School me Oppo: Hive mind assemble

"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner) 08/21/2018 at 15:53 • Filed to: OPPO HIVE MIND, Cadillac

0

27

I’m looking at the CTS for Mrs. Future next gen S2000 owner’s next dd. School me a bit on the 2.0 in the Caddy. Known issues? Things to look out for. This will be a current gen, 2014+. Trying to stay RWD. I want to avoid the AWD option. Probably won’t get the 3.6 due to it being a higher price point. Pl us the mileage is better in the 2.0, it’s turboed which helps at altitude, and the missus has a lead foot. 

Something like this;

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 16:02

1

Have you considered looking at the new Kia Stinger? If I were in the market for a CTS, I’d definitely want to at least have a look at a Stinger because RWD. The base model has lots of features and a four-banger rated at 205 HP. The GT model is crazy.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 16:02

1

It’s a good car overall except for CUE. 2016 versions should be much better than the ones from a few years back, hopefully. I have not read good things about the reliability of the 2.0T vs the 3.6 but that could be specific to the ATS, not sure. Suggest reading comments related to this topic here:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/cadillac-ats-cimarron-2-0-1828297837

Also, looking at Fueleconomy.gov

I think the 2.0T requires premium while the 3.6 runs on regular , so consider that as well.

itschrome > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 16:02

1

2.0 is a pretty good little engine, but dont get a CTS with it.... get the ATS where it belongs.. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/21/2018 at 16:10

0

I don’t think I can get into a Stinger for our budget. I’ll take a look though.

Future next gen S2000 owner > itschrome 08/21/2018 at 16:13

1

Me thinks the ATS is a bit too small for the family. Rear facing car seats would be tight and a double stroller won’t fit in the trunk.

It might not fit in the trunk of the CTS, it’s going to be close. Turns out  the current DD, a 9-3, is larger on the inside than the outside. Fits two rear facing seats without moving the driver seat and fits a double stroller in the trunk.

Future next gen S2000 owner > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 08/21/2018 at 16:18

0

I’ve read that. It is more speculation on placement of the ATS/CTS in the luxury market vs reliability, which is what I’m looking for. I believe the 2.0 does require premium but I haven’t found a 3.6 in my price range. The price difference in the used market is a couple grand, and that is a lot of miles. The current DD gets  premium so that isn’t much of a consideration.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 08/21/2018 at 16:18

1

Also note that with his lady having a lead foot, the turbo will likely take a far larger hit to mileage than the NA engine.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 16:23

0

Note your lady having a lead foot + Turbo is going to hurt mileage far more than lead foot + NA engine.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 16:28

0

Let me know what you think. I’ll rent one of the bast model cars sometime if I can and wring it out real good.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 16:29

0

For around $25K consider something like a 2015 F30 3 series - 320i or 328i, it’s pretty big actually, better MPG than the CTS 2.0T . And the N20 has been failry reliable, at least from what I read on the forums. it’s no Honda motor though.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 16:30

1

But definitely not a Beamer...

Future next gen S2000 owner > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 08/21/2018 at 16:33

1

Truth. Turbo’s are better at altitude over NA though.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/21/2018 at 16:38

0

Depending on how long the search takes, they might work. Seems like they are between 25 and 30. Give it 6 months and they will start breaking 25.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 17:15

1

True. Likely be a wash in the end.

nermal > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 17:27

1

The biggest problem with these is ridding the interior of Old People Smell.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 17:52

1

For the normal response:

They’re fine, they won’t give you any more or less trouble than anything else in the market that doesn’t wear a Lexus badge. With the CTS being the lightest car in its class, the 2.0 should be more than enough pep for your step. CUE can be an issue, given some time to get used to it you should find it less of one down the road, similar to early iDrive.

Now for the former Cadillac-owner’s response:

F*cking buy it, you won’t regret a single second of it. It would be better if it wore a VSport badge but beggars can’t be choosy.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 17:52

1

You rang?

Hi. RootWyrm. Resident LTG expert+. (You get the plus when you destroy a shortblock.)

First of all, the 2.0 LTG? ABSOLUTELY MUST ALWAYS BE FED 91 OCTANE OR ABOVE. PERIOD. It’s a 2.0 liter turbo that makes 22psi stock . I don’t give a shit what GM says. 87 will cause massive timing backoff, knock, and without boost it is just fucking nightmarish.

Secondly, it’s not an LHU or LEA. This means it is problem free generally . You are going to have TWO problems with an LTG commonly. Item one, a loose exhaust stud causes a P2097 on some cars. It just wasn’t torqued right at the factory. Not very likely you’ll run into this.
Item two: top end carbon fouling/coking. This is going to happen. If it’s been fed shitty gas, it will happen no later than 35k miles. If it’s been fed good gas, it will happen around 35-40k miles. This is due to being SIDI. Top of the valves get no fuel wash. Fix is a proper top end cleaning. NOT run through the injectors. SIDI means running it through injectors, zero solvent hits the valves, zero effect. So it’s not a cheap top end cleaning, but it’s not a frequent or terribly expensive one either.

Other than that, the LTG is a really solid engine. You really, truly have to turn things up to 11 and combine that with some bad luck to do any damage. Seriously. The only reason I broke a shortblock is because of a casting defect and too much boost. If you’re gonna tune it, there’s some weak points. Untuned? It’s just really mediocre at best on gas. Lead foot driving will drop you into the 10-12MPG city range fast.

The 6L45's a perfectly good transmission, the 8L45 seems to be about as good. I don’t have enough data on it. If I had my choice, I’d say TL-80SN. But that’s only pre-’16 3.6L, and it’s not swappable. I would say keep up with maintenance and it’s fine.

