SW17LS

There are two trims, the V Sport at $60k, and the V Sport Premium at $70k. The V Sport is not as well equipped in some ways as an F Sport, while the V Sport Premium is far better equipped. Without the Premium you loose the multi-contour front seats, upgraded leather and some of the climate/comfort features in the F Sport.

For me with Cadillac the big issue is gauges. I love a set of nice looking gauges and their base gauges are terrible, they look like something out of a 90s Buick with the small, half-moon speedometer:



Here's a whole rant about them:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...ter-commotion/

Personally, I would have to have the CUE TFT gauge, and you have to have the Premium to get that:

yardie876

I was wondering why the price as tested was close to the base price. For $60k this is a pretty nice car. I'm liking the looks too. But when you head toward $70k for a more comparably equipped model to the F-Sport, my enthusiasm dwindles. And yea I hate those gauges. First thing I noticed on the ATS. The display looks like an afterthought.

praetor

Power wise it needs to be compared to the BMW 550.

I like the hideous looking front end of the FSport though. LOL

SW17LS

Thats my opinion on pricing. I like the car at $60k, at $70k not as much. To option one the way I would want it its going to be $70k whether its the V Sport or not. At $70k, $5k more gets me an LS. That gets me a very nicely equipped 535. Sure, this has way better power but in my everyday driving 5.5 seconds to 60 vs 4.5 seconds to 60 doesn't make that much difference to me.

The reviewer was most impressed with the CTS vs the GS on the track. On the canyon road when he got back into the GS he was reminded how much he liked it and how similar it was really to the CTS. I don't drive on a track.

At some point theres a point of diminishing return.

jtrue28

Not bad, seeing as Lexus is still using the same engine from 2006.

Sal Collaziano

The CTS V-Sport is probably my next car. I'm really tired of my boat.

JT51

Test drove the CTS with Twin Turbo 6 today, using the Cadillac Visa card promotion. I am nothing but impressed. My F Sports seats are nicer, so is the lay out of the dash and interior components, to my taste. The Cady handles maybe a little better, engine and transmission; there is no comparison, the CTS is way better. Road noise is much more noticeable in CTS. Don't know if voice activation is better because I didn't use it. If this CTS was out when I bought mine I would have probably bought the Cady. Its sale price was 64K.

Sal Collaziano

0-60 in 4.4 seconds stock - and a tune adds nearly 100hp.

Nismo

The Caddy is faster, has a more powerful engine, and a better suspension, but considering the higher upfront cost and lower reliability (based on my own personal experiences and also Consumer Reports' info) I'd still rather own my Lexus.

That said, I think Lexus should offer a more powerful engine option. And the Lexus tranny is better than the Caddy, so I'm not sure where that comment's coming from.

natnut

One wonders :

If the GS350 F-Sport had the newer Lexus FI V6 coming next year, how the GS350 F-Sportwould compare to the CTS V-Sport. Seems like the only thing the Caddy is superior in is the powertrain. Handling is a wash and the Lexus has the better interior and reliability.

SW17LS

How do you figure the Lexus' transmission is better than the CTS'? GM's transmissions are actually excellent, and are used in a wide variety of other makes actually. The 8 speed in the TT CTS is a Aisin AW unit...the same company that developed the transmission in the Lexus LFA.

yardie876

I test drove a CTS-V the other day and I wasn't a fan of the transmission. Then again when it has 556 horses surging through at WOT I can understand.
I'm interested in test driving a V-Sport now, just to compare...

SW17LS

The CTS V has an entirely different transmission than the 2014 CTS V Sport.

JT51

The CTS that I tested was the twin turbo 6, it's transmission, head and shoulders above the Lexus. The transmission in my GS makes the car seem sluggish, heavy, lumbering, compared to the CTS. It is the one major complaint on the car that I have. I seldom use the paddle shifters, and I love paddle shifters. I would like to test drive the '14 with the 8 speed to see if there is a difference. I have tried putting it in Sport+ and I really don't see a difference, don't get me wrong I really like the GS and is the best car ever on a long road trip, for me, but taking the twistys I would like a car with a more responsive transmission.

Taking a trip from my home to New Orleans I would choose the GS over the CTS. Taking a trip from Sacramento to Stateline, give me the CTS.

natnut

The Biggest Irony is that the transmission in the CTS V-Sport is essentially made by Toyota as Aisin is a Toyota subsidiary. All the hardware in the CTS trans is identical to the 8 speeders in the latest Lexus sedans.