fmusignac
Seasoned Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2022
- Messages
- 140
- Location
- Iowa
- V-Series Cadillac(s)?
- '17 ATS-V (Sold), '22 4BW Auto (Sold), 2023 5BW Manual
Just wanted to create a post to share my love for this car, my mods and experience with it. This makes car #23 (coincidence it is the GOAT?) for me in 16 years since I got my first vehicle, a 6 speed 2003 CTS. Had many other cars in between but when they came out, I wanted a CTS-V but ended up with an ATS-V Auto. I went to the V-Academy and loved the experience and the car but always left me wishing I had found a manual and that it was the bigger car and engine. Since that ATS-V, I've had a few other cars and when the 5BW announcement came out I knew I wanted one. After the local dealership 10 mins away never came through with allocations or a list, I ended up buying a C8 Z51, just thinking that it'd be nearly impossible to get into a 5BW. Then I ended up meeting the GM from a dealership 45 mins away and he told me I could get to the top of their list.
Not knowing what would happen, I ended up trading the C8 for a loaded 4BW (wife disliked the C8) he had in the showroom and placed my order on July 26, thinking it would be at least another year to finally get my 5BW. To my surprise, my order got picked up Aug 5 and on Sept 27 my car was built! Good news, bad news. There was a 5BW that could very well be mine from order to delivery but the value of my 4BW and rates had taken quite a hit. After much consideration, I knew there was no other car I really wanted and that I would want to keep and enjoy (I looked hard), so I took the depreciation hit (I kind of justified it to myself as ADM, since I was getting it at MSRP) and took the final plunge. After much effort and/or luck, the car was finally delivered December 29, 2022. I watched it come off the truck, go through PDI, etc. and ended up taking it home that same day. The PDI went well other than a couple of blemishes and scratches on the hood that were buffed out, a couple tiny dents on driver's side door area (transport?) and the V emblem on the inside hood liner was not adhered properly (dealer told me they'd order a new one). More on paint after correction work is completed this week...
I have driven it less than 200 miles, but it is already my favorite car ever. I love the engine, transmission, suspension, steering feel, look, convenience, technology. I haven't opened it up, as I baby it through the break in period, but I agree with all the reviews I've read and videos I've watched that call it the GOAT. I hope it's a vehicle that will satisfy my curiosity for exploring driving dynamics, my needs as a working father, my desire for fun drives, peace of mind, quality, warranty and value.
I had to buy winter wheels and tires so I could drive it in Iowa, since half the year the PS4'S would be unsafe. I did some research here and other places and ended up buying a set that looks really good and seem to perform OK (no real snow tests yet). One of the wheels came with a paint-off scratch but TireRack made it right and sent me a new wheel. I had that set installed post PDI, so will have dedicated winter and summer sets. I also hardwired my radar detector (Escort Redline 360c) to the side compartment fuse and ran the smart cable to a very easy to access position.
I thought I wouldn't love the look of the car as much without the carbon fiber since I stayed away from constrained packages, but I really love the look of the white and black contrast, so that's becoming my theme, along with the few red accents of the seat piping and brakes. I still want a spoiler, seems to complete the aggressive, sporty look, so I'm looking for one that will go with my theme, I think black painted. I would like to change all badges to black with color, instead of the stock chrome ones as well.
I dropped it off for paint correction, clear PPF, roof black gloss PPF, ceramic coating, interior and glass protection yesterday and should have it back by Friday. Looking forward to enjoying it more. I'm still pinching myself and trying to figure out if this dream of mine actually became true! What a great, complete machine this is. Thanks to honest dealers out there, GM, Cadillac, those awesome engineers who pushed the boundaries and delivered an amazing car. Thanks to this community for all the help, patience, encouragement and knowledge shared. I hope to pay it forward to this forum through this thread and in my day to day! Carpe Diem!
Not knowing what would happen, I ended up trading the C8 for a loaded 4BW (wife disliked the C8) he had in the showroom and placed my order on July 26, thinking it would be at least another year to finally get my 5BW. To my surprise, my order got picked up Aug 5 and on Sept 27 my car was built! Good news, bad news. There was a 5BW that could very well be mine from order to delivery but the value of my 4BW and rates had taken quite a hit. After much consideration, I knew there was no other car I really wanted and that I would want to keep and enjoy (I looked hard), so I took the depreciation hit (I kind of justified it to myself as ADM, since I was getting it at MSRP) and took the final plunge. After much effort and/or luck, the car was finally delivered December 29, 2022. I watched it come off the truck, go through PDI, etc. and ended up taking it home that same day. The PDI went well other than a couple of blemishes and scratches on the hood that were buffed out, a couple tiny dents on driver's side door area (transport?) and the V emblem on the inside hood liner was not adhered properly (dealer told me they'd order a new one). More on paint after correction work is completed this week...
I have driven it less than 200 miles, but it is already my favorite car ever. I love the engine, transmission, suspension, steering feel, look, convenience, technology. I haven't opened it up, as I baby it through the break in period, but I agree with all the reviews I've read and videos I've watched that call it the GOAT. I hope it's a vehicle that will satisfy my curiosity for exploring driving dynamics, my needs as a working father, my desire for fun drives, peace of mind, quality, warranty and value.
I had to buy winter wheels and tires so I could drive it in Iowa, since half the year the PS4'S would be unsafe. I did some research here and other places and ended up buying a set that looks really good and seem to perform OK (no real snow tests yet). One of the wheels came with a paint-off scratch but TireRack made it right and sent me a new wheel. I had that set installed post PDI, so will have dedicated winter and summer sets. I also hardwired my radar detector (Escort Redline 360c) to the side compartment fuse and ran the smart cable to a very easy to access position.
I thought I wouldn't love the look of the car as much without the carbon fiber since I stayed away from constrained packages, but I really love the look of the white and black contrast, so that's becoming my theme, along with the few red accents of the seat piping and brakes. I still want a spoiler, seems to complete the aggressive, sporty look, so I'm looking for one that will go with my theme, I think black painted. I would like to change all badges to black with color, instead of the stock chrome ones as well.
I dropped it off for paint correction, clear PPF, roof black gloss PPF, ceramic coating, interior and glass protection yesterday and should have it back by Friday. Looking forward to enjoying it more. I'm still pinching myself and trying to figure out if this dream of mine actually became true! What a great, complete machine this is. Thanks to honest dealers out there, GM, Cadillac, those awesome engineers who pushed the boundaries and delivered an amazing car. Thanks to this community for all the help, patience, encouragement and knowledge shared. I hope to pay it forward to this forum through this thread and in my day to day! Carpe Diem!
for you!!!
I too down the road hope to add spoilers at both ends but will consider either body color(Rift) or straight black.
