Which engine option should I go with for a 2018-19 Acura TLX ?

[salmon1286]

The car is perfect for me, the only thing I am stuck on is the engine options. The TLX came with either the V6 with the ZF 9 speed auto trans. Or the inline 4 which came with the DCT trans. The engines themselves I'm sure are pretty reliable, however its the transmissions that came with both engines where I am having trouble deciding. Did plenty of research and saw there were some problems with jerking and hard shifting between gears with the ZF 9 speed auto trans but some people had no problems. But the 8 speed DCT trans seemed bulletproof with less problems. However, I really would want to get the V6 because of more power and might be more fun to drive. However reliability is very important to me. Anyone with better car knowledge or knows and experienced these transmissions help me make a decision. I do want more power and maybe the jerking issues with the ZF 9 speed trans aren't as common as I think idk. Or should I stick with the inline 4 that came with the DCT trans? End of the day both power and reliability I value at the same level, just can't decide which engine option to go with depending on the transmission that came with the V6 vs the i4.

 

[optimusprime69]

Not a car guy but reliability is an underrated benefit. You can't enjoy your car when it's on a lift.

 

[crocket]

If you want speed, go with the 6. If you're in the GTA the traffic is so bad that speed isn't necessary. Every light red.

 

[LTO_3]

Take both for a drive. Even though you want more power from the V-6 you might be surprised how much power the inline 4 gives you. If the power difference isn't that significant then go with the 4. Besides better reliability, your mileage will be better and your insurance will be lower.

LTO_3

 

[opieshuffle]

You can't go wrong with Acura. They've been making a V6 that's bulletproof for a long time. (you still see many vintage 3.2 TLs on the road) The 4-banger will be better on gas. As mentioned, if you drive around T.O. there's not much point having more power. Just more gas consumption sitting in traffic. But if you do long road trips on two lane roads where passing cars is is essential, then it's the V6 all day long. Buy the one best suited to you. If you're worried about the transmission, look up the replacement costs of both and let that guide you as well.

Personally... I'd go with the i4 with zero transmission issues.

 

[K Douglas]

I've driven both. There is about a close to 100 BHP difference between the two engines. But you are right the DCT in the 4 is award winning and that would easily be the one I'd choose. Its got enough power for a fun enough drive and it will save you considerably on fuel costs. Not to mention the thousands of dollars of savings on the purchase price.

 

[salmon1286]

You can't go wrong with Acura. They've been making a V6 that's bulletproof for a long time. (you still see many vintage 3.2 TLs on the road) The 4-banger will be better on gas. As mentioned, if you drive around T.O. there's not much point having more power. Just more gas consumption sitting in traffic. But if you do long road trips on two lane roads where passing cars is is essential, then it's the V6 all day long. Buy the one best suited to you. If you're worried about the transmission, look up the replacement costs of both and let that guide you as well.

Personally... I'd go with the i4 with zero transmission issues.

I commute to downtown by train just for work. But drive 90% in oakville where I live, not too much traffic like toronto. Maybe the V6 but gas is something I gotta consider for sure.

 

[salmon1286]

If you want speed, go with the 6. If you're in the GTA the traffic is so bad that speed isn't necessary. Every light red.

I've driven both. There is about a close to 100 BHP difference between the two engines. But you are right the DCT in the 4 is award winning and that would easily be the one I'd choose. Its got enough power for a fun enough drive and it will save you considerably on fuel costs. Not to mention the thousands of dollars of savings on the purchase price.

Yeah there is a difference in hp. Think I am going to test drive both to see if 2 more cylinders is worth it or not. Also so true about GTA traffic, maybe that extra hp isn't really worth it if I'm not going to use it as much as I think.

