Category Archives: CTS

Working the numbers for a newer Cadillac

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I have been watching the Cadillac auto-market and as I have mentioned, have ‘zoned in’ on a 2010 Cadillac CTS Premium  model to replace my 2005 CTS.

2010 Cadillac CTS

The Premium model is the fully-optioned 3.6L V6 CTS.  The major features I want for my next Cadillac as a daily driver are:

  • Sporty or Performance oriented
  • Sunroof or Convertible
  • Affordable – how much I spend matters
  • Lots of Luxury Features, the more the better — Navigation, Bluetooth, Adaptive lighting, etc
  • Under Warranty for several years / Maintainable
  • Under 24K miles

Now I still lust after anything V-Series, but the V choices would be the 2007 Gen 1 CTS-V, the 2008 STS-V, or the 2009+ Gen 2 CTS-V.    The 07’s are moving out of warranty, and the 08’s are just hanging on.  So that leaves the focus on the 09 CTS-V.

Currently the 2010 CTS Premium has an asking price of anywhere from $32K up to $51K (for leftover new models still on dealer lots) depending on price and condition.  The KBB retail value is ~$32K.

The 2009 CTS-V is just slipping below a long period of hanging at $49K down to $45K at the low end, up to $55K or so at the upper range of asking prices.  The KBB retail value is ~$54K.

The 2008 XLR, a 2 seater convertible, is just coming into the low $40s, and ranges to the high $50s.  The XLR gets a star for being a hard top convertible, but a strike for only having 2 seats lol.

My 2005 CTS has a KBB.com Private seller asking price of $10,865, and trade value of $8,950.  Note that Dealers will then start negotiations at around $4K for the trade, leaving addition room for profits, so I fully anticipate the need to sell the CTS myself privately.  My Cadillac is still under a GM extended warranty for 3 more months, which I feel is a feature for private sales.

Price Comparison:

2009 Cadillac CTS-V 2010 Cadillac CTS Premium 2008 Cadillac XLR
Price Target $46,000 $33,000 $43,000
Trade / Sell 05 -$10,865 -$10,865 -$10,865
Delta Value $35,135 $22,135 $32,135
Tax 6.25% $2,875 $2,063 $2,688
Title $250 $250 $250
Out of Pocket $38,260 $24,448 $35,073

I have taken sales tax on the full Cadillac value in case there is a space between purchasing the new Cadillac and selling the 05.

So the 09 CTS-V remains over 50% more expensive than a 2010 CTS Premium.  The 08 XLR is almost as expensive as a 09 CTS-V, so no sale there.  The numbers still suggest that the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Sedan Premium model is the smart buy in for the features I am shopping for.

2010 6.2L V8 SC LSA LoR

Oh, but the song of the supercharged LSA V8 in the CTS-V, and the Magnetic suspension, are strong draws to spend the more money.

CTS-V CTS Pre
Price $47,000.00 $33,000.00
Trade / Sell -$8,500.00 -$8,500.00
total $38,500.00 $24,500.00
Tax 6.25% $2,937.50 $2,062.50
Title $250.00 $250.00
Out of Pocket $41,687.50 $26,812.50

Finding exactly the right Cadillac, (Or maybe the other ones!)

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I am still settled on the vehicle I am shopping for — a 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Sedan Premium RWD model with under 15K miles in Crystal Red Tintcoat, preferably Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned.  Or occasionally any used Cadillac V-Series model.  But mostly — no, definitely — the 2010 CTS Sedan RWD Premium.    Would love the XLR, but it has limited luggage space.  Would love the STS-V, but after 2008 when the HUD was available, and low miles in-warranty, so choices are even rarer than the CTS.

Would love a 2009 CTS-V with the supercharged 556hp LSA, but they are still more than I care to spend.  This is a real shame, because when I describe the car I am shopping for to “Civilians” (non-Cadillac enthusiasts), they instantly ask, “Cool!  Are you getting the one that is the fastest sedan in the world?”  Um, no.

2010 Cadillac CTS

Yes, very specific.  To get this exact, one probably needs to order a new car.  However, I want the luxury of a new car selection while paying the lower price of a used car value.  So I have to wait and find the ‘right’ car.

When shopping for a car I try to settle in on the specifications for the exact car I want.  Then I watch for cars that exactly FIT the criteria, or are one feature off.  For example, this week there were 2 cars in the area that were 2010 CTS Sport Sedan RWD Premium models, both under 15K miles, but both were Black.   So they fit all of my criteria except for color, and were ‘one’ feature off my target.  Actually, neither was at my favorite Cadillac Dealer or certified pre-owned, so 2 features off.

There are still “new” 2010 CTS models available.  Cadillac also offers a significant cash back savings on these models, since the 2011 models are on the floor now and the 2012 models will arrive in a few months.  However, the used car value of $30-33K is even less than the with-cash-back GM supplier discount new car price of ~$40K .  Although this is still much less than the original retail price of $49K, it is the lowest number in the discussion that I want to budget of course.

So I will keep shopping until the ‘right’ Cadillac comes along.  Or I find a V-Series model I can’t resist.  Or maybe a nice XLR, or split the difference and find a great XLR-V? No, when the ‘right’ one comes along.  Definitely.  Sort of.

 

 

2011 Cadillac CTS Sedan highlights

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With the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe out, the CTS Sedan is out of the spotlight.  The sedan got some interesting changes this year too:

  • Standard Cadillac Premium Care Maintenance; covers scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, replacement of engine and cabin air filters and a multi-point vehicle inspection for four years or 50,000 miles
  • Rear-vision camera now available on sedan models; models without navigation include a rearview camera display in the rearview mirror
  • Rear-vision camera now standard on CTS-V Sport Sedan
  • Heated steering wheel available on CTS Sedan
  • New fender vent design on all models
  • New inside rearview mirror design
  • New 19-inch all-season tire and wheel available on CTS AWD and RWD models
  • New exterior colors: Carbon Flash Metallic and Evolution Green Metallic
  • Ninth-generation OnStar technology, which includes significant improvements to the system’s voice recognition software

The CTS Sedan has good rear visibility, but I love the gadget-ness of a rear view camera so that is  a welcome addition.

The base/upgrade wheels continue from 2010, but a nice change from the 08/09 base wheels.  The new 19″ all weather wheels will appeal to those who like the way that the 19″ wheels fill up the wheel well but need all weather rubber.

The Premium Care Maintenance is a nice addition, and will help Customers stay in better touch with their Dealer and latest vehicle updates.

I have been neutral on heated steering wheel, but I am assured by those who have this feature that one quickly comes to appreciate it.

I have not seen the new colors in person yet, but more options are always better.  Overall seems a good evolutionary year for the Sedan.  I still would like to see an LS3 V8 option in the Performance/Premium models to spice things up.