CT5-V Carbon Spoiler without Splitter

[AdamUCF]

I've got an order in for a 5BW without the CF1 and a bit torn. I'm not keen on the extra $6k and the added fragility of the splitter, and high chance of constraints. But I really like the look of the spoiler and added downforce (apparently it's at least somewhat functional?) for the occasional track day. As of now my plan is to order without CF1 then go probably aftermarket or maybe OEM for just the spoiler.

Is the CF splitter much different than the non-CF splitter? With just the spoiler does it cause the car to understeer noticeably more?

While I'd like to think I would push the car on a track day I'm no pro so I have a feeling I wouldn't notice if the aero balance was off a little bit.

 

[leres]

I've got an order in for a 5BW without the CF1 and a bit torn. I'm not keen on the extra $6k and the added fragility of the splitter, and high chance of constraints. But I really like the look of the spoiler and added downforce (apparently it's at least somewhat functional?) for the occasional track day. As of now my plan is to order without CF1 then go probably aftermarket or maybe OEM for just the spoiler.

Is the CF splitter much different than the non-CF splitter? With just the spoiler does it cause the car to understeer noticeably more?

While I'd like to think I would push the car on a track day I'm no pro so I have a feeling I wouldn't notice if the aero balance was off a little bit.

I thought it was possible to get CF1 but delete the CF splitter but the cadillac.com configurator will not allow me to do this.

I was able to order all the carbon fiber options (in March) and having owned two cars with splitters (C6 Z06 and 2nd gen CTS-V) I'm a little worried about dinging the new one. My Z06 is on splitter #2 (and #3 is screwed to the ceiling of the garage for storage). I'm thinking if I ever do scratch up the CF splitter I might replace it with the standard black one. (Maybe it'll be possible to have it repaired?)

Before I got my allocation I had resigned myself to order without CF and add the bits later. I had already decided I would go OEM before I saw this post:

Funny how that is isn't it? Reality is that GM Carbon is quite opposite of junk and more like TOP TIER. The tint in GM's is exactly for UVA/UVB and of the highest concentration bar none! Another reason is Corvette and their demands for TOP TIER Carbon! After the pandemic everybody cried because no Carbon could be built on cars after the BK of their main supplier. GM has stated that due to their requirements of the Highest Quality CF components incorporating UVA/UVB materials to resist fading it took GM a very long time to get the CF components going again.

But hey you keep on buying that High Quality CF off the internet and keep letting GM build junk like they always do......

 

[668LT4]

My 2022 5BW came without any carbon. I added the OEM trunk spoiler, but never the front splitter. At 130 on the highway, it was perfectly smooth, but of course I was not banking into hard turns at that #. Funny you ask though, because I sure did consider that same point at that speed.

My current car has CF1 / CF2 and I would have it no other way, if available. These parts are one of the few things (along with the SA carbon backed seats) that differentiate 5 Blackwings from other Caddies, and other 5 Blackwings. I like that. The added downforce is real, at least they say they tested and measured it. Not sure I am a good enough driver on a track to ever know the difference, but I love the aesthetic qualities of the OEM CF packages.

 

[TheShark]

non CF car here (due to constraints) and I felt no difference between my car and the full CF car I drove at Spring Mountain

 

[seattlecubes]

I think the CF has a more active role in the performance of the CT4 as those spoilers are much more aggressive than the CF ones you can spec on the CT5. There are numerous articles quoting pounds of downforce on those but I haven’t seen the same data pointed out for the CT5.

 

[ngoni]

I think the CF has a more active role on the CT4 as those spoilers are much more aggressive than the CF ones you can spec on the CT5. There are numerous articles quoting pounds of downforce on those but I haven’t seen the same data pointed out for the CT5.

Like the red seatbelts, the carbon is good for at least 5 extra HP.

 

[AdamUCF]

Thanks all. Think I'll just stick without it and play it by ear. I can always add the spoiler and splitter if I feel the need.

 

[marcmac]

When I initially ordered the car, I didn't put carbon on the build because I thought there would be constraints. I had a great salesmen, 5 months later when they called on a Thursday with the allocation the salesman and the manager stated they had an allocation with no constraints on carbon. I only chose the carbon 1 though, but the salesmen told me he made sure to notify the manager that if carbon was available to make I sure I got it during allocation.

I do have ppf on my splitter and spoiler. On certain driveways I make to pull in and out at an angle.

 

[rubberduck]

Started out with no CF. Added the OEM spoiler and was on the fence about the splitter. After a few months my feeling was it looked unbalanced without the splitter. Ordered a splitter from my local dealer and took one year to receive it. Looks much better with the combo than the spoiler alone. The splitter adds a more aggressive look to the otherwise understated front end. I put the SLIPLO product on the splitter and it does work. Tried PPF on the spoiler but removed it before installing. It’s a very difficult part to PPF perfectly (very noticeable that there is PPF) and seems to dull the appearance and reduce the 3D effect of the weave.

 

[VBhak]

I've got an order in for a 5BW without the CF1 and a bit torn. I'm not keen on the extra $6k and the added fragility of the splitter, and high chance of constraints. But I really like the look of the spoiler and added downforce (apparently it's at least somewhat functional?) for the occasional track day. As of now my plan is to order without CF1 then go probably aftermarket or maybe OEM for just the spoiler.

Is the CF splitter much different than the non-CF splitter? With just the spoiler does it cause the car to understeer noticeably more?

While I'd like to think I would push the car on a track day I'm no pro so I have a feeling I wouldn't notice if the aero balance was off a little bit.

Got mine without it due to constraints. Got OEM splitter ordered through the dealer body shop prior to delivery, and installed at intake/delivery. Didn't have the splitter for several months (like @rubberduck), but it started bothering me and it looked uneven.

Pieced together the entire OEM splitter/underbody aero parts due to my CCB's (be sure you order the aero parts as well). Looks MUCH better.

Savage geese video shows the engineers touting the 4BW CF parts add about 170 lbs of downforce, with the 5BW CF1 adding "a little less"(supposedly the aero design of the vehicles from the get go already deliver "max downforce ever on a Cadillac")...

BOTTOM LINE: get it for the looks, not for measurable differences in performance

 

[Atlien]

My C6 Z06 needed a bumper reinforcement for the front splitter unless the car came with the Z07 package. Otherwise the bumper would start to sag at speed. Is there anything you need for the front bumper to install a splitter if you didn’t get the CF1 option?

 

[KatyTxCT5V]

No reinforcements/nothing extra needed for the CF1 front splitter. Simple swap and plenty of posts outlining.

Different story for the CF2 rear diffuser, I had to make modifications and included in my post earlier this year when I added both factory OEM CF1 & CF2 packages.

Appearance is why I added both carbon packages as my 22 did not have any.

 

[ukcats12]

I've got an order in for a 5BW without the CF1 and a bit torn. I'm not keen on the extra $6k and the added fragility of the splitter, and high chance of constraints. But I really like the look of the spoiler and added downforce (apparently it's at least somewhat functional?) for the occasional track day. As of now my plan is to order without CF1 then go probably aftermarket or maybe OEM for just the spoiler.

Is the CF splitter much different than the non-CF splitter? With just the spoiler does it cause the car to understeer noticeably more?

While I'd like to think I would push the car on a track day I'm no pro so I have a feeling I wouldn't notice if the aero balance was off a little bit.

Just FYI, I have an OEM spoiler I've never put on my car. I might be selling my BW soon and would obviously then need to get rid of the spoiler too.