Repair-It

Maybe I should sell my V and get a V2. I'd get a sedan which is the cheapest anyway (paying more for a wagon that I don't use for wagon things seems incredibly pointless to me), and especially based on the recent Matt Maran Motoring (Suburuwrxfan) review of a 2011 V2 coupe with manual, I really want the manual. Besides, I am not replacing my V1 with an automatic. That's a line I'm not willing to cross at this point. I should post that video. He just loved driving it. The clutch, shifter and engine response worked so nicely together. Perfectly nice interior as well.

But yeah, pros and cons:
- For what it would cost to get an STS-V, I could take that cash, sell my V1 and get a V2
- Deep 12s @ 116 or so
- Stout driveline
- Very nice driving cars, not just "fast"
- Good stereo (I believe), etc.
- I believe they are considered to be reliable vehicles.

- Bad MPG. Doesn't matter.
- It would be in the garage most of the time like my V1. So my daily would still presumably be my STS. An STS-V daily significantly ups the daily game.
- Low redline. I believe it is an abrupt 6,200rpm limiter. But the thrust you've received until that point is prodigious.

So basically I'd be making my special car into something even better and not changing my daily.

I am not in a position to sell my STS at this point though so the V1 to V2 thing seems like I could pursue it at any time. I guess that's attractive. And ending up with something as good as the V2 at the end of that pursuit is also appealing.

So I need to track age/mileage/condition/cost metrics and see what there is. I assume the bottom of the market is still low $20k's.

Motortrend: https://www.motortrend.com/cars/cadilla ... irst-test/

Both require deft footwork to launch-rev to between 1000 and 2000 rpm, release the brake or clutch, and feather the throttle down judiciously or risk smoking through all of first gear. (At least, the rear tires spin in unison and with no axle-hop, thanks to a cast-iron diff with robust limited-slip gearing and asymmetric halfshaft diameters). From second gear up, leave your right foot planted in either, letting the automatic shift itself and utilizing the no-lift shift programming in the manual. Both cars cross the 60-mph mark in 4.1 sec, but taller gearing in the manual's first three gears blunts its quarter mile slightly (12.4 sec at 117.1 mph versus the automatic's 12.3 at 117.5). Either transmission performs comfortably ahead of the M5 (4.5, 12.5@114.9) and E63 AMG (4.3, 12.7@113.0), but if you demand autobahn supremacy, opt for the manual. It tops out at a reported 193 mph in sixth, while the automatic is limited to 175 to protect the transmission.

Car and Driver: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a1 ... nted-test/

You already know that for all its substantial mass—this test car weighed in at a hefty 4268 pounds—the performance king of all Caddys is capable of serious haste. In our first road test, we pedaled a manual CTS- V to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, to 100 in 9.7, through the quarter-mile in 12.6 at 116 mph, and on to a top speed of 191 mph. Heady numbers. But the automatic CTS- V trumps almost all of them: 0 to 60 in 3.9, 100 in 8.7, and the quarter in 12.2 at 119. Top speed with the automatic, achieved in fifth gear, is redline-limited to 178 mph, but it’s hard to think of many situations where this could prove frustrating.

Car and Driver, original V2 article w/ manual: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a1 ... st-review/

Should you have left something a quarter-mile behind, the Cadillac will take you back in 12.6 seconds, although you’ll be going 116 mph

So 12.6 @ 116 from C&D for the M6 and M/T got 12.4 @ 117.1 also from the M6. I'd say my estimate was bang on but it's not like I haven't read these articles before...

This compares pretty favorably to a gen 6 Camaro SS.
C&D got 12.3 sec @ 118 mph which is just a tick faster, from a 2016 manual.

Just for Bill:

Transmitting the power to the road is a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual gearbox that exhibits crisp low-effort shifts and rights the wrongs of the previous generation’s shifter that had the grace of a shoulder popping in and out of its socket. The two-disc clutch offers excellent modulation and light effort that escaped the previous CTS- V.

So my CTS-V is easier to drive than a gen 5 Camaro...and the V2 is easier to drive than my V1. I like the sound of that.

I am trying to put together what was optional on the V2. Unfortunately there are a handful of things, and I care about them all basically.

