Performance

[wd03cts]

Hello fellow CTS owners. I just joined this forum today. I have a totally stock 2003 CTS with auto trans. I noticed the ad at the top of the page for the SLR Performance Chip for $69.
Has anyone tried this? What kind of results? Good? Bad?

[nickc50310]

Total rip. Dont do it!

[jcs003]

can't tune the 2003. welcome to the forum.

[nickc50310]

Originally Posted by wd03cts

Hello fellow CTS owners. I just joined this forum today. I have a totally stock 2003 CTS with auto trans. I noticed the ad at the top of the page for the SLR Performance Chip for $69.
Has anyone tried this? What kind of results? Good? Bad?

58!!!??? Damn youre old!! AHAHAHA! Just kidding with ya buddy! Welcome to the forum! Let me know if theres anything I can help you with. I used to have an 03 so I know quite a bit about the 03s as well as 04s.

[txbest1980]

welcome wd03cts...

[wd03cts]

Thanks Nickc50310,
I might be oldER but I'm not OLD. That's O.K., bud.
I appreciate the quick response. Jcs003 says you can't tune an '03.
Why's that? The way the car is set up right now it seems to have some decent kick but the mpg seems like it should be a little better. Running around town I'm getting between 17 and 19 mpg. That's taking it easy on the take-off. Highway seems to be around 23-24. Does this sound right?
By the way, I don't really care about my age. I still feel pretty young. I can handle the digs.
Thanks for the welcome. Looking forward to your response(s).

[txbest1980]

Originally Posted by wd03cts

Thanks Nickc50310,
I might be oldER but I'm not OLD. That's O.K., bud.
I appreciate the quick response. Jcs003 says you can't tune an '03.
Why's that? The way the car is set up right now it seems to have some decent kick but the mpg seems like it should be a little better. Running around town I'm getting between 17 and 19 mpg. That's taking it easy on the take-off. Highway seems to be around 23-24. Does this sound right?
By the way, I don't really care about my age. I still feel pretty young. I can handle the digs.
Thanks for the welcome. Looking forward to your response(s).

one thing that helped my MPG out was a fuel additive called "SeaFoam"...it is a bit more expensive than your regular stuff, but it isnt going to break the bank either...there are a few different ways you can put it in your car, but i choose to go the traditional route of putting it in the gas tank...after about 5 to 10 minutes of driving it and the "SeaFoam" gotinto my car's system, i could feel it had a bit more get up and in the end, i started averaging but MPG in the city...i add this stuff to my car once a month

[Sammy Z]

I'm also 50 ish as well. Welcome to the forum. I have the 03 as well so probably the same engine. My average MPG is about 23 but I do a lot of highway driving. If I'm on the highway doing 65 and reset it, I get about 30 mpg. If I did a lot of city driving, I'm sure I would be in the teens. I use premium gas.

[Lord Cadillac]

Originally Posted by wd03cts

Hello fellow CTS owners. I just joined this forum today. I have a totally stock 2003 CTS with auto trans. I noticed the ad at the top of the page for the SLR Performance Chip for $69.
Has anyone tried this? What kind of results? Good? Bad?

Welcome aboard! Thank you for signing up!

[ndmath02]

If only these +hp chips worked, we'd all be playing nascar in the streets

[gpet6669]

I also have an 03 CTS with the 3.2L. I get about 28MPG on the freeway at about 65-70. At 80 MPH I get an average of 24-26MPG. So I don't know what I am doing different than you guys, but my highway driving is really flat. I very rarely go into the mountains so I guess that helps! In the city I cannot keep my foot out of it. I live in the bay area of Cali, so THAT doesn't help the situation. I get about 17-19 city.

Welcome to the home of the CTS! I am fairly new here, but I like these guys in here.

[wd03cts]

Thanks txbest1980,
I'm familiar with Seafoam. I'll give that a try. Won't hurt, but it seems as though I'm somewhat in the ballpark with my current mileage and driving style.
I also own a 2001 Vette, convertible, 6 speed manual. I used Seafoam on her when she had about 28,000 miles (about 18 months ago). I did both the crankcase via PCV valve and poured the remainder into the gas tank. I and my buddy, who helped me to put it in at work at lunch time, expected a ton of smoke out of the exhaust after sitting a few hours. To our surprise not a puff of smoke was visible at start-up and on the drive home she was clean the whole way. I did have the oil (Synthetic also)changed right away, though.

[wd03cts]

Thanks for the welcomes. These forums are terrific for exchanging info and insights into a common interest - the CTS Cad. When I first drove mine I was pleasantly surprised. She handles very well, nice and tight with good road feel. For the engine size and H.P. and torque ratings she performs pretty good, too.

[nickc50310]

Glad you got some good responses!


Your MPG sounds spot on. The reason the 3.2 can not be tuned is because the Bosch ECM hasnt been cracked. Due to the retiring of the 3.2, I doubt it ever will be.

[wd03cts]

Thanks nickc50310,
that splains it. That's a shame. It seems like a nice solid platform for modding.
Oh, well.
I'm glad to hear about the mpg. So, now all I've got to do is keep her clean.(and start saving my pennies for an '09 V).