A 2005-07 V6 CTS Is A Great Sports Sedan [If It's The Right One]

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty) 03/07/2014 at 22:00 • Filed to: cadillac, cts, cts v, sleeper, bargain

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Before you click that Oppo logo thinking, "I'm not on here to read about half-assed GM luxury from 2000-whenever even if it does have a manual transmission?" stop! Stop in the name of (insert thing/deity/humanist effort here). I thought the same thing as you—who the hell cares about a V6 first generation CTS? Well, I've come to like them through the power of the wonderful world wide web. And I'll make you like it, too. Now, there's plenty of debate over present-day Cadillac. Essential to understand this 'new Cadillac' is where it started- the 2003 CTS. The place to begin with this RWD, American sleeper is with its purpose. The first-generation Cadillac CTS truly represented a revitalization of the brand—no, it was not as competitive as new Cadillacs attributed with the same feat. It was a little bit awkwardly styled, too. Not to mention the fact that there was only one desirable model: the rare, unreasonable, and expensive CTS-V... right? I would say that is the wrong way to look at the early, teething CTS; both good dynamics and a bevy of good options available on regular trims can prove this. (If after all of this you don't believe me, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! by even a base automatic 3.2.)

(Disclaimer: I don't have $6,500 burning a hole in my pocket, but even if I did I would not pounce for any Cadillac other than a 350 Brougham or 426 '77 De Ville. Maybe a '76 Eldo convertible. Anyways, the car is really a better value for those of us with a limited budget, need for comfort, need for excitement and sedateness, and most of all... offspring or anther need for space. For the record, I have never driven a CTS of any kind. The auto 'box is apparently also good, but shifts gears for you.)

With the CTS, Cadillac aimed straight for the small-to-midsize luxury sedans coming out of Germany from the likes of Mercedes, Audi, and BMW. They tried to kill three birds with one stone (or, more accurately speaking, slightly inconvenience the aforementioned birds). It was the first RWD Caddillac in a long while and first to offer a Manual transmission on what could be called a real Cadillac. However, this real Cadillac had a decent-to-good suspension (dependent on whether certain option packages were included) and competent brakes paired to a correctly-sized and nicely-shaped body weighing less than 3,500 pounds with an interior that had evolved from the 80s. For your typical sport/luxury sedan buyer, they attempted to have a good few boxes ticked. Sport package? Yep. Better-than-average interior space and satisfactory safety ratings? That gets an assured yes from responsible family man Joe! Availability of more powerful drivetrain options pleased your typical retired Corvette-owner (who always makes sure to buy American) as well as that guy who acts interested in cars and picks up Motor Trend every once in a while while at the gym. Stiffer chassis construction and more direct steering would also make magazine editors a bit more enthusiastic and leave fans of the FWD luxo-barges in the elderly demographic. It would seem that GM was doing it right with this one. Even the styling was more modern, interesting, and aggressive! Best of all, the real reason for me writing this post was the value of this car—the ultimate non-ultimate version can now be had for $7,500 in great condition (and sometimes for as little a $6,000 in decent condition and/or shadier dealings), making it a downright bargain for what it is.

As usual, though, Cadillac did not get their dues for long. The typical Cadillac buyer lived up to the stereotype even more back then, and did not need to have a little more fun in the corners. The target demographic of the Germans was also stereotypical, and needed "German engineering" on top of the other usual "German this" and "German that." So, as with many competent Cadillacs now, they went unnoticed by those who can appreciate a good sports/luxury sedan. Which brings us to now. A 2007 A6 2.7T will still run you a good bit of money for a low miles, nicely kept example. A 330i will cost a good deal more as well, and the same goes for the typical W211 E350. Maintenance is the real killer on Ze Germans, though—the disparity in pricing with American competitors is not extremely great, but seems quite sufficient when potential mounting repair costs are accounted for. These cars were still more advanced than the Caddy—which translates to more advanced repair costs, too! So, the awkward little first-gen V6 CTS slips out of the public's attention. Who needs an under-styled, overly-dated looking sedan if it doesn't have the brand appeal? An anemic 2.6L V6 making sufficient power with coarse and un-sporting delivery and decent gas milage in a 3,500 pound decade-old Cadillac? That's probably what you think when you hear old, V6, and CTS in the same sentence.

