Why I Did Not Buy the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing & Did Buy Another Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

[@jessb.6493]

Long time subscriber and proud 2017 Alfa QV owner. You have NO idea how much it warms my heart to see you snag another QV. I have followed much of your advice over the 5+ years of ownership. I have a BMC air filter, Centerline Alfa X-pipe, and a full ECU upgrade by Fabspeed Motorsports. It’s still such a blast to drive. As soon as I get the itch for something else, I find myself going back to the QV. As a prior 2009 CTS-V owner, the ONLY car that’s caught my eye recently in a BIG way is the CT5-V Blackwing. I am 6’3” and have three kiddos, so a slightly larger sedan would work nicely. But still, the Alfa has my heart. ❤ I still exclusively use your car products to clean and polish up the QV…my favorite product on the market! Keep up the amazing content, Phil!

[@autofanaticcars]

the CT5V is A Monster but just too big and heavy and hard to use on the real world I owned 3 CTSV all heavily modified two V2 and 1 V3 and all I did was burnouts and did not enjoy the backroads due to size, weight and power delivery. The CT4 is more nimble, lighter and fun like a QV. All great cars but I would not spend $120k plus for any Cadillac once you dissect the materials and cost cutting they made.

[@jessb.6493]

@@autofanaticcars​​⁠, great feedback. Yes, $110K+ for the CT5-V Blackwing is a huge deterrent. I guess I just miss my V8, and being in SoCal, the more the government pushes EVs, the bigger the motor I am after. Haha. I digress…the QV is keeping me happy. You’ve done a remarkable job breaking down all aspects of the QV time after time. Not to derail, but any favorite V8 sedans? Loved the AMG GTR vids, but I’ve gotta nab a sedan at this time. Beautiful sound too w/your AMG GTR. 😊

[@autofanaticcars]

Jess look at those AMG GT63 Sedans they are incredible and this might be the last year to buy one new FYI. They are priced a bit high and since i already have the AMG GTR Coupe it didn't make sense but I will tell you my AMG GTR is my all time favorite car i have ever owned in 30 years, everytime I drive it on good roads I am blown away with the car.

[@billm5004]

It all boils down to whether or not you want a manual transmission. That’s why I bought the 4 Blackwing. Great car, but I wouldn’t have purchased it if they only came with an auto trans

[@autofanaticcars]

Exactly hope you bought one fairly they drive awesome and the reason it was high on my list was i hated my M3 manual so much I wanted a car to redeem the lost fun of driving manual daily but dealerships would not negotiate

[@haredr6511]

Out of curiosity, why would you not want the auto? The automatic cars will lay waste to the manuals in every single driving condition, even with professional drivers. Gone are the days where there’s any advantage to a manual, except maybe for cost and weight.

[@eurly93]

You're clearly not a car enthusiast. If you were you'd understand 3 pedals is always better than 2@@haredr6511

[@chattingwithshap8010]

@@haredr6511are you serious? People get a manual because they love driving a stick. Not about performance in tenths of a second. You must have ever driven a stick.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Phil it’s amazing you went back after everything you went through. There is only one explanation. It must be a crazy badass car. I can respect that. Roll the dice and pray you got a car made Wednesday morning. Cause the last one was a Friday at 4 built car.

[@GeronimoBiggles]

i paid 62k for my brand new ct4 BW manual 8 months ago and I live in a heavily populated area. Could not be happier! The Alfa starts at 81k that's 20 thousand dollars more! How many highly engineered parts can you buy with 20k? Even with all the extra "fancy parts" and all that carbon fiber the car weighs only 50 pounds less and gets worse lap times than the ct4 and if you actually plan to keep the car it will cost you over twice as much to repair!! Alfas are known to have some of the most horrible long term reliability in the entire car industry and this is coming from someone who's father and grandfather have been driving Alfas before most Americans even knew that they existed. Yes the Alfa might feel like more of a special car but for most people it's just not worth it.

[@autofanaticcars]

You bought a stripped down version not an IMSA the base models have zero options or appeal once you cross shop with the German or Italian

[@JamesonsDiecastCars]

​@@autofanaticcarsthe Imsa edition is a sticker and trim package. I love mine for the $62k MSRP. The fast stuff came standard and I added the carbon exterior bits I wanted.

[@christianr772]

Actually Alfa Romeo just won JDPowers #1 Premium New Vehicle Quality and Sales Satisfaction. And then there’s this….kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqXLZn-li6h6i6ssi=HEAyI39vSH-L9EKS

[@markmcg8912]

IMSA version is a waste of money. IMO.

