[ORIGIN M.]

Let me review these cars and I'd stop at the drivers seat.

Have you looked at a Caddy lately?

The headrest is a Brick, AND I will stop there.

They have a long way to go. AND drive them a few miles and they are worthless on sale day.

[ORIGIN M.]

LOL so true.

That is why I prefer a BMW w/DCT as of late.

Originally Posted by rdollie

If anybody here think's BMW's manuals are great I'd suggest you spend some time with a Honda manual and report back to us with your updated impression of BMW's manual feel.

[ihavedrivenanm1]

Originally Posted by Turbo00

Jonny Lieberman is one of the few american auto-journo's worth listening to.

Really?

Isn't this the same guy who when he first drove an F30 stated that, "In the F30 BMW has stuck with the same hydraulic rack they used in the e90, and it's sublime - the best in the business" and who now doesn't seem to care very much for "...the F30's electric assist steering"?

[ORIGIN M.]

His review is much more in depth then most, except he needs to really go drive those two car, as I don't think he really drove them to the extent needed to to quantify his end result.

[Nd e92]

Can't wait to see the new m3/4

[KSERGEI-BY]

I think ATS should be compared with 320, not 328. 2.0t is probably its entry version. More to say - ATS is a big step forward for caddy.

[Daaaadadundun]

GM, and Cadillac in specific, is fighting a losing battle. Sure the ATS might have an impact on the American market but in the rest of the world it won't. Because the rest of the world doesn't really care about the Cadillacs, Corvette's, Mustang's, Camaro's and sofort of this world.
For instance, they build the CTS-V and it would clubber the M5. Well did it? No. Because the rest of the world didn't care much for it.
There are so many points that the American industry must improve upon if they really want to take the fight to BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Ferrari and so on.

But to keep it on-topic if they want to beat the 3-series with the ATS this is not going to be it. You almost hear the desperation in Lieberman's voice. He wants this thing to beat the 3-series so badly he comes up with a bad transmission for the 3-series. I mean come on. Really?

Here's the real problem for the ATS. ATS has a 25 year of great pr for the 3-series mountain to climb. This doesn't dissapear just because you want it to be so. And if you want to overcome this issue you don't emulate the 3 series, and in this case fail to do so, but you set a new benchmark. Because if you emulate you won't get the attention that you want and need. If you set the benchmark people will start to notice and create a buzz. That's the beginning of a fight you then might win.

[MaestroAl]

Originally Posted by jeremicium

Daggers

We've had some rough years in the American auto industry, but i'd venture to say we've created a few worthy autos over the years.

Brits love to hate on American cars, maybe we need to divert our efforts from creating the best killing machines in the world to creating the best cars. That should be celebrated by all.

Agree the caddy is kind of ugly, but i'm rooting for them to create something that represents American auto engenuity.

I hope you understand I'm only messing As somebody else pointed out, it's all subjective anyway: what makes a "good" car. I'm sure there must be an underlying reason, though, why European and Asian cars export all over the world with success and why American cars do not. Yes, I'm sure massive improvements have been made but the stigma that is attached to US cars outside the US is that they are poorly made and ride and handle like boats. But if they're genuinely improving then kudos since that can only be good for us all. If al the car manufacturers have to up their game then we get better cars

[NISFAN]

Don't you have to be...like over 65....to buy a Caddy?

[BMWgasm]

Originally Posted by IS3andME

And why was it underwhelming? All you said was that it looked bland in person (so does the 335i) and that you don't like the all touch screen (which more manufacturers are going towards). And doesn't it have more hp than the 335i (on paper)?

More hp than the 335? No, 335 has 300 hp (reported). Does have more than the 328 (though as he says, BMW usually lies about the numbers). And I will say this about touch screen,or two things actually:

1. Do I really want all those fingerprints all over my screen?
2. Touch screen is less safe than iDrive. With iDrive you can feel it click so you get a sense of where you are on the menu without taking your eyes off the road. Try doing that with touch screen.

[MaestroAl]

Originally Posted by cpw2626

1. Do I really want all those fingerprints all over my screen?
2. Touch screen is less safe than iDrive. With iDrive you can feel it click so you get a sense of where you are on the menu without taking your eyes off the road. Try doing that with touch screen.

Agreed. Touch screens in cars are asking for trouble.

[HoustonEaDo]

Originally Posted by cpw2626

More hp than the 335? No, 335 has 300 hp (reported). Does have more than the 328 (though as he says, BMW usually lies about the numbers).

ATS 3.6 has 321hp

[StevenY.]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

I don't think Cadillac ever made a good car did they? In fact has the USA ever produced a good car?

That's what I'm thinking.

[Diver]

IMO, the Caddie is a whole different thing.

[BMWgasm]

Originally Posted by u080570

ATS 3.6 has 321hp

Yeah, my bad- the guy he was responding to did say he test drove the 3.6.

[Hoosiers]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

I don't think Cadillac ever made a good car did they? In fact has the USA ever produced a good car?

Comments such as that just scream of your own ignorance to the current automotive scene.

[MaestroAl]

/sigh

Can't you read playfulness? Even when I stick a on the end?


and besides .... says the man driving a German car

[DASHOCKER]

i saw the motorweek episode in which they reviewed the caddy ats. I was very impressed with what i saw! the car appears to stick like glue on the track and looks very attractive.

[TheBingoBalls]

This has be the first time I've read or seen in a review that BMW has a bad manual transmission. It's not perfect and could be better but to say it was bad? I think I call BS. Someone mentioned the MINI MT and I agree that it's pretty good and comparing it to a BMW transmission, the shifter itself feels a bit different but nothing that would make me say it's bad. It would've helped if he explained himself but it felt like he wanted to do give points to Cadillac whenever he could.

Not taking anything away from the Cadillac, good job for taking whatever years to mimic BMW. The only thing Cadillac has that I wish the other Germans would look into is Magnetic Ride Control because the German 3 have nothing to match that.

[Touring]

I see the discussion about Americans making good cars or not here.

I read in the newspaper that the most exported American car is BMW . So, yes, the Americans make good cars

[BMWgasm]

Meant to post this earlier, but I would love to get a look at the interior of the ATS and how it stacks up against the F30. My opinion is that most GM interiors look plastic-y and somewhat cheap, especially compared to Japanese and European made cars. For me the interior is a determining factor when I am looking at buying a car.

[evans4you]

Originally Posted by Showtyme5

so I'm wondering if he'd recommend the auto ATS over the auto 328. Sounds like he would.

Unfortunately he wouldn't until the caddy gets the new 8 speed which is much nicer than the old six it currently uses, he was clever in comparing manuals because that as fair a comparison as it gets and the caddy was stupid not to win this