CT5-V What don't you like about your CT5-V Blackwing?

[Todd]

I love the sleeper aspect. That to me was one of the coolest things about the E39 M5 which I hear Cadillac tried to benchmark for the 5BW.

I've got gray, no CF, and a 2022 model that doesn't even have Blackwing badges. I like to think I fly under the radar, but even still I've had random dudes walk up and complement the car at gas stations, costco, you name it ... but thankfully not so many teenagers in Hondas trying to race

I love sleepers, too, have owned a bunch (I really dig super powerful wagons).

But what is bothering me about this sleeper is the old man stereotype that comes with the Cadillac brand.

That may be taking the sleeper style to a comatose level.

Just my feelings after a couple months. No real buyers remorse though, as the driving experience is fantastic.

 

[AdamUCF]

Maybe this has already been mentioned in this 17 page thread, but perhaps one thing I don't like about my 5BW is... that it's a Cadillac.

After 1100 miles of driving my new 2025 5BW, I'm wondering if perhaps I've taken my tendency for buying Sleepers too far.

I think the Cadillac brand has so much legacy baggage being perceived as an "old man" car, and the fact that I'm a (prematurely) gray head driving a baby blue sedan, just makes this car completely invisible from the outside.

The driving experience, with the manual trans, is 100% amazing, but I wish Caddy had broken the mold a bit more with the exterior styling of this model, like what Audi and AMG do. Some fat fenders, maybe.

Just needs a touch more "IYKYK" factor to overcome the old man perception...

How are you liking the Drift Metallic in different lighting and whatnot? Any remorse there? I'm torn between DM and DSM.

 

[Todd]

How are you liking the Drift Metallic in different lighting and whatnot? Any remorse there? I'm torn between DM and DSM.

I always envisioned Drift would be just a part of the final version of the car, after I lowered it and put some bronze colored aftermarket wheels on it.

As it sits now, stock including the polished silver wheels, the color isn’t amazing, it’s very tame, more baby blue than anything.

But, again, I knew that going in.

Typhoon was too “luxury looking” for me, and I wanted red caliper brakes to pop against the wheels (not my thing to pair red with green due to the Christmas effect), and very dark colors are simply exhausting to keep clean so DSM was out.

Silver, white, gray are too boring for my tastes, I like color.

Already have a red RS6 and pickup.

So that left Drift.

If it had more metallic or pearl in it, it might on its own be a sophisticated cool color, but it has very little depth.

Sorry for the long answer.

 

[Todd]

Oh, and I didn’t realize it before, but there are a couple other car manufacturers out there that seem to be offering the same exact color.

I’ve been sitting in traffic at a light and looked to my right and said to myself: that Subaru Outback is the same exact color as my hot shit $130k 670hp super beast.

 

[AdamUCF]

I always envisioned Drift would be just a part of the final version of the car, after I lowered it and put some bronze colored aftermarket wheels on it.

As it sits now, stock including the polished silver wheels, the color isn’t amazing, it’s very tame, more baby blue than anything.

But, again, I knew that going in.

Typhoon was too “luxury looking” for me, and I wanted red caliper brakes to pop against the wheels (not my thing to pair red with green due to the Christmas effect), and very dark colors are simply exhausting to keep clean so DSM was out.

Silver, white, gray are too boring for my tastes, I like color.

Already have a red RS6 and pickup.

So that left Drift.

If it had more metallic or pearl in it, it might on its own be a sophisticated cool color, but it has very little depth.

Sorry for the long answer.

Appreciate the long answer!

 

[nordique14]

I always envisioned Drift would be just a part of the final version of the car, after I lowered it and put some bronze colored aftermarket wheels on it.

As it sits now, stock including the polished silver wheels, the color isn’t amazing, it’s very tame, more baby blue than anything.

But, again, I knew that going in.

Typhoon was too “luxury looking” for me, and I wanted red caliper brakes to pop against the wheels (not my thing to pair red with green due to the Christmas effect), and very dark colors are simply exhausting to keep clean so DSM was out.

Silver, white, gray are too boring for my tastes, I like color.

Already have a red RS6 and pickup.

So that left Drift.

If it had more metallic or pearl in it, it might on its own be a sophisticated cool color, but it has very little depth.

Sorry for the long answer.

I had a similar decision process. I ruled out greyscale and worked my way to DM after elimination of the other colors. I have not picked up the car so I have not seen it in person yet. But in pics, it seems to have too little metallic to make it interesting. I get a feeling I will have the same reaction as you.

 

[rubberduck]

But what is bothering me about this sleeper is the old man stereotype that comes with the Cadillac brand.

You’ll get there eventually. Not that I care, but IDK the cars behind me smelling rubber have a clue an old man is behind the wheel.

 

[ngoni]

But what is bothering me about this sleeper is the old man stereotype that comes with the Cadillac brand.

Can't be a whole lot worse than old man in jorts with white new balance sneakers the Vette community has to contend with.

 

[Super Saloon]

I love sleepers, too, have owned a bunch (I really dig super powerful wagons).

But what is bothering me about this sleeper is the old man stereotype that comes with the Cadillac brand.

That may be taking the sleeper style to a comatose level.

Just my feelings after a couple months. No real buyers remorse though, as the driving experience is fantastic.

I think the perception of the brand will begin to change in the near future and I think being in F1 beginning next year and the new Celstiq, combined with the reputation the Blackwings have, are putting Cadillac back on the podium.

If you want more aggressive styling, you can always get a vented hood, more aggressive wheels and some carbon bits if you don’t already have them.

 

[Todd]

I think the perception of the brand will begin to change in the near future and I think being in F1 beginning next year and the new Celstiq, combined with the reputation the Blackwings have, are putting Cadillac back on the podium.

I hope so, but going all electric for the fleet will kind of make that “driver focused” branding useless.

I’m a huge F1 fan but will never be an EV driver, so I’m not quite sure who they are marketing to with that combo…

Can't be a whole lot worse than old man in jorts with white new balance sneakers the Vette community has to contend with.

Yet that’s exactly what the C8 was designed to do: shatter that stereotype and take market share in the younger demographic.

Mid engine configuration is definitely bringing in the younger buyers, who ain’t wearing the old dude uniform.

And I have to say, I was coveting a C8 Z06 after driving one, phenomenal car all around.

And no mistaking a C8 ZR1 as in-your-face-nutty.