Figures. Just when I find a car that I'm really starting to warm up to I find that GM was cost cutting yet again. The CTS-V has really been piquing my interest lately and I've been doing some research into cost, reliability, performance, etc. For bang for the buck they're a pretty difficult car to beat. One small problem... They might've put a Corvette drivetrain in there but they forgot to include the Corvette rear diff. Instead, they spec'd one that is only underrated by 100+ lb/ft or so. Makes the whole WRX glass transmission issue look like a joke. I'm seeing people who are on their 3rd rear diff in less than 8k miles. Oh well. Back to the drawing board... IBwhythehellareyoulookingataGM?!?!?!
Hey, bud. UAW's wages are on par with non-union auto workers...I mean to say, one UAW worker's wages are on par with the wages of 3 non-union auto workers combined. So it's fair.
I'm not blaming the unions...Just the ******* engineers who decided to put a rearend in there that's rated around 300lb/ft of torque. Nevermind the fact the engine puts out a mere 395.
Well if the engineers weren't handcuffed by shrinking budgets and non-engineer bosses, they'd overbuild the crap out of every car on the line. However, when the dimwits on the line are making more $$$ than many of the engineers, costs have to be cut somewhere.
The really sad part is that the new 09's look like they've solved the problem. Wonder if they'll make that rear diff/axle unit the new warranty replacement? If so, I'd start looking at one again.
well, I guess it all starts with the dimwit at the Corp office, and extends to the CEOs. it is not hard to imagine that this would have happened when they are making cars that are so compromized, is this luxury? or performance? Allready compromised.... let alone compromising some components for cost. This is not a promissing auto manufacturer. I would like to know what components are different in there Speed series racing cars.
It wouldn't suprise me if they were either bought out or completely gone within the next several years.
Oh and its nothing new, the "7.5" in my cutlass will puke its guts all over the ground if i could ever get it to hook up. Of course the GN, 442, and hurst got the stronger rear end without the 200 mph gears.
With design like this I think they are going to have a whole new bussines plan. They are going to have get the Volt out yesterday!!!!!!
cts-V IS A HAWT CAR, just wish it had AWD. I Saw one last year try to auto-x, it looked like a dog that lifting a leg and peeing at each corner. not an all out performance car, but I still think it is kinda cool, (my dream car in highschool was cadillac seville sts). The stok speekers and power where awesome!!!, the CTSV takes it to another level, but still, not quite my cup of tea any more. brian, what did they do to the 09' to fix the issue? or rather how would you try to fix the issue?
+1. One enthusiast niche market car wont save a company...it would be like Subaru relying on the STi to save itself from financial doom if it were in such a position.
Driving around some cones in a parking lot is not an accurate measure of a performance car's ability. I bet there are alot of cars out there that would beat the snot out of a Saleen S7 on an auto-x course using the same driver. And I am willing to bet that using the same driver in a CTS-V vs. an STi, stock for stock, would probably give the win to the CTS-V on a real track.
right, not on it's own.... but it would be a nice geusture, but no psudo performance car will either... nor will a flagship line up of expencesive cars, it will take a change of mood and focus. They will have to find there demografic, wait... I think they have improved! they have started to make some somewhat atractive entrylevel high milage cars, just might have been too little to late.
Official 0-60 mph time for the 2nd-generation CTS-V is 3.9 seconds, while the quarter mile is run at 12.0 seconds at 118 mph (190 km/h). this is impressive! Now let me eat some of my words.... edit: it is way too heavy 4,250 lb (1,930 kg) (mfr est)
What constitutes a "real" track in your mind? The 09 looks like the new hotness for sure tho. I remember reading a stock 09 cts-v cut a sub 8-minute lap at the 'ring. Not worth $55k new to me, but at 25k in 3 years... definitely.
LOlz. I had a conversation with my brother last week and he said the exact same thing - almost word for word.....
