Vehicle Description
Calling the 400-horse, V-8-powered CTS-V a "four-door Z06"
instantly brings its performance profile into focus. Yet it also
does this polished hot-rod sedan something of an injustice.
The V's acceleration, braking, and handling are indeed just a
whisper shy of the super Vette's, based on hot laps of Germany's
infamously challenging 75-year-old Nuerburgring race course-but
there's an iron-fist/velvet-glove component here, too. The
rocket-Caddy presented a pleasing ride, nicely weighted controls,
and a quiet, feature-rich cabin.
Hmmmm-a well-balanced, luxurious sedan with a 400-horsepower V-8
and a six-speed stick. Remind you of everyone's favorite BMW?
Comparison to the fire-breathing Z06 is inevitable, too, because
the CTS-V shares with the Corvette its 400-horsepower Small Block
LS6 V-8 and robust Tremec T-56 six-speed manual, along with several
clever ride and handling engineers from GM's Performance Division.
The V represents that new group's first effort.
The happy result, despite 700 pounds more mass than the two-seat
Chevy, is dazzling acceleration, arrestor-cable-quality brakes, and
communicative, linear handling. On the �Ring's long, uphill
straights, the CTS-V felt as if it were being augmented by a Saturn
booster as it snapped off quick upshifts. On the high-speed
downhill sections and tight hairpins lined with battered
guardrails, trees, and thrill-seeking German motorcyclists, the
car's four-piston Brembo discs came to the rescue without hot fade
or rotor shudder. �Also providing rescue was GM's impressive
StabiliTrak stability-control system. �The car held its own while
being driven to the howling limits of good sense and the Goodyear
P245/45WR18s' adhesion. The stability system's switchable settings
let you hang it out-without getting it bit off.
In order to muster the required grip, body/wheel control, and
roll/pitch/dive resistance, the springs are 27 percent stiffer, the
shocks are larger, and the anti-roll bar diameters are increased.
Fortunately, the usual harshness and noise that follow those types
of changes aren't evident.
The initial impression, however, is that the V is on par with other
big guns like the�Mercedes-Benz�E55 and�BMW M5. GMPD also developed
new steering calibration and used dedicated rack hardware to give
the CTS-V its own slick cut and thrust. The steering-wheel action
is light, tight, and as communicative as that in any MB E55.
This CTS-V has obviously been taken care of since day one.� Always
adult-driven, and never used in inclement weather.� Showing just a
tick over 37,000 rounds; this baby has just begun to be broken
in.�
The exterior sheet metal and Stealth Gray paint are nearly
flawless.� If you look really hard... you might find a stone chip
the size of a gnat.�
The Light Neutral leather / suede interior shows wear that would be
indicative of a 3,700 mile car, and not typical of a 37,000 mile
car.� The bolsters are almost perfect, and everything inside the
car is basically just the way it was when it left the Cadillac
factory.�
The drivetrain is powerful and smooth, and the 6-speed manual is an
absolute blast to drive.
This is a rare car that is almost never shown with this low of
miles, and in this condition.� These cars stickered for well over
$50,000 new, and this example has been barely used since.� Trust me
when I say this is a lot of car for the money!
