http://caranddriver.com/article.asp?...rticle_id=7780

Overall, CTS-V seemed to do well. It didn't exactly dish out the *** handing i was expecting, but it proved it can hang with the best sport sedans from BMW...and that says a lot.

CTS-V .

 

I'll be interested to see how the V fairs when driven more to the limit. The oil temp and wheel hop problems have me a bit concerned, though.

 

A little off topic, but I saw a CTSv on the road yesterday for the first time.

 

I wouldn't be concerned. The oil temp thing sounded like a s/w bug; no biggie. I mean, it's important to fix it, but they will. It's not a fundamental flaw with the powertrain (remember that the LS6 has been around for a few years.). As for the wheel hop, I'm sure that is surface dependent (MT or R&T had issues with the GTO on some surfaces but not on others). Besides, I don't think most people will be drag racing these cars. Driving them fast? Sure. But unless you are trying to minimize a time (e.g. in a 0-60 or 1/4 mile event), the perfect launch is not quite as important. Heck, plenty of Porshes and other IRS cars have had issues with this, if memory serves.

As for the article, I think the Caddy could have won on the road course if they had used the full rpm range. "To limit oil-temp-readout hysterics, we tried short-shifting the Caddy at 5500 rpm, well below the 6000-rpm horsepower peak, figuring the 5.7's edge in torque would cover for not using all the revs. And we limited consecutive hot laps to two, allowing the Caddy to cool off for about 15 minutes between runs. The net of this is that we posted just four go-for-it laps.

For all that, Putnam provided the information we wanted." Shifting an LS6 at 5500 rpm is eliminating a big chunk of its powerband. They never even let the car reach its full 400 hp! Of course, you can argue that it is the car's fault for the erroneous oil temp indication, but they then claim that Putnam (track) provided all the info they needed (for their results). I would say that they did not get the info they needed for an accurate comparison, since they were cutting out so much of the operating range of the LS6, including the juiciest part!

 

Well crap!! these guys were in my back yard at my favorite track and I wasn't invited?!?! j/k

I LOVE Putnam Park's road course! 10 turns of pure fun!

Here's an M3 looking at my tailights coming out of turn 10....

http://www.indycamaro.com/images/DougBMW.jpg

Cadillac is here to play with this one!

 

That car is simply phenomenal. I remember everyone on here (for the most part everyone, anyways) bashing it over the price. And who could blame us...if you look at the price difference between it and a normal CTS, one wonders where all the money went...

But then you look at it compared to its peers, and it shines. The car is worth it. In all honesty, if I had the $$ (which I sure don't), I'd plunk down $50 on this thing instead of a Z06. A Z06 is an amazing machine...but this car to me is something else...

I keep hoping in maybe 7 years, I can find a 4 year old one for a daily driver You figure 2 1/2 years to pay the GP off, then 4-5 years to pay off either a 5th gen or if I can weasel my dad's '02 Formula away from him....ahhhh...dreams. At this rate, the GP will have to make that 200k mile mark

 

Off-topic again but...Doug...sweeeet ride!

 

I work with the son of the owner of the M5 used in that article. Doesn't that make me just so damn cool?

I doubt that the difference between shifting at 5500 and 6000 makes much of a difference on the road course - cornering speeds and proper corner exits would have much more of an effect on straightaway speed than 500 RPM worth of powerband. That's not to say that it's not important to use all of whatcha got

The "axle hop" disturbs me a bit, but hey - my current ride has the exact same problem.

All in all, it sounds like a much more refined version of what I've got in the garage, and I look forward to seeing what they go for as 3-year-old used cars.

 

I beleive the redline on the LS6 is 6500 and that is where the LS6 reaches its maximum HP. So yes, an extra 1000 rpms will help on any track. Even at 500 under redline you are losing alot of HP, so yes, it does make a BIG difference.

http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/46/c3/6b_1_s.JPG CTSV tach.

 

i may get to drive one soon on a track

dont believe me? click the smiley, i'm already signed-up

 

How did you get invited? Will you deffinately get a chance to drive the V? I'm sure that will be the car to drive and if 100's show up you may have to cut the line a little. I'll be on a permanent test drive in about 30 days.

 

I had the honor of meeting Doug and seeing (and sitting in ) his car in person in Bowling Green. If I was making my own custom 4th gen, I'll tell ya...I'd be stealing ideas from this guy That car is GORGEOUS

 

Car and Driver admitted that The CTS-V probably should have won the handling course but it was liley a case of early production bugs that kept it from taking first.

I would expect accleration to improve on a more broken-in car as well. Maybe they're up for a 2nd test?

Nonetheless, all the editors loved the car too, that says someting!

I wonder what M/T will get with the car. They are getting great numbers with the GTO (13.6 VS 14.0 for C&D)

I'd take the CTS V over the BMWs in a second.

 

to be honest, i really dont know how i got invited. maybe just cause im a local resident who subscribes to motor trend and car and driver. but then again my friend gets those too but he didnt get it