Caddy ats 2.0T good or bad?

[Tiamat]

Its been out for a year, wondering if it is a decent choice for the class of vehicle? I test drove it and was impressed. Seemed to handle with good response and the power/acceleration was fine. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, i liked the looks of the cts coupe better, but the ats is fine. I felt the ats drove smoother than the cts coupe. It certainly was quieter. Most reviews I read only complained about the trunk and rear seats space which are no issues for me. I drive about 25000 miles per year. My wife's Lexus 400h is getting high in the mileage and her parents want it so I'm looking for something different without giving up comfort and mid 20s mileage.

I tried searching for signs of "new model" issues but I didn't really find anything other than a squeaky door that was fixed under warranty. Cue system being the typical love/hate of modern day computerized control systems.
Thanks!


Edit update: going with a BMW 335i m sport. Going to the dealership tomorrow to seal the deal.

 

[nerp]

It's a very nice car. I would choose it over a Lexus or Infinity in a heartbeat.

 

[Jimzz]

The ATS is newer than the 2nd Gen CTS so that could be why its quieter. The 2.0T is a good engine. Only engine I don't like for the ATS is the base one. I think its a little under powered.

I like the ATS and tried to find one in our budget but they are still to new. Just bought a 2009 CTS with performance package. I cross shopped with the G37 (very cheap interior and required prem gas but came standard with a lot of options) and the Genesis (really nice but could not find one with memory package and also a little to big for my wife I think).

But yea I liked the ATS and even my picky wife ok'ed it.

 

[Tiamat]

Thx for the insight keep comments coming!

I can get a new 2013 2.0t performance package with cold weather, navi, driver assist for 38k$ before haggling due to incentives and usaa. I think this price is OK. My wife liked it too. She was surprised that an "American" car could look and drive so decently.

Is awd not really needed so long as decent winter tires are used? I'm used to the old school "rear wheel drive sucked for slippery conditions" but that is only based on hearsay. I've always had fwd and awd...

 

[SparkyJJO]

Get some decent winter tires and you're fine. Just remember that with RWD you get a little more "tail happy" if you mash the gas on ice vs FWD that just spins and slides the front end to the side. But I would assume it has traction control, so almost a moot point I guess.

I have 4x4 in my SUV but only rarely use it in the winter. Most of the time I keep it in RWD. But then, I was used to driving a Camaro with all seasons in the winter before it, so...

 

[Jimzz]

Thx for the insight keep comments coming!

I can get a new 2013 2.0t performance package with cold weather, navi, driver assist for 38k$ before haggling due to incentives and usaa. I think this price is OK. My wife liked it too. She was surprised that an "American" car could look and drive so decently.

Is awd not really needed so long as decent winter tires are used? I'm used to the old school "rear wheel drive sucked for slippery conditions" but that is only based on hearsay. I've always had fwd and awd...

I drove my first Gen CTS with DWS all season tires in the DC 100 year snow storm years ago. I was passing FWD and AWD over and over due to their crappy tires. Never got stuck and that car did not even have limited-slip.

So a good set of all season tires will work for where you live. The Continental PureContact with EcoPlus is a great all season tire that works well in light snow. I'm sure by the time real snow returns there may be better options as well.

 

[nerp]

Thx for the insight keep comments coming!

I can get a new 2013 2.0t performance package with cold weather, navi, driver assist for 38k$ before haggling due to incentives and usaa. I think this price is OK. My wife liked it too. She was surprised that an "American" car could look and drive so decently.

Is awd not really needed so long as decent winter tires are used? I'm used to the old school "rear wheel drive sucked for slippery conditions" but that is only based on hearsay. I've always had fwd and awd...

It's going to take a good 10 years before the average person no longer things American = Crap. New people every day come to the realization but there's still a long road ahead. Cadillac is finally at a point where their rebuilding effort that started in 2003 is finally paying dividends. Lincoln is on like, year 1 of that effort.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Buddy got one as a loaner while his car was in for service a couple weeks ago. I like it alot. Plenty quick, attractive, nice interior, well balanced and responsive. Control layout was fairly intuitive and infotainment system usable by normal humans. Heads up display was cool. Service at the San Antonio dealer was top notch. If I was in the market I'd put as ATS at the top of a short list.

 

[drbrock]

I rented one from Hertz but I am not sure if it had the 2.0T engine. It probably had the base engine. Both my friend and I thought it was horrible. We drove it for 14 total hours. The radio with touchscreen was very hard to use. Nothing was logical. I thought Fords implementation is far superior. The only thing I thought was really good was how the phone connected to the system. Never had anything connect that quick and easy.

The interior size is very small. No way can you fit 4 adult males comfortably. Trust me we tried in short spurts and all of them complained. The girls we would bring home from the bars or we would meet up with all thought the car was sharp. The exterior and interior looks of this car are incredible. I would put it against any interior under 100k. Once you got past the looks everything went downhill.

I come from a TL my buddy has an E class. I know our cars are in a different class size. But I would implore you to maybe look at the CTS before heading to the ATS if you like the Caddy look. I think the ATS is beautiful but there are better options out there. Heck for 38k I would go for a fully loaded accord coupe 5 speed. Or a barely used TL. Or a wild card beast mode of a Mustang GT but that is my dream lol probably not yours.

