I own a 2004 CTS-V and I am enjoying it very much. But if I get tired of shifting eventually I might consider the STS-V. Can anyone explain the enormous price difference of these two rather similar cars?

ds

I own a 2004 CTS-V and I am enjoying it very much. But if I get tired of shifting eventually I might consider the STS-V. Can anyone explain the enormous price difference of these two rather similar cars?

ds

a lot of money!! =)

the magical number that differentiates the CTS-V and the STS-V is somewhere in the range of $15,000 - $20,000... isn't it?

I own a 2004 CTS-V and I am enjoying it very much. But if I get tired of shifting eventually I might consider the STS-V. Can anyone explain the enormous price difference of these two rather similar cars?

ds

Similar cars? Other than they are both made by Cadillac I am not sure they are similar. The CTS-V is more of a midsize luxury performance car with not a ton of frills on it while the STS-V is more of a full size luxury car with a lot more bells and whistles. The STS will ride much better than the CTS and I really think they target 2 different types of consumers.

a lot of money!! =)

the magical number that differentiates the CTS-V and the STS-V is somewhere in the range of $15,000 - $20,000... isn't it?

No one knows, but the general belief is the STS-V will be in the 70-75K range. That puts it squarely at a 20k difference in sticker.

I can't find the exact numbers, but they don't look very different to me. I had a 93 Seville STS, and this new STS-V by appearance looks smaller. From the pictures, side by side, the two V cars (CTS-V and STS-V) look almost identical in size. There are significant differences, chiefly the supercharged Northstar and auto tranny, but we are talking $25,000 more for the STS-V. Maybe we CTS-V owners are spoiled by an artificially low price on our car--I don't want to encourage Cadillac but I really think the CTS-V is superb bang for your muscle buck. I am 58 years young and as much as I am enjoying the 6-speed manual, I can see maybe going back to automatic, but don't really want to spend $75,000 for the privilege.

ds

I can't find the exact numbers, but they don't look very different to me. I had a 93 Seville STS, and this new STS-V by appearance looks smaller. From the pictures, side by side, the two V cars (CTS-V and STS-V) look almost identical in size. There are significant differences, chiefly the supercharged Northstar and auto tranny, but we are talking $25,000 more for the STS-V. Maybe we CTS-V owners are spoiled by an artificially low price on our car--I don't want to encourage Cadillac but I really think the CTS-V is superb bang for your muscle buck. I am 58 years young and as much as I am enjoying the 6-speed manual, I can see maybe going back to automatic, but don't really want to spend $75,000 for the privilege.

ds

I agree they are similar in looks, but Cadillac in general has gone to that new styling in most of their cars.

Side by side, the STS is a bigger car, no doubt and is branded more of a full sized luxury car and it will have more features that the CTS does not have. Does this justify the $ 20,000 price difference? That is your decision.

Just apply the cost difference between a regular CTS and a regular STS, then add a few thousand dollars to each car for the V goodies ;)

Once again, the 2 cars target different markets. Why do you think the CTS-V is a manual trans only and the STS-V is an auto trans only? Like it or not, if Cadillac feels they are trying to sell the STS to a more affluant customer, the price will reflect that.

If the HP increase happens then charging 75k for the STS-V wouldn't be a stretch.

The STS-V is also going to give you a more "modernized" engine with the "hand built" Northstar Supercharged V8 as compared with the pushrod Corvette engine in the CTS-V.


Expect a smoother more contolled powerplant wrapped around a larger more luxurious car.

The STS-V is also going to give you a more "modernized" engine with the "hand built" Northstar Supercharged V8 as compared with the pushrod Corvette engine in the CTS-V.


Expect a smoother more contolled powerplant wrapped around a larger more luxurious car.The LS6 engine may not be as modern as the supercharged Northstar, but it will be quicker. As for size differential, I saw them side by side at the New York auto show. Not mcuh difference. I'm sure the STS-V will be smoother, more luxurious, and have an auto tranny. It's made to compete against Jaguar, Mercedes, et al while the CTS-V is aimed more at the BMW M5 (older version), BMW M3, Audi RS6 etc.

