2008 Cadillac CTS: Putting Golf Clubs in the Trunk

This and the pedals being out of plane show that GM North America still has a long way to go in order to catch the europeans. Saab's can fit golf clubs properly, so there are engineers at GM who know their customers. Jaguar makes sure that multiple bags fit in the boot (this is why the XK has a wider tail than the concept), so this is not that difficult to do with a rear mounted battery. Maybe the mafia will have to switch to Lincolns? Come on GM, start getting this stuff right, or stop being an automaker.

Wow, the beginning of that video reminds me of those lame infomercials for some useless product. You get someone to pretend to lack the motor-skills of a 1 year old, complain about life is so hard, and then show how the product will make these "impossible" tasks possible. Same thing with this video: try to put clubs in straight across. It clearly doesn't work so you try it anyway. Finally you figure out that through the miracle of pivoting, they fit just fine. Who would have come up with that radical concept on their own?

Are you serious?

Wow, you actually spent time making a video, taking pictures, and writing and uploading this article to complain because you have to turn your golf clubs to get them in the trunk of a midsized car. What a joke.

Haha Stovt001, it does remind me of one of those infomercials! As was mentioned already, I've noticed that cars with smaller trunk lids usually have struts while larger ones have the goose-necks. If the small trunk opening in this car was a concession to styling, then it's a trade-off I'll happily accept.

if you think that is hard, try getting them to fit in the R8.

Actually, what it reminded me of was the "Jar Glove" SNL sketch

Golf clubs don't matter to the new Cadillac.

Sure it was important to seniors driving Devilles but anyone driving a CTS would not play golf.

Cool people do not play golf.

Well said, James!

Are you sure you meant "people" in your opening sentence? =Þ

You know, with the whole post I figured the trunk couldn't fit 3 sets of golf clubs. But after watching the video, that trunk looks like it could easily handle 3 of those bags plus a couple of other things.

You make a good illustration about why trunk-struts can be poor (I love the sheathed hinges in my Legacy GT), but it seems like the trunk is plenty big for the task at hand.

Firstwagon - Ok, so I'm still cool, right? I don't like golf :)

Joe

"Therefore, I don't think the type of trunk hinges a car has is a sure-fire sign of quality. Sure, it can be can example of cost/quality (say, when one car has non-sheathed goose-necks that crush your groceries or when a $16,000 Cobalt has struts). But when each is done right, there's logic behind both designs -- a decision made by engineers rather than bean counters."

My 1995 Honda Civic EX sedan has trunk struts and they are still fully operable.

"Wow, you actually spent time making a video, taking pictures, and writing and uploading this article to complain because you have to turn your golf clubs to get them in the trunk of a mid sized car."
thanks for all your hard work illustrating the small opening of the trunk for large objects and for providing another useful blog entry in this long term blog. Your work is appreciated.

The auto media were the ones who first stated that struts were more "premium" back when many domestics had gooseneck hinges. In fact, older Hondas had struts and that's likely one reason why auto reviewers (especially C&D) started saying that system was superior. Now that many domestic cars have this system we learn that gooseneck hinges are really better. I thought the 3 series had struts as well. Anyone know for sure? The DTS and Lucerne have the concealed goosnecks like those found in some German and Japanese luxury models. There was n ever any proof that goosenecks were much cheaper but it was assumed by the press that ANY solution used on domestic vehicles had to be cheaper and inferior. C&D praised the Malibu for having struts in it's intitial road test. They said "finally" a mainstream chevy had stuts even though the Impala and Cobalt already had them.

I prefer struts, but golf clubs fitting into the back of a car is a must. Its a major selling point for me because a set of clubs is the largest thing I carry on a regular basis. Those of you commenting that this is useless, or silly, or whatever, need to just relax. Just because the 'new imagine' Cadillac is pushing is for younger people doesn't mean they don't golf, or play hockey (hockey bag similar to golf clubs in size).

Putting a bag in diagonally is not a huge concern; however, if you were to put more then 1 bag in the CTS it looks like you'd have to stack and thats just potentially more damaging/rattling for the clubs. Solution? Make your buddies drive themselves to the course.

Reminds me of the Chevy Mailbu, which has an equally tiny trunk opening for its size.

My biggest problem with struts is when they get older they loose strength in really cold weather. Holding up the hatch with your head will loading groceries at -30 deg is not fun. That's the real reason so many Canadians carried hockey sticks in their cars... prop open the hatch etc.

Was that the backside of JRiz we saw in the video?

Given everything else the CTS has going for it, I'd happily accept the smaller opening.

However, I'm not as forgiving with cars like the Astra.

Nope, this would be a JRiz joint starring John DiPietro.

The backside of JRiz can actually be seen in this cinematic Scorcese classic...
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2007/08/2007-mitsubishi-outlander-third-row-for-show-video.html

It can also been seen in the third season of Red Shoe Diaries, but I don't like to talk about that.

Ah, who cares?? Bottom line is you did fit your golf bag in the trunk, didn't you? That's all that matters.

This thread is bordering on absurd. It's like "oh gee, I had to actually TILT my golf bag at a slight angle to fit my golf bag in the trunk. Horrors of all horrors. Stupid American engineers. I definitely recommend any German car over this American POS on this issue alone."

I was thinking the exact same thing as 1487: This assumption about trunk struts is YOUR fault! ("You" being the automotive press.)

So I say -- very tunefully -- try starting with the man in the mirror James!

BTW, after having several different cars with the grocery-crushing goosenecks, I absolutely appreciate the struts. I also prefer the smoother closing action of the struts over those bouncy hinges.

