CTS w/ manual trans

[Bob]

I have played the resale game a lot in the past with some successes (02 Civic Si - 4 years of daily driver use for $1000 in depreciation, Lotus Elise - not sold, but within a couple years it will be worth close to what I paid in 2006) and some failures (01 Z06 - lost a pretty good chunk of change when I sold in early 2006, but since then values have been relatively flat on these cars. Had I bought in 06 and sold today this would be a success story). Generally speaking you want to buy and sell in the flat part of the depreciation curve.

[kevm14]

I appear to have bought on that curve with my car. The lower mile ones have fallen more, so I'm glad I didn't drop $25k+.

[kevm14]

CTS-V2 price check. I am only doing manuals. I don't think I'd buy an automatic CTS-V. But real quick stats on auto vs manual (2009-2014, new and used):
3 manuals within 75 miles
18 automatics within 75 miles

So that's how it's gonna be...

66 manuals nation wide
527 automatics nation wide

So clearly more people/dealers are selling automatics. Do we really think the actual sales reflected this 11%/89% split? Seems steep.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 8539&Log=0

Cheapest sedan on autotrader. This is even more than they used to be! WTF! Maybe when the CTS-V3 comes out they'll drop? Or not because the V3 will be even more pricey, thus not driving used ones down (maybe up even). Sigh. Why can't people think these are terrible cars so they won't be worth anything?

[kevm14]

Bob found this on eBay but it is auto and the seller has a sketchy rating.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cadillac-CTS-CT ... ars_Trucks

But it appears to be a good buy, certified for $34k.

Cheapest auto on autotrader is:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 2119&Log=0

Nasty faux soft top crap but this is cheap! $29k with 78,600 miles. So there it is. The manuals are holding firm and the autos are dropping more or less as I would expect. The funny thing is, the kind of people that would buy (and can afford) a new CTS-V2 would probably be far more inclined to select the auto. While the folks who WANT the manual have to wait until they are used, driving up the demand on an already rare option. Makes sense.

[Bob]

That top is ugly! I mean who does that to a V series Caddy.

[kevm14]

It's Georgia.

[Bob]

Makes sense. So are there any disadvantages to the auto other than it being an auto? Is the reliability inferior to the manual?

[Bob]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/200 ... ented-test

I am still impressed the auto version trapped 119. I wonder if these results are typical.

[kevm14]

No disadvantages other than being auto that I know of. And the autos are like $10k cheaper. I dunno if 119 is tyical or not. I've actually seen a range of trap speeds for the V2, much like the V1, which was 105-109. The V2 seems to be like 114-119.

[kevm14]

C&D automatic test spec sheet: http://media.caranddriver.com/files/200 ... 7-2010.pdf

C&D manual test spec list: http://media.caranddriver.com/files/200 ... -cts-v.pdf
Spec sheet: http://media.caranddriver.com/files/200 ... ts-v-1.pdf

Also the manual article: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/200 ... est-review

The manual one was earlier and abbreviated (not a full test). I also think the manual had fresher tires. The manual pulled 0.93G with "mild" understeer while the auto pulled 0.89G with "moderate" understeer. Same car, same tires. In fact, they also said they had trouble launching the auto car (wheel spin was very easy). Yet it was considerably faster in ET and MPH. However, the ET must have come from the MPH since traction certainly wasn't in the auto's favor.

They also list the redline as 6000 for the auto and 6200 for the manual. Not sure if that's really a calibration difference in the rev limiter or something else (like the auto shifts at 6000rpm max).

The auto was also 24 lbs lighter but that's in the noise I think. Or the 6L90 is actually 24 lbs lighter than a TR6060. No idea.

Code: Select all

	     A6	M6
0-30	1.6	1.8
0-60	3.9	4.3
5-60	4.1	4.6
0-100	8.7	9.7
1/4	12.2@119 12.6@116
70-0	154	166

That's significant. Suggestions include an efficient auto that locks up each gear (likely) and applies continuous power the way a manual can't. Also, variation in heat soak is possible. Environmental conditions:

Code: Select all

	     A6	 M6
Temp	54	  73
Baro	28.7	29.1

Baro favors the manual but it makes its own atmosphere so I guess that doesn't matter. Temp favored the auto, though. I just can't see 20° making 3 mph, but maybe the temp plus continuous shifting auto equals 3mph?

I forgot about the Track package.

Our test car featured the Track package, which includes two-piece, 14.6-inch front rotors that cool more effectively, and red six-piston calipers. The standard front brakes are the same size but are a single-piece slotted design with silver-colored six-piston calipers.

That's fancy.

The other thing about the difference between the cars is that the TR6060 is supposed to be light years ahead of the T56 in terms of feel. That could complicate the otherwise temping "meh, the auto is fine, and faster anyway" decision.