The thing about the auto is, it works fine in "D" mode for cruising around town. It also works fine when driving flat out, as hard as possible. It's the in-between, the 8/10ths canyon driving where it falls flat.
Yea, I'm a little iffy on this vid. It didn't age well at all. General consensus on V2's is they're fucking *awesome*. Wonder if this vid dropped before or after some rando in a sedan set a new Nuremburg record on the time for a stock sedan w. stock tires.
The Hennessey ZL1 from this week's episode had the automatic. The tune was much better, I had no complaints about it this time around. I wouldn't call the transmission "incredible" by any stretch, it's still just an automatic with a torque converter, but a much better tune still makes a big difference. I'd still take a stick.
Ive driven both the 6spd manual and automatic CTS V. I ended up buying the automatic after driving nothing but standard my entire life.. Why? Because the automatic hauls ass and shifts quick as hell. The paddle shifters are even more fun.. My 2 cents.
I just finished watching the test drive video of the new ATS, I have to say, Cadillac has gone a long way. This CTS looks and feels like it's Jurassic Park compared with the new model. A friend of mine bought a 2.0L Turbo ATS here in Italy and it's not only a gorgeous looking machine, but has that kind of dynamic refinement only a 3-Series could overcome.
The ATS look good, handles well, and has a mediocre interior. But it really doesn't stack up to an optioned-out B8 A4 or F30 S-series. Cadillac got close, but still isn't quite there.
Actually the ATS has defeated the 3 series in a number of comparisons specifically because dynamically speaking the ATS is better. It's sharper, it turns in better, it's better balanced. The 3 series has gotten soft recently, while the Cadillacs have gotten really good. The tables have turned.
winters792 you do realize that there is still the new CTS-V aswell? with now 640hp and everything else even better than the last gen - competition 's gonna see taillights!
Another quality video, Matt. I'm from the UK and although I generally see differences in driving styles and, let's say priorities, from drivers in England and America, you always seem to come up good. You're a driver with driver's opinions and I like that, which is why watching your videos and Chris Harris's are staple parts of my week. Cheers.
Matt - I respect you a lot more after this video. Love how you are critical of some aspects of the car...maybe you drive a lot of bad ass perfect cars but this video you were honest about the positives and negatives. YOU ARE THE MAN! Can't wait for you to drive the BRZ STI when it comes out
The pagani has a single clutch plate to save on weight.. Caddy are already naturally heavy.. D3 on the car screams not sleeper.. So does body kit mods cheap or not..
By the way, REALLY nice review! I honestly prefer watching yours apart from the others. You actually go over real world results with a vehicle. There are a lot of these modded and you hit the nail in the head.
I would call it a sleeper. I have an 05, the average person, if they look, give me that "oh look mommy and daddy bought their kid a cadillac" look. (I'm only 21, but i did buy it myself) and then theres the kids with their 328i bmws that know what it is but don't know just how fast it really is and end up with their asses handed to em.
+Need1eBanger , well, it is their loss, but the 335i is easily a road beast in its own right once the modifications are done, and especially so if they are done correctly, and ditto for the Cadillac CTS-V/Wagon.
Wow I ran across this video, some years ago before I picked up a CTS-V Coupe and I understand the difference of an auto car and the manual. I started driving a manual from high school and love it and when I had stopped. That's all I wanted was to get back into a manual and I'm not talking about motorcycles, so after watching this video. I started wanting a V, but the chances was like out of reach. But after some work I pick up a Coupe and it's a manual. Plus it's modded 😏 but nothing crazy yet 😁. And I love and hate it, if it's such a thing. But if you are ever in Michigan and we can work something out, I'll be happy to have you drive my V. I'm pretty sure you would enjoy a stick shift V with an attitude 😏 cause right now, it's boost weather😁 Love the channel ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
Hey DRIVE, on Monday I had the opportunity to ride in the world's most powerful cts-v. Search youtube for "1444 whp cts-v." Please contact this guy and review his car, it is truly insane.
As a seasoned road racer, this car is excellent right out of the box. Plenty of power on tap, and the suspension is just fine as-is for occasional track days. Yes it's heavy, it's a stock Cadillac. You guys aren't going to notice any difference unless your turning serious lap times competitively. Part of the novelty is your in a Cadillac and can hang with well more expensive German and Italian cars. This car really shined at VIR over a track weekend. I passed many BMWs, Porsches, and even Ferraris. Very few American cars can brag about that. Well done GM
I personally can't quite call it a sleeper. Reason being, it's too loud IMO. Quite it down a bit, and I'm calling it a sleeper. Personally, I prefer the CTS-V Wagon. Talk about the ultimate sleeper with practicality to boot.
Um, not really. You're thinking of the (late) pontiac G8, which shares the Zeta platform with the Commodore. This is the Sigma II platform, which does not.
No it's not,... not at all. I do agree with him that GM should have mated a proper Daul Clutch automated manual to this car. I agree with most on this topic,... the auto is faster but can be not as much fun to drive. With either gearbox,... it's still a beast.
