[SeanRT8]

Hello all of you lucky SRT8 owners. I realize I might be coming to a site with quite a bit of bias, but I was looking for some HONEST input. My wife managed to total my baby, a somewhat ancient, but beautiful, '99 Durango, complete with 19" Garas, Edelbrock headers, and Mopar exhaust. I had been thinking about trading it in for a 2006 300C SRT8 in March, but fate has dictated that I make my new car choice much sooner.

I loved having a beautiful and unique SUV in a town notorious for erratic weather, where I could rely on her in any climate, but I have long yearned for a classy, yet beefy, sports sedan to fit my wife, my two lovely children, and myself. When I happened upon this website, where all of you have described, in sometimes painful detail, the greatness of the 300C SRT8, I thought I had found the car for me. Then a close friend of mine, a sports car/vehicle enthusiast with a great amount of knowledge regarding automotives, suggested I check out the CTS-V as an alternative.

My dilemma is this, the title of the thread: SRT8 or CTS-V? I recall from an earlier thread someone had described the much larger availability for aftermarket mods for the CTS-V, but the popularity of the 300C has seemed to cause an explosion of aftermarket mods for the SRT8. Is the aftermarket still geared towards the CTS-V, or has it evened out? I'm not much of a "gearhead" so I am looking more for mods to purchase and have installed at a shop in town. Regardless, as the old saying goes, "Supply dictates demand dictates economy," thus, if mods for the CTS-V are much more widely available, then they are going to be cheaper to help give my car a much more personal style.

As to performance, it appears to me that the stock SRT8 and the stock CTS-V are quite similiar, aside from the claim that Cadillac has for all of its V-series, "3 cars, 0-60 in under 5." Is that truly the case? Most claims I have seen for stock SRT8s is low to mid 5s for 0-60, but I haven't seen a site like this for CTS-Vs, so I don't know if Caddy's boast is truthful.

The one thing I loved most about my Durango was how "mean" she sounded when started up. I want a low growl when the bitch starts up, and, as I am blowing my wad upon purchase, I want as mean as I can get from stock, as it will be awhile before I can add a new exhaust. I will be going to a Caddy dealer this weekend to test out the CTS-V, but due to availability of SRT8s, and the fact that the minute they hit a lot out here they are snatched up, I haven't been able to hear a stock 6.1. I was hoping maybe somebody out there could post a .wav or .mp3 so I could hear what the girl sounds like at start-up, so I have something to compare it to.

As for interior, I have test-driven the 300C, and it was a beautiful car inside, but from the pictures I have seen from the CTS-V, I am leaning towards the cockpit feel that it has. I would like to hear what you all have to say about the SRT8s interior in comparison to the CTS-Vs. Also, my friend said that the Caddy GPS was quite common, and he preferred Acura's over Caddy's, but he has never driven a Chrysler with GPS nav, so he couldn't compare the two.

I really don't know which way to lean. They are both gorgeous cars, with many features exclusive to each model. The CTS-V has the "0-60" claim, Xenon HID headlights standard, and are much more readily available, which I can parlay into the SRT8 price range, and an interior that I seem to favor over the SRT8. However, the SRT8 is priced a bit lower, seems a bit more of a monster, based on looks, and is not as common as the CTS-V, meaning people always sleep on it.

So, give me your, again, HONEST opinions, and maybe some information passed on to you from CTS-V owners about their bitches/moans/complaints/praise.

Much love from Mile High,
Sean

 

[stevesrt8]

made my choice

I drove a CTS-V and felt that the interior was too much of a cockpit, way too cramped. Biggest difference was trans, no manual for SRT8.

There is no question that SRT8 has more HP. Stock. Running 12.8's with no mods! Caddy would mod easier being GM. Production volume for SRT8 is VERY low, less than 1800 C's even made for US so far in 06, and the unbelievable amount of equipment in the car make it a tremendous bargain at MSRP. Tons of real Daimler content make for a surprising driving experience and a great safety advantage when those children are in the back seat.

By the way... HID's are standard. One hell of a tire shredding monster. And great sounding stock exhaust. My motorhead brother in law calls it the best car ever and says the sound makes ___ drip down his leg!


Steve
06 CSRT8
all stock all original
everything but DVD
waiting for software

 

[DanRealtor]

CTS-V or SRT-8

It comes down to personal choice. For me that was easy. I ordered my SRT-8 sight unseen on 3/28/05. She came in on 8/24/05 (a looooooong 5 months). First week I drove from Phoenix AZ to Napa CA. My buddy is a Cadillac Mechanic up there. (he has a convertible Vette, a BIG Chevy Truck and a Caddy) Mr GM through and through! When I told him about my car he said "You bought a Chrysler? You F*&%^ing Traitor!" So I roll up to his shop in Napa (unannounced) and FWOM, FWOOM I rev it up a couple of times (stock exhaust). Everyone stopped wrenching and came to admire her. I told my buddy, "C'mon, let's go for a ride, you drive". We drove for about 5 minutes and he says "I want one!"

