Category Archives: Cadillac Models

The 64,000 Mile Question

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Just turning over 64K on my 2005 Cadillac CTS 3.6L. Not a large mileage total for a 5 year-old car (the 2010s are out now!). Actually I purchased the car in the Spring, so not quite 5 years in our driveway.

Problems? Nope, great car. I did have to have the TCM replaced a bit back after the transmission became sluggish to shift, but the Cadillac has always done what I wanted it to do, and taken me right along to where I needed to go. Certainly one of the most reliable, trouble free vehicles I have owned (knock on wood).

Only maintenance other than oil and filters has been front brake pads. I have added some items, such as the rear spoiler, and some updates as the newer models came along with them — colored center caps, a rear spoiler, wood shift knob etc.

This one is still covered under an extended GMAC warranty for another year or so, then I’ll need to decide if we are ready to look for the next Cadillac. GM and Cadillac have some very interesting vehicles coming out soon — the CTS Coupe, the new smaller-than-a-CTS ATS, and the XTS luxury sedan. Meanwhile several of the V-series certified used cars are coming tantalizingly close to my sweet spot of warranty remaining and price for performance.

BUT the really lucky thing is I have this great sport sedan that performs well, drives beautifully, and looks good. I suspect it will continue to do so for years to come.

Dyno Tuning for the 2005 CTS LY7?

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I see a shop in Garland Texas (ExaTorq) offers dyno tuning using Wester’s Garage or HPTuners. Both appear to support the LY7 V6 in my 2005 CTS, so I emailed to see if I can arrange to have the CTS dyno tuned. Another 10-15hp would put the CTS low times for 0-60 mph consistently under 6 sec, which is my goal for the CTS.

Last test results, during the AP-22 side by side with the Performancebox report here.

Experimental Touring Sedan?

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The Canadian National Post reports that the GM plant in Oshawa is slated to build the new Cadillac XTS sedan.   The XTS is the notional large sedan that will replace the current FWD DTS and RWD STS models with a single highly desirable luxury sedan.

Cadillac went to 3-letter “Euro” names with the CTS/DTS/STS swap.  The names don’t “mean” anything, or do mean things, depending on the day and press release.  For example, CTS means “C-class Touring Sedan”, the C-class Mercedes being the size and competitive range the CTS is aimed at.

The convertible XLR is ‘eXperimental Luxury Roadster’, here using experimental in the ‘has the latest technology’ and not ‘it might blow up’ sense.

So, the new XTS would be an  ‘eXperimenal Touring Sedan’.  Cadillacs have often been GM’s pilot brand for new technologies.  It makes sense to add the very latest options to the premium brand, where customers are willing to pay for premium equipment.  It also allows the manufacturer to prove out technologies on shorter production runs, then release them to higher production models to follow.

I suppose I don’t object to the experimental moniker as long as the sedan that bears the name is experimental, and has some ‘reach’ to it.