I think the front bumper gives it away too much to be a sleeper. D3 should quietly tune a chevy SS and de-badge it. Most will just assume it's an Impala.
Negative on that. I'm gunning for the SRT guys to get me a Viper. CTS-V's have had a bad track record of "brake failure" and rolling over walls on One Lap.
I think you're letting your you tube fame get to your head a bit lol. I think you are great at what you do but it seems like you are letting your opinion become more like a fact. Just pull it back a little bud. You need to rep CT lol!
Hey Matt.....idea for ya. Since Mr Renick is in such a generous mood, which I must say speaks volumes about him and Renick Cadillac( thumbsup;). If he cant make it out to Button with the battle wagon, you might want to bring it out and play with us other regular V owners on a technical track where high hp is not a factor. Just a thought plus you will be able to see all the various setups from mild to wild and how they each perform. No matter what you have to admit thats a nice offer.
D3 does truly amazing work ! i just saw the ATS, and in the best D3 tradition it is unreal !!! a D3 massaged Cadillac turns the AMGs RSs and Ms (insert german tuner shop of your liking to each here) of this world into mild luke warm "chancellor merkel fleet cars".
TheCobruhAlienat0r Oh so all soccer moms know how to drive manuals, they're just lazy? Are you suggesting that everybody actually knows how to drive a manual, they're just too lazy? I agree that laziness is a factor, but the fact is most people at least in the US don't know HOW to drive a manual.
Vernon Price Well your first comment said "Automatics are for people who don't know how to drive." Thats why I said you made no sense. Because if you don't know how to drive you wouldn't be driving at all or have a drivers license. Now if you said "automatics are for people who don't know how to drive manual". Then you'd just be stating the obvious. You're second comment doesn't relate to my comment or your first comment at all.
TheCobruhAlienat0r Splitting hairs doesn't impress me. You knew what I meant. Automatics are for people who don't know how to drive with any amount of skill, how about that? Automatics are designed for people who don't care about driving and just want to get from point A to point B with as little effort or involvement with the car as possible. Preferring an automatic transmission means that you are either lazy or you are not interested in the act of driving because you want the car to do all the work for you. Preferring an auto means that you're not interested in having a more direct connection with your engine and you are, for all intents and purposes, a poseur. Is that better?
I follow it quite nicely. And he is right for the most part. Even as little as changing to an open element air intake will "uncork" these sounds from their muffled dynamic air chambers of a stock airbox.
Modern gun guy you obviously don't know how crap the automatic is in this car. or must not be able to drive a manual because you don't know why one would rather have the satisfaction of being completely connected to the car compared to the dim witted standard automatic. dual clutch gearboxes partially dis cluded
Seamus Walsh yes so much crap that it's faster than the standard LOL. All I care about is speed you can go lollygag around in your little standard all you want because the car guys tell you that's what you're supposed to like lol be a man and get the speed
Modern gun guy so you are I fact saying you don't know how to drive stick? If you did you would know it's far more rewarding to drive a manual from a visceral feeling perspective.. It's faster DEPENDING on how you shift and the driver. For this particular car. How do I know well cause I've seen it done at 1\4 mile
Seamus Walsh there's nothing more rewarding than speed not even a stick you're just regurgitating you've heard other people say on the internet and have no actual experience yourself. No it is not faster these days automatics are faster no matter how you shift. What have you seen done LOL? The fact is remove all other factors and just put an automatic against the manual and automatic will win every time these days back in the day the standards used to be faster but that's not true anymore. I understand you're afraid to go fast lol
Modern gun guy your assertions are not necessarily true. Many automatic gear boxes coupled with the ecu tend to curb power and torque on the top end and depending on the factory gearing can be slower. Now DCTs don't suffer from this as much.
Vernon Price cadillac al taim braik on rode no fest anaf look ugli. mustang so mach ares betor anaf sooooo mucho fest soooo look naise sooo sooooo betor.
That is the 6L90 trans in there. That is a great transmission. I'm curious if this company tuned the transmission at all. Remove the torque management and this trans will bang through the gears just like a manual.
no. I'm there to evaluate their product, not advertise it. And it's not free, we work hard to make these films, and expose the brands we feature to over 100,000 subscribers on the /Drive channel, many of whom will not have even heard of the brand.
I'm glad someone has finally addressed the impracticality of a lowered car. I don't understand why every tuner slams their cars to unusable ride heights. You want to DRIVE your car, not constantly be worried about it. Most people do not understand why you're driving over speed bumps sideways, they think you look like a tool. Good handling can be achieved with a well engineered spring and damper set.. no lowering required. If body roll is an issue, address it elsewhere (e.g., sways).
Matt, you're my favorite drive host, and you've explained why your shades are so awesome when driving. Please take them off when you're not driving, and let the ladies see your handsome eyes ;-)
Yes, two different objects with the same function except for the part where they function differently. Glad to see you have a handle on it. If terminology were the only issue here, we wouldn't be talking about whether they vent to atmosphere or not. That should have been obvious, even to you.