 

[Normscot]

The car is perfect for me, the only thing I am stuck on is the engine options. The TLX came with either the V6 with the ZF 9 speed auto trans. Or the inline 4 which came with the DCT trans. The engines themselves I'm sure are pretty reliable, however its the transmissions that came with both engines where I am having trouble deciding. Did plenty of research and saw there were some problems with jerking and hard shifting between gears with the ZF 9 speed auto trans but some people had no problems. But the 8 speed DCT trans seemed bulletproof with less problems. However, I really would want to get the V6 because of more power and might be more fun to drive. However reliability is very important to me. Anyone with better car knowledge or knows and experienced these transmissions help me make a decision. I do want more power and maybe the jerking issues with the ZF 9 speed trans aren't as common as I think idk. Or should I stick with the inline 4 that came with the DCT trans? End of the day both power and reliability I value at the same level, just can't decide which engine option to go with depending on the transmission that came with the V6 vs the i4.
View attachment 439228 View attachment 439229

Salmon,
You’ve expressed that BOTH good power and reliability are equally valuable automotive attributes to you. Fun to drive was also written. I am not aware of any engineering deficiencies within either engine/tranny combo in TLX offerings. So jerky or not, reliability issues are not common. Just remember you’re buying an older used car so there’s both good and bad out there in the market. Doesn’t matter what you’re buying, the used car market can be treacherous.The uninitiated should seek guidance from experienced buyers before shopping. Anyways many people would say that the 4 banger’s 200 hp is adequate. And it probably is for those not interested in the high performance of a TRUE SPORT SEDAN. Fun to drive? No doubt for some, it is. To me a 200 hp SPORT SEDAN (which is what the TLX claims to be) is an oxymoron. One poster mentioned the 100 hp difference between the 4 and 6 power plants. That my friend is a large power discrepancy. You have to ask yourself what do you want? A SPORT SEDAN that can walk the talk or something that looks like a SPORT SEDAN that’s all talk and no walk? Only you can answer that. Best of luck in the hunt for the diamond in the rough no matter what your preference.

PS: The above is not advice. It merely points out what your wants and desires appear to be relative to the car you’re interested in. If I was to give you advice on TRUE SPORT SEDANS it would be:

First, be patient and take your time when shopping the used car market. Low mileage for the year, maintenance records, and Carfax reports are key. Don’t be hasty. Beware of lipstick on pigs. Shiny doesn’t necessarily mean good condition.

Then:

Forget that fwd architecture. It’s not conducive to high performance handling. Go for a late teens Cadillac ATS rwd 2.0L Turbo. Best bang for the buck 300 hp used SPORT SEDAN on the market. I own one. You don’t have to take my word for it. Drive one in sport mode then go drive the TLX. Really take the time to go out and drive them both. The difference is night and day. I’ve driven the TLX 6 only (did not notice any jerky shifting) and not the 4. Im not interested in a 200 hp SPORT SEDAN. The TLX 6 felt heavy and floaty. The Caddy is light and lively. You’ll notice it. There’s a couple different variations of the ATS so do some research like you did on the TLX. Try all the ATS and TLX variants of the late teens generations. It takes more than just reading. YOU NEED TO FEEL THEM. The ATS is a true premium Sport Sedan that’s good in the snow with Blizzaks and traction control. And just as luxurious as the TLX. It also rivals BMW 3’s at everything including used pricing. The ATS is more comfortable as well. The seats are great. And 3’s are the world’s SPORT SEDAN benchmark. At least they used to be before the ATS appeared. The reviewer’s at Car and Driver, Motor Trend, etc. are not bullshitters. They are DRIVERS! The ATS is high quality, high performance, and it’s surprisingly affordable used. Because everyone is brainwashed into thinking American cars are crap they don’t resell that well. They are not sub par in the modern age. Especially ATS’s and Mustangs. Dollar for dollar as good or better than anything in the world. Ever noticed how many Mustangs are out there on the roads? It’s because they’re high quality serious performance machines. I’ve got one of those too. It’s also a Turbo 4. Highly recommended if you don’t need four doors. American designed, engineered, and built. Just like Cadillac ATS’s are. Hey if you’ve got deep pockets you can buy the ATS’s modern replacement, the CT4. Arguably the finest SPORT SEDAN on the market today. Of course this advice is only meaningful if you have answered positively the question…Do I want a TRUE SPORT SEDAN? Otherwise disregard everything I wrote and go get that fwd 300 hp TLX or even the 200 hp oxymoron version. Neither one is a TRUE SPORT SEDAN. They’re just family cars with a lot of marketing hype. Doesn’t mean they’re bad automobiles and maybe that type of car suits your purpose. Only one way to find out. Go do some test driving. It’s the fun part of car shopping! Once again good luck in your search for the diamond no matter your choice.

