the doorway is not at all as free as in any of the classmates. But the STS base is like a S-class. Where did something go?
Air in the cabin may really be less than in Camry or Maxim. But this does not mean that STS is not suitable for complete and high. With a slight touch to the buttons of electric drives, you can lower the pillow lower, move away the chair, adjust the steering wheel in two directions, slightly weaken the side support of the seat. Now, now another thing! The initially seemed cramped, in fact, the salon is simply tightly sewn, as they say, by the figure. For example, at the shoulders level of 1488 mm. Almost 3 cm is wider than the same Toyota. And the reason for the apparent tightness is a strongly protruding massive front panel and an impressive central tunnel.
A densely arranged interior of a tribute to the supporting structure, which American engineers called the Rama integrated into the body. The very idea itself was not new to Vincenzo Lyanch, more than 80 years ago, suggested something similar. In its American embodiment of the beginning of the 21st century, massive magnesium alloy amplifiers are hidden under the plastic of the front panel and the central tunnel, increasing the hardness of the body to twist. Only in this way can the car be endowed with excellent controllability. But can a real American road cruiser be a driver for a driver?
The motor cover looks like a flying saucer under a hood
Urgent doors made of expensive leather, but typically American performance looks like a three
Click on the button: the green halo lights up, and the engine comes to life
For $ 1450, you can order a bright interior decoration and even more chic ventilated front seats
The arrows look expensive, and the readings are read easily. But the on-board computer does not say Russian
The trunk is small and with a narrow opening. But a couple of large suitcases will still easily take away
Like in the movies Caddy's dynamics are really impressive. True, I’ll make a reservation right away, my STS was equipped with the most powerful engine. A moment, and a crazy jump forces to pull on almost all the muscles of the face. What are 7 seconds up to a hundred, it seems much less. Moreover, all this happens almost in complete silence, as if they scrolled a film with a ribbon of the road in front of his eyes, unless, of course, take into account the juicy, rather sonorous sound of the configured release. Changed phases of gas distribution, aluminum pistons with a high silicon content and polymer skirts, forged lightweight connecting rods and crankshaft, combustion chambers, creating a swirl of the fuel mixture ... Beautiful, is it? What, do you have all these technical subtleties before the lantern? Yes, they don’t need to delve into them, I assure you. It will be enough to say that the 325-horsepower V8 is gaining momentum almost with the same ease as the best BMW or Alfa Romeo engines are spinning.
I reached one hundred and forty, as if on one deep breath, and before the traffic light, thanks to wide tires and disk ventilated brakes, I hung on a belt on a much more sharp exhalation. Okay, damn it!
Only outside the city, in front of the familiar snake of turns, I involuntarily carefully carefully: the rain and steel chips were forced. But not for long. Even on the wet highway, where I recently admired the manageability of the new Passat, STS allowed to go 10 15 km/h faster than Volkswagen.
What's the secret? No, do not persuade, I still can’t resist. The highlight of active independent suspension shock absorbers filled with liquid with metal particles. Under the influence of a magnetic field and control of an on -board computer, they can instantly up to 1000 times per second! Change rigidity. The result is minimal rolls and the ability to maintain the stability of the trajectory at any speed. What, I already tired you again with an engineering um? I'm silent. Moreover, the STS chassis has a much more unexpected solution for Cadillac.
All -weather missile I myself could not believe it: a minimum slip and all the same powerful acceleration with the ESP system disconnected on wet asphalt. Why, our STS is an all -wheel drive! Outside, you can only find out about this by the modest dial 4 next to the letters of STS on the stern.
The silence in the salon at any speed was achieved not only by the quality of the transfer of transmission. Thick glass, a motor compartment, which at the factory is treated with sound -absorbing foam, a double bulkhead that separates the engine from the cabin, the layers of soundproofing the bottom and, upon returning to Moscow, only a slight feeling of perplexity: the usual path passed so soon.
And now, having driven plentifully along the winding paths near Moscow, you can portray a imposing trip home after a complete bustle of the day. More recently, a huge torque of the motor was enough to shoot at a speed of two hundred, with a leisurely driving, you rejoice that all these 459 Newtonometers are available almost with idle. The machine, if stroke the pedal, gives very smooth switching. And you can slowly roll in the stream.
By the way, how is it with tire pressure? What is the fuel consumption? The on -board computer will easily issue any information. In general, by the abundance of Sibarit electronics, Kaddy will give a head start to many. For example, you can order active cruise control, which itself maintains a distance to the in front of the coming car. Or a system that projects the readings of the devices on the windshield. In the set, all this costs $ 2750 much cheaper than that of Audi or BMW.
Only despite all its advantages, it will not be easy to achieve the popularity as A6, the Big Caddy will be not easy.
It all starts with V6
Already in the database, as befits a large prestigious sedan, STS is endowed with a rich set of equipment (ABS, ESP, 6 pillows, climate, cruise control, an abundance of electric drives, including front chairs and a steering column, a stereo system with a CD-changer for 6 discs and Much more) and a powerful 255-horsepower six with automatic transmission. Such a car costs $ 65 900, develops 100 km/h for 7.2 and does not graze at speeds under two hundred. Cars with a 4.6-liter V8 by $ 9,000 more expensive. The rear self-locking differential (for more efficient acceleration), adaptive suspension and 18-inch disks made of light alloy are required for them. For an additional $ 2300, you can order all -wheel drive.
They, Gagars, are inaccessible ... Because in Russia a business class car, if it does not have a German passport or not cheap, like Kamri or Maxim, is destined to be a choice of few originals. Buyers of chic sedans as Jaguar-S, Peugeot 607 or Chrysler-300C, the vast majority of fans of the Japanese impeccable consumer goods and German snobbery still do not understand.
But there is something to offer a well -well -being and free people from dogmas. Because STS is a unique style, a rare combination of all-wheel drive and a very powerful motor, an abundance of electronics and by no means a sky-high price of $ 77,200. E500-4matic and A6-4.2-Kvattro by more than twenty thousand more expensive. Mired in the complexes, please do not worry.
PER
Tygulated V8, good handling, excellent sound insulation, generous equipment
AGAINST
Unknown by the standards of the class, landing on the sofa, a visually rustic interior decoration, high fuel consumption
Cadillac STS 4.6 AWD (3.6)
common data
Body, number of places/doors
Sedan, 5/4
Equipped mass, kg
1919 (1750)
Length x width x height, mm
4985x1845x1465
Base, mm
2955
Trunk volume, l
391
Speed, km/h
250 (229)
Acceleration time 0100 km/h, with
7 (7.2)
Fuel tank capacity, l
66
Fuel consumption, l/100 km (highway/city)
12.3/19.9 (9.4/17.7)
Engine
Working volume, SMZ
4565 (3564)
Power, L.S. at rpm
325/6400 (257/6500)
Torque, kgsm at rpm
46.8/4400 (34.8/3200)
Chassis
Drive unit
constant full (on the rear wheels)
Transmission
5-st. Automatic
Suspension:
independent, spring, with stabilizers
front
on transverse parallel levers
behind
Mollycent
Steering
rack type with amplifier
Brakes
disk, ventilated
Tires
255/45 ZR18
(front 235/50 R17, behind 255/45 R17)
Alexey Sergeev, photo of Maxim Goncharov
Source: Magazine buy a car [17/2005]
