What to Buy: 2004–2007 Cadillac CTS-V

From the June 2023 issue of Car and Driver.

Launched on the heels of the CTS sedan in 2003, the 2004 Cadillac CTS-V was General Motors’ blunt-force response to the BMW M5s and Audi S4s of the world. Our first impressions were largely positive: A pre-production model exhibited both power and poise, remaining a Cadillac on the road even with the Corvette engine under the hood. As we said in that March 2004 test, the CTS-V showed that “GM’s being bad is really quite good.”

With a switch to the LS2 6.0-liter V-8, a stronger rear differential, and additional features such as a standard sunroof, the 2006 and ’07 models are largely a more attractive prospect than the earlier Vs.

Engine

The 2004 and ’05 CTS-V used the LS6 5.7-liter V-8 from the C5 Corvette Z06, producing 400 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. A Tremec six-speed manual transmission turned the rear wheels. We couldn’t replicate GM’s claimed 60-mph sprints with the pre-production CTS-V we tested, thanks to some wheel hop we experienced getting off the line. Cadillac improved this issue—but did not eliminate it—by the time we put the 2005 CTS-V in a test with the Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG and Audi S4, where it logged a 4.8-second time.

The 2006 CTS-V saw a major change with the switch to an LS2 6.0-liter V-8. Power remained the same, but peak torque arrived at 4400 rpm insteadof 4800. The CTS-V took a brief hiatus after the 2007 model year; the follow-up debuted as a 2009 model and eventually included the CTS-V Sport Wagon, to the delight of car nerds everywhere.

Value

The first-gen CTS-V was a bit of a sleeper and a steal next to the German competition of its time, and its pricing remains great by comparison today. The catch is, with just 8802 built, there aren’t that many to choose from. Recent sales suggest you’re going to land in the $20,000s. That’s not necessarily cheap, but it’s far from the $40,000 to $80,000 (and sometimes above) many second-generation CTS-Vs are garnering these days.

Problem Areas

Look for issues with the differential in all first-gen CTS-V models, but especially the ’04s and ’05s, which are more prone to disaster under the strain of that Vette engine. Both LS V-8s can be thirsty for oil, but the LS6 had a valley cover prone to leaks.

GM issued various recalls for the first-gen CTS-V and even offered to install the later differential in earlier cars at the owner’s expense. It’s worth taking any CTS-V you’re looking at to a GM dealer for a thorough inspection. There’s a strong aftermarket for the first-gen CTS-V, with a large community of owners active on forums, offering solutions for known issues.

Recent Sales

2007 Cadillac CTS-V (November 2022)
Price: $24,250 Mileage: 54,000 miles
2006 Cadillac CTS-V (March 2023)
Price: $20,900 Mileage: 71,000 miles
2004 Cadillac CTS-V (September 2022)
Price: $23,000 Mileage: 59,000 miles
(Sales from Bring a Trailer.)

2005 Cadillac CTS-V
400-hp 5.7-liter V-8, 6-speed manual, 3907 lb
Test Results
60 mph: 4.8 sec
100 mph: 11.4 sec
1/4-mile: 13.2 sec @ 109 mph
Top Speed: 161 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 167 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.90 g
From C/D, November 2004. Acceleration times adhere to our old rollout rule of 3 mph.

Contributing Editor

James Tate has been writing about cars professionally since 2004, but the obsession took hold before he could stand. He’s a Luddite at heart, so it’s the tactility and driving experience of yesterday’s cars that really grab him, but an appreciation for engineering sustains his interest in the modern stuff. Tate’s writing has appeared in Road & Track, Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Autoweek, and others.