Picked up my 2025 BW in Seattle today

[sponaugle]

I picked up my 2025 CT5 BW at Bellevue Cadillac today. It was originally supposed to be delivered a few weeks ago but was stuck when GM dropped the shipping company. It seems to have made a trip west, then back east a bit then back west. CF1 & CF2, HMR, UQT, 53S, C3U,6Speed. I drove it back to Portland, and I'm looking forward to putting the break-in miles on it asap. Fun car to drive for sure! The magride is surprisingly good in its configurability! For 668hp it feels pretty quick. Not quite the same as the plaid or the 1200hp GTR, but the traction control is amazing.

It will be great when HPTuners has 2025 support.

A few of my other cars -

 

[Super Saloon]

Awesome garage! Congrats on the new BW.

 

[BW56M]

Now you're just bragging. I would be too. Nice stable of cars.

Congratulations

 

[Roadhawk]

That looks to be a pretty interesting collection of cars you have there - atypical. I'd be interested in an itemization and some background if your up for it. And what prompted your interest in the Caddy? Congrats BTW - good choice...

 

[sponaugle]

That looks to be a pretty interesting collection of cars you have there - atypical. I'd be interested in an itemization and some background if your up for it. And what prompted your interest in the Caddy? Congrats BTW - good choice...

The blackwing is such an amazing engineering feat, and also the end of an era. RWD, manual transmission, supercharged V8... that is a combo we all know is not going to be easier to find in the future. One of my other cars is a Pontiac GTO (2006), which is also RWD, manual, and a 6.0L V8. I twin-turbocharged that one, so it is similar HP to the BW, but without the smarts or the traction.

I started doing car stuff in the JDM area - Integra GSR, then a bunch of Subarus. I have 2 WRXs and 2 STIs - One of the WRXs is just a track car and has a flat-6 turbo engine in it. I am just finishing up the 08 STI that has a billet block in it.. that one should be around 1000hp. The R35 GTR (2014) is the highest hp car at 1130whp, and it is pretty quick. The Skyline R32 is a Japanese import, so RHD. A couple of Mercs in there, and of course the Plaid. The Plaid is actually new as I just replaced the previous Plaid after 3 years. A suburban ZL1, a JDM mini truck, oh and a Factory Five 818.

I'm an electrical engineer, so I really enjoy the wrenching part of car work since it is a good physical manifestation of how to get more performance. I have two lifts in my lower garage, which makes it much easier to have project cars and keep the other cars updated. I'm reasonably competent at engine building, but of course by no means a professional. I also do engine calibration work, and have done the calibrations on my cars as well as a ton of other customer cars over the years. I also do some reverse engineering work for ECMs and other modules.

I'm really happy to have the blackwing. It is not only a beautiful car, but I'm looking forward to dropping off my 12yr old daughter at school in it... She really doesn't love it when I give a little throttle blips.... of course the 12 yr old boys love it. Ah the funs of fatherhood!

Also looking forward to meeting more you guys.

Jeff

 

[KatyTxCT5V]

Beautiful color and option combination. Congratulations! Nice garage too!

 

[sonny200]

(Another) Subbie fan in the house! Lovin that red bugeye! I had an '05 STi (in WRB) & loved it. On a factory tour of Subbie of America in Cherry Hill, NJ in '07, I pointed out the WRX hatch they had & told the rep if they made an STi version, I'd be one of the first to get one. She looked at me & winked. Sure enough, that hatch came out as an STI in '08 & I got it (silver). The '05 was completely stock except I traded the trunk with a regular WRX owner bc I wanted to get rid of the shopping cart handle look. The '08 had a bigger downpipe, cat deletes & an open source tune. Alas, that one suffered the dreaded ring land failure & I was burning >1 qt of oil in between oil changes. I ended up trading her in for an F-150 as I needed a tow rig for my race car.

Congrats on the 5BW -- you're gonna love her!

 

[sponaugle]

(Another) Subbie fan in the house! Lovin that red bugeye! I had an '05 STi (in WRB) & loved it. On a factory tour of Subbie of America in Cherry Hill, NJ in '07, I pointed out the WRX hatch they had & told the rep if they made an STi version, I'd be one of the first to get one. She looked at me & winked. Sure enough, that hatch came out as an STI in '08 & I got it (silver). The '05 was completely stock except I traded the trunk with a regular WRX owner bc I wanted to get rid of the shopping cart handle look. The '08 had a bigger downpipe, cat deletes & an open source tune. Alas, that one suffered the dreaded ring land failure & I was burning >1 qt of oil in between oil changes. I ended up trading her in for an F-150 as I needed a tow rig for my race car.

Congrats on the 5BW -- you're gonna love her!

Very cool. I too was excited when the 08 STI was announced and had one of the first ones here in the NW. I'm good friends with Jeff Perrin who you might know from his parts. (Perrin Performance). He and I built the EZ30R WRX/STIs back in the day. Fun stuff for sure, and I'm looking forward to getting my 08 on the dyno again.