Next day we compare the Batmobile (XLR SLR some letter car) vs the SRT-8. From a rolling start I smoked him. He could not keep up. We roll back to the shop and the other wrenches asked how he did. "I got smoked" he replied. Then, and here is my point: One of the other wrenches asked "How do you think it (the SRT-8) would do against the CTS-V? Mr GoodWrench's reply:

"After driving that (the SRT-8) I wouldn't buy a CTS-V"

His words exactly. Mr Goodwrench, Mr GM, Mr Called me a Traitor.

My SRT-8 (yes I am biased) turns heads everywhere. CTS-V? I couldn't tell you IF I have ever seen one, just looks like a Caddy to me. Are they fast? Sure. Can you Mod them? Yes. Pick one over the other? Hmmm, that's a hard one.

Come to Laguna Seca next weekend and drive an SRT-8. You'll be at the dealership, check in hand. (Chrysler Dealership that is)

You want an exhaust note? Stock sounds fantastic. I recently added the Magnaflow Cat Back system (about an $850 mod). Holy S#@T! This thing is unbelievable. The Sonic Boom when it shifts from 1st to 2nd and again from 2nd to 3rd is UNBELIEVABLE! Go to the magnaflow website and listen for yourself.

SRT-8 or CTS-V? For me, all kidding aside, If you offered me a new CTS-V and $20,000 in cash for my SRT-8, I'd have to stick with the SRT-8 just comes down to personal choice I guess.

 

[WhiteDiamond]

We tested both almost back to back and found the SRT8 was definately the vehicle we wanted. However, there are a couple reasons why a CTS-V could be your choice. The CTS is nearly as big inside as the SRT8, so if you don't need the extra room, the CTS may be your animal. It is also very doubtful that DCX is going to start helping the aftermarket with PCM code anytime soon or ever. This is going to limit the aftermarket for the SRT8s for a long while. If you are looking to get something and put some mods down, the CTS-V is your animal.

Todd

 

[II kings 9:20]

I wonder why no one compares the STS-V, (other than the fact it is not out yet) it is in the same size class as the C, the CTS seems more a 3 series competitor for which there is no Chrysler product. The STS-V is $70K which makes the SRT look even better. Performance wise, the CTS is worth a look but it is a little car, kinda like cross shopping an S class and a C class.

 

[bigrick21]

Luxury and Looks, SRT8

My two previous vehicles were Caddys, and the SRT8 BLOWS THEM AWAY! My Caddys were Devilles, nice luxury, but not CTS V. I just thought those Caddys were nice till I got this FUN vehicle.

But lets face it, I pointed out the CTS to my wife and she thought it was a Chevrolet. They just dont have the look. They dont look good like a Deville or larger Caddy. Performance is there, but why not get an SRT8 that will have EVERYONE admiring the look of your vehicle with the same performance as the CTS V?

Either way you will probably be happy, but dont recall ever liking a vehilce more that this one, and had some amazing muscle cars and luxury cars in my lifetime.

Good luck, either way!

 

[WhiteDiamond]

I wonder why no one compares the STS-V, (other than the fact it is not out yet) it is in the same size class as the C, the CTS seems more a 3 series competitor for which there is no Chrysler product. The STS-V is $70K which makes the SRT look even better. Performance wise, the CTS is worth a look but it is a little car, kinda like cross shopping an S class and a C class.

Although there are no numbers that I have seen yet on the STS-V, my opinion of it is that it, along with the XLR-V, are the biggest jokes in the Caddy lineup. The CTS-V is going to outperform the STS-V and probably take the XLR-V in a few catagories. The SRT8 is the bargain of the auto world right now.....

Todd

 

[Northern Rider]

I wonder why no one compares the STS-V, (other than the fact it is not out yet) it is in the same size class as the C, the CTS seems more a 3 series competitor for which there is no Chrysler product. The STS-V is $70K which makes the SRT look even better. Performance wise, the CTS is worth a look but it is a little car, kinda like cross shopping an S class and a C class.

My thoughts, exactly.

 

[teahead]

If you liked having an SUV, why not checkout the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8?

AWD and lots of HP!

If you like taking your car around a race track, may be the CTS-V is the choice for you.

If you want to save $7-9k and haul your family with more room, definitely the 300c SRT8.

