Earlier this year, I started to think about replacing my 2014 Buick Regal GS, which I bought with just 4,000 miles on it in March of 2015. For sure, that was the nicest car I’d ever had to that point by far. Some might say the GS was a low bar for people who have had a lifetime of German or Japanese sports sedans, but from a guy who’s driven Chevette’s and Sunbirds as daily drivers, it certainly was a nice car for me.
But something way nicer was in store for me.
Just a few years earlier I was rolling in a 1999 Chevy Prism with 145,000 miles and no AC. The GS had European roots, being fully designed by GM’s Opel division in Germany (built in Canada). It was the first car I had that could get out of its own way and borrowing a lot of mechanicals and body kit from the faster Euro Opel Insignia OPC, it had some actual real performance and handling bits and a solidity I was not accustomed to.
Goodbye Old Friend!
It had been a good and comfortable car for me, nothing catastrophic mechanically had happened and it never left me stranded. New brakes just once, oil and fluid changes, new tires, new battery, new ignition coils, that’s it. At that point, it was like putting on a comfortable pair of old shoes. At 115,000 miles it was starting to show signs of age. It has been in 4 accidents (one which was $15,000 damage) but… only one of those was my fault (the big one). The electrical nannies and sensors (lane departure, collision alert, adaptive cruise control radar, etc.) were giving a daily idiot light fireworks show, but to be honest that was mostly an annoyance outside of the cruise control working only sporadically.
To fix that Mechanic Paul said it was something of a Pandora’s box and for starters, it would be about $1,100 then it would go up from there because these issues can take some detective work to solve. I also drove over a snow bank and cracked a piece of ground effects under the driver’s door. It looked pretty good from about 20’ though. The guilt part of this was that it was a want versus need purchase. I could have kept on driving it payment free, probably for a number of years. But, guess I was just ready for something different. I’m pushing 60 and if I wanted a Cadillac and have one of my two sons graduate from university and off the payroll, maybe now was the time.
This brought on a lot of unnecessary energy expended on looking at AutoTempest and other platforms for what was next. I do enjoy this part as do most car people – the hunt. Was this the time I decided to dare to be different and get something like a non-GM product? Or buy a new car (not slightly used)? Or a mid-size pickup? Candidates were wide ranging and varied. But it was not going to be an SUV or a crossover which honestly despite the utility value, bore me to tears. We have a Buick Tour X which does a fine job with utility and can swallow many bags of mulch and my son’s stuff when running him back to college.
2024 WRX – Too Much Cowbell
Candidates in the dare to be different category included a new Subaru WRX, which I actually test drove on a cold January day. I decided I could live with a daily manual after my 9 days last year in Portugal with a Renault Captur 6 speed. I thought I could be young again and get something contrary to my demographic and be a cool hip dude for the first time ever. For sure, the WRX lived up to its performance billing and I was favorably impressed. It was a fun, engaging car and I get why some people like these. In the end, I was less won over by the (as expected) bouncier sports suspension, droning and too loud performance exhaust, and overall tinny feel. Sorry Rex, it’s not you, it’s me.
The Lexus of the UK’s Doc Martin Series
Other candidates included finding a pristine older low mileage Lexus LS and maybe even the new Acura Integra. In the end, for a lot of reasons it was to GM, and unless I wanted a Malibu, it broke down to the Cadillac CT-4 or CT-5. The CT-4 to my eyes has rear proportions which are slightly off, and the back seat is a bit small for times when we’d haul friends and family, so it never was up for consideration, and attention was turned to the CT-5. The oversized grille I’m less enthused about but it’s ubiquitous on so many cars today and the CT-5’s is not massive compared to others (I’m talking to you Lexus). The overall look is a matter of preference but I think the CT-5 is a properly handsome car and I love the proportions, slab sides and turbine wheels.
I ended up driving and purchasing the only CT-5 I drove, oddly from a Chrysler store some distance from the house with 8,100 miles on it. This would be my first ever Cadillac. I dilly dallied on a decision and got lots of the typical car sales tricks of “someone else is very interested in it” hooey. In the end, I was just tired of thinking about it. This is kind of par for the course for my extremes of risk averseness and impulsiveness.
