Vs R&T: BMW F10 M5 vs Cadillac CTS-V

[Guibo]

Forced-induction fisticuffs, with combatants from America and Germany.

By Shaun Bailey / Photos by Brian Blades
June 20, 2012



http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/comparison/2013-bmw-m5-vs.-2012-cadillac-cts-v

 

[Merc1]

Order has been restored. The old M5 got walked by the CTS-V right before it retired. M5 looks really good here.

M

 

[Guibo]

In My Opinion
On the track, the Cadillac CTS-V hits all the right notes—good power, livelier chassis and steering feel. That is until you look at the lap times and realize that the BMW M5 is much faster, and achieves that speed in a more civilized manner. This is even more evident on the road, where the M5’s ride is daily-commute friendly and the CTS-V beats you up a bit. My overall pick goes to the M5.
—Patrick Hong
Executive Editor

The M5 is the best-handling 7 Series BMW has ever made. Yeah, I know it’s a 5 Series, but it’s just so big, and soft, and comfortable and stomping fast. It’s high-performance luxury at its pinnacle, and for that reason I’ll take the CTS-V. It’s a sports sedan like the previous-generation BMW M5, where driver interaction and enjoyment take precedence over passenger comfort and isolation.
—Shaun Bailey
Associate Engineering Editor

 

[K-A]

No contest, the 5-Series is another level of car.

 

[Zafiro]

Ive been inside the new M5. It's a great place to be in. The seats feel like a luxury sofa.

 

[Monteverdi]

If I wanted a driver-oriented, harsh and good handling saloon, I wouldnt buy a Caddy CTS-V. I'd choose the E60 M5.

 

[DblPen]

cant understand how caddy got more points in exterior styling than m5. not even close in my mind

 

[K-A]

cant understand how caddy got more points in exterior styling than m5. not even close in my mind

Wow, I didn't initially notice that. They scored it quite higher than the M5 there. No contest the M5 is far nicer to me as well, but I've seen lots of Journo's criticize the F10's styling as dull/uninspired and/or soulless. Just like they like adrenaline pumping, connected, loud, aggressive drives, they tend to enjoy cars that are more charismatic and/or loud in styling as well.

 

[Deckhook]

In isolation the Caddy's interior looks of reasonable quality until you put it up against something German in this case the 5 series and then the contrast is shocking. American cars may have caught up in many areas but here the difference remains as huge as ever.

 

[K-A]

Yeah, the CTS's interior is nice, but when you get back into a proper German car, the unspoken qualities, the spoken qualities, subtle nuances, and overall holistic quality is immediately widely apparent.

Also, my Cousin's CTS has some hard chassis flex when hitting rough surfaces, which is something I've heard to happen to many CTS's as they rack up mileage.

 

[Tumbo]

That is some impressive numbers from the CTS-V.

Love the colour of the M5.

I would pick the M5 out of this two, but I'm waiting for the RS6 to really go wow!

 

[klier]

I would pick the M5 out of this two, but I'm waiting for the RS6 to really go wow!

Hehe, no need to state the obvious

 

[DeDe]

[scans] Full article
http://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=1.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=2.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=3.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=4.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=5.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=6.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=7.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=8.jpghttp://s1244.photobucket.com/albums... vs Cadillac CTS-V/?action=view&current=9.jpg

 

[Karabiner98k]

In terms of performance:
F10 M5 with 6-speed manual is almost as fast as an E60 M5 with SMG!

 

[Merc1]

Just looking at the interior pics, you can see how cheaply made the Cadillac is so it should costs less.


M

 

[Deckhook]

Interesting reading the difference in times between manual M5 and M-DCT, not a consistent increase in times as the speeds increase but 1 whole second by 120mph is considerable. In case an S6 would still be snapping at it's heels at 100mph.

 

[Sayyaaf]

Audi gang: easy.

 

[EKaru]

I have a question with regard to the follow data panel:


Why is it that the M5 exhibited "moderate understeer" on the skidpad and slalom whereas the cars in these comparisons only exhibited "mild understeer"

 

[Guibo]

Why is it that the M5 exhibited "moderate understeer" on the skidpad and slalom whereas the cars in these comparisons only exhibited "mild understeer"

I'm going to guess suspension and/or DSC tuning. With the old M5/M6 which had relatively low-torque engines, there is less chance of low-rpm torque suddenly breaking the rear wheels loose.


CTS-V should have fared better in the ride department, with plumper sidewalls and the vaunted magnetic-ride suspension. I'd rate them close in terms of looks; I quite like the CTS-V actually. A Fit & Finish category likely would have seen the BMW quite some ways ahead.