Category Archives: CTS-V

Luxury

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The English word luxury has roots in the Latin luxus.  Luxus means ‘abundance’ or “sumptuous enjoyment”.  A luxury can be defined as an indulgence.  It can be something that is particularly elegant, or sumptuous.   Charles Hodgen has a nice article on Luxury here.

In the Latin luxuria meant sinful enjoyment.  Originally in French, Italian, and Spanish the equivalent words meant ‘lust’, and originally in Old English in the 1300s had a related meaning.

Luxury received a gradually improved meaning over the centuries according to the Online etymology dictionary.  Meaning “habit of indulgence in what is choice or costly” is from 1630s; that of “sumptuous surroundings” is from 1704; that of “something enjoyable or comfortable beyond life’s necessities” is from 1780. First used as an adjective 1930.

Today luxury means having the nicest things — the best, the most elegance, the most sumptuous.

Buyers enjoy Cadillacs because they are luxury automobiles — they offer luxury appointments, fine leather, wood grains, abundant power, smooth but capable chassis.  But don’t feel bad if your desire for a new Cadillac seems to border on lust — blame the language for not giving you the right terms to describe your emotions.

Cadillac CTS-V

BMW 335is versus Cadillac CTS-V

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Often the Cadillac CTS-V is compared to the M3 or to the M5, since these are maximum performance BMWs.

However, a new entry, the BMW 335is is now available.  Trimmed with similar equipment as the standard equipped CTS-V, according to bmwusa.com it costs $57,675.  The starting price for a already well equipped Cadillac CTS-V is $62K.

BMW 335is

Here are the options I selected to get a comparable build:
My 335is Coupe 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology rear-wheel drive
. Base MSRP $49,650
. Alpine White $0
. Black Dakota Leather $0
. Dark Glacier Aluminum trim $0
. Convenience Package $1,500
. Premium Package $2,650
. Heated front seats $500
. Navigation system $2,100
. iPod and USB adapter $400
. Destination & Handling: $875
. Total MSRP as Built$57,675

Cadillac CTS-V

The BMW 335is is a sport version of the 335i. By retuning the engine to give additional boost for short periods, BMW has created a sporting model that is more capable than the standard 335i but less expensive than the M3.  The BMW M3  starts at $55K and quickly scales up from there.

Engine: The 3L Turbo Inline six is a nice engine and well suited for this application.  It is significantly less powerful however than the CTS-V’s supercharged 6.2L engine which provides 556 hp and 551 lb ft of torque.

Braking: The CTS-V comes with Brembo brakes front and rear, and is track ready.  The 335is can be made track ready by replacing the brakes with aftermarket units, at additional expense.

Suspension:  The 3-series suspension has been well lauded, but is a conventional suspension.  The CTS-V has the high tech MR, magnetic suspension that reacts hundreds of times per second to road conditions.

Reliability between these two is probably a toss-up.  Cadillac reliability has been very good, and the CTS-V powertrain is bullet proof.  The 335is engine is a new design or configuration.  Both BMW and Cadillac offer a 48 mo, 50K mile warranty.  Cadillac also includes a 60 mo, 100K mile powertrain warranty.

Maintenance: BMW includes 4 year maintenance in the price of the 335is.  Maintenance on the CTS-V will be at owner expense.

Configurations: BMW offers the 335is in coupe or coupe convertible form.  Cadillac currently offers the CTS-V in sedan (4 door), and will offer the CTS-V Coupe (2 door) beginning this summer.  Cadillac does not offer a CTS-V Convertible.

Summary: When shopping between the BMW 335is and the Cadillac CTS-V one has to consider — are you after the pure driving experience?  Then the CTS-V would be your choice.   If you demand the cachet of the BMW, then a standard 335i or a low-option M3 might be better choices than the 335is.    There may be a window in which the BMW dealers mark up the M3 above retail however, and the lower cost of the 335is just keeps it within budget, and a used M3 is out of the question for some reason.  In that case, the 335is could be your BMW, and the Cadillac CTS-V would be the road not taken, that perhaps offered more.

Metal to Molded Cadillac Art and Science and Cost

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The 1st generation CTS-V had a stainless steel mesh front grill.  This became a hallmark of the V-Series.  You can quickly and easily tell if a Cadillac is a V-Series by looking for the mesh upper grill and other highlights, such as V Series badges.

2nd Gen CTS-V Sedan

When the 2nd Generation CTS-V arrived in 2009, the front grill looks like a stainless steel mesh, but is a molded plastic piece.  Some Critics were quick to claim that this was done to save money, and was an inferior solution to the metal mesh of the first generation V.

1st Gen CTS-V Mesh Grill on a CTS

Actually, the Designers at Cadillac changed to the molded piece in order to attain a 3-dimensional grill for artistic purposes.    The stainless steel mesh looked great from front on or at an angle, but in close up photos or direct light one could see right through the stainless mesh to the mechanical bits beneath.  I like mechanical parts, as I am a function over form guy.  But from an artistic point of view, one function of the grill is to have some depth to it to hide the internal mechanical bits.  The new molded V-Series grill gives the same great mesh look, but also has some depth to it so that it looks great from a variety of angles, and doesn’t expose the mechanicals behind it.

In terms of cost, the Wags assume that a molded “plastic” grill  is less expensive than stainless steel mesh.  In fact the new grill may be MORE expensive, but it also improves the appearance of the V-Series.  That is what I like to see — continuous, thoughtful improvements in these great Cadillacs.