[DC X3M40i]

So I'm down in Florida on vacation with la familia. There was an issue at the rent a car so they upgraded me to a "luxury vehicle". So I was able to take an ATS 2.0T

First impressions. The interior was not for me. The CUE infotainment system lacked refinement. Some people complain about I drive but I feel CUE requires more of a learning curve. And all the touch screen doohickeys did not do it for me. I need physical buttons and knobs

The seats I actually kinda liked. I have a base 335 so I don't have the sport seats. They didn't have much more lateral support than my 335. But they felt more comfortable

Driving..... I actually though my it drives rather well. It's hard to compare their 2.0 to my 3.0 I6. But it has a decent amount of pep. The transmission is a little laggy and I didn't feel as if it jumped off the line well. But once you get it going there is ample power. It's not the push you back in your seat power that I get from my 335. But it was a welcome surprise. I even feel that if felt more connected to the ground over my 335( lack of sport suspension). I didn't get that bouncy floaty feel that I get from my f30

Would I buy one over an f30. Probably not. But I do know that when my lease is up next year I will have to shop smarter on the next bmw I get. Must remember to check off more boxes when ordering

[canukgtp]

I rather liked the way the ATS looks and drives...but the rear headroom just sucked

[the_phew]

I wish the ATS was doing better sales-wise. If it was legitimately threatening the 3/4 series, BMW might try to make their cars engaging to drive again (like GM has done with their Alpha platform cars ATS/Camaro).

[NightWriter]

Your experiences are fairly consistent with mine (and with most professional reviews). The steering, handling, and driving dynamics are generally excellent. Notwithstanding the V-spec, the engine and tranny are a little rough (though the new 3.6 V-6 is an improvement), rear seat room is tight, the instrument panel looks inspired by a 15 year-old Chevy, and CUE is an abomination. Hopefully it'll improve in the future.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

Your experiences are fairly consistent with mine (and with most professional reviews). The steering, handling, and driving dynamics are generally excellent. Notwithstanding the V-spec, the engine and tranny are a little rough (though the new 3.6 V-6 is an improvement), rear seat room is tight, the instrument panel looks inspired by a 15 year-old Chevy, and CUE is an abomination. Hopefully it'll improve in the future.

^^^ This.

I'll be honest...I really wanted to buy an ATS. Cadillac got the good (and arguably hard) stuff right. Chassis tuning/dynamics, ride, steering FEEL and response...just excellent. I even think the styling is quite nice, if not a bit subdued (I wish they offered a more aggressive sports package like M Sport).

But then...they fumble the gauge cluster with something that looks like it came out of a 2001 Pontiac Grand AM. And the back seat legroom is just a joke (I'm 6'-6" so the comfort of rear passengers is a bigger issue for me). I also really wanted a manual transmission with the V6, but alas it's not offered. I have heard however that the NEW V6 with 8AT with the 2016 models were excellent upgrades to the drivetrain...so check that off the list of deficiencies.

I have read that the gauge cluster rework is planned for the 2017 model year. Hopefully the LCI will result in addressing some of the shortcomings of this 1st Gen ATS. I don't expect Cadillac to miss with the next ATS! Let's hope they hit the mark. That will be good for all consumers.

[DrivenByE30]

I like the fact that GM has finally a product worthy to be considered by 3-series buyers...

For every person making the switch, i totally applaud them.

I wish i had the guts myself to do so.

I sincerely wish Cadillac would get more buyers for their ATS and CTS, stealing away from BMW market pool...

Cadillac deserves it, competition is good to ensure BMW doesnt stop improving.

[the_phew]

I drove the new LGX 3.6L V6 in a Camaro; wow, what a sweet engine. I had forgotten how intoxicating instant throttle response and top end power could be. And the sound! No 'sound-enhancing' nonsense from the speakers is necessary. Naturally-aspirated engines definitely still have their merits in this era of turbocharging.

I'm pretty annoyed that GM doesn't offer the 6MT paired with the V6 in the ATS; that combo is a hoot in the Camaro. The 2.0t is pretty coarse and thirsty compared to the N20, so the B46 will probably further outclass it.