Here's a news flash: Not all members of the automotive media think the exact same way. The "media" is not a Borg-like collective consciousness. Just in our Edmunds office alone there's a variety of different viewpoints, let alone the viewpoints between us and other automotive outfits. Just because Patrick Bedard wrote something in 1999 doesn't mean I agree with it (far from it). Those "people" I was referring to include whomever at whatever publication thought that goose-necks automatically equalled crap.

As I said, there is merit to both designs when each is done right. I don't really care that journalists who came before me thought differently -- they were wrong.

Here's a news flash: Not all members of the automotive media think the exact same way. The "media" is not a Borg-like collective consciousness. Just in our Edmunds office alone there's a variety of different viewpoints, let alone the viewpoints between us and other automotive outfits. Just because Patrick Bedard wrote something in 1999 doesn't mean I agree with it (far from it). Those "people" I was referring to include whomever at whatever publication thought that goose-necks automatically equalled crap.

As I said, there is merit to both designs when each is done right. I don't really care that journalists who came before me thought differently -- they were wrong.

someone's a little sensitive here. I dont think you have made any groundbreaking revelation here. Typically, one design has advantages and disadvantages vs a competing design. Most rational people understand that. Unfortunately, the "all good ideas come from Japan and Germany" auto press (and yes that includes IL) don't seem to share that view and assume that any design feature not found on an import car must be an example of cost cutting or half assed engineering.

Even without struts those bags would barely fit into the CTS' trunk opening. If golf bags are your priority a DTS or Escalade might be better Cadillac models for you.

"I thought the 3 series had struts as well. Anyone know for sure?"

The 3-Series has struts due to the short decklid and need for it to flip slightly backwards.

I'd also prefer it (and most cars) to have sheathed gooseneck hinges so the decklid would open fully when popping the lid, like the C-Class.

The problem with many domestic cars in the 90's is that they used cheap UNSHEATHED goosenecks. Struts are undoubtedly a better design in that regard.

"BTW, after having several different cars with the grocery-crushing goosenecks, I absolutely appreciate the struts. I also prefer the smoother closing action of the struts over those bouncy hinges."

I think you missed the beautiful hinge designs out there - sheathed hinges that are perfectly counter-weighted so the decklid glides open and closed with linear effort. Way better than struts could do. Mercedes has gotten quite good at this.

"This thread is bordering on absurd."
Agree

And the edit feature works perfectly for those pesky double posts.

Billy Mays here!! CAN'T GET YOUR GOLF CLUBS IN YOUR CADILLAC? USE MY MIRACLE KNIFE TO CUT THEM IN TWO AND THEN STICK THEM BACK TOGETHER WITH MIRACLE PUTTY!!

"If golf bags are your priority a DTS or Escalade might be better Cadillac models for you. "

Only people with big cars are allowed to golf.

"Even without struts those bags would barely fit into the CTS' trunk opening."

Also, this is very correct. And the golf bag shown isn't even a particularly large one. I think regardless of the opening size, you need to place the bags sideways or on an angle. That being said, its still an important measure of trunk size.

"its still an important measure of trunk size."

Can it hold a 4x8 sheet of plywood or a couple dozen 2x4s?

firstwagon:

I understand what you're saying, but I think there is a line between what can be reasonably expected and what is beyond its scope. To me, a golf bag is a pretty reasonable use of car trunk space whereas construction materials are stretching it. Maybe a better comment would be "can it hold a desk from Ikea" or something along those lines.

And regardless of the angling/tilting of the golf bag, the CTS is successful in this matter so thats a good thing. I'm guessing there are not a lot of sedans out there that can actually hold a set up clubs width wise.

I personally like struts versus gooseneck hinges, but that's besides the point really. The real issue is the 'coupelike' design of many modern cars that makes them appear so attractive also:
- results in a long sloping rear glass
- results in larger C pillars
- results in taller trunkedges
- reduces rear visibility greatly
- results in short rear-trunk-edge-to-glass depth
- results in small trunk opening

The last is what is shown here. It's the same issue with my 08 Malibu. I love the car. It's sharp from all angles. The trunk's got lots of space.

BUT.. the space has a tiny access, and because the rear glass comes so far back, it seems shallow but extends very far under the upper edge of the opening. Despite having more space than the 2004 sedan, it doesn't *feel* like it. Indeed, it actually feels lik there's less space there.

On a recent trip to PetSmart we bought one of the large plastic three-piece dog kennels (top / bottom shells, door), then realized we were in the car. We ended up shoehorning it into the back seat (good thing there's plenty of space behind the front seats). It WOULD'VE fit in the trunk, but it wouldn't go through the opening. Keep in mind this was disassembled- top shell flipped and lying in the bottom like cups stacked in a cupboard.

The kennel would've fit the 2004. We know this because our last dog (died while we owned the 04) had a similar kennel, and we made family trips with it in the trunk (actually used the thing like a big container- stacking other stuff inside it after placing it into the trunk).

So that part's valid criticism. But I don't believe the issue is so much the type of hinge or strut as the rear end design with such a short distance between the rear glass and the edge of the trunklid.

By the way- rather than change the overall exterior design of the Malibu, I'd advocate a 5-door setup, notchback, etc. Where the rear glass lifts with the lid as one piece, including a suspended rear shelf behind the seats. The space inside wouldn't really change (unless removing the 'shelf'), but access would be 1000x better.

Looking at the picture, I don't think that bag would've fit even if the car had goosenecks. The bag is about 2" narrower than the top of the rear fenders for chrissake. You guys are really starting to wear on me with your silly posts. I'll bet $10 that if this car had goosenecks, you would've criticized it for not having struts like the 3-series. Also loved your post about the R8 gas cap. Priceless...

My Chevy Silverado can hold 40 golf bags at once, plus an additional 11 on the backseat. It's the ultimate golf cart.

jerry is 100% correct. Many modern sedans have short decklids and relatively small trunk openings.