This is my first post. I've been a lurker since I got my 2001 S55 3 years ago.
Anyway, I was my local Caddy dealer for my Escalade service. On my way out, a CTS-V on the lot caught my attention. To make the long story short, I ended up test driving the car. It was nice to drive a stick shift in a sedan again. I can't remember the last time I did that.
My problem is I'm torn between the E55 and the CTS-V. The E55 is faster and much more refined. At almost half price of the E55, the CTS-V is a hell of a bargain. I also thought I could drop $10k on the CTS-V and make it as fast or even faster than the E55. Of course I realize I'm comparing apples and oranges. To make matters worse, the E55 I've been waiting for the last 6 months is at the port. I'm just waiting for my dealer to call me and tell me to pick up my E55.
That's somewhat ironic... a couple years ago, I drove a C43 and really wanted to get a CTS-V. I tried putting a deposit down at the Caddy dealer (something I am used to for Mercedes) and the dealership had no idea what to do. While, I still wanted one and wanted one and waited... but before the CTS-V came out, I was able to get a W211 E55.
So Cadillac blew it in trying to sell me a CTS-V. If it had come out a year ago like originally planned... I might have been driving that.
But as I recall reading in a review... "the CTS-V is around $30K less than the E55... but it's no E55"
I can't get over the styling of the CTS, the dash is terrible and the stealth bomber look only works on the Escalade and New convertible, forgot the name.
I guess you could make it faster than the E55 but it won't be as refined or as good looking. Just my opinion.
Agreed, the little caddy does have reasonable horsepower and a bit of fun-factor in its driveability. But, give me a break. Ohhh, great new idea, let's take yet another mediocre GM designed car and shove some archaic configuration of the push rod V-8 into her. While we are at it, let's let Mercedes once again come up with a brilliant package, and then we can do our best to produce a poor, johnny-come-lately replica, less any Benz quality technology! ( Just look at the pseudo-corvette caddy ragtop trying to be an SL!! Puhlease!!) I don't mind the Escalade, but even that is just a truck with a piston slapping 6.0 litre in it plus a few luxury bolt-ons. The traction system is half the quality and speed of an ML, the thing is slow for the horsepower, and the quality rating is atrocious! Forgive my prejudice, but I own a repair centre, and it makes me weep everytime I have to fix a Cadillac. I think maybe the new ones are getting better, but why take the chance? We know Benz is awesome, and at the end of your time with it, the resale value will more than compensate for the upfront price. And you get all of this with full warranty, something that is not gonna happen when you mod that caddy! Anyway, I am sure that you know all this from your S55( compare that to a big Caddy!!), and even more so from your upcoming E55, but I just felt like giving my two bits. Good driving!!
Let's be fair here. MB has had its fair share of quality issues. I had an ML320 that blew an exhaust gasket with less than 30K. My E55's brakes squeeked and the radio would cut out. GM, and the other American companies have done a decent job of improving things. That said, I couldn't agree more on the "dressed" up chevy coment. I have a GMC Denali, a $50K SUV, and 10K miles in I should have bought another ML or at least "real" luxury brand. So far the issues that I've had with my Denali at the dealership have me feeling like I bought a Cavalier and not a $50K rig.
Oh yeah, the dash on the Cadi CTS-V is unbelievably bad.
Reliability is actually why I'm even looking at the CTS-V. My S55 is a slice short of being a lemon. It consistently went in for warranty repairs for ABC malfunction, engine stalls and COMAND malfunctions. In contrast, my modified (SC, Brembo) Escalade never went for any warranty repairs. Oh, don't even get me started on the ML. I think you are comparing the MB of old and the Caddy of yesteryears. It is different now. MB is actually near the bottom of JD Powers initial quality survey. Plus, MB dealers treats you as a number. Believe me, 4 years ago, I would not even consider any Cadillac. Of course, all of that changed with my Escalade experience.