The trade in value for the GS was not great but was taken in no questions asked. I also found after the fact that insuring the CT-5 is not inexpensive, something I should have known going in. Looking at all the tech and replacement costs I was suckered into decided to get the extended warranty on the mechanicals and rims. This one has blacked out windows on all sides that the previous owner added. As I understand it in Michigan, it is illegal to have the driver and passenger windows blacked out. If getting pulled over by the Fuzz for something like that is a possibility, then it’s a near certainty it will happen to me at some point probably soon.
The Comeback Cadillac!
Being this is Southeast Michigan you probably see more CT-4’s and CT-5’s and older post 2003 Cadillac sedans than anywhere else in the US. The automotive press has been (generally) favorably inclined to the vehicle architecture and performance of the Cadillac sedans since GM decided to make a true sports sedan for the first time in the early 2000s. When the CTS Art and Science body styles came out, it was definitely a polarizing but bold look, and at the time I didn’t particularly like it. I have liked the subsequent toned down aesthetic iterations of the original CTS (and STS and ATS), which also brought better interiors and powertrains. The Cadillac sedans have never been sales leaders but kudos to Cadillac for making a competent sedan and getting back into the game, not the mention the awesome V-Series iterations.
The CT-5 body is something of a 4 door stretch Camaro, sharing that architecture and being built at the same plant in Lansing, Michigan and I do like buying local. After owning a 2017 Camaro SS for a short time, I can attest that the body is rigid, the car handles exceptionally well, and is definitely fun to drive. My favorite is to go just a little bit faster than normal (but not recklessly) on the cloverleaf entrance ramp curve and it hugs the road extremely well and displays enormous grip on its wide tires. This I always do without Mrs. Carlsberg66 as a passenger, who does not appreciate this. Like the GS before it, I don’t like the tire noise on the low-profile tires but I should have known that going in. The doors close with a satisfying whump. It is also slightly roomier inside and longer than the GS. My longest trip down to Cleveland told me that this was a pleasant, quiet, and comfortable road trip car. The ride quality is a great balance between sportiness and comfort.
Since this is my first newer car since 2015, I wasn’t going to settle. I wanted the 3.0 liter twin turbo, which is standard on the CT-550 and it’s a fairly rare trim level from what I see in public (The 4 cylinder is 237 HP and while it can get out of its own way, I ruled it out). The V-6 at 336 HP really shines in terms of responsiveness and effortless passing power. On the open road, driven at 70-75 MPH, the trip computer reports 26-29 MPG with cylinder deactivation. I do not find the fuel economy too terrible for a high horsepower, all wheel drive car weighing over 3,800 lbs. The complexity of these engines was duly noted by me and is of concern over the long haul. The GS turbo however, gave me no trouble in 9 years.
Critics have been less favorable on the interior of the CT5 and the consensus is that it is not as nice as others in its class: the Germans, Lexus, etc. In general: I agree with that assessment. It’s certainly not lackluster, not at all. It’s a nice place to be, everything is well laid out, the heated and cooled seats are comfortable ergonomically and to my eyes, the interior has a nice fit and finish with nice materials. It has a heads up display which is a neat feature. The touchscreen is not humungous, and I’ve seen lesser GM cars with far larger screens. But I for one am not a fan of the massive screens; the size and features of this one and easy integration are just fine. The wireless charger works well and is the first car I’ve had with this, and as a chronic forgetter and loser of charging cords, it’s very handy. The switchgear is of higher quality than other GM cars, but overall on the inside there isn’t a wow factor suggesting this is a nearly $60,000.00 luxury car.
Confounding.
One other thing that has taken some getting used to is the gear lever. I’m used to the PRDNL pull-down console shift on an automatic. No, not on this one. You have to shift up to go in reverse then down again for drive. And Park is depressing a button on top left side of the lever. It has made for some near misses. I believe this configuration is common on many new vehicles, not just GM. As an aside, unlike my TourX, this has an auto-stop engine cut-out feature (which I hate on that car) that you can actually turn off upon starting; but no setting to do so permanently.
