2024 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing (6-Speed Manual) - POV Driving Impressions 

Manual, Clean, and low Mileage F80's are so rare. Totally agree that this would be an amazing alternative!

Glad to hear it!

Honestly think this car is MASSIVELY better than the f80s. G80s have some significant advantages, but also waaaaay more expensive. As a Blackwing driver myself, I think your dad made the right choice 😉

😂😂😂

If only we could buy them here in Europe.

@@PINE_333he is not wrong you know.

Only in luxury and ride quality hell yeah but performance negative. Nd idk if they ride better than audi’s but u lmk u prob got more experience.

@@StonedNoob I’d always rather find myself looking at the Rondell than the dated Cadillac logo any day. Regardless of performance or comfort.

What are a couple of your favorite things? What are some things you hate or are disappointed in?

@@swishy4mbg I love the power and handling. My only complaint with the car is it’s not that easy getting in or out of the car because it sits so low and the position of the steering wheel makes you bend down and kind of drop in unless you tilt the steering wheel up before you get in.

U ever got to compare it with a M340i ?

@@Jmarzx No, but funny enough I was considering an M340i when I bought the ATS-V. I just never got around to test driving one, because I immediately fell in love with the V lol. Thought about an F-150 raptor as well, but the test drive just didn't excite me at all. I think an M340i would be a decent competitor, albeit not as good on track. They're likely just as fast in a straight line when modified well, though.

How are parts availability. I've heard GM parts after models are discontinued is hard for small stuff. Is the car reliable. I'm considering one

@@sunnyvalentino Only parts I've had to buy are brake rotors, and they were a little bit of a pain but not a huge deal. They're expensive, but they're also high performance 2 piece floating rotors so they're always going to be expensive. The car is reliable, but these things do eat spark plugs surprisingly fast and it is a bit of a pain to do plugs with the way the intake is set up. You have to remove a vacuum manifold and partially remove the intake tubes that run from the turbos to the intercooler on top of the engine to actually get to the plugs. It's still only like a 1 hour job every 30-60k miles, though. Not a huge deal. The biggest concern with these cars is a defect that happened in the first model year, 2016, which caused damage to the cylinder walls and results in smoke on cold starts. Basically there was debris left in some intakes on early models that made its way into the engine and scored the cylinder walls. Just keep an eye out for smoking on a cold start, but because it's a known defect you can get a new long block for free from GM from what I understand. I'd rather avoid the headache altogether, though. Another thing of note is to keep an eye on your intercooler coolant. GM designed the system in a really stupid manner (can be fixed for like $250 if you buy the entire fix or less than $100 if you do it all yourself, just look it up and there are a ton of posts about it) so that there is no reservoir/overflow and so once the system gets air in it (and it likely will at some point), it is a pain in the ass to bleed. The engine coolant system doesn't suffer from this problem, but the intercooler circuit does. Still not a deal breaker, and you'll be able to feel that it's getting low as the car will pull timing really hard when intake temps spike. The last goofy design item is the rear diff cooler, which is actually also the transmission cooler. They share fluid through lines which run all the way from the very front of the car to the very back. I haven't dealt with any necessity for fluid changes, but I'm sure it could be a pain in the ass with that huge run of lines. Hope that answers all of your questions. They're great cars and there's a solid community around them. Not a big community, but one that's pretty dedicated to the cars.

M340 should be faster or just as fast on track according to car and driver @@anthonyantoine9232

Brake calipers*

@@Peak_Mid correct. I hadn't had my coffee yet, thanks 😂

Ooo, good to know!

The reason it sounds so good is that it's not cutting fuel, it's cutting spark/timing. That allows the car to stay on boost between shifts.

@@nicklehmann2059 Appreciate the correction 🙌🏼

The only time the car actually cuts fuel is when standard traction control activates in non-PTM drive modes. The brrrrrt sound that is so good is the car pulling spark/timing, and you hear it during PTM traction control, launch control, and no-lift shifts. 👍

I'm debating trading in my is500 for this.

What’s on yours right now?

agreed. maybe wider wheel wells for my taste as well. im hoping the aftermarket world fixes the infotainment screen with enabling the bigger CT5 screen to be retrofitted to the CT4

Waiting for mine not so patiently...

