My Test Drive of 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

[Cmicasa the Great]

Had some free time on my hands today round lunch so I decided to go up to my Caddy dealer to get a word on the arrival of the CTS-V. My sales rep literally thru his hands up and said that they are wondering that themselves.. as they already have a pre-order list almost 100 deep, cash money deposits, and some from out in PA, VA and W.VA. So.. I looked over on the showroom an they had this Crystal White Frost matte-finish ATS-V:

 

 

 

On the windshield it notes only 99 being made, and they wouldn't allow me to test it unless I was seriously considering it.. because of the rarity. Really beautiful car. The paint seriously emanates with the snoot in me. Driving it would instantly have one enthralled in serious conversation

 

 

Soooooooooo. I was shown the door.. and ushered into this 2 door beauty:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exterior Impressions:

 

Black Raven, Polished 18s, Sunrood, Red Brembos... Car is BAD ASS. This is the way the ATS should actually be imo. Anyone saying the ATS Coupe is boring is an absolute crazy person. With these slight mods on the body.. even more GORGEOUS!!! Only in the case of the ATS could I even say that Cadillac is somewhat subdued.. and that is somewhat the nature of the segment. The 3series is BORING. The C-Class looks like a car ONLY for GIRLS... the A4 is a JELLYBEAN. The only one that is really challenging is the IS.. and that looks like something a 12 year old would draw on the back of his notebook

 

 

Interior:

 

As seen in the pics.. this one was a stick. Sueded material around the shifter and the steering wheel.. I would have opted OUT of that. I have in the VCoupe and thought it was nice at first, but like a friend of min said about his 911 Carrera with the same material.. " after a while U miss the feel of a leather wrapped wheel." Nuff said

 

Loved the Recaros. Felt better than the one in my VCoupe. 

 

Instrument panel not included, and I have no issue with CUE or the interior outside of that panel. Gotta wonder why the hell the Camaro is getting a better instrument panel and a convertible right out the gate. But it is what it is.. and we all kno this car is closer to being replaced than being introduced. But WOWZA what a finish. IF someone had of told U that Cadillac worst interior was still on par with that of the M3 or C63's U would have put a bullet in their head. I'm here to tell U that it would be to your advantage to go ahead and cock that gun.. OK OK.. the new C-Class interior does have some fine bits.. but where as the ATS is let down by its instrument panel JUST being plain.. the C-Class is let down by the fact that its overwrought and.. has a cheap looking tablet taped to the dashboard.

 

The instrument panel is PLAIN.. during the day. At night it looks absolutely sweet. Yeah. I think the chrome ring treatment would have done wonders. It is the one thing.. the ONE THING I would want the, to change on the ATS.. 

I've seen the M3/4 cluster and it really isn't anything to write home about either, but does have that Ring

 

I didn't sit in the rear. Why bother? Its too hard to DRIVE from back there, and anyone I have to give a charity ride to best shut their mouths and hang on for their lives. This bad boy MOVES.

 

 

Drive:

 

 

I drove my Stingray to the dealer.. and got out of it into the Caddy... My goal was to compare the handling, the similar HP. My conclusion; This Sexy American Chica handles like it thinks its  a... a... Z51.. no.. a Z06. Yes.  In the words of Tommy Flannigan (John Lovitz) "Yeaaah.. That's the ticket." And U should have the coin to afford a few of those as well. This car is as fast as my Vette. Or at least damn near. Furthermore, the 6 Speed is more connected in my opinion... perhaps because it truly is. The Vette's tranny being in the rear means that it requires a bit of a connection rod to sent shifts from my hand to the rear mounted tranny. This one is directly connected, thus IMO, feels smoother

 

Put it in first, then second.. then 3rd.. then 4th... I was all ready at 120MPH, and the sales guy clinching the seat says.. "Whooah Whooaaaah.. U can't buy it they confiscate it." He actually said that. Course I've been buying from him since 2005 soooo.

