Cadillac to return to the UK
Discussion
I'm 36, DINKY, have exposure to Cadillac before and would be quite interested in a 3-series alternative that's not German. I should be pretty much Cadillac's target audience for the ATS in the UK but instead I'm really quite bitter and angry about them because of my experience last time around.
I bought a second hand but still in-warranty BLS and while it wasn't a great car, it was a good one. But then Cadillac decided they were done with the UK. My supposedly in-warranty car became unrepairable because parts dried up with GM's divorce from Saab. Cadillac UK didn't want to know because "we're no longer operational in the UK". I had no joy with any GM organisation I tried to contact- the line I was given was that "GM isn't responsible for business carried out by the Cadillac UK importer, which no longer exists."
Fair play to Stratstone in Birmingham, who were taking apart demo cars at one point to keep cars like mine on the road. I sold mine shortly after. I was frankly done with phoning around trying to source parts for simple servicing issues.
It doesn't matter how good Cadillac's cars are if the company that tries to sell them in the UK is seen as a joke. I know Cadillac will want to be seen as a serious company but I struggle not to picture dodgy builders that miraculously go bust and then reappear under a slightly different name. How the bloody hell am I supposed to have faith in a company after that experience?
If Cadillac mount a return, I imagine a guy 10 years younger than me spending hours on the phone in April 2017, struggling to source a RHD steering sensor for his ATS. Bugger that for a game of "let's buy a Lexus/Jag".
I bought a second hand but still in-warranty BLS and while it wasn't a great car, it was a good one. But then Cadillac decided they were done with the UK. My supposedly in-warranty car became unrepairable because parts dried up with GM's divorce from Saab. Cadillac UK didn't want to know because "we're no longer operational in the UK". I had no joy with any GM organisation I tried to contact- the line I was given was that "GM isn't responsible for business carried out by the Cadillac UK importer, which no longer exists."
Fair play to Stratstone in Birmingham, who were taking apart demo cars at one point to keep cars like mine on the road. I sold mine shortly after. I was frankly done with phoning around trying to source parts for simple servicing issues.
It doesn't matter how good Cadillac's cars are if the company that tries to sell them in the UK is seen as a joke. I know Cadillac will want to be seen as a serious company but I struggle not to picture dodgy builders that miraculously go bust and then reappear under a slightly different name. How the bloody hell am I supposed to have faith in a company after that experience?
If Cadillac mount a return, I imagine a guy 10 years younger than me spending hours on the phone in April 2017, struggling to source a RHD steering sensor for his ATS. Bugger that for a game of "let's buy a Lexus/Jag".
Fox- said:
Wow, just seen the price lists. What on earth are they doing? £52,000 for a 2.0T CTS Premium? The same money gets you a BMW 550i? £40k for the top ATS too, thats more than a 335i M Sport...
They need to undercut BMW and Mercedes or they will sell approximately zero cars. Nobody in the universe wants to pay £52,000 for a 5 Series rival with a 4 cylinder petrol engine.
The new caddy's are very nice cars, but you're right.... they have to be cheaper than the German trio or else no ones going to bother. They'd probably have to undercut Lexus while they're at it as well.They need to undercut BMW and Mercedes or they will sell approximately zero cars. Nobody in the universe wants to pay £52,000 for a 5 Series rival with a 4 cylinder petrol engine.
mph1977 said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
Thankyou4calling said:
I've just had a quick peek at the cadillac website.
The CTS looks fantastic but, the entry level option is a 2 litre petrol turbo, it claims 20 MPG in the city and 30 on the highway. I don't know how that equates to the UK MPG tests but for arguements sake lets say it acheives 25 MPG overall.
Straight away that is more than twice the fuel consumption of a Merc c class entry level.
That needs to be addressed to have a chance as in the UK economy is a MASSIVE selling point to most people.
It does sound bad but their fuel consumption is worked out differently to ours, the EPA rating using a cycle thats probably more realistic than the one that gets used in Europe and gives cars like the fiat 500 twin air a rosy result when the truth is far from it. 30 MPG US = 36 MPG UK. So it can't be that far off what something with a 2.0 l turbo can manage.The CTS looks fantastic but, the entry level option is a 2 litre petrol turbo, it claims 20 MPG in the city and 30 on the highway. I don't know how that equates to the UK MPG tests but for arguements sake lets say it acheives 25 MPG overall.
