19 Feb 08
Prices: Still £14,000-plus on dealer forecourts, but coming down fast and cheaper within the trade.
Engines: 2.8 and 3.8 V6 petrol.
Watch out for: General quality defects; loose trim; minor electrical and electronic faults; overly-worn clutches.
For: Rear-wheel-drive handling and amusingly old-school feel; alternative image.
Against: Hard ride; engines can sound harsh; not much rear legroom; quality not top-notch; bit of an oddball.
There's a shortage of Brits after secondhand Cadillacs, and dealers are offering low-mileage 2005-registered cars for as little as £14,000 in a bid to tempt customers into a CTS... stretch that budget a bit, or hang on a while, 'cos they're gonna get cheaper still. £10K Caddys should start appearing during 2008, as more of the first UK-registered, right-hand-drive cars come to the end of three-year lease deals.
This CTS was never the rival to a BMW or Merc that General Motors hoped it would be - best think of it more as an American-badged Vauxhall/Opel Omega replacement. As a cut-price second-hand buy, it starts to look a whole lot more appealing, however, and it's certainly different to the obvious options in its class. The all-new Cadillac CTS is much-improved and one to watch.
Review: Cadillac CTS (2005-2007)