I didn't find anything I didn't like about the TT-RS, except for the turbo lag, which I mentioned. There's no reason to make up things to dislike just to "balance" the review. If you have to make things up just so it sounds less favorable, then the review becomes inherently less balanced.
Quite a few high-performance drag cars are built with Powerglide transmissions, which are highly durable and very simple 2speed automatics. Matter of fact, an Australian racer currently holds a world record for 1/4 mile. He ran a 5.95 at 260mph, in a twin-turbo v8 Mustang with a Powerglide. In a drag-race, often times a manual transmission causes problems. Even the best drivers can miss a shift or over-rev and break something. When you`re dealing with high power, simplicity is a very good thing.
BTW, I replaced the 'magnetic shocks' with KW adjustable coilovers and the ride improved a ton. Mine is lowered as well and has the widest HRE wheels possible. I have 11" on the rear. But, I'll be removing this stuff before selling it, unless a performance buyer comes along. This is a nice sounding exhaust...
No problem! Yes, you are correct. When drivers put wide tires with hard compound, they are getting the same friction they would with skinner wheels with same compound. Force friction is normal force times coefficient of friction. Simply, friction relies on how heavy the object is and how much coefficient of friction that material makes.
So, if you were to sell this car today, with all the mods and the mileage, what would this car be priced at? Or, what would a good price point be for something comparable?
Looks wise, you could surely get away with the "sleeper" aspect of things, but one listen no matter how far you get, you can obviously tell there is a lot going on with this ride!!! Quiet this baby down a bit, give it the deepest throttle sound you can get to and then I would be a lot more apt to say sleeper :D Thanks Matt for another great car review experience ;)
its fantastic. people just hate on the fact that it takes all nations to make this world work right. so please dont hate and call names. just get along
Hey Matt, Only a small % actually know what this car is. Although I did get filmed by iPhone in Walgreens the other day LOL! Overall it's a sleeper, and very scary with Trac off more than i can control on any road in a turn. Appreciate the honest suspension review, and trans. Thank you for covering a TUNED CTSV, stock is quiet and boring!.
Great Video, Love the V. Id say the Cadillac CTS originated as a high grade sedan that eventually became a sleeper due to the 500+ Horse that was added
You know your stuff brother. This car screams for a manual transmission and personally I wouls fit a bit larger tire under it for more grip and as you sais change the ride hight. Maybe by a different suspension kit with ajustable shocks so you can set it up for track or road use. But It is a kickass ride and I would love to have it as a wagon, even more sleeper as this one is.
yo Matt, for real i respect the fact that you are totally honest about the cars build quality as well.. that spoiler is sketch as fuck, especially coming from a SHOP and not some guys garage... as always, good review, very informative and deep
Yes. In the past Cadillac wasn't performance oriented, but now with the CTS-V and new ATS, Cadillac is hoping that performance is the foremost thing to come to mind.
I'd have to agree with you on this one. An automatic tranny may be slightly faster on the drag strip, but there is no replacing what a stick shift does for the feeling of driving of this car, or any car for that matter. Manual transmissions, in my opinion, are what really connects the driver to the car/road.
I do enjoy how all of your replies are, to be kind, barely relevant. Imagine how proud he is that you're starting fights on the internet based on a lack of knowledge, that then feeds into assuming someone is prejudice instead of accepting the facts, and then attempting to prove their prejudice by posting something nearly completely unrelated, that actually does more to weaken his point. Good job son.
Thanks matt for an honest review. the TT-RS seemed like a giant press release video, I know it was a good car but please to ground your reviews try and find things you dislike about the cars so it is a well rounded.
I totally agree. even from within the cabin it seemed super loud so I can imagine from the outside you could hear that thing from like a mile away. can you say cop magnet?
Blow-ff valve is a commonly used word which is also a generalization for every "pressure relief valve" regardless of the wording by the manufacturer or other company that produces a product that operates in the exact same manner.
Not really, we have had enough cars offered in just the past 3 months to make a whole third season of Tuned without even trying, including another CTS-V with 1,100 HP. I didn't "blast" him for a wing. I pointed out that the wing was poorly installed, and didn't look very good. That's a fair statement.
Nice. Matt, I think you've been to Australia, and I know you've been to New Zealand. (You do get over it.) So you know that down this side of the world, we LIKE cars like this. I'd like to start with a Ford XR6 Turbo, strengthen it a little, and turn up the boost to about 36 ~ 40 psi. That gives you about 1,000hp. Getting the gearbox to live with that is problematic. You might have to ditch the lovely 6 speed ZF and go to something very primitive. You would have to go through the whole driveline and spruce it up a bit. And you'd maybe fiddle around with wheels & tyres & shocks & springs... Now I don't know what a CTS-V weighs, but I suspect a 6 cyl Falcon is a few kg lighter... I have an old retired taxi sitting outside my house. It goes with the old retired taxi driver sitting at this keyboard. It's worth maybe $200. I can dream...
