[EjS]

Picked up my 1st gen from service today. Made some basic things but my mechanic said it would soon be time for some more expensive repairs.

I have been looking for a 2nd gen CTS-V for a while and was close before x-mas but the vehicle had manual transmission and I want aut.

It is damn difficult to find a good CTS-V in Northern Europe - so back to the mechanic.

He had a 2013 white fully loaded 2nd gen 3.6 estate with Recaro seats and paddle shift. I tried it and it is impressive compared to my old Caddy. And the 3.6 works really well with perfect balance in the vehicle. The car is his own car (no sale - I simply take over the leasing contract) has low mileage and the mechanic has changed a lot of parts just to make it feel like new. Simply put: this is the best kept Cadillac in Northern Europe.

Has any of you driven both the CTS 3.6 and 6.2? I guess you can't compare when it comes to pure acceleration, but how is the handling of the cars, I guess the 6.2 should be nose heavy and brakes on their limits with 567 bhp.

The 3.6 has winter tires, treated with anti corrosion, has towbar - simply all the things I need and would have to buy in case I go for the CTS-V. It is not possible for me to test the CTS-V as I have to import it from Germany.

What would you do?


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[kkuz]

I would go to Germany and go back seating in CTS-V. From the other hand 2013 CTS with Recaro seems to be a perfect deal for me.
Take into account that 2013 CTS will be much less expensive in daily use (gas and parts) than 2010-2012 CTS-V.
If you decide to buy CTS-V I will buy this CTS, just give me a link.

 

[EjS]

Thanks for advice. Im leaning towards the 3.6 - will have cheaper running costs and I will use the car as daily driver - 5 km to work. And for holidays with the family - so I will only be able to use a V for track days etc.

The car in question is on a leasing contract so it is not possible to buy it - unless you want to pay Danish VAT and road tax.

A funny thing is that on mobile.de there are 15 CTS-V for sale - but no 2013 CTS 3.6 estates!!

Here the cars I have been looking on:
I found this offer at mobile.de:

https://m.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/detai...IKit.activity.CopyToPasteboard&utm_medium=ios

Cadillac CTS-V 6.2 V8*Scheckheft*Org.Zustand*BRD*
First Registration: 03/2012
Mileage: 53.952*km
Fuel Type: Petrol

Price: 33.990*€

I found this offer at mobile.de:

https://m.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/detai...IKit.activity.CopyToPasteboard&utm_medium=ios

Cadillac CTS-V Automatik* gelbe Brenssättel, Xenon, Navi
First Registration: 12/2012
Mileage: 49.700*km
Fuel Type: Petrol

Price: 34.888*€


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[kkuz]

2013 CTS with Recaro seats in Europe is like white raven. I supose it has touring package. I saw only one a year ago at mobile.de. I was close to exchange my 2008 for this.
I would never import car without test drive, especially so rare car in Europe. Depending on place you go for CTS-V you will be at home at same day. Buying cars in Germany is very easy and not stressful, but I would be more careful and sceptic at east (like in Berlin).

 

[EjS]

Thanks for the advice. I think I go for the estate so no V this time. Did not know it is better in Western Germany but sure you see some "good" offers in Lithuania.

My mechanic told me he just repaired a Mustang from Dubai. It turned out the airbags had been released and the repair shop just cut off the bags and soldered a new electric resistance into the electronics to fool the diagnostics. It was repaired again for 10.000 eur.

Nevermind: I guess the best thing about my situation is that I never driven a V
I do not know which package it has but it had electric trunk door, panorama roof, rear view camera, and chrome roof bars (I often use ski box so that's perfect).

Will come back when I have it in my garage. Will take a month or two.


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[kkuz]

"CTS Touring Packages include such luxury features as Recaro seats, microfiber suede inserts on the seats and steering wheel, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, a performance-tuned suspension, a V-series aerodynamic spoiler and performance wheel packages."

Good luck!

 

[Long]

"Estate"...
Is it a wagon?

 

[romanster]

That fully loaded wagon sounds like a dream spec, and the Touring package is niiiiice! On mine it also included the dark wood interior trims like on the V, the metal pedal covers, and the bigger third brake light from the V. Black Recaro interior.

