Hooray I finally pulled the trigger!

[DarkThinker]

Today I finally made up my mind. Definitely not the cheapest thing I could have gone with, but I have been wanting a decent RWD sedan for years. After a full month of research and shameless low balling, I finally got a decent deal on this low mileage (24K) just off-lease, nearly full option and still under warranty (for a year and three months) 07 CTS.

I hope to keep this car for years and years to come, my last commuter stayed 6 years with me before it met it's maker after a guy crashed into me

I have filed this as the first entry in my "because you never reward yourself" folder just to stop myself from thinking about the good money I spent today compared to anything else I have spent money on in my entire life




















I just love this car. It took me a full month to find one at the right price and features.

Just the way I like it 3.6L, Black on Black, side airbags, premium seats (memory+heat), sun roof, premium sound ...etc.

Not to be complaining, but I really wanted to get a 6-spd manual but the manual ones are just RARE to find with the right config. It doesn't have the NAV but I am considering getting one installed, those things are pricey though ($700 on average) so I might be looking at an aftermarket double din solution soon.

 

[amdhunter]

Nice. Now go get some 30% tint and some black rims for it, but not too big.
Those are some sexy ass sedans.

 

[DarkThinker]

Nice. Now go get some 30% tint and some black rims for it, but not too big.
Those are some sexy ass sedans.

Not sure about black rims at the moment but tint absolutely.

Matter of fact, long ago I spotted this pic online of a black CTS and I would really really like to swap the current grille for a black honeycomb one like the one below

 

[EightySix Four]

Good aftermarket double din navs will run you more than $700 as well.

 

[amdhunter]

Good aftermarket double din navs will run you more than $700 as well.

But well worth it in a lot of situations.

 

[amdhunter]

Not sure about black rims at the moment but tint absolutely.

Matter of fact, long ago I spotted this pic online of a black CTS and I would really really like to swap the current grille for a black honeycomb one like the one below

<3 Honeycomb grills. http://amdhunter.net/front.jpg :awe:

 

[Arkaign]

Nice! That's a really solid car, one of the golden things GM has done of late.

 

[EightySix Four]

But well worth it in a lot of situations.

I completely agree, but he seemed financially motivated, not feature motivated

 

[Vette73]

OP.

I have a 04 myself, but here are some things to check out for yours...

1. The rear Diff seal is under recall. Make sure they did that. The compnay that made the seal for GM cheapend out in 05-07 years and they had to go back and put in the orignal type 03-04 seal.

2. Check out the Caddy forums or eBay for some used CTS-V sway bars. They will make the car handle a good deal more but still ride very smooth in the straight away. I did this to my car and it has been great.

3. Oil filters - go to rockauto as they have Pro-tec filters (made by Wix) for a very good price. I ordered a dozen of them for my CTS and my BiLs STS.

4. Tires. If your car came with 16's (option is 17's) then get the 225/50 size and not the 225/55 size. The 225/50's are much easier to find and cheaper. If you have the 17's then this would not apply.

 

[BassBomb]

OP.
2. Check out the Caddy forums or eBay for some used CTS-V sway bars. They will make the car handle a good deal more but still ride very smooth in the straight away. I did this to my car and it has been great.

#2 sounds alot like what I did with my Accord. I got TL-S sway bars since they fit my Accord but are much stiffer than stock Accord. Best upgrade I've done

 

[Zenmervolt]

Today I finally made up my mind. Definitely not the cheapest thing I could have gone with, but I have been wanting a decent RWD sedan for years.

What you have here is far more than just "decent", it's a damn fine automobile. Enjoy it in good health.

ZV

 

[Throckmorton]

Nice car. Much better than some lame BMW or Mercedes

Not sure about black rims at the moment but tint absolutely.

Matter of fact, long ago I spotted this pic online of a black CTS and I would really really like to swap the current grille for a black honeycomb one like the one below

The stock louvered grill is probably an aerodynamic feature. If you replace it with a mesh or honeycomb grill, I bet you'll hurt your highway gas mileage.

 

[Kilrsat]

Not sure about black rims at the moment but tint absolutely.

Matter of fact, long ago I spotted this pic online of a black CTS and I would really really like to swap the current grille for a black honeycomb one like the one below

I had an '07 CTS before I got my '09 CTS-V, its a very nice car.

The grille there is the stock '04-'07 CTS-V grille, powder coated black.

GM part #15147586

Its a ~15 minute install to swap it out, although by default it is stainless steel/chrome trim so you'd have to get it painted somewhere if you want it black.

 

[StageLeft]

Have fun!

 

[GoatMonkey]

Nice. Definitely get the black grille that's much better. It's begging for some nice wheels too. Just don't go too big, no more than 17 or 18", I'd go with a hypercoated finish. It's great that you have an option of a double din nav system. It seems like most cars have proprietary crap that you can't change now.

 

[IcePickFreak]

Nice, congrats!

I agree with not feeling black wheels on it.

 

[DarkThinker]

<3 Honeycomb grills. http://amdhunter.net/front.jpg :awe:

Man that GLI just looks sweet that yellow color is so fitting of it, too bad those cars aren't RWD

Nice! That's a really solid car, one of the golden things GM has done of late.

Thanks, absolutely agreed. I have to say, I was the type of guy that would never buy a car from an American company after a couple of cars I owned that were totally crap. Plus most American 4 door sedans before the CTS were FWD and or were pretty low quality inside and outside. The Japanese cars were a bit better on the interior but almost all of them were FWD too so those weren't an option either.

