Monthly Archives: May 2011

Shots of the new-to-me STS-V

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Here are some shots in day to day driving patina to highlight some of the features of my new 2008 Cadillac STS-V.  I apologize that it is not immaculate, but was just enjoying grabbing some snaps.

Click on images to see larger versions.

The STS-V was made from 2006-2009; this is a 2008 Model.  The 2008 gained a Heads-up Display compared to the 06/07.  The 09 was similar to the 08.  Under 500 of this year/model were produced starting at $78,775.

The V-Series for Cadillac means a performance tuned model that is capable of operating well on the road or track.  That is what a ‘sports car’ used to mean.  This car has a tuned suspension, high performance Brembo brakes, high output powerplant, and extra cooling for all systems so that it can run flat out without misstep.  It has a competition mode for the stabilitrak to yield more control for the Driver in high dynamics. This is a gentleman’s racer.

Cadillac has used a metal mesh as a consistent V-series theme.

Engine Shot – Supercharged 4.4L DOHC VVT V8 making 469hp.  That is a beauty cover, under which the Supercharger sits atop a 4.4L Northstar engine.  For the STS-V the engine actually sits 2″ lower in the chassis for balance.  This also perhaps helped the composite hood fit with only a small power bump.

Each of the STS-V engines, designated LC3, were made by hand by a single Engine Techician.

Here is a dyno graph of the STS-V LC3 engine output:

Tail View; note continued V-theme mesh grill at the bottom

At 17K underside still looks fresh enough.

Nice V touch on the door threshold.  Interior needs a vacuum, but I let that go for the weekend so I could write this for you.

More pics to follow soon with other details.

What do you think of the STS-V?

A Home V-Run: The Cadillac of Performance Sedans

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This morning I got up before dawn and drove my Son & my 2005 Cadillac CTS to Dallas-Ft Worth Airport to catch a flight to Houston to Shop.

Bruce CTS

OTW before Dawn

There was not a  lot of smiling, although I appreciated the good company and that our Son could bring the CTS back home after dropping me at the airport.  First they learn to walk & talk, get out of diapers, answer the door and pay the pizza man, and finally drive you to the airport to get a new car; brings a tear to my eye.

Although my favorite local Dealer, Crest Cadillac in Plano has kept a sharp eye out, we had not been able to find ‘the right’ car for my next Cadillac. They are always my first choice to buy from, and I highly recommend them as a Dealer (and yes, FTC, a CaddyInfo Sponsor).

After deliberation I had narrowed the likely candidates to either the 2008 Cadillac STS-V, or a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, with price points for each.  As a thumb-rule, for shopping I decided the 2009 CTS-V is worth around $10K more than the 2008 STS-V — to me — due the LSA engine with more HP, Magnetic suspension, and updated Sigma 2 Chassis.  Both are attractive purchases, and very good buys but at 2 different price points, $10K apart.

David Taylor Cadillac in Houston had a 2008 Cadillac STS-V.  It had come in on a local trade for a newer Cadillac, and was Certified Pre-Owned, which among other benefits means a 6 year, 100,000 mile warranty with $0 deductible, roadside assistance, courtesy transportation, and attractive financing.

STS-V at Dealer

Unfortunately, we could not agree on a price.  We got to within $1K of a deal, but no deal.  Using my $10K delta rule, the negotiated price was just within $10K of what I felt I could get a nice 2009 CTS-V for.  I kept shopping, and began to feel increasingly that I would simply need to focus my shopping on a nice 2009 CTS-V.

Cadillac Stock Photo: 2008 STS-V Suede Seat center inserts

Luckily, last week Cadillac ‘re-launched’ the Certified Pre-Owned Program, with the offer to make the first 3 payments on your new CPO Cadillac — up to $1,500.  Also loan offers for qualified buyers were available down to 1.9%.  Suddenly the $1K that the Dealer and I were at logger-heads over fell from the sky, and I was on my way to Houston to get a CPO Cadillac STS-V.

Nelson Davies of David Taylor Cadillac in Houson

I tricked Nelson Davies of David Taylor Cadillac into posing with the car by asking “hey, would you mind if I take a picture of you with the STS-V?”  Note the not-subtle “Supercharged” lettering along the side of the STS-V; love the attitude this Cadillac has.

I flew down so no one (son) would have to drive 10 hours back and forth with me.  He just finished exams, and is on break.  Actually, I should have paid him to drive me down, since he is a penniless student and the $/hr compared to the flight and taxi ride would have been a great income source for him for the day.

