It was one year ago this month that I purchased a new winter beater to replace my 2008 DTS. While it was reliable, the DTS found it hard to pass a gas station without stopping in. Rust was becoming more of an issue (not that it's a big deal in a winter car), but it was time to move on.

So, I purchased a 2018 Premium Luxury Cadillac XT5. Red exterior which I really liked, but a beige interior, a colour I'm not crazy about. "Overall", a nice vehicle.









After 10 months, I liked the XT5 but didn't "love" it. It turned out to be a little smaller than I preferred. For this model year, it wasn't possible to disable the auto start/stop without a "workaround" that came with other potential drawbacks. The feeling of the engine starting up every time I began to take my foot off the brake is something I just never got used to. After having 8-cynlinder engines all my life (with the exception of a 2002 Bonneville SE), this just didn't feel seamless.

I became accustomed to the interior colour, but still never REALLY liked it. At best it was "I can take it or leave it".

A few options were missing that were either not available in this model year or in some cases, this trim level. Alexa built-in was something I really looked forward to but isn't compatible prior to the 2020 XT5's.

One lesson I learned was to wait awhile to make sure a vehicle is really what I want before upgrades. I bought WeatherTech floor mats, a rear cargo shade and the GM accessory tail light package to change from red lenses to clear with a smoked CHMSL. This was well over $1K that I didn't get any real value for.

So...... Gone with the XT5, in with the XT6!

This is a 2020 Sport trim in Crystal White Tricoat with a black interior. Since this is the "Sport", it has genuine carbon fibre interior trim. It's a little bigger, configured for 6-person seating. There are options I didn't have with the XT5 including HUD, full surround vision and a rear view "camera" mirror to list a few. Head room is ample right to the back, although third row legroom is okay but not as generous as the first and second rows. One option I would have liked is night vision, unfortunately very few seem to have been built with this. The Sport trim already has clear tail lights. Most importantly, this vehicle just feels like the right fit for me.

I don't have a lot of photos yet, but here are a few...





I purchased the optional cargo area protection mats.





I decided not to buy WeatherTech mats this time. I just don't feel they are the best option anymore. They're okay, but don't cover as much of the floor as I'd like. This time I bought a set of Manicci Luxury Mats. They are a little more money than WeatherTech, but cover far more surface area. In addition, they can be ordered in various PU leather and stitching colours as well as 5 or 6 layer construction. These are the "Premium", 6-layer version. Care is pretty easy as well. Vacuum any gravel and wipe them with a damp cloth. No need to remove them from the vehicle.

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Bose Luxury Sound System w/Touch Screen Navigation, Addition of Factory XM, 2005 MY Antenna, OnStar Upgrade (3G),
RainSense Wipers, Backup Camera, '00 Style Door Panel Courtesy Lights, Heated Washer Solvent, 2X Remote Trunk Release,
Turn Signal Mirrors, Center Console Courtesy Lamp, Rear Outboard Heated Seats, PVD Chrome 18" Factory Rims, Upgraded
Carbon Fibre Appearance Interior Trim, Highly Modified Main Body Harness, Instrument Panel, Door, Door Panel & Headliner
Wiring Harnesses, Custom Fuse Box & Tire and Loading Information Decals, Additional Acoustic Insulation

Well Darcy, you're definition of a winter beater is a bit different than mine...I had an '88 Accord for that purpose. LOL! I like your new beater. Does it also have the auto stop/start "feature"? I hate that function. Seems to me that starters will go out a lot sooner. Good thing for the parts jobbers, I reckon, not so much for the car owner.

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Resident Tightwad

Screw you, Photobucket.

Thanks

This does have auto start/stop, but at least it can be disabled. I just wish that it didn't reset with each ignition cycle. We have a Ford Escape at work that is now several years old with this same function. It seems to have held up pretty well so far. Time will tell I guess. GM claims these starters are made to a different standard for extended life. One thing I did check with the XT5 was the service procedure to replace the starter. It was somewhat more involved than I had hoped, including removing part of the exhaust system. I haven't checked to see what's involved yet on the XT6.

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Bose Luxury Sound System w/Touch Screen Navigation, Addition of Factory XM, 2005 MY Antenna, OnStar Upgrade (3G),
RainSense Wipers, Backup Camera, '00 Style Door Panel Courtesy Lights, Heated Washer Solvent, 2X Remote Trunk Release,
Turn Signal Mirrors, Center Console Courtesy Lamp, Rear Outboard Heated Seats, PVD Chrome 18" Factory Rims, Upgraded
Carbon Fibre Appearance Interior Trim, Highly Modified Main Body Harness, Instrument Panel, Door, Door Panel & Headliner
Wiring Harnesses, Custom Fuse Box & Tire and Loading Information Decals, Additional Acoustic Insulation

These versions of a winter beater are extremely unique. These would have to be about 15 years older and not nearly as clean for me to consider them a beater.

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95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

What a fine beater! And I love the mats!

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- Rachael

My dad has a 2020 GMC Denali 1500 with the small diesel engine. It has the autostart function which you can manually disable every time you start the car. Like you said, though, it resets to autostart when you shut it off. He hated it so I installed a device that latches the last choice you made. Now when he shuts it off it remembers that he hates the autostart and leaves it disabled. If he decides to fall in love with autostart, he just has to start the car and push the factory autostart button on the dash.

I think this is where we got his:

http://www.autostopeliminator.com

I'm sure its a simple device with about $1.50 in parts, but I didn't want to open it up and see what's inside. Installation wasn't too bad on his, but it did involve pulling the center dash panel to get access to the back of the switch.

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Resident Tightwad

Screw you, Photobucket.

Another green brilliant idea from our government.
I'm sure it originated from the great state of California.
I sure wish I had that feature of my Bonnevilles.
Speaking of gas regular is now $4.12 a gallon here in southeastern Wisconsin.
The price jumped $.65 a gallon in the last week.
I would have thought the price would have gone down before Tuesday's election.