I almost purchased a CTS-V, but went with the SRT8 because of the automatic tranny. I drove the crap out of the V and the 8 before making my mind up. I though the SRT was very close to even better in handling than the V. The V was very easy to turn sideways and spin out, I didn't like that. The SRT seemed to be faster, I like my SRT. I'm glad every day that I didn't get the V.... Now, the STS-V, that's a whole different animal.
BTW- I didn't base my decision at all on the price of the cars, but I negoitiated on both cars, I got the SRT8 for $10K less than I could get the V for. Just FYI.... I love my CSRT8!!!
Recently pointed out a CTS Caddy to my wife. Her comment was , " Thas is a Caddy? I thought it was a Chevy !" She was dead serious, and come to think of it, yea, it looks kind of Chevy. Now nothing wrong with that, I have owned some GREAT Chevy's, and three great Caddy's as well, but our 300 SRT8's have a look that grabs peoples attention with wow factor, not blend into mediocrity and go completely unoticed as the CTS - V.
Those CTS's perform, tho it seems like real world our cars have a bit of a quarter mile advantage with the wheel hop issue on the CTS-V. Also, while six gears can keep the engine in the power band, one must be a better driver to get all six gears at the right moment to maximize the setups potential. Seems like the threads here have born out that our cars win more often than not.
Anyway, we have great looking, great performing cars, kind of the icon that everyone else wants to "shoot down"
Some of you know that I enjoy racing on road circuits. I have had a standing invitation to any CTS-V owner that wants to compare lap times against my car. I have had no takers yet.
When I drove a CTS-V. I found it just didn't have the torque at the rear wheels that the SRT8 has. On road courses, it often comes down to one thing - how fast can you get out of the corners! In the hands of good drivers, both cars are very quick. For my style of competition driving, I prefer the bigger torquey, surefooted Chrysler to the smaller, skittish Caddy.
I'm sure there are many CTS-V owners that would disagree. Just send me a note and we'll bring our brain boxes and our cars to a convenient road course to find out whose faster!
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[“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
I will chime in on this: I drove a friends CTS-v at Willow Springs Raceway in CA. Positives: very good tires (F-1 Supercar tires), manual transmission, limited slip diff, and a lighter weight. Very nimble feeling.
negatives: I could defeat traction control by really pushing the car...but it was not my car, my friends knuckes were already white after a few laps and the last thing I wanted to do was roll this thing up into a ball. I also felt like acceleration out of corners was a little less than I expected. But all in all a nice handling car.
I drove my SRT-8 at the same track in 2 configurations on 2 different days. Positives: not very many the first time out was as it was delivered. Good power and good handling in corners.
Negatives: No limited slip and inability to accelerate out of a corner because of traction control on and terminal oversteer with ESP off. Crappy tires (Goodyear all season). I was very disappointed in the way my SRT-8 handled in this configuration.
I then installed a Quaife in car and it came to life.
Positives: I could now accelerate out of a corner without defeating ESP. I could drive the car, use it's power in the corner. The Quaife makes all the difference in the world.
Negatives: Tires! These all season tires are crap but they will wear out (probably sooner rather than later if I keep going to Willow) and I will then put the Supercar tires on.
I honestly think I am little faster in the CTS-v because it has the manual and is lighter, a little more nimble. Weight means a lot on a road course. The CTS-v seems like a smaller car to me. Responds better but that could be tires. I can't emphasize enough how bad the all season Goodyears handle They are terrible so if you have a choice...get the Supercar tires.
I researched both heavily. I really wanted to like the V 'cause I had a Vette a while back.
There were many things about the V that were disappointments.
I was very impressed when I looked at the SRT8.
It is more car for less money. A bit big for my tastes, but the size better fits my needs; it just isn't as nimble.
Clarkson is an entertainer. His harsh criticisms are part of the shows success.
To compare it to a 500hp BMW that costs 2x as much is just silly
Given that both cars have the F1s available to them, it seems a bit silly to say that the SRT8 has crappy tires and the -V has great ones. I think it would have been better to leave the tires out of your review... I could put $40 WalMart tires on a car and...it would have crappy tires. So listing the tires as a plus on the caddy and a minus on the chryco is...disingenuous, when you're comparing the summer tire on one to the all season on the other. That would be a valid comparison only if those were the only factory tires on the two cars.
I'd really, really be interested to have someone compare the -V and the -8 when both have the supercar tires mounted...I seem to recall reading somewhere that the F1 Supercar tires are different for each car, they just all have the same name, so you have to specify what car when you order them, since each one was developed specifically for that car, and if you get the ones for the caddy and put them on the chrysler, or vice versa, you will get less than optimal results. If that's true...I'd like to hear which car has better F1s.
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Dream upgrade package (not ones I already have!!):
Clarkson's focus is on two things -- handling and build quality. The Caddy is more expensive and better in both areas. The SRT is big and ponderous under braking. Doesn't mean it's not a lot of fun!
I was just unwilling to step up to the more expensive car.
It's nothing more than saying that my buddy's CLS63 saloon beats the pants off both. 7 speeds, 500hp, just awesome all the way around.
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just kruzin' . . . . . Jay
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