Well, that may not be the case. It is not the case. Just because the name Cadillac carries a negative perception, the average consumer would be inclined to instantly jump to the worst case scenario. Best case for $7,500 is a pristine 255-horsepower 6MT luxury car with sports car-like handling characteristic. With a brand like Cadillac, your average used car buyer wants a floaty ride and landyacht dimensions. The average sports sedan buyer is looking for: German. A comparison could easily be made to the slightly more-appreciated Lincoln LS, which is certainly not a bad thing. They are both good cars engineered primarily to change brand image and target a different buyer. Lots of effort and resources were put into the production of these cars, as they had to be that much better to compensate for that much of an image disparity. The problem is, the significance of those "that much" statements are not equal. They could not make up for their images with any car short of a $35,000 comfortable M3 killer for $35,000 in the category. That is an obviously impossible goal. So, we're left with two very good (newish) used sports sedans on the (very) cheap.

The one further down the cheapness scale and arguably higher on Jalop creds with a more powerful engine available mated to a good old 3-pedaled transmission is the CTS 3.6 5MT (with the slick Getrag 5 speed unit used in the E30 and E34 Bimmers) or a choice of Aisin or Tremec 6 speed manuals. Let's talk about the V6 powering this hypothetical Cadillac for the 21st century. It's a simple DOHC 24V 3.6 60° V6 displacing 3.6 liters and putting out 255BHP and 252 lb/ft of torque, and is good enough even for today's Cadillacs (as they have continued to use the mill). If that more-than-sufficient output isn't sufficient, that's easily remedied—mods for the big-displacement V6 are easily good for ~320 horses on the cheap, and much more when they include a supercharger if you want to mimic a V in your V6 CTS (tacky vanity plate idea: V6V). What really brings this car together as a truly respectable sports sedan would not be 350 at the rear wheels, or even a manual transmission out of a 'Vette or Bimmer. The part left unsolved is handling and chassis balance. A CTS still needed to appeal to the general Cadillac buyer to an extent. It can't have the same effect as a book about evolution would on a 70-something year old factory worker from rural Texas listening to Rush Limbaugh and chewing tobacco, swearing it's the only way to live. There has to be something that links it to the brand (no matter how unappealing the brand is to the target demographic). So you tone down the competitiveness in the handling department—saves cost, saves disheartening the brand's base. It is fairly easy to guess what is still the most important thing to 2003 GM, taking precedence to all else: COST .

As a result of this dreadful corporate oversight, you should attend to what has been neglected (handling), and opt for the sport (or sport luxury) package. That's if you're actually in the know on how to get German sport luxury performance and characteristics at German hot hatch prices, which most people weren't. So, don't think it will be easy to find a CTS so equipped—like any car on the used market, it's all about the luck of the search. Don't worry if you don't find a manual 3.6 Sport, though; by saving so much money through your initial purchase, you've freed up more than enough money to install nice Eibachs and Bilsteins, get some strut braces, install better brake components, and more (based, obviously, on what your budget allowed over the initial purchase of the car). By that reasoning, you have a car that's fun on track days or in spirited weekend driving and feels nice as a daily driver during those chaotic log hauls to work or elsewhere. There's only one missing element of this article: styling. Well, the CTS-V looks pretty damned good; it's like a modern 500E, a take on "the wolf in sheep's clothing." Well, you have one wolf of a CTS with the V, but it's not dressed well enough to really be in sheep's clothing. I would personally keep the look as ordinary as possible to have a cheaper and better sleeper, but you may care more about how your car looks. All of the subtle styling cues that say "undercover performance bulging out of an ordinary sedan" are just not there. Never fear, because wheels and flares and such can be sourced from the V to complete your CTS, so the fix for such a problem is definitely another easy one. CTS-V all of the things (sorry)! You saved money, so now blow it all on CTS-V cosmetic enhancements. V the grille! V the fenders! V the ground effects! V the fenders! V the lights! Perhaps most of all, V the wheels! If you are miraculously still at this post that I quickly wrote in a state of exhaustion and boredom, I have the sad admission that there's not much more to say about the topic of that article. So, that's the end of my most futile, lengthy, incoherent, post of all time. Thanks for reading.

