Is this a stupid question?

I would'nt trade my 550 for a brand new Caddy.
You did not specify what Cadallic you were riding in but in my opion you are comparing an apple and an orange. My advise is to go drive three Caddys and then go drive three 550's.
You will know.
Good luck in the "chase" and enjoy it.

 

We have both -- a 1999 550 and a 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. The CTS-V is like a larger, more modern 550 with all the features, and is incredibly fast (performance per the mags is on par with the 550). The CTS-V is our every day car, purchased because we wanted exciting performance and four seats. Much better value than a Panamera (we've had numerous Porsches) and we liked the styling and the feel of the V8. If you want one high-performance bullet-proof car to use all the time, the Cadillac (V version) is a good choice. But if you're looking to add another car, go with the 550/575 -- there's nothing like it. Then again, you could always go the 456 route and have a spectacular Ferrari that seats 4.

 

I have both a 2010 CTS-V with about 45K miles fantastic car . I drive it every day it is my company car and it really is fun to drive fast handles great . I also have a 2001 550 with about 12K miles . They are completely different cars the 550 is just much higher interior quality and has much more sex appeal . I would never trade my 550 for a new CTS-v . they are just different cars both are great and both are fun to drive but not really comparable ..
Larry

 

4 years he's been a Member.

1 helluva first post.

For your second post, could you go ahead and go into fantastic detail about your targa ownership experience.

 

I'll try to address the interior quality part of your original question.
Below is a pic of my 1998 550's interior.
As you can see, almost every surface is covered in leather. This includes the top of the dash in black leather and the headliner in matching tan leather.

The seats feel firmer than what is typical in an American luxury car with leather seats in it.
The side bolsters are manually adjustable for width but they are not "American-wide" at their widest settings. Not a problem for people up to I guess about 250 lbs but anyone wider than that is going to feel the side bolsters digging into them when they sit on those seats.
American cars tend to have flatter surfaces on their seats so they don't restrict people in the same way (and, naturally, they don't offer that much side support through fast cornering either).

There are no electrical gadgets to play with in a 550, except for the radio controls.
No cruise control, no trip computer, no GPS navigation, and no digital read-outs.
The gauges are simple to read and provide good info while driving.
You do have these 3 "information centers" displays in the center of the gauges between the tach and the speedometer.
They don't do much, mostly just a place to put the idiot lights - compared to modern cars, they'll seem very "Jules Verne like" to you.

I find the interior of the 550 to be quite "luxurious" but in a sporty way, not in a feature-rich way.
And, be forewarned, there are no cup holders in there.

Hope this helps with your decision.
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I agree with this Rons summary with one exception the CTS-V is available with the Recaro seats that actually offer very good support. Leather quality is no match to the Ferrari quality leather
Larry

 

My DD is a 2011 BMW 1 series M, and the difference between this and my 550 is night and day. Suspension and tire technology has change drastically since 1996 when the 550 was introduced. The 1M equals the 550 in a straight line, but the ride handling compromise is far, far better in the 1M, despite the 19 inch wheels in the BMW versus the 18s in the 550. On Michigan roads this may be an issue. On the other hand, I just drove the 550 180 miles over to Cavallino last night, and it was very comfortable on the smooth Florida roads. And the interior is a work of art. Good luck deciding.
Scott

 

If you are going to put aside styling and exclusivity, a Ferrari doesn't make a lot of sense. I'd recommend a comparison with the Corvette and if you want a backseat, the Camaro and Mustang. Since you are fond of Porsches, you might might want to look into a newer Targa. The newer design isn't prone to leaks. I drove a Tiptronic and believe that it would make a great commuter car, but not enough superior to my BMW 325 to warrant double the price.

If you think that a 308 is comparable with a 911, you need to do a lot more lurking, especially in the tech sections of the forum.

 

Yes, automotive art ...
.
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Agreed - Ferrari is art!!!




PDG

 

+1 on what Scott said about the P-car. I own a 911/966 and an early 456, both 6 speeds.

Two different cars and each phenomenal in different ways. The 911 slices through turns and gets in and out without much fuss. The 456 rockets to speed and maintains its manners. The P-car gets around a track faster than many cars with much more HP.

In my dreams, I'd love to see which is faster around a track; my 966 or my 456? At this point, I'd flip a coin. 190 mph straights, it's the F. 35 mph hairpins, it's the P.

Cadillac? Wouldn't know. My last was 1968 2-door Calais.

Regards...Mark in Houston
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+1!