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Tags: Automobile Magazine, BMW 335, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C350

Tag Links: Automobile Magazine, BMW 335, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C350

Was Automobile Mag unfair in their BMW 335, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C350 review?
A couple days ago we ran a story called 'The performance chart that has ALL BMW's competitors shaking in their boots!, where the BMW 335 was reviewed by Automobile Mag against the Cadillac CTS and Mercedes C350 and it absolutely smoked them both.

But since the story ran we have been contacted by Cadillac PR and a number of other people familiar with testing methods and situation revolving this review and it’s starting to smell REAL bad…

Turns out the test was not run on an even playing flaying field (The 335 and C350 were tested on dry pavement in the USA and the Caddy test was done in the rain in Germany).

And, other magazines ran the same test and got very different numbers.

The 335 still won by a fairly high margin, but the other cars were not as far off as the Automobile Mag charts suggested.

Now, AutoSpies.com has obtained a letter that was sent by a reader to Automobile, chiding them for their sloppy work.

Take a read and you be the judge…Foul and sloppy play here or is it just a whining session?

Dear Automobile Mag Editor,

I know the magazine business is incredibly competitive today, perhaps even as competitive as the automobile industry. It’s tough to get ahead and grow your readership with other great books and on-line sites competing for readers. But it’s a sad day for a life-long enthusiast like me when Automobile magazine prioritizes the perceived need to be out with the big story first over its journalistic duty to fairly and accurately report on the cars it drives.

Automobile’s “semi-comparison” of the all-new 2008 Cadillac CTS with a BMW 335i and a Mercedes C-350 Sport (September issue) is as unfair and misleading as any comparison I’ve ever read. Your readers, including me, deserve better from the Automobile magazine staff.

Providing your readers any sort of comparison absolutely requires a level playing field with like-priced and equipped cars being tested under the same weather and track conditions, preferably on the same day. Testing the BMW and Mercedes in dry, summer weather at your usual test facilities in the U.S. and then testing the all-new CTS in damp, low-traction conditions in Germany renders the comparison misleading and worthless. Proof that the damp conditions your editors “tested” the CTS in negatively impacted real results can be found in the fact that Car & Driver magazine tested a like-equipped CTS on dryer pavement elsewhere in Germany on that same day and achieved a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds compared to your 6.6 second figure! Granted, the CTS they tested was a manual and the one Automobile tested was an automatic, but GM's own test numbers on the CTS auto are 5.9 seconds 0 - 60. For Automobile to publish a number that is 7/10ths of a second from reality for 0 - 60 is unconscionable and indicates how invalid the rest of their test numbers were for that day. Anything less than a same day, same conditions (and same continent!) comparison meant Automobile provided a great disservice and misleading information to its readers.

Further, comparing the new CTS to the BMW 3-Series isn't really an apples-to-apples comparison. The CTS is about the same size, has similar interior space, similar features and amenities, and similar driving dynamics to a BMW 5-Series. It just so happens that the CTS is priced less than a comparably equipped 3-Series BMW. Doing a "comparison" based primarily on performance numbers and then not giving the larger, roomier, more feature-laden car any credit for those attributes is just completely unfair and, again, provides a great disservice to readers.

Don't forget, the SEMA auto show is right around the corner!

2007 SEMA Auto Show, SEMA Girls and Models Photo Gallery
Was Automobile Mag unfair in their BMW 335, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C350 review?



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bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 10/11/2007 12:11:24 PM
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i wish people would stop making excuses for the CTS, especially the posters, the CTS is exactly what GM intented it to be, a car that combines the performance, and dynamics of cars like the 3, and c class, with the space, and usability of the larger cars in the segment....you are making it sound as if the CTS isn't good enough to be compared to the 3 series, and it should be look as second rung in this segment...the CTS is not a value car its prices are right there with best in class, as are everything else about it. Not everyone cares about 0-60 times in a luxury/performance car....and for that reason the CTS sits at the top of the class right there with the 3 series, because it is well rounded, good performance, excellent interior, excellent dynamics, and comparable price...no more excuses...and all this mag did was compare the 2 new for 08 cars to the benchmark no harm done some of us care about speed but i doubt luxury buyers will say the c class, and cts arent as fast so i dont want one

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adamsaf723adamsaf723 - 10/11/2007 12:46:03 PM
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Where's the IS350 and the G37 among all of this?


