Thread: Cadillac CTS?

Hey guys, seeing a lot of 100,000ish mile 2004-2008 3.6L CTS going for around $7k in my area. Seems like a pretty good car for the money... thoughts? Totally unfamiliar with this platform and drivetrain.

Could be fun, even the non v cts is still manual and rwd right?

they come manual, but most are auto. RWD yes.

i'd throw another couple thousand on top of that and find a higher mileage V series and love life. the v6 version leaves a lot to be desired.

turbo the 3.6. They're decent. No 3800 but IIRC i remember looking and people were making mid 400 whp on stock engines.

Or 3800 swap it..... Should bolt up to the tranny, needs motor mounts probably, and need minor tuning to make it work. Or maybe I'm off and it would need a lot of work IDK haha.

Read about timing chain and oil consumption issues, figure there is probably a good reason such a high end looking car is going so cheap.

They are decent quality cars and fast surprisingly. Had one walk my almost fully bolt on gp gt few years ago.

Still got the CTS on my mind, $5K doesn't seem like much for a decent car. Wonder how easily the 3.6 can be worked on? I don't see changing the timing chains as being a road block. Seems like plenty of pep for a daily driver, plus decent on gas. Potentially an affordable RWD manual.

The CTS-V sure is cool, but I'd be spending $15K minimum locally, and that's CL private parties.

i'm lost.

are we looking at something to daily drive or something to build up and have fun with?

Those older 3.6's sucked.

Timing chain issues.

Originally Posted by Bio248

i'm lost.

are we looking at something to daily drive or something to build up and have fun with?

Basically what I have now, daily driver with just a few bolt-ons for a little extra pep.

well i wouldn't be starting with a CTS, that's for sure.

If you're looking for a V6 car that you can wake up easy, get a V6 FBody - CHEEEEAP. Suspension work with a steep gear and a cam/heads setup will easily net basement 13's. On par with a stock LS1 car.

then supercharge it. xD like me haha

Originally Posted by SnowTh1ef

then supercharge it. xD like me haha

I've seriously considered going the same route. Seems like a great combo, good power and probably still nearly stock fuel economy.

Its not as easy as it sounds.. Trust me. A good bit a custom fab. But if you've got a hammer and a friend with a tig welder its no problem haha. But before I SC'd it I had headers adn rockers and was getting 35 mpg on a stock tune on the highway. Manual, lightweight, semi aerodynamic 3800 powered car ftw.

And it was faster than my 3.6 pulley topswapped bonneville when it was NA. No joke.

So it you want a good DD/bolt ons car. Even NA wouldn't be bad. Just some ER or 1.9 rockers and exhaust and boom. quick fun car.