But the CTS, what a change in direction that was. When I was a kid, I used to drive my dad's 95 E Class benz. That generation of cars was just outstanding. This CTS, though a bigger car than the W124 Benz back then, reminds me quiet a bit of the good ride and quality that benz was. And I am in LOVE with that 3.6L. It is mean spirited for sure has a great tone to it.

I completely agree, but he seemed financially motivated, not feature motivated

Well, sometimes like in the case of this purchase, if it's worth it to me I'll shell the money. Just as long as I could justify the feature to myself money is not an issue. But I do see plenty of sub $700 options here and there, I will have to look into it more.

OP.

I have a 04 myself, but here are some things to check out for yours...

1. The rear Diff seal is under recall. Make sure they did that. The compnay that made the seal for GM cheapend out in 05-07 years and they had to go back and put in the orignal type 03-04 seal.

2. Check out the Caddy forums or eBay for some used CTS-V sway bars. They will make the car handle a good deal more but still ride very smooth in the straight away. I did this to my car and it has been great.

3. Oil filters - go to rockauto as they have Pro-tec filters (made by Wix) for a very good price. I ordered a dozen of them for my CTS and my BiLs STS.

4. Tires. If your car came with 16's (option is 17's) then get the 225/50 size and not the 225/55 size. The 225/50's are much easier to find and cheaper. If you have the 17's then this would not apply.

Thanks for the useful info! Matter of fact, I am getting the car fully inspected at a Cadillac dealer either Monday or Tuesday and I'll have them check that out.

BTW, how much for labor and parts to replace the sway bar? Where would you recommend I get the CTS-V sway bar from? I see some on Ebay with various price tags as well.

What you have here is far more than just "decent", it's a damn fine automobile. Enjoy it in good health.

ZV

Thanks ZV coming from a guy who knows his cars it just has to be, but how can I say damn fine when I compare this to the E39 M5 you were talking about getting?? Now Sir that M5 is what I would call a damn fine vehicle! But for the money, this CTS won't be breaking records at the Nurbergring but it will make for a damn fine commuter for sure.

Have fun!

Oh you have no idea Sir. Today was the warmest day of the year, all Sun no clouds and you can bet it involved a road trip and a tail slide here and there on a back road

God I missed driving RWD and this was just the fix I was in need for

Nice, congrats!

I agree with not feeling black wheels on it.

Thanks, yep black wheels would take away from the classiness here especially that I work in a professional environment. Now if I were going for a sporty look, matte black or dark gray would have been my preference, but I do not want to look like a racer to the cops should I get pulled over...which tends to happen once every year heh

Nice. Definitely get the black grille that's much better. It's begging for some nice wheels too. Just don't go too big, no more than 17 or 18", I'd go with a hypercoated finish. It's great that you have an option of a double din nav system. It seems like most cars have proprietary crap that you can't change now.

Thanks for the tip! But can you help me with where I can get the proper grill? On Ebay looking for the part number returns $400 price tags for the OEM one. What about non OEM, I see non-OEM ones on Ebay but I am not sure which would be the best to get and paint to look just like that grille in the pic.

 

[BassBomb]

you could probably do a sway bar DIY at least in the rear, front (at least in my case) required subframe to be dropped

i did mine at a shop front and rear for about 50

 

[DarkThinker]

you could probably do a sway bar DIY at least in the rear, front (at least in my case) required subframe to be dropped

i did mine at a shop front and rear for about 50

$50 is not bad at all. Because I really don't have the space, tools, time nor know how for that job. And dropping the subframe isn't the easiest of things to tackle.

However, for the CTS I would like to know where the best place would be to get the parts from so I can get an idea about the price.

 

[DarkThinker]

I also want to replace all the front lights with HID's any suggestions folks?

 

[Vette73]

I got my CTS-V sway bars from someone at the http://www.cadillacforums.com/ But eBay also has some from time to time.

They are pretty easy to put on. I did not need to drop my sub-frame for the front. Just had to slide it in and twist then reattch the supports. Just make sure if you do byt the bars they come with the brackets and bushings.
Took me maybe a hour to replace with hand tools.

 

[AdamK47]

I had an '07 CTS before I got my '09 CTS-V, its a very nice car.

The grille there is the stock '04-'07 CTS-V grille, powder coated black.

GM part #15147586

Its a ~15 minute install to swap it out, although by default it is stainless steel/chrome trim so you'd have to get it painted somewhere if you want it black.

Pics of the 09 CTS-V

 

[DarkThinker]

Pics of the 09 CTS-V

I'll second that, pics or shens

 

[KentState]

Nice car. I really enjoy my '08 CTS as a backup for when weather is too bad for the Vette.

 

[Kilrsat]

Thanks for the tip! But can you help me with where I can get the proper grill? On Ebay looking for the part number returns $400 price tags for the OEM one. What about non OEM, I see non-OEM ones on Ebay but I am not sure which would be the best to get and paint to look just like that grille in the pic.

I got my CTS-V grille from GMPartsDirect.com for $300, but it looks like their price is higher now. The non-OEM ones run the risk of sketchy quality. I know some of them have had rust problems after a while.

The other option would be the CTS Sport Grille, GM Part # 19155364

I'll second that, pics or shens