[@GeronimoBiggles]

I bought the car to drive it and enjoy it not to compare useless options like colorful stickers/seats and small carbon fiber panels like a snob. FYI a family member previously purchased a fully loaded CT5 BW (which is way more sought after) before I bought the CT4 and the base seats on mine are way more comfortable and enjoyable for most driving situations.

[@JamesonsDiecastCars]

The QV has a lot going for it. But the lack of a manual had me going with the Blackwing.

[@leea4624]

Same

[@anthonyb2426]

In the end the only valid reasons i heard were aftermarket support, certain interior material selections (justified by price point), and vanity (specific to someone who cares about what others think) Several others i found invalid: 1) Price- you referred to this vehicle several times as being '$100k' and non-negotiable. Cadillac itself was offering $4k off MSRP, which starts at $60k. I paid 10% below MSRP 6 months ago. So i think your example is really isolated to a special edition (with largely just stickers) at select dealers. You can get the car for over 40% less and thereby much less than competitors with nearly all the same features 2) tuning- you can do a JB4 piggy back just like other vehicles. Any car you tune the ECU can be detected nowadays and void warranty 3) quality of certain components- the car has a 4 year 50k mile bumper to bumper warranty and 7 year 70k mile powertrain warranty so theyre standing by their product 4) carbon fiber- who cares if a car uses more carbon fiber unless it benefits weight and resultant performance? There are also two optional carbon fiber packages that do indeed improve aero

[@jbdoingjbstuff]

Bought a CT5 V Blackwing this summer. Dealers in Metro Detroit were all MSRP or below.

[@autofanaticcars]

Consider yourself lucky around here it was 15-20 over on all CT5 BW

[@autodiesel9993]

20k less for your car makes no sense. Paying more than MSRP makes no sense. Those special editions are just cosmetic ( not crazy bout them) I woulda gone a regular blackwing manual spec it out like you want, nothing matches the fun factor and comfort. ( wait i did 😉)

[@chrishanosh927]

Great video! We chatted on one of your M3 vids last year. I have had my caddie for about a year now and love it. The best part is that I kept my 2018 Quadrifoglio. I am not a tuner, and just enjoy the cars for what they are. Both are amazing. The Alfa feels more delicate, and the Caddy feels mechanically bombproof. I hope to keep them both for a LONG time. The Tremec is perfect, and I also love pulling the paddles in the QV. 2 best in class for me. Glad you are back in an Alfa. The M3 is amazing for what it can do, but BMW has been dead to me for over a decade.

[@autofanaticcars]

kinda cool you kept the Alfa as well they both seem to offer really great but different driving experiences. I love the tremec as well check out the new ZL1 1LE on the channel this car is bonkers so far. I still love my new Alfa but il be honest I really miss driving manual daily so I do plan to change things up again if I can figure out with what.

[@MrSchn3ll]

I owned a CT4V BW for about 6 months - pretty much loaded with a manual. Good car for sure it just lacked the specialness that I'm sure the QV has - the engine is a bit "truck-like" but the manual was incredible. I would still have it if I didn't get a call from Porsche on another Carrera T (also manual) so I sold the BW when that came in. Don't regret it, there is no substitute for a 911.

[@autofanaticcars]

thanks for sharing the manual is awesome once you drive the M3 manual it is a breath of fresh air but the car just did not have enough special wow effect for me to justify the cost once i dissected the sum of the parts. Porsche is coming next for sure in my stable.

[@MrSchn3ll]

@@autofanaticcars Be careful, there's no going back - I'm not even in my 40's yet and this is my 4th Porsche... It's a problem. For a manual / coupe option, you should look into a late C6 Z06 (with the mangaride dampers and carbon ceramics) or a Camaro Z/28. Both can be had for sub-$60k with the LS7 and the Camaro is very rare. Chris Harris even imported one into the UK because he loved it so much - neither is going to blow you away with build quality or tech, but the experience is going to be worth it as a weekend car.

[@LSDdreams808]

My buddy at work has that same CT4 in silver. Those are some fast cars

[@anthonykiedis1765]

Did you consider a non IMSA version for $20k less? I regularly see new CT4 Blackwings for sale in the mid 60's. Isn't the IMSA version just an appearance package?

[@autofanaticcars]

Base models look too plain for me I wouldn’t go for one

[@alexpaic2984]

@@autofanaticcarsthe only difference in between imsa and base is the carbon pieces and the stupid stickers. Imsa is just a way of Cadillac make overpay your ass for almost the same car you could buy 25k less.

