First-generation CTS-V
- Thread starter Shant J.
- 20 comments
- 9,925 views
- 997
- Regina, SK
- Turboash
Very horny car... if it suits your needs, get it!
- 1,295
- Nuvolari91
It has rear seats and is fast, which is good.
I just hate that it's a sedan, but what can you do, right?
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
On the whole, the Sigma CTS-V is one of the best cars GM had produced in decades up to that point. The performance of the vehicle was in fact world-class, and ultimately, Cadillac won a lot of praise for it. The CTS itself, however, is a bit more of a touch-and-go story. Admittedly the interior isn't as pleasant as your comparable BMW or Audi, but then again, for the same price you aren't getting a 400 BHP rocket. The case for the CTS was the same as many GM vehicles of that era, getting better every single year until the end of the model run. The jump to Sigma II was made that much easier because of what Cadillac had learned from the CTS-V.
I think what you need to get your head around here is that first, you are buying a Cadillac. With that, despite the common parts shared with other GM vehicles, you are going to have to pay a lot more to fix a "normal" issue than you would with similar choices offered at the time. Similarly, the comparative rarity of the LS6 could bring further issues later on down the road. That isn't saying that the engine wouldn't be bulletproof, but considering that it was only available in the Corvette and CTS-V, it isn't as though the bits and pieces are as common as what was later offered by the LS2 and LS3.
Confounding these issues, at least for me, are the fact that two cars from Pontiac showed up in roughly the same window as the Sigma CTS-V. First was the GTO, which arguably had better build quality and similar performance, particularly with the later LS2-powered versions. Second, the G8 GT (and G8 GXP) created even more issues for the Sigma CTS-V, especially in terms of practicality. Although the G8 lacked some of the muscle compared to the CTS-V, it was still a very capable sport sedan, and was certainly the last hurrah for a dying company.
I would be hard-pressed to choose the Sigma CTS-V over the GTO, if I am being honest. Dollar-for-dollar, the Pontiac is a better deal if you are capable of sacrificing one seat in the back and two doors. That is not to say that I do not love the Sigma CTS-V, but more or less that I would not be willing to take the dip in the Cadillac pricing pool. They are excellent vehicles, there is no way to question that, but if you are looking for something that is going to be inherently reliable and reasonable to repair, the CTS-V is not the car of choice.
TL;DR - The CTS-V is great if you can afford it. Otherwise, get a GTO.
* References: Being the "GM Guy" around here
I think what you need to get your head around here is that first, you are buying a Cadillac. With that, despite the common parts shared with other GM vehicles, you are going to have to pay a lot more to fix a "normal" issue than you would with similar choices offered at the time. Similarly, the comparative rarity of the LS6 could bring further issues later on down the road. That isn't saying that the engine wouldn't be bulletproof, but considering that it was only available in the Corvette and CTS-V, it isn't as though the bits and pieces are as common as what was later offered by the LS2 and LS3.
Confounding these issues, at least for me, are the fact that two cars from Pontiac showed up in roughly the same window as the Sigma CTS-V. First was the GTO, which arguably had better build quality and similar performance, particularly with the later LS2-powered versions. Second, the G8 GT (and G8 GXP) created even more issues for the Sigma CTS-V, especially in terms of practicality. Although the G8 lacked some of the muscle compared to the CTS-V, it was still a very capable sport sedan, and was certainly the last hurrah for a dying company.
I would be hard-pressed to choose the Sigma CTS-V over the GTO, if I am being honest. Dollar-for-dollar, the Pontiac is a better deal if you are capable of sacrificing one seat in the back and two doors. That is not to say that I do not love the Sigma CTS-V, but more or less that I would not be willing to take the dip in the Cadillac pricing pool. They are excellent vehicles, there is no way to question that, but if you are looking for something that is going to be inherently reliable and reasonable to repair, the CTS-V is not the car of choice.
TL;DR - The CTS-V is great if you can afford it. Otherwise, get a GTO.