I like the review and I agree, the autotragic gearbox simply ruins it. As for it being a sleeper, it really depends. Yes, if you're a car guy, you're going to know it's a CTS-V and that it's a high horsepower car, so the extra HP and suspension upgrades won't be much of a surprise. To the untrained eye, however, it is most certainly a sleeper. I'm partial to the CTS-V wagon with the 6-speed manual and would love to see what D3 does to one of them.
@Scott McGillivray how do you like your ctsv? Im debating on getting one and its about 16k with 100k miles. I know ls motors last a really long time so not worried so much about that
yes, that is true. my buddy built his 67 camaro from ground up. he decided to go with the auto trans. i was bummed but when i saw him run in on the quarter, my mind was changed. ran low 11s and now is running in the 10 range. quicker shifting. i still prefer manual though lol
I find this commentary interesting. There's quite a difference between straight-line fast and crooked road fast. For decades, the autos have been consistently quicker in a straight line. Just check out the records on the drag strips. They just flat shift faster and more consistently, but to get an automatic gear box to anticipate the driver's input on a road coarse more efficiently than a properly set up 5 or 6 speed stick is an effort in futility. I haven't found one to drive nor have I found a road test that described an auto that would select the gear changes up or down to satisfy a demanding driver in those conditions... but they do make really nice cruisers. There's always a demand for a nice cruiser.
I've been following D3 for a few years now. Thanks for the honest, thorough review. It's sounds great in 11minutes of video, but that exhaust might get a bit tiresome as daily driver or in residential neighborhoods. I also think that the sound would prevent anything from sleeping, especially the car's performance orientation.
to Matt Farah, adding a spacer to the blower does NOT increase its displacement, a blower's displacement is measured by how much air the rotors could move in one blower revolution. The spacer is probably a phenolic heat insulating thing that prevents the hot engine from heat-soaking the blowers intercooler
I remember watching this video enviously in 2012 as a 20 year old. I am now 29 and own a 2020 ZL1 and could not be happier.
I remember watching this at 16 and wanting a v since then. Finally got a coupe this year
@@MoneypitV606 hell yea bro congrats. I'm trying to get a V sedan. Hopefully I'll get one soon
@@joseascencio4825u got 1 bro?
im in love with the exhaust tone
The thing about the auto is, it works fine in "D" mode for cruising around town. It also works fine when driving flat out, as hard as possible. It's the in-between, the 8/10ths canyon driving where it falls flat.
Most definitely a Sleeper yo I Remember when you dropped this Video and here still watching till this day 😂😂😂
I did 183 mph in a CTS-V wagon. It most certainly does not "shit out" around 135
Yea, I'm a little iffy on this vid. It didn't age well at all. General consensus on V2's is they're fucking *awesome*. Wonder if this vid dropped before or after some rando in a sedan set a new Nuremburg record on the time for a stock sedan w. stock tires.
The Hennessey ZL1 from this week's episode had the automatic. The tune was much better, I had no complaints about it this time around. I wouldn't call the transmission "incredible" by any stretch, it's still just an automatic with a torque converter, but a much better tune still makes a big difference. I'd still take a stick.
Ive driven both the 6spd manual and automatic CTS V. I ended up buying the automatic after driving nothing but standard my entire life.. Why? Because the automatic hauls ass and shifts quick as hell. The paddle shifters are even more fun.. My 2 cents.
i did the exact same thing, the auto is awesome.
Same here, but thats because i got a good deal on it lol
I feel like paddles are better for a cadillac. more refined
Though no lie, wish i got a manual
I don't at all. The auto is great on a hot rodded v
This is exactly what Heinricy said when I interviewed him 3 years ago.
Beast of a car, love this Caddy!
Yezirr manual is what we need in these cars🔥 couldn't have said it any better 👌
Great video Matt. Love it!
-Larry
CTS V Coupe is the BEST car ever made!
I just finished watching the test drive video of the new ATS, I have to say, Cadillac has gone a long way.
This CTS looks and feels like it's Jurassic Park compared with the new model.
A friend of mine bought a 2.0L Turbo ATS here in Italy and it's not only a gorgeous looking machine, but has that kind of dynamic refinement only a 3-Series could overcome.
The ATS look good, handles well, and has a mediocre interior. But it really doesn't stack up to an optioned-out B8 A4 or F30 S-series. Cadillac got close, but still isn't quite there.
Actually the ATS has defeated the 3 series in a number of comparisons specifically because dynamically speaking the ATS is better. It's sharper, it turns in better, it's better balanced. The 3 series has gotten soft recently, while the Cadillacs have gotten really good. The tables have turned.
winters792 you do realize that there is still the new CTS-V aswell? with now 640hp and everything else even better than the last gen - competition 's gonna see taillights!
Yeah I'm aware, that has nothing to do with my previous comment about the regular ATS.
winters792 Which I dismantled, by the way. look up some head to head comparisons, the ATS absolutely outstrips the Germans.