 

[GNSCOTT]

In defense of the STS-V and XLR-V they are in a luxury category of the nicest Mercedes and BMW's. Personally i wouldn't buy one if I had the money, but there are just tons of state of the art gadgetry on them, including smart cruise control, wipers, headlights, etc. That is all new technology, and you pay for new tech. As for the V vs. The SRT-8, if the price were even I would go for the V. I like the interior much better, and especially the 6 spd. If $$'s are a concern and you could just walk down to a dealer and get one, i would go for the SRT-8. To me its just more fun driving a performance vehicle when you can bang gears. Like it was pointed out, the V is not much smaller, but I have a feeling it feels alot smaller when you drive it, and that is also part of the fun of driving. The more the car feels like you are driving a go cart, the funner it is.

 

[doctorno]

i test-drove the cts-v. the rows are long, the 1st-to-4th shift would definitely get annoying, and the interior (imho) just screams GM (in a bad way). i can't say i'm CRAZY about the srt8 interior (coming from an audi), but i do like its classic retro look versus the busy and plasticky look of the GM. it is much smaller inside, medium-sized versus full-sized SRT8 (this could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your taste/needs). i agree with others; they look just like every other CTS around, but i'm sure people could say that the SRT8 looks a lot like a 300C (to the uninitiated eye anyway). i test-drove the cts-v this summer during the cadillac discount days, and the price would've been comparable or LOWER than the SRT8 - i still didn't bite. bland exterior, plasticky interior, 1st-to-4th shift, not to mention that often-mentioned wheel hop problem..no thanks.

there's a reason why you can walk onto almost any cadillac dealership and grab a cts-v, and yet you barely FIND a SRT8, nevermind at msrp...

 

[cbutler32]

Seanrt8

for the money...
hands down - SRT8
for the performence - SRT8
for the "name" - CTS-V (ok, really Cadillac)
for the mods - SRT8

and for me filling some guys CTS-V back window at 3/4 speed...
yeah 3/4... remember daughter in back seat...

SO SRT8 BABY!!!

compare this car to the STS-V...
not the CTS-V...
then you are comparing apples to apples...
and then you will slam dunk down on the SRT8 for $20-25K less...

ENJOY!!!

 

[jconnolly1119]

I test drove both.....and King's does bring up a really good point. The SRT8 is about the same size as the STS(V). The CTSV was a great car to drive and it gets bonus points for the 6 speed, but it is more the size of a 3-series BMW. The SRT8 is a 4200lb sedan, but the car doesn't feel that big at all when driven.

Most of the mags got both cars at or just under 5 seconds 0-60 with the edge going to the SRT8 in the quarter. All in all the performance #'s are virtually identicle mostly due to the exact same weight per hp ratio (9.9lbs). It's also important to know that most of these 425hp cars have been dynoing around 370rwhp.........which is more like 450hp at the flywheel.

Both cars were alot of fun to drive, but I had to go with the SRT8 for really only one reason......to me, it was the cooler looking of the two, considering the perf. #'s were pretty much a dead heat.

The DCX Nav is pretty good.....but nothing like the Acura(which I still have in my wife's MDX)......Acura set the bar pretty high...but all in all it's pretty good......REALLY would like to have touch screen(you listening out there DCX???)

The aftermarket will eventually catch up and you've got to remember that the CTS has been out for a few years....the SRT8, less than a full year.

You will not be dissapointed if you buy an SRT8.........

 

[CUEBALL]

Dunno, just can't find any way to like the front end of the caddy!! I hate the headlights, and that rubberized faux carbon fiber looking material inside??? What is that stuff supposed to be? I looked at the caddies, albeit in limited supply here, and those two items turned me away immediately.
But then again, (I have invested/saved wisely for a military man) I was going to cash a Viper, but for every purchase I make, seems the wife wants to match it, and that eats up a good chunk of retirement change, that would be better spent on enjoying life, not my toys.

 

[jconnolly1119]

Dunno, just can't find any way to like the front end of the caddy!! I hate the headlights, and that rubberized faux carbon fiber looking material inside??? What is that stuff supposed to be? I looked at the caddies, albeit in limited supply here, and those two items turned me away immediately.
But then again, (I have invested/saved wisely for a military man) I was going to cash a Viper, but for every purchase I make, seems the wife wants to match it, and that eats up a good chunk of retirement change, that would be better spent on enjoying life, not my toys.

unless of course your toys are part of you enjoying life....... :biggrin:

 

[stevesrt8]

yep... life is short

better live today, no guarantees on tomorrow. Just another opinion.

I still feel that SRT8 vs CTS-V is not a valid comparison. They seem to be in different classes, IMHO. That Caddy was honed on a racetrack and really can handle with a good driver.

I find the "bells and whistles" to be almost dead even. Price is close therefore irrelevant. When I compare performance and a larger, HEAVIER, automatic car is just as fast as a smaller, lighter, stick... sounds like there's a lot more real horses under that SRT8's hood!!!