 

[Nickelodeon]

Test drive both, as others have said, but I love the DCT. It dials up the fun factor because you have the equivalent of a manual transmission without the manual clutch. And it's probably best for city driving.

 

[salmon1286]

Salmon,
You’ve expressed that BOTH good power and reliability are equally valuable automotive attributes to you. Fun to drive was also written. I am not aware of any engineering deficiencies within either engine/tranny combo in TLX offerings. So jerky or not, reliability issues are not common. Just remember you’re buying an older used car so there’s both good and bad out there in the market. Doesn’t matter what you’re buying, the used car market can be treacherous.The uninitiated should seek guidance from experienced buyers before shopping. Anyways many people would say that the 4 banger’s 200 hp is adequate. And it probably is for those not interested in the high performance of a TRUE SPORT SEDAN. Fun to drive? No doubt for some, it is. To me a 200 hp SPORT SEDAN (which is what the TLX claims to be) is an oxymoron. One poster mentioned the 100 hp difference between the 4 and 6 power plants. That my friend is a large power discrepancy. You have to ask yourself what do you want? A SPORT SEDAN that can walk the talk or something that looks like a SPORT SEDAN that’s all talk and no walk? Only you can answer that. Best of luck in the hunt for the diamond in the rough no matter what your preference.

PS: The above is not advice. It merely points out what your wants and desires appear to be relative to the car you’re interested in. If I was to give you advice on TRUE SPORT SEDANS it would be:

First, be patient and take your time when shopping the used car market. Low mileage for the year, maintenance records, and Carfax reports are key. Don’t be hasty. Beware of lipstick on pigs. Shiny doesn’t necessarily mean good condition.

Then:

Forget that fwd architecture. It’s not conducive to high performance handling. Go for a late teens Cadillac ATS rwd 2.0L Turbo. Best bang for the buck 300 hp used SPORT SEDAN on the market. I own one. You don’t have to take my word for it. Drive one in sport mode then go drive the TLX. Really take the time to go out and drive them both. The difference is night and day. I’ve driven the TLX 6 only (did not notice any jerky shifting) and not the 4. Im not interested in a 200 hp SPORT SEDAN. The TLX 6 felt heavy and floaty. The Caddy is light and lively. You’ll notice it. There’s a couple different variations of the ATS so do some research like you did on the TLX. Try all the ATS and TLX variants of the late teens generations. It takes more than just reading. YOU NEED TO FEEL THEM. The ATS is a true premium Sport Sedan that’s good in the snow with Blizzaks and traction control. And just as luxurious as the TLX. It also rivals BMW 3’s at everything including used pricing. The ATS is more comfortable as well. The seats are great. And 3’s are the world’s SPORT SEDAN benchmark. At least they used to be before the ATS appeared. The reviewer’s at Car and Driver, Motor Trend, etc. are not bullshitters. They are DRIVERS! The ATS is high quality, high performance, and it’s surprisingly affordable used. Because everyone is brainwashed into thinking American cars are crap they don’t resell that well. They are not sub par in the modern age. Especially ATS’s and Mustangs. Dollar for dollar as good or better than anything in the world. Ever noticed how many Mustangs are out there on the roads? It’s because they’re high quality serious performance machines. I’ve got one of those too. It’s also a Turbo 4. Highly recommended if you don’t need four doors. American designed, engineered, and built. Just like Cadillac ATS’s are. Hey if you’ve got deep pockets you can buy the ATS’s modern replacement, the CT4. Arguably the finest SPORT SEDAN on the market today. Of course this advice is only meaningful if you have answered positively the question…Do I want a TRUE SPORT SEDAN? Otherwise disregard everything I wrote and go get that fwd 300 hp TLX or even the 200 hp oxymoron version. Neither one is a TRUE SPORT SEDAN. They’re just family cars with a lot of marketing hype. Doesn’t mean they’re bad automobiles and maybe that type of car suits your purpose. Only one way to find out. Go do some test driving. It’s the fun part of car shopping! Once again good luck in your search for the diamond no matter your choice.

