Cadillac Mercedes Boxing Bout
When the 2008 Cadillac CTS was awarded the Motor Trend Car of the Year I must confess I felt a bit rubbed. Having been a Benz fan for sometime and with Cadillac not really on my radar, I did not see it coming. I was pretty confident the 2008 C-Class would take it this year.
Right around the time this award was announced, Cadillac began a series of TV ads that continue to this day. Surely you have seen them - a young, styling, attractive individual calmly driving his/her Cadillac through a metropolis view with blurred lights streaking by like a laser. The ads speak energy, contemporary, and style.
Seems Mercedes-Benz wasn’t the only Brand this year to tap a younger market audience. Gotta love the timing.
Last week I ended up renting a CTS during my visit in the Florida Keys. Let me say. That was a nice ride! Weighty, which both I and my wife prefer. Sporty with some pep. Cozy, yet roomy at the same time. And yes, it was styling. We both really enjoyed the ride. Enough to consider it alongside the 2008 C-Class.
Interestingly, the CTS is priced higher than the C300 Sport by nearly $2k. That’s a significant difference at that price range and I grew curious to know how these base prices come to be. Even more interestingly, if you visit Cadillac.com and do a competitor vehicle comparison, the C300 isn’t even compared. Instead, the BMW 335i and the Lexus ES 350 are, and both are priced higher than the CTS.
It’s pretty cool watching the Car Manufacturer brands going after one another. I think MBUSA has more effectively positioned the all-new C-Class in its targeted new markets based on price and overall value. From a marketing standpoint, BMW and Lexus have been far too quiet. When I watch TV, which is about 1-2 hours a night, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac seem to be having a boxing match with their advertising. I love it!