Straight away that is more than twice the fuel consumption of a Merc c class entry level.
That needs to be addressed to have a chance as in the UK economy is a MASSIVE selling point to most people.
The point is though the EPA test cycle is far more realistic than the NEDC, which is basically only useful as a comparison tool and not an indication of what normal non-petrol-headed-plebs might achieve.
Blakewater said:
279 said:
I don't think they ever will in the UK - We are just not willing to change our perceptions about anything.
Look at how long Lexus have been consistently putting out quality vehicles out for and yet you'll still find someone ready to bust out a partridge joke the second one is mentioned. They have a few minor recalls and everyone tuts, meanwhile BMW put out cars that can be stolen with a screwdriver and a laptoo and Mercedes quality has dropped off significantly and yet the sales keep on coming.
A great example IMO is the line up of Hyundai USA and Hyundai UK. In the states they are producing some interesting cars that are getting good reviews, but they don't bother bringing them to the UK because they know that they simply won't shift them because Hyundai have a reputation for banging out small, cheap cars in this country, a V8 luxury saloon or 300bhp V6 RWD sports car is unlikely to sell with a H on the front here.
Hyundai are having a go here with the Genesis now their reputation and popularity is improving with more than just cheap and cheerful cars. Look at how long Lexus have been consistently putting out quality vehicles out for and yet you'll still find someone ready to bust out a partridge joke the second one is mentioned. They have a few minor recalls and everyone tuts, meanwhile BMW put out cars that can be stolen with a screwdriver and a laptoo and Mercedes quality has dropped off significantly and yet the sales keep on coming.
A great example IMO is the line up of Hyundai USA and Hyundai UK. In the states they are producing some interesting cars that are getting good reviews, but they don't bother bringing them to the UK because they know that they simply won't shift them because Hyundai have a reputation for banging out small, cheap cars in this country, a V8 luxury saloon or 300bhp V6 RWD sports car is unlikely to sell with a H on the front here.
Edited by 279 on Monday 23 March 16:26
http://www.hyundai.co.uk/coming-soon/genesis
But with only the 320 bhp, 3.8 litre V6, CO2 twice that of an entry-level 7/A8/S-Class, and a price of £48k (£10k more than you can get a 730d or A8 for) they won't even sell enough to get a halo effect.
Cadillac first starting selling in UK in 1904 !
Sheepshanks said:
Thankyou4calling said:
daveco said:
How did Lexus manage it back in the early 90s? Did they just use the whole reliability shtick?
I remember the original LS420 being a complete rip off of the W126 Mercedes, even down to the car's dimensions.
One of my neighbours swapped from Mercedes to Lexus years ago as he was fed up with re-buying all the options every 3 years. Lexus had everything fitted as standard. But the specs are probably much more similar these days.I remember the original LS420 being a complete rip off of the W126 Mercedes, even down to the car's dimensions.
Price/spec wise a Lexus would still be better value - but the difference isn't as great as it was
Ian Allan Motors in Virginia Water, Surrey are the new official Cadillac and Corvette Agent in thee UK:
https://www.facebook.com/ianallanmotors
https://www.facebook.com/ianallanmotors
Chafford1 said:
Ian Allan Motors in Virginia Water, Surrey are the new official Cadillac and Corvette Agent in thee UK:
https://www.facebook.com/ianallanmotors
After several years of importing and retailing US cars in the UK I can safely say I've never heard of them.https://www.facebook.com/ianallanmotors
blearyeyedboy said:
I'm 36, DINKY, have exposure to Cadillac before and would be quite interested in a 3-series alternative that's not German. I should be pretty much Cadillac's target audience for the ATS in the UK but instead I'm really quite bitter and angry about them because of my experience last time around.
I bought a second hand but still in-warranty BLS and while it wasn't a great car, it was a good one. But then Cadillac decided they were done with the UK. My supposedly in-warranty car became unrepairable because parts dried up with GM's divorce from Saab. Cadillac UK didn't want to know because "we're no longer operational in the UK". I had no joy with any GM organisation I tried to contact- the line I was given was that "GM isn't responsible for business carried out by the Cadillac UK importer, which no longer exists."
Fair play to Stratstone in Birmingham, who were taking apart demo cars at one point to keep cars like mine on the road. I sold mine shortly after. I was frankly done with phoning around trying to source parts for simple servicing issues.