Is the interior in that Estate is light grey like all wagons?

 

[EjS]

I would say white like the car it self. If it was grey it was very light grey.
Looks amazing (the guy drove it with a cover on the drivers seat on behalf of the next owner.

But imagine it gets dirty with my children.

Kkuz: came close to you today went from Würzburg to Stuttgart in my 1st gen CTS 3.2.

You Germans drive like I remember. Really really fast.
Found out in Kassel hills that I have a loose steering ball joint. Could not go as fast as I wished in the high speed curves.
For same reason did not drive so fast. Only 225 kmh one time around Hannover on a brand new piece of A7.


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[naiku]

That fully loaded wagon sounds like a dream spec, and the Touring package is niiiiice!

The one thing I'd have loved in mine is the Recaro seats, has everything else we wanted though, so not a big deal.

 

[EjS]

Thanks for info. What about Bose hifi. I have in 1st gen and it is okay.


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[Padgett]

Since I have no plans to track or autocross the CTS, the 3.6 is to me the perfect engine for it. I have a coupe so is more of a two passenger except in an emergency. Getting a mature adult (let alone two) into the back seat would be....interesting. Once I build a cover for the passthrough I'll just leave the seats folded as a platform. If I need to carry more passengers, I'll take the Jeep.

Must admit I do not understand the purpose of the -V on American roads, the V6 has plenty of go even at freeway speeds. Hardest thing to get used to is the manual mode: move to side and push up or down but have to move back for N-R-P. Since must be in P to open the passenger door, this is mildly annoying.

My other two cars that have manual mode autimagics are just slap left for down or right for up & returns to middle.

The other thing is I have never seen so many buttons. Have put a dot of Velcro on the ones I use the most so do not have to look down.

 

[Long]

Thanks for info. What about Bose hifi. I have in 1st gen and it is okay.

It has Bose. It is..."OK" as you described your current CTS.

 

[naiku]

It has Bose. It is..."OK" as you described your current CTS.

Yep, the Bose is not too bad at all. Not the greatest, but far from the worst either.

 

[Long]

Yep, the Bose is not too bad at all. Not the greatest, but far from the worst either.

Marginally superior to the Symphony Sound in my '89.

 

[EjS]

Thanks again for letting me know. During the test ride I did not have to push into manual mode. I just pressed the buttons / paddles on the steering wheel.
It is perfect for the roads we have here : 80 kmh and one lane. For overtaking you need to slam it in the right gear before flooring it.
Cant remember which axle ratio it had. It went at least 60 miles in second gear. And at 90 kmh it went 1500 rpms in 6 th gear.

I do not like too high geared.


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[Padgett]

Well with the 3.73 I would be turning about 1750 rpm in 6th at 90 kph (56 mph) a 3.23 would be about 1500 rpm at the same speed. 60 mph in second for me is about 6500 rpm (redline 7000).

Full throttle in first is hard to steer and second just shoves you back in the seat. 28" tires just changes about 2.5%

 

[Long]

Thanks again for letting me know. During the test ride I did not have to push into manual mode. I just pressed the buttons / paddles on the steering wheel.
It is perfect for the roads we have here : 80 kmh and one lane. For overtaking you need to slam it in the right gear before flooring it.
Cant remember which axle ratio it had. It went at least 60 miles in second gear. And at 90 kmh it went 1500 rpms in 6 th gear.

I do not like too high geared.

If premium RWD wagon, 3.42 rear
If premium AWD wagon, 3.23 rear

 

[EjS]

I'm still struggling to get this car insured in this damn car hating country.
+300 hp is only a very few who wants to insure it.

And oh: a 2013 Cadillac is apparently an exotic car here. No insurance without satellite tracking device connected to a 24 hour manned central.

Insurance is around 1000 usd pr. year and same in self insurance if I smash it.
Sat tracking is 400 usd and 50 usd pr. year for sim card...


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[naiku]

That's crazy, not even like 300 hp is all that much to be honest, and the CTS is not exactly fast even with that 300+ hp. Hope you get it sorted soon and can start enjoying driving it!!