Going up from a 2014 car to a 2023 is a big bump in infotainment. On tech matters, I give myself a score of 6.75 out of 10 (others would score me much lower). I am not a technology worshiper but recognize how entwined it is in our lives and appreciate the benefits and woe the negatives. It didn’t help that the car came with no owner’s manual. The saleswoman said it didn’t come with one and “maybe it’s online only” which apparently is true in some new cars. Feeling this would be useful, found one on eBay for $25.00. Syncing phones and garage door opener is easy enough. I’ve struggled with the personalization settings. I can’t get the seats and the mirrors to be 100% synched for example. I know I can figure it out, but… other priorities. Also, the big knob in the center console is cool looking, and I’ve accidentally given it a twirl or two. I sort of know what it’s for. Maybe. I just haven’t spent the time to really acquaint myself. Someday though, I will. Honest.
I’ve had this car for not quite 5 months. Bottom line, it’s a sweet machine and I do enjoy driving it. But I parked it a lot early on, owing to my shakedown period of my son’s 2000 Buick LeSabre, which was purchased in early April. I’ve barely put 3000 miles on it. Now that both my sons are home, we have 5 cars here. The Cadillac, as the newest car enjoys garage privileges, and most often I need to move a car out of the way to drive it. So, on many work days, I’ll drive whatever car is in front of it to avoid having to move something out of the way to pull it out of the garage. It’s fair to say that I’ve not really 100% bonded with the Cadillac as yet and it doesn’t feel like it’s my car yet, something that needs to change.
As a man, you need to mark a used car to make it yours. Not sure removing tint film qualifies, but you’ll think of something. Pretty sure you have a 3.0TT V6, which comes in two varieties and a third in the late CT6. The CTS VSport had a 3.6T engine, which is now only in the CT4-V Blackwing.
For years, I’ve been thinking of replacing my now-beater DTS with an STS for the last (alas) and best mass production Cadillac V8, but now they’re old and usually even higher mileage, too, and parts availability is an issue. The CT6 headrest stabs me in the back (haven’t tried a CT5), but I suspect I’d have to modify any vehicle made in the last ten years because of my body shape. A largely-black interior and/or mostly-glass roof don’t seem practical here in the South, tint or no tint, but that’s about all Cadillac offers. Don’t get me started on big wheels ruining the ride. Do you have run flat tires?
Based on looking at a 2023 CT5 brochure on-line, the CT5 either had the 2.0L single turbo or the 3.0L twin turbo. Badging on the rear trunk lid, if it is still there and assuming it hasn’t been replaced with an incorrect one, would indicate the respective torque rating (in newton meters) for the engine you have. “550” would indicate it has the 3.0 twin turbo. Also, a look underhood, one can identify whether there are two turbos. The normally aspirated 3.6 v6, although a fine engine, (I have it in my XT5) was not available for this car as far as I know.
This is an interesting contrast with my own choice of a new 2023 Dodge Charger. Much of what you write about your car’s power and handling applies to me too. The two seem similar in overall size and power, though they go about some of the ways they get there differently. Also, both cars seem to have interiors that perhaps do not live up to their intended price points.
I will also join you in confessing the same feelings about moving from an old car with which you have a history to a new one – and how out of place we can feel in it for a time, and how unfamiliar some of the new features are. I am still there too, with only 1000 miles on the new car since May.
I like that you got one in a color, and that bright blue gives this good-looking car a bit of a swaggar! I like the new ride, but the important thing is that you found a car that pushes the right buttons for you. I hope you and the new Cadillac bond with one another successfully and soon!
Sorry Guys ! This Vintage Rolls Canardly ( Roll down one hill and Can ardly get up the next) could possibly fathom a PHANTOM, or better yet a Town Car, which is my daily driver, but this CT5 like the rest of Cadillacs line IMO is completely CADILLACKING. 😉
I previously had a 2012 Cruze which is related to the GS. From there I went old school by moving to a 1985. No complicated electronics there!
Mid 2010s cars are in kind of a middle ground of modernity. They don’t have the all encompassing digital user interfaces of modern cars but they more or less feel about the same. I can definitely see the appeal of moving to a more modern car though.
Excellent write-up, I enjoyed it. I owned a 2014 Buick Regal Turbo. Not a GS, but an excellent car. I found it very “Audi-esque”, it was powerful, fuel-efficient, excellent front seatsl, superb HVAC, very good ergonomics (the touch screen I disliked, but it could be worse….)