What I have so far:
- Recaros. I think I want these. They have the suede inserts like my V1 seats and I think are heated and cooled (or ventilated) so that's nice.
- Panoramic sunroof. This adds weight and in the worst possible location but it is a premium car thing that I think I would enjoy having. I feel like this is less mandatory, especially if there is a conventional sunroof option and I find the right car with that. I don't know that I'd get one with no sunroof though, but not sure how common that even is.
- Nav. Originally I thought nav was standard but I think it may be technically optional. I would suspect that most have it. I want it. I don't know if it is paired with the premium Bose option and if so, that's a done deal for sure (it is paired in the STS, FWIW).
- "Track" brakes. It's basically a two piece front rotor. Not sure if it has different pads. Pads are consumable so that doesn't matter. Not sure how much this matters. EDIT: This was a dealer-installed option. If it is literally just front rotors and pads, this doesn't matter to me since as a used car, who knows what kind of brake updates it may have had. Not a big deal. May be able to tell by looking through the wheel spokes anyway.
- Rear diff cooler. This was also optional and is really mandatory for track use. Otherwise, not sure if I care. I don't know that I'd seek one out, and I don't know how many would actually have it anyway.
- Auto vs manual. This is obvious but it adds an important filter to my searches. 99% sure I want a manual even though the auto is a bit faster (only a few tenths and maybe a mph of trap). The car adds like 10 mph of trap to my V1. I do not need to chase tenths. I highly doubt I would ever drag race the thing. Driving enjoyment is more important, especially when the TR6060 and clutch action is reported to be so nice.

So that's a bit of a list. And I haven't even gotten into exterior and interior colors. I don't know if I have formed any strong preferences. I don't mind a light interior. I still like black interiors of course. Black paint is nice. But others are nice, too. I still love White Diamond.

Definitely more stuff to pick through than when I was V1 hunting. There is also coupe and wagon but again, both were later production and are more rare. Plus I prefer the sedan anyway. The wagon would score all kinds of Cars and Coffee points but A) I don't care and B) I have never been to a Cars and Coffee in my life, C) it's heavier and D) I am not going to run to Home Depot in my goddamn $50k CTS-V2 wagon, are you crazy? I don't know what fantasy that is. I have a pickup truck. And from a packaging standpoint, it's not a particularly large wagon in the first place.

Attached some info.

I don't see the track package front rotor thing but I see a lot of other stuff. I will comment inline.

Interior colors
19I (2009) / AFF (2010-2014)-Ebony
84I (2009) / AFH (2010-2014)-Light Titanium
31I (2009) / AFG (2010-2011)-Ebony w/Cashmere inserts
AFK-Ebony w/Saffron (Coupe only)
ABY-Twilight Blue (2013 Sedan, 2013-2014 Coupe)
AFF+38S - Ebony with Red Stitching (All 2015 Coupe)

I think all of these are probably fine. It's basically black or light.

Wheels
2009-2011
Q32 - Painted Silver
P80 - Polished
RBJ - Graphite

2012-2014
RUX- Painted
Q6P - Polished
RBJ - Graphite

I don't think I care. I could say negative things about all of them, and positive things about all of them. They are wheels. As long as they are the factory forged and not curb-rashed to hell, I don't care. I will learn to like whatever I end up with.

Trim
3AS - Sapele Wood

So...is this not standard? I mean it would be nice I guess. Not hard up on it.

Steering Wheel/Shift Knob
53F - Suede

I thought this was standard, too. It can get gross over time so if it is not standard, that's probably acceptable, too.

Seats
W2E - Recaro
KA1 - Non Recaro identifier. Heated seat RPO shows on RPO list of non-Recaro cars, listed for reference only, not used in this file.

I already listed this. I want the Recaros even though they are reported to be "quite firm." The seats in my STS are on the hard side, too. Doesn't really bother me. The seats in my V are actually surprisingly plush, as I assume are the standard V2 seats.

Sunroof
CFN - Sunroof Delete
C3U - Ultraview Sunroof (Sedan/Wagon)
CBF - Coupe Sunroof

Well that answers one question. Ultraview/panoramic or nothing. I don't think I can accept no sunroof.

Transmission/Rear End (Listed together because they are tied together)
MG9/MN6 - Manual GT4 - 3.73 Axle
MX0/MYD - Auto GU5 - 3.23 Axle

Previously addressed. 3.73 is what I have in my V.

Calipers
J6E - Yellow (Tied to Graphite wheels in 2011-2012, separate option in 2013-2014)
J6F - Red (2013-2014)
NA - Silver shows no RPO in build info

Needless to say, I don't care.

Paint
41U (2009), GBA (2010-2014) - Black Raven
GLK (2011-2015) - Black Diamond
98U (2009), GBN (2010-2014) - White Diamond
17U (2009), GAN (2010-2015) - Radiant Silver
30U (2009), GLH (2010-2013) - Thunder Grey Chromaflair
89U (2009), GBE (2010-2013) - Crystal Red
GGU (2011)- Evolution Green
GTR (2012-2014) - Opulent Blue
GHA (2012, 2014) - Mocha Steel
GLB (2013) - Stealth Blue
GWS (2013) - Glacier Blue Metallic
G7E (2014) - Red Obsession
G7Q (2014-2015) - Phantom Grey
G7U (2014) - Magestic Plum Metallic
96U (2009), GBO (2010) - Blue Diamond Tricoat
GHD (2013) - Silver Frost (Coupe Only)
G1W (2015) - Crystal White
G7T (2014) - Crimson Red (Coupe Only)

Holy shit. That's a list. Uhh...the rare colors are probably not something I am going to run into anyway. For the rest, black is good, black diamond is probably good, white diamond, yes please, silver, probably fine. Blue Diamond Tricoat? Well I'd like to see that in person. Yeah, not too picky here (yet).