Nevertheless, like many had pointed out, if I spend $30k on the CTS-V, it'll be a fast CTS-V, but it will still be just a Caddy. The CTS-V's interior looks cheap and plasticky. This was the exact same reason I sold my Z06 after one year. As much as I loved my Z06, I just could not stand the cheapness of the interior. On the other hand, I love the E55 as it is. However, every time I think that I would have to deal with D-C again, it makes me cringe.
What I want to avoid is buyer's remorse. If I buy the Caddy, I know I would regret not buying the E55. Furthermore, everytime I go out to drive the CTS-V, I have to look at that cheap interior. OTOH, if I ended up taking delivery of my E55, there this notion looming over me that one of the electrical gizmos will malfunction. I don't want to have to think of that.
As for resale, the best I got for trade in on my S55 is $55k for a prestine, no accident, 22k mile car. That is 50% in 3 years. That is not exactly a high resale. Check out the resale on the MLs, it's even worse.
Bottom line, I was so excite when my car arrived on port last Saturday. I had no intention of even looking at the CTS-V, until I accidentally saw it at the dealer today. Now, I'm having second thoughts. If it was not for my previous S55 experience, E55 is a no brainer.
sorry to hear about your S55. I was drooling over this model M-B, even though it is heavier & slower than my current AMG. It is (IMHO) the best looking sedan on the planet. The new S is a little too "Bangle" for my taste. You got in trade just $3K more than I paid for my E55. Oh well.
As for the caddy, I was also looking at that option a while back. I had a Z06 for over two and a half years & loved it. Since the interior was black (including the headliner) I didn't even notice the insides. But the LS6 engine and the M12 6-speed were just fantastic, so the idea of a 4-door with the same set-up sounded good. I just didn't like the body style, especially the small wheel well openings against the vast expanse of flat sheet metal. It has the look of a giant toy car.
Now that I think about it, I think I'll wait for a 2003-2004 S55K to come off lease and go to Starmark™... yeah, that's the ticket...
it all depend on what your going to do with the car.
I mean i would not cosider the CTSV if i has S55, but then again i porbably would not be looking at cars at all if i had one of those.
If your going to use it as a play toy then i dont see anything wrong with the catty, you are correct as in putting parts on it, im sure there will be blowers, nos, etc etc...
However if i was in your position and had S55 at the present time and can swing a 80-90K E55, i would just trade the S55 in a s new S55 with the blower or a S65 when they come out.
No matter how well Gm makes the caddies they will always be GM products. Its almost like the caddies is in its own world. Dont get me wrong GM is making good cars, we have 03 tahoe, 04 suburban, 04 1 ton truck.... Just seem like everyone you talk to has problems out the caddie cars.
I do think it would be fun, 373 gear, header, blower, go pick on some vettes and cobras...
The Escalade is a Tahoe with a different interior that GM is flogging off to people for 60 grand. The E55 is the best choice, if you dont want the image that goes with the Caddy. Its sort of like a not-quite-a-Benz car. The old Caddies were actually nice, but now the name means nothing except stone age GM+luxo interior.
However if i was in your position and had S55 at the present time and can swing a 80-90K E55, i would just trade the S55 in a s new S55 with the blower or a S65 when they come out.
No matter how well Gm makes the caddies they will always be GM products. Its almost like the caddies is in its own world. Dont get me wrong GM is making good cars, we have 03 tahoe, 04 suburban, 04 1 ton truck.... Just seem like everyone you talk to has problems out the caddie cars. QUOTE]
That is the one of the reasons I have not bought the CTS-V as of yet, like you said, "No matter how well Gm makes the caddies they will always be GM products." It will never have the panache of an MB.
As for another S Class, again with my miserable experience with my S55's ABC system, I don't think I would be buying another S Class with that suspension. Unfortunately, all S and CL Class AMG models are equipped with such suspension.
I'm still waiting for my MB dealer to call. As soon as he calls, I will zoom to the dealership and check out the car. I'd say, 90% I'm going to take the E55 home. Man, if it were not for me test driving the CTS-V, I would not have this quandary. Ironically, I have not test driven any of the last 10 cars I bought. I don't know what got into me and took the CTS-V for a test drive.
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