IMO, the Americans have FINALLY outdone the Germans this generation. They wont out sell them simply because of the mainstream BMW appeal. Non car people will take a M3 over a blackwing any day of the week. Meanwhile actual drivers and car guys know where its at. The problem is the mainstream audience is a lot bigger than the enthusiast market. So BMW will sell more. That's ok. When the caddys get discontinued ill have a rare, more special car than just another M3!

@@chilli1695 I agree but dang man don't mention the Caddy's discontinuing I want them to be Mainstays. I got to get one myself before Caddy says "well no one bought them, so we discontinued them"

Your fuel costs would be insane with that combo haha

you would need your own oil refinery @@TheyCallMePDub

I think everyone would rather have the ct5... This is coming from a guy who loves his ct4 blackwing. But the cheapest you can find the ct5s even on the aftermarket used is like 90K... really hard to swing it for that price. and at 100k your in older Porsche 9/11 Turbo money, which will 100% be a better drivers car.

How much to tune it? And it burns your spark plugs out?

The Autos have issues. My buddy had his changed under warranty.

its really not that bad tho unless you're launching from a cold start (you shouldn't)

@@ShaiyanHossain On a brand new car, that is bad. Over time it gets worse as it gets worn in. We need to stop making excuses for companies to give us weak parts.

@@ryanb8736 could it just be due to the gearbox oil? I changed mine out in my honda with amsoil mtf and the transmission feels a lot smoother

Gotta warm up the Tremecs, this is a known thing lol

not an unpopular opinion

Than the new M3, absolutely. New BMWs are absolutely hideous and heavy AF.

@@username8644They hurt to look at.

@@chilli1695 Yeah, it hurts me to see what they have done, I considered BMW the best car brand of all time. The only way I accept it, is to consider BMW dead and what exists now as another company under the same name.

@@username8644 Especially coming off the F80 generation, which IMO are some of the best looking cars ever made. The ugly face is honestly what pushed me over the edge to the CT4 V blackwing. Like WHAT is the m2 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

Duuuuude, that's one of my very very few complaints. My 2020 m2 had no button. Was amazing. My Miata had auto unlock. WHY GM. WHY NO AUTO UNLOCK.

Better, by far. This will feel a little cheaper inside, but be a little larger in the back and more powerful. Also I've heard multiple BMW fanboys compare the driving feedback of this to early 00s BMW's, as in the good one. New ones are dead numb.

Caddys used to have big reliability issues. The LF4 that comes in these however is very robust and reliable. Not really an issue any more. Kinda like how the s58/b50 fixed BMWs reliability issues.

No. the CT4 will get a full 2024 model year run then the refresh will come. GM didn't want to steal thunder from the Ct5 so it will push buyers into the more premium profit making car.

@@305Nick that's great to hear! I hope the interior gets an update

Gr86

If you genuinely don't need trunk space get the Miata.

Have you tried type r or Elantra N (don't know reliability of these)?

MX5 Can't beat that top down experience!

MX5 feels significantly more nimble and small. Theres generally a bit more road feel due to how light it is. Personally, I loved it as a backroad car but not as a autox or track car. There is too much body roll and the oversteer is not nearly as progressive. 86 also has good road feel and feedback but still doesnt touch the MX5 in terms of nimbleness. 86 is more stiff and feels a bit more planted. Oversteer is a bit more manageable and predictable. Personally I prefer the 86 because of its track capabilities. Mx5 is probably a more fun backroad car. In terms of reliability, 86 has oil issues. Mx5 has transmission issues. But both are pretty good if maintained well.

nah a supercharged v8 always sounds better

Get the Caddy. Much more unique.

If only the Stinger had been offered with a 6mt, especially the V6

I would, back seat is a little tight, so just make sure everyone fit ok!

@@TheTopher we’re pretty short (5’10 and 5’2) so hopefully our kids don’t take after our dads at six feet!

He did a review on the normal CT5 a few years ago: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aTepm4MvAKk.htmlsi=SkbzKoBD3YpV2lq7

There have been 6 blackwing (CT4 and CT5) reviews since that video came out, but I wasnt aware they did a 2020. I assume that not too much has changed since then...@@MukisaSS

@@MukisaSS That's a Ct5 V review...not a regular Ct5

Dont speak for us all because thats not true but I understand wym . Whats wrong with not actually u thinking bigger knowing u will own a sports sedan instead of settling for a base model .

Big step up, noice. I have a 22 Elantra N and am looking to get into a G80 in ~2 years

I need u to answer this for me . Is it really a waste of money getting a acura ITS. When I could get same performance in a used EN or used Gold R . Lmk cuz ima honda fan nd highk like how the ITS sounds nd ofc the EN is gorgeous sounding also

As an EN owner this would be a direct upgrade. I would love to trade my EN for this.

