But is it because he cherishes his 5BW so much more than the 4BW that he's preserving it, or does he enjoy driving the 4BW so much more than the 5BW that he can't help it?
4 BW vs SS
- Thread starter Estoril4
- Start date
But is it because he cherishes his 5BW so much more than the 4BW that he's preserving it, or does he enjoy driving the 4BW so much more than the 5BW that he can't help it?
dribs15
Seasoned Member
No, if he's to be believed, he sold his soul for 2 Blackwings.
Elessthree
Active Member
Took delivery of the 4VBW with a 6MT last week. Owned a ‘17 SS 6MT, black, sunroof and full size spare, according to GM it was one of 185 optioned that way that year. Loved the rarity and driving something that only those who knew, knew. I get that same kinda feeling with the BW. Most won’t know but those who do know they’re badass.
The LF4 has an NA like quality, near imperceptible turbo lag. Pulls like a freight train all the way to red line, gear box is amazing. The pedal box is better along with the pedals. Easier to heel toe for me. The biggest difference is the clutch. The 4 is butter compared to the nonlinear clutch of the SS and isn’t nearly as heavy.
Nothing can replace the sound of the LS3 (Elessthree) but the 4 is one of the best sounding v6 I’ve heard…but it’s not loud enough from the cabin.
Driving dynamics - it’s like a next gen SS, better in every way but kinda feels like an evolution. Next gen mag ride reduces body roll and the turn in is insanely good. The front end is so compliant, you can toss the 4 around and flog the shit out of it and it will want more.
To answer the question…it is more than enough to replace the SS while still giving you that feeling of rare and special. If I still owned the SS and drove the 4 I would immediately trade it in. Size and space are non issues for me. Can’t think of a more fun car to drive.
The LF4 has an NA like quality, near imperceptible turbo lag. Pulls like a freight train all the way to red line, gear box is amazing. The pedal box is better along with the pedals. Easier to heel toe for me. The biggest difference is the clutch. The 4 is butter compared to the nonlinear clutch of the SS and isn’t nearly as heavy.
Nothing can replace the sound of the LS3 (Elessthree) but the 4 is one of the best sounding v6 I’ve heard…but it’s not loud enough from the cabin.
Driving dynamics - it’s like a next gen SS, better in every way but kinda feels like an evolution. Next gen mag ride reduces body roll and the turn in is insanely good. The front end is so compliant, you can toss the 4 around and flog the shit out of it and it will want more.
To answer the question…it is more than enough to replace the SS while still giving you that feeling of rare and special. If I still owned the SS and drove the 4 I would immediately trade it in. Size and space are non issues for me. Can’t think of a more fun car to drive.
Thanks for the thoughtful response. Swapping the lighter clutch spring went a long way for me in the SS but can't do anything about the size and older gen mag ride! If it were for a track car I think it would be an easy decision
burn813
Original Ginger
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- V-Series Cadillac(s)?
- 2022 CT5-V Blackwing
no no no... he is scerd of the bald eagles... and he kinda loves driving the 4BW
Yes he does, He has taken everything else from me here, don't take this one thing from me... I am the only one without a soul.
Elessthree
Active Member
Totally get that, 4 is not as functional but better in all metrics except space, noise and price. It’s a tough call, the SS is great whip and awesome sleeper. I don’t know what the BW experience is worth in terms of dollars but it’s a small club just like the SS but it gets to be the last of the ICE Cadillacs and probably the best ever made.
Tall Steve
Head Goat Herder
Both.....
Yes, I'm a child of god! Hello!!!!!
No, I sold a kidney and a body part to be named later...
I do like my 4 a lot, ok, and I'm a littler scared of the 5..
I've got your back brother, you are like a red headed step son to me!
Tall Steve
Head Goat Herder
Well said!
seattlecubes
Seasoned Member
I had a G8 GXP Manual and a gen 1 CTS-V so not exactly an SS but similar...recipes? I now have a CT4-BW and the feeling is totally different. To me the BW is a GM sedan in the spirit of the very best European sports sedans where the G8 and CTS (and the SS I test drove) like muscle cars. I'd imagine the CT5-BW feels like an evolution of the GM muscle car formula and less European feeling like the CT4 feels to me. You can feel the weight in the V8 sedans but the turn in on this car is...possibly...sharper but at least as sharp as the Mitsubishi Evo 8 it shares garage space with...and the ride is 200 times better than the Evo, the SS, and CTS-V. I realize none of those have magna-ride, but somehow GM has hidden the mass.
