MEnthusiast

Ive never driven it, but there was a member who test drove the V and said it compares nicely with the M5- sure there are plusses and minuses but it was a nice summary.

__________________
All the best,
Jerry
00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others

BobRod

Thanks to Cadillac for making the effort to build performance cars for enthusiasts. If I needed/wanted a four door performance sedan, I'd at least take a look at Cadillac, something I would not have done five years ago. BMW's design arrogance has me completely turned off on the current generation of cars. My only hope at this point is that they don't butcher the upcoming 3 and 4 series.

Keith, let us know how the test drive goes.

Bob R

keithw

Well guys, just got home from checking out a CTS V. First impression was not too good. The car on the outside is really ugly. Inside is OK, not lavish but simple and neat. The engine compartment is quite nice with lots of molded carbon fiber covers. The brakes are huge! Brembo 14" with dual piston calipers on all four wheels. Price tag was nice also $51.5K with no gas guzzler tax. 18MPG street, 25MPG highway. The motor is an LS6 all aluminum SBC. Same motor that's in the ZO6 Corvette, 405HP.

Although I couldn't really wail on the car too much, I can tell you it has very nice acceleration. Corners nicely and rides much smoother than the E39. Shifter worked just fine for me although the first mod I'd do if I bought one would be a short shift kit.

Talking to the salesman, I showed him the Autoweek article about CTS V Plus and asked if it was true. He had heard nothing about it but we exchanged cards and he said he'd call Cadillac Tuesday and get back to me. In chatting he also told me the Escalade will have a V12 engine in 2005. Sounds like Cadillac is really changing. I switched to BMW in 2000 because of the E39 and it's 400HP. If Cadillac had the CTS V back then I probably would still be with them. You can take this car to Mallett or Lingenfelter and get unreal HP for a total that is less than an E60.

Still, like most have said "It ain't no BMW". But BMW better watch their rear view mirrors as it would seem that there's a new kid on the block that is a competant competitor.

I love my S2 E39 and plan to keep it. If Cadillac does come out with the CTS V Plus, I will own one of those instead of the E60. 600HP with a full and extendable warrantee just seems too good to be true. Maybe the 2005 model will look better.

I'm not tooting Cadillac's horn here as I am somewhat of a converted BMW nut. I've bought 2 M5's and a Z8 since 2000 and love the cars. I went with Cadillac in 1994 mainly because of the Northstar motor and the lously service and price gouging BMW was doing back then.


Well that about sums it up.

Keith

vndkshn

What kills me is the folks that automatically dismiss the car because it is not German.. and its a Cadillac.

Reminds me of a few years back when all BMW owners automatically dismissed MB as luxury cars that would never been great performers. It reminds me of the same BMW owners' statements about Audi.

Look who is really challenging BMW now... MB and Audi.

Having driven a CTS with the 6 cylinder (not a V yet), I can say driving wise it compared VERY closely to the 530i, possibly even better. Sure, the styling is OUT THERE. And the fit and finish haven't made it there yet. But every year they seem to get better and better.

Look at it this way. If Caddy puts out a car that performs as well, or almost as well as the M5, has the same quality fit and finish, yet costs tens of thousands less... it WILL take sales away from BMW (and MB as well). Both companies will be forced to LOWER prices to compete or become even better, and likely more expensive.

Mardeth

Is the interior good in the CTS-V? Heard bad things about american interior.

MEnthusiast

The new MBs are no rival to how BMWs drive. They are numb, numb, numb. As for exterior styling- its subjective. I find the Caddy no more undesirable than the E60.

__________________
All the best,
Jerry
00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others

keithw

The first thing I noticed when I jumped in the car and sat down was two nice cup holders indented in the center console. Score one for Cadillac. The leather seats are nice looking with real sweade inserts. No I Drive like controls, just the normal switches, buttons and knobs. Does have what looks to be a very nice Nav display.

Oh, and one more score for Cadillac...it has a spare tire!!!!

You certainly don't have the low end torque of the M5 and would need to keep the revs up higher to compete. The M5 is a very tough car to beat the feel of when driving. My 2000 M5 S2 is the closest to perfection I have ever experienced.

As I don't know yet whether the CTS V Plus is to be a reality and what HP and TQ numbers the E60 M5 will have, guess I'll just wait and see.

All i definately know is whatever I get, it will be black.

Keith

keithw

Tom,

You could be onto something. The Cadillac SLR is built on a Corvette chassis and drive train.

Keith

CharlieMax

No, the XLR is built on the Corvette chassis and is assembled on the same line as the Corvette.

mikem

There is no spare tire in the CTS-V...it is equipped with run-flat tires.

Regarding torque: I am not sure what the M5 had as standard but the CTS-V is around 390ft/lbs of torque that pulls HARD. It has over 300ft/lbs torque at idle. I was not aware that the M5 had this much torque down low!

My only complaint with the CTS-V is wheel hop. If you run very hard you will get it. From what others are reporting this is caused by a combination of shock settings and run-flats. I will most likely change my shocks and see what happens.

I was 99% ready to purchase a 545 or put money down on an M5 and then I drove the CTS-V. I took the CTS-V over the BMW 5 series for the following reasons:

1. Styling - I liked the CTS better then the new 5 (very subjective)
2. iDrive - My honest opinion...this is really dumb! I am a software developer and have no idea who came-up with the GUI on this one. It is very bad to force the drive to use such a complicated system for basic tasks.
3. Interior - I like the interior of the CTS-V better then the new 5. I like the old 5 interior better then the new 5 and CTS-V.
4. Performance - The CTS-V performs better then the 545

So, what do I think the CTS-V is lacking?
1. SMG tranny...it needs it!
2. A fix for the wheel hop.
3. Heated rear seats.
4. Leather and wood on the dash
5. Wider wheels for the rear...I can set the car sideways even from 2-3...we need more meat in the rear
6. More color choices