Another quality video, Matt. I'm from the UK and although I generally see differences in driving styles and, let's say priorities, from drivers in England and America, you always seem to come up good. You're a driver with driver's opinions and I like that, which is why watching your videos and Chris Harris's are staple parts of my week. Cheers.
maybe not a sleeper but close. I'll go with calling it a napper
+MrLearn2board Im gonna call it a day dreamer cause thats what i dream about
Matt - I respect you a lot more after this video. Love how you are critical of some aspects of the car...maybe you drive a lot of bad ass perfect cars but this video you were honest about the positives and negatives. YOU ARE THE MAN! Can't wait for you to drive the BRZ STI when it comes out
The pagani has a single clutch plate to save on weight.. Caddy are already naturally heavy.. D3 on the car screams not sleeper.. So does body kit mods cheap or not..
By the way, REALLY nice review! I honestly prefer watching yours apart from the others. You actually go over real world results with a vehicle. There are a lot of these modded and you hit the nail in the head.
I would call it a sleeper. I have an 05, the average person, if they look, give me that "oh look mommy and daddy bought their kid a cadillac" look. (I'm only 21, but i did buy it myself) and then theres the kids with their 328i bmws that know what it is but don't know just how fast it really is and end up with their asses handed to em.
Love the username, I have an 05 also, and a bunch of old Mopar muscle..
+Need1eBanger , well, it is their loss, but the 335i is easily a road beast in its own right once the modifications are done, and especially so if they are done correctly, and ditto for the Cadillac CTS-V/Wagon.
Maybe if you made it look like a regular Caddy. Switched emblems and grill.
We actually made a full "commercial" just like that at APR's dyno room with the 160 mph fans, but I don't think they'd be too happy if we posted it.
Wow, that must have hurt for D3.
Wow I ran across this video, some years ago before I picked up a CTS-V Coupe and I understand the difference of an auto car and the manual. I started driving a manual from high school and love it and when I had stopped. That's all I wanted was to get back into a manual and I'm not talking about motorcycles, so after watching this video. I started wanting a V, but the chances was like out of reach. But after some work I pick up a Coupe and it's a manual. Plus it's modded 😏 but nothing crazy yet 😁. And I love and hate it, if it's such a thing. But if you are ever in Michigan and we can work something out, I'll be happy to have you drive my V. I'm pretty sure you would enjoy a stick shift V with an attitude 😏 cause right now, it's boost weather😁
Love the channel ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
I think the car could be a sleeper to the average idiot... but any self respecting gear head would know not to screw with that beast.
I love it. Just the fact the drivetrain losses almost equal the rated output of my car's engine is absurdly awesome.
Hey DRIVE, on Monday I had the opportunity to ride in the world's most powerful cts-v. Search youtube for "1444 whp cts-v." Please contact this guy and review his car, it is truly insane.
andyb0x is
As a seasoned road racer, this car is excellent right out of the box. Plenty of power on tap, and the suspension is just fine as-is for occasional track days. Yes it's heavy, it's a stock Cadillac. You guys aren't going to notice any difference unless your turning serious lap times competitively. Part of the novelty is your in a Cadillac and can hang with well more expensive German and Italian cars. This car really shined at VIR over a track weekend. I passed many BMWs, Porsches, and even Ferraris. Very few American cars can brag about that. Well done GM
Might as well take it to Hennessy and get the 1200HP
just rode in my friend's,this car is completely perfect for me.It is a complete beast!
I personally can't quite call it a sleeper. Reason being, it's too loud IMO. Quite it down a bit, and I'm calling it a sleeper.
Personally, I prefer the CTS-V Wagon. Talk about the ultimate sleeper with practicality to boot.
Um, not really. You're thinking of the (late) pontiac G8, which shares the Zeta platform with the Commodore. This is the Sigma II platform, which does not.
I cant wait till I get my cts-v.
You got it didnt you?
I'm buying one this summer, and instead of buying a house, I'm going to get it tuned.
is the automatic transmission really that bad on this car
He seemed to enjoy it. He just pointed out that with everything it had it should be a manual.
No it's not,... not at all. I do agree with him that GM should have mated a proper Daul Clutch automated manual to this car. I agree with most on this topic,... the auto is faster but can be not as much fun to drive. With either gearbox,... it's still a beast.
If you're gonna be a smart ass, know to quote right. "sucks the life, right out of this car". And yes, he enjoyed it all throughout the video.
To each their own.
He enjoyed the ride throughout the video, he just wishes it was manual.
I don't even know where that is, this was filmed in Malibu.
MANUAL MODE? Manual mode is my left foot :P
Man mode. ;)
Oh yes I did see one racing a Nissan GT-R and it appeared to be stick. Love these CTS-V
I think the front bumper gives it away too much to be a sleeper. D3 should quietly tune a chevy SS and de-badge it. Most will just assume it's an Impala.
Exactly!
