2005 Used Cadillac STS Buying Guide
2004 and 2005 are years of transformation for Cadillac as they change the recipe on their model family to reflect changing consumer like and dislikes and to shed a bit of a fuddy-duddy retiree-only image for their models. Appealing to younger successful buyers, without alienating their existing demographic has led to a number of unconventional decisions.
The 2005 Cadillac STS is one of those decisions. Cadillac has created a mid-sized luxury performance sedan that breaks through old assumptions with distinctive design, various powertrain options (V6, V8 and RWD or AWD), and an upscale interior with Tuscany leather seats, eucalyptus wood and aluminum trim.
Under the Hood
The STS is a luxury mid-sized car with the performance profile of a high-end roadster. It is offered with two engines, both more powerful than the predecessor Seville offerings. The base V6 is a 255-horsepower 3.6L with VVT (variable valve timing) while the V8 pumps out 320-horsepower from a Northstar 4.6L with VVT. These come with standard Magnetic Ride Control and StabiliTrak and are geared to a standard rear-wheel-drive Sigma architecture. However, an AWD system is available, one which breaks through the assumption that performance and AWD don’t mix.
Standard safety features include dual front, front side and curtain side airbags, antilock brakes with brake assist, antiskid, a tire-pressure monitor and a rear-obstacle-detection system. Wiper-activated headlights, daytime running lights, fog lights antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, dual front and side airbags and a rear-obstacle detection system are all also standard.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
The 2005 STS is the longest of the Sigma architecture Cadillacs (also includes SLR and CTS) The four-door sedan fits five passengers, with two bucket seats up front.
Highlights of the amazing standard technological innovations include Keyless Access with push button start and Adaptive Remote Start, which adjusts climate control to previously set cabin temperature, begins seat heat or ventilation (based on feedback from outside temperature settings and activates front and rear window defroster if climate conditions require it.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) automatically adjusts the cruising speed according to the speed of the car in front and Intellibeam automatically switches headlamps from high- to low-beam and back again when oncoming headlamps or forward lighting elements are sensed. Finally, a reconfigurable, four-color Head-Up Display (HUD) allows the driver to keep there eyes on the windshield.
In addition, Bose personalized 5.1 Surround Sound system with 15 speakers, integrates a six-disc CD/DVD changer with DVD-A, CD and MP3 capability and eight-inch VGA-quality touch screen for movies, advanced navigation, OnStar and Bluetooth capability, all with advanced voice recognition innovations.
Additional standard items include air conditioning with dual zone automatic climate control, a power tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio and climate controls, leather upholstery, 10-way power front seats with power lumbar adjustment and driver-seat memory and heated front and rear seats.
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