I replaced it with a Colorado lease for 18 months (needed a truck), which I was able to “sell” for a profit, and eventually, I replaced that with a 2015 Cruze 1.8.
The Regal is the superior car, but I prefer the Cruze. I like the manual trans, the Cruze “feels” like a mini-2011 Malibu
Friendly note: these cars are “related” in that GM manufactured them.
The Regal was a derivative of GM’s “Epsilon” platform. Think Pontiac G6, the last Saab 9-3. The 2008-12 Malibu.
The last Chevy Impala, an excellent car was a “Global Epsilon II”. I rented one for a week in 2013/14, it felt “smaller” than it was, it was really as good as Consumer Reports said. I rented several 1st gen Cruzes (automatics of course), and I liked them.
The Cruze is a “delta platform”. Think Opel Astra, Chevy Cobalt. Delta II.
I think it is an excellent car for its class. The Cruze does not have independent rear suspension (but the Equinox, a Cruze derivative, DOES, to facilitate 4wd).
Back in the day (2017, the last year of the Regal Turbo in that generation), a new Regal was pricey ($29-30) so I got a GM certified used on. But a base 2015 Cruze was under $20. If you like to change your gears, and can live without touch screens and graphics, and leather seats, a base non-Turbo Cruze was (and is) one of auto-dom’s best kept secrets. I wish I had bought mine new.
My brother has owned or leased a few ATSs and Camaro on the Alpha platform, great-driving cars! I don’t think there is a better-driving platform than GM’s Alpha (ride, handling. steering). GM put a lot of good effort into that. Cars are choices, and GM didn’t have as much money to put in the interiors. Your CT5 is a great driver, so I hope you prize ride and handling, and you enjoy your new car, good luck!
I Love the Color! What’s interesting about your last 2 cars is that they were available with a real manual transmission. Unfortunately with the CT5 you have to get the 668 HP Blackwing to get a clutch pedal, truly a ridiculous proposition from so many angles.
Online owner’s manuals do have their benefits; most of our post-2000 cars have come with small town phone books which take up most of the glovebox. And the manufacturers encase them in faux leather bindings which add another inch or so of thickness.
The manual for my 2018 Forester does fill up the glovebox. I have loaded digital copies of the manuals for all our vehicles on my iPad. I can always find them and even search the text.
I think Cadillac’s sole focus on the Lyriq has made people overlook their other cars. I recently bought a 2024 XT5 Premium Luxury in Emerald Lake Metallic. It to me is a connection to the old school GM highway cruisers of the late 20th century despite being in a smaller, taller package. Smooth, powerful V6 even more capable than the old 3800 and small V8s. Yes it’s not the most modern progressive vehicle but it’sa refreshing break with the overly techie, turbo 4 banger only competition. I drove the Mercedes GLC, Acura RDX and the Lexus RX. The RX was fine but had no personality. The RDX had stiff seats and a weird shifter. The Mercedes was slow and boring to drive.
If Cadillac sold it’s merits that your and my car offer, they could be selling over 200k in US vs the 150k they r doin now
I’m thinking about getting a used XT5, so I’m all ears if you care to elaborate on its virtues and vices.
I had 2021 and now a 2024 550t. The Twin Turbo V6 is great. Both cars have the Maple Sugar interior. The all black interior was kinda drab.
From what I’ve read the CTS/5 is a really good handler, that makes sense since it shares DNA with the Camaro. RWD really does make a car feel much different from a FWD only platform. A year old Cadillac is still too expensive for me, but the earlier CTS models post ’14 look good to me. Though I would only prefer the NA V6 engine. On the other hand I’ve also considered the last of the XTS models also, it depends on whether I prefer a car that empathizes traditional Cadillac luxury attributes over sportiness. I’ve got a year or two to decide.
Your new Cadillac looks great in blue. Enjoy it!
Very nice car, big congrats. Never set foot in one, but from reviews and pictures Cadillac seems to be holding the place of 1990s BMW with their sedans: a handling-first chassis with functional and comfortable but somewhat austere cabins, and some very potent optional engines.
It’s now a unique position and I hope they can continue to offer this while the Germans lean too heavily into tech gimmicks and trying to be everything to everyone.