The LS6 engine may not be as modern as the supercharged Northstar, but it will be quicker. As for size differential, I saw them side by side at the New York auto show. Not mcuh difference. I'm sure the STS-V will be smoother, more luxurious, and have an auto tranny. It's made to compete against Jaguar, Mercedes, et al while the CTS-V is aimed more at the BMW M5 (older version), BMW M3, Audi RS6 etc.
actually those LSx engines are very modern and it's the 50yrs of work that gm put into it and it shows

Well the only reason I'm driving the CTS without the V is because of the auto tranny. My wife refuses to learn to drive a manual tranny and even though I've driven many of them I concur.......auto tranny. Having just driven the STS a few days ago I have to say it "feels" like a much bigger car than the CTS but in reality, according to the salesman, it's only about 6 inches longer. I dunno, I've vowed to never spend more for a car than a house should cost but hey, I live in central FL where the median price of a new home is now $225K. Now we're talkin' GT 40 territory here........prolly gonna go with the CTS-V with the new auto tranny.......

JET

I can't find the exact numbers, but they don't look very different to me. I had a 93 Seville STS, and this new STS-V by appearance looks smaller. From the pictures, side by side, the two V cars (CTS-V and STS-V) look almost identical in size. There are significant differences, chiefly the supercharged Northstar and auto tranny, but we are talking $25,000 more for the STS-V. Maybe we CTS-V owners are spoiled by an artificially low price on our car--I don't want to encourage Cadillac but I really think the CTS-V is superb bang for your muscle buck. I am 58 years young and as much as I am enjoying the 6-speed manual, I can see maybe going back to automatic, but don't really want to spend $75,000 for the privilege.

ds

And this is precisely what Cadillac is going to have to fight with this car. It is true that the LSx CTS-V is such a bang for the buck, it natually raises questions as to the 20k or so difference between the two vehicles. However overall the STS is definitely the luxury oriented vehicle of the bunch. Some things the STS has the CTS has never offered...

*Laser Intelligent Cruise Control
*Voice Command Navigation system
*Heated/Cooled Seats
*Dolby Digital Surround sound audio system
*Increased hip, shoulder and leg room
*Perimeter Keyfob starting and unlock/lock features
*Intelligent Headlamps which adjust for oncoming traffic automatically
*LED Taillamps
*Bi-xenon headlamps etc etc etc...

In some European brands, just those features alone would add up to at least 10 grand on an options sheet.

So the question that really comes into play is then not so much whether the pricetag over the CTS-V is at issue, but rather whether the 10,000 or so over the otherwise loaded V8 STS is justifiable. Considering that vehicle can be had with discounts now for just a over 55k, and we've got a dealer on here giving 05 V's away for 41,900... it only makes the possibility of a mid 70's price point on the STS-V even harder to swallow.

Ive always said the CTS-V was an absolute home run... The other "V" cars have alot to live up to.

Hey-

In response to your question- if you go the site below and click the side-by-side comparison button you can compare the 2 models and it will give you all the differences including prices, it also gives you the pros & cons to each car- enjoy!

Hope it helps you decide!

http://research.cars.com/go/crp/prices.jsp?makeid=8&modelid=6128&year=2005&aff=forbesautos

GM will be lucky to sell 1k STS-V's at that price. The room is comparable to a Chrysler 300 SRT-8.

*Laser Intelligent Cruise Control (like a $2500 option)
*Voice Command Navigation system ( I expext that all GM Nav's will have this soon)
*Heated/Cooled Seats (cooled is the only option here)
*Dolby Digital Surround sound audio system (not sure if most will notice a difference between that and the Bose system.
*Increased hip, shoulder and leg room (its comparable with a Chrysler 300)
*Perimeter Keyfob starting and unlock/lock features ($199 installed remote starter. Cannot have on a manual transmission)
*Intelligent Headlamps which adjust for oncoming traffic automatically (glad they will pay more to make other drivers feel more comfy)
*LED Taillamps (cost GM $25)
*Bi-xenon headlamps etc etc etc... ( HID's are on the V)


PEOPLE WILL NOT PAY $25K MORE FOR THAT!! At 6"s longer, if the V is a mid sized car, does that now make the STS-V a full size car? The 2 cars side by side look ALMOST identical in looks and size. The average car buyer will not be able to tell the 2 apart on a car lot. I had trouble the first time.

What's the price difference between the M3 and the M5? Has the new M3's price been released yet? I don't think the new M5's price has.

How about the difference between the two outgoing models. Anybody know the price difference between those two?

What's the price difference between the M3 and the M5? Has the new M3's price been released yet? I don't think the new M5's price has.

