[wakeboarder109]

Anyone here own or know someone who has owned a first generation CTS-V? I found a what appears to be a good deal on one and wanted some thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Greg

[NYC6]

I dont have any first hand exp but I do own a C6 Corvette and am a member on several Corvette sites where I come across many people who have owned them or still do.
They come with the LS6 engine(C5 Z06) and its a very powerful, reliable plant. Mostly hear good things about them. Good luck.

[wakeboarder109]

Originally Posted by NYC6

I dont have any first hand exp but I do own a C6 Corvette and am a member on several Corvette sites where I come across many people who have owned them or still do.
They come with the LS6 engine(C5 Z06) and its a very powerful, reliable plant. Mostly hear good things about them. Good luck.

Thanks. That what I've gathered from the reviews I've read.

[wakeboarder109]

anyone take one down in a stock 335?

[///M3THOD]

I owned a first gen CTS-V, it was an 05 w/ an LS6. They went to the LS2 in 06/07 models.

I loved that car, very comfortable, spacious and livable.. but a monster when you wanted it to be.

My car had Kooks headers, catless mids, and a Magnaflow exhaust.. as well as a Vengeance Cam. It put down around 410rwhp/tq. So yeah, I probably could have taken down a 335. With just headers/HF cats/ exhaust you would be floating right around 360-370rwhp.

They respond very well to mods. A bolt on eaton style S/C kit, about 4.8k, would give you a 100rwhp with some headers.

Couple of things to look out for, the car was notorious for wheel hop on launch and consequential diff damage. They cheaped out on the diff on the 04/05 models and supposedly improved them for the 06/07 models, but thats debatable. Many, if not most cars had their rear ends replaced and that includes the later models. However, the V being an American car, has very reasonable parts and to swap the whole diff is cheap compared to anything on our cars.. hundreds instead of thousands.

There are mods that improve this, as well as the lowering of unsprung weight by ditching the OEM runflats for lighter tires.

On the LS6 equipped cars the lifters sometimes would wear and need replacing to avoid the "tap, tap, tap, tap" valvetrain noises.

I liked the LS6 motor better because it was a race derived motor, coming out of the C6 Z06, as opposed to being sourced from a truck. Thats my personal opinion, there are those who would disagree. The LS2 had slightly larger displacement and slightly higher numbers though.

[Red Bread]

They're known to have terrible axle hop, and (even I'm sick of hearing this) the interior is awful. Isn't a used E39 M5 about the same price, weight and power?

[b0bab0i]

Watch out for Rear diff problems on first gen CTS-V's

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by wakeboarder109

anyone take one down in a stock 335?

Not likely. It is still made like crap though.

[Precision]

Originally Posted by benmoooon

Watch out for Rear diff problems on first gen CTS-V's

The rear as a whole is garbage. A stock v can take down a stock 335 but the last time I checked there was no aftermarket solution for the issue yet.

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

They're known to have terrible axle hop, and (even I'm sick of hearing this) the interior is awful. Isn't a used E39 M5 about the same price, weight and power?

+1

It may not be as mod friendly for power but I would most definitely go with that instead.

[Robert]

Had the opportunity to have seat time in one few days ago (not driving) The interior is sub par compare to its 70k dollar rivals. Car is a beast no doubt but didnt have a chance to drive it. Since it's in the luxury segment I figure interior design and quality of material count