Cadillac has had some pretty awesome LMP cars and the CTS-V was pretty awesome on track as well. If one was considering a track-day car, something to drive to the track and have fun, how would the CTS fair? Let's say that you had a family relation with a manual CTS with the 3.6 that was in good shape. It seems like I could swap on some V-stuff like bigger wheels and brakes, strip out some weight, and have something that would be a ton of fun. Its a good chassis, yes?
Ask Johnny O'Connell or Andy Pilgrim....I'm a tad biased on this topic ......carry on
I got the chance to run around Gingerman with Johnny last year.
Pretty sure that car was a CT5 but not sure if it was a V or not but holy E36 M3 was it a blast.
Do they all have the "weird" 6 lug wheel bolt pattern? Would that make finding decent wheels harder or at least expensive?
In reply to GPz11 (Forum Supporter) :
What event was that at Gman?
759NRNG said:
In reply to GPz11 (Forum Supporter) :
What event was that at Gman?
It was a Track Rabbit event
The 3.6 was not available with a manual trans in the CTS. You can get the manual with the 2.0T or the early 2.8 so the parts are out there. I am willing to bet that a Camaro trans and some late nights will get you a proper 3.6 with a stick.
IIRC 1st and maybe 2nd gen CTS could get the 3.6 with the manual. They are relatively rare though.
EDIT: Wiki says 5 and 6 speed manuals were available with the 3.6 in 1st and 2nd gen. No manuals in 3rd gen..
NickD
MegaDork
9/30/22 9:50 a.m.
BlueInGreen - Jon said:
Do they all have the "weird" 6 lug wheel bolt pattern? Would that make finding decent wheels harder or at least expensive?
The 6-bolt wheels were only on the first-gen CTS-Vs. All subsequent CTS-Vs and all generations of base CTSs had 5-bolt wheels.
i was at Gingerman once and met a guy with a champ car built out of a first gen CTS car.
The car was quick but he said the lack of proper suspension/shock options and champ car point limitations meant he could only run stock shocks. The car was still quick and it sounded like he competed against the E46 330i cars.
All of that being said, to me the E46 has a spec class making it likely the easy button for something in that power to weight ratio.
They are kinda heavy but if the price is right... There seem to be plenty of suspension and brake options
The later ATS cars seem like an interesting option as well.
In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :
The BIG negative about the ATS is a stock giant brake package and minimal room in the wheel arch requiring ridiculously large wheels and tiny tires.
It's an '05 and from the pics it looks like a manual and a 3.6, but it's hard to tell. 6 lug wheels as well.
The 5th Gen Camaro shares that chassis as well. 1LE parts will fit .
QuasiMofo (John Brown) said:
In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :
The BIG negative about the ATS is a stock giant brake package and minimal room in the wheel arch requiring ridiculously large wheels and tiny tires.
Huh?
seems like they run 18" wheels with 255 and 275 stock...
https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/largest-tire-i-can-fit-in-the-rear-on-the-stock-wheels.958106/
Buy the V its a blast to drive.
Six lug wheels on a V6 CTS? Are you sure?
See!? Now it's 745am on a Saturday and you've inspired me to be searching Autotrader for a manual trans CTS...
In reply to racerfink :
I believe base models are 5 lug. I met a guy who drifted a CTS-V and he converted to the base 5 lug hubs so he could have more wheel availability.
my 2010V(2ndgen) has 5 lugs as does the 2009.....1stgen has six
84FSP
UberDork
10/2/22 11:50 a.m.
BlueInGreen - Jon said:
Do they all have the "weird" 6 lug wheel bolt pattern? Would that make finding decent wheels harder or at least expensive?
Only the V have the funky 6x115 wheels. You can have BBWheel.com drill whatever they sell you. You can also use the team dynamics that come in that size and are pretty light/wide.
There is enough involved to make it a V to just buy a 5-7k beater V and sort it out. My non-beater 475whl hp 06 V will be up for sale momentarily for a GRM price of 16k with spares that have snows.
It's a CTS-V but Vorshlag has one in the shop.
Looks like you can see 1718 photos here.