It doesn't matter how good Cadillac's cars are if the company that tries to sell them in the UK is seen as a joke. I know Cadillac will want to be seen as a serious company but I struggle not to picture dodgy builders that miraculously go bust and then reappear under a slightly different name. How the bloody hell am I supposed to have faith in a company after that experience?
If Cadillac mount a return, I imagine a guy 10 years younger than me spending hours on the phone in April 2017, struggling to source a RHD steering sensor for his ATS. Bugger that for a game of "let's buy a Lexus/Jag".
Yup, for a car I'd use every day I'd have to have faith in a dealer network before I even looked at a product. I bought a second hand but still in-warranty BLS and while it wasn't a great car, it was a good one. But then Cadillac decided they were done with the UK. My supposedly in-warranty car became unrepairable because parts dried up with GM's divorce from Saab. Cadillac UK didn't want to know because "we're no longer operational in the UK". I had no joy with any GM organisation I tried to contact- the line I was given was that "GM isn't responsible for business carried out by the Cadillac UK importer, which no longer exists."
Fair play to Stratstone in Birmingham, who were taking apart demo cars at one point to keep cars like mine on the road. I sold mine shortly after. I was frankly done with phoning around trying to source parts for simple servicing issues.
It doesn't matter how good Cadillac's cars are if the company that tries to sell them in the UK is seen as a joke. I know Cadillac will want to be seen as a serious company but I struggle not to picture dodgy builders that miraculously go bust and then reappear under a slightly different name. How the bloody hell am I supposed to have faith in a company after that experience?
If Cadillac mount a return, I imagine a guy 10 years younger than me spending hours on the phone in April 2017, struggling to source a RHD steering sensor for his ATS. Bugger that for a game of "let's buy a Lexus/Jag".
Roo said:
Chafford1 said:
Ian Allan Motors in Virginia Water, Surrey are the new official Cadillac and Corvette Agent in thee UK:
https://www.facebook.com/ianallanmotors
After several years of importing and retailing US cars in the UK I can safely say I've never heard of them.https://www.facebook.com/ianallanmotors
Cadillac is a 'luxury', 'premium' brand. Why would potential UK customers of expensive, premium cars live near or walk into a Vauxhall dealership?
The STS was a failure not because it wasn't a good product but because people who were expected to pay £50k+ back at the time were also expected to to enjoy and relish the Vauxhall dealership experience.
The market spoke and the market made it very clear that it was more pleasant and less debilitating to buy the cars off a slightly piequay chap in a cold, wet field in Leicester than ever deal with the Vauxhall dealer network.
Cadillac have some good products but if you take the Escalade as an example, we all know the potential inner city Escalade customer in the UK, that type of person is catagorically not going to step foot in a Vauxhall dealership.
I think if Cadillac are aiming to sell their premium products they need their own face here to do so. Or they need to use tramps in fields to sell that at less than a third of list to get them away.
The STS was a failure not because it wasn't a good product but because people who were expected to pay £50k+ back at the time were also expected to to enjoy and relish the Vauxhall dealership experience.
The market spoke and the market made it very clear that it was more pleasant and less debilitating to buy the cars off a slightly piequay chap in a cold, wet field in Leicester than ever deal with the Vauxhall dealer network.
Cadillac have some good products but if you take the Escalade as an example, we all know the potential inner city Escalade customer in the UK, that type of person is catagorically not going to step foot in a Vauxhall dealership.
I think if Cadillac are aiming to sell their premium products they need their own face here to do so. Or they need to use tramps in fields to sell that at less than a third of list to get them away.
mph1977 said:
can someone remind us how long SAAB were present in the UK before GM dropped them to save it's Detroit bacon...
Longer than Cadillac for any consistent period of time, that's for sure.It is strange how many Cadillac Dealers were also Saab concerns, even before there was a BLS.
blearyeyedboy said:
Longer than Cadillac for any consistent period of time, that's for sure.
It is strange how many Cadillac Dealers were also Saab concerns, even before there was a BLS.
good 'fit' with other products It is strange how many Cadillac Dealers were also Saab concerns, even before there was a BLS.
like the fit between Isuzu and Subaru in the past ( aided iirc by the same company being the importer / master concessionaire)
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