FlyinHawaiian
Dec 1, 08, 12:35 pm
Just got done driving an '09 DTS in the Bay Area. It had 3,000 miles and some nice options such as NeverLost, moonroof, chrome wheels, heated/cooled seats. Sadly, the XM had expired. :(
I did a ride report of the DTS I rented from National in October; I'll tweak my report to match my Hertz experience.
The DTS is a much larger car than the STS, but doesn't feel that much larger when driving. One does notice the size (mainly the length) when parking, though. The front and rear sensors help. Interesting to note that the SFO station is planning on using a DTS as one of their courtesy Platinum shuttles, replacing a TownCar. The driver told me the DTS is a bit narrower than the TownCar and doesn't have as big a trunk, but is still popular enough with renters.
Driving manners are very pleasant. Suspension is well-cushioned, but there is no "floating" sensation that one gets with Town Cars. The car sits lower than you would think and handles very nicely with no pronounced lean in corners; impressive for a heavy car. There is a lot of power to be had from the Northstar V-8 and passing on the highway is not a problem. I drove about 70% highway and 30% city and averaged about 22.5 mpg.
Cabin comforts are top notch for those in the front with dual climate and heated/cooled seats. Rear passengers get heated seats and auto climate a/c with vents. The DTS uses a normal key and fob, unlike the STS, which has a fob and push-button starting.
The audio system has an MP3 jack and somtimes working XM. Sound was crisp and clean, but lacking in bass response. One needs to really crank up the volume before the subwoofer kicks in and fills out the sound. There are tons of controls on the steering wheel for audio controls as well as cruise control.
The trunk is huge and has a cutout for skis. The low stance helps with getting items in/out.
I did a ride report of the DTS I rented from National in October; I'll tweak my report to match my Hertz experience.
The DTS is a much larger car than the STS, but doesn't feel that much larger when driving. One does notice the size (mainly the length) when parking, though. The front and rear sensors help. Interesting to note that the SFO station is planning on using a DTS as one of their courtesy Platinum shuttles, replacing a TownCar. The driver told me the DTS is a bit narrower than the TownCar and doesn't have as big a trunk, but is still popular enough with renters.
Driving manners are very pleasant. Suspension is well-cushioned, but there is no "floating" sensation that one gets with Town Cars. The car sits lower than you would think and handles very nicely with no pronounced lean in corners; impressive for a heavy car. There is a lot of power to be had from the Northstar V-8 and passing on the highway is not a problem. I drove about 70% highway and 30% city and averaged about 22.5 mpg.
Cabin comforts are top notch for those in the front with dual climate and heated/cooled seats. Rear passengers get heated seats and auto climate a/c with vents. The DTS uses a normal key and fob, unlike the STS, which has a fob and push-button starting.
The audio system has an MP3 jack and somtimes working XM. Sound was crisp and clean, but lacking in bass response. One needs to really crank up the volume before the subwoofer kicks in and fills out the sound. There are tons of controls on the steering wheel for audio controls as well as cruise control.
The trunk is huge and has a cutout for skis. The low stance helps with getting items in/out.