+ManifoldPSI
Chief Leader in charge, Depart of Redundancy Dept
Just got back from picking up my new 2025 CT5VBW.
Long story short, I had originally called around to dealers outside of CA in late 2023 to find one offering an allocation with no ADM. Findlay Cadillac in Vegas (Henderson, specifically) rose to the occasion, I guess you could say. A bit far for me in NorCal, but I figured I could make a road trip out of it, since I had not been to Vegas since SEMA '19.
Turns out the sales guy I wound up with (naturally self-described as one of the top guys at the place) was a joke. Impossible to get ahold of, did not have a good grasp of the GM order process, had ZERO customer service skills (EX: he knew I wanted to do a personal build, but recommended a car that was on the lot and not close to my spec, then literally just said "FINE" and got offended when I told him I was not interested). The last straw was that he did not listen when I told him a little before new year's 2024 that I wanted a '24 because I did not like the MY25 front end, and I missed out entirely.
On the flip side, missing the boat there meant being able to spec V8V... and I got the car not at MSRP but at dealer invoice.
I'm in this more for the 4DSC performance aspect (that's 4 Door Sports Car for all you Nissan Maxima ex-owners out there) than the luxury aspect, but the car got such good reviews, and I've loved the CTS V line for years, and this really looks like a case of the "last of the Mohicans" situation, so I had to pull the trigger.
Had to go 6MT or I would not even be writing this now. I also am a big fan of the stopping power and fade resistance of carbon ceramics, especially on lowly 4 doors (super car hardware on a people-hauler is kinda cool). When V8V came out, I was less pissed about missing a '24.
I debated the carbon packages, but back when I started the order process, speccing those to a car added 6-18 months, and I don't value carbon enough to warrant both the cost and the wait.
So, thus far, I would not change anything, but we'll see. Ya, it's blah blah white, but hey- I love me a good, clean, white performance car.
I did spec the PSC2Rs, as I live in sunny (sic) NORTHern CA. Have those on the Cayman too, but I bet they will wear a lot faster on this monster...
Been busy with work since getting it back here, so have not had barely any drive time. At least this car came along AFTER the oil plug debacle came to light, so it has a factory green marker check on what appears to be a sufficiently pressed-in plug... Presumably from a factory inspection. I demanded the dealer inspect this too, among other things.
I will say the locking wheel lug nut design is interesting... and not 19, not 21, but 22mm lug nuts? She's a BIG GIRL, but still... That's a new one on me. Luckily I long ago bought a large set of assorted-size deep thin wall sockets.
Looking forward to hitting the break in marker and opening her up. Will have to look up who built my LT4. See if I got one of the good engine assemblers
Forgot to add- my rodeo experience was not actually that bad. 3/5/2025: 3300 -> 3/24/2025 : 4800 -> early/mid may delivered to dealer. I was bracing myself to have to call in national search and rescue to find the car...
Long story short, I had originally called around to dealers outside of CA in late 2023 to find one offering an allocation with no ADM. Findlay Cadillac in Vegas (Henderson, specifically) rose to the occasion, I guess you could say. A bit far for me in NorCal, but I figured I could make a road trip out of it, since I had not been to Vegas since SEMA '19.
Turns out the sales guy I wound up with (naturally self-described as one of the top guys at the place) was a joke. Impossible to get ahold of, did not have a good grasp of the GM order process, had ZERO customer service skills (EX: he knew I wanted to do a personal build, but recommended a car that was on the lot and not close to my spec, then literally just said "FINE" and got offended when I told him I was not interested). The last straw was that he did not listen when I told him a little before new year's 2024 that I wanted a '24 because I did not like the MY25 front end, and I missed out entirely.
On the flip side, missing the boat there meant being able to spec V8V... and I got the car not at MSRP but at dealer invoice.
I'm in this more for the 4DSC performance aspect (that's 4 Door Sports Car for all you Nissan Maxima ex-owners out there) than the luxury aspect, but the car got such good reviews, and I've loved the CTS V line for years, and this really looks like a case of the "last of the Mohicans" situation, so I had to pull the trigger.
Had to go 6MT or I would not even be writing this now. I also am a big fan of the stopping power and fade resistance of carbon ceramics, especially on lowly 4 doors (super car hardware on a people-hauler is kinda cool). When V8V came out, I was less pissed about missing a '24.
I debated the carbon packages, but back when I started the order process, speccing those to a car added 6-18 months, and I don't value carbon enough to warrant both the cost and the wait.
So, thus far, I would not change anything, but we'll see. Ya, it's blah blah white, but hey- I love me a good, clean, white performance car.
I did spec the PSC2Rs, as I live in sunny (sic) NORTHern CA. Have those on the Cayman too, but I bet they will wear a lot faster on this monster...
Been busy with work since getting it back here, so have not had barely any drive time. At least this car came along AFTER the oil plug debacle came to light, so it has a factory green marker check on what appears to be a sufficiently pressed-in plug... Presumably from a factory inspection. I demanded the dealer inspect this too, among other things.
I will say the locking wheel lug nut design is interesting... and not 19, not 21, but 22mm lug nuts? She's a BIG GIRL, but still... That's a new one on me. Luckily I long ago bought a large set of assorted-size deep thin wall sockets.
Looking forward to hitting the break in marker and opening her up. Will have to look up who built my LT4. See if I got one of the good engine assemblers
Forgot to add- my rodeo experience was not actually that bad. 3/5/2025: 3300 -> 3/24/2025 : 4800 -> early/mid may delivered to dealer. I was bracing myself to have to call in national search and rescue to find the car...
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