RC45
04-02-2004, 04:14 AM
Yep - me, the ultimate GM-hater, broke down and found a Caddy dealer here in town willing to share a CTS-V for 20 minutes or so.
All I can say is - if you are in the market for a 4 door rear wheel drive V8 sedan and you don't buy a CTS-V - you are a fucking idiot.... ;)
I will get one, just not a new one.
2 Reasons:
1.) I vowed never to spend "new car" money on a GM product ever - and I won't.
2.) As all Caddy's I am sure they will be worth less that shit on the used car market.
So, that being said - I will be in the market for a CTS-V next year this time when the first cars start coming of lease.
Impressions
Approaching the the car, it has a purposeful look - that if it wasn't for GM already cheapening the look, by offering a CTS-V appearence package for regular CTS's - would have some unique value - minus 1 for GM (although you can't blame the CTS-V for this one ;) )
The brakes look impressive, 14" rotors, Brembo Calipers and all - as does the grill and the muscular body.
The interior is classic "GM trying to be sophisticated" and they miss the intended BMW/Mercedes Benz finish by a long shot - it is nothing special, and would not be a reason to buy the car.
The steering wheel has a nice feel with the leather bound rim thick enough for a nice grip, and the wheel feels good with steering mounted controls - that are kind of clumsy to operate - again, not a reason to buy the car.
The seats feel nice and firm and actually at first glance seem to offer better support than that other GM hi-po car.. the Z06 ;)
The indash CD/DVD Nav setup is nothing special and although the salesmen tried to explain it to me - I told him it's not a selling point of the car and I would never use it.
The parking brake is a"grandpa foot operated" job - really annoying and has no place in a hi-po sedan - again not a selling point.
Grab the gear shift - wow, what a let down, the thing has a sloppier and longer throw than the stock Z06 unit... not what a novice would want to help them with aggresive 6500rpm shifts... the shift-feel is not a selling point.
The clutch feels like a unit more at home in a Toyota Echo.. far too light for a hi-po sedan - again not a selling point.
So up until this point, I am figuring "Wow - $53,000 incl tax/title and registration doesn't get you much does it. It is an ok package that looks kinda mean but feels like a wet noodle".
(I hope you are still reading.. ;) )
I mean, why is it that if nothing is impressive am I saying only an idiot would pass one up?
Well - it's a wet noodle because the CTS-V, like all Caddy's(and Lincolns) falls way short of being a decent luxury car - it does however, have one saving grace.
The LS-6 :twisted:
Driving the car
The LS-6 :twisted:
Turn the key, feel the distant burble of the 346ci Z06 V8 - let it warm-up, pull out of the dealership into traffic and all of a sudden you are driving a well engineered, powerful, aggressive sports-sedan. :D
I was pretty enthusiastic during the test drive, and fast acceleration through the gears (all the way to the top of 4th - short shifting at 6,000 :twisted: - it is a new car after all ;) ) and then hauling on the anchors to dart between some traffic, take the exit, and take the u-turn under the bridge... the car goes where you point it and then some - it feels very sure-footed and planted - makes the BMW 330i feel like a fucking UPS truck.
All the while the salesman is confirming what a great car this is. ;)
With a louder exhaust, and the normal LS-6 bolt-ons and some heads and cam treatment taking it to 550+ crank HP - it will make one mean son-of-bitch-commuter... ;) eating up and spitting out your precious M5, E55 and S55 commuters.
Put in an MTI 427, and you can take the car anywhere and really kick ass.
This car scores 2/10 for most every ctaegory for me - fit finish, interior etc - how ever, the 6-speed and LS-6 combo get a 17/10 - so overall I score the CTS-V at an even 10/10 for what it was intended - a Hot Rod V8 Sedan. If you want a yuppie mobile - go buy a BMW M car, if you want to win roll-ons on the freeway - go buy an AMG Benz.
If you want to drive - then buy a CTS-V.
Just like the Z06 - I would put up with all the imperfections, just to be able to daily drive a 4-door Corvette... ;)
p.s. I am going to go back and get some pics of the Demo unit tomorrow.
