# $250,000 Cadillac made entirely of aluminum, with 1,000-horsepower, V-16 **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 5, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812 "2003-01-05T20:57:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/1 "2003-01-05T20:57:36Z")
Visionary genuis or marketing madness? What do you think about this car? [Top pic](http://www.msnbc.com/news/854650.asp?0bl=-0) [16-Cylinder Caddy in the Works](http://www.royfoss.com/news/jul_2001/16cyl_caddy.htm) > [@](#): > > There’ll be some sportiness to the setup, but much of that power will go to simply pulling around the massive 212.0-inch-long vehicle. For perspective, the V-16 car is only about seven inches shorter than a Chevy Suburban. But it should be nimbler than any car of this size, since it will use Delphi’s four-wheel-steering system, currently available on several full-size GM trucks. The system will ease low-speed handling and sharpen highway steering. That steering, along with the throttle, is part of a new drive-by-wire system. > > To lighten the load, much of the car’s structure and body panels will be made of aluminum. All four doors permit 90-degree openings, allowing grand entry to a lavish interior. > > Rear-seat passengers will do well in the V-16. The back seats recline and have foot and leg rests so the passengers can chill out and enjoy the big Bose sound system, watch DVD entertainment, or indulge in one of the offerings from the Generation 5 OnStar telematics program. Need more electronics? The V-16’s head, tail, and brake lights are all LEDs, digital cameras replace rearview mirrors, and the foot pedals are power adjustable. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/2 "2003-01-05T21:31:35Z")
They should build the [V-12 Cien](http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/02images/cien1.jpg) instead. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/3 "2003-01-05T21:46:39Z")
I imagine the idea is to compete with the new Rolls Phantom, soon available at approximately $0.33 million. Makes sense from that standpoint. Nothing I’d be able to buy, though. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/4 "2003-01-05T22:49:54Z")
All aluminum, huh? What’s it weigh, 35 pounds? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/5 "2003-01-05T23:08:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*All aluminum, huh? What’s it weigh, 35 pounds? 🙂 \*\* Yep, and when you want to park in a narrow space, you can just pick it up and stand it on the back bumper. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/6 "2003-01-05T23:10:47Z")
Personally, I find the very idea of owning a $250,000 car pretentious and sort of disgusting. There’s no reason on God’s Green Earth to own such an expensive automobile, other than to “impress.” Simply put, it’s posturing and bragging of the most laughable sort. Off the top of my head, I can think of a dozen things more worthy of that money. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/7 "2003-01-06T02:18:55Z")
Howyadoin, I’m a lifelong Caddy lover, and owner of a 1993 STS. I’m sick and tired of Cadillac getting sand kicked in it’s face on behalf of the entire American car industry. To see gussied-up Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans come from nowhere to a position closer to the apex of automotive perfection than Cadillac, Lincoln and Chrysler is disgusting. I’d love nothing more than to see Cadillac quit making excuses about not producing cars like the Cien and the Sixteen and get off their asses. Since about 1992, Cadillac has started to get its act together. The 1992-1998 STS, ETC and Deville Concours and 1998-present STS and DTS don’t get a lot of respect from the buff books for being front wheel drive cars, but in my eyes they are a realistic approach to building a 300HP, all season grand tourer that will pin your ears back at the press of a toe, and handle in a manner that doesn’t induce seasickness. I’ve put 50,000 miles on my STS in a little over 2 years, including a road trip to the Indy 500, a grand tour of Nova Scotia, and numerous other tours, and I couldn’t have asked for a better traveling companion. It’s also my daily driver, and it’s never let me down there either. The level of engineering that goes into these cars, and particularly into the Northstar powertrain, is impressive. Execution is more often than not the problem. Hopefully Cadillac will learn a thing or two from sharing the Bowling Green, KY assembly plant (home of the no-excuses supercar, the Corvette) to build the new XLR (read Eldorado) roadster. There is little argument that cars like the Corvette Z06 are every bit the equal of the other thoroughbreds of the sports car market, perhaps even superior in livability; not just a rich guy’s trailer queen. Cadillac needs to learn not just from the European and Asian marques, but also to borrow a page from the successful ventures of other GM divisions. Adding to this a commitment to awaken their own history of no-compromises engineering, they have a fighting chance. -Rav ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@Lady\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Ice)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/8 "2003-01-06T03:13:10Z")