SpectatorSpectator - 10/11/2007 1:21:17 PM
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I think this was an America vs Germany comparison to show the attributes of a ressurected US brand against the Industry standards of the Germans. Not a total comparison.

Though I agree the IS and the G37 Sedan should be incorporated in a subsequent test that contains the entire segment.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/11/2007 4:42:36 PMView My AgentSpace
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There is no G37 sedan.


carfan33carfan33 - 10/12/2007 3:55:10 AM
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of course the 3 series is a great car...it uses a GM tranny.


SpectatorSpectator - 10/12/2007 11:51:41 AM
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Mea Culpa. I meant G35. I was just responding to the person above me and was going to say somthing along the lines of the G37 is a coupe the G35 and all the rest are sedans. My brain just refused to tell my fingers to write a 5 instead of a 7 when I didn't write that sentence.

A little harsh to be deboosted however.


kablaamkablaam - 10/12/2007 6:06:10 PM
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carfan33 - 10/12/2007 3:55:10
"of course the 3 series is a great car...it uses a GM tranny."

I am unsure if you are trying to be facetious but the 335i does not use a GM tranny, it actually uses the world reknowned ZF tranny which is amazing.......... trust me I own one.


BMWsukBMWsuk - 10/11/2007 12:15:16 PM
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No one should be surprised that auto mags are scamming their results b/c they have been doing it for years. They are bought and paid for by BMW to write fav articles about BMW. Websites are bought and paid for by BMW too. It has been going on for years. When an auto mag like Motor Trend declared BMW was no longer number 1, they got slammed big time.

The fact is BMW is not the undisputed king anymore. Other car makers have caught up to them but the whores are still whores and they will not shed the bias b/c they are paid big money to pump up BMW brand.




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Agent001Agent001 - 10/11/2007 12:18:54 PMView My AgentSpace
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That is one of the stupidest comments I've ever read in our blogs!

Cadillac has HUGE CTS inserts in all the mags so HOW is BMW to blame here?

It's Automobile mag to blame in my opinion...plain and simple.

It's also probably one of the reasons the editor Conway is no longer the editor.

001


ICONICON - 10/11/2007 12:37:51 PM
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Given your user name, I am not surprised by your asinine post.

You sound like another "black helicopter" conspiracy idiot who probably believes the moon landing took place in Arizona.

Take your Lithium and see if you can locate reality somewhere in your universe


KingerKinger - 10/11/2007 12:38:40 PM
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Yes, i'm sure you carry no bias what so ever 'BMWsuk'...


1995e341995e34 - 10/11/2007 1:13:52 PM
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bmwsuk, my big brother is going to beat you up after school.


bimmerbimmer - 10/11/2007 1:55:23 PMView My AgentSpace
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Quote BMWsuk: <<They are bought and paid for by BMW to write fav articles about BMW. Websites are bought and paid for by BMW too.>>

You mean they bought and paid all the web sites on the Internet ?!!! OOOOOOOOOOOOKKK!!!!!!!!!!!

BMWsuk, your're one big, fat moron !!!!!!!!!


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/11/2007 4:45:46 PMView My AgentSpace
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I know you've never driven one--you don't have your permit yet--but has it ever occurred to you that BMW MAKES GREAT CARS?! The 3 Series wins everything for a reason! It's BETTER! Nobody pays anybody for these comparison tests!


BM3WBM3W - 10/11/2007 7:29:11 PM
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BMWsuk...

So what you're saying here is BMW has paid off magazines to lie about the 335i performace numbers. Well my friend I'm here to tell you. It's no lie. Fact the 335i does 0-60 mph in 4.8 sec.
Fact quarter-mile time for the 335i is 13.693.

