I was the first one in Des Moines to get on our local waiting list for the RX-8 in 2002, and I've had the car since the summer of 2003. As much as I've loved the RX-8, after six years and 40,000 miles I was ready for something different. Our local Cadillac dealer took in a 2005 Cadillac CTS-V sedan with 22,000 miles. The lady who owned it traded it in on a new 556hp model; I guess 400hp wasn't enough.

I miss my 8, but I sure love the sound of that LS2 V8 (from the old model Corvette Z06) when I hit the gas. My 17 year-old daughter was crushed when she learned I was trading the Mazda in, but she was happy when she learned I would still have a stick shift (and 400hp!) She loves to drive a stick, and she's very good at it. I never let her drive my 8 to school, of course, but she did get to drive it quite a bit.

I have learned so much from this forum and all of you helpful people. I think I can use my snow tires from the 8 on the CTS-V, but I have the silver painted rims with center caps and TPMS monitors (the snow tires were mounted on these) plus another set of silver rims which was removed when the car was new and chrome rims were put on. I'll have to list them under parts for sale.

As you early owners know, Mazda sent us a bunch of stuff like the thermos, coffee cup, touch-up paint, book, etc. I'm hoping to give those to my 8's new owner.

I'll have to keep reading this forum, though! Happy Memorial Day to everyone!

 

Congrats CTS-V is a killer car.

 

Mmmm....pushrod V8

Thats a great car...congrats and enjoy it!

 

Ask about the condition of the rear end. They blow through differentials. You should see if it's been replaced and what the warranty situation is on them.

 

Congrats on the car! Pics of rx-8 and CTS-V or they don't exist!
Oh and what Shaunv said about the horrible wheelhop that car has.

 

Nice upgrade! Post pics of the car! I hear the 1st gen CTS-V's had some problems, so make sure you get all the recalls done. Enjoy the new ride!

 

Pics of daughter...... errrr I mean CTS-V!

 

Congrats! We need some pics of the new ride!

Oh, and to clarify, the LS2 (6.0L) was in the base 05-07 C6 Corvette, 05-06 GTO, and Trailblazer SS, but never in a Z06.

You have a 2005 CTS-V with the LS6. It's a 5.7L that was used in the 02-04 C5 Corvette Z06. It's a strong engine, and I'm sure it runs great.

shaunv74 is definitely right about the differential and halfshafts. Find out in the service history if theyve been replaced. The GTO had a similar problem, but they don't share the same drivetrain parts.

 

Nice ride, I watched an install of a 200 shot nitrous kit on a CTS-V.

 

I think I attached the photos OK. You guys are absolutely right -- the engine is the LS6. I keep getting them mixed up, even though I studied all that quite a bit before I got the car. Sorry, no close-ups of the daughter at 17! I'm putting the two photos on her graduation photo board next year -- I was so lucky to have one of her in a red car as a toddler. Look at that grin on her face!

The shot in the street was taken of my daughter right after I cleaned up the 8 to take it to the dealer. In six years, I never used the front plate and never got a ticket. I don't know which engine sound is better: the V-8 or the rotary.

Clean service history on the CTS-V, fortunately. The car is certified. The original warranty goes through this July, and the certification extends the bumper-to-bumper by two more years. (I'll listen carefully for a clunk in the rear end!) I've heard about the wheel hop. I do like to accelerate, but I'm pretty kind to tires anymore.

About three days after I bought the car, GM changed the CPO (certified) program and eliminated the bumper-to-bumper part of the certified warranty -- no more coverage on trim pieces, squeaks and rattles, etc. I just got in under the wire!

Thanks to all of you for your kind and gracious comments. I need to get some photos of the new (used!) car in the daylight and get them posted. It's silver with a silver/platinum interior.

I would love to see one of these running with nitrous!

 

LOL Here's what in my GTO's trunk! Took this the night we finished the install last year.
If you have any questions about nitrous on an LSx engine, let me know. They do love the spray.

 

Beautiful -- I think you'd leave me in your dust!

 

congrats thats one fast caddy,was thinking about getting a 04 Z06

 

congrats and thanks for doing your part to stimulate the economy

 

A 200 shot of nitrous is too much for the stock block LS2/LS6. I bet that CTS-V had a forged engine.

150 shot is just right.

All she would need is 150 wet shot plate kit with the solenoids, a window switch, bottle, lines, fuel pressure safety switch (easy to install) and some colder spark plugs like NGK TR6's. Get the fuel and nitrous jetting right and she'll be putting down nearly 500rwhp (575 crank hp) and 500-550 lb-ft of torque.

Would make it a 12 second flat car on street tires with traps of around 120-122mph

All the parts new for less than a $1000...

 

That explains why they are so much faster then me..

 

Nice. I like the CTS-V. One of the better GM products IMHO. You'll prolly miss the sharp handling reflex of the rx8, but the Caddy has different fun factor too. Cheers.

 

Dude. They're heavy, but theyre pretty fast and you probably ran into one that's modded. I noticed that many of the TBSS owners don't leave them stock. Stock they run 13.9-14.0 in the 97-99 mph range.

I just want to see carnut put nitrous on her new grocery getter. That would be one cool Mom. I promise, a 500 whp car is a rush you won't forget!

 

I miss the looks I got (or rather the CAR got) in the 8 compared to the CTS -- the Cadillac's kind of a sleeper. The 8 always got noticed!

 

good and bad i guess haha... no cop trouble

 

Don't they all come with a set of golf clubs and a bottle of Crown Royal in the trunk?

 

Yah, and now you have to sip your Crown with your pinky in the air...

 

Yeah it was the best install of a kit I had ever seen. It was a stealth install and the car did have a bunch of mods so it is possible the engine was built.

 

You have any links or any pics? I'd like to check that out. Sounds cool.

 

Funny...I just traded my '08 CTS with the 3.6 direct injection (304hp) in for an '06 Shinka. I could not be happier!

First post here; used to be over on the RX7club until I sold the 3rd gen 1 year ago.

The new gen CTS is put together unlike any GM product before it; the quality, fit and finish and styling is just light years ahead of where GM has been. It figures, they finally get it right under Bob Lutz, and now he's gone and they're flat on their butts....you can't feel sorry for them, as the level of arrogance over the years (particularly amongst the executive ranks) was amazing.

Anyway, the CTS just bugged me with a few small, niggling little things:
- the motor at idle sounded like a coffee grinder! They say it was the injectors operating under high pressue, but my MazdaSpeed6 with direct injection did no such thing!
- the 6 speed automatic coupled to an electronic throttle made for throttle tip-in that did little during the 1st inch of travel, then all heck broke loose as it downshifted 2 gears and roared away. Shifting with the manu/matic allowed you to run it up the gears, but it was not a pleasant sound....too strained.
- the seating had no bolstering and the chassis was amazing = you sliding all around the car unless you braced yourself with a dead pedal that was all wrong. Frustrating.


However, now that I'm back in a rotary, it's all good.