Test drive Cadillac STS 2004 - 2007 Sedan
The road of dreams
Cadillac is not just the name of the luxury brand GM. This is one of the historical names of the American dream; And she has become different today. We came to such conclusions, impressed by a trip to Cadillac STS: a car that has a lot of differences from classmates.There were cadillacs from the time of Elvis, Cold War or Clinton prosperity. And all of them now seem to us a reflection of their eras. Cadillac STS, which came to our test, was brought up on the religion of Millennium and Matrix. Now time has already gone ahead, but it is unlikely that our descendants will be able to feel the difference in the aroma of the 2003 or 2005 equally distant for them. And Cadillac STS will be a good evidence of our time.
Sports and high technologies, the laconicism of futuristic digital design and all -wheel drive: it is high time to change its ideas in relation to large American cars. No, an elegant (after 1959, or so, year) car under the brand of Cadillac, whether to present whether it was presented to the public. STS - just monumental!
In order to start the engine, the presence of the key in the cab is enough, and with the pressing of the starter button, the large V8 starts to slowly skip somewhere under the hood. The dashboard is solved in fashionable optitronic design. The digitization of the speedometer scale in km/h attracted attention. Cadillac puts on its cars a mile-mile kilometer switch. In this case, one digital scale is used: if you switch on the go, the arrow will simply change its position.
Most of the service functions of the car, such as the use of the memory of the seats, configuration of the salon or mirrors when turning off the ignition, etc., are programmed manually at the discretion of the driver. It's great when the car can be completely configured for yourself.
The interior of our machine is the exact opposite of appearance. White leather salon is human and cozy. The driver's seat has a huge amount of electrical controls, but my back is unambiguously hints that there are also more successful from the point of view of the ergonomics of the chair. It would be possible to strruck in Europeanly that the de plastic of the interior of the interior could not be so oak, and the plastic is not so wooden, but, since I was completely confused in Epa aunt, I will not do this.
It is impossible to ignore the impeccable operation of service automatic functions: the climatic installation instantly includes the recirculation mode, it is worthwhile to appear a bad -smelling car in front, and it turns off just as quickly when the projection of the fragrance source moves from the windshield into the mirror. The rain sensor on STS turns on the brushes exactly when the driver wants to wipe the glass, and not when it needs to be done according to the sensor. Feel the difference?
Further - only about the serious. High speeds. This American has been created for them. We are talking about truly large speeds: over 220 kilometers per hour. Until honest 250 km/h (265 along the speedometer), the car remains in reliable contact with the expensive, stable and well -controlled. Tangible aerodynamic noises occur only at the turn of 170 km/h, and while you are gaining them, the speed is practically not felt, and the lung management is so much so that it reminds of the best representative sedans of the world: a long road behind the wheel of STS is pleasure.
Our machine is driven by a V8 engine with a working volume of 4.6 liters and a capacity of 320 horsepower. The engine is equipped with a system for changing gas distribution phases and makes a great impression that is contrary to the traditional ideas about Muscle Car. Everything is not so: both the capacity of power and the distribution of the moment, by how willingly the engine works at high speeds, and even by sound, we are dealing with a high -tech modern motor. His voice is an aggressive technogenic bapto, like BMW or Honda.
These abilities are being implemented through an all -wheel drive transmission, which sends 60% of the moment to the back of the axis. KP automatic, five -speed. This is a pleasant machine in European traditions: with a clear short moment of touching, quick switching at the right moment and an honest manual regime.
Dynamic ride on STS is a pleasant and safe activity: informative steering and good cinematics of suspension with moderate suppleness of silent blocks provide a clear and unambiguous reactions to the machine. In most road situations, STS gravitates to insufficient rotation. Remaining within reasonable boundaries with an increase in the pace of movement along winding roads, the car holds well as well as and carries itself along the selected trajectory with a calm elephant. A road trifle under the weight swallows without chewing, and only long waves of asphalt can put it on limiters. By the way, in the rear suspension STS, shock absorbers automatically adapting to the road are used. To do this, do not manipulate valves, but a change in the characteristics of the fluidity of the working fluid when it enters the magnetic field, the parameters of which are controlled by the computer.
Riding at the limit is possible, but the whole creature of the car protests against such a use: hitherto transparent reactions of the car become blurry, and the information content of the governing bodies is rapidly falling. You will not receive pleasure in this way. Here we are again at the gas station: for the third time during the test. In its familiarity of handling Cadillac STS gasoline - purebred Yankees: it absorbs fuel without the slightest twinge of conscience. And not only when the pedal is on the floor.
If you do not know anything about this machine and try to determine its nationality while driving, you can come to a dead end. This is not a European, not a Japanese and not an American we are used to. OP RE dividing the impact of some of the car crops is not possible to isolate. Maybe before us is the embodiment of the views of the Americans on what an expensive American sedan should be today? STS in from vet for this question is original, but not alone.
+ Original design, excellent running properties on the highway, a rich set of options, a good setting of service systems.
- High fuel consumption, a small glove box.
Technical characteristics of Cadillac STS
Equipped mass, kg - 1919
Dimensions, mm:
- length - 4986
- Width - 1844
- Height - 1463
Base, mm - 2956
Control consumption of fuel, l/ 100km:
- City cycle - 14.7
- Zagorod - 10.2
- mixed - 11.2
Engine:
- Type - Benz., V8 Dohc, 32 -valve.
- working volume, cm3 - 4565
- Power, L.S. at MIN -1 - 320/6400
- torque, NM at min -1 - 459/4400
Transmission - automatic., 5 -speed
Wheel suspension: - independent;
- front - two -winged
- rear - multi -link
Brakes (front and rear) - disk, ventilated
Price, $ - 77 200
Text: Dmitry Sokolov
Source: Magazine 5 wheel [10/2005]