Edit: I reread your original post saying you are going to put 25k a year on the car. No way I would choose an ATS. You are in the car way too much. When you get on the longer commutes the seats really start to wear on you. Both of us had issues being uncomfortable in the seats for long periods of time. Something that does not happen to us in our TL, E Class, Camry, and Titan. Def rent one and spend a week with it before you buy it. We had ours for 4 days and it only cost us 198 bucks.

 

[Jimzz]

I rented one from Hertz but I am not sure if it had the 2.0T engine. It probably had the base engine.

It probably did have the base motor. The ATS that hertz had was the base models. I looked into renting one when we were car shopping.

Even National had the base motor in their ATS rental.

 

[drbrock]

It probably did have the base motor. The ATS that hertz had was the base models. I looked into renting one when we were car shopping.

Even National had the base motor in their ATS rental.

I can get over the engine. Even though it did get pretty bad gas mileage. What bothered me the most was the size and comfort of the interior.

If the OP loves it good for him. Just figured I would put my .02 cent in. It appears most people like it.

 

[Jimzz]

I can get over the engine. Even though it did get pretty bad gas mileage. What bothered me the most was the size and comfort of the interior.

If the OP loves it good for him. Just figured I would put my .02 cent in. It appears most people like it.

My wife is Asian so for her it was a great fit, all 5' 90pounds of her.

I also thought it was tight but I like tight fitting cars. My first car was a modified Firebird and my now fun car is a 73 Corvette.

 

[drbrock]

God I hate you. Asian wife and a corvette/cts combo... Your life can't get any better unless you pick up the new stingray lol.

 

[Jimzz]

God I hate you. Asian wife and a corvette/cts combo... Your life can't get any better unless you pick up the new stingray lol.

Ha... my wife had a 2001 C5 years ago. Had to give it up when she got pregnant. She was mad about that. She got her Mercedes, E350, though but after 1 year we sold it and she never wants another European car.

But yea we could afford a new car, even a C7, but paying off the house and retiring early is a bigger goal for us. Even thought about chipping in more to get a ATS but the house/retirement comes first. Then like a pair of old timers we will move to Florida.

Even my BiL's want to get a ATS and they drive a 2005 and 2006 STS's. Other than the base motor I really like the ATS.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2012-bmw-328i-vs-2013-cadillac-ats-comparison-test

328i 2.0T vs ATS 2.0T

ATS handles well, but is somewhat slow. CUE is bad.

 

[Tiamat]

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2012-bmw-328i-vs-2013-cadillac-ats-comparison-test

328i 2.0T vs ATS 2.0T

ATS handles well, but is somewhat slow. CUE is bad.

Yup, I drove a BMW today and liked it even more. Gonna pull the trigger on a 2013 335i m trim fully loaded with lip, diffuser, spoiler tomorrow. Both my wife and I were very thrilled by every aspect of this car. Enough to warrant a 12k budget increase. Price seems good due to usaa and incentives. 9k$ off msrp before haggling.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Edit: I reread your original post saying you are going to put 25k a year on the car. No way I would choose an ATS. You are in the car way too much. When you get on the longer commutes the seats really start to wear on you. Both of us had issues being uncomfortable in the seats for long periods of time. Something that does not happen to us in our TL, E Class, Camry, and Titan. Def rent one and spend a week with it before you buy it. We had ours for 4 days and it only cost us 198 bucks.

Seating really does depend on the person though. I'm more comfortable in my 1999 Camaro's basic seat for 2 hours than in my Dad's previous 04 Camry with a full power seat weird I know, but it just did not fit me well.

I haven't driven his 2010 yet. My mom thinks the passenger seat is better on it though than the old one so maybe they've fixed whatever was weird with the 04's seats.

 

[Tiamat]

I rented one from Hertz but I am not sure if it had the 2.0T engine. It probably had the base engine. Both my friend and I thought it was horrible. We drove it for 14 total hours. The radio with touchscreen was very hard to use. Nothing was logical. I thought Fords implementation is far superior. The only thing I thought was really good was how the phone connected to the system. Never had anything connect that quick and easy.

The interior size is very small. No way can you fit 4 adult males comfortably. Trust me we tried in short spurts and all of them complained. The girls we would bring home from the bars or we would meet up with all thought the car was sharp. The exterior and interior looks of this car are incredible. I would put it against any interior under 100k. Once you got past the looks everything went downhill.

I come from a TL my buddy has an E class. I know our cars are in a different class size. But I would implore you to maybe look at the CTS before heading to the ATS if you like the Caddy look. I think the ATS is beautiful but there are better options out there. Heck for 38k I would go for a fully loaded accord coupe 5 speed. Or a barely used TL. Or a wild card beast mode of a Mustang GT but that is my dream lol probably not yours.

Edit: I reread your original post saying you are going to put 25k a year on the car. No way I would choose an ATS. You are in the car way too much. When you get on the longer commutes the seats really start to wear on you. Both of us had issues being uncomfortable in the seats for long periods of time. Something that does not happen to us in our TL, E Class, Camry, and Titan. Def rent one and spend a week with it before you buy it. We had ours for 4 days and it only cost us 198 bucks.

Thanks for your input. I rethought this and will split driving time between this car and the Lexus during the week to ease the mileage accumulation.