Time to take the 5BW out for a drive and get some of those break in miles done!

Jeff

 

[Roadhawk]

Thanks for the response sponaugle....and wow....serious JDM style HP you've got there. Hard to imagine your dilemma deciding which to drive and having the time etc. But looks like great fun.

Unlike you I'm not at all a mechanic....just a driver....and of more humble/limited means (what a garage you have - wow!). I own and have owned what I think are some very nice driving cars...special for what they are/were.

My favorite car ever was probably my bone stock 1989 supercharged MR2. Quick, but not a powerhouse....it excelled in maneuverability...and thats really what I value even over ultimate speed and HP. Its also why I picked up a 4 BW vs 5 - but with some of the same thinking as why you sought out the 5....last of an era (sadly). At least you have many examples of (the even better prior era cars IMO) to choose from. Much kudos!

 

[dribs15]

(Another) Subbie fan in the house! Lovin that red bugeye! I had an '05 STi (in WRB) & loved it. On a factory tour of Subbie of America in Cherry Hill, NJ in '07, I pointed out the WRX hatch they had & told the rep if they made an STi version, I'd be one of the first to get one. She looked at me & winked. Sure enough, that hatch came out as an STI in '08 & I got it (silver). The '05 was completely stock except I traded the trunk with a regular WRX owner bc I wanted to get rid of the shopping cart handle look. The '08 had a bigger downpipe, cat deletes & an open source tune. Alas, that one suffered the dreaded ring land failure & I was burning >1 qt of oil in between oil changes. I ended up trading her in for an F-150 as I needed a tow rig for my race car.

Congrats on the 5BW -- you're gonna love her!

Cherry Hill is where I grew up!
... Fun fact--> that Subaru of America headquarters was built on the site of where the Latin Casino was. Lots of famous people and stuff happened there...

Latin Casino - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

...Sorry for the hijack

 

[sponaugle]

My favorite car ever was probably my bone stock 1989 supercharged MR2. Quick, but not a powerhouse....it excelled in maneuverability...and thats really what I value even over ultimate speed and HP. Its also why I picked up a 4 BW vs 5 - but with some of the same thinking as why you sought out the 5....last of an era (sadly). At least you have many examples of (the even better prior era cars IMO) to choose from. Much kudos!

The MR2 is a fantastic car - If I could find a really good condition one I would love to get one!

 

[MookdocOE]

I am sure it's not as fast as the pumped out GTR. My friend has one all pumped up too and honestly it looks cool but the ride is absolutely Horse Chit. The Blackwing ride has it in spades over the GTR imo. As for a Plaid? I wouldn't know or ever support someone like Elon Musk end of story.

 

[sponaugle]

I am sure it's not as fast as the pumped out GTR. My friend has one all pumped up too and honestly it looks cool but the ride is absolutely Horse Chit. The Blackwing ride has it in spades over the GTR imo. As for a Plaid? I wouldn't know or ever support someone like Elon Musk end of story.

The GTR is certainly a much harsher ride, although on the track it seems quite good especially at the higher power delivery.

The Plaid is just fantastic to drive on the street, and of course the acceleration is down right frighting. I can do 0-60 in my driveway, which is a good test!

 

[MookdocOE]

The GTR is certainly a much harsher ride, although on the track it seems quite good especially at the higher power delivery.

The Plaid is just fantastic to drive on the street, and of course the acceleration is down right frighting. I can do 0-60 in my driveway, which is a good test!

I am sure with instant torque with almost zero driveline loss... The Tesla's always line up with my Blackwing at stoplights and off they go. More non car guys thinking they are car guys...Honestly, they all depreciate I don't need something that depreciates 2-3x that of my Blackwing..lol

 

[KnightI2]

I'm really happy to have the blackwing. It is not only a beautiful car, but I'm looking forward to dropping off my 12yr old daughter at school in it... She really doesn't love it when I give a little throttle blips.... of course the 12 yr old boys love it. Ah the funs of fatherhood!

Also looking forward to meeting more you guys.

Jeff

Ahhh sounds like family drives at my house. My 14 year old daughter acts terrified and my 15 and 20 YO sons are trying to look at the dash to see how fast we are going. Definitely fatherhood for the win.

 

[Finally-a-V]

Cherry Hill is where I grew up!
... Fun fact--> that Subaru of America headquarters was built on the site of where the Latin Casino was. Lots of famous people and stuff happened there...

Latin Casino - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

...Sorry for the hijack

OMG!!! I'm flashing back! The Latin Casino! Cherry Hill. Much too young to have been "in" the Latin. Conveniently across the highway from the Garden State Race Track! I grew up in Pennsauken. Next we'll be talking about the Nellie Bly

 

[1Evil55]

Great collection in the garage! Former Evo driver here. Don't hesitate to keep sharing more specifics on those cars especially the Skyline!

 

[CBH]

Very impressive garage and car collection.

Thanks for sharing and welcome to the BW family