[chiefneil]

I agree with others that I'm hoping the ATS and CTS continue to improve and do better in the marketplace. The styling is a huge turnoff for me, but I might eventually come around. Serious high-quality competitors are really necessary, imho, so I'm glad Caddy and Lexus are at least giving it a shot even though they're not succeeding very well yet.

[nicknaz]

i think its "bad" you got an f3x with no sport seats and no sports suspension.....

It should be pretty comfortable at least?

[paul e]

Not interested in any so-called sports car/coupe/sedan where you cannot get the manual with the engine you want.

[XKxRome0ox]

i testdrove the ATS 2.0T because of those reviews before finalizing the deal on my 328i...
i thought the ATS was pretty damn crappy in person
but the ATS-V ... now that, i might seriously consider if i were in the market for a $60k+ performance sedan

[Straight Six]

Originally Posted by Danguy426

So I'm down in Florida on vacation with la familia. There was an issue at the rent a car so they upgraded me to a "luxury vehicle". So I was able to take an ATS 2.0T

First impressions. The interior was not for me. The CUE infotainment system lacked refinement. Some people complain about I drive but I feel CUE requires more of a learning curve. And all the touch screen doohickeys did not do it for me. I need physical buttons and knobs

The seats I actually kinda liked. I have a base 335 so I don't have the sport seats. They didn't have much more lateral support than my 335. But they felt more comfortable

Driving..... I actually though my it drives rather well. It's hard to compare their 2.0 to my 3.0 I6. But it has a decent amount of pep. The transmission is a little laggy and I didn't feel as if it jumped off the line well. But once you get it going there is ample power. It's not the push you back in your seat power that I get from my 335. But it was a welcome surprise. I even feel that if felt more connected to the ground over my 335( lack of sport suspension). I didn't get that bouncy floaty feel that I get from my f30

Would I buy one over an f30. Probably not. But I do know that when my lease is up next year I will have to shop smarter on the next bmw I get. Must remember to check off more boxes when ordering

In my opinion it's not bad at all. I really enjoyed the ATS when I drove the 2.0T and the 3.6 V6. However I walked away from buying one for a few reasons:

1) Not only was the back seat small, I felt the front was a bit small as well.

2) I didn't like how everything on the was run by touch sensitive controls. My experience is those are nothing but trouble.

3) Not the car's fault but the dealer tried to trick me into buying the car and got very rude with me, and that's a trait I have seen with many GM dealerships.

I drove the F30 after the ATS and though everything was in better balance. Nothing I hated and the lesser handling was made up for in other attributes.

[DC X3M40i]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

i think its "bad" you got an f3x with no sport seats and no sports suspension.....

It should be pretty comfortable at least?

I know I know. I'm sorry!!! It was my first bmw and didn't want to go all in on the first one. Knowing now what I didn't know then all boxes will be checked on the next one

Now that everyone mentions it. The gauge cluster is pretty bad. I had a 1990 Chevy cavalier as my first ever car and this reminds me of it. Minus the fancy little lcd screens

[zinner]

GM has some pretty serious support on their Aftermarket Turbo motors. They don't have the curse of the locked DME like we do. I had the LHU in a Regal GS and was pretty potent for a FWD car.

CUE is the worst part of Caddy. Everything else is easy to live with. I loved the idrive inspired Opel system in the Buick and was sad when they pulled out the idrive like knob and replaced it with a change holder. I did pick a BMW over a Caddy ATS, might of been another story if the ATS-V was out, that V6TT and 8 speed auto are off the hook.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

Your experiences are fairly consistent with mine (and with most professional reviews). The steering, handling, and driving dynamics are generally excellent. Notwithstanding the V-spec, the engine and tranny are a little rough (though the new 3.6 V-6 is an improvement), rear seat room is tight, the instrument panel looks inspired by a 15 year-old Chevy, and CUE is an abomination. Hopefully it'll improve in the future.

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

I like the fact that GM has finally a product worthy to be considered by 3-series buyers...

For every person making the switch, i totally applaud them.

I wish i had the guts myself to do so.