@@Jmarzxif you can afford a type s I would get it. It is a nicer car, but id argue isn’t really a full on track car out of the box. It doesn’t even have an oil temp gauge. CTR and EN are better for track duty

@@Jmarzx ITS isn’t MUCH faster than an EN. it’s definitely more luxurious and has higher interior quality. Exterior looks are subjective, but they are both good looking cars imo, with the ITS winning for sure. It is significantly more expensive, so if it’s a stretch for you, the EN is a much better bang for your buck.

bro you car should never grind gotta be user error or serious problems, mine has never grinded

I’ve been driving manual transmissions for over 20+ years, more than half of those has been higher horsepower cars, so I am no idiot when it comes to driving a manual car…. So sorry, not operator error.

Michigan, USA

FWD architecture gets you only so far, especially on $25k Civic roots. The 4BW is on RWD architecture that traces to the Camaro alpha platform which has always been known for capable handling.

No question it’s the CT4-BW. You can get it mid spec (sunroof, steering wheel, mid seats, no HUD) 6MT for 65K. So damn good.

Bmw m2,m3..

its a 3.6 V six, not an inline 6. The LF4 in these things have been known to be pretty robust. Id say its pretty reliable all things considered. But you would obviously still be better off getting a Honda or Toyota if reliability is your main concern. Id say the LF4s in these is about as reliable as the S58, maybe a little less so. But it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper to fix if you live in the US, making it a better overall deal.

Yeah, I think I would - always enjoyed my time in these more than the Supra. But as always -go drive both and see what speaks to you!

Car and driver got better lap times in the ct4bw than the new v6 supra and CT4 is WAY more practical. Supra is a very claustrophobic feeling car. The only advantage the supra has is it's probably a little quicker in a straight line.

@@GeronimoBiggles yeah I saw those also. The other things in favor of the supra are cost (saving 10-20k here in Canada), b58 character, looks (subjective) , weight, + the pads and rotors for the track. From what I've heard, the brake by wire of the ct4-v is worrying since the brake fade warning won't be calibrated for different pads, and the rotors look very expensive to replace. That's why I'm so torn. Practicality is not a concern, I've got no kids and no needs to carry more stuff than the supra can fit. I can also daily my S4 if I need to haul stuff

@@AlexandreCardinal50 don't get the carbon ceramic rotors you don't need that bs just get the standard steel ones. I love my base spec ct4bw and I've driven the upgraded models too. Just get base spec and you'll thank me later for all the money you saved and the base seats are much more comfortable as well.

@@GeronimoBiggles OK thanks, I really have to find one to test drive. For some reasons there are barely any sent to Canada so it's hard to find one that isn't 3h+ drive away from me

2nd gear from a start wears on the clutch more afaik

@@ShaiyanHossain maybe on some cars with long gear ratios. But I've seen a lot of people in my country do it. I do it, the clutch is fine

I bet u this is 10x more comfy than a m2

@@Jmarzxbetter gearbox too

If all you care about is performance numbers go m2. But CT4 is the better feeling drivers car and way more livable day to day and long term.

Much better shifter and "feel" of all controls in the 4BW. Take it from someone with a 6spd BMW and 4Blackwing side by side in the garage.

go CT4. You wont regret it. You also wont get flamed by your friends for driving a car that looks like an infected toe.

Don’t ever pay mark up on this.

What's your market? A lot of people are getting these UNDER MSRP now.

Not looking hard enough. There are dealers who sell these MSRP or under. Go look.

Got mine 2k under MSRP. Might just be where you live.

Turbo lag? Have you ever driven one?

@@JamesonsDiecastCars The numbers don't lie: the Blackwing ran this 5-60mph "reallife engine flexibility" test in 5.3 sec, compared to BMW M2 in 4.6 sec, or Supra in 4.7 sec (all done by caranddriver). As long as you're in the right gear, the Blackwing is fast, but as those numbers clearly demonstrate, it is a real dog in low rpm range.

@@wheelwrightpl9429 not necessarily. I drive this car every day to work. It's not a laggy engine at all. You're just noting the S58 in the M2 is factually an amazingly flexible engine. It doesn't make the LF4 laggy.

