2016 CTS-V Review from Boldride

[newmoon]

How could GM get this so wrong? These are their two flagship performance vehicles and they are getting hammered in reviews. The sad part is both of these are ultra performance vehicles when they operate properly. For the CTSV to be compared to a ScatPack should be a wake up call for GM to recall and fix.

[derklug1]

90% of the LT4's that GM puts into cars will never have this problem simply because the owners won't drive them hard. The 10% that do, however, could give the whole line a bad rep. Guys may never rev over 3k, but they don't want the other car show guys to point and laugh at them.

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by newmoon

How could GM get this so wrong? These are their two flagship performance vehicles and they are getting hammered in reviews. The sad part is both of these are ultra performance vehicles when they operate properly. For the CTSV to be compared to a ScatPack should be a wake up call for GM to recall and fix.

Aren't you the guy always saying that no one tracks their car and its all about 1/4 mile passes and street racing? I'm sure the Z06 and CTS-V can perform over the 11 second time interval that Dodge shines.

All kidding aside, I have been quite vocal that the 1.7L blower was a mistake. Chevy's aim has been to offer the most track capable cars on the market and the LT4 is not cutting it in that arena and the A8 doesn't belong there either. On the street, I'm sure the LT4 is fine but its not cutting it for track days. As MEDISIN points out, the CTS-V isn't really an ideal track car anyway.

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by MEDISIN

While the CTS-V has always offered excellent track performance for its size/weight, it is not intended to be a dedicated track machine off the shelf.

Originally Posted by hotlapZL1

As MEDISIN points out, the CTS-V isn't really an ideal track car anyway.

Two things. First, the Z06 is having heat issues and it most definitely is Chevy's "end all be all track weapon." Second, even if 99.99999% of people don't track their cars, the amount of issues it (Z06 and now CTS-V) has had with auto reviewers is a big PR issue. I cannot think of a performance minded vehicle in recent history that has consistently had so many problems with various different auto reviewers. Hell, there is over a 200 page thread on the Corvette forum about Z06 over heat issues.

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by BaylorCamaro

Two things. First, the Z06 is having heat issues and it most definitely is Chevy's "end all be all track weapon." Second, even if 99.99999% of people don't track their cars, the amount of issues it (Z06 and now CTS-V) has had with auto reviewers is a big PR issue. I cannot think of a performance minded vehicle in recent history that has consistently had so many problems with various different auto reviewers. Hell, there is over a 200 page thread on the Corvette forum about Z06 over heat issues.

I agree. The LT4 has stumbled so often that I can't see Chevy salvaging its reputation. Whoever sold the idea of a 1.7L blower...

My point with the CTS-V is its fine as a high powered luxury street car

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by BaylorCamaro

Two things. First, the Z06 is having heat issues and it most definitely is Chevy's "end all be all track weapon." Second, even if 99.99999% of people don't track their cars, the amount of issues it (Z06 and now CTS-V) has had with auto reviewers is a big PR issue. I cannot think of a performance minded vehicle in recent history that has consistently had so many problems with various different auto reviewers. Hell, there is over a 200 page thread on the Corvette forum about Z06 over heat issues.

This ^ even if it is only a handful of cars, the fact that it has happened more than once is not good from a PR stand point.

[Bhobbs]

It's funny to look back and see how many people said I was stupid because I didn't think the supercharged Z06 was a good idea.

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

It's funny to look back and see how many people said I was stupid because I didn't think the supercharged Z06 was a good idea.

I don't know who would think it was a good idea unless they didn't care about the Z06 heritage and were just chasing HP numbers and/or 1/4 mile times.

[lbls1]

I didn't realize the LT4 was having issues. Sometimes these things happen. A car may have a genius period (CTSV gen 2, ZL1 '12-'15), and then the next version will develop stumbling blocks.

GM will need to work at the problems. I am sure that the motor has potential; GM has to work the bugs out.

[MEDISIN]

Let's keep some things in perspective.

