Seville STS: American Cruis(ing) Missile

by Ryan Scott, MBA2

Cadillac has had a lot of fun shooting at the competition, hiring Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue) to harass BMW and Lexus buyers, "and you paid how much for that car?"

in their latest TV ads. It is a good point, the 1998 Seville STS delivers 300 hp, lots of high tech, including the stunning StabiliTrak, a feature that makes for a particularly telling argument in the Michigan winter.

But how does this car fit in, both for Cadillac, and in the $45K-$55K club. Well for Cadillac, the STS is the technological tour de force, the one vehicle that shows that Cadillac can still compete with any takers, Japanese, German, or American. Within this club, some formidable cars, including the Lexus GS 400, the BMW 540I, and Mercedes E420, can be found, as can others such as the Jaguar XJ8. Our test car started at $47,660 and arrived at our door with options at $50,489. Notable options included the Adaptive Seats and extra wood trim.

The Cadillac is an American interpretation of how luxury and performance meet in this segment. And it is a compelling definition. First, the Caddy is front-wheel drive, after all, we Americans do have a lot of bad weather. Next it brings a big horsepower Northstar V8 to bat, hitting 300 hp with a sound that only American iron (aluminum, in this case) can make. It also includes a lot of gee-gaw technology, whether it is the gigundous Bose stereo with 425 watts and Digital Signal Processing, or the much more useful StabiliTrak system.

StabiliTrak: Decisive Synergy

Let's talk about StabiliTrak. The Caddy is laden with all sorts of suspension and yaw sensors that detect what the vehicle is doing compared to what the driver wants. Nothing new here. But in concert with front-wheel drive, StabiliTrak allows Cadillac to create a total package that is not rivaled by any competitor above.

So what does this mean to you? OK, so you work in Detroit and you live in Ann Arbor. Between you is 53 miles of snow covered I-94. Which car do you want? Trust me, you want the STS. Forget even the Explorer, the only car I would take instead would be the Mercedes M-Class, which is not even a car, but has four-wheel drive and Mercedes' excellent stability system keeping me out of the gutter. StabiliTrak is a decisive advantage in any northern climate.

StabiliTrak in the dry makes a big car feel a little more comfortable when tossed around. The first time into a ramp, you realize that you are going too slow, the car is not even challenged. Lean a little harder on the Go pedal and the car stays flat and keeps asking for more. Eventually understeer from the big front-driver sets in and the driver lifts. The whole thing is amazingly controlled and calm. While the absolute numbers are not as high, the big Caddy corners like a much smaller sports car. After stepping out of the Lexus GS 400 into this, the tail-happy antics of the GS are a distant, scary memory, replaced with total control. StabiliTrak is a still a decisive advantage in the dry.

A Conservative Statement

The exterior of the Seville STS is only mildly refined from the last STS. The car can be distinguished by its chunkier appearance and revised tail lights. Inside, Cadillac has improved on a solid design, notably adding a fluorescent instrument panel display much like those found on a Lexus. Ergonomics throughout are excellent, large clearly marked switches are easy to find especially at night.

Then there are the Adaptive Seats. A $1200 option, these seats promise to give the driver and front passenger the ride of their lives, so to speak. Though the seats contain the usual myriad of power adjustments, they also have a special switch that triggers the adaptive mode.

Once activated, this mode adjusts a series of air bladders to conform lovingly to every miscellaneous curve of your backside. It then adjusts every two minutes as you shift about over a long drive.

OK, so it works. But is it better than a really good seat that one would already expect in a car in this price range? No. Is it fun to hear and feel air bladders subtly rising and falling under your butt every two minutes? All depends on what you call fun. Either way the seats are plenty comfortable.

Cruising Down the Road

Back on the highway, the adaptive seats merrily doing their jobs, miles are easily devoured in this machine. The growl of the V8, a little louder than one might expect, breaks the monotony of the NPR broadcast one feels compelled to listen to while driving any car with a "trash receptacle" (little trash can) at the passenger's right foot.

Speaking of downshifts, the transmission, a four speed automatic continues the General's heritage of super-smooth upshifts and downshifts, whether triggered by your right foot reaching for the floor mat or by a manual selection from the center console shifter. No automanual transmission like the one found in the GS 400 is available yet.

The STS does not feel as strong the 300 hp and 290 lb ft of torque from the 4.6 liter motor would suggest. The problem? The STS is a big car. At 4100 pounds, it weighs in more than 500 pounds heavier than the GS 400, for example. The Northstar is certainly a world class engine, but, it probably needs a bump to 340 hp to bring competitive acceleration to the fray. Still, 0-60 in the high six-second range is not slow.

Brakes in the Seville STS are strong, the four wheel disks are no doubt aided by the appropriately sized 235/50-R16 Goodyear Eagle LSs. Stops from 60 arrive in 140 ft. ABS, as part of the StabiliTrak package, is always on duty.

The Overall Package

This STS is a really strong competitor in a brilliant field. It brings a little different mix of features to the party. The StabiliTrak by itself sets this car apart. Cadillac needs to make no excuses for this car. It is all there. Our only concerns continue to center on build quality. Our very abused press car had more shudders than I would have liked; however there were no creaks or rattles, which suggests that the car is fundamentally well-built.

To make the right call amongst the crowd of wonderful sedans in this $45-55 club simply boils down to personal preference.

There are no dogs, a bit of a new concept in a class where there has always seemed to be a straggler vehicle. You are wise to choose the Caddy if Michigan winters are something you enjoy, the feel of American luxury (which is quite good) appeals to you, and you are not looking for an all-out performance machine, but rather a fun, eminently capable vehicle that you can drive every day of the year.

StabiliTrak and the Northstar System make this Seville STS fully buzz-word compliant. They also make it go like stink and handle like a car two sizes lighter.

Perhaps the nicest American interior on the road today. Great leather, nice wood, tasteful all around. Except for the $500 wooden optional shift knob.

Executive Summary

1999 Cadillac Seville STS

http://www.cadillac.com

Sticker (as tested): $50,489

Under the Hood:

Configuration V8

FWD

Horsepower 300 hp

Torque 295 lb ft

The Numbers:

0-60 6.7 sec

60-0 140 ft

Skidpad .82g

Mileage 17/26

Competition:

Mercedes-Benz E430

Lexus GS400

BMW 540i

Lincoln Continental

Buy Recommendation:

OVERALL (out of 5) JJJ

Features Excellent

Quality Excellent

Value Pass

Performance Good

Comfort Excellent

FUN Good