So I finally found my gen 1 CTS V

A number of my attempted car purchases have fallen thru over the last year in my quest for the next fast daily driver. Thankfully the drought has ended.

I stumbled upon an 06 CTS V with 67k miles on a dealer lot in Delaware OH that looked really clean and had a good carfax. The minor rub is that they wanted too much money for it and had it up for 14k. As I sat on my computer getting some work done I was just finishing mentally talking myself out of calling the dealer. At the same time CooperTired pinged me on instant messanger and we got to chatting on the Car we both had just found in our searches.

As I was typing to him that I was gonna try to call on it later he started firing back with good details on the car that weren't in the ad. Apparently he had found the Chat Now function where the Internet Sales Mgr started sharing that the dealership needed to move the car and they didn't like selling heavily modified cars. Ears perked and now a call was placed. I was playing dumb trying to understand more on the car and see how badly they wanted it gone. The conversation was entertaining with the poor gentlemem trying to explain what a camshaft was and that it had a custom one... The conversation ended with him telling me how great of a car it would be if I put 3-4k in it to which I replied that he should just take the 4k off his price and I would come get it. He of course needed to talk with his Mgr and would get back to me.

A few hours later I texted him impatiently and got a reply saying they would take the 10.5k and would I still show up today?

I hit the bank and jumped in the truck for the drive north to Delaware. I had sent a few buddies messages on the car and at that time they started coming back with some fun history on the car. Apparently it had sold for some hilarious sum 2 years vmback from the Toy Barn in Columbus. Apparently numbers like 15k in custom engine and a 542wheel hp dyno figure were thrown around.

I picked up a buddy Sam in Columbus and we arrived at the dealership. As the dealer promised the car was squeaky clean. As the internet promised it was really rowdy. After a death defying test drive involving a very annoyed State Trooper the deal was struck and we were on our way back to my buddies shop to see what I had bought.

The drive back was only about 45minutes but in that time I started to figure out the list of issues it would need solved while realizing it would need to be treated with more respect than usual.

To resolve so far -drivers power door actuator -oil level sensor -front rotors and pads -plugs, coils, or both -a tune as it is running pig rich -rear seat will need replaced as the leather is beat

I'm sure there will be more to come as I'm gonna use my buddies shop in Lancaster to plsy before running it back to Cincy.

Build sheet ala interwebz

You have got to be kidding me! A very good friend of mine test drove that car when they were asking $19k. At $10.5k that's a serious steal. All he knew about was the open exhaust, not the camshaft etc. wow. Great buy man. Can't wait to read about your exploits with it.

We're going to want to follow along with this one, and of course, more pics.

See what being patient gets you?

See what being patient gets you?

Congrats, sounds like a sweet car!

woohoo! sounds like fun.

So glad you nabbed this one!

Congrats and I can't wait to see it in person.

And I hope you now know how a camshaft works !

Finally, a happy ending!!!! Glad you got it. Pics and build/repair thread, NOW!

Damn! That sounds like a screaming deal. Looking forward to the build thread!

I got sucked in to your OP and got literally excited for you as if it were me getting that deal, good work!

Appreciate all the kind comments as I have been dying slowly each day commuting in the envoy....

Uploaded with some pics and the build sheet on the motor. Glad I have given my license time to have no points....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3bd7lRpJ9U

In reply to lnlogauge:

Embed you heathens!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3bd7lRpJ9U

This should be good. Thats a steal.

I think you win. $15k motor in 2012, and you pick it up wrapped in a super clean CTS-V for only $10.5k. Amazing deal.

So happy for you!

Does it have an upgraded diff?

thatsnowinnebago wrote: Does it have an upgraded diff?

I think he said it does, but I don't recall which one specifically.

The dealer said it had a clutch and flywheel as well.

In reply to Cooper_Tired:

That's awesome! I was hoping you wouldn't have to drop the ~$5k right off the bat for one. Heck, even if you did, $15k is still an OK deal for a CTS-V in that shape.

Ok so when are you posting the HUGE smoky burnout?

It must be my computer speakers but that video with the exhaust sounded horrible.

Oooh, Santa came early! Congrats, great buy!

Edit because I can't read good. Need to go to that Zoolander academy.

So sitting here waiting to pickup Chinese for dinner after an uneventful drive home. Found a bunch of things that I sorted before leaving for the drive home.

• Fresh brakelight as I assume I won't need to create any excuses for the police to find me special in this beast.
• Dead accessory belt wedged behind the various pulleys creating some issues. Tried to get the new tensioner and belt to be put in today but the Advance man only brought a belt so will order tonight.

• Lower radiator hose hanging on by a thread

• Brakelines mal-adjusted and rubbing the inner wheel in front.

• front caliper dragging but not much to be done on short notice. I was psyched to ebay a brand new brembo from the bay for 159 delivered so have that enroute.

-Picked up fresh plugs but ran out of time to install today. - Tried to install/repair an oil level and temp sendor to find more curiosity as there is now bung to be found where there shoould be on an LS2 pan. Is it dry sump or just the nasty 9qt pan? Curiouser and curiouser....

Think we found the builder of the car which makes me think I might actually learn most of this things story.

More pics to come after I feed takeout to a very toleranant Mrs84FSP as today is our 13th anniversary! Such a keeper to back a car escapade over our special day....

El Rabbito met his new buddy tonight.

In reply to Will:

I am looking forward to some tire smoke fun but not until I have a better grasp of the health and wellness of the beast. Supposedly the rear end has hi-po bushings, is built, and braced.

I will believe it when I see it though. Unortunately the expensive catless high flow headers it was supposed to have are no longer present and accounted for...

So have a bunch of items on order and a few of the critical bits on hand like plugs, AC belt, and AC tensioner setup.

While I wait on the front drivers new brembo caliper to arrive I started hunting rotors and pads. The selection of rotors and pads available for this car is quite odd.

The stock pads were a nice Ferrodo which is great for most use but really dusty. Unsure on who made the oem rotors. I

Ideally I would get something a tick better than oem with low dust and good street behavior. Examples could be Hawk HP or Mintex Redbox but was also looking at the Stoptech options on Rockauto.

Rotor choices are odd as well with lots of no name Chinese stuff and then some others that look like they have potential. I would prefer either solid Brembo's or something slotted that is good quality but affordable. I know nothing about the Centrics but they could be an option. Not feeling the drilled and slotted boy racer Stoptech options

Anyone have any advice or input on what they are using on their V?