How about the difference between the two outgoing models. Anybody know the price difference between those two?
55k to 80k

I think a lot of us are missing the point of the STS-V. I have a CTS V and it is a beast when unleashed. From everything I 've learned (Including almost an hour spent with an engineer at the Detroit Auto Show) the STS V will be more like a luxury rocket than the CTS V. Not just due to the auto trans, either. The car is larger, heavier, and will have more sound suppression than the CTS V to insulate the crew form the harsh world outside. Gobs of power will ensure that you never have to wait or feel frustrated by lackadaisical acceleration.

Being a product designer, I am in love with the "supercharged" script on the front doors. Just a small detail, but it reminds me of the streamlined locomotives of the thirties and forties.
Think M5 for the CTS V and CLS 55 for the STS V.

A loaded out CTS 3.6L runs about 44K. A loaded out STS V8 tags at 63K. $19,000 difference. What's so hard to swallow about $20 grand more for an STS-V over a CTS-V?

To list the improvements in the STS over the CTS would take all day, but here's some off the top of my head:

-Double laminated glass around the whole car

-rainsense wipers

-5.1 channel DVD audio

-touchscreen nav

-bluetooth

-twice the sound deadening via mats in the firewall, doors, floor, etc..

-intellibeam

-Magnetic ride control

-leather wrapped door inserts, dash and center console (vs plastic in the CTS)

-A/V interface for iPods

-15 speakers

-power tilt/telescope steering wheel

-ultrasonic park assist

-adaptive cruise control

...and that's only a few, plus the fact that engineering and PCM tuning for a forced induction motor takes many times the man hours of swapping an exisiting and well known engine into an existing car.

I think for 70-75K, it will be a bargain. (comparitively speaking, of course)

2006 CTS-V 2006 STS V8


Wheelbase (in.) 113.4 116.4

Length (in.) 191.5 196.3

Height (in.) 57.3 57.6

Width (in.) 70.6 72.6

Track (front) 61.1 61.8

Track (rear) 61.4 62.3

Curb Weight 3850 4026

Head Room (front) (in.) 38.9 38.7

Head Room (rear) (in.) 36.9 37.9

Hiproom (front) (in.) 53.4 54.6

Hiproom (rear) (in.) 53.8 55.6

Leg Room (front) (in.) 42.4 42.6

Leg Room (rear) (in.) 36.2 38.3

Shoulder Room (front) (in.) 56.6 58.6

Shoulder Room (rear) (in.) 56.2 57.4

Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) 12.5 13.8

As you see above, the two V's are not that much difference in size. While the STS V has 69 more HP, it also has 150 more pounds and hooked up to an auto tranny (a nice one though). I wouldn't say the LSx engines are any less "modern" than the Northstar motors. All are excellent motors. The LSx engines just proves that older technology can put out just as much power as newer ones. (Yes the STS V has more power from a smaller motor that is supercharged though). Complex things are a real pain in the butt to fix also, that includes the special standard features on the STS V.

If anyone has $75k, the STS V will be a great car to own. It will be up to the owner though if it is worth $25k more than a CTS V. It really appeals to a different market than the CTS V. I personally don't think so, not when a Z06 is in the same price range area. (Yeah, extremely different cars except in price.) The LS7 might not be "modern" enough though for the STS V owner though.

"The LS7 might not be modern enough" :histeric: :histeric: :histeric:

Didn't OHC come before OHV?

I think I would opt out for the SRT-8 for $45k, and that is also what this car is competing against. You can by a well equipped Solstice or Sky for the difference.

I think I would opt out for the SRT-8 for $45k, and that is also what this car is competing against. You can by a well equipped Solstice or Sky for the difference.
Hi GNSCOTT,
yes, the SRT 8 is cheaper and it`s overall the cheaper car. I`ve seen the STS V and the SRT 8 at the IAA Frankfurt 10 days ago and my conclusion is that the STS V is really a premium-automobile (VVT Supercharged Northstar engine, 6 speed automatic, the dark REAL-WOOD and the overall build qualitiy compared to the SRT 8)
Materials in the Chrysler seem to me real cheap!
Harry

I think I would opt out for the SRT-8 for $45k, and that is also what this car is competing against. You can by a well equipped Solstice or Sky for the difference.
i think you're forgetting the fact that sts-v is competiting against e55, m5 and they're much more expensive than the sts-v is

I think everyone is missing the point. Its not about wheelbase and overall length. The suspension/handling is different. The STS is more refined. For those who say they dont like all of the extra features/options---why did you get a CTS-v then? Why not a gto? Some people will be willing to pay that kind of price for that kind of a car, but comparing a cts to an sts is apples to oranges.