Here are a few "stock" pics:
http://www.cadillac.com/images/models/ctsv/gallery/photoExt2_med.jpg
http://www.cadillac.com/images/models/ctsv/gallery/photoExt8_med.jpg
All I can say is - if you are in the market for a 4 door rear wheel drive V8 sedan and you don't buy a CTS-V - you are a fucking idiot.... ;)
I will get one, just not a new one.
2 Reasons:
1.) I vowed never to spend "new car" money on a GM product ever - and I won't.
2.) As all Caddy's I am sure they will be worth less that shit on the used car market.
So, that being said - I will be in the market for a CTS-V next year this time when the first cars start coming of lease.
Impressions
Approaching the the car, it has a purposeful look - that if it wasn't for GM already cheapening the look, by offering a CTS-V appearence package for regular CTS's - would have some unique value - minus 1 for GM (although you can't blame the CTS-V for this one ;) )
The brakes look impressive, 14" rotors, Brembo Calipers and all - as does the grill and the muscular body.
The interior is classic "GM trying to be sophisticated" and they miss the intended BMW/Mercedes Benz finish by a long shot - it is nothing special, and would not be a reason to buy the car.
The steering wheel has a nice feel with the leather bound rim thick enough for a nice grip, and the wheel feels good with steering mounted controls - that are kind of clumsy to operate - again, not a reason to buy the car.
The seats feel nice and firm and actually at first glance seem to offer better support than that other GM hi-po car.. the Z06 ;)
The indash CD/DVD Nav setup is nothing special and although the salesmen tried to explain it to me - I told him it's not a selling point of the car and I would never use it.
The parking brake is a"grandpa foot operated" job - really annoying and has no place in a hi-po sedan - again not a selling point.
Grab the gear shift - wow, what a let down, the thing has a sloppier and longer throw than the stock Z06 unit... not what a novice would want to help them with aggresive 6500rpm shifts... the shift-feel is not a selling point.
The clutch feels like a unit more at home in a Toyota Echo.. far too light for a hi-po sedan - again not a selling point.
So up until this point, I am figuring "Wow - $53,000 incl tax/title and registration doesn't get you much does it. It is an ok package that looks kinda mean but feels like a wet noodle".
(I hope you are still reading.. ;) )
I mean, why is it that if nothing is impressive am I saying only an idiot would pass one up?
Well - it's a wet noodle because the CTS-V, like all Caddy's(and Lincolns) falls way short of being a decent luxury car - it does however, have one saving grace.
The LS-6 :twisted:
Driving the car
The LS-6 :twisted:
Turn the key, feel the distant burble of the 346ci Z06 V8 - let it warm-up, pull out of the dealership into traffic and all of a sudden you are driving a well engineered, powerful, aggressive sports-sedan. :D
I was pretty enthusiastic during the test drive, and fast acceleration through the gears (all the way to the top of 4th - short shifting at 6,000 :twisted: - it is a new car after all ;) ) and then hauling on the anchors to dart between some traffic, take the exit, and take the u-turn under the bridge... the car goes where you point it and then some - it feels very sure-footed and planted - makes the BMW 330i feel like a fucking UPS truck.
All the while the salesman is confirming what a great car this is. ;)
With a louder exhaust, and the normal LS-6 bolt-ons and some heads and cam treatment taking it to 550+ crank HP - it will make one mean son-of-bitch-commuter... ;) eating up and spitting out your precious M5, E55 and S55 commuters.
Put in an MTI 427, and you can take the car anywhere and really kick ass.
This car scores 2/10 for most every ctaegory for me - fit finish, interior etc - how ever, the 6-speed and LS-6 combo get a 17/10 - so overall I score the CTS-V at an even 10/10 for what it was intended - a Hot Rod V8 Sedan. If you want a yuppie mobile - go buy a BMW M car, if you want to win roll-ons on the freeway - go buy an AMG Benz.
If you want to drive - then buy a CTS-V.
Just like the Z06 - I would put up with all the imperfections, just to be able to daily drive a 4-door Corvette... ;)
p.s. I am going to go back and get some pics of the Demo unit tomorrow.
Here are a few "stock" pics:
http://www.cadillac.com/images/models/ctsv/gallery/photoExt2_med.jpg
http://www.cadillac.com/images/models/ctsv/gallery/photoExt8_med.jpg