Another Disappointing '08 CTS Drive

[rsingl]

I came within inches of buying a 335i due to the problem with getting my CTS order picked up and one of the compromises I was going to have to make with the 335i was considerably less room in the back and what felt like a little less room in the front. I looked at a 5 series also but the styling of that did nothing for me. The newest generation CTS definitely has more headroom than the previous generation as at 6-2 my head brushed the headliner even with the seat all the way down, the new version was a very comfortable fit during the test drive. I thought the seat was very comfortable in the new CTS and it fits me well.

I am switching from an 02 Aurora to the CTS and although I haven't measured the interior size it feels pretty comparable. Of course either feels small compared to my crew cab pickup but at times I am happy to give up some interior room for agility in city traffic, at a curb weight of about 7000 pounds the extra interior room of the pickup comes at a cost! However slightly disappointing is according to test data the CTS is only about half a second faster through the quarter mile than the pickup so it sounds like there is some pretty serious torque limiting going on in first gear with the CTS.

[jjsC6]

Originally Posted by rsingl

I came within inches of buying a 335i due to the problem with getting my CTS order picked up and one of the compromises I was going to have to make with the 335i was considerably less room in the back and what felt like a little less room in the front. I looked at a 5 series also but the styling of that did nothing for me. The newest generation CTS definitely has more headroom than the previous generation as at 6-2 my head brushed the headliner even with the seat all the way down, the new version was a very comfortable fit during the test drive. I thought the seat was very comfortable in the new CTS and it fits me well.

I am switching from an 02 Aurora to the CTS and although I haven't measured the interior size it feels pretty comparable. Of course either feels small compared to my crew cab pickup but at times I am happy to give up some interior room for agility in city traffic, at a curb weight of about 7000 pounds the extra interior room of the pickup comes at a cost! However slightly disappointing is according to test data the CTS is only about half a second faster through the quarter mile than the pickup so it sounds like there is some pretty serious torque limiting going on in first gear with the CTS.

How fast is your pickup truck? Is it stock?

The CTS with the DI engine runs the quarter mile in the mid 14s. You must have an unusually fast truck if it runs 15 flat - assuming it's stock. I read a lot of road tests, and I sure don't remember any that fast.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[rsingl]

Not wanting to break anything I have never taken my pickup to the track. However I did watch a couple and as I recall the best time (stock) was about 15.2 and that was probably launched in 4 wheel drive to eliminate wheelspin, the ones with aftermarket tuning do considerably better in the quarter.

I think for awhile the diesel pickups became the "hotrod" of the last few years because it is very easy to get a lot of added horsepower with either a "flash" or an add-on box however again I bought the pickup for towing/carrying needs and reliability so mine is remaining stock.

In any case, I received the VIN for my new PDQ, Black Cherry/Ebony CTS Tuesday so it should be arriving soon and I will be keeping my 2006 pickup (GMC Sierra with 6.6 Duramax/6 speed Allison auto) for quite a few more years also. Both vehicles will be used on some long road trips this summer and both will be fun to drive although the personalities are very different. As far as speed, the stock pickup is limited to about 96 MPH due to the tires and the only place it could probably outrun a CTS is on very steep inclines at altitude since the turbo diesel will lose far less of its rated power (360 HP/650 torque) at high altitudes.

[Southern]

The SRT Dodge will absolutely kill the CTS. 0-60 5.2 seconds and 1/4 mile in less than 14 seconds. And I don't know the numbers on the big Ford (lightning), but you won't kill it either. Bottom line, there are stock, but factory special pickups out there that will embarrass a CTS in a straight line.

I look at the CTS and think there is nothing wrong.
4000 pounds is a lot and 273 pounds of Torque are not.

[jjsC6]

Originally Posted by Southern

The SRT Dodge will absolutely kill the CTS. 0-60 5.2 seconds and 1/4 mile in less than 14 seconds. And I don't know the numbers on the big Ford (lightning), but you won't kill it either. Bottom line, there are stock, but factory special pickups out there that will embarrass a CTS in a straight line.

I look at the CTS and think there is nothing wrong.
4000 pounds is a lot and 273 pounds of Torque are not.

I'm very well aware of those, but he said he had a 7000# crew cab - and I did assume diesel. I'm willing on betting that any diesel running 15's has been "chipped". I hear all about how much torque they have etc, but those are extremely heavy trucks. Stock diesels simply are not running 15's.

[JBsZ06]

Originally Posted by Southern

The SRT Dodge will absolutely kill the CTS. 0-60 5.2 seconds and 1/4 mile in less than 14 seconds. And I don't know the numbers on the big Ford (lightning), but you won't kill it either. Bottom line, there are stock, but factory special pickups out there that will embarrass a CTS in a straight line.

I look at the CTS and think there is nothing wrong.
4000 pounds is a lot and 273 pounds of Torque are not.

I like the Dodge SRT/8 but that and a Ford Lightning (do they even make that anymore?) are not luxury vehicles.

The Charger SRT/8 is not even up to the Pontiac G8 GT much less the upcoming G8 GXP.

But neither of those cars are luxury sports sedans...

They are good mid sized performance sedans but not really classified as luxury cars nor do they offer AWD which was a paramount concern for my family daily driver CTS.

As far as the BMW 5 series? A close friend just traded in his 5 series for a cadillac CTS and they are thrilled with the new Cadillac. The five series is a nice vehicle yet they like the CTS better.. To each their own I guess....

For those not satisfied with the CTS....go buy another car. I'm sure there will be one that fits your requirements.

[greyghost04]

Now the biggest problem with any German car is you are now paying for Euro vs dollar conversion and not the intrinsic value of the car. But the traders on the Mercantile Exchange trading pits thank you for helping to pay for their Mercedes.

[jjsC6]

Originally Posted by JBsZ06

...The Charger SRT/8 is not even up to the Pontiac G8 GT much less the upcoming G8 GXP......

I don't agree with that. I have not driven either, but I've read the road tests. The SRT-8 is definetely faster. My big beef with the G8 is that it does not offer a lot of equipment that I consider pretty much mandatory in the over 30k price range. It's a pretty basically equiped car. I think thats a shame because the basics of the car seem to be first class.

[lordbaby]

I don't recommend any Charger or Pontiac if you can afford sth better

[JBsZ06]

Originally Posted by jjsC6

I don't agree with that. I have not driven either, but I've read the road tests. The SRT-8 is definetely faster. My big beef with the G8 is that it does not offer a lot of equipment that I consider pretty much mandatory in the over 30k price range. It's a pretty basically equiped car. I think thats a shame because the basics of the car seem to be first class.

I agree...I meant the pontiac G8 or the Dodge Charger R/T..

The SRT/8 is a killer mid size sedan but again...not a luxury sports sedan like the Cadillac CTS.

JMO