You should be proud, little first generation CTS. They didn't need to make you so angry! Look at what your offspring have gone on to become.

Also, sorry to everyone whose nice comments were Kinjanated.

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/07/2014 at 22:07

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Awesome post! I now appreciate this car more.

This needs to be FPd tomorrow morning for sure. Great Sat morning reading material.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manuél Ferrari 03/07/2014 at 22:50

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Thanks a lot, man! It turned out okay considering I quickly wrote it late one night both bored and exhausted. I have a pretty strange mind, because my attention span finally comes around for once- for what? A middling American sedan I may have quickly glanced at as a kid in some Motor Trend article about the revitalization of Cadillac. Well, they are still writing those articles! It would be amazing to see this on the FP but you're being far too kind! Maybe I can think of a more noteworthy subject next time and fend off laziness long enough to keep it from turning into a Friday Evening Question. How is/did the M3 sale go, by the way?

GeorgeyBoy > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/07/2014 at 22:58

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Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/07/2014 at 23:04

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You're welcome!

I really do think it's FP worthy though. This is info not everyone has because most of us having done this kind of research. A 2005-2007 V6 CTS actually seems like a hell of a bargain for someone that wants a nice sports sedan on a budget. And it looks so damn good in black. I would consider one myself now.

The M3 sale is still pending. I've only marketed it on Oppo and there is an Opponaut who wants to buy it as soon as he's able to. He got a new job a couple months ago and all he needs to do is save up the down payment for the loan. If I have to sell it sooner I will market it more. I'm just not in a rush because it's not costing me a lot to keep it until he's ready since it's already 10 years old and doesn't depreciate much every month it gets older. It's really only depreciating based on mileage now and I'm limiting how much I drive it to avoid bringing the value down.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manuél Ferrari 03/08/2014 at 12:56

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I tweeted it to torch just in case, hah. Awesome that you found a fellow Opponaut to buy it! Less hassle and a better chance of it being taken care of. Depreciation really is one of the great things about older cars. Thanks again.

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/08/2014 at 15:43

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You're welcome! I tried sharing it to Oppo just now. You should tweet it to Michael. He seems to run things on weekends. I'd do it but I'm not on twitter.

Tom McParland > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/08/2014 at 16:02

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I tweeted Ballaban this post so hopefully he will FP it

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manuél Ferrari 03/08/2014 at 16:31

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I have no words. You're awesome dude! I'd tweet it, but Automatch took care of that already.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Tom McParland 03/08/2014 at 16:33

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Thank you! That would be pretty cool, I just wish I had something more FP worthy.

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/08/2014 at 19:58

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No thanks are needed, this truly was FP worthy!

It was informative and funny. These cars really seem like a good deal right now!!

M54B30 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/09/2014 at 18:21

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I serviced one once with a manual, I immediately searched CL for one with no luck.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manuél Ferrari 03/09/2014 at 19:10

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They really are pretty damned cheap at $6500. Ballaban hasn't been on Twitter at all, so no luck there. Anyways, I appreciate it.

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/10/2014 at 14:15

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Bummer, a great post didn't get to a wider audience. The first picture alone made it FP worthy! It made me lol pretty hard.

You should submit this car and this post next time there is a post about best used cars under $10K.

