[Shotimes] OT: Cadillac CTS

Mon, 1 Aug 2005 17:43:59 GMT

I just drove the new 3-series Friday.  Did it in the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience thing going around the country.  Autocross type comparo with a 330i, an Audi A4 3.2 Quattro, and an Infinity G35.  All with automatics.  Al had the same Bridgestone Run Flat tires.  Hated all the automatics.  G35 was great in a strait line, couldn't turn a corner to save its fenders.  Suspension was way too soft. Audi felt pretty good, steering wasn't really quick enough for the autocross(that was part of the "sales pitch").  Tranny was slow to react in manual mode.  I needed more time to get used to the AWD.  330i was a quick little beast.  Active Steer seemed to actually work.  Supossedly much improved over the previous versions.  They wouldn't let us run with the Stability control completely turned off.  Between that and the auto tranny I spent a good amount of time waiting for the car to start accelerating when I tried to hang out the back end coming around the corner.  The instructors gave us a quick ride around the track when our time was over.  They had much more practice, and I noticed the SC was completely turned off.  I call that cheating.  I remember that the next time...

Kerby

-- "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net> wrote:
I believe that all of the standard 5-series BMWs have the steering control.
M cars don't. Don't remember from the tests if it can be modified. I thought
it could.

Sure, many ways to tweak things. Also, driving technique becomes a part of
it. In trying to "unlearn" my FWD driving techniques at Putnam Park, the LGT
seemed to understeer. As I got the hang of AWD, it became very neutral, and
the tail-end tracked nicely. Looking at the relatively even wear on my
left-side tires (lotsa right turns at Putnam!!) confirmed it.

Also, what works/doesn't work on a low-speed parking lot course is not
necessarily what works on higher-speed sweepers. I suspect the BMW will feel
much better out on the Autobahn.

When I did the new C5 comparison test (in the parking lot of Churchill Downs
back in '98.....a 1/2-mile and 1-mile courses were laid out), they let us
drive them as we chose. Only thing they didn't have was a manual-tranny car.
Looks like they've gotten soft over the last few years!

Ron Porter

-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Bob
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 12:24 PM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] OT: Cadillac CTS

I don't know if it had active steering.  Is there a button to disable it?  I
may go to one of these again.  I was trying to think of ways that GM may
have stacked the deck.  Unfortunately, I came up with many easy ways like
tires, pressure, dirty air filters, etc.

The Corvette was being driven in valet mode, so I was very disappointed with
GM for wasting my time.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul L Fisher
> Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 7:11 AM
>
> Did it (the BMW) have the 'active steering'? I hear it is an
> acquired taste.
>
>
> Paul L Fisher
>
> Visit my website: http://www.paul-fisher.com
> SHOClub Member: http://www.shoclub.com
> Amsoil dealer: http://www.paul-fisher.com/oil
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of Bob
> Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 3:49 PM
> To: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: [Shotimes] OT: Cadillac CTS
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ian Fisher
> > Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 12:44 PM
> >
> > ... I had low expectations and felt that the BMW was going to be the car
> that won
> > my heart for the day. Wow, I was wrong.
>
> I drove the same combo at a GM Ride and Drive event and had similar
> expectations going in.
>
> > The CTS went wherever I pointed it.
>
> And that was the thing I remembered when I walked away from it.  The BMW
> pushed to the point where I was scrubbing the fronts and steering with the
> rear end of the car (yes, they did get a bit huffy about my driving).  The
> CTS just turned in and wanted more.
>
> The other failing of the BMW was the steering feel.  That's what BMWs are
> supposed to be about, and these new BMWs are just sucking the life out of
> the car through the steering wheel.  It's sad.  The CTS wins hands down.
>
> > The traction system even lets the back step out a bit before it jumps in
> and straightens everything out.
>
> That was a surprise too.  It worked fairly well.
>
> 	-- Bob
> 	'94 ATX
> 	'89 MTX
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