Nd whats wrong wit manual transmission cars aka the real vehicles that actually keep u focused while driving meaning if it was more manuals ppl would also have less accidents.

The LT1 is 20lbs heavier than the LF4. So no, it wouldn't be a weight improvement. It also wouldn't fit. Could it have been MADE to fit? Sure. With so much additional tooling cost it would make the 4 cost as much as the 5 lol

@JamesonsDiecastCars ls3...problem solved. Also turbo engines bring a lot more weight with them besides the engine itself so I don't buy your claim. All aluminum pushrod v8 vs all aluminum dohc v6 with 2 turbos, intercooler, all the extra coolant, extra oil, extra tubing and piping. Nah.

@@JamesonsDiecastCars you also completely ignore all the other reasons this car would be better with a v8 🤣

@@mitchellsteindler there is a stated dry weight for the LF4 vs the LT1. It's not a theory over which is lighter. The LS3 has been out of production for years and would never pass today's emissions so that's a nope. A V8 would "sound" better, that's bout it. A factory forced induction engine is easy to get gains from. There are already 700whp Blackwings to go with all the ATS-Vs. It's far more complicated and cost prohibitive on the NA engine even with two extra cylinders.

@@mitchellsteindler no, not ignoring anything. I drove both the 4 and the 5 on track. The 5 was less sharp. A V8 wouldn't automatically make the 4 a better car. Look at where the 6 sits in the engine bay. I wouldn't want to affect steering and balance for the V8. No one drives the M3 and says it should have the M5s V8 lol. Yet somehow this is something people always bring up on the 4BW.

This comment is so dumb. The Cadillac logo is one of the coolest looking most detailed car logos ever made. I've been rocking their logo on tshirts since my early 20s and have had never had a problem pulling.

Idk man rappers still love their Escalades

@HeyThisIsTommy tell me you don’t know cars without telling me you don’t know cars.

Their logo was recently redesigned brother, what are you on about? They cleaned it up, removed the ugly wreath and changed the proportions of the shield to be more angular and aggressive. They managed to do all of this and still keep the heritage that comes with their badge.... Meanwhile NONE of the German brands have refreshed their logos in any major ways since like the 40s........

@@chilli1695 because they don’t need to.

You don't need an 18 inch screen in your car. Please stop.

I turn my screen off completely lol enjoy the drive.

Please no. Its sentiment like this that encourages the auto manufacturers to strap TVs to our dash boards.... Caddys interior is done right.

I want _less_ screen in my car so this is just fine. Most of our lives nowadays are experienced from behind a screen, I don't want another one distracting me with unimportant nonsense while I'm trying to enjoy driving. They could take out the whole screen and replace it with a 3.5mm auxiliary port for all I care.

@@flurpoid Agreed. I have zero screens in my car other than a small LCD display that just shows the radio station or song name that is playing. The only time a screen is beneficial is for navigation, but it doesn't need to be big, and not all cars need it.

The ac went out in my type r with only 45K miles on it. I have yet to have any issues with the BW. But I get it, folks feel a way about GM.

@@normacbenito People have had electrical issues and transmission issues with these. Known Cadillac issues for years. Nothing has changed. It’s still a phenomenal driving car though. Definitely get extended warranty bumper to bumper on it.

I see this alot... And I think it used to be true. But I'm not sure it is anymore. GM has come along way. Haven't heard of many issues on these BW. LF4 has proven to be very robust, and its no secret that the tremec trans has been over built. Every long term review I've seen on these things only has good things to say. Not saying its as reliable as a Honda, but I dont think its nearly as bad as everyone thinks. Perhaps on par with BMW.

7 yr/70k mile warranty on the BW

I agree, but against the competition now it actually is the least ugly imho. Bmw and Mercedes look absolutely hideous now.

@@username8644 I hear that

Really? It’s so simple but very aggressive as well

@me8644 I really llike the caddys style. But I agree, modern german cars are unbearable to look at 💀. I think the Japanese make the best looking cars now. Supra might not be as nice overall as the BW, but its is a SEXY car.

@slicelol1463 I had a supra in the 90s sold it a few years ago for 50g

Getting rid of my ct4 BW for a BRZ. This car is no where near as fun and enjoyable.

As a Blackwing owner, yeah it's definitely not up to pat with the competitors. However, imo the transmission and the driving dynamics make up for it.

Manual CT4 BW.

​@@chilli1695"Sam carlegion ct4 blackwing vs m3" m3 leaves it a football field behind