How To Build a Custom Cadillac DTS
Cadillac’s finely-tuned luxury DTS doesn’t allow much room for improvement, but you can still improve its security with aftermarket products.
Written by Jasmine Kanter
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Silent, serene, and sensually outfitted, there’s not another car on the road quite like a Cadillac DTS these days.
Starting at $46,680, the “DeVille Touring Sedan” harkens back to Caddy’s days of elegant and refined isolation from the road. Its roomy and luxuriously-detailed cabin is almost completely silent even with a Northstar 4.6L dual-overhead-cam V8 engine underneath the hood, supplying 275-horsepower and 296 pound-feet of torque.
While it was discontinued in 2011, it enjoys a devoted following among Caddy fans who have also taken to modifying everything about it, inside and out. But just how much can you push its performance? And how much is too much?
Stick around to learn how to make the most of your 2011 Cadillac DTS.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers2011 Cadillac DTS factory customization options
The DTS offered Standard and Performance trims in 2006; Luxury I, II, and III in 2007; and Standard, Luxury, Premium, Performance, and Platinum in 2009. To keep it simple, we’ll be focusing on the last iterations of 2011: the Base, Luxury, Premium, and Platinum “Collections.”
The Cadillac DTS Base
The Base DTS starts at $46,680, offering 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, remote engine start, and dual-zone automatic controls. Buyers will also enjoy leather-upholstered power front seats, an 8-speaker sound system with CD and satellite radio, and keyless access. The engine gets 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
The Cadillac DTS Luxury
One step up, the Luxury Collection ($51,925) adds 17-inch chrome wheels, a moonroof, parking sensors, triple-zone automatic climate controls, and an 8-speaker Bose Centrepoint sound system with a six-disc CD changer. The whole cabin sports heated seats with memory settings and a heated steering wheel for the driver.
The Cadillac DTS Premium and Platinum
Finally, there’s the Premium ($54,825) and Platinum ($59,875) Collections. Both trims add a body-color grille, front-seat lumbar massages, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, genuine burled walnut accents, and a navigation system to the DTS. Only the Platinum, however, comes with an upgraded 292-hp 4.6L V8 engine, 18-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, and lane-departure and blind-spot warning systems.
Externally, buyers had a choice between seven colors, including premium picks like Tuscan Bronze (a ChromaFlair Pigment), Crystal Red (Tintcoat paint), and White Diamond (tri-coated), each costing $875. The interior, meanwhile, could be customized in shale, ebony, titanium, cocoa, or light linen, with the last item reserved exclusively for the Platinum trim.
Cadillac DTS optional packages
Cadillac’s
DTS packages
made some of the best features available to lower trims. A hit among retirees, you’ll find the best and most-lightly driven examples in warm states like Florida. Here are some OEM features that could drive up the prices in a used car listing catalog:Package | Cost | Features | Which trims is it available on? |
|---|---|---|---|
Driver Awareness | $611 | Blind-spot alerts and lane departure warnings | All trims |
DVD-based Navigation System | $1,887 | GPS-based positioning with DVD-loaded navigation software that enables route programming and points of interest | All trims |
Adaptive Speed Control | $1,491 | Includes a deluxe leather-wrapped and heated wooden steering wheel | All trims |
Dark Burl Walnut Wood Trim | $484 | Genuine wooden accents, plus deluxe leather-wrapped and heated wooden steering wheel | All trims |
Heated & Cooled Mirrors | $1,254 | Dual heated automatic day/night power mirrors, driver’s seat memory settings | All trims |
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Be on the lookout for extra goodies from the factory like the front license plate bracket ($13), all-weather floor mats ($123), Tehama leather seats ($1,056-$2,195), and an official Cadillac spare tire ($308).
MORE:
Easy car mods
How to customize your DeVille Touring Sedan to save money
If you can find a Cadillac DTS that was outfitted with the Driver Awareness package, you might be able to save on your insurance premium by talking to your provider. The standard safety technology, however, isn’t too shabby.
All DTSs include theft-deterrents that make use of a PASS-key III immobilizer and audiovisual alarm system. Should the wrong key fob (or a copy) be used on the car, the fuel pump will be disabled for several minutes. If the car is locked from the outside but unlocked manually from the inside (as in the case of a smashed window), the alarm will sound and lights will flash. New keys must be programmed at official Cadillac dealerships (who generally ask for proof of ownership) to ensure security.
The best Cadillac DTS mods
Since the DTS is over a decade old, you’ll have to turn to aftermarket products for any hope of modifications. Not all mods are created equal—here are a few of the most popular installations on the internet:
Alarms
The
AMG CarPro-Tec GPS Alarm System
($380) uses a user-supplied SIM card to enable smart live tracking. In the event of a break-in or towing, you’ll receive your car’s position by SMS. It’s easy to install, ready to go out of the box, and doesn’t require a subscription. Check with your insurance company to see if they offer incentives for installing security products like these.Sound
Prizing a quiet ride, some Cadillac DTS owners have installed
Dynamat
to cut down on noise. The cuttable, moldable sheet reduces vibrations—and thus sound—throughout the entire car. The damping effect is best used on the floor and places where panels and car components join together. In exchange for adding to the curb weight, you could cruise in an oasis of silence in the middle of the busiest city.Engine
Cadillac Forums
users highly recommend installing a CORSA Performance exhaust system
. It offers looks, durability, and satisfying noise—a rumbling idle, a quiet highway cruise, but an exhilarating roar at acceleration. Be wary of going down the rabbit hole, however—you just might find yourself spending a fortune on a custom pipe installation.
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Reviewed on 5/28/2023
How to find affordable insurance for your Cadillac DTS
Custom car mods are readily available, so why not custom
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