I sincerely wish Cadillac would get more buyers for their ATS and CTS, stealing away from BMW market pool...

Cadillac deserves it, competition is good to ensure BMW doesnt stop improving.

The ATS is an excellent car. Cadillac did an outstanding job. The problem is not only did they benchmark the E46 they built the E46. The E46 is fantastic, but in today's competition it's too small. And the ATS's back seat is even smaller than the E46's. The front passenger footwell is also particularly narrow. At the Chicago UDE last week an everyday woman was looking at an F30 and I made some comment about it being a fun car. Her response was that is was too small for her needs. I was shocked. I shouldn't have been. I hear comments like that pretty regularly at the auto show.

By making the ATS too small Cadillac handicapped its initial impression on the market. It will be a little bit of a challenge to overcome that first impression.

[goj]

Caddy will be fine with time. Gradually improving the whole package as time goes on.

[tturedraider]

I just checked sales data on Good Car Bad Car. Month over month sales have declined virtually every single month in the last two years since the highs (highest about 3,500) in the first full calendar year of production. Right now they're doing well if they manage 2,000 units per month. Cadillac just doesn't have the "street cred" in this segment to draw in ATS buyers. On top of that despite all of their advertising they just can't shake the "old man" stigma of owning a Cadillac.

People may say they don't like yuppies, but no one really minds being seen as young and upwardly mobile when they buy a 3er.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by __

The ATS is an excellent car. Cadillac did an outstanding job. The problem is not only did they benchmark the E46 they built the E46. The E46 is fantastic, but in today's competition it's too small. And the ATS's back seat is even smaller than the E46's. The front passenger footwell is also particularly narrow. At the Chicago UDE last week an everyday woman was looking at an F30 and I made some comment about it being a fun car. Her response was that is was too small for her needs. I was shocked. I shouldn't have been. I hear comments like that pretty regularly at the auto show.

By making the ATS too small Cadillac handicapped its initial impression on the market. It will be a little bit of a challenge to overcome that first impression.

I believe they benchmarked the E46 for its chassis/handling, not its size.

But I completely agree that the ATS is too small INSIDE (I believe the overall wheelbase and track width are in line with the F30...too lazy to check right now...at the office and need to get home...ha!).

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

I believe they benchmarked the E46 for its chassis/handling, not its size.

But I completely agree that the ATS is too small INSIDE (I believe the overall wheelbase and track width are in line with the F30...too lazy to check right now...at the office and need to get home...ha!).

You made me curious.

ATS wheelbase - 109.3 ...... F30 - 110.63 ..... E46 - 107.3
ATS front track -- 59.50 ....... F30 -- 60.79 .... E46 - 57.9
ATS rear track -- 60.90 ........ F30 -- 62.32 .... E46 - 58.4
ATS overall length - 182.8 ......F30 - 182.4 ...... E46 - 176.0
2.0T curb weight - 3373 lbs .... 328i - 3370 lbs .. 325i - 3307

I'm gonna look in my brochure for the E46 specs.

[eluded]

Call me crazy but I like the Cadillac ATSv. Motors pretty laggy and there's no back seat room & the interior leaves something to be desired. BUT from a driver standpoint the car is amazing. The suspension tuning is far superior to that of the F 30 and even the F 80 in some areas. The magnetic suspension & rev matching is far superior to the BMW. Overall it's a decent car but it's still Cadillac

[jayely1]

I actually turned to GM and purchased a ATS.
It does drive rather well. It handles better than my E92. I do wish the steering was a little heavier like the E92. It's definitely not as fast and doesn't sound as good either. The interior does looks nice, but my E92 just felt a bit more solid. I think with the right rims they look damn good too! The headroom is completely fine, i'm 6'2 and have no issues at all (with the sunroof too). I've had it about 3 weeks now and I truly enjoy driving it ALMOST as much as the E92. I hope to get in the next gen 3 series, I just hope they tweak a few things and change the look a bit. I want to come back to BMW's, but BMW has to be leaps ahead and not neck to neck like they have been recently. BMW can do better.

[eluded]

jayely1,

#Savethemanuals