• Journalists from the big 3 automotive magazines - MotorTrend, Car&Driver and Road&Track did not experience heat soak, limp mode, pulled timing etc. Car&Driver ran 12-15 laps in 100F heat with the V without issues (setting a Lightning Lap sedan record in the process). Before you think they might not mention heat-soak in the article, they pointed out that both the Eco-burst and GT experienced heat-related performance hits.
• Dozens of bloggers (DigitalTrends, Autoblog, TechTimes, Slashgear etc) got seat time in the CTS-V with no mention of heat soak, limp mode, pulled timing etc.
• I had not heard of Boldride before seeing this thread. They started 4 years ago posting pics and vids of imports. Haven't seen much positive written about any domestic cars.
• The author mentions only subjective impressions (it felt slow) without recording any performance metrics or conducting tests of any kind.

This is the first I've heard of any 2016 V going into limp mode from excessive heat. If I've missed something in previous write-ups, please point it out. I'm not saying it can't/won't happen, but this doesn't sound like a rampant problem in the V based on experience to date.

[jcampos]

Why does this matter seriously? A $100k cadillac, really like the average person who can afford this will drive it that hard or much less track it. Lol more than likely what will happen is that those old dudes who can afford this will take it out of the garage on Sundays to take to church and wash it twice a week. This review or whatever that was is irrelevant.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by MEDISIN

Let's keep some things in perspective.

• Journalists from the big 3 automotive magazines - MotorTrend, Car&Driver and Road&Track did not experience heat soak, limp mode, pulled timing etc. Car&Driver ran 12-15 laps in 100F heat with the V without issues (setting a Lightning Lap sedan record in the process). Before you think they might not mention heat-soak in the article, they pointed out that both the Eco-burst and GT experienced heat-related performance hits.
• Dozens of bloggers (DigitalTrends, Autoblog, TechTimes, Slashgear etc) got seat time in the CTS-V with no mention of heat soak, limp mode, pulled timing etc.
• I had not heard of Boldride before seeing this thread. They started 4 years ago posting pics and vids of imports. Haven't seen much positive written about any domestic cars.
• The author mentions only subjective impressions (it felt slow) without recording any performance metrics or conducting tests of any kind.

This is the first I've heard of any 2016 V going into limp mode from excessive heat. If I've missed something in previous write-ups, please point it out. I'm not saying it can't/won't happen, but this doesn't sound like a rampant problem in the V based on experience to date.

Also true, I don't think anyone here is trying to imply that it will happen every car, just that it just looks bad for GM that it has happened more than once on LT4 equipped cars.

[MEDISIN]

Originally Posted by jcampos

Why does this matter seriously? A $100k cadillac, really like the average person who can afford this will drive it that hard or much less track it. Lol more than likely what will happen is that those old dudes who can afford this will take it out of the garage on Sundays to take to church and wash it twice a week. This review or whatever that was is irrelevant.

These won't sell for anywhere near $100,000. I suspect low 80's well equipped. Basically invoice +/- some change. The Vsport had high MSRP but actual prices paid according to TrueCar are invoice. My V2 sticker was $72k, I paid $59k out the door. And yes, it does get flogged at the track. Why not? It's built to take a beating. It also gets the hell out of some groceries with two car seats in the back

Originally Posted by shaffe

Also true, I don't think anyone here is trying to imply that it will happen every car, just that it just looks bad for GM that it has happened more than once on LT4 equipped cars.

This is ONE blogger saying this happened in a V. I haven't seen this story corroborated anywhere else. Sure any performance issues in a new performance car is concerning but I simply don't see a pattern here. Okay it shares an engine with the Z06 but are the ECU's identical? Cooling systems, heat dissipation, different in both cars. You would expect to see issues in the V long before the Z06 given it's packaging and having to lug around an extra 700lbs. Even with the Z06, it seems it's just a conservative tune designed to prevent heatsoak from setting in. That doesn't indicate mechanical failure of some kind. Have issues been reported with the manual Z06? Didn't Tadge recommend the manual for intense track sessions anyway?

[roorback]

I'm not convinced Boldride is qualified to review a car like this. I just don't know enough about them to trust a review. It doesn't matter though because people are so gullible they believe everything that's written.

And GMs V8s have had issues before the LT1. Some LS1's had piston slap issues.