I mean seriously, how much can you get for $6500? I really hate econoboxes so they are a no go for me. If I was on a strict budget and needed a sedan with some room and a bit of luxury and sportiness then this would be a definite contender. I used to only consider used bimmers for this scenario but you get a lot more for $6500 with Caddy. Plus as you said the maintenance costs are lower too. If you get the 6MT version then there really isn't much to go wrong. You just pay for regular maintenance and should be good for a long time!

Doctor-G-and-the-wagen > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 03/10/2014 at 21:02

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How does it compare to say, this? Not that I'm not considering a lesser-loved RWD luxury sedan once I get other priorities straightened out or anything *COUGH*

GeorgeyBoy > Doctor-G-and-the-wagen 03/11/2014 at 13:05

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I drive an LS so I may be biased.

The CTS is more reliable and cheaper to repair. I prefer the V8 and the looks of the LS a lot more. I guess it's personal preference but the CTS seems hold it's value better.

NerdyCarNoob > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 06/19/2015 at 23:00

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Wow. This is amazing. I just got a 2005 first gen CTS 3.6L from my very good friend and mentor after he upgraded to a V as his daily driver. I got it at very low-cost from him... It needed some ECU fixes, and other things you’d expect from it, and he just wanted to sell it for the trade-in price he was quoted to give it to someone in need. I personally had my eyes set on a WRX, preferably an ‘05... A mixture of reliable but with project ideas in mind to go along with the sort of lifestyle of my mentor and roommate. The unnavoidable desire to wrench on something and fine-tune. As everyone here knows, finding an ‘05 that hasn’t been beat on by some immature kid looking to offload it for their next victim (like a 240sx or some other car they wish to obliterate with their video-game ricer mentality...) is nearing impossible within a low cost range... And at the time I truly really needed a car. I was not a fanboy, but I knew it was reliable and worth the value he gave it. I got it. And I couldn’t be happier. I don’t know about you but I prefer its angry, leaner, angular design over all of the new generations (aside from the 2011 V... That is marvelous) ... But some of the later models really look like an older persons Cadillac once more.. The front grill, the swept back and thinner front lights that seem to just sit on the front and mark where the bulgier and a little less lean looking side lines begin to sweep down the side of the car... The new gens, after research are all very awesome. They take improvements the V series of MY generation had and make them standard in the base models, with THEIR V series being even more absurd and so on. But they do not have that amazing Art and Science look that I love so dearly with my generation. And my god, for a base model 3.6 V6.... It is amazingly fun to drive. The simple yet comfortable leather seats fit like a glove, the plastic-y and “cheap” and heavily scrutinized interior is honestly just... Simple, and fits what you’d expect a sportier luxury car to be... Not everything has to be overkill and “expensive” looking inside. It helps that for me my interior is all black everything. The seats, the trim, everything. It feels clean. It is fast. Stabbing the gas at a roll gets me a nice engine sound and a satisfying response from the engine. The vehicle has suffered from the norms- The known awful transmission, it was already replaced.... (lucky me) ... Although I can feel its less than smooth but responsive shifts at times... The Awful shoddy GM wiring. I’ve had to grapple with the anti-theft tirgger system. I’ve replaced the ECU after trying to flast the ignition codes on it and other work arounds failed me. It’s fine now.... But my dome lights have a short somewhere. I’ve popped so many fuses for interior lights. It’s my next project. But for 23, buying a fun rear wheel drive mid-luxury car with amenities some modern fun cars still don’t have... For so cheap... I couldn’t be happier. Even if just for the peppy driving, leather seats and awesome Bose audio. If you’re young and want something a littler different from what most of our peers drive, if you can get one without some of the flaws, you can’t do better. It’s a blast and turns heads of those not into the car scene, who only see “Cadillac” ... Older guys in BMWs, successful looking people in new CTS... Trophy wives in similar. It’s hilarious and fun if you carry it right. /tipsy-rant