* References: Being the "GM Guy" around here
Joey D
Premium
- 47,544
- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
They are worthless in anything other then dry weather, but since you live in SoCal I got to imagine you'll be ok. I'm sure it has something to do with the tires on it, but everyone I know that has owned one couldn't even begin to drive it all that well in the rain.
- 4,822
- Concord, CA
- kylehnat
The CTS-V I drove was an '08, I think, and the thing that impressed me the most was that it drives and feels much smaller than it is. For a big, lumbering sedan, it's quite nimble and neutral. The engine has plenty of power, and the interior is nice to look at. All in all, a great car 👍. The gearbox is crap, though. The feel is mushy, and the ratios are too far apart for spirited driving. Not sure of the maintenance costs, though...as others have said, it could well eat your lunch.
- 4,579
- Houston, TX
- astrosdude91
- 1,600
- ON, Canada
- AMCNUT
- AMCNUT
I think if your could find a gently-used one you'd be in OK shape. Hey, at least if you end up with a high-mileage example you can be relatively sure that the most serious problems are either already fixed or will not manifest themselves!
You should try for a black or a red one - I'd think the CTS would be a bargain compared to the equivalent-year Audi, Mercedes, BMW, etc.
You should try for a black or a red one - I'd think the CTS would be a bargain compared to the equivalent-year Audi, Mercedes, BMW, etc.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,324
- United States
There were a couple at the drags last night running mid to low 12's.
The Vanishing Boy
Premium
- 9,000
- Quezon City, Philippines & Las Vegas, NV
- GTP_VanishingBoy
- Vanishing Boy
^ I agree whole-heartedly, the Aussie's Dynamic Duo are perfect compared to the 1st-gen CTS-V. I've driven the CTS-V and had more fun compared to the LS2 Corvette Z51, but the GTO (6.0) is a huge bargain on both short and long term expenses.On the whole, the Sigma CTS-V is one of the best cars GM had produced in decades up to that point. The performance of the vehicle was in fact world-class, and ultimately, Cadillac won a lot of praise for it. The CTS itself, however, is a bit more of a touch-and-go story. Admittedly the interior isn't as pleasant as your comparable BMW or Audi, but then again, for the same price you aren't getting a 400 BHP rocket. The case for the CTS was the same as many GM vehicles of that era, getting better every single year until the end of the model run. The jump to Sigma II was made that much easier because of what Cadillac had learned from the CTS-V.
I think what you need to get your head around here is that first, you are buying a Cadillac. With that, despite the common parts shared with other GM vehicles, you are going to have to pay a lot more to fix a "normal" issue than you would with similar choices offered at the time. Similarly, the comparative rarity of the LS6 could bring further issues later on down the road. That isn't saying that the engine wouldn't be bulletproof, but considering that it was only available in the Corvette and CTS-V, it isn't as though the bits and pieces are as common as what was later offered by the LS2 and LS3.
Confounding these issues, at least for me, are the fact that two cars from Pontiac showed up in roughly the same window as the Sigma CTS-V. First was the GTO, which arguably had better build quality and similar performance, particularly with the later LS2-powered versions. Second, the G8 GT (and G8 GXP) created even more issues for the Sigma CTS-V, especially in terms of practicality. Although the G8 lacked some of the muscle compared to the CTS-V, it was still a very capable sport sedan, and was certainly the last hurrah for a dying company.
I would be hard-pressed to choose the Sigma CTS-V over the GTO, if I am being honest. Dollar-for-dollar, the Pontiac is a better deal if you are capable of sacrificing one seat in the back and two doors. That is not to say that I do not love the Sigma CTS-V, but more or less that I would not be willing to take the dip in the Cadillac pricing pool. They are excellent vehicles, there is no way to question that, but if you are looking for something that is going to be inherently reliable and reasonable to repair, the CTS-V is not the car of choice.
TL;DR - The CTS-V is great if you can afford it. Otherwise, get a GTO.
* References: Being the "GM Guy" around here
-> Unfortunately, I haven't hooned the G8 series. But as of the moment they're still out of the price range.
IMO-> I also HATE sedans!
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