Tell me Geof : what do you guys mean with the word "sleeper".
Sleeper : hot fancy car?
Grtz
Palo Alto A sleeper is a car that you wouldn't expect to smoke you off the line (you're "sleeping" on it because it doesn't look as fast as it is).
Thanks Jason
Negative on that. I'm gunning for the SRT guys to get me a Viper. CTS-V's have had a bad track record of "brake failure" and rolling over walls on One Lap.
I think you're letting your you tube fame get to your head a bit lol. I think you are great at what you do but it seems like you are letting your opinion become more like a fact. Just pull it back a little bud. You need to rep CT lol!
xD
one more like. its true. opinions and facts are different things
Hey Matt.....idea for ya. Since Mr Renick is in such a generous mood, which I must say speaks volumes about him and Renick Cadillac( thumbsup;). If he cant make it out to Button with the battle wagon, you might want to bring it out and play with us other regular V owners on a technical track where high hp is not a factor. Just a thought plus you will be able to see all the various setups from mild to wild and how they each perform. No matter what you have to admit thats a nice offer.
Not everyone can drive a stick sir and plus its been said time and time again that an auto is better for drag racing
D3 does truly amazing work ! i just saw the ATS, and in the best D3 tradition it is unreal !!! a D3 massaged Cadillac turns the AMGs RSs and Ms (insert german tuner shop of your liking to each here) of this world into mild luke warm "chancellor merkel fleet cars".
If I'm paying that kind of money for a car, it better shift itself. Maybe a good tune will get it to shift more like a manual.
Automatics are for people who don't know how to drive.
Vernon Price
That comment makes no sense. Now, if you said "automatics are for the lazy" I'd agree with you.
TheCobruhAlienat0r Oh so all soccer moms know how to drive manuals, they're just lazy? Are you suggesting that everybody actually knows how to drive a manual, they're just too lazy? I agree that laziness is a factor, but the fact is most people at least in the US don't know HOW to drive a manual.
Vernon Price
Well your first comment said "Automatics are for people who don't know how to drive." Thats why I said you made no sense. Because if you don't know how to drive you wouldn't be driving at all or have a drivers license. Now if you said "automatics are for people who don't know how to drive manual". Then you'd just be stating the obvious. You're second comment doesn't relate to my comment or your first comment at all.
TheCobruhAlienat0r Splitting hairs doesn't impress me. You knew what I meant. Automatics are for people who don't know how to drive with any amount of skill, how about that? Automatics are designed for people who don't care about driving and just want to get from point A to point B with as little effort or involvement with the car as possible. Preferring an automatic transmission means that you are either lazy or you are not interested in the act of driving because you want the car to do all the work for you. Preferring an auto means that you're not interested in having a more direct connection with your engine and you are, for all intents and purposes, a poseur.
Is that better?
I follow it quite nicely. And he is right for the most part. Even as little as changing to an open element air intake will "uncork" these sounds from their muffled dynamic air chambers of a stock airbox.
lol he said 420 wheel hp
Are you talking about his Vette or the Cadillac?
His all motor corvette has 420whp that's what he was referring to
i like the fact he isn't singing praises all day long and pointing out bad stuff to
he must like to drive slow since he wants a stick instead of an automatic
Modern gun guy you obviously don't know how crap the automatic is in this car. or must not be able to drive a manual because you don't know why one would rather have the satisfaction of being completely connected to the car compared to the dim witted standard automatic. dual clutch gearboxes partially dis cluded
Seamus Walsh yes so much crap that it's faster than the standard LOL. All I care about is speed you can go lollygag around in your little standard all you want because the car guys tell you that's what you're supposed to like lol be a man and get the speed
Modern gun guy so you are I fact saying you don't know how to drive stick? If you did you would know it's far more rewarding to drive a manual from a visceral feeling perspective.. It's faster DEPENDING on how you shift and the driver. For this particular car. How do I know well cause I've seen it done at 1\4 mile
Seamus Walsh there's nothing more rewarding than speed not even a stick you're just regurgitating you've heard other people say on the internet and have no actual experience yourself. No it is not faster these days automatics are faster no matter how you shift. What have you seen done LOL? The fact is remove all other factors and just put an automatic against the manual and automatic will win every time these days back in the day the standards used to be faster but that's not true anymore. I understand you're afraid to go fast lol
Modern gun guy your assertions are not necessarily true. Many automatic gear boxes coupled with the ecu tend to curb power and torque on the top end and depending on the factory gearing can be slower. Now DCTs don't suffer from this as much.
I'm not usually a fan of American cars, tuned or not. But this, Good God, that engine is brutal.
Mustang ares betor
Speelings r beetors twoo. butt yu knot no speelings gud. y yu nert no huouw tu speels?
Vernon Price Mustangs ares betor cadillac is no fest anaf look ugli
I Hate Bush Too mussturngs r stoopid dey r n abuminbamashun n dey shud be stoped by poleeic
Vernon Price cadillac al taim braik on rode no fest anaf look ugli. mustang so mach ares betor anaf sooooo mucho fest soooo look naise sooo sooooo betor.
