Originally Posted by bighersh' post='1044352' date='Oct 31 2009, 07:21 PM

Most races are only determined by fractions of a second.

However, the only place I've seen the CTS-V only beat the M-5 by "fractions" of a second, is 0 - 60 (3.9 -vs- 4.5), and that's 3-4 car lengths at speed.

Everywhere else, track, figure 8, Nurburring (sp) the CTS-V has got it's butt kicked over it's shoulders by the CTS-V.

Give credit where its due (I'm still surprised an M3 could hang with a CTS-v. I' have to take your word for it because I can't get the link to play.)

That said, I'd take my M5 in burgundy, with the automatic- just because of what it is...

Then again, I LOVE a "sleeper". I bet that CTS (even the base CTS with 304 HP V6) will give some 5-series owners who think they're hot s**t, some nightmares- not to mention a severe dose of embarrassment having to tell their girlfriend- something was wrong with their car, as to why they just got schooled by a lady in a CTS.

Originally Posted by swajames' post='1043955' date='Oct 30 2009, 08:38 PM

An excellent and very clever bit of no-lose marketing from Lutz. Fastest time of the day was in their car (albeit with a professional driver) and as for the "regular guys", Lutz himself losing to an M3 (and beating the M5) simply says job done - the CTS-V is up there with the best of them. No surprise that a short track favored the M3, and Lutz proves his point while having a blast. Whatever you think about GM and the CTS-V, Lutz is one of the last true car guys in the business and he's definitely got his finger on the marketing pulse.

Originally Posted by DRANGED' post='1044367' date='Oct 31 2009, 07:50 PM

+1 Unfortunately the US Gov't has it's hands firmly around the throat of Lutz and GM, so the CTS-V and Corvette will soon follow the G8 to the grave.

Originally Posted by sdg1871' post='1044371' date='Oct 31 2009, 06:57 PM

John, I fear that you are right. The G8 was an amazing value an a terrific car. So sad that it came too late to save Pontiac. If the government has half a brain (and I doubt that it does) they will save the CTS-V because it is such a halo car for GM. The fact that a GM sedan could engender as much discussion as the CTS-V has on a BMW enthusiast board is major progres for GM. But I do not believe that the government will ever kill the Corvette. It is far too much of an american icon and is too important to GM's image. But I could see the government killing off the Z06 and ZR1. And what a tragedy that would be.

Originally Posted by DRANGED' post='1044379' date='Oct 31 2009, 08:14 PM

The high performance ZR1, Z06 and CTS-V we know now are not long for this world. The Corvette namesake may remain, albeit as an empty shell.