Honestly, don’t do it though. The CTS is too fucking heavy. The ATS has Cue which is the most godawful system ever. I know you’re probably RWD biased, but honestly, if you want something mid-luxury and bulletproof reliable? You can get off-lease Buick Regals with the LTG for stupid cheap. Hell, you can get very low mile GSes under $20k. And we’re talking 7k miles.

That gets you IntelliLink, which sucks MUCH less than Cue-the-Sad-Trombone. Same engine. Same interior quality. But a lso gets you the Aisin AF40 automatic, which is very mature, very solid, very cheap if anything does go wrong.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > itschrome 08/21/2018 at 17:53

0

Keep in mind that the CTS is the lightest car in the segment. 270 bhp is no slouch if the weight isn’t too crazy.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 18:09

2

Good excuse to go and drive one though.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 08/21/2018 at 18:52

0

I regret that I can only give y o u one star. I appreciate the response. My only issue with the Regal is that it is too small. Although it is FWD based so the trunk might be bigger. The GS is AWD, IIRC, so trunk space my be an issue. I’d likely be looking at the LaCrosse. Bigger, nicer Impala.

How do you clean the top end? Is that something you can down with the proper set of tools or do you have to take it in? Can’t I just do some aggressive mountain runs to bake off any carbon buildup? Part of my desire for the CTS, especially in RWD guise is the reviews put it’s ride/ handling at the top of the class in comparison tests. I’m excited about that. CUE and interior...not so much. Nothing is perfect I guess.

Future next gen S2000 owner > nermal 08/21/2018 at 18:52

0

I’ve found covering the oldies in lye helps with that.

Future next gen S2000 owner > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 08/21/2018 at 18:54

0

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Agreed. And the missus would probably like a VSport as well but that is above the budget. I have a feeling that if I can get her in one, she will like it. She might say it is too nice though. She may want something she won’t feel bad about when it gets scuffed. That is the real argument I must surmount.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 19:35

0

Just call me the Tom McParland of GM 4 cylinders. ;)

The Regal seems small, and it is in back for sure, but the trunk is as big as the CTS. Mostly you’re losing rear leg room. If you really need the rear leg room, avoid the LaCrosse. It’s tempting, I know, especially as it’s also extremely cheap. The LaCrosse does not have the LTG. It has the 3.6 LGX, which is... okayish. HOWEVER, that’s only true of 2017 and newer. The 2016 and earlier has the 3.6 L F X, which is awful . Awful awful awful. There is nothing good about the LFX. The LGX is too new to have good data on, but it seems pretty solid .

You do NOT need the GS to get AWD. AWD is a specific option available on all trim levels. So you can get a P1/P2 with AWD, and you can get GS with FWD. (Manual GS, basically always FWD. ) Because of the E2XX platform, you actually lose no trunk space at all for AWD. Trunk space is exactly the same. It’s pretty great in that regard. However, the AWD is not RWD biased, and it’s a viscous s etup prior to the hatchback GS.

Because the LTG is a SIDI that runs at 2,250psi nominal fuel pressure I strongly recommend having the shop do the top end cleaning. Aggressive mountain runs are worthless because you have no fuel wash up top. That’s what causes the problem. The reason mountain runs help is you dump more fuel above the top of the valves. Not true with DI engines.

It also requires the use of powerful solvents which, when used improperly or sloppily, can do serious damage to the intake and electrical. Seafoam for the record, is 100% bullshit. It’s not a solvent. You need a solvent based cleaner. CRC GDI IVD, Valvoline EasyGDI, etc. It’s a once-every-40k thing though (use ONLY Top Tier fuel with detergents of course) and usually $150-225 at the dealer.

The handling on the GS though, is severely underappreciated. The P1/P2 Regal, not so much, and upgrading it? Forget it. Electronic suspension. The GS on the other hand, is just the right balance. It’s no CTS-V, but it’s better than the CTS. Even for the E2XX Regal. 

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 19:56

0

I feel bad about anything getting scuffed, especially a Cadillac. Her and I may not get along if that’s the case haha

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 08/21/2018 at 19:58

0

The CTS is not too heavy to make the 2.0 worth it, and the materials in the Cadillac are better than the Regal, though not by much.

boxrocket > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/21/2018 at 23:21

0

The 2.0 is preferable over the 3.6 if only because having a timing chain job done just once sucks ass. The cts is too damn big (it’s seriously uncomfortably close to the xts, for goodness sake!) and too heavy, which is dumb because the old version was pretty a pretty decent size, and the ats is too narrow while being surprisingly cramped for as long as it is. CUE sucks. Powertrain is only 6yr/70k so if you have to get it (which I don’t recommend) go with CarMax and get the MaxCare offering with the cheapest deductible you can afford. Thankfully MaxCare also covers the infotainment system, which will fail in ways that make you wonder if you bought a Chinese knockoff rather than one of the biggest automakers’ supposedly top products.

Get a Lexus GS F-Sport which while probably slower is at least competent at everything it does, even if the newer ones have the dumb grille . Or a Genesis G80, or its predecessor the Hyundai Genesis, maybe even the 5.0L R-Spec, which will be cheaper than the caddy and save money for more fun stuff later . Or a Jaguar XF, because no one does luxury cars better than the Brits (again, get that MaxCare) . Or an Infiniti M37 (or M45 if you can find it) which is only OK but at least it isn’t hateful. Ze Germans have this segment down pat, but I’d pick the E-class over the comparable BMW or Audi. Or if you HAVE to have gm (y tho?) get a chevy ss, because anonymous V8.

Future next gen S2000 owner > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 08/22/2018 at 10:08

0

You probably would. She just is afraid of driving something for fear or doing some damage, bumper scuff, what have you. I tell her things can get fixed but she feels awful when it happens. This leads her to not wanting to drive nicer cars.