Cadillac v. Lincoln: Does It Matter?

Back during the 1950s and all the way through the 1980s, two American luxury car brands battled for supremacy. For General Motors, builder of Cadillacs and for the Ford Motor Company, builder of Lincolns, corporate prestige rested upon which automaker sold the most models each year. For many years, a pitched battle was raised until the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve. During those years, no one knew for sure who the sales winner was until well into January; that is when the final sales tallies were released. Today, the luxury car market has changed dramatically, so much so, that the storied battle between the two automakers no longer matters. So, what brought about this change? Several things, please read on for the details.

More Competition -- Before the 1980s, Mercedes and BMW were minor players in the luxury car market. Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura were previously nonexistent brands created during the 1980s by parent Japanese auto giants, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda respectively. Add in Audi, Jaguar, Volvo, and Saab and the competition really heats up.

Higher Incomes -- The average American family’s income level has surged over the past two decades, meaning more buyers are choosing luxury brands. Why settle for a Chevy when you can afford a Cadillac? Why buy a Cadillac when there are so many other choices for consumers?

American Quality Problems -- Both Cadillac and Lincoln have had their share of quality issues over the years. Brand confusion has reigned too as Cadillac once sold rebadged Chevy Cavaliers as Cimarrons and as so many of Lincoln’s models have failed to capture the imagination of potential buyers. European brands gained in prominence as many of their models were considered to be better engineered, better built, more fuel efficient, and just as luxurious as the American brands.

Cadillac Transforms, Lincoln Wallows -- Although Mercedes and Lexus both outsell Cadillac today, Cadillac has made dramatic improvements over the past ten years while Lincoln has not. Most Lincoln vehicles sold today are simply reskinned Fords while Cadillac has been developing and successfully marketing new models that are unique to the brand. Most Cadillac products today compare favorably with BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, and Mercedes vehicles. Most Lincolns do not compare favorably with any other luxury models. All of this has been proven out in the marketplace as Cadillac regularly outsells Lincoln by more than 2 to 1.

Yes, the luxury brand battle has changed well beyond Cadillac versus Lincoln giving consumers better vehicles and more choice. While Cadillac has successfully redone its dowdy image, Lincoln has not. That, with the increased competition from foreign makes, spells all the difference in what was once a heated battle for American luxury car supremacy.

By Matthew Keegan.

Visit the Blog about cadillac vallejo

2006 Cadillac CTS: Steering and Control Reviewed

They had to make sure that they got it right this time and they did instead though they got it spot on and it is truly stunning to get behind the wheel of one of these Cadillac’s. These are exactly the cheapest cars to purchase so you have to make sure that you save up before you buy one of these cars.

Cadillac and racing usually are not found in the same sentence or in the same place. However, the 2006 Cadillac CTSV was tested on a race track in Europe. The 2006 Cadillac CTS is Cadillac's speed machine with a combination of art and science and marketed that way. The 2006 CTSV was created and produced to compete with comparable cars in the auto market place like the BMW 528i. The ride is extremely smooth which fights against hard turns but not to the point that it hurts your neck. The steering is always linear and the engineers working on the 2006 Cadillac CTSV used racing cars as influence to CTSV position of pedals, operation of the brakes, and the design of the interior especially the design of the seats. Additional features include the extended length of the control arms, anti roll bars in the front and bas, and gas charged shocks. There is also a suspension system levels itself, increased handling, and huge 17 inch tires.

Even the base model of 2006 Cadillac CTS comes with assistance for steering but does not have the critical acclaimed StabiliTrak. But the base model rides just as well as the 2006 Cadillac CTSV high end model. The CTS comes with a five speed transmission which is manual. There is also an option for an automatic transmission. The manual transmission offers the driver 60 miles per hour in less than eight seconds. The engine sounds great and vibrations are subtle but not annoying. The 2006 Cadillac CTS offers tires that are V rated that wear well under extremely speeds up to 147 miles per hour. The base model of the 2006 Cadillac CTSV offer H rated tires that wear well up to 128 miles per hour.

The standard model of the 2006 Cadillac CTS costs just under $35,000. Cadillac engineers do a good job of balancing refinement and handling in the CTSV series of Cadillac cars. For example the suspension in the rear now has a rubberized cover on the frame. The steering rack, engine harness are both better attached. This increased quality in attachment and construction can be felt in the better steering control.

Be warned the 2006 Cadillac CTS after just a little bit of use reported high oil temperatures. Not only is high oil temperatures bad for the engine it is accompanied by a ringing to signal the driver something is wrong. While the tires are supposed to be high end and of high quality of construction, there have been reports that 2006 Cadillac CTSV tires off the lot lose air and continue to lose air until new tires have to be purchased.

The 2006 Cadillac CTS steering is extremely good. And many people claim even better then the BMW M5 which is state of the art driving and steering systems. Needless to say the Cadillac is not perfect but like every other car in the luxury car line – it is a work in progress. High end cars which are only affordable to an elite number of wealthy people are usually simply a show place to exhibit new technology, and modern design. But when you see people driving around in these cars then they will no doubt get the respect from other people because they are one of the lucky few to own one of these stunning cars.

By Kevin Dark.