I Hate Bush Too Are you saying that a high strung DOHC V8 is more reliable than a low boost OHV V8? Idiot.
Great test drive and really detailed observations. Thanks. I will take the sleeper all day long.
Drive makes me wanna own every single car they show!
That is the 6L90 trans in there. That is a great transmission. I'm curious if this company tuned the transmission at all. Remove the torque management and this trans will bang through the gears just like a manual.
If there's any show about cars besides Top Gear that rocks, it's THIS.
Vtrim never sleeps aside from the trns get ya thnx Matt
no. I'm there to evaluate their product, not advertise it. And it's not free, we work hard to make these films, and expose the brands we feature to over 100,000 subscribers on the /Drive channel, many of whom will not have even heard of the brand.
I'm glad someone has finally addressed the impracticality of a lowered car. I don't understand why every tuner slams their cars to unusable ride heights. You want to DRIVE your car, not constantly be worried about it. Most people do not understand why you're driving over speed bumps sideways, they think you look like a tool. Good handling can be achieved with a well engineered spring and damper set.. no lowering required. If body roll is an issue, address it elsewhere (e.g., sways).
Matt, you're my favorite drive host, and you've explained why your shades are so awesome when driving. Please take them off when you're not driving, and let the ladies see your handsome eyes ;-)
do you know what brand the glasses are? I can't remember and it's driving me nuts!
+Chris Tweedale No idea, sorry 😃
+Chris Tweedale dillion optics probably, he promotes them in some of the onetakes
+thomas denison
yes, awsome, thank you
I'm actually happy to see some faster automatics out there. My DD is a S60 R with gear tronic and I love it on my long commute early in the morning.
Yes, two different objects with the same function except for the part where they function differently. Glad to see you have a handle on it. If terminology were the only issue here, we wouldn't be talking about whether they vent to atmosphere or not. That should have been obvious, even to you.
I didn't find anything I didn't like about the TT-RS, except for the turbo lag, which I mentioned. There's no reason to make up things to dislike just to "balance" the review. If you have to make things up just so it sounds less favorable, then the review becomes inherently less balanced.
Sounds sooo good I want headers on my v now😓
Quite a few high-performance drag cars are built with Powerglide transmissions, which are highly durable and very simple 2speed automatics. Matter of fact, an Australian racer currently holds a world record for 1/4 mile. He ran a 5.95 at 260mph, in a twin-turbo v8 Mustang with a Powerglide. In a drag-race, often times a manual transmission causes problems. Even the best drivers can miss a shift or over-rev and break something. When you`re dealing with high power, simplicity is a very good thing.
BTW, I replaced the 'magnetic shocks' with KW adjustable coilovers and the ride improved a ton. Mine is lowered as well and has the widest HRE wheels possible.
I have 11" on the rear.
But, I'll be removing this stuff before selling it, unless a performance buyer comes along.
This is a nice sounding exhaust...
No problem!
Yes, you are correct. When drivers put wide tires with hard compound, they are getting the same friction they would with skinner wheels with same compound. Force friction is normal force times coefficient of friction. Simply, friction relies on how heavy the object is and how much coefficient of friction that material makes.
Matt . You are the man! Stick for the win!
So, if you were to sell this car today, with all the mods and the mileage, what would this car be priced at? Or, what would a good price point be for something comparable?
Looks wise, you could surely get away with the "sleeper" aspect of things, but one listen no matter how far you get, you can obviously tell there is a lot going on with this ride!!! Quiet this baby down a bit, give it the deepest throttle sound you can get to and then I would be a lot more apt to say sleeper :D Thanks Matt for another great car review experience ;)
"done something that I wholeheartdly approve of - added a sh*tload of power"
love that line
Matt has the coolest shades on UA-cam.
thank you for the video, not my idea of a sleeper. The 2000 B5 Audi S4 is what I would call a sleeper car.
THIS IS THE CAR I WISH I CAN HAVE THIS CAR IS ONE OF THE BEST CAR OUT TO ME
its fantastic. people just hate on the fact that it takes all nations to make this world work right. so please dont hate and call names. just get along
Hey Matt, Only a small % actually know what this car is. Although I did get filmed by iPhone in Walgreens the other day LOL! Overall it's a sleeper, and very scary with Trac off more than i can control on any road in a turn. Appreciate the honest suspension review, and trans. Thank you for covering a TUNED CTSV, stock is quiet and boring!.
@ shmcmillan
The VE Commodore chassis is the Zeta. The CTS V is the SIgma II...
Great Video, Love the V. Id say the Cadillac CTS originated as a high grade sedan that eventually became a sleeper due to the 500+ Horse that was added
Sounds so good.