I have taken some couples out to dinner in my CSRT8 and they don't even have a clue as to it's performance. They think it's "smooth" and it "rides nice". Get in that Caddys back seat and sit for an hour and then let me know what you think.

They're both great cars. Thank God we're all different!!!


Steve
06 CSRT8
all stock all original
everything but DVD
waiting for software

 

[DVDT]

I talked about this in the following thread:

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/sr...srt-8-vs-many-others-why-i-chose-srt-8-a.html

I currently drive a regular CTS and have for the past 3 years. I should get my CSRT-8 in January. I like the CTS a lot. It is a great car and the first modern Cadillac that I ever even considered buying. Prior to the SRT-8 coming out, I was convinced that a CTS-V would be my next car. If the CTS-V had an automatic transmission, it would still be my choice. The lack of an automatic was the deciding factor for me. This car is going to be my daily driver and my commute generally has at least 1/2 an hour of stop and go before the freeway opens up a bit. That stick just would not be fun day after day in that. If I didn't have that commute, again, the CTS-V would be my choice.

I think once I get the CSRT-8, I am going to love it. However, I am concerned that I will really miss the feeling of agility that I get in CTS. I know I am going to miss the sight lines. The couple of test drives that I have taken in the CSRT-8 left me with a claustorphobic feeling due to the short windows and windshield. Inside, the CTS feels smaller, but for me in a good way. The CSRT-8 feels more like sitting in a truck (albeit a very nice truck). Everything is higher, the seats, dash, doors, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I think they are both fantastic cars and anyone who drives either should consider themselves very fortunate. Just trying to give you the honest opinion that you asked for at the start of the thread.

As far as mods, I wouldn't worry about that with either of these cars. They will be available in droves. Either one can be made incredibly powerful (even though they are already compared to most cars). The V probably has more available for it right now, but give the aftermarket a few years to deal with the 6.1 on the SRT's and I am sure there will be plenty available. While there aren't going to be that many CSRT-8's per year, the combined production of all SRT-8's that use the 6.1 (300C, Charger, Magnum, Jeep) will present an attactive size market for mods. There are far fewer Vipers with their V10 produced per year than 6.1 SRT engines and yet there are plenty of mods for the V10 too.

 

[kevenj]

there's a reason why you can walk onto almost any cadillac dealership and grab a cts-v, and yet you barely FIND a SRT8, nevermind at msrp...

True enough, but the main reason for that is the caddy has been around a couple years; when it was new they were hard to find as well.... and when the SRT8 is a couple years old it will be readily available.

A more fair comparison will be the STS-V ; and I'll bet they will be hard to get for a while but they are still going to be WAY more money than a 300C-SRT8.

 

[SpacerSRT]

Just my opinion

I had a CTS-V for about 2 months. Hit a wet patch of road while shifting from 2-3 on the Goodyear F-1 run-flats and found a ditch real fast (totalled it at less than 25 mph). Found from the Goodyear website that the stock tires on a CTS-V are rated 2 on wet roads. Went out and bought the 300C SRT-8 as soon as one was available at dealer.

My comparisons:

1) CTS-V is fairly spartan inside. Very little in the way of padding or extra upholstry. SRT-8 has more luxurious interior and more "bells and whistles".

2) SRT-8 has LOTS more headroom, legroom and you are spaced further away from the doors. Seats are more comfortable, but CTS-V does have power adjustable lumbar support instead of stupid inaccesable lever on SRT-8. Adjustable pedals on SRT-8 allow me (6'-5" tall) to get distance to steering wheel right.

3) 6 speed in CTS-V is very close-ratio'd in 1st thru 4th, then spread out in 5-6. If you do a lot of in-town driving you will be rowing, not driving. Also has same stupid 1-4 direct shift as Corvette, meaning you either lug the car or wind it out with every shift.

4) SRT-8 power curve seems more spread out (probably because of larger displacement engine). CTS-V power comes on above 2500 rpm real fast.

5) Girls LOVE both cars. Police don't know what either one is and pay you no attention at all. Neither do most import hotrodders.

6) I think that SRT-8 will hold its value longer given how fast Cadillacs in general depreciate.

7) Since CTS-V motor is from the Corvette, aftermarket superchargers, chip tuners, exhaust mods, etc. are much more available and affordable. Traction control can be turned all the way off (in the CTS-V forums the average tire life is less than 10,000 miles).

 

[CUEBALL]

25 MPH totaled????
Man, was the ditch 30 feet deep with vertical walls??

I bent the entire 'frame' forward of the cockpit of my 93 mustang 5.0 by sliding across the ice at 20-25, into a foot high square curb which hit square on the nose. The repair shop had put so much work into it by the time they found out that it should have been totaled, that they had to fix it. $10,000 repair job, don't know who bit th bullet, but it wasn't me. It had buckled the unibody where it connected to the floor of the cockpit.