Recent content by hawk02

I’ve had two full months with my 2024 Boxster GTS 4.0 with PDK. Not a GT3, I know, but it shares Porsche’s flat-plane 4.0-liter six — just in a slightly detuned form. The Boxster replaced my 2021 C8 Stingray HTC. When compared to my 5BW manual, the Boxster feels quick and nimble. It’s got...

Not going to argue that 668 HP is a bit much for public roads. But coming to my 5BW after six years with a 2017 Camaro ZL1 6MT, I’ve never felt like I had to use all that power to enjoy the car. The beauty of the LT4 is the torque — it all comes in between 3500–4000 rpm, which makes on-ramps and...

For comparison, my 1.25-amp Battery Tender brand threw a red error light when I hooked it up to the original battery in my BW, even though it worked fine on my wife’s Blazer. I even tried the “official” Cadillac battery conditioner. It ran for three full days straight and never got the battery...

My saga of getting a replacement builder plaque has finally come to a happy ending. About three weeks ago, I took my BW to a Ford vs. Ferrari car show at a local Ford dealership. While I was walking around taking pics (I run a website that promotes car shows around Central Ohio), I came across...

To my ears, the sound quality in my BW is actually pretty darn good — definitely better than the Bose systems in my Porsche and former C8. What’s funny, though, is that the “lowly” base audio system in my ’21 GMC Elevation pickup still takes the crown. The bass in that truck is surprisingly deep...

Yes, I’m aware of the third-party options out there. Your last sentence, though, is exactly why I haven’t taken the plunge—sounds like more hassle than I want to deal with. I’ll just live with the standard rearview mirror and keep complaining like it’s part of the ownership experience.😎

My wife doesn’t like the rearview camera mirror either, so I get where you’re coming from. I actually like it because it gives a much wider view of what’s behind the car. It does take my eyes a split second to adjust, but once they do, I don’t have any trouble focusing. If you’ve got the option...

I configured the voltmeter to permanently display on the DIC right after my battery was replaced. If the car has been sitting for a few days, the voltmeter reads around 11.9 volts at startup. Once I start driving, it quickly rises to about 14 volts or a little higher. I also bought a Foxwell...

You might want to have your dealer test your battery. I just had the one in my ’23 BW replaced because of a bad cell. Mine was showing less than 8 volts after sitting for 12 days — the car was deader than a doorknob. I couldn’t even unlock the doors with the key fob. My little 1.2-amp trickle...

I have two complaints about my Blackwing. The first, as others have mentioned, is the wireless phone charger. I don't have a case on my phone, so it slides around too easily and often ends up out of position. I’m constantly having to readjust it to get it to charge. Very annoying. The second...

I put Carbotech 1521s on my 5BW back in May. These pads have reduced the brake dust by 80%. Don't put them on if you track or plan to track your BW. They're for street use only.

Worth a shot. So far, I'm not having much luck. Yesterday, I called the switchboard at the Bowling Green assembly plant and asked if I could be transferred to the Performance Build Center. I ended up being transferred to Chevrolet Customer Care. Ugh!

I’ve been very disappointed with Cadillac Customer Care so far. Their only suggestion has been to contact the selling dealer. Since I purchased my CT5-V Blackwing used from a non-Cadillac dealer, that’s not a viable option. Today I located the main switchboard number for the Corvette plant in...

Has anyone been able to get in touch with the GM Performance Build Center in Bowling Green, KY? I recently purchased a second OEM supercharger lid for my CT5-V Blackwing and had it powder coated. Unfortunately, the engine builder plaque was damaged when transferring it from the original lid. My...

Thank you. Your post helped me determine what plastic cover to pop off and yes it is a T40 Torx. I had to give both Torx bolts one heck of a yank to break them loose.