"upgraded" from a BMW to a GM car
08-16-2013, 12:29 PM
#1
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"upgraded" from a BMW to a GM car
Just bought my first GM car. Used of course! More later, pics after detailing. 
Hint: Similar market segment as the 540i and pimp daddier.
Hint: Similar market segment as the 540i and pimp daddier.
Last edited by JasonC SBB; 08-16-2013 at 01:42 PM.
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08-16-2013, 12:52 PM
#5
I gotta say, after checking out Dwinks 540 sport or whatever it is (same exact as yours, v8, //M equipment, etc) I was pretty impressed with it. Very nice car indeed. But I gotta say, I LOVE me some LSx torque.
I have many gripes about my c5, but every time I give it throttle at like 1500 and it just gets up and goes effortlessly I forget all the negative crap and smile.
I have many gripes about my c5, but every time I give it throttle at like 1500 and it just gets up and goes effortlessly I forget all the negative crap and smile.
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08-16-2013, 01:50 PM
#8
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I am looking forward to pictures and impressions, as well as more details. Such as...
* Three pedals or two?
* What is your normal drive like? i.e. Mostly highway cruising, lots of surface street stop-and-go, fairly light traffic with a few fun spots, etc.
* Approximately mileage?
* General impressions in terms of your feeling for the overall size and weight?
Congrats! In general, I'm a fan of the "Art & Science" Cadillacs.
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08-16-2013, 02:46 PM
#9
My last Caddy was a 1970 Eldo (last year of the first-gen FWD -- before getting completely pimped out in 1971). First year of the 502 with 10:1 400HP and 550ft-lbs. It was actually one heck of a fine car. Felt like it was powered by a gas turbine and would eat the 80s-vintage Camaros/Firebirds/Mustangs for lunch.
It's really great to see Caddy back from the dead.
BTW, I tracked that G8 for 4 hours back in July and had no issues whatsoever. GM drivetrain, suspension and brakes are decent these days.
It's really great to see Caddy back from the dead.
BTW, I tracked that G8 for 4 hours back in July and had no issues whatsoever. GM drivetrain, suspension and brakes are decent these days.
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08-16-2013, 04:58 PM
#10
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* Three pedals or two?
3.
* What is your normal drive like? i.e. Mostly highway cruising, lots of surface street stop-and-go, fairly light traffic with a few fun spots, etc.
Short work commute with no freeways. Other than that, mixed, more city
* Approximately mileage?
89k. MPG - 20.5 as per computer on freeway at 78 mph cruise, 15 mpg mixed, not verified with fillups yet.
* General impressions in terms of your feeling for the overall size and weight?
Comparing to the 540i.
Very nimble for the size. Better turn-in, and handling. Steering, brake and gas pedal feel than 540i (with Mtech suspension). 540i has recirculating ball steering.
Stiffer suspension (FG2(?) package which is stiffer). BMW soaks up large bumps better, and feels like it has more travel, tho its high speed shock damping is stiff on say speed bumps, more so than my miata FCM coilovers.
Much easier to rev match, no stupid throttle DBW lag. 540i no LSD, CTS-V has an outstanding clutch-type LSD.
540i clutch less feel, tends to slide, CTSV clutch grabbier, but harder to shift smoothly at low speed.
Very easy to dorifto, easier than the miata. Puts power down out of corners far better than 540i.
Stability control way less paranoid. Lets you drift for a bit before cutting power, and for a much shorter period.
Shitloads of power (400 vs BMW 290, 6.0L vs BMW 4.4L).
Dash and buttons not as luxe. Sharp impacts less muted, and it's like stuff in the cabin resonates for longer (not the chassis).
540i came with a sloppy shifter, replacing shifter with one from a 535i, and its bushings, made it beautiful. Caddie came with UUC short shifter, which isn't very short, and feels like it too has dead bushings. Working on it.
CTS-V came with poly engine and tranny mounts which transmit vibes esp at idle. I'll be replacing them with factory.
It also came with a stupid Corsa exhaust which I will replace with factory.
Other than that if I put it in neutral, freeway wind noise and road noise seems comparable to 540i.
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08-16-2013, 11:17 PM
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I cross shopped a 335i ... they're ~$16-17k for a 2007 @ 75k miles. I went to an auction with a buddy, and saw 2 year old, 20 lease returns go for ~$26k. I decided $9k depreciation over 4 years and 50k miles wasn't for me, and that at $15k this Caddie isn't gonna depreciate as much as a 335i.