Editions
PCH - US Black Diamond Edition
PCQ - Canada Black Diamond Edition

OK?

Grill
5XR/GGC - Black Chrome (Dealer Install)

Whatever.

Navigation
UAV - With Nav
U2S - No Nav

I want the nav. Still not sure if that is bundled with the premium Bose system (the 300W surround system that I am assuming is similar to my STS system which I have been very happy with). EDIT: Ok the premium CTS audio is a 10 speaker system. My STS is 15 but not sure number of speakers translates though in Bose land, it tends to...

EDIT:

I'm guessing your '09 CTS is equipped with rpo code "UAV" (Nav) or "U2S" (non-Nav) - both systems feature a Bose surround audio system having a total of 10 speakers. The rpo code for the 10 speaker system itself is "UQS". (The CTS's basic non-surround 6 speaker system is rpo code "UQA")

So....was UQS standard on all V2s regardless of nav? And maybe the inverse...could you get nav without UQS? I hope not.

And now for the meat and potatoes of this post...

Here is the only CTS-V2 sedan under $25k within a 200 mile radius:

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... =543400782

An black 09 with 64,501 miles. Automatic. And in NJ. It's got the Ultraview roof and Recaros. And nav. If I am not mistaken the steering wheel looks gross.

Not exactly a gem, but it is about in the price range I expected, so that's good. $23,998. I'll say price is slightly higher than anticipated because the miles are low.

But yeah, this car is not a contender, just an example. I bet I can find something better, and actually cheaper, too.

Goddamnit, maybe I missed the boat on these and they are on their way back up because people realize how awesome they are in the used car market (duh).

Here are the THREE manuals under $30k, nation wide.

09, black, manual, 87,435 miles. Denver, CO. $27,395. This is much nicer than the other one even though it has more miles. Mileage doesn't matter all that much...I care about condition. Regular seats though. And no sunroof! And regular leather wheel (that part might not be a bad thing). Holy shit, no nav. Man, this is a base manual! No cooled seats, either. Regular wheels. Bill would prefer this but I like all the options.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... =542787745

10, black, manual, 73,097 miles. WA. $27,591. Ultraview. But regular seats, not cooled. Leather wheel. Nav. Black wheels.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... =545910415

10, looks like Thunder Gray (similar to my Stealth Gray), manual, private seller, 72,500 miles. CA. $28,900
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... =511071298

I think the trick would be to find a private seller (not from CA) and the right car. Then I could probably hit my target low $20s. Maybe even look at forum classifieds. Cars.com. CL. Yeah, more to come here. Turns out people want these, well, I should say there is a manual tax of a couple thousand.

kevm14 wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2020 5:24 pm I think the trick would be to find a private seller (not from CA) and the right car. Then I could probably hit my target low $20s. Maybe even look at forum classifieds. Cars.com. CL. Yeah, more to come here. Turns out people want these, well, I should say there is a manual tax of a couple thousand.

That thing I just said:
https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/ ... k.1090510/

4 months ago he posts this:

This 2010 Cadillac CTS-V is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and finished in Black Raven over an Ebony leather interior, with Recaro seats, alacantera steering wheel & gear shifter and full sunroof.

I acquired the car in 2014 and use it as my daily driver. It has zero modifications, and it has been dealer serviced and just regular oil changes at Mr Lube etc, receipts available for those as well.

Over her life the brakes have been replaced in 2017 and all for shocks all 4 in 2018 with OEM parts.
The body is finished in Black Raven and has the usual paint scratches you would expect for a car used daily.

Features include adaptive HID headlamps, tinted windows all around, and factory aluminum 19" wheel.
The interior is trimmed in Ebony leather with suede accents on the seats, door panels, steering wheel, and shift boot. Amenities include heated and power-adjustable seats with memory, and a Bose sound system.

The 6.2-liter LSA V8 is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
The supercharger was replaced in under the special warranty.

The car has had no accidents.
Original US car now located in the Toronto area, Ontario, Canada (CDN$36,995 or $28,00US obo)

That is EXACTLY what I am looking for, even down to the options. But there's a catch. Well, for one he is in Canada...vehicle would have to be imported. Not sure if there are any other differences if it was originally sold in Canada. But two, the mileage. 186k km which is 115,661 miles. That would be why he dropped the price, and then dropped it again, and again....