Get the facts before you speak this non sense.


henbmwhenbmw - 10/14/2007 11:54:32 AM
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Wow, bmwsuk just got teared a new one


jeeka715jeeka715 - 10/11/2007 12:21:43 PM
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Actually,
You are no all the way right on the "no harm done part". There are some people who would draw a conclusion from this article and it would taint their opinion if they did not read what REALLY went into this test/location/weather/track condition, etc..

If they tested a 3-Series on an icy track (crazy) and a CTS/MB on the best conditioned track out there at that moment in time, I bet that the BMW and CTS gap would shrink. In this case, it seems to have worked in reverse.

I have not driven a 3-Series, or a new CTS or the MB, and it's pretty safe to say that the 3-Series is king of the heap, but to misrepresent the results by having different conditions makes these results suspect.

I am not saying that the CTS or MB would "win" on equal grounds, but the gap would, scratch that, MIGHT be closer.

Also, an interesting note, if the C350 and CTS were “bottom” of the heap, and the CTS was tested on a "wet" track like the PR is spinning, what does that say about the C350, which was on a “better” track?


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SpectatorSpectator - 10/11/2007 1:29:09 PM
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I wouldn't be surprised if GM sued for defamation and there was a subsequent 'make-up' article saying "mea culpa" and "somtimes what we in the journalistic world get it wrong when we try to bring you the latest up to date information. This happens to have been one of those situations...etc"

Not trying to be psychic however.


no1listensanywayno1listensanyway - 10/11/2007 12:23:49 PMView My AgentSpace
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I think Edmunds hit he nail on the head with the new CTS review. They felt that the CTS wasn't trying to be a 328 or 530 it was just trying to find its own niche. GM has executed that perfectly with the new CTS. It sort of what lexus does with the IS and ES.

I have an 06, I know the car is not class leading, I know the car doesn't have the best interior but its still a great car and its different then the rest in class.

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answeranswer - 10/11/2007 12:33:10 PMView My AgentSpace
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When magazines don't even follow manufacturer's release date for exclusive stories/pictures anymore, is anyone surprised by stuff like this?

Magazines keep trying to compete with the internet to be "first". They will keep losing every time.

Magazines should be the source for quality writing and photos. Let the internet be first with stuff. A lot of the early crap is wrong or changes anyway.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/11/2007 4:48:26 PMView My AgentSpace
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I agree.


henbmwhenbmw - 10/14/2007 11:56:37 AM
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Agree as well. Take a look at a magazine from a few years ago. Its astonishing how wrong most of their predictions are. Kinda like reading the National Enquirer, you have to sift through most of their BS.


ICONICON - 10/11/2007 12:39:57 PM
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I think the CTS is a fine auto and is getting better. There is definitely an audience for this car...and they should keep aiming right at Lexus.

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pushrod27pushrod27 - 10/11/2007 9:42:55 PM
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I think they're aiming higher than Lexus. How else do explain the bold styling?


chuck717chuck717 - 10/11/2007 12:49:19 PM
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Review all they want but cars mean different things to different people. The CTS may appeal only to a flag waving American or a former German buyer who decided i will give the Caddy a look and give it a chance. Of course the feel will be very foreign to them that doesn't mean the German car is and should be the bench mark for how a car is to be made or handle.
Lots of people don't give a hoot about 0-60 or taking hairpin turns they want a nice car, good looking machine, that is safe and is fairly trouble free with good dealer service.
A QB may have all the moves, classic passing style but when the game starts the franchise and public wants results and if the guy who isn't so classic wins the game them fine give him props, BMW or Benz or anyone else should be judged on what they bring to the party now not what they brought before, it seems to me before testing even starts the CTS or any other car aleady is in the hole with testers they wants so much more out of it? Why attend you if you don'have a chance to start with?