:laugh: "high speed" and "highway" are not a good thing in the same sentence for me. as a mater o' fact highway + Highspeeds = Trouble cruiser is not my style.... maybe in 3 years for $25,000 it maybe though!!!!:laugh: I'll have to get a rocking chair and a quilt, maybe start widdeling "gifts" for the grand kids. caddy CTS-V is a great car for a retirment home casino run!:laugh:
The 09 has a different diff, as well as asymmetric axles. I think it's a solid 30mm on one side and a hollow 55mm on the other. It worked so well they've copied it and are using it on the new Corvette ZR1. I also want to check into an uprated Getrag unit, that's who makes the stock rear diff. If they have one for a decent price then it might be an option as well. I don't beat my cars, but I don't feel like worrying if an onramp is going to trash my rear end either.
at least you didn't buy one with out thinking ahead, you know what your getting into. Sounds to me like the beefed her her good!
NO.... i GET YOUR SUBTLE POINT.:roll: I would like a ride in one maybe? I'm sorry for trashing a car I've never driven. that was stoopid and imature. Sorry
When it comes to major purchases I do a lot of homework beforehand. Usually means I'm not getting caught by surprise by something I should've looked at before I bought it. As far as the car goes, I'm thinking I want something different this time around. Sure, turbos are fun and all but there is a lot to be said for a good V8, and if there's one thing GM is very good at building it's very, very good V8s. The CTS platform is lighter than a Chrysler 300 and much more nimble, as you'd expect from a car that was engineered at the Nurburgring. It's made to cover a lot of ground very quickly, very comfortably and still be entertaining to the driver. Maintenancewise, other than the diff they're pretty solid cars, and because it's a GM parts aren't going to be horrible when it comes to pricing. Good suspension, Brembos all around and a good stiff platform. It doesn't scream speed, which gives it a nice stealth factor which is something I look for in a vehicle. I prefer not to be noticed. I'm still doing research on just how many people are toasting the diffs in these, because if it's something like the WRX transmissions were then I may not worry too much about it. The vast majority of the WRX owners out there have not had transmission problems. You just read about the ones that do because they're usually posting up about it.
The upcoming CTS does not have a glass rear-end. I think the glass rear-end only impacts one generation anyhow. Finally, it's pretty overblown, it's glass like a WRX 5-speed is glass. As in launch it hard a lot or put a whole lot more than stock power it will break. Now, i am told non-current gen CTS-Vs do ahve some durablity issues, but the rear-end really isn't one. As for the internet, how many times will people say, yeah, I took my car down the strip 20 times in the last month and my diff blew? Oh and I have a supercharger (or new pully on the supercharged ones). No they say "**** you GM!" I'm seen no evidence that GM underspeced it for rated torque. It is rated perhaps to close to factory torque than we might like, but it is not below that.
The non-current diff is the diff they run in the solstice and Solstice GXP. There are guys out there with over 600 hp on it and its holding up fine...
Blame the accountants. :biggrin: And unless GM gets $12+ billion before Christmas, the company is toast. Oh, and the Volt is not going to make a profit (if it is ever made). GM loses $1000 on every Astra and $10,000 on every Solstice/Sky. They only know how to make a profit on a Suburban since most of the engineering and stamping was paid for forty years ago.
I believe 2005+ have a stronger rear end that will not break. Maybe 06+ Plus if you get the Anti-Wheel Hop Kit your problems are all but gone. Do some more research fella! Cause you've missed alot of details!
I know they switched differentials. The 06 diff is the new warranty replacement and there are still people breaking them. I've seen the anti hop kits, and they're certainly an option. If there are details I've missed please feel free to let me know, but I've seen both of the things you've mentioned.
Well, everything I've read said that the new diffs on the 06+ were strong and solved the problem. Never heard they weren't strong enough. I also heard that GM replaces the old blown ones with a new rear that is stronger or the imporved rear used on the 06+. ah wells, just what I've read