[@legacy404]

Revisiting this video after C&D just posted a comparo of the QV, 4BW, and M3. They lauded the 4BW as it drives well, but thanks to your vid and others that go through the underpinnings, you can see its really just a hot-rodded/well-tuned CT4V built on the same underpinnings. Obviously you can see where your money goes on the QV, but on the 4BW you can see theres a lot of trademark GM cost-cutting. In terms of value-for-money youre getting a LOT with the Alfa thats not really mentioned -- full aluminum suspension components & carriers, double wishbone architecture, active splitter, a functional rear diffuser, rear underbody aero, full stainless dual-mode exhaust, fully forged engine internals, CF hood (+roof on 17-19's) , ZF8 tranny (vs GM 10spd), real leather + real carbon interior... etc. The auto media doesnt give it enough credit

[@autofanaticcars]

Glad you took the time to see this because the Alfa alone and the sum of its parts, materials and engineering surpasses the BW by a huge margin and is the ultimate value for what you’re getting.

[@mustangGT375]

Nice vid, I get the points you made, most tho don’t really apply to why I bought it. That said, I bought mine a few months ago when Cadillac was doing the 4k rebate, plus I got another 4 grand off. Sticker was 73 so I got it for 65. I got all the options minus the carbon.

[@autofanaticcars]

You didn’t get the IMSA nobody was discounting those and GM had zero cash back rebates at the time. Great cars if you get it for a deal but the IMSA options make it so much nicer i feel

[@mustangGT375]

Thing is, as cool as the *limited* models are, I can’t justify spending that much more for practically the same car. I have the cool grey interior and all options minus the carbon packages. Now, I agree, the package you were looking at is beautiful, it isn’t worth the premium for the same experience. Had there been actual performance differences, I may change my mind.

[@markmcg8912]

Great deal on a great car! Congrats

[@AS-oo4gv]

not true, some dealers are knocking off as much as 10k off the msrp@@autofanaticcars

[@robl2547]

wow 8K off how long ago was that? , did you get the special Financing as well? .9% @36; 1.9%@48 ? 60 and 72 were at 3.9 & 4.9 . I am shopping now in April and dealer will not move much off of $74K MSRP... just a bit over 2% discount plus the 3K Rebate puts me at 70K. all the options except CF...

[@sammyhaidi6807]

I enjoy your in-depth analysis and knowledge

[@autofanaticcars]

I appreciate that!

[@sammyhaidi6807]

@@autofanaticcars no prob I just finished watching the video , I think you should definitely get a Porsche next , build quality , Aesthetics, and durability of the motor are great

[@autofanaticcars]

thats the plan once i find the right spec im going for it and will sell or trade the Alfa for it

[@sammyhaidi6807]

@@autofanaticcars the best plan 👍🏼

[@sammyhaidi6807]

@@autofanaticcars my brother used to have a 2018 M3 with 1,200 hp with 50,000 in modifications , didn’t go so well lol, too much torque even with every forged part , he also has a 2021 M3 which he still has now and wants to add 900hp to it

[@larrymorris3522]

Bought a 2022 CT 4 Black wing with matte green paint and all the carbon fiber pieces.. many complements and lots of head turning. Could not be happier.

[@autofanaticcars]

Matte green was it wrapped or your talking about that matte brown olive color? Did you get a V with the manual and did you get a discount?

[@larrymorris3522]

@@autofanaticcars not a wrap / factory dark-emerald frost matte green / 1-of-32 CT4-V made. It was slightly used and came with 10 speed auto === pretty darn quick for a v-6 auto. Google it and you'll see the color, looks much better in person though.

[@larrymorris3522]

Check out Rattis Rides..he did a video of the very car I own. Got it from Port Richey Cadillac..

[@luisln4841]

I never understood the hype of the Cadillac, all images on the web and KZbin do not tell the truth about the car, but recently I had the chance to see one live in that bright blue color and oh my god everything makes sense now! What a beauty I honestly believe it was just another brick by Cadillac but that thing looks fast even parked

[@autofanaticcars]

Car drives awesome but price too high still for the cost cutting throughout the car as I mentioned in video

[@jasonsoares2651]

Another issue with the black wings is lack of parts, my front bumper cover has been on backorder for nine weeks,love the car not the company

[@robertsole9970]

I got a loaded 2023 CT4 BW manual tranny that was a GM exec car with 3k miles on it for 57k. Comes with original warranty and two extra years at GM certified. Electric Blue. I traded a 911 991.2 C4S on it. I’m not missing the 911. I’m 60, I’m done with wonky aftermarket tunes and exhausts that gives me headaches.

[@autofanaticcars]

Thats a fair deal for sure enