RE: Driven: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

[GroundEffect]

I think it looks great.

Would buy if it was RHD (and I had the money, of course).

[Harry H]

Just think of the depreciation though.

If it came over here in RHD after three years we'd be able to pick one up for £15k. Bloody bargain and I'd have one

[angusc43]

a) it's an estate
b) it's got 550bhp
c) it's cheap (in the US at least)
c) what's not to like?

[mattiselvis]

I drove one of these around for a couple of months in the US last year. Covered about 7k happy miles - a surprisingly good car and I was a bit sad to leave it behind when I returned to Blighty.

[Saabthinking]

Looks like GM have found an old filing cabinate from their years of ownership of the Saab brand, as it looks like a Saab 9-3 Sportcombi from the rear 3/4 view, but I maybe biased

[fwaggie]

I like this, the rear looks very good, interior looks lovely, stonking engine, auto box means it'll be nice and relaxed (it ain't a track day car now, is it?).

The front looks a bit minging but as someone said, bit of masking tape and some matt black would make it acceptable.

Want.

[MrGeoff]

Looks great, would love to give one a spin.

[TomTVR500]

This is far more appealing to me than any of its rivals for the simple fact it has a manual box. Who would have thought that America would be one of the last to keep manual boxes in fast cars. Good on them! Take note the rest of the world.

[LuS1fer]

TomTVR500 said:

This is far more appealing to me than any of its rivals for the simple fact it has a manual box. Who would have thought that America would be one of the last to keep manual boxes in fast cars. Good on them! Take note the rest of the world.

Sort of as the GM box is not great and if you read the Coupe test, it is criticised for being slow-witted and a few minutes behind the capabilities of the rst of the car and effectively the only reason the RS4 and M3 were rated as better. Shame really as I had a Corvette C5 Z06 and know exactly what they mean.

[vz-r_dave]

George H said:

Nothing to do with the money. I would rather have a lower spec European equivelant for the same money as this.

Yeah me to, who needs a super charged V8 with over 500 HP when you can go and get your self a 520d...... George your on the wrong web site.

That is by the way the euro equivalent in price and I can tell you now that although the new 5 is a fantastic car if I had the funds there is no chance that i'd take it over the CTS-V.

Guess thats the difference between a snob and someone who can really appreciate a car for what it is regardless of badge.

[chilled901]

vz-r_dave said:

Yeah me to, who needs a super charged V8 with over 500 HP when you can go and get your self a 520d...... George your on the wrong web site.

That is by the way the euro equivalent in price and I can tell you now that although the new 5 is a fantastic car if I had the funds there is no chance that i'd take it over the CTS-V.

Guess thats the difference between a snob and someone who can really appreciate a car for what it is regardless of badge.

George H's preferred beverage while commenting about American cars.

[manu76]

Never mind the styling or the build quality....there`s 550bhp under that bonnet...that`s enough for me!

[vintageracer01]

If a wagon ever, than only this one!!!

[JenkinsComp]

Awesome motor. 2nd hand 4 door versions of the 1st Gen CTSv saloon (only 405bhp but with 6 speed manual) are particularly cheap now, like under $15k.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?mo...

[FezzaDude]

looks good inside and out.

[LuS1fer]

JenkinsComp said:

Awesome motor. 2nd hand 4 door versions of the 1st Gen CTSv saloon (only 405bhp but with 6 speed manual) are particularly cheap now, like under $15k.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?mo...

For a high miler, maybe but the annoying thing about the Americans is how slowly their cars depreciate and how quickly a superseded model suddenly goes from "used car" to "collector's classic". A nice CTS-V on your search is around $25k which is nearly £16k befoe you even start with shippin, 10% import duty and 20% VAT. I've always wanted one of these cars but they aren't worth the cost of importing one when you can get a 3.6 Sport for £8k or less in RHD and where the imported cost lands you in Monaro VXR/500/VXR8 territory.

[nouze]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hUYzR5M-FU

[JenkinsComp]

LuS1fer said:

For a high miler, maybe but the annoying thing about the Americans is how slowly their cars depreciate and how quickly a superseded model suddenly goes from "used car" to "collector's classic". A nice CTS-V on your search is around $25k which is nearly £16k befoe you even start with shippin, 10% import duty and 20% VAT. I've always wanted one of these cars but they aren't worth the cost of importing one when you can get a 3.6 Sport for £8k or less in RHD and where the imported cost lands you in Monaro VXR/500/VXR8 territory.

What you need is a mate (or a secure property) in the US to store it there for whatever the time period is (12 months total?) before you ship it back, to save the import duty. Or indeed, a mate in the USAF based here in the UK, who is willing to ship it to his Air Base address (techinically still us territory for tax purposes) and then sell it to you in GBP. Made a nice saving on a set of Fikse wheels this way ;-)

The CTS 3.6 Sport is a nice motah but really, it just drinks alot and is not very fast like most big boring saloons. The Monaro / VXR is the best alternative to the CTSv you're right.

[LuS1fer]

JenkinsComp said:

LuS1fer said:

For a high miler, maybe but the annoying thing about the Americans is how slowly their cars depreciate and how quickly a superseded model suddenly goes from "used car" to "collector's classic". A nice CTS-V on your search is around $25k which is nearly £16k befoe you even start with shippin, 10% import duty and 20% VAT. I've always wanted one of these cars but they aren't worth the cost of importing one when you can get a 3.6 Sport for £8k or less in RHD and where the imported cost lands you in Monaro VXR/500/VXR8 territory.

What you need is a mate (or a secure property) in the US to store it there for whatever the time period is (12 months total?) before you ship it back, to save the import duty. Or indeed, a mate in the USAF based here in the UK, who is willing to ship it to his Air Base address (techinically still us territory for tax purposes) and then sell it to you in GBP. Made a nice saving on a set of Fikse wheels this way ;-)

The CTS 3.6 Sport is a nice motah but really, it just drinks alot and is not very fast like most big boring saloons. The Monaro / VXR is the best alternative to the CTSv you're right.

For cars you have to prove residence with utility bills etc otherwise you could buy a car and simply claim you bought it 12m ago. Not sure it works that way with US personnel either as you don't have to register wheels. LOL.