Another life long Caddy lover here \*\* The Raven \*\*, even if I can’t afford one yet. Guess it comes from growing up a GM brat. I cried when they shut down Oldsmobile. Granted, it wasn’t what it once was, but that was because of GM miscues in my opinion. Messing with the Cutlass was the beginning of the end, but I digress. As far as this new V-16 Cadillac goes, I think I’m in love. If they are showing this at the International Auto Show in Detroit later this month, I am so there. Does anyone know if they are? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/9 "2003-01-06T03:15:11Z")
If you crashed that thing at its top speed, the tow truck guy would probably be able to fit the wreckage in his glove compartment. ---
**Author:** ![Hrdygrdymn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Hrdygrdymn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrdygrdymn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/10 "2003-01-06T03:24:41Z")
This really creeped me out. My name really IS Bob Lutz. Now my reputation is being staked on a $1/4 aluminum car. Doh! ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/11 "2003-01-06T03:28:01Z")
Does GM need to compete _that much_ with Mercedes’ Maybach? ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/12 "2003-01-06T04:11:35Z")
As long as Cadillac (and Lincoln, and Chrysler (esp. Chrysler)) are trying to play “catch-up”, they won’t - whether they try to imitate Mercedes or Rolls-Royce, or whoever. If I want a Mercedes, I’ll buy a Mercedes. If I want a Rolls, I’ll buy a Rolls. (but not in this lifetime 🙂 ) Make your OWN market - don’t try to imitate somebody else. But, from a technical perspective, if it IS all aluminum, cool - that’s an achievement ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/13 "2003-01-06T04:22:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*Personally, I find the very idea of owning a $250,000 car pretentious and sort of disgusting. There’s no reason on God’s Green Earth to own such an expensive automobile, other than to “impress.” Simply put, it’s posturing and bragging of the most laughable sort. Off the top of my head, I can think of a dozen things more worthy of that money. \*\* What is your $ cutoff point between a nice new car and pretnetious/disgusting? ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/14 "2003-01-06T08:46:00Z")
Doesn’t the Audi A8 feature an all aluminum frame and body? Cadillac is in serious trouble, the people that have been buying their cars for decades are leaving the market in caskets. They are trying to play catch up and appeal to younger car buyers, but with offerings like the defect ridden Caterra they have a long way to go. I personally hope they turn things around, we need at least one genuine American luxury car manufacturer and Cadillac has a great history behind it. A 1000 Horsepower V16 is cool no matter who makes it. ;\> ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/15 "2003-01-06T14:28:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > \*\*What is your $ cutoff point between a nice new car and pretnetious/disgusting? \*\* If Lissa can afford it, it’s nice. If Lissa can’t, it’s pretentious and/or disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/16 "2003-01-06T17:34:38Z")
Dear god, a hideous gas guzzling behemouth. Just the kind of environmental responsibility I expect out of Detroit. I’m a massive hypocrite though. I’d buy a Humvee in a heartbeat. If I could afford it, I wouldn’t buy the Caddy. I guess that’s what’s important. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/17 "2003-01-06T17:44:15Z")
Who’d of thought they could make a bunch of beer cans any prettier? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/18 "2003-01-06T21:44:41Z")
Speaking of beer cans, with California’s mandatory deposit on aluminum cans, do you think this car will also require a 5 cent deposit? I say, if you got the money, go ahead and buy it. I’ll wait and pick it up a few years later on a used car lot for only $185,000. Course, by then the silk interior will probably need a good cleaning and I’ll have to scrape off the KISS FM bumper sticker. Course, a few years later the damn thing will probably be on cinder blocks out front of the trailer, but who cares…we’ll just let the kids watch Barney on the dvd player in the back seat. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/19 "2003-01-06T22:49:37Z")
> [@](#): > > If Lissa can afford it, it’s nice. > > If Lissa can’t, it’s pretentious and/or disgusting. Honestly, that’s not true. I have a 2003 Cavalier right now. I could afford a much “better” car, but why waste the money just to show off and try to impress people with how much disposable income that I have? Perhaps it’s just that I have a healthy self-esteem, but I see no point in it. As I said, I can think of about a hundred places in which that money could be better put to use. My car is reliable, gets me from A to B with great gas mileage, has that “new car smell” and a decent sound system (considering I spend 99% of the time listening to NPR anyway). What more do I honestly need, considering that there are a hell of a lot of people that don’t even have a reliable car? To use a cliched term, buying a quarter of a million dollar car seems neuvo riche to me, as pointless and posturing as a poodle in pearls. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812/20 "2003-01-07T01:49:31Z")
Lissa, Can you answer my question? (Honestly, not trying to be a dick…I’m just curious.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-cadillac-made-entirely-of-aluminum-with-1-000-horsepower-v-16/146812.md?page=2)