Price drop to $26k. Then $25k. And then finally last month a BIG price drop all at once to $22,500.

Good news: it was originally a US car. People are biting more at this price.

But that's my entire point here. You buy this for low $20s. You don't buy some sketchy lower mileage V from New Jersey. You buy a well cared for higher mileage one.

This gives me hope again. Also it means my intuition on this stuff is still fairly solid because just yesterday I predicted I should be able to find a car exactly like this for about exactly this price, and I simply went to the forum and looked - and there it was.

Another gem, with the right mileage, condition and price. These cars do periodically hit the market and this is the kind of thing I'd love to replace my V1 with given the circumstances to do so.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... lCode1=CTS

2009 CTS-V, manual, black, tints. Austin, TX 78750. 122,100 miles. Asking $19,950.

Seller Comments
Clean title. Fully Optioned $90K MSRP. Adult Owned - never raced/tracked despite several tasteful performance upgrades (see below). If GM offered it, this car has it: Recaro 14 way adjustable seats heated & cooled, sat nav w/ DVD player, XM, Bluetooth, Bose speakers & sub, pano roof, radar, 19in premium wheels, carbon fiber front splitter, etc.

I am the 2nd owner and purchased the car in 2012 off the showroom floor of a Ford dealer who took it on trade from the original owner who ended up preferring a Lincoln after just 20K miles. The car currently has 122K miles of which 100K+ are highway miles. I commute from Austin to Houston nearly every week (pre-COVID). Still driving on the original clutch just to give you an idea of how babied this car is.

My passion for preventative maintenance will yield many more miles from this car: Oil changed religiously every 3K miles w/ full synthetic Mobil 1. Coolant systems flushed every 20K miles w/ Dexcool. Transmission and Rear Diff serviced every 40K miles with GM LSD fluid, shocks and suspension bushings changed every 60k miles, and the list goes on. Garage parked all its life both at home and at work. Paint is an 8.5/10 with minor chips that you would expect for a 10-year-old highway cruiser. New tires 8K miles ago. Car had an extended warranty from GM through 75K miles. All TSBs performed at my local Cadillac dealer including new supercharger (2014), wheel lugs, GPS updates, etc.

Modifications: Hennessey Stage 1 package (650hp) installed in 2015 which includes pulley swap, cold air intake (K&N filter), hi-flow cats, 3in stainless-steel mid-section X-pipe, upgraded intercooler, 160F thermostat, MSD plug coils & wires, and ECU tune. I kept the stock headers and mufflers installed because I have retired neighbors who live a peaceful life. Even in the Texas summer with AC on, the engine temp tops at 180F. Brembo vented & cross drilled brake rotors and Hawk ceramic pads installed in 2018.

This car probably runs a high 11 @ over 120 mph as configured. I want this quite a bit. Right now is a really weird to buy something a discretionary as this but the most realistic option would be to buy, ship or drive home, and sell my V1 in the summer.

Carfax and Autocheck received.

Was not CPO but he didn't say it was. Yet another Carfax that seems to get owner history breakpoints wrong. Not sure owner 2 is real.

Price check on V2s just to put this Texas car in perspective.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... stRecord=0

There are 8 at any distance on Auto Trader under $25k.

When I narrow to manual transmission there is ONE. And it is this Texas car. That means all other V2 manuals are above $25k.

I really should find a way to pursue this car.

The next cheapest V2 manual is a 2011 coupe with 102k for $25,500.

There are other coupes in the upper 20s but I don't want a coupe.

Next cheapest V2 manual sedan is a 2014 with 31k for $31,992 in Utah. I do like this dealer's approach.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sal ... pe=listing

Seller Comments
IT'S A BUYER'S MARKET: Prices have been SLASHED due to the coronavirus and we have to MOVE inventory. Prices will go up so take advantage of the SAVINGS now with our BEST PRICE GUARANTEE! Learn how to buy remotely below. Call or Text 385-419-4587 or visit us at https://www.tjchapmanauto.com/ for videos and more information.

6 Spd. MANUAL TRANS 2014 Cadillac CTS-V 6.2L SUPERCHARGED , Branded Title, Live video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLkFwLGY VAM 556 Horse power, 4 Door, 31K Miles, Panoramic Sunroof, , RECARO Bucket Seats, Big Red Calipers, 19' Wheels, Suede Steering Wheel, Dual Exhaust, HID Lights, Fog Lights, BOSE Sound System, OnStart System, Heated & Cooled Seats, Navigation System, Back Up Camera, Leather Seats, SmartKey, Rear Wheel Drive, Live video at https://youtu.be/PLkFwLGYVAM

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