Spike

Why does everyone believe the performance braking system is extra from the 18 inch Summer Tire Performance Package? It is listed as a free-flow option, but it is also included in the 18 inch Summer Tire Performance Package. From the GM Dealer Order Guide... Y43 18" (45.7 cm) Summer Tire Performance Package, includes (TT6) HID headlamps, (CE4) headlamp washers, (P63) 18" x 8" (45.7 cm x 20.3 cm) aluminum wheels with high-polished finish, (QUR) P235/55ZR18 Y-rated summer only performance blackwall tires, (FE3) performance handling suspension, (G80) limited slip differential, (J55) performance braking system and (V03) Performance Cooling System ([MX0] transmission only). 1 - Not available with (MX7) 6-speed automatic transmission AWD or (Y42) 18" All-Season Tire Performance Package.

That's funny, both of my parents have 2005 SRXs and they have never used their 3rd row seats.

Forget the Escalade, who uses the third row in the SRX??

I agree they do need one. The DTS and STS are going to be combined into one RWD model. This would be larger than the current STS and priced from about 50-70k.

Take a look at the press releases for the new CTS. http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...showtopic=14705 I don't see them giving all of the additions gratis. Keep in mind this is for a loaded CTS. I am willing to bet a very small percentage of cars will be sold with all of this content. With the STS going away and a new car below the CTS; there is much more pressure for the CTS to move up-market than down.

The “SRX” is just something marketing came up with. I find it hard to believe that Cadillac will abandon the mid-size luxury SUV segment. The SRX and STS share the same width and wheelbase. Since the STS will be combined with the DTS on Sigma, I can envision a larger SUV built on this platform; leaving the BRX to take over for the 37-45k SUV price range. I really don’t know how much longer I can see a BOF Escalade as the flagship SIV. I believe that today it fills a void, but will eventually be replaced with something unit-body based. Does the average Escalade buyer think wow; this is great that I have a vehicle that is based on a body on frame platform? They either buy it for its size and features, it’s image, or both. BOF allows GM to more easily profit from platform sharing today. The only advantage I see to BOF today for consumers are tow ratings. The Acadia can tow 4500 lbs with its 3.6 V6 that is more than enough for the average owner who might want to drag something behind them. In summery I can see a larger car based utility vehicle on the STS/DTS platform. This would fill in for higher end SRXs as well cover Escalade territory; leaving the BRX to fill in for lesser SRX models.

Going by the competition and GM scraping the STS as it is known today, I envision a fully loaded CTS with AWD, DI, and all other options, to retail for close to 50k. The current model tops out at about 43k. Add 2k because it is a new design, 1.9k because that’s what they charge for AWD on SRX and STS, and more for any additonal options. A 2007 335i goes up to about 53k, this leaves plenty of room for the price to increase significantly. I believe with a BLS under the CTS and the demise of the STS, the CTS will be forced to move up market.

I always assumed that it is because of the tire pressure monitoring system on the 18 inch wheel sport packages. Since it is in the instrument cluster in the CTS-V, and the DIC in the regular CTS, maybe it was an issue configuring TPMS with the navigation system?

Here they are... I tried various forms of backlighting, none of them came out really well. The pictures should give everyone a general idea though.

It sold 3,183 copies...

I will take pics tonight after work. I am not sure how well they will come out though. It really is lightly illuminated. It does give the interior a wow factor at night.

About two weeks ago my girlfriend purchased an Aura XE. She did not want leather but had to have a sunroof. In the XR you must get leather to have a sunroof so she went with the XE. I think that overall the interior looks nice. The material on the dash has a nice texture to it - it is not hard, but not very soft either. The switch gear functions nicely and has a good feel to it. There are really nice amber LEDs that lightly illuminate various areas of the interior at night, such as the center consol. They shine a look of elegance to the interior. The biggest downside pertaining to the interior are the details. Looking very closely you can see how some of the different components don’t fit as well as they should. The air vents are the best example of this. It is much better than the car that TED took pictures of. That car has a panoramic roof, which is not yet available, so I am guessing that is a per production car.

They Devilled it. In this case I am not sure that this is a good thing. I don't think all of the bits and pieces match up very well.

What are the chances that the second "Chevy" is really an Escalade and not a GMC?

These cars were also about two model years old. How much would you say a car depreciates each model year?