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08-17-2013, 12:34 AM
#14
I cross shopped a 335i ... they're ~$16-17k for a 2007 @ 75k miles. I went to an auction with a buddy, and saw 2 year old, 20 lease returns go for ~$26k. I decided $9k depreciation over 4 years and 50k miles wasn't for me, and that at $15k this Caddie isn't gonna depreciate as much as a 335i.
Congrats on the purchase.
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08-17-2013, 02:37 AM
#16
I bought my G8 in early 2010 for $25K. It was a GM executive car.
3.5 years later, similar G8s are still going in the $20s.
It's unreal. Only way I can explain it is that it's already somewhat of a collector car (only imported for 2 years, last of the Pontiac's, similar car -- Chevy SS goes for MUCH more, etc.).
3.5 years later, similar G8s are still going in the $20s.
It's unreal. Only way I can explain it is that it's already somewhat of a collector car (only imported for 2 years, last of the Pontiac's, similar car -- Chevy SS goes for MUCH more, etc.).
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10-07-2013, 01:31 AM
#18
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I still can't believe this just happened. It feels surreal. My buddy and I traded. I now have his 2006 750i. After a quick test drive and a handshake we drove each other's cars home.
The slightly less short version: Caddy had an engine vibration. I had its bad flywheel and crank pulley balancer replaced, and it still vibrated. Mechanic said it probably had poor balance from the factory, or maybe the cold piston slapping sound means there's a piston skirt on the bottom of the oil pan. I didn't want to drive it that way nor pay big bux to rebuild the motor. I was picking it up from the shop and discussing dumping it while paying for the work. My buddy Mike who was there had earlier told our mechanic buddy that *he* doesn't mind the vibration and that it's such a beautiful kickass car he'd even trade his 750i for it. Somehow mechanic gets Mike to keep his word and we shook on it, and I drove his 750i home. Just like that.
Impressions on the 750i:
- the luxe is unreal. The only thing missing is some whiskey, a cigar, and a *******
- iDrive is obtuse... I'm stuck listening to bad FM sound
- 360 hp is pretty good for a car this heavy
- I keep squirting the windshield whenever I want to shift into 'D' (the wiper control stalk is just below the tranny selector stalk)
- the active anti roll bars work great - very little body roll despite relatively soft suspension - all cars should have them
- the auto tranny is excellent despite the slushbox
- it refuses to let you hang the tail out and burn rubber - I don't know how to make iDrive turn the traction control off
- the rear deck is a mile high and the rear trunk a mile long. Backing up you absolutely have to rely on the rear "you're about to hit the car behind you" sensors
- it has a ton of buttons and levers and features half of which I haven't figured out yet
- I just had the car detailed but forgot to take pics
So now I'm a former LS2 owner and serial BMW *****.
The slightly less short version: Caddy had an engine vibration. I had its bad flywheel and crank pulley balancer replaced, and it still vibrated. Mechanic said it probably had poor balance from the factory, or maybe the cold piston slapping sound means there's a piston skirt on the bottom of the oil pan. I didn't want to drive it that way nor pay big bux to rebuild the motor. I was picking it up from the shop and discussing dumping it while paying for the work. My buddy Mike who was there had earlier told our mechanic buddy that *he* doesn't mind the vibration and that it's such a beautiful kickass car he'd even trade his 750i for it. Somehow mechanic gets Mike to keep his word and we shook on it, and I drove his 750i home. Just like that.
Impressions on the 750i:
- the luxe is unreal. The only thing missing is some whiskey, a cigar, and a *******
- iDrive is obtuse... I'm stuck listening to bad FM sound
- 360 hp is pretty good for a car this heavy
- I keep squirting the windshield whenever I want to shift into 'D' (the wiper control stalk is just below the tranny selector stalk)
- the active anti roll bars work great - very little body roll despite relatively soft suspension - all cars should have them
- the auto tranny is excellent despite the slushbox
- it refuses to let you hang the tail out and burn rubber - I don't know how to make iDrive turn the traction control off
- the rear deck is a mile high and the rear trunk a mile long. Backing up you absolutely have to rely on the rear "you're about to hit the car behind you" sensors
- it has a ton of buttons and levers and features half of which I haven't figured out yet
- I just had the car detailed but forgot to take pics
So now I'm a former LS2 owner and serial BMW *****.
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