Project DD: 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6 DI

[WRXtranceformed]

So the other thread can die I figured I would start this one so that I can chronicle my journey with this car. Because it has been an interesting one already. :lol:

Story: Traded in the keys to my TL-S, negotiated what I thought was a fair deal for my trade in and this car. Searched high and low to find a properly optioned, low-mileage, CPO example with a 100k warranty. It turns out it was in California.

Car ships in just over a week. Take delivery and immediately make the 400 mile round trip to Atlanta. Without going into all of my impressions and raves about how much I enjoyed the car on this trip, the one glaring thing I noticed was a wet rear interior rear passenger airbag panel after a hard rain that night. Dropped the car off at Cadillac of South Charlotte as soon as I returned and picked up a bawlin DTS loaner. Looks like the car will be in the shop for about a week, the entire sunroof needed to be taken out as there was a TSB on one of the drain lines and the auxiliary drainage line was clogged. Insert jokes about American vs. Jap engineering here <------------------

Option Packages:
Engine (optional, 3.6L DI): RPO code LLT 3.6L V6 VVT SIDI with 304 horsepower @ 6400 rpm and 273 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5200 rpm
UAV - Audio system with HDD-based Navigation, AM/FM stereo, XM Radio capable, CD/DVD/DVD-A/DVD-V player, MP3 playback, Bluetooth, Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound 10-speaker system, Radio Data System (RDS), 40GB Hard Drive Device (HDD), USB connector, 3.5mm auxiliary input jack, 8" pop-up hi-def touch screen, Nav/Infotainment Voice Recognition, XM NavTraffic & XM NavWeather capable
Y40 - Luxury Level One Package (aka Sight & Sound Package in Canada) - Includes in-dash 6-disc CD changer, MP3 playback, theft-deterrent system with audible/visible alarm, Rainsense wipers, interior ambient accent lighting
Y41 - Luxury Level Two Package (aka Comfort & Convenience Package in Canada) - Includes heated and ventilated front seats, split-folding rear seatbacks, power tilt and telescopic steering column, universal home remote, ultrasonic rear parking assist and keyless access system with remote vehicle starter system
Y43 - 18" Summer Tire Performance Package - Includes performance handling suspension (FE3), automatic rear-level control, performance braking system, speed-sensitive steering, limited-slip differential, 18" x 8" high-polished aluminum wheels, P235/55ZR18 Y-rated summer performance tires, fog lights and Xenon High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with adaptive forward lighting system and headlight washers, performance cooling system included with automatic transmission



Immediate plans for the car upon its return:
- Hyperwhite LED license plate lights (like I had on the TL). This is such a frivolous, ricer thing to do but oddly I can't STAND the yellowish glow of OEM license plate lights now. Especially on this car, it looks awful
- Chrome grill inserts. This sounds ghetto but it is a really inexpensive upgrade and looks very OEM once installed:


- Hardwired install for the 9500ix. I did this myself in the TL but the interior panels never all lined up right when I finished. I know this is something only I would notice, but I didn't want to have to deal with it on this car, plus this installation and remote panel mounting is going to be more complex than the last car because there isn't an obvious place to put it. The kit should arrive shortly!

- Tint
- 4 bumper plugs for the holes the dang front license plate holder is going to leave. Why 4 mounting points (and rivets no less so that I have to have a body shop drill them out) were necessary I don't know.

From there I will probably leave the car mostly stock for once! There really isn't a huge aftermarket, and with the FE3 suspension the car handles extremely well. There is a slight chance I will paint the stock wheels black, but for once I like the car just the way it is

Some initial pictures, hopefully update this more whenever I actually get the car back and can drive it!