CTS Coupe vs. ISF

[KentState]

As above, I just wanted to try and keep it simple, no cluttering deatils (money/specific dealers/needs/wants/etc)... just this car vs. that car.

As far as walling myself it, it isn't an issue since I really like both cars, the dealer did throw out other options (GS350 - stated before) but I am not interested in those at all.


What I'm really looking for is actual owner opinions of either of the two cars if anyone happens to have either of these two cars.

I've had two CTS's now and like I said earlier, unless you can get an '09 V somewhere else, then skip the one you are looking at. While I really like the non-V variant, it is nearly 5 years into production and close to a revamp. I don't feel that it's as competitive as other similar offerings and the V version is the only saving grace.

 

[Arkaign]

I mean this in the friendliest possible manner :

If you have the kind of money to consider these options, limiting yourself to two cars (and ESPECIALLY one dealer), is shooting yourself in both feet. Also letting someone else decide or limit you is just a complete lack of self respect and balance in your relationship. If your wife makes her own money, you probably wouldn't tell her she couldn't buy a $2,000 coach bag right? Why should she be such a downer? Whatever, not my business really, but that's not a relationship that I could live with.

On to the cars :

The V6 CTS is a nice car. It's not a step up from an IS350 though. If you don't care about extreme performance, it's decent enough.

The IS-F is kind of silly, mainly because it's just not a really good match to the chief competitors. It looks goofy, and isn't well respected vs. the M3, C63, RS, etc. It's also, crucially, not a huge upgrade from an IS350 unless you were going to track it seriously. An IS350 will put you back in your seat, and give you ~5 second 0-60 runs, handle fairly well, etc. The IS-F ups the ante a bit in most performance aspects, but not hugely, and most of the gains would only truly show up on a track. BMW faces a similar dilemma with the 335i being extremely good. The M3 is better, but only real performance enthusiasts would really appreciate the difference, and it's a pretty solid gap in price. And the M3 actually looks fantastic, instead of a plasticy faux ricer look that the IS-F has. In fact, if you were to *give* me a free IS-F or free IS350, and I couldn't sell it, I'd actually take the IS350.

This leads me to my conclusion. The IS350 is a great car. You made a good choice already, keep it. If you truly want something higher performance, then don't mess with the IS-F. Have you driven something with low-end torque? If no, then check out a Vette GS or C63, it's a pretty astonishing difference, it's a lot more satisfying feeling than say an M3 to feel immense torque at low RPM, even if the end result in raw performance numbers ends up fairly similar. GT-R is not much more than the IS-F, and it completely obliterates it at every level.

So yeah, keep IS350, or consider :

S5
M3
Vette GS
Cayman S
911
C63
GT-R
CTS-V (duh, lol)
etc...

/my 2 cents, best wishes to you, no offense intended, just raw honesty for ya.

 

[hans007]

I'd get the cts just because the is-f is so rice rocket looking and its ridiculous fake quad exhaust. Or just keep the is350 ( I've driven it and think its awfully numb to drive but you already have it and there's only two other choices and at least it doesn't look ridiculous )

I'd consider other cars. Like a 08 m3 sedan... or 335. Or so many other choices

 

[Sidekicknichola]

I did call some other dealers in the area looking for a C63 but finding one lightly used is next to impossible in Wisconsin, not many people find the car practical for our climate... strange.

I am still going to take the guy up on the overnight test drive and see if that helps sway me one way or another.

GT-R is not much more than the IS-F, and it completely obliterates it at every level.

Don't remind me...

If your wife makes her own money, you probably wouldn't tell her she couldn't buy a $2,000 coach bag right?

I would tell her how crazy stupid I think that is, at which point she would say, "well you just built a $2,000 computer, we're even." .... its funny like that, we both have our things that the other one completely doesn't get, and like you said, if it is our money than there is certainly discussions, but we both have our own accounts and those are fair-game.

thanks for these last few posts, they've been helpful!

 

[SpatiallyAware]

So... You are considering everything from a plain jane CTS up to a c63 amg.


I suggest you go seriously drive some of these cars so you can nail down exactly what you want. I recommend leaving the wife at home. This is your car, you work hard and should pick out what YOU want.

 

[evident]

can u just keep is350 and pocket the cash and be happy/

 

[tcG]

You seem to be intent on buying a car the old-fashioned rip-off way.

The best thing to do is to decide exactly what you want and then find the best deal on that.

I'm also not sure why you would be comparing a 4-door sedan to a CTS coupe, which is basically a 2+2. If you can afford the impracticality of having a 2+2 or even a 2-seater, there are much more fun options than either of those two cars.

 

[DarkThinker]

IS cars are nice BUT.....in life you NEED to expand your horizons a bit it won't kill ya to.

The CTS are great cars with respect to the cost of owning them and maintaing them.

I have had my 2007 CTS for 3 years now and it has far exceeded all my expectations and I drive it like I stole it every single day and still rides like a dream.

The CTS coupe is very different from the ISs you are used to. And so I suggest you test drive that CTS coupe and get a feel for it. And if the car is certified that would be even much better. Cadillac has a very nice Ceritified warranty, if you can get the car as certified then that would be perfect.

Since you had a a sedan I strongly recommend you consider a 4 DR CTS instead of the coupe otherwise you might lose some utility you had with the IS350