Z-06 493 Posted May 4, 2009 [source: Motortrend] Comparison: 2009 BMW M5 vs 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Mirror, Mirror: The $89,325 Munich Benchmark vs. the $60,700 Motown Doppelganger. Which is the Fairest Supersedan of Them All? FIRST PLACE: Cadillac CTS-V Glitzy exterior and cabin plus some finish issues detract from premium feel, but delivers where it counts. A Corvette ZR1 in four-door attire -- and a bargain to boot. SECOND PLACE: BMW M5 Masterfully executed, but priced accordingly. Handling not on par with BMW's best, though, and V-10 power no match for Caddy's supercharged V-8. Priced at $94,895 as-tested, the BMW M5 says "premium" from the bottom line on its window sticker to the velvety feel of its controls to the secure embrace of its sport seats. The CTS-V can't match the BMW for fit and finish (one example: when raising the driver-seat headrest, the anchor plugs pulled out of the seat back), and it's simply not as finely matured as its Bavarian rival. Even at $3400, the CTS-V's optional Recaro front buckets can't compare with the BMW's thrones for holding you in place when driving hard (the Caddy's $300 suede wheel is a nice touch, though). Then again, at $66,835 as-tested the Cadillac undercuts the BMW by nearly $30 grand. For its lofty admission price, the BMW had BETTER be built like a Tiffany clock. Yet where it really matters, as a performance sedan, the CTS-V soundly spanks the M5. It's quicker in a straight line, handles better, steers better, even rides better (credit those amazing, multitalented magnetorheological shocks). An all-new M5, rumored to develop 600-plus horsepower, is coming for 2011. Until then, though, it's the Cadillac CTS-V that best reflects the supersedan state of the art. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FAPTurbo 1,218 Posted May 4, 2009 BUT I THOUGHT MOTORTREND WAS BIASED!!!!! OMG WTF BBQ PUSHRODS ARE TEH SUXORZ DOHC IS SPOSED TO BE TEH WINRAR!!!!! WHERES TEH ELEVENTY BILLION MASSAGE SETTINGS IN THE BACK SEAT CADILLAC NEEDS TO HAVE SUPER-DVD-AUDIO-BLU-RAY SYSTEM WITH SEVENTY CHANNELS CADILLAC IS STILL TEH FAILBOAT!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justin Bimmer 138 Posted May 4, 2009 BUT I THOUGHT MOTORTREND WAS BIASED!!!!! OMG WTF BBQ PUSHRODS ARE TEH SUXORZ DOHC IS SPOSED TO BE TEH WINRAR!!!!! WHERES TEH ELEVENTY BILLION MASSAGE SETTINGS IN THE BACK SEAT CADILLAC NEEDS TO HAVE SUPER-DVD-AUDIO-BLU-RAY SYSTEM WITH SEVENTY CHANNELS CADILLAC IS STILL TEH FAILBOAT!!!!!!! Everything he said, I agree with, I think. . . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Intrepidation 882 Posted May 4, 2009 BUT I THOUGHT MOTORTREND WAS BIASED!!!!! OMG WTF BBQ PUSHRODS ARE TEH SUXORZ DOHC IS SPOSED TO BE TEH WINRAR!!!!! WHERES TEH ELEVENTY BILLION MASSAGE SETTINGS IN THE BACK SEAT CADILLAC NEEDS TO HAVE SUPER-DVD-AUDIO-BLU-RAY SYSTEM WITH SEVENTY CHANNELS CADILLAC IS STILL TEH FAILBOAT!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew Dowdell 6,478 Posted May 4, 2009 BUT I THOUGHT MOTORTREND WAS BIASED!!!!! OMG WTF BBQ PUSHRODS ARE TEH SUXORZ DOHC IS SPOSED TO BE TEH WINRAR!!!!! WHERES TEH ELEVENTY BILLION MASSAGE SETTINGS IN THE BACK SEAT CADILLAC NEEDS TO HAVE SUPER-DVD-AUDIO-BLU-RAY SYSTEM WITH SEVENTY CHANNELS CADILLAC IS STILL TEH FAILBOAT!!!!!!! Because, without fail, they are still mentioning the f@cking Cimarron. Right there in the first freaking sentence!!!! Once "The Standard of the World," by the early 1980s GM's Cadillac division had nose-dived to "The Standard Engine on Our New Cimarron Is a Four-Cylinder." Cadillac has since scrambled back to become "Another Legendary Automaker Attempting To Reestablish Past Glory." Just once I want to see this same exact article start with "In 1957, Cadillac was selling one of the most expensive and luxurious cars in the world in the V8 Eldorado Brougham at the same time BMW was building the 1 cylinder, 13 horsepower, Isetta nicknamed das rollende Ei or The Rolling Egg." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cubical-aka-Moltar 2,254 Posted May 4, 2009 Sweet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FAPTurbo 1,218 Posted May 4, 2009 Is it possible to email this article to SMK, along with various quote's of him saying that the BMW V10 would trounce the CTS-V, etc? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Camino LS6 868 Posted May 4, 2009 Because, without fail, they are still mentioning the f@cking Cimarron. Right there in the first freaking sentence!!!! Just once I want to see this same exact article start with "In 1957, Cadillac was selling one of the most expensive and luxurious cars in the world in the V8 Eldorado Brougham at the same time BMW was building the 1 cylinder, 13 horsepower, Isetta nicknamed das rollende Ei or The Rolling Egg." Nicely put! Congrats to Caddy for slaying the dragon. ...but the dragon let itself get fat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Intrepidation 882 Posted May 4, 2009 Nicely put! Congrats to Caddy for slaying the dragon. ...but the dragon let itself get fat. ...and ugly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Camino LS6 868 Posted May 4, 2009 Yeah, that too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z-06 493 Posted May 4, 2009 And over-expensive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Camino LS6 868 Posted May 4, 2009 Can't forget that aspect either. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A Horse With No Name 1,986 Posted May 4, 2009 Because, without fail, they are still mentioning the f@cking Cimarron. Right there in the first freaking sentence!!!! Just once I want to see this same exact article start with "In 1957, Cadillac was selling one of the most expensive and luxurious cars in the world in the V8 Eldorado Brougham at the same time BMW was building the 1 cylinder, 13 horsepower, Isetta nicknamed das rollende Ei or The Rolling Egg." I've seen a 1957 Eldorado Brogham. Fabulous car! Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dfelt 2,607 Posted May 4, 2009 Personally the issues they have with the Caddy is nit picking as they are preferances in regards to the seats and head rests. The rest of the fit and finish is also really stretching it. I personally do not like the BMW layout of the dash or the feel. So far all the cars I have been in and looked at have had a plasticy cheap feel and look compared to my caddy's. I will stay with my American Luxury Auto's, supporting my American companies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justin Bimmer 138 Posted May 4, 2009 I don't foresee Motor Trend being around much longer, at least in print form. For that matter, any print auto magazine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gm4life 5 Posted May 4, 2009 I don't foresee Motor Trend being around much longer, at least in print form. For that matter, any print auto magazine. That will be another sad day. I get the four "big" ones, but have the strongest distaste for M/T. Glad they gave the Caddy 1st. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FUTURE_OF_GM 26 Posted May 4, 2009 Glitzy exterior and cabin plus some finish issues detract from premium feel Oh, shut the f*ck up... Just HAD to say something negative, right? And some bull$h! subjective crap to beat all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Intrepidation 882 Posted May 5, 2009 I will agree that their nitpicking is silly/stupid. Where's the mention of the M5 looking like a horse's ass? Or interior design that looks like any BMW from the 90's? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
balthazar 3,249 Posted May 5, 2009 >>"Because, without fail, they are still mentioning the f@cking Cimarron. Right there in the first freaking sentence!!!!"<< JHC !!! Yet there will still be those that trumpet "The CTS-V placed first- there's no such thing as magazine bias!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justin Bimmer 138 Posted May 6, 2009 I want to start a car magazine and just name it "BIAS" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daryl Z71 14 Posted May 6, 2009 Doesn't suprise me some of the $h! they have to complain about. The Caddy looks way better anyway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regfootball 359 Posted May 6, 2009 I will agree that their nitpicking is silly/stupid. Where's the mention of the M5 looking like a horse's ass? Or interior design that looks like any BMW from the 90's? on this, we agree. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regfootball 359 Posted May 6, 2009 by the way, motor trend is going bankrupt, what do they know? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dfelt 2,607 Posted May 19, 2009 [source: Motortrend] Comparison: 2009 BMW M5 vs 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Mirror, Mirror: The $89,325 Munich Benchmark vs. the $60,700 Motown Doppelganger. Which is the Fairest Supersedan of Them All? FIRST PLACE: Cadillac CTS-V Glitzy exterior and cabin plus some finish issues detract from premium feel, but delivers where it counts. A Corvette ZR1 in four-door attire -- and a bargain to boot. SECOND PLACE: BMW M5 Masterfully executed, but priced accordingly. Handling not on par with BMW's best, though, and V-10 power no match for Caddy's supercharged V-8. In regards to this comment: " The CTS-V can't match the BMW for fit and finish (one example: when raising the driver-seat headrest, the anchor plugs pulled out of the seat back)," When I was up at Dougs Cadillac / Hummer in North Seattle this weekend, I checked out the two CTS-V's they had, one in black and the other in the red color. I would have to think the idiot who was moving the head rest was really stupid as I even pulled hard on them and could not pull out the headrest along with the anchor plugs. Something just does not add up. I will say that the recardo seats while nice and very racy I would not want as they are too hard especially if you were going to go on a nice road trip to carve up some mountains like the North Cascade highway would be awesome for this car to eat up. The standard seats are perfect to me. Glad they still felt the V was #1, but as I stated earlier, their nit picking is stupid as they really could not find much to bitch about as their German driving machine is not up to the task of World Class. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turbo200 6 Posted May 19, 2009 In regards to this comment: " The CTS-V can't match the BMW for fit and finish (one example: when raising the driver-seat headrest, the anchor plugs pulled out of the seat back)," When I was up at Dougs Cadillac / Hummer in North Seattle this weekend, I checked out the two CTS-V's they had, one in black and the other in the red color. I would have to think the idiot who was moving the head rest was really stupid as I even pulled hard on them and could not pull out the headrest along with the anchor plugs. Something just does not add up. I will say that the recardo seats while nice and very racy I would not want as they are too hard especially if you were going to go on a nice road trip to carve up some mountains like the North Cascade highway would be awesome for this car to eat up. The standard seats are perfect to me. Glad they still felt the V was #1, but as I stated earlier, their nit picking is stupid as they really could not find much to bitch about as their German driving machine is not up to the task of World Class. maybe their nitpicking is coming from thier experience and preference of understated design.....balance, symmetry, attention to quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites