If you haven't test driven one of these things yet, run down to a Caddy dealer and give it a try. The 400 hp engine is a real hoot! The sound is very close to that of the Vette Z06 from whence the engine comes. It revs very freely for a Chevy v8 and just launches the car forward making you think you are in a 2,000 pound car. The clutch take up is fast, with the clutch grabbing right off the floor. Might have needed an adjustment as it seems the dealer didn't really prep this car before they let me take it out. Driving down an on ramp onto the highway, I gobbled up pavement through a turn in second gear with spine tingling acceleration. Once on the highway, I hit 100mph in 4th in about 8 seconds an using a self imposed 5000 rpm shift point (hey, someone has to buy this thing and I didn't wan't to trash a new engine for another owner)

The suspension is very impressive and the car handles exceptionally well for a 3900 pound sedan. Sadly, the six speed has the GM first to 4th skip shift feature, but if I ever bought one, I would bypass that in a second. The shifter is no where near as smooth as our S2000s, but it isn't bad for a Tremac 6 speed and I understand a shift kit is available too.

The torque is just priceless. I had a Z28 with the 275 hp engine and it felt like an anemic 6 compared to this thing. In traffic, you can just leave the car in 4th and drive around like an automatic except when you have to stop.

The interior is really ok, but a few cheap looking items like the sun visors take away from an otherwise pleasant cockpit. The video screen is excellent and quite intuitive. It comes with GPS and XM radio and the screen seems easy to use, but I didn't spend much time with it. A seperate digital information center under the speedo gives you a read out for engine oil press and temp, tranny oil press, cooling temp, tire press, and a cornering g-meter (cool). The seats were really good and supportive with a suede or alcantera seating surface.

The car I test drove had a shake in the steering wheel. Who knows why, but I think it is such BS that the dealers don't prep those things before test drives are given.

The exterior is the weak point in my opinion. First, you have to like the look of this car, which is very angular. Second, the gap of the panels is not consistent. front bumper gaps are too wide for me. Third, the paint finish just sucks. You can see the "Orange peel" look that one would expect on a Buick. They really should have a better paint finish on this thing. I'm not sure 4 or 5 coats of Zaino would help.

I went to the Caddy forum board and learned that the 04 cars suffer from axle/wheel hop and weak rear differentials (sound familiar?). There is a partial aftermarket fix for the wheel hop in the form of a $280 kit. The diff is a Getrag unit, so it is somewhat surprising. Seems like there may be a factory fix for the weak diff, but I'm not sure if the fix was incorporated into the 05 cars.

All in all a fun filled ride that is reasonably comfortable for such a powerful performer. Dealers will discount the $52,000 sticker which includes the sunroof.

 

Best thing of all is the sound the engine makes. True muscle car!

 

Spending over $50k for a car with "Orange peel' paint and axle hop.....? Tough call.

I am impressed with the power though.

 

Good car, good info, good review.

 

The axle hop is a cheap fix. The paint????

 

how about this?

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101057

I like the way stock car drives. I have driven Katech's car as well. (as I was one of the testers). Obviously, Katech's one is hella fast.......

here is the full review from Popular HotRodding,
http://popularhotrodding.com/features/0411phr_katech/
The M3 in the article is mine....

 

Yeah...very surprised you didn't encounter wheel hop if you drove car aggressively. It's what annoyed me most about my test drive...it obviously had great power but every time you nailed it, it just started hopping violently.

 

I drove the car and bought a C32 AMG. The car was very, very noisy. As much as I love a great engine rumble, I just couldn't get past how loud it was in a luxo car. Plus car was kind of jerky...not very smooth power delivery. My wife was in the passenger seat and was not impressed either.

 

A used C32?

 

I got wheel hop on a Boxster S test drive. I think I must have done something wrong. Good thing no salesman was ridding shotgun. Don't worry it was a dealer demo/managers car.

THis CTS looks good, but what they really need to do is another Grand National or something that costs around the same as a GTO.