Yeah the reputation of American cars aren't the best. American reliability stigma really makes me back out, never thought I'd consider Cadillac. But How are the V6 option for the ATS's in terms of reliability? Comes 321hp stock but assuming these are heavy cars. Saw one little older but cheaper than the TLX.

 

[salmon1286]

Test drive both, as others have said, but I love the DCT. It dials up the fun factor because you have the equivalent of a manual transmission without the manual clutch. And it's probably best for city driving.

Yeah no doubt DCT>zf 9 speed auto trans

 

[Normscot]

Yeah the reputation of American cars aren't the best. American reliability stigma really makes me back out, never thought I'd consider Cadillac. But How are the V6 option for the ATS's in terms of reliability? Comes 321hp stock but assuming these are heavy cars. Saw one little older but cheaper than the TLX.
View attachment 439660 View attachment 439659

The V6 is a great tried and true engine design. A buddy of mine had one in his 2012 CTS and said the power was great. The CTS is a bigger heavier version of the ATS. Of course the 6 is a little heavier than the 4 cylinder but all things being equal with regards to the drive system and engine choice, the ATS is lighter than the TLX. Surprising isn’t it? Very few people know anything about the performance attributes of the ATS. Everybody thinks it’s some kinda big heavy grandpa car. It’s so funny to me because I know exactly what it is and it’s far from that stereotype.

Here’s an eye opening tidbit of information for you. Starting in 2016 I believe, the Camaro, a genuine SPORT COUPE, was built on the same platform as the ATS with the exact same 4 and 6 cylinder engines. Yes the upper body and interior were obviously different but the chassis and drivetrains were identical. So basically an ATS is a Camaro with 4 doors and an upscale interior. And Camaros are sports cars. Gives you an Idea of just how sporty the ATS is doesn’t it? Especially from 16-19.

Something to keep in mind during the ATS’s model run is the automatic tranny went from 6 speeds to 8 in 2016 and the V6 got an upgrade in power as well that year. Some other updates happened that year as well to coincide with the new generation Camaro. I have the 2015 automatic 6 speed 2.0 L Turbo 4 cylinder RWD and the entire car has been flawless now at 140 000 kms.

I can’t speak for V6 or AWD maintenance but mine to date includes oil changes and one full brake job. Winter tires and wiper blades elsewhere. That’s it. Bought it new in 15. I’m still on the first set of both summer and winter tires from 10 years ago. They are about done though. Be needing new ones next winter and next summer.

Anyways it’s good to have everything updated if you can afford it so 2016-19 would be nice. Also a word about AWD and RWD. The ATS is available with both drive systems. Do you really need the AWD? Out of 365 days a year how many days does it actually snow enough that the plows and salters can’t keep deep snow off the road? It’s very few. While RWD is admittedly not as good as AWD in deep snow, the RWD is a livelier and lighter feeling car and will still get you to work on winter days when it’s snowing moderately. It takes a lot of snow to stop it. More than 15 cms. Pretty much a blizzard. The odd day the snow is really deep isn’t worth having AWD in my opinion. On days like that unless you have an SUV or a truck you’re going to get stuck no matter what car you’re driving or what drive system it has. AWD is also more expensive to buy and heavier and more complex while requiring more maintenance long term. If you live in the GTA then AWD is not necessary. A foot of snow stops all sedans. My street is full of stuck cars until the plow comes by on the 2 days a year we get a huge snow storm. Every car is stuck. FWD,RWD,AWD,2 doors,4 doors, sedans, sport cars, everything that’s not a high ground clearance suv or truck. Even those porky mini vans that aren’t so mini anymore get stuck in deep snow.