CTS-V my Favourite Modern Muscle Car ever ill have 1 one day
You know your stuff brother. This car screams for a manual transmission and personally I wouls fit a bit larger tire under it for more grip and as you sais change the ride hight. Maybe by a different suspension kit with ajustable shocks so you can set it up for track or road use. But It is a kickass ride and I would love to have it as a wagon, even more sleeper as this one is.
yo Matt, for real i respect the fact that you are totally honest about the cars build quality as well.. that spoiler is sketch as fuck, especially coming from a SHOP and not some guys garage... as always, good review, very informative and deep
Nice video Matt...kick ass CTS V...car sounds like war!
That's a 14% drivetrain loss, which is actually better than average for a RWD car.
Yes. In the past Cadillac wasn't performance oriented, but now with the CTS-V and new ATS, Cadillac is hoping that performance is the foremost thing to come to mind.
I'd have to agree with you on this one. An automatic tranny may be slightly faster on the drag strip, but there is no replacing what a stick shift does for the feeling of driving of this car, or any car for that matter. Manual transmissions, in my opinion, are what really connects the driver to the car/road.
I do enjoy how all of your replies are, to be kind, barely relevant. Imagine how proud he is that you're starting fights on the internet based on a lack of knowledge, that then feeds into assuming someone is prejudice instead of accepting the facts, and then attempting to prove their prejudice by posting something nearly completely unrelated, that actually does more to weaken his point. Good job son.
Thanks matt for an honest review. the TT-RS seemed like a giant press release video, I know it was a good car but please to ground your reviews try and find things you dislike about the cars so it is a well rounded.
I really want this car.
I totally agree. even from within the cabin it seemed super loud so I can imagine from the outside you could hear that thing from like a mile away. can you say cop magnet?
I love the song at the end. SKA RULES that is all lol, oh yeah and the car is pretty cool too.
Blow-ff valve is a commonly used word which is also a generalization for every "pressure relief valve" regardless of the wording by the manufacturer or other company that produces a product that operates in the exact same manner.
2010 and Stage 4 package.
Not really, we have had enough cars offered in just the past 3 months to make a whole third season of Tuned without even trying, including another CTS-V with 1,100 HP. I didn't "blast" him for a wing. I pointed out that the wing was poorly installed, and didn't look very good. That's a fair statement.
Wow! Look at that quality work from D3 at 6:01.........
Nice. Matt, I think you've been to Australia, and I know you've been to New Zealand. (You do get over it.) So you know that down this side of the world, we LIKE cars like this. I'd like to start with a Ford XR6 Turbo, strengthen it a little, and turn up the boost to about 36 ~ 40 psi. That gives you about 1,000hp. Getting the gearbox to live with that is problematic. You might have to ditch the lovely 6 speed ZF and go to something very primitive. You would have to go through the whole driveline and spruce it up a bit. And you'd maybe fiddle around with wheels & tyres & shocks & springs... Now I don't know what a CTS-V weighs, but I suspect a 6 cyl Falcon is a few kg lighter... I have an old retired taxi sitting outside my house. It goes with the old retired taxi driver sitting at this keyboard. It's worth maybe $200. I can dream...
I like the review and I agree, the autotragic gearbox simply ruins it. As for it being a sleeper, it really depends. Yes, if you're a car guy, you're going to know it's a CTS-V and that it's a high horsepower car, so the extra HP and suspension upgrades won't be much of a surprise. To the untrained eye, however, it is most certainly a sleeper. I'm partial to the CTS-V wagon with the 6-speed manual and would love to see what D3 does to one of them.
@Scott McGillivray how do you like your ctsv? Im debating on getting one and its about 16k with 100k miles. I know ls motors last a really long time so not worried so much about that
To help resolve heating issues, why wouldn't they scrap the roots blower and use a twin-screw? Less heat build-up and power throughout the rpm band.
yes, that is true. my buddy built his 67 camaro from ground up. he decided to go with the auto trans. i was bummed but when i saw him run in on the quarter, my mind was changed. ran low 11s and now is running in the 10 range. quicker shifting. i still prefer manual though lol
I find this commentary interesting. There's quite a difference between straight-line fast and crooked road fast. For decades, the autos have been consistently quicker in a straight line. Just check out the records on the drag strips. They just flat shift faster and more consistently, but to get an automatic gear box to anticipate the driver's input on a road coarse more efficiently than a properly set up 5 or 6 speed stick is an effort in futility. I haven't found one to drive nor have I found a road test that described an auto that would select the gear changes up or down to satisfy a demanding driver in those conditions... but they do make really nice cruisers. There's always a demand for a nice cruiser.
I've been following D3 for a few years now. Thanks for the honest, thorough review.
It's sounds great in 11minutes of video, but that exhaust might get a bit tiresome as daily driver or in residential neighborhoods. I also think that the sound would prevent anything from sleeping, especially the car's performance orientation.
to Matt Farah, adding a spacer to the blower does NOT increase its displacement, a blower's displacement is measured by how much air the rotors could move in one blower revolution. The spacer is probably a phenolic heat insulating thing that prevents the hot engine from heat-soaking the blowers intercooler