BUT, then I would have missed the Taxi ride from the Airport to the Cadillac Dealer.  My poor Taxi driver shared his travails, at 57,  with 10 children spread among 3? “baby-Mothers”, and a new 25 year old Girlfriend who wants to go to parties while he is working instead  of waiting patiently at home.   He has trust issues, she wants to be 25.  I suggested the book Noble Intent, by Helen Davis  In the book Helen suggests that we always assume that others have Noble Intent — they they intend to do the right thing for example — and shape our opinions and judgments of others from this point of view.   I found it enlightening.  The Taxi Driver suggested I was just the Customer he needed to talk to today.  Win/Win.

Both pics were supposed to have the Cadillac sign in the background, but luckily Nelson used the camera correctly and saved the day.

The drive home was uneventful joy.  I cruised at 70 mph (or so, always within legal limits or so this post says, and any suggestions of anything to the contrary are just silly) with a few bursts of “Texas Jim” speed to keep up with traffic when traffic was moving along at that pace.  It is striking when a sport sedan puts you back in your seat at 70+ mph, and the STS-V just digs in and goes in remarkable fashion.  This car was designed to run for a full tank of gas flat out on a race track without missing a beat, and I believe that was accomplished.

THE BALANCE OF POWER.
When you’re talking about 469 hp, you want to make sure all that muscle is put to its best possible use. So Cadillac engineers created a balance of power in the STS-V that does just that. Externally, an elevated rearward-positioned spoiler creates balanced, road-gripping downforce. Structurally, an optimized low center of mass improves weight geometry, while 18-inch front wheels ensure accurate steering and 19-inch rear wheels deliver abundant power transfer. Expansive stabilizer bars and muscular spring rates harness massive braking and cornering forces. And corresponding to its substantial horsepower and torque, the driver-selectable four-mode StabiliTrak stability control system has been tuned to provide an exceptional degree of control in even the most demanding situations.

See this post if you are not familiar with the Cadillac STS-V.

Lots more to tell about the STS-V, but I wanted to get up a roadtrip report quickly.   Stay tuned.

Please post a reply here or in the forums if you have any questions about the V.  I am more than happy to talk about it 🙂

 

@Cadillac Suggestion: V-Series Dealer installed Power Pack

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A very popular aftermarket tuning option for the Supercharged V8 LSA engine in current Cadillac V-Series models is to replace the crank case or supercharger snout pulleys, or both, causing the supercharger to spin a bit faster and increase pressure.  This results in a gain of roughly up to 89 rwhp (rear wheel horse power, 111 hp at the crank).  More results here.

The cost of the pulley is often under $700, and the change requires a tune, or calibration of the powertrain control module (PCM).   Wait4Me Performance for example has a popular aftermarket tune (calibration) that matches this approach, as well as a kit for the mod.

However, if the Cadillac Dealer determines that a V-Series car has been modified, they may choose to decline warranty repairs on the powertrain, which can take a lot of the fun out of this as a modification.

What if Cadillac offered this as a Dealer Installed mod?  Here is my plan:

a) Determine cost of the parts — Sells retail for $650 so likely far under $400/kit at 50 kits

b) Develop a calibration to match, or license an existing calibration — worst case $400/kit at 50 kits although likely much less — or Engineering nonrecurring to develop in house of TBD (used $400/kit)

c) Test the calibration and pulley with a car and determine expected impact to warranty.  Estimated 20 hrs of engineering x $200 /hr = $4000  nonrecurring cost.  Amortize over 50 kits = $80/kit

d) Add anticipated additional warranty cost (Guessing it is under $300/car) to the kit cost.

e) Add Cadillac profit of $500 to the kit cost; add Dealer profit of $1000 to kit cost at Dealer.

f) Cost to Dealer: $1,680.  Dealer sells for $2,680 plus install charge of 2 hours at $200 for $2,880.  V-Series could be in and out of the Dealer for under $3K  installed, full powertrain warranty intact.  I believe that the Dealers can sell a ton of 100hp upgrades at $3K installed.

g) Simple alternate:  Allow Dealer installation of approved aftermarket kits (example Wait4Me performance kit) for $300 warranty reserve + Cadillac profit $100 plus Dealer install time $200 + plus Dealer Profit of $100 = $700 installed with existing warranty intact,  in addition to the cost of the aftermarket kit.

Result:

Reserve taken for any warranty impact.

Cadillac profits

Dealers profit

Cadillac builds up more data to consider this as a factory option on special models

Herds of 650 hp+ V-Series Cadillacs roaming the land under warranty and tearing up magazine test comparisons