So do you really need to sacrifice the driving feel of a great sport sedan for a few days per year? I don’t. I’m RWD with premium winter tires. Great rubber is key. Blizzaks are awesome winter tires. Get the deep tread ones. Works like a charm 362 days a year. Sure if I lived in North Bay I’d buy something more appropriate for winter there. And it wouldn’t be a car. It would be a truck or an suv. But I don’t so I won’t.

Don’t take my word for it. Google will tell you everything you want to know about all ATS’s over their 7 year model run. The top magazines all reviewed the ATS. There’s lots to read. Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and many others. And don’t forget to drive them. Best.

 

[salmon1286]

The V6 is a great tried and true engine design. A buddy of mine had one in his 2012 CTS and said the power was great. The CTS is a bigger heavier version of the ATS. Of course the 6 is a little heavier than the 4 cylinder but all things being equal with regards to the drive system and engine choice, the ATS is lighter than the TLX. Surprising isn’t it? Very few people know anything about the performance attributes of the ATS. Everybody thinks it’s some kinda big heavy grandpa car. It’s so funny to me because I know exactly what it is and it’s far from that stereotype.

Here’s an eye opening tidbit of information for you. Starting in 2016 I believe, the Camaro, a genuine SPORT COUPE, was built on the same platform as the ATS with the exact same 4 and 6 cylinder engines. Yes the upper body and interior were obviously different but the chassis and drivetrains were identical. So basically an ATS is a Camaro with 4 doors and an upscale interior. And Camaros are sports cars. Gives you an Idea of just how sporty the ATS is doesn’t it? Especially from 16-19.

Something to keep in mind during the ATS’s model run is the automatic tranny went from 6 speeds to 8 in 2016 and the V6 got an upgrade in power as well that year. Some other updates happened that year as well to coincide with the new generation Camaro. I have the 2015 automatic 6 speed 2.0 L Turbo 4 cylinder RWD and the entire car has been flawless now at 140 000 kms.

I can’t speak for V6 or AWD maintenance but mine to date includes oil changes and one full brake job. Winter tires and wiper blades elsewhere. That’s it. Bought it new in 15. I’m still on the first set of both summer and winter tires from 10 years ago. They are about done though. Be needing new ones next winter and next summer.

Anyways it’s good to have everything updated if you can afford it so 2016-19 would be nice. Also a word about AWD and RWD. The ATS is available with both drive systems. Do you really need the AWD? Out of 365 days a year how many days does it actually snow enough that the plows and salters can’t keep deep snow off the road? It’s very few. While RWD is admittedly not as good as AWD in deep snow, the RWD is a livelier and lighter feeling car and will still get you to work on winter days when it’s snowing moderately. It takes a lot of snow to stop it. More than 15 cms. Pretty much a blizzard. The odd day the snow is really deep isn’t worth having AWD in my opinion. On days like that unless you have an SUV or a truck you’re going to get stuck no matter what car you’re driving or what drive system it has. AWD is also more expensive to buy and heavier and more complex while requiring more maintenance long term. If you live in the GTA then AWD is not necessary. A foot of snow stops all sedans. My street is full of stuck cars until the plow comes by on the 2 days a year we get a huge snow storm. Every car is stuck. FWD,RWD,AWD,2 doors,4 doors, sedans, sport cars, everything that’s not a high ground clearance suv or truck. Even those porky mini vans that aren’t so mini anymore get stuck in deep snow.

So do you really need to sacrifice the driving feel of a great sport sedan for a few days per year? I don’t. I’m RWD with premium winter tires. Great rubber is key. Blizzaks are awesome winter tires. Get the deep tread ones. Works like a charm 362 days a year. Sure if I lived in North Bay I’d buy something more appropriate for winter there. And it wouldn’t be a car. It would be a truck or an suv. But I don’t so I won’t.

Don’t take my word for it. Google will tell you everything you want to know about all ATS’s over their 7 year model run. The top magazines all reviewed the ATS. There’s lots to read. Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and many others. And don’t forget to drive them. Best.

Really been doing some research on the ATS, did not expect it to be lighter than the tlx. Great to hear your 2015 6 speed held up pretty well over the years.

 

[Normscot]

Really been doing some research on the ATS, did not expect it to be lighter than the tlx. Great to hear your 2015 6 speed held up pretty well over the years.

