Cadilliac ATS-V: A Better BMW M3 Than the M3

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

Here is the full review of the Cadillac ATS-V: ls1tech.com/articles/cadillac-ats-v-better-bmw-m3-m3/

[@Mr120Man]

Great review. These magazine guys have been afraid to out right say the V is better than the M3. I drove the 8sp. Auto and it shifts fast! Check out the Head-2-Head comparison against the M3 & MB Amg 63s. 0-60 was 3.7! The manual is slower, as you said, 4.0. Thanks!

[@JamesAMG]

I don’t claim Cue to be the best system out there, but it’s nowhere near as bad as he claims. Ive has two with the Cue 2.5 and it works great every time and is easy to navigate. The center stack with the touch sensitive panel can be a pain when driving as it’s hard to hit the “buttons”, but it’s designed to where you never have to use them really. I now have a 2018 ATS-V manual which has the latest Cue 3.0 and I really like it!

[@fjones1914]

My 2017 ATS-V A8 is a lot of fun to drive. I plan on keeping it until I die.

[@vsnuts1685]

Fair review. I've had mine three years and still love it. The 6-speed is definitely the way to go. However, I think you had a faulty CUE system. Shutting down is not normal (though I agree with the rest of your sentiment towards it).

[@thomasmezger1745]

I've own 3 ATS and 2 were the ATS-V with the manual. All were the 2 door coupes. First, they are damn fast. Second, they available used with very low miles in the mid-$40,000 range. Real bargain in my opinion. Third, they handle very well with the mag ride shocks. Forth, the interior is sweet even the piano black center stack. I think it is classy but that is subjective. In summary, they do everything right .... except the CUE system. That simply sucks the big one. I can never get it to do navigation voice commands right....and I mean never.....My other car is a C7 Corvette with manual transmission and I enjoy driving the ATS-V as much as the C7. Now if they ever make one with the LT-1 or LS7 engine, that would be just about perfect for me.

[@johnlira3316]

Thomas Mezger are they more reliable than BMW

[@paulcondie2520]

These cars are so underated! Everyone knows what a cts is most never even heard of an ats! In my experience.....

[@FL50ssp]

"LT1 swapped chassis"... yeah that is called Camaro SS. A major benefit of the V6 is it sits almost entirely behind the front axle, which you won't be able to achieve with Gen 5 LT1. An LT1 swap would be fun but would not handle as well as V6 ATS - V.

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

And an SS 1LE handles better than this. The V8 is more fun and more desirable to most when they think of GM Performance.

[@FL50ssp]

@@DriveBreakFixRepeat SS 1LE handles better than 99% of cars but does use sticky and wide tires. ATS - V is more conservative in the wheel/tire and suspension tunning department as well. I always wanted to see Chevy take the LF4 with eLSD and offer in the Camaro, which would outperform SS 1LE. And in all likelihood run near ZL1 (not ZLE) lap times... at tracks that don't have very long straights anyway.

[@paulcondie2520]

My 2015 ats cue was upgraded by Cadillac when i bought it in Apr of 2019. I have no issues at all! Lol

[@scottlaird497]

I had issues with mine and then they replaced it under warranty. no issues since.

[@paulcondie2520]

@@scottlaird497 yeah mine works fine as long as you touch it where your supposed too! Lol. Other than that i don't see anything like I've seen on vids. I love my car! 2015 ats with premium performance pkg. She's a looker too! All black with oem 19s

[@fjones1914]

I’m on the 3rd CUE system installed by my local dealership under warranty. First one had the unresponsive display screen. 2nd one had the lower door stick partially open and loss of power on the bottom portion only. Just had the 3rd unit installed yesterday and waiting for it to crash again.

[@KpopNiDontStop]

Man that red looks good on this car I always see them in black.

[@CubanRider]

I keep coming back to this car. With slightly used ones hitting the mid-40s range, I think I'd take one over the Camaro SS 1LE. I just can't get past the looks and interior of the Camaro. The ATS-V checks all the boxes for me, except of course Cue, and the limited aftermarket. These cars are getting over 500whp with basic mods and some are getting into the 10s territory with stock turbos. I'm afraid you won't be able to do that with basic bolt-ons on the LT1. While the alpha platform makes phenomenal driving cars, I'll probably just get an '18 Mustang GT and avoid dirty intake valves of DI cars.

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

Nah, the LT1 is still a small block Chevy V8. Throw a cam, some heads and headers on it and the LT1 will make monster power. The '18 GT is excellent. Recently tracked a standard 5.0 Auto and was very pleased with it. Basically, it's a great time to be a sports car enthusiast, any way you go is a good choice.

