Review and video: My 2001 Cadillac Seville STS

[Jesda]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0BSC7E4MYU[/youtube]

The written review with photos and more information is here:
http://jesda.com/2011/04/06/review-and- ... ville-sts/

[MinisterofDOOM]

Absolutely one of the best looking cars ever produced. I love the Northstar for what it does well. Unfortunately the FWD layout means there are always going to be more appealing alternatives for me. I'd rather have an E39 or 2nd gen LS because they blend more agility with the refinement.

But, the Northstar sounds better (and louder) than the over-muffled AJ35 I listen to every day. And the Seville has a MUCH more modern and functional IP and center stack, despite being an older design. Seville also offers much better rear-seat space, which is definitely lacking in the LS. I couldn't sit behind myself in the LS, I probably could in the Seville.

"6th gen" STS, though...THAT's a car I intend to own one day. The power goes to the right wheels, but most everything else its predecessors did right remains the same. Much like the 5th gen Seville, the styling takes established Caddy cues and refines them. It's distinctive but classy. While the first-gen CTS was brash, the STS is restrained. I will be replacing my lincoln with a V-badged Caddy in a year or two, and it may well be an STS. The auto transmission still puts me off, but the 440 ft-lb of torque beckon irresistably.

Oh, the video reminded me how much I hate seat-mounted shoulder belts, too. Being a really tall guy who generally adjusts b-pillar mounted belt hangers as high as they go, I usually find the seat-anchored belts uncomfortable. They tend to bite into the shoulder more because they loop back over more directly. The ones in my dad's Trailblazer are really low, with no adjustment. Bad design. I imagine the purpose is to allow for safe seatbelt fitment regardless of seat positioning, but it really just trades one downside for another.

I really wish I had access to a half-decent video camera to do a review like this for my LS.

[Jesda]

I'm really disappointed that the longer SLS isn't sold here.

The seat belt shoulder height is power-adjustable, but I've never played with it to see how far up it goes.


I used a $29 camera mount and two short bungee cords to mount the camera. The camera itself is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3. Its average for images (I prefer Kodak and Canon color reproduction) but the video quality is excellent. And the camera's AVCHD format imports directly into iMovie.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Dude you actually SOUND thinner. Also, I am disappointed in the trousers you are wearing.

And THAT is some truly astronomical depreciation.