2009 CTS

Replying to: gator5000e (Dec 22, 2008 12:45 pm)

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• srushing (Dec 22, 2008 5:56 pm)

Replying to: bhill2 (Dec 22, 2008 1:01 pm)

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• srushing (Dec 23, 2008 10:45 am)
  • pao (Dec 23, 2008 4:32 pm)
    • bhill2 (Dec 29, 2008 5:12 pm)

Replying to: gator5000e (Dec 23, 2008 7:36 am)

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• pao (Dec 23, 2008 4:32 pm)
  • bhill2 (Dec 29, 2008 5:12 pm)

Many of you long timers on this board know my posts and I usually like lurking here but the depressing situation of the automotive world has kept me away from the forums. But GM and Chrysler have some money now and I think the next Congress will treat them differently. So today I had to return to my dealership to get some replacement brake pads for my '05 SRX. It's early in the morning (7:30 AM) but my sales rep enters the building and says "Hi Rick....seen the V yet?"
 
I stop. The V? CTS-V? It's here???
 
"Yup" as he pointed to a Thunder Gray example in the middle of the showroom. "First one off the assembly line."
 
"First one? Really?"
 
"Yup."
 
Apparently the first CTS-V had been auctioned off at a charity event in NYC a while back. The car had fetched $76K but the buyer had convinced a few well-heeled friends to match donations so the car had really earned about $300K. The car had literally just arrived and was sitting in the showroom waiting for its owner to take delivery.
 
"Can I sit in it?" I drooled.
 
"Yeah, let me get the keys."
 
A few minutes later I was sitting in a brand-new, #1 off the line CTS-V automatic. Now for you CTS owners, the CTS-V is indeed a familiar place but there were many changes of note. First, the CTS-V standard is $58K, and you can choose five different options. That's different than the old car which only had the sunroom as a deleted option. This car was loaded with the "extras" meaning Recaro 14-way seats & metal pedals, the sueded steering wheel and column shifter, chromed 19" wheels (versus the painted standard ones), the Nav system is an option and the Thunder Gray paint is extra cost just like it is in the standard CTS. Finally, the sunroof is extra cost which is good news for those of you who would rather have steel above their heads. Total costs of the options were $11K raising the final price to $69, including destination charge.
 
Now for the standard changes. I didn't have the car on so I didn't get to see the dash light up. All controls are standard CTS (save the Recaro seat adjustments). The material in the sueded seats is also repeated on the door panels where there normally is the leatherette material. The dashboard has the obsidian shiny plastic versus the brushed metal or wood look in the lesser cars. The only problem with the black is that I think it may be easy to scratch. If I were an owner, I might try a light coat of car wax to keep it in good shape, especially in the high traffic areas around the cup holders.
 
The emergency brake is gone from the floor, replaced by the button on the center console. This needs to be standard equipment on the regular car. Your left foot notices the difference immediately. The metal pedals are a nice touch too in this car, but would probably be really sweet with the manual transmission version.
 
The Recaro seats immediately tell you this is a different animal of a vehicle. I've never sat in 14-way seats like this but in addition to all the regular controls, the Recaros have 4 extra controls that literally determine how snug your butt and backside are in the seat. It's fun to play with them and everyone whould find a good position. There is one manual control...the thigh support panel is adjustable...good for me with my extra long legs. Also for tall drivers, the seat goes back as far as the regular seats.
 
I had to see the engine and within a few seconds, I had my view of engine porn. Although the engine is mostly shrouded by the large plastic NVH panel, it's clear this isn't a normal CTS engine bay. The airtake is thicker and instead of entering the engine straight from the front, it enters at an angle to hit the supercharger. All of the fluids are in the same places, but the engine is wider, deeper and a bit taller. The old CTS-V had a special brace across the engine compartment. The new standard CTS has this anyway, an advantage of the new car being designed with the V-series in mind from the start.
 
Other things I noticed...the brakes are the size of dinner plates. The body moldings are more agressive in this car on the side and rear...the front clip changes are obvious. The rear center light on the trunk has an elevated spoiler lip versus the standard car.
 
Mileage for the new vehicle? A decidedly ungreen 12/18. But did you really care about that? And availability? Well in addition to this spoken for vehicle, my dealership had two more that also arrived at the same time...one silver, the other black. Man, it's time like this when I wish I had $70K lying around.

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• cdnpinhead (Dec 23, 2008 4:09 pm)

Replying to: sevenfeet0 (Dec 23, 2008 1:51 pm)

Replying to: srushing (Dec 23, 2008 10:45 am)

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• bhill2 (Dec 29, 2008 5:12 pm)

Replying to: pao (Dec 23, 2008 4:32 pm)

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• rottmon25 (Jan 22, 2009 6:18 am)