It’s my longest owned car. I had two BMW 3’s back to back before it. They both started needing maintenance and tires at 4 years. Traded them both in at 7 years when they needed new tires for the second time. They’re hard on tires. They’re expensive to buy and expensive to fix. I was pissed that these great cars required maintenance so early in their life. That’s how I found the ATS. Never would have gone looking for something different had the 3’s been less expensive to own. I had read that Cadillac completely changed their car design and engineering to challenge the best sport sedans in the world. Their new philosophy would be that anything big would be a truck or suv chassis. And cars would be smaller and sportier than they had been in the past. It worked. The cars are great. And they look good too.

 

[salmon1286]

It’s my longest owned car. I had two BMW 3’s back to back before it. They both started needing maintenance and tires at 4 years. Traded them both in at 7 years when they needed new tires for the second time. They’re hard on tires. They’re expensive to buy and expensive to fix. I was pissed that these great cars required maintenance so early in their life. That’s how I found the ATS. Never would have gone looking for something different had the 3’s been less expensive to own. I had read that Cadillac completely changed their car design and engineering to challenge the best sport sedans in the world. Their new philosophy would be that anything big would be a truck or suv chassis. And cars would be smaller and sportier than they had been in the past. It worked. The cars are great. And they look good too.

I can maybe do american but can't do german. Friend of mine had a 4 just for couple months and got rid of it. Swear buddy's car spent more time in the shop than on the road. If you had to option between the ATS or CTS which one you going with?

 

[wiskey bravo]

I wish you could convince you to look into a Lexus that's affordable but I understand if you can't. I have owned and wasted money on fancy cars. My German purchases are brand new since I don't want to deal with the headache after four years. I give the car back. To this day, the best car I have owned was the Lexus IS350 F sport. My only complain were the rims. A little to soft. You have to pay attention to pot holes since they bite you real hard. But man that car was solid.

Now that I'm 50, my advice, reliability and a paid off car is the best car. Lexus wins on many levels. Thats my 0.02!

Congrants on almost a car purchase.

P.S...Its nice having extra power when it comes to merging onto a highway or when you need it in order to keep yourself safe from idiot drivers.

 

[salmon1286]

I wish you could convince you to look into a Lexus that's affordable but I understand if you can't. I have owned and wasted money on fancy cars. My German purchases are brand new since I don't want to deal with the headache after four years. I give the car back. To this day, the best car I have owned was the Lexus IS350 F sport. My only complain were the rims. A little to soft. You have to pay attention to pot holes since they bite you real hard. But man that car was solid.

Now that I'm 50, my advice, reliability and a paid off car is the best car. Lexus wins on many levels. Thats my 0.02!

Congrants on almost a car purchase.

P.S...Its nice having extra power when it comes to merging onto a highway or when you need it in order to keep yourself safe from idiot drivers.

Yeah Lexus is king of reliability for sure. Before my choices were between the is350,q50 or TLX. But I had a friend with a is250 and found the car too small and rear backseat legroom very tight. But will admit the reliability and looks department Lexus is350 surpassed q50 and TLX. Just really wish they made the is350 more mid-size instead a compact size.

 

[Normscot]

I can maybe do american but can't do german. Friend of mine had a 4 just for couple months and got rid of it. Swear buddy's car spent more time in the shop than on the road. If you had to option between the ATS or CTS which one you going with?

For the sake of argument I’m talking about first gen CTS here in reference to your question ATS or CTS. There was a second gen CTS came out in 2014 I think for a few years. It was bigger and of course it was newer engineering like the ATS. And it was pricey. I wasn’t interested in the newer one so I don’t know much about it. I explain why below. I did like the first gen CTS though. My friend had a 2010 and he loved everything about it. It was a great looking car too.

Really I wanted something comparable to the BMW 3’s size and capability but without the maintenance headaches. And that’s what the ATS was intentionally designed to be. It was exactly what I was looking for. Cadillac was directly targeting the BMW 3 and pulled it off. They actually made a better 3. The ATS is more comfortable and less expensive to own. I like the way it drives better than how a 3 drives. The BMW has darty steering and is a bit stiff. The ATS feels more substantial. Not as much like a go cart but still has great feel and handling. And the 3’s interior wasn’t as nice either. Kind of plain and hard. After 15 years of driving 3’s, the ATS was a revelation.

