Looking for first hand experience. How is it on the track? How is build / reliability? Any issues?

 

I test drove one over a year ago. It's a hell of a car. A bit scary if you get on the gas as the tail will be all over the place even with TC on. Handles decent and the brakes are great. But it was just too old man-ish for me.

 

Same issues here...looking for a decent dd and a good m6 or m5 for those that prefer four doors is the best buy out there at around 39-45k.

 

No 4,000+ lb luxury sedan is fit for the track. I've driven the CTS-V as well as owned (and tracked, briefly) an M5. Both are too heavy to be truly enjoyable, and stress the tires and brakes *a lot*. Definitely a case of "Wow, she's a great dancer for being a tubby chick." You really need to gently nudge those cars round a track. It's more of a negotiation to please turn in than grabbing it by the scruff of the neck and throwing it at the apex.


In real-world terms, driven well, they're damn close to equal, performance-wise, and it's a driver's race. The M5 requires a bit more planning to stay in the powerband, and the CTS-V is easier to exploit. The M5 suffers from a lack of torque that the Caddy definitely doesn't, but the top end on the M5 is more thrilling. If I were in that market again, I'd probably go for the Cadillac. It's so much cheaper than the M5, and the areas where the BMW wins just aren't enough to justify the difference, to me, at least.

 

They had a deal last year, $12k in rebates and 2.5% financing. I loved the car, so the wife and I went to drive one. It was fun to drive and they did a nice job (comparing to other american cars) on the fit and finish. But compared to my 9 yr old M5, it was still lacking in refinement. We both agreed that it just wasn't the right car to buy new at the time. You can add a Hennessy kit to it and make it 700hp and still have a factory warranty on it too!

Now that they have a V Wagon...I might have to revisit the subject in 10-12 months when they are getting super aggressive on the pricing again.

 

While I agree with everything you said here, it is hard to argue the fact that the V did the ring in under 8 seconds, fastest ever sedan (they did it with the auto tranny too).

YouTube - 09 CTS-V Nurburgring Record Run 7:59.32 - Garage419

 

I've read about the CTS-V being a beast but it's not attractive.

Caddy's were only cool when my Grandpa drove them.

 

Current gen CTS-V sedan and wagon with proper transmission are few and far between, don't expect to find great deals on them.

Most are ordered with autotragic.

 

Holy shit!!!! Under 8 seconds!!!!

 

Yeah, I thought of that after I posted it. I've tracked my Cayman but never did my E39 M5.

I think I need to decide if I want to a) keep the Cayman and do track days on it or b) turn the E30 into a spec racer and get the V as a DD.

ETA: and I'd get a manual wagon, probably the only one in the country, so I'd no doubt have to order it and pay out the nose. Still way cheaper than the M5.