16th Dec 2006, 15:13

Um, well, you don't buy a 5 series for "comfort" as much as for its handling. My 5 series was great on the highway and very comfortable, by the way. And when it came to the twisties I left a lot of other cars in the dust.

If you want comfort, buy a DTS.

27th Dec 2006, 10:37

I've been waiting for a few years now to purchase a used CTS. i, like everyone else know that the resale value of north american cars drops fairly quickly in the first 5 years of ownership. I've never owned a new luxury car. I simply can't afford it. I like GM and a used GM is OK for me. if I wanted to spend the same money on something like a used BMW I would likely have to add another 10 years to the car. who wants a 1990 bmw with 200,000+km on it? not me. yes, sometimes cadillac has some cheap interior stuff, but as another reviewer pointed out, it is also far less money out of my pocket to purchase as well. if I paid top dollar for a BMW I would expect very few problems, if any. the BMW reviews I have read don't always show this. I expect a few issues from a cadillac, not from a BMW.

Final comment, buying a used CTS is right for me because of price. it looks good to me and when it needs repair I can find a garage anywhere that is able to fix it. you can't say the same of BMW.

31st Dec 2006, 18:24

Two friends of mine just HAD to have BMW's so they bought used ones with almost 80,000 miles on them. (both were 5 series). Both have had nothing but trouble with them, and neither wants another one. Where the idea that GM cars are unreliable comes from is beyond me. Our family still owns and drives a Pontiac that my late father owned. It is FIFTY-TWO YEARS OLD. It had one engine rebuild at 150,000 miles (rings and rod bearings). The 4-speed hydramatic transmission has never been touched. My wife and I currently drive a Pontiac and a GMC. Neither has ever seen the inside of a service department except for oil changes, and both are approaching 60,000 miles now. Even several automotive magazines and Consumer Reports rate the reliability of several Mercedes and BMW models as far worse than GM models.

19th Jan 2007, 20:58

Go with the used CTS.

The best cars in the world to buy used are domestic sedans because of rapid depreciation, whereas the best new cars to buy are sporty cars such as the Mustang. I just checked pricing on used 2005 Mustangs here and they are selling for the same price as they are charging for the new 2007's. On the other hand, you can pick up a really nice used CTS for almost 10 grand less than new list.

My last car purchase was a 2-year-old GM sedan that I bought for just over HALF of its initial list price. It has performed flawlessly with nary a problem for 60,000 miles now.

One thing I HIGHLY advise, though. BUY FROM A RENTAL CAR AGENCY. Their cars are well maintained, usually rented and driven by responsible adults, and have been inspected and certified free of any problems. My family has bought 3 former rental cars, and all have been absolutely flawless and very trouble-free. One (a Buick) went 230,000 miles with nary a problem.

20th Jan 2007, 09:24

Sorry, I've been on too many business trips to ever consider purchasing a rental car. They are severely abused by the renters and aren't really taken care of by the rental car agencies no matter what they tell you. Plus, auto manufacturers ship their cheapest and lowest quality cars to the rental car agencies, so you are getting a bad car to begin with.

Best buy is a private sale, preferably one owner, with known history and has been inspected.

Think about it. Would you rather have a car with a few (or maybe even one) driver or one with 100's of drivers?

Be wary of "certified" used cars from the dealer as the claims vary from one manufacturer to another.

23rd Jan 2007, 11:02

Comment 09:24 is definitely NOT fact based or even logical.

Buy from a PRIVATE SELLER??? Sure, and have NO IDEA what you're getting, no warranty and no way of knowing if the seller's 16-year-old son street raced the car.

As for rental cars, they most certainly are NOT "the cheapest models you can get". All three of our former rental vehicles has been fully loaded with all luxury options and in absolute MINT condition, as well as having a warranty. Not one has ever had a single problem, and the purchase price was 8 to 12 thousand below the original purchase price of these vehicles.

A local dealership here markets high-end luxury rental cars such as the CTS and Lincoln Town cars, as well as Volvo and Jaguar. All have every conceivable options, including leather and sun roofs, and all come with a warranty.

I have read comments advising people not to buy rental vehicles, and I have no idea where this myth started. People who rent high-end vehicles are mature adults and most definitely DO NOT abuse them.

As for the agencies not taking care of them, that is absurd. Why would they not take care of their investments?? Other members of my family have also purchased rental vehicles (usually high-end sedans) and not a one of them has ever had a single problem. If we were talking about rental Mustangs or Cobalts, I might agree that younger renters might have abused them, but people who rent a CTS DO NOT street race it or do burn outs from stoplights.

23rd Jan 2007, 11:29

I see, so it's better to get a car with 100's of previous drivers than one with a single-owner history. And your logic also implies that not a single teenager or aggressive driver would ever drive a rental car. Please.

And you'll also have to explain the various articles I've read that state the Big Three are on a push to STOP selling low-end cars to rental car agencies since that is the majority of what they sell. You'll also have to explain why the Chevy Cobalt I rented on Cape Cod at a premium (since it was a limited market) had manual windows, no power door locks, basic stereo, and cheap interior. According to you that's impossible.

Rental car agencies have no real obligation to care for these cars other than basic maintenance. And most of that maintenance is done by some young kid who is working on a CTS at the same time he's working on a Hyundai.

Then there is the gas issue. People who rent cars look for the cheapest gas possible, which means the engine is exposed to the worst abuse. No one is going to put premium gas into a CTS if they can get away with not doing it.

Of course, you're probably the same type of person who would take a BMW to a Jiffy Lube for an oil change.

No thanks, I'll get a used car that was worked on by a specialist in the brand, and an owner who put proper gas and oil into the car.

But keep on believing your myths.