 

This car is smooth. I've driven M3s, older model C63AMGs, RS4s.. even that ugly ass IS-F. Sorry... to all those foreign crack pots. This American Beauty is the new Prince, Crest and all

 

MSRP Standard Vehicle Price $62,665.00

INSTALLED OPTIONS TOTAL $8,745.00

Power sunroof $1,050.00

Base Splitter (No Charge) NO CHARGE

Black Raven $0.00

Jet Black, Leather Seats w/Sueded Microfiber Inserts $0.00

Brembo® brake calipers, Red $595.00

Safety and Security Package $1,500.00

18” polished wheels $900.00

RECARO® performance seats $2,300.00

Luxury Package $2,100.00

Sueded microfiber steering wheel $300.00 Sueded microfiber steering wheel

Covered in soft, hand-stitched microfiber suede

Provides the ultimate sport grip and feel for greater driver confidence

Requires available microfiber sueded shifter

Destination Freight Charge $995.00

TOTAL MSRP $72,405.00

PRICE* $72,405*

Edited November 17, 2015 by Cmicasa the Great

[cp-the-nerd]

Super-like.

 

That is a stunning coupe. I am utterly infatuated with the 2-door ATS, so you're killin' me posting this! In my dream/future scenario I keep going back and forth between getting a 2.0T daily driver or the full V as a weekend sports car. Both would be manual.

 

Thanks for posting your impressions, I know you'd keep it pretty honest if it didn't live up to your expectations because you compared it to the Vette you own. Good review.

[cp-the-nerd]

What did you think of the turbo V6?

[El Kabong]

"I didn't sit in the rear. Why bother? Its too hard to DRIVE from back there."

Statements like this are what make you a beacon of light and wisdom in a world gone mad.

...well, maybe not so much. But I did laugh. Stick around, meng. It's been too long.

[regfootball]

cool write up.!

[Cmicasa the Great]

Super-like.

 

That is a stunning coupe. I am utterly infatuated with the 2-door ATS, so you're killin' me posting this! In my dream/future scenario I keep going back and forth between getting a 2.0T daily driver or the full V as a weekend sports car. Both would be manual.

 

Thanks for posting your impressions, I know you'd keep it pretty honest if it didn't live up to your expectations because you compared it to the Vette you own. Good review.

 

 

Always honest about my reviews.. even the competition. I will go out on a limb and say that despite the reviews.... going in I thought to myself that "this is NO WAY gonna be more fun to drive than the M3 (I drove a new one owned by a friend back this summer,) but damn if I wasn't completely wrong. This thing goes in out of traffic as if they were butter and it is a hot knife. Seriously.. a one point I was able to wiggle thru two idiots on 83N with what I bet was about 6 feet between them in conjunction to their lanes (yes I'm that guy who will come so close in a lane change U just knu I skinned U). 

[Cmicasa the Great]

What did you think of the turbo V6?

 

 

No lag.. just juice. Without me knowing that it was a V6.. without me knowing it was a turbo.. there is no way U could tell me it wasn't an LT1 under the hood. No way. The exhaust even sound perfectly harmonized for the class. No it doesn't sound like U have Billy Boats under there.. nor Flowmasters.. but I would easily say that the sound is a refined Corsa. I will imagine, for now, they saved the louder exhaust for the Camaro SS.

 

Long story short. This thing moves. Take it to a tune shop, or be an AMERICAN (and AMERICA... the U.S. includes everything North..and South.. East and West, til U get to the Oceans and then some of Cleveland.. cause U can have Cleveland. Its a neural spot.. POS town that it is  ) man and do it yourself.. get another 36HP and U will pull off what Marty McFly did without the Flux capacitor and now overwrought, ugly Aluminum car.   

"I didn't sit in the rear. Why bother? Its too hard to DRIVE from back there."

Statements like this are what make you a beacon of light and wisdom in a world gone mad.

...well, maybe not so much. But I did laugh. Stick around, meng. It's been too long.

 

 

 

U kno where I be MENG.. 

[Frisky Dingo]

I just can't get behind any of the cars in this class in coupe form. Too expensive and compromised, imo. If I'm giving up rear doors and a usable backseat, I'll just take something more honest like the new Camaro SS or GT350. 

 

As for the car itself, I have nothing against the looks. They're much better without that tacky rear spoiler. For the money though, I'd still have the M3. Just personal preference.

[Suaviloquent]

Very good sir very good.

[Thed]

I'd take the ATS-V sedan personally, the proportions of the coupe (as well as the previous CTS-V coupe) were just never to my liking. 

 

Slick ride either way. 

[Stew]

I have been in love with the ATS Coupe since it came out.  It and the pre-refresh A5/S5 are tied to me for best looking in class.  I would love to see you take out a Camaro SS and give us a blow by blow comparison man!

[William Maley]

Needs a playmate

[Cmicasa the Great]

William.. it looks like a fun outting.