CTS-V auto vs manual
 

I feel like this might be a biased crowd (hahaha) but I'll ask anyways... I've located two 2011 CTS-V Wagon's for sale. A manual and an automatic. Anyone have experience with both setups? Also how is the visibility in the Wagon? I sat in a coupe and sedan this morning and visibility seems fairly poor. I assume the Wagon will be similar.

My background: I have no experience driving high horsepower cars. I grew up driving a stick (does an old vw baja bug count?) and currently have a 73 Cuda with a small 318 engine and a "Slap Stick" automatic, so it can be full auto or you can control when it shifts. The Cuda is low on power now but the plan is to build a stroker small block and convert it to a 4speed OD. Right now I drive the Cuda daily and would be using the CTS-V on any longer drives or in bad weather. I live in Santa Barbara CA and consider a long drive around 350miles (to Oakland, Mammoth or Vegas). I do go down to LA every so often and imagine sitting in traffic with the manual could suck.

Thoughts/opinions on auto vs manual and the car in general? Any helpful reviews people have read?

Sorry for the long story and questions but this is a pretty big purchase for me and I'm starting to get nervous haha

Thanks y'all!
Dave

The ex had a V wagon that was manual car. Visibility is very similar between the wagon, sedan, the coupe is the worst visibility.

After driving it a bit, I wished it was an automatic. Sure there is a novelty of banging gears in a wagon but at the end of the day it's more of a luxury car and the auto trans in the new GM's is really pretty nice.

Going back I'd have opted for an auto over the manual (and this is coming from someone that loves shifting gears).

William

I agree, the automatic would be the way to go for something that you are looking to drive for long periods of time, and in traffic.

The auto is a pretty decent transmission, but it really shines with a tune. (as does the whole car)

Way to make it hard on me guys!!! haha Well, I kind of expected to get an overwhelming "go manual" response with some pro auto folks thrown in the mix. The funny thing is with my cuda I find myself using the slap stick as much as I can...

I have an automatic sedan. I love it for my DD. Worst part is the gas tank is too small. It seems like I am always filling it up.

Don

That's on my list of daily drivers in the future. I want an auto for a couple reasons. One, because for a true daily driver and California traffic an auto is much easier to deal with. Number two, from the info I've found on the net the autos are usually quicker in the 1/4 mile, so that just cements the decision for me. :thumbsup:

I'm on my second CTS-V, I absolutely love it as a daily driver. I have driven quite a few 6 speeds but for a sedan/ driver I prefer the auto. If it was a dct trans, it would be the very best sedan on the road. Mine makes 733rwh through the auto and I'm on my second set of rear tires with 6k on the odo..:)

http://www.fototime.com/D10797C2004F566/medium800.jpg

Mines a stick. I love it but if I lived with heavy traffic, I'd consider an auto. Sticks are much harder to find...only about 15% were stick cars.

Auto, I wish GM made the Z06 in auto. I daily drive a C6 auto and it's great.

wow, I'm pretty shocked at all the auto's! I guess on this site people are mostly using them for DD's so I guess that makes sense. I've been of the mindset that any performance car I get I'd want to be a manual but I haven't daily driven a manual for 12+ years so I kinda forget what it's like.

SW that looks incredible!

Thanks for all the responses!
Dave

The C7 Z06 is getting the 8 speed with auto, and paddle shifter. There is a few video's on youtube describing this feature as well.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/01/...a-dual-clutch/

There is some C6 corvettes with paddle shifters as well. I am not sure if the paddle shifter is available on the CTS-V Auto.


Jeff

Thanks. One more observation, if you are wanting a CTS-V to drive on nice twisty roads and have a sports car "feel", don't get the auto. It does not have any "feel", the paddle shifters on the steeringwheel are a joke. All that said, it is defninetly faster from a dead stop and roll than a stick. It all depends how you use the car.I do not like automatic transmissions in any car unless it is a DCT.

Here is a old video of me driving one of Hennessy's CTS-V's. I was visiting there and was thinking about getting one so John wanted me to drive his demo..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KySn-57mPBU

Thanks for the info. I'll wait until they are a few years old.

