From the June 2023 difficulty of Automobile and Driver.

Launched on the heels of the CTS sedan in 2003, the 2004 Cadillac CTS-V was Common Motors’ blunt-force response to the BMW M5s and Audi S4s of the world. Our first impressions have been largely optimistic: A pre-production mannequin exhibited each energy and poise, remaining a Cadillac on the highway even with the Corvette engine beneath the hood. As we stated in that March 2004 check, the CTS-V confirmed that “GM’s being dangerous is absolutely fairly good.”

With a change to the LS2 6.0-liter V-8, a stronger rear differential, and extra options equivalent to a regular sunroof, the 2006 and ’07 fashions are largely a extra enticing prospect than the sooner Vs.

Engine

The 2004 and ’05 CTS-V used the LS6 5.7-liter V-8 from the C5 Corvette Z06, producing 400 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. A Tremec six-speed guide transmission turned the rear wheels. We could not replicate GM’s claimed 60-mph sprints with the pre-production CTS-V we examined, due to some wheel hop we skilled getting off the road. Cadillac improved this difficulty—however didn’t remove it—by the point we put the 2005 CTS-V in a check with the Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG and Audi S4, the place it logged a 4.8-second time.

The 2006 CTS-V noticed a serious change with the change to an LS2 6.0-liter V-8. Energy remained the identical, however peak torque arrived at 4400 rpm insteadof 4800. The CTS-V took a short hiatus after the 2007 mannequin 12 months; the follow-up debuted as a 2009 mannequin and finally included the CTS-V Sport Wagon, to the delight of automotive nerds all over the place.

Worth

The primary-gen CTS-V was a little bit of a sleeper and a steal subsequent to the German competitors of its time, and its pricing stays nice by comparability right now. The catch is, with simply 8802 constructed, there aren’t that many to select from. Current gross sales counsel you are going to land within the $20,000s. That is not essentially low cost, but it surely’s removed from the $40,000 to $80,000 (and typically above) many second-generation CTS-Vs are garnering as of late.

Drawback Areas

Search for points with the differential in all first-gen CTS-V fashions, however particularly the ’04s and ’05s, that are extra vulnerable to catastrophe beneath the pressure of that Vette engine. Each LS V-8s might be thirsty for oil, however the LS6 had a valley cowl vulnerable to leaks.

GM issued numerous recollects for the first-gen CTS-V and even supplied to put in the later differential in earlier automobiles on the proprietor’s expense. It is value taking any CTS-V you are taking a look at to a GM vendor for an intensive inspection. There is a robust aftermarket for the first-gen CTS-V, with a big group of homeowners energetic on boards, providing options for identified points.

Current Gross sales

2007 Cadillac CTS-V (November 2022)
Worth: $24,250 Mileage: 54,000 miles
2006 Cadillac CTS-V (March 2023)
Worth: $20,900 Mileage: 71,000 miles
2004 Cadillac CTS-V (September 2022)
Worth: $23,000 Mileage: 59,000 miles
(Gross sales from Carry a Trailer.)

2005 Cadillac CTS-V
400-hp 5.7-liter V-8, 6-speed guide, 3907 lb
Take a look at Outcomes
60 mph: 4.8 sec
100 mph: 11.4 sec
1/4-mile: 13.2 sec @ 109 mph
Prime Pace: 161 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 167 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.90 g
From C/D, November 2004. Acceleration instances adhere to our outdated rollout rule of three mph.

Contributing Editor

James Tate has been writing about automobiles professionally since 2004, however the obsession took maintain earlier than he may stand. He is a Luddite at coronary heart, so it is the tactility and driving expertise of yesterday’s automobiles that basically seize him, however an appreciation for engineering sustains his curiosity within the trendy stuff. Tate’s writing has appeared in Highway & Monitor, Standard Mechanics, Vehicle, Autoweek, and others.