Cadillac CTS-V Better than Corvette ZR1? - Garage419

"so are you saying that if sabine drove every car's ring test, she would actually improve all their times?" I said " Love to see it." BTW she beat Clarkson's time (both in Jaguar diesels) by 47 seconds. He supposed to be a good driver too. "I disagree. No one could show up to the ring and run a sub-8 minute time without nearly memorizing it. Engineers have more seat time in these cars than anyone, including ring time. And many of them are weekend racers, if not semi-professionals" You place emphasis on experience and seat time than dismiss Sabine. The best time I could find was 8 minutes 16 seconds in Cossie (Sierra) TWENTY years ago. I can't find the lap times for the endurance races she won at the ring. As was pointed there needs to be consistency when it comes to ring lap times. We are not getting that now. On FLD today it was reported that Porsche is saying no way a Nissan GTR ran the ring in the time it did on stock tires. One professional driver in a stock production car will give consistency. Maybe Hans Stuck is available.

no, probably not, but in general, it's a decent indication of a car's capabilities on a very hard race track.

I would like to see someone who is good and credible race all the cars, with no bias. This is not going to happen, so really, should we care about the Ring times for anything else than "individual statistics"? Most car companies are using it as a marketing gimmick now, plus most car reviewers (mag’s and websites) are quick to report on the times and records as well. Not to mention, us car guys are sort-of a Gran-Turismo generation and we all know how crazy that course is on a video game level. Most of us, I think, really respect anyone who can break records on that track. But, as I mentioned above, can we really take the record breaking seriously if one person who sets a record is a ring-virgin vs. an engineer that has the track memorized?

Sabine Schmitt has gone around the ring 20,000 times (her estimate) and it increases by 1200 per year. She has two nicknames "Queen of the Nürburgring" and "the fastest taxi driver in the world". Sabine Schmitz Motorsport (look it up). Also look her up on You Tube. John Heinricy is great, but I doubt he knows the track as well as Schmitz.....Lets get The Stig in that CTS-V at the Ring.

I think we are on the same page? I am not sure if I was clear...I think my post was? I agree, no one could just show up and run that time...which is why I mentioned the SS time vs. the MS3 time. The MS3 was done by Ticehurst (who as I understand was a Ring virgin and new to the car) and the SS was done by a person with ring time and experience with the SS (looking for his name atm). So what I am saying is, how much can we put into the SS's time vs. the MS3's time. There is a 7 second difference; what would the time be if it both cars were raced by the same driver? Which relates to the ZR1 vs. the GT-R. What if John Heinricy drove the GT-R without bias?

One thing comes to mind after watching it again. Should we take the ring laps seriously and as benchmarks? Most of the cars that set the laps here are raced by engineers, or racers, or people who have virtually no time on the ring...vs. this master who has it memorized. What was the GT-R's driver's experience with the ring and what if John Heinricy drove the GT-R? That brings the new Cobalt SS's record into play for me. It beat out the MS3 as the fastest FWD around the ring. It is important to note: the people who set the record with the MS3 were not professionals and I think they only had 5 (or around that) laps of experience on the ring. I think that sparks the debate again; regarding the issue of setting some guide lines for ring records?

Ok, who the hell is looking at your t-shirt instead of the car. Not to be mean Matt but you can show up dressed like a clown and I wouldnt care. Im here for the cars and the debates. Great car and another good review by you guys. Keep up the good work.

Nice job on the Cadillac CTS-V test drive and report. Priceless to get a lap with commentary like that. You HAVE to appreciate when the head of GM's Performance Division is a race driver, and what a homerun the CTS-V is.

Trying to post, just a test

John Heinricy may not be a professional driver, but I can't imagine a pro going much quicker around the ring. But there is one person, an instructor at the Ring that's fits the bill. Let Sabine Schmitt drive the CTS-V around the track. She almost drove a Ford Transit van (think Dodge Sprinter) around the ring under 10 minutes. Love to see it. So all Matt has to do is ask and he receives? I drive around the Milford proving grounds just to catch a glimpse of something on the track. No camera (I just want to see something). I go to the Centennial at the headquarters, see the Opel Corsa (change the grill and you have a winner), ZR1. I drive to Chicago just to see one car that was not shown at the NAIAS. Come on GM talk to me! Anyway GM/Cadillac is this the last 8 cylinder CTS-V? Will the CTS in the North American market get the 2.9l turbo diesel engine? I keep hearing about CNG powered cars, diesel trucks, being converted to run on CNG. T. Boone Pickens has said you need ten CNG station to get trucks from coast to coast. What does GM think of CNG? (look at the re$ale value of CNG Cavilers on EBay) Is hydrogen really going to happen?

Wow guys you keep getting better and better!! I loved this episode and the CTS-V is great. But I would love to see more Matt kicking this beast around the corners.

this is one of best car show on the the internet. i got a Q for u. The Lexus ISF is cool but i think that TRD should mack a supercharger for it. Then u would not be passing it in a CTS-V. i never like Cadillac's.

Yo, that was awesome...kindof. I really think the CTS-V is awesome...but seriously, the next time a manufacturer (or anyone) gives you a car....could you please give us more exterior and interior shots of the car? You couldve done one external walkaround which wouldve given us all the angles we need. And we didnt see one lick of the interior, which I would have liked to see. This couldve been done/shown while you guys sat in the car and talked for 5 minutes. And I wouldve liked to hear you guys discuss the differences between the new and the old CTS-V. And, somehow mic up the engine or the exhaust please...I wouldve loved to hear the car better. Im a big fan of the CTS-V but Im sad to say that you guys couldve given me more of what I needed....especially considering that they sent you a car to mess around in. Sorry, I dont mean to bitch...just some constructive criticism. You know Im a big fan. And earlier posts, please?!?!. Last few episodes werent posted till 6PM US Eastern time.

i hate u sooo much right now. lol. awesome man, i have say the 08 CTS-V is on my list of cars 2 own the only thing i dont like bout it is the front bumper i'd hope some one would come up with a body kit that looks similar to the one on the stock CTS, it looks better to me cuz it doesnt make that car look soo boxy, other wise when i get my CTS-v i'll probable just buy the front bumper from an 08 CTS and put it on my self.

scz33, judging by his car history he has disclosed. I think he had or has a Ferrari. That being said, Matt whats up with the lame shirt. I want to know why you couldn't devote 20 seconds to asking him what he thinks of the ring time as a new standard.

Matt, what's up with the Ferrari t-shirt? I remember in a previous episode you were bashing the people at the Ferrari track day for wearing Ferrari apparel. I think you were saying that if you have a Ferrari, you don't need to be wearing clothes that say Ferrari on it. Maybe you don't have a prancing horse, thus making it alright to rock it? Can you explain your attire big guy?