The last original CTS was built in 2013 so that would be the newest one you could get unless you went for a second gen. It was designed in 2000 and came out in 2002. It did get updates as it went along of course. It’s a bit bigger than the ATS and it’s not better handling. It’s still sporty just not as precise. Its attraction would be that all CTS’s came with the V6 in that generation although it wasn’t quite as powerful back then. I think it was rated somewhere around the Turbo 4 cylinder’s power output. Which is still good. And of course it’s a bit roomier.

I like everything about the ATS. It was designed 10 years after the original CTS. That’s a long time in the automotive engineering world. It didn’t arrive until 2013. Same year the original CTS was discontinued and revamped. The ATS is much more advanced from an engineering standpoint compared to a first gen CTS. Size wise the ATS works for me. Two adults fit in the back no problem. Or two child seats. Again no problem. Back seat folds down for Home Depot trips. Stroller or golf clubs fit in the trunk. Mount a ski rack to the roof and go skiing in Quebec every year. Seats are comfortable on long trips. Good highway cruiser. Nice stereo. Infotainment system is better 2016 and up. A bit slow before 16. Nice high quality leather interior. Easy to handle in parking lots and tight spaces. Smooth ride. Excellent acceleration, handling, and braking. The cost of ownership has been excellent so far. And it’s stylish. My 10 year old ATS doesn’t look dated at all. I’d buy it again without a second thought.

 

[salmon1286]

For the sake of argument I’m talking about first gen CTS here in reference to your question ATS or CTS. There was a second gen CTS came out in 2014 I think for a few years. It was bigger and of course it was newer engineering like the ATS. And it was pricey. I wasn’t interested in the newer one so I don’t know much about it. I explain why below. I did like the first gen CTS though. My friend had a 2010 and he loved everything about it. It was a great looking car too.

Really I wanted something comparable to the BMW 3’s size and capability but without the maintenance headaches. And that’s what the ATS was intentionally designed to be. It was exactly what I was looking for. Cadillac was directly targeting the BMW 3 and pulled it off. They actually made a better 3. The ATS is more comfortable and less expensive to own. I like the way it drives better than how a 3 drives. The BMW has darty steering and is a bit stiff. The ATS feels more substantial. Not as much like a go cart but still has great feel and handling. And the 3’s interior wasn’t as nice either. Kind of plain and hard. After 15 years of driving 3’s, the ATS was a revelation.

The last original CTS was built in 2013 so that would be the newest one you could get unless you went for a second gen. It was designed in 2000 and came out in 2002. It did get updates as it went along of course. It’s a bit bigger than the ATS and it’s not better handling. It’s still sporty just not as precise. Its attraction would be that all CTS’s came with the V6 in that generation although it wasn’t quite as powerful back then. I think it was rated somewhere around the Turbo 4 cylinder’s power output. Which is still good. And of course it’s a bit roomier.

I like everything about the ATS. It was designed 10 years after the original CTS. That’s a long time in the automotive engineering world. It didn’t arrive until 2013. Same year the original CTS was discontinued and revamped. The ATS is much more advanced from an engineering standpoint compared to a first gen CTS. Size wise the ATS works for me. Two adults fit in the back no problem. Or two child seats. Again no problem. Back seat folds down for Home Depot trips. Stroller or golf clubs fit in the trunk. Mount a ski rack to the roof and go skiing in Quebec every year. Seats are comfortable on long trips. Good highway cruiser. Nice stereo. Infotainment system is better 2016 and up. A bit slow before 16. Nice high quality leather interior. Easy to handle in parking lots and tight spaces. Smooth ride. Excellent acceleration, handling, and braking. The cost of ownership has been excellent so far. And it’s stylish. My 10 year old ATS doesn’t look dated at all. I’d buy it again without a second thought.

Looks like Cadillac was pretty underrated