6,000+ mile owner review 2024 CT5-V Blackwing

[hawk02]

great endorsement!

Thanks! My other "fun" car is a 2021 C8 Corvette convertible. I've posted several times on the Corvette Forum that in my opinion, the CT5-V Blackwing is the BEST performance car GM is currently building. The Corvette guys don't want to hear that. If the top didn't go down on the Corvette, I would have sold it a long time ago. It's just not as much fun to drive as the Caddy. Cadillac luxury, a manual transmission, and a 668 HP supercharged engine is a hard combo to beat.

 

[MookdocOE]

I came to my 2023 5BW from a 2017 M6 Camaro ZL1 coupe. I loved my ZL1. A 5BW with a manual transmission was the ONLY car I would trade my ZL1 for. So far the BW has not disappointed. It is head and shoulders above the ZL1 when it comes to fit, features, and performance. I don't know what the Cadillac engineers did to the LT4 in the BW, but it has a lot more get-up-and-go than the stock LT4 in the ZL1. I assume a lot of that has to do with the Global B platform. My wife asked if I missed my ZL1, and my response was "Not one bit".

Nice, I think the Cadillac engineers really got the air in, air out of engine and they got the power to the ground with Zero lag....I also like the fact that I can actually be comfortable in the car instead smashed into it. Looking at you Corvette C-8, ZL1

 

[VBhak]

I came to my 2023 5BW from a 2017 M6 Camaro ZL1 coupe. I loved my ZL1. A 5BW with a manual transmission was the ONLY car I would trade my ZL1 for. So far the BW has not disappointed. It is head and shoulders above the ZL1 when it comes to fit, features, and performance. I don't know what the Cadillac engineers did to the LT4 in the BW, but it has a lot more get-up-and-go than the stock LT4 in the ZL1. I assume a lot of that has to do with the Global B platform. My wife asked if I missed my ZL1, and my response was "Not one bit".

Many people (myself included) tend to think that due to the objectively measured "track times", and the two cars are subjectively swappable (ZL1 and 5BW). Glad to hear this isn't the case.

I can definitely attest that both objectively and subjective, the V3 and 5BW are not the same, in the same manner the V3 and V2 were not the same.

 

[KnightI2]

I came to my 2023 5BW from a 2017 M6 Camaro ZL1 coupe. I loved my ZL1. A 5BW with a manual transmission was the ONLY car I would trade my ZL1 for. So far the BW has not disappointed. It is head and shoulders above the ZL1 when it comes to fit, features, and performance. I don't know what the Cadillac engineers did to the LT4 in the BW, but it has a lot more get-up-and-go than the stock LT4 in the ZL1. I assume a lot of that has to do with the Global B platform. My wife asked if I missed my ZL1, and my response was "Not one bit".

Before the BW I had/have a 2018 M6 Hot Wheels 2SS. (Politely modded) I will pretty much echo hawk's sentiment about not missing my Camaro.

The only difference is I still have mine as it was my first foray back into a Camaro after many years and cars since my last. So with the package that it is and that timeframe and circumstances of buying make it little special to me. (Plus my oldest wants it ). But there is no draw to drive it like there was before the BW. The BW provides all the fun it did and I can take my family.

 

[hawk02]

Nice, I think the Cadillac engineers really got the air in, air out of engine and they got the power to the ground with Zero lag....I also like the fact that I can actually be comfortable in the car instead smashed into it. Looking at you Corvette C-8, ZL1

No question the ZL1 felt like you were driving inside a bunker. It definitely wasn't known for its great visibility. The C8 isn't much better. Thank God for blind spot sensors!

GM finally using wideband O2 sensors instead of the narrowband contributes to much of the perceived performance increase in the BW. The Cadillac engineers have more confidence that the fueling is more accurate with the widebands and as a result have increased the spark timing across the board. At least that's my theory.

 

[CT5BWenthusiast]

Man are you right about the "knee room".. and specifically the lack of knee width at the dash and lack of steering column telescope extension. Sure the seat goes back far enough to fit an NBA center, but that is only part of the ergo needs

 

[hawk02]

Many people (myself included) tend to think that due to the objectively measured "track times", and the two cars are subjectively swappable (ZL1 and 5BW). Glad to hear this isn't the case.

I can definitely attest that both objectively and subjective, the V3 and 5BW are not the same, in the same manner the V3 and V2 were not the same.

No question the 6th gen ZL1 provided a lot of "Bang for the Buck" out of the GM Performance line. I added darn near $11,000 in options to my C8 build just to keep pace with what came standard on the ZL1.

Having said that, the 5BW is in a completely different league than the ZL1 and dare I say even in some respects the C8 Corvette. While the interior of the Corvette looks good, there are some areas that are not up to the same level as the Cadillac. Even though you get carbon fiber, alcantara, and leather on the interior door panels, Cadillac still had to cut cost somewhere so you get the same shitty plastic door interior door bottoms as the Camaro.

 

[jbawden]

I really like the OP's comment about ruining resto-mods. I've always considered the idea of building a '67 Chevelle with LT4, 6 speed, roadster shop chassis, etc, but to do that would be 1.5-2x more $ than the 5BW and not nearly as comfortable, reliable, or capable (but it would be better looking).

 

[MookdocOE]

No question the 6th gen ZL1 provided a lot of "Bang for the Buck" out of the GM Performance line. I added darn near $11,000 in options to my C8 build just to keep pace with what came standard on the ZL1.

Having said that, the 5BW is in a completely different league than the ZL1 and dare I say even in some respects the C8 Corvette. While the interior of the Corvette looks good, there are some areas that are not up to the same level as the Cadillac. Even though you get carbon fiber, alcantara, and leather on the interior door panels, Cadillac still had to cut cost somewhere so you get the same shitty plastic door interior door bottoms as the Camaro.

Sorry, it's gone on for FAR Too Long! The shitty plastic door interior bottoms from GM. There is absolutely ZERO chance a vehicle owner or owners under normal usage doesn't drag every shoe, boot, footwear across the door bottoms multiple times daily. It's possible and I have seen numerous GM vehicles from contractor driven trucks to Pontiacs with that so called GM interior shitty door panel bottoms clean up with 200k, 300k miles looks absolutely almost factory fresh because they even hide the abrasions, cuts and gouges.


There is nothing better to use than the shitty plastic door panel bottoms. It's almost like urban legend on YouTube car reviews to point that out and the shear ignorance of the reviewer is on full display........

 

[ngoni]

Sorry, it's gone on for FAR Too Long! The shitty plastic door interior bottoms from GM. There is absolutely ZERO chance a vehicle owner or owners under normal usage doesn't drag every shoe, boot, footwear across the door bottoms multiple times daily. It's possible and I have seen numerous GM vehicles from contractor driven trucks to Pontiacs with that so called GM interior shitty door panel bottoms clean up with 200k, 300k miles looks absolutely almost factory fresh because they even hide the abrasions, cuts and gouges.


There is nothing better to use than the shitty plastic door panel bottoms. It's almost like urban legend on YouTube car reviews to point that out and the shear ignorance of the reviewer is on full display........

You could make a bingo card with what seem like the required phrases in a Blackwing YouTube review and everyone would bingo on every video.