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autoproautopro - 10/11/2007 12:50:13 PMView My AgentSpace
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Remember car magazines are written by people,its their personal impressions just like people who post comments on this site.Of course they are more qualified than most of us,but than can be biased.

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0to600to60 - 10/11/2007 1:13:30 PM
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I would still put the CTS up against a Lexus ES. I still dont see why it would even be compared to the other smaller sport sedans.

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pushrod27pushrod27 - 10/11/2007 9:46:16 PM
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How about because the CTS is FUN TO DRIVE. The IS competes with the CTS, you know: tidy dimensions, rear wheel drive, sporty handling. The ES is more of a neo-Buick. soft, smooth, reliable boulevard cruiser made for the females and the geriatric crowd. You can just look at a CTS and an ES and tell that they are cars built with different intentions.


SpectatorSpectator - 10/12/2007 12:04:53 PM
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I agree with you pushrod about the ES. I think however that the CTS would fall between the IS and the GS however.

The ES is a Camry. No other car in Lexus line up (other than the base RX) comes in FWD. And neither does the BMW, MB nor Caddy. So I don't think comparing the ES platform to the CTS would be close to similar.


1995e341995e34 - 10/11/2007 1:16:35 PM
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so the cts didn't win on style points alone?

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DaHarderDaHarder - 10/12/2007 6:55:20 AM
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Lol!

If this was a beauty contest, the CTS would easily stand as the benchmark.

As interesting as it looks in photos, it's nothing short of phenomenal looking in-the-metal!

All of the 'clunkiness' of the 1st CTS, the over-wrought detailing, the horrible interior/rear-end, have all been polished/refined into (probably) the best looking sedan of the past 20 years.

The fact that it's a great drive (much as the 1st one was), is just further evidence that Cadillac is the one to watch...


0to600to60 - 10/11/2007 1:41:40 PM
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I agree the comment "this site is BMW-centric...all others be damned!" comment!

However I do care about that second (it actually makes a difference to me).

This site makes BMW appear to be the most overrated brand, and that's coming from someone who owns one!

I have an 07 Infiniti G35 that I picked over the 335 for a few reasons. I also have an X5 that picked over the other competing brands for a reason.

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CatsmeowCatsmeow - 10/11/2007 1:45:34 PM
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CTS should win design 335i for performance .... that 's it

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cdokecdoke - 10/11/2007 2:04:50 PMView My AgentSpace
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I was out this last weekend with my good friend (same time and person as he Roche Bobois incident) and we stopped by the Cadillac dealership.

I was exceptionally impressed with the CTS. It will probably be by friends next car.

I give it my highest accolade- I would drive one. It helps that it has a leather dash- although not the greatest quality one.

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TheSailorTheSailor - 10/11/2007 2:05:02 PMView My AgentSpace
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So now we are reviewing reviews?! WHAT THE ....?!? Slow newsday i take it?

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0to600to60 - 10/11/2007 2:08:15 PM
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LOL


mini22mini22 - 10/11/2007 2:30:11 PM
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Icon-Actually the "Moon Landing" was filmed on a sound stage in Arizona. The same one where they filmed the scene from "Diamonds Are Forever".

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TheSailorTheSailor - 10/11/2007 2:31:57 PMView My AgentSpace
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Yes yes... And CIA killed JFK, Mossad carried out 9/11 and Watergate never happened!


RupertRupert - 10/11/2007 5:55:38 PMView My AgentSpace
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And the Queen, the Rothschilds, and Hilary Clinton are actually a man-eating lizards from outer space (this is an actual conspiracy theory from a man called David Icke, who used to be a football player, then went crazy).


cdokecdoke - 10/11/2007 6:45:55 PMView My AgentSpace
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Hilary Clinton I can see, but the Rothschilds? That is a bit of a stretch I think.


PorschinatorPorschinator - 10/11/2007 2:42:10 PM
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All I know is that the new CTS beats BMW 3 and MB C in looks and interior. What a accomplishment! I frequent the dealerships and I am saying this after seeing them all IN PERSON.

