Follow-Up Test: 2000 Cadillac STS2000 Cadillac STS
Gettin' Closer
By Karl Brauer
Date Posted 01-01-1999
Cadillac is close. Really close. In fact, if I were the head of Lexus, BMW and Mercedes, I'd be getting nervous about now.
Many people might argue that Cadillac has always been a player in the high-end luxury market. But the truth is that, without American-buyer loyalty and GM's financial backing on its side, Cadillac would have been in serious trouble during the latter part of the 20th century. And even with those factors in its corner, Cadillac has given up substantial market share to European and Asian luxury cars in the last 10 years. The final blow came when it slipped behind its longtime domestic rival, Lincoln, for total sales in 1999.
But the 2000 Seville STS, like the 1998 and 1999 models before it, gives further notice that GM's top luxury brand is mad as hell about slipping market share, and it is not gonna take it anymore. Although it's still the same basic car since the last redesign in 1998, the current model boasts a commendable list of upgrades. The legendary Northstar 4.6-liter V8 engine, for instance, has been redesigned to provide even smoother operation while no longer requiring premium fuel (a real bonus with today's volatile gasoline prices). Cadillac's StabiliTrak and Continuously Variable Road-Sensing Suspension (CRVSS) have both been tweaked for improved performance, and the already-impressive STS gadget list has been enhanced with Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist and an on-board navigation system as options.
The test vehicle we were given for a week had both of these options, along with the Adaptive Seat Package, chrome wheels with 16-inch Goodyear Eagle tires, a sunroof, interior wood trim, a six-disc CD changer, and Crimson Pearl exterior paint. It was basically about as loaded as a Seville STS can be, and the eye-opening $57,000 price tag reflects this. Even more stunning, however, was our reaction after spending a week with the car. We think it's one of the better deals in the luxury sedan market.
Let's start with the obvious question: Can GM build a near-$60,000 car that honestly appears to be worth that kind of money? In the case of our test vehicle, the answer is a near unqualified yes. Beginning outside with the Crimson Red pearl paint that had a deep and brilliant luster, and continuing inside with the supple leather, rich wood, and electro-luminescent gauges, this was a first rate luxury ride that had us crooning poetically about Cadillac's "Standard of the World" tagline. Closer inspection of the vehicle turned up no body panel gap inconsistencies, peeling insulation or mismatched interior pieces. Hmm, looks like we may have to recalibrate our thinking on GM build quality - at lease in terms of Cadillac's top performance sedan.
The STS' drivetrain, for starters, is one of the best we've ever experienced. Now we're not saying it's one of the best for a GM car or even one of the best for a luxury sedan. No, this is one of the sweetest engine and transmission combinations on the planet. The 4.6-liter V8 is quiet under normal conditions but has a tremendously addictive growl when the accelerator meets the plush carpet. Also addictive is the responsive transmission that never hesitated to drop into a lower gear and then throw the engine up to 6,000 rpm, where the horsepower and torque are at their strongest.
Probably the most enjoyable aspect of this car is how it can be whatever you want it to be. Looking for a quiet Sunday drive in a vehicle that keeps the outside world outside while you relax to the sounds of Bach from a first-class stereo? The Seville's sound system is one of the best we've ever experienced. Multiple sound-processing modes and Dolby technology had us checking our surroundings to see if we'd somehow gone through a space-time warp and landed center stage at the Hollywood Bowl. "Wow" was written down by more than one editor when referring to the STS' stereo.
But if your tastes run more toward the performance end of the spectrum, the STS can handle this, too. The aforementioned drivetrain, combined with the capable suspension, gave our editors plenty of entertainment through fast sweepers and even tight switchbacks. While initial body roll is evident, once the suspension takes a set it remains solid and confident, even when encountering mid-corner bumps. Our primary complaint regarding the STS's handling characteristics is that, for a vehicle with this level of body roll, we feel it is slightly lacking in bump absorption. Certainly we expect a car like this to lean in tight corners, but we also expect it to quell L.A.'s freeway expansion joints at 75 mph.
Also worth noting is the Magnasteer "variable assist" power steering found on the STS (and most other high-end GM cars). This system is supposed to provide extra steering boost in parking lots while offering improved steering "feel" at higher speeds. We found that the system worked as
advertised.
Rumors suggest that the Seville will be getting rear-wheel drive in the near future. We think that's good simply because the competition already has it. At the same time, we feel the current STS is a serious contender in the luxury sedan market that should not be overlooked simply because the "wrong" wheels are pulling it around. For some buyers, such as those living in cold weather states, front-wheel drive might even be a plus. And all luxury sedan buyers owe it to themselves to at least experience the latest Northstar engine.
Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes watch out.