Expecting Too Much With To Little? Cadillac Loses Third Sales Chief In Two Years

I wonder if he was fired for not delivering the sales numbers, or if he quit because he saw he was in a no-win situation.

He saw a no win situation I'd bet. Making V Series versions of everything is great for magazine tests/comparisons, but makes for lousy sales for the brand overall. They need more models. The Germans and now even Lexus are branching out like crazy. Cadillac still isn't close to being competitive at every level with the Germans and Lexus yet. The ELR is a joke, esp at that price. The ATS coupe is a dullard flop waiting to happen. Who approved that? This new full size sedan due next year had better be the real deal otherwise you can forget competing with the new S, refreshed A8 and the new 7-Series next year. GM is too cheap and doesn't know how to make a car like a Mercedes S or Audi A8. They got the sporting aspect right big time, but the rest of car, like the ATS for example, is lacking.

You gotta love a guy who's name is "Benzes1" saying everyone elses products are junk. Screw you... I've had 5 Mercedes cars in my life and their cars priced below, say $70K are no better than anyother cars. The new CTS beats the E Class in multiple tests, that goes for the 5 Series too. They used to be benchmarks but they're not any longer. They cannot build cars like they USED too, and sell them for a competitive price. My W124 was the last of the cost is no object engineered Mercedes cars. The new CTS is not being heavily discounted nor is the ATS. The ATS is priced competitively and below the current 3 and current C. Shop them, its a lower priced car regardless of what you think. Cadillac is still rebuilding, yes they're not on either end or in every space, but they're not trying to be on either end right now. Just because Mercedes comes our with the pathetic CLA, which is really a crappy car, that makes another marque behind the curve? Suppose Cadillac should start working on an A Class, or a B Class... and Lexus & Infiniti need one too or they're behind the curve. What a bunch of crap. Cadillac has a large sedan in the works and it will be competitive, everything else is more than competitive, save the unique ELR. They're cars are competitive and worth the price. You've never driven them, you don't know what yyou're talking about and our opinion is irrelevant. Your comments are like @$$ holes, everyone has one but... except yours stinks.

— W124E320

Yep the CTS beats the E at the magazines, but can't on the showroom floor. A Mercedes is better than any junk GM has to keep recalling over and over to fix one problem after another. GM is for Garbage Motors. What world do you live in because it isn't this one? The ATS and CTS are heavily discounted, are you nuts? They don't sell for the same prices as any of the German cars. Dream on. The only Mercedes you can pick on is the CLA. Try again. Yep which makes your opinion also if they're like aholes. I've driven all of them over the last year and besides handling they're the same old cheap arse GM cars they've always been. Engine whine when the air is switched on, cheap plastics, stupid noises coming from the suspension, and wheezy I4 and V6 engines. JUNK.

OK so "sales" means the one the sells the most is the best? So the Nissan GT-R is crap because the Mercedes SL sells more? The CTS-V is crap because the E63 sells more? Your comments are the equivalent of a 5th grade evaluation. Show me a link that shows GM providing huge incentives on the ATS & CTS? If you can I'll believe you and concede that point. There may be incentives, but they're not huge. Cadillac transaction prices are not as high as the Germans but they're close and a lot higher than they were, signifying folks are more than willing to pay more for better cars. So that argument again, doesn't prove they're "better". Wheezy... you sound like George Jefferson... the Mercedes C250 and C350 are turbo engines while the 3.6 ATS/CTS mill is normally aspirated. Its power flow is much better than the 6 in either the 3 Series or the current C. The Turbo's cannot match the seamless power flow of a normally aspirated engine. The 250 engine isn't worthy of Mercedes or Daihatsu for that matter and it’s going to die. Personally I love the current C Class, its built like a tank, but its obsolete compared to the ATS, it just is, sorry. Drive them both and its clear. The C250 is a terrible set up, that engine is just awful in that car. However the 2.0T in the ATS & CTS is rated @ 270bhp, it’s a great engine, and has more power than the 4 in the C or the 2.8 TT in the 3 Series. Finally, it is hard to get a good deal on the C/3 & E/5. When spending your own money, economics count. So you're saying since the Germans charge more, and can’t really get a “good” deal, but you CAN strike a good deal on an ATS and a CTS, that means the German cars are better? Again, your bias is not a foundation for a good argument. You sound like a child and I suspect your using your mom’s lap top while she's at work. You just said, "Yep the CTS beats the E at the magazines" I would add it also beats the 5 Series. THAT'S the argument... unbiased car people are rating these Cadillac better than the Germans... we're talking about "BETTER" here, not any other category. They're BETTER! Better product will bring higher transaction prices, and higher sales. I've already stated Cadillac is rebuilding and if you don't know that, than you are in 5th grade. The key to success in the car business product, product, product... then some marketing. Reputations can be changed as BMW is experiencing. The current 3 & 5 are lauded as poseur sport sedans and not true to the legacy that build BMW. Mercedes struggled for years with quality and engineering glitches. Do I think they're fine cars, absolutely. There were no Cadillac's I'd have purchased prior to the ATS and the new CTS. These cars are truly globally competitive regardless of some silly bully in the school yard stomping his feet and saying, “they are not, they are not.. I’m right and you’re wrong”. Grow up.

They priced the ATS way wrong. It's pretty much priced on par with the Germans when it should have been placed lower in price to buy sales. The pricing seems reasonable at first glance, but add in even modest options and you hit $40K. Throw in the V6 and cha ching cha ching cha ching. A fully optioned V6 comes in around $57K which is ridiculous. If it were say $42K and they took a loss on every one, THAT would buy Cadillac's way into the market.

To break into a segment, you buy your way in. Cadillac did that with two generations of the CTS and just now can they charge "German" prices without laughter.

The fact that the ATSV and CTSV are taking so long to come to market isn't helping. The lack of a Ciel/Elmiraj level vehicle is epic. A new XLR on a lengthened Corvette chassis with unusable back seats is necessary as well.

Cadillac IS putting out product that is equal to the Germans with the ATS and CTS, but that cannot erase easily the automotive bigotry/prejudice of buyers biased in favor of the Germans.

Totally agree. Cadillac got too cocky too quickly.

All wrong. The CTS is being discounted and slow selling because it is over priced also. A roadster based on the Corvette has never worked, nor did the Allante. Until GM/Cadillac understand that it take a complete re-think and separation from their old ways, they will never beat or even get even with the Germans in the market. Look at the new S-Class Benz or the new 2-Series BMWs. Cadillac doesn't have it on either end to compete. Sure they've made some great sport sedans, but the real world buyers don't care about slaloms and outright grip and speed like the magazines do. They need a large crossover, a big sedan (coming next year), a real luxury sports roadster, a 4-seat convertible, and some other exclusive models. Until they flush out their product line they can't have it. And the prices they're charging are ridiculous. The ELR needs to be cancelled ASAP, it will never sell at that stupid price.

Benzes1 - Don't you know you cannot compete with MattDarringer? Matt, as usual you're spot on! GM is making strides and needs to keep moving forward. Cadillac needs more product, that's clear to everyone. That said Infiniti needs new products, Lexus needs new products, Audi needs new products... The market is perhaps the fastest changing in automotive history and competition is incredibly fierce.

Their engines from the engineering department are engineered awful. WE HAVE A NICE 6.2 LITTER V8 BUT WE WON'T USE THAT BIG EXPENSIVE PRICY MOTOR. No we will use a POS inline 4 from the Chevy Colbalt days and turbocharge it a little more or a little less! lol