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farabira1farabira1 - 10/11/2007 3:16:54 PM
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i totally agree with the first comment of this post. The CTS is a more balanced car with a dynamic presence of refinement, luxury, comfort, and performance, and off course good looks. The CTS is not so much focused on performance as a 3 series, it is more of brute american muscle than nimble cornering touch of a sports car, but this is what every american car lover wants, they want their cars to be powerful, posh, and aggressive along with refinment of engine and interior and not too much techno gimmicks. And that is exactly what CTS seems to represent, an american car lover's dream car, made to perfection. So out and out performance comparo with a more performance oriented bmw should not be on the cards, because these cars were built for very different purposes, you guys figure out what that is.

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LexusLexus - 10/11/2007 4:25:46 PM
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From look alone the Cadillac CTS look the best in this comparison both interior and exterior as well. But on the other hand I don't know how well it handle with compare to the bench mark of this segment.

But I'm willing to guess the BMW has the best performance and handling in out of the three. Because that what BMW specialize in, making luxury performance vechicles.

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the_gamperthe_gamper - 10/11/2007 4:47:17 PM
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Well, let me jump on the band wagon. I think BMW's are great if you dont mind shelling out extra cash for the perception that they are in fact the "ultimate driving machine". I am of the opinion that Cadillac really hit a home run with its new CTS. It may not beat the 335i around the ring but its appeal is hardly limited to its performance statistics. As far as BMW being the benchmark. I havent believed it for a while. The auto press gives BMW a free pass on so many issues. BMW does make a desirable auto, and I cannot fault anyone for wanting one. However, I will take an Infiniti or a Caddy and I will be the guy grinning as I drive by you at the BMW dealership when you drop yours off for its weekly visit.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/11/2007 11:21:41 PMView My AgentSpace
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The 3 Series is probably the easiest BMW to own- it is not an unreliable car by any stretch of the imagination.

And I love the CTS, but you must acknowledge that the 335i isn't limited to performance, either. It's class-leading because if offers the best combination of performance AND comfort; I don't know if you caught that.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 10/11/2007 5:14:37 PM
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you have to admit this is one of cadillacs, better yet, GMs most worthy car. this is the best thing to come out of GM since their new trucks.

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esrar322esrar322 - 10/11/2007 5:58:21 PM
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I am a Japanese car fan. I have always been biased towards Japanese brands. But, I really like the new CTS. GM has done an excellent job with this model. It looks sharp and the interior is very nice looking. I haven't driven it yet but I plan to go to the local dealership next week for a test drive.

I am thinking about replacing my 2003 Acura TL Type-S next year with something new. I love my TL by the way ...nothing wrong with. Just would like to get something new.

For my next car, although I really like to Lexus IS 350 (in dark blue or black), it has very tight space in the back seat area and that is often going to be an issue for my family needs. That is one of the main reasons why I am leaning towards the G35. Both the IS350 and the G35 have comparable performance and the both look good to me. But, G35 is cheaper even when loaded nicely which is another very important incentive for going with the G35.

As for the CTS, I think it will look really sharp in dark blue or black with tan interior and dark tint. Who knows, after the I test drive next week, I may even give serious consideration to the CTS. (A light blue/green CTS was featured in this summer's hit usa network action/comedy drama, "Burn Notice". The car looked cool in the light blue/green color in the vibrant Florida setting.)

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dlindlin - 10/11/2007 9:50:12 PM
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"dynamics of cars like ..... and c class."

What?


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germeezy2germeezy2 - 10/11/2007 11:31:13 PM
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I had an 04 which they tested to 6.4 0-60 so basically they are saying the new DI model is slower?
I have driven the new CTS and challenge anyone to do so and not come away impressed. Its so good that instead of getting an 08 Vette, I may be getting the CTS-V instead.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/14/2007 3:58:33 PMView My AgentSpace
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It makes sense. I mean, it's really a Vette with four doors and a nicer interior. Great choice.
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