And the engine...it really is great. I'm not sure why everyone is so focused on it not being a V8. Even though GM is maybe "THE V8 Company,"GM is famous for really good 6s too...ask any Grand National, SyTY owner. or 3800 owner. This engine is smooth and never feels out caught out...at least to me.
The CT4-V Blackwing's biggest problem is the CT5-V Blackwing. Maybe GM shouldn't have launched them at the same time. Maybe they should have been prices further apart? The car is amazing but is stuck in the shadow of the 5, a problem the M3 doesn't have with the M5. And this car is as good as M3 where it counts.
And the engine...it really is great. I'm not sure why everyone is so focused on it not being a V8. Even though GM is maybe "THE V8 Company,"GM is famous for really good 6s too...ask any Grand National, SyTY owner. or 3800 owner. This engine is smooth and never feels out caught out...at least to me.
The CT4-V Blackwing's biggest problem is the CT5-V Blackwing. Maybe GM shouldn't have launched them at the same time. Maybe they should have been prices further apart? The car is amazing but is stuck in the shadow of the 5, a problem the M3 doesn't have with the M5. And this car is as good as M3 where it counts.
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Berserker
Seasoned Member
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- '23 CT4-V Blackwing 6MT #Riftgang
I drove an Evo VIII for 6 years. Still waiting on my 4BW to be built (TPW was 08/08). Haven't driven one yet. Your statement above is making me excited. The Evo's steering was straight-up sublime.
Yeah, we had a conversation about this going in the Media Dumps thread:
But even though people are making these unwarranted 4BW vs 5BW comparisons, a lot of the big names are saying they would take the 4 over the 5. Matt Farah and Jason Cammisa come to mind immediately. Both also say the 4BW is better than the M3.
Snowwolfe
Seasoned Member
Main reason I picked the 5 over the 4 was the built in camera system. I had my order already printed out then discovered this and bailed.
How does that work? Separate sim cards for surround camera and pdr?
DEFBW
Active Member
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- V-Series Cadillac(s)?
- 2022 Dark Emerald Frost CT4-V Blackwing
I recently traded my 2015 Red Hot 2 6mt SS for a slightly used 2022 4v BW in the matte green paint and have not looked back. I do miss the SS BUT the fun-factor of the BW really can't be beat. Maybe I'll get another SS...who knows -
seattlecubes
Seasoned Member
Daijoubu
Seasoned Member
You didn't happen to buy your car from me in Charlotte, did you? I had the exact same car, and sold it to someone from Michigan in 2019.
Elessthree
Active Member
I bought from a dealership in Charlotte and drove it back to Michigan in March of ‘19. Was told the previous owner traded the SS to buy a Stinger GT. Had about 4K miles on it with carbon fiber bow ties
Daijoubu
Seasoned Member
Wow, similar, but different. I Sold it directly to an individual that drove it back to Michigan, and I definitely didn't buy a Kia Stinger...just to set the record straight, ha.
jodakid69
Seasoned Member
I concur with most of the thoughts from the other posts. I had a 2017 6MT, I loved it but my wife hated the manual. I ended up "upgrading" to an M2Comp. Then I saw the video from Savagegeese – “Cadillac CT4V Blackwing | GM Has a Soul.” I decided that I needed to capture “Lighting in a Bottle” one more time.
I don’t miss the chrome or the 13MPG. I do miss the suede ‘SS’ dash and the engine sound.
The transmission, clutch, front seats, center console, and adjustable “V” settings make the Cadillac a great performance cruiser and track weapon. The Chevy SS is more of a sleeper “Muscle Car”. The CT5-V is better at the drag strip. But the CT5-V might come is at twice the MSRP than the Chevy SS.
You can’t go wrong which every way you want to go – Chevy SS, or whichever Caddy you can actually grab.
I don’t miss the chrome or the 13MPG. I do miss the suede ‘SS’ dash and the engine sound.
The transmission, clutch, front seats, center console, and adjustable “V” settings make the Cadillac a great performance cruiser and track weapon. The Chevy SS is more of a sleeper “Muscle Car”. The CT5-V is better at the drag strip. But the CT5-V might come is at twice the MSRP than the Chevy SS.
You can’t go wrong which every way you want to go – Chevy SS, or whichever Caddy you can actually grab.
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