[@conrad14201929]

Just don't get the 16 ATS-V, the CUE system was vastly improved in 2017. I have had the displeasure of using a gen 1 CUE in a rental and it was abhorrently bad. The CUE system in my 17MY is lightyears ahead. Still not anywhere near the best infotainment in this segment, but it is actually not bad. The capacitive touch takes a about a week to acclimate to, after that its as second nature as any other system. Im coming up on a year of owning mine and I truly couldn't be happier(mine is a 6MT though, Im so glad i was able to track one down).

[@conrad14201929]

And as far as modifications, this car is INSANELY easy to get power out of(as most modern turbocharged cars are). An "off the shelf tune", which doesn't even require a trip to the dyno, can net over an additional 100whp and 80wtq without a single part being bolted on the car. Only runs about $800 and you are flirting with low-mid 11's on all factory hardware.

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

@conrad garcia, thanks for the insights. About what I figured, as far as tunability. Similar to my 135i track car. That said, this car was a '17 and CUE was still garbage. Had multiple blackout issues.

[@conrad14201929]

Jake Stumph sounds like that unit is on the way out. While they improved the functionality, it’s still garbage quality and will degrade and eventually die far more often than it should. That’s unfortunate that you got a bad one bc when working properly it’s a solid 5/10 instead on the 2/10 that it previously was.

[@ryanliumith]

The manual might be okay... but the automatic is definitely not a dct.. my best friend just got rid of his c7z “auto” and it was not a good trans. Being that the vette is gm’s “top of the line” sports car I would guess this is not better. End of last summer we did a track day in his vette and my m4 his car was fun to drive (very tail happy if you want) but boy was that trans bad.... Chevrolet does not hold a candle with regards to refinement. Ask anyone who has owned both. And is not a “die hard American car guy”..

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

Not a fan of GM automatics in any guise. BMW's 7-speed DCT, or the ZF 8-speed auto are lovely. That said, BMW manuals suck compared to GM manuals, no contest. Keep in mind I own two BMWs, and have driven a bunch of them over the years. Also, refinement is not either brand's strength. Anyone who thinks BMW interiors are refined hasn't sat in a modern Audi, or Benz interior.

[@ryanliumith]

Then we are on pretty much the same page about the trans as I agree from the factory bmw manuals leave something to be desired. As for refinement I’m not sure, I don’t care much for Audi’s latest interior but would agree Mercedes has taken the game a step further in the segment. But I still have a very hard time saying that any gm product is on par with audi bmw or Mercedes. I could be absolutely incorrect as I have not been in a brand new Cadillac. And my newest gm car recently was the vette.

[@vsnuts1685]

Christopher Smith Cadillacs are the better driver's cars, hands down.

[@WindyCity1992]

V's Nuts The CTS-V beats the top M , RS & AMG models , there's nothing Appealing about paying more For a badge/status. Not for me

[@davidmitchel5285]

I love CUE

[@johnlira3316]

What year did the ATS V come out

[@SteveBrueck]

2016

[@evanjames911]

Yeah but that is not a coup. So it is much harder to drift in than the m3.

[@rdollie1]

M3 is a sedan only now. Coupe is M4. ATS-V also comes in a coupe if preferred.

[@evanjames911]

Russell Ollie yes im in between the an upgraded e46 m3 and the coup cts-v

[@pontiacGXPfan]

Why is Cadillac the only American luxury car maker to build this car? Chrysler and Lincoln are old man cars

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

pontiacGXPfan sadly, these cars just don't sell. Cadillac is dropping the ATS-V due to poor sales, despite it being one of the best handling cars on sale today

[@pontiacGXPfan]

Jake Stumph at least Cadillac tried...now it's just going to be just another really desirable pre-owned car

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

100% agree. If you find one of these for $20,000 in a few years, buy it. It'll be the best second-hand purchase you can make.

[@Krysis219]

I stopped watching because you pronounce bimmer like bimmer instead of like beemer.

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

Go cry about it.

[@Andy-bm6zo]

I will take an M3 sedan any day over that eL DorADo

[@DriveBreakFixRepeat]

Drive them back-to-back. I own BMWs, but am not afraid to say the brand has lost their way. Only BMW I'm interested in is the M2 Competition. Hopefully it actually lives up to the hype.

[@floridaracingchannel6245]

Really I own a 2013 550i m sport and a 2008 335i coupe, and I love both cars. Don't get me wrong I've had some problems with them after the JB4 I put in them. But I really love the 550i I just wish I got the X Drive they're just hard to find down here in Florida sense it doesn't snow. Oh back to my point you don't like the new M5 I mean dude its a 4 door super car lol BMW I think got this one Right.