You Can Buy a Cadillac CTS-V With the Heart of a Corvette for Less Than a New Kia Soul

There’s something dreamy about a Corvette road trip with your loved one — just you and your partner hitting the highway in an American sports car. However, add a baby, a dog, luggage, and baby gear, and suddenly, the Corvette seems ridiculous. However, there is an affordable car that combines Corvette power with a four-door body. It’s called the first generation Cadillac CTS-V, and it’s amazing.

Okay, so there are other cars out there with LS power and range-topping transmissions, but most of them are compromises when it comes to doing the family car thing. Custom parts for the Holden-built Pontiac GTO are getting harder to find, the Chevrolet SS is nice but expensive, and Camaros don’t have rear doors. The original Cadillac CTS-V is the real deal when you enter North America, and it’s better than you’d expect.

Moreover, it is also cheaper than you expect. You can still pick one up for less than the price of a new Kia Soul, which makes them an amazing value proposition. Interested? Let’s dive in.

What Are We Watching?

Back in the early 2000s, Cadillac was trying to turn over a new leaf after years of decline and began its big push to try to punch German luxury in the face. From Escalades in nearly every episode of MTV Cribs to CTS sports sedans landing roles in “Bad Boys 2” and “The Matrix: Reloaded,” Cadillac seemed to be on the right track but needed to draw a line in the sand.

To do so, it rummaged through the GM parts bin and sourced an LS6 5.7-liter V8 from a Corvette Z06, along with a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission commonly used in various Holdens and late Camaros and Trans Ams. Perfect for CTS. Thus, the 2004 CTS-V was born, an all-American 400-horsepower sports sedan. The press seemed to enjoy it a lot, and Car And Driver write:

Watch out, kids, an angry GM is raising hell. The power is intense, violent, and addictive. The steering is sharp, the suspension is in control, and the brakes are a strain on the tendons. You touch the joy in descending from the summit, the grille directing where your right foot aims. St. Herman of Alaska—the remote control disable button is right there on the steering wheel! You can get GM’s lawyers out of the car with the flip of one thumb. However, there is no need to do that, as the computer allows you to play side horses before intervening. Acceleration in a straight line is muted by a spasmodic axle hop, and the chintzy interior (pre-Lutz) has to be hammered with a shovel. But the GM of being bad is actually quite good.

We’re talking about a manufacturer-claimed zero-to-60 time of 4.6 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.1 seconds at 109 mph. That’s still fast today, and for 2004. In 2006, the CTS-V was vastly improved with the six-liter LS2 V8 from the early C6 Corvette. It still pushed the same 400 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque as its LS6 predecessor, but had peak torque about 400 rpm lower in the power band. With extra bandwidth, a more powerful engine, and more standard features including a sunroof, the 2006 to 2007 models are arguably the best of their kind.

At What Cost Are We Talking?

With smooth LS power and a decent gearbox, you can expect these CTS-Vs to be up in price. Well, believe it or not, you can still buy one for less than a new Kia Soul model. Yes, the 2024 Kia ​​Soul LX stickers for $21,565, but you won’t have to pay that much for a Cadillac. One owner 2005 CTS-V with 89,000 km (55,000 miles) on the clock recently sold. Bring the Trailer for $19,750, and the best part is that it’s already in America. It’s functionally equivalent to an American spec car from a safety and emissions perspective and the owner has already done the paperwork, so it’s being brought back to the vulture country.

What? do you want a future car with a six-liter LS2? They don’t sell often, but you can still get the occasional one for good money. This 2006 CTS-V was sold Cars and Tenders in November with 109,000 miles on the clock, and it’s rocking some cool stuff from mountain hardwoods to a full aftermarket exhaust system. Sweet, but not as sweet as the hammer price, which came in at just $14,000.

Oh, and the cheaper models aren’t a mess. This 2005 CTS-V may have 153,900 miles on the clock, but it looks great in the pictures, and it’s for sale. on Cars and Tenders this week for $14,000. I mean come on, the carpets look great, the paint shines, and the radio buttons don’t even scratch. This car is a good reminder to buy for condition rather than mileage, because a well-maintained high-mileage car will bring you more joy than a low-mileage basket.

What Can Go Wrong?

Do you remember the wheel hop that Car and Driver complained about? Well, it turns out that if you want to launch the 2004 to 2005 Cadillac CTS-V hard, it can have a different lunch. Now, there are a few ways to reduce the likelihood of this happening, and they vary in effectiveness and cost. If you want a definitive fix, Creative Steel it sells the 8.8-inch Ford kit as opposed to a pumpkin swap, but it retails for $5,216. That’s not cheap. Another option is a strong set of axles with strong bushings. A set of Driveshaft Shop Upgraded axles sell for $3,170.31, while Revshift sells a more rigid set of bushings for $167. If you’re just looking to reduce wheel spin on a budget, BMR Suspension sells flywheel package for $319.95 and a pinion brace support for $79.95. While this is not a bulletproof solution, especially at higher power levels, it certainly helps.

A possible issue with the low price is a failure to balance the balance. Over time, those crankshaft-mounted vibration dampers can wear out, and a replacement part will run between $150 and $500 depending on whether you want to keep it budget-friendly or go with an upgraded part. Many CTS-V owners with the LS6 and LS2 have reported timing issues, so keep this in mind.

Another potential issue is finding aftermarket wheels that fit. See, the original CTS-V uses a 6×115 mm bolt pattern, which is rare for passenger cars. If you’re looking to pick up a second set of wheels for winter or track use, options that feature this bolt-on design and cancel the CTS-V’s Brembo brakes are limited, so shop around before you buy.

Should I Buy a First Generation Cadillac CTS-V?

Oh yes, absolutely. Sure, the differential issues on previous models are always remembered, but these cars have the ability to compete as an experience with the cars of the golden age of BMW M, but they don’t have nearly the same number of failure points. You’re looking at a reliable and roomy V8 powerplant for the whole family, and at under $20,000 for a good driving example, I’d call that a pretty good deal.

(Image credit: Cars and Tenders, Bring the Trailer)

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