My C6 is auto with paddle shifters. It's the base model though.

I've personally heard this bad boy --- and watched SW drive it -- I'm shocked the tires lasted that long... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Isn't that basically the grand sport?

Grand Sport doesn't have an LS7 though.

Thanks again guys!
SW, I stopped by a dealership to check out the models they had. I believe they said the new model will be a DCT, BUT they also told me that *every* V model is all wheel drive and that is what makes them launch so fast. THANKS FOR THE INFO DEALERSHIP GUY! He went at great lengths to describe how the front wheels pull the car to help acceleration. hahaha

Dave

If you're daily driving it in heavy stop and go traffic, I would prefer the auto though I'm not a big fan of that 6 speed trans.

For a fun/weekend car I would personally go with the manual wagon. Very rare combination and rowing gears is just fun.

V6 twin-turbo...:(

Brian Thomson (Thomson Automotive) has a C6 Gran Sport, but I am not sure it is automatic or not. Anyway, he just changes engines in it. The last engine was a 442 LS7, but that was sold. So he is setting it up to run at the Michigan Mile.

He also has a new 2014 CTS-V wagon, and it is black 6-speed. Well, he mod that one too.. Jackass is up there too!

I had him do some changes on mine, so it is now an LS9 418.

Jeff

I just tuned one yesterday. I think this car has some real potential :)

MOAR pics! and details on this SW... makes me miss ours even more.


Jeff-

I agree, SW more info/pics when you get a chance. No worries posting it on this thread or starting a new one.

Test drove this beast. Strange how refined/subdued the stock exhaust is. I was kind of expecting it to be more aggressive sounding with heavy throttle. Not sure if I like how quiet it is or not. Only slightly embarrassed to admit I stalled it on first launch. That'll never happen again. ;) It took so much concentration driving it (having not driven a stick in 10+ years) that I couldn't even carry on a conversation with the guy for the first 5 min haha

I met the guy at the Cadillac dealership to test drive it as he was bringing it in for an oil change. They had it up on a lift so I could inspect the underside of the car. Everything looked good but the front rotors caught my eye. There was some discoloration about half way out on the rotor as well as what looked to me like very fine cracks in the surface. I asked the tech inspector and they hadn't really noticed it, so they looked closer and told me it was nothing to worry about. The owner told me he did have the car out to one track day for some kind of driving school. Looks to me like a lot of heat got into them. Is this anything I should be concerned with or normal?

Thanks y'all!
Dave

PS sorry if there are any issues with the photos I post, still learning this stuff

Just buy it.




Quiet exhaust?? Did you realize you're buying a Cadillac?? LOL

Gotta agree with GW...




They have plenty of cures for that...


Jeff-

Get off my back ol' money bags Weld! hahaha

I come from a family that consults Consumer Reports before buying a toaster. So for better or worse it's in my blood.

How many miles on it? The rotors are a bit pricy.. I like the look of the wagon.:thumbsup:

12k miles on the car. I guess when he was at the track he had more aggressive brake pads on the car... so I'm guessing he heated up those rotors pretty good on that track day. The car is still covered under Corrosion, Powertrain, Bumper to Bumper, Premium Care Maintenance and Emissions Select Component Ltd Warranties for at least another 2 years. Testing an auto Black Diamond edition this Saturday and then making a choice. Leaning towards the manual currently.

Dave

A pic of the V we had, man I miss that car.
We've had ZO6s and now an A7 and other makes in between, The Caddy was just a neat car. You won't be disappointed.

http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL267.../372651471.jpg

Jeff-

So I bought the black manual wagon. Haven't drivin it too much as I'm still in the process of getting it registered. The car came with tinted front windows (not windshield) which as I understand it is illegal in CA, or maybe there's a law on the percentage tint. Car originally came from Wisconsin. Anyone know if I'm going to have to get rid of the tint?

Thanks for all the input, this will probably be the nicest car i ever buy!
Dave

I'm in CA and I have, (knock on wood), been driving a GT500 which received tinted front windows from the previous owner. I was a bit worried at first since the car was all black, and, at least to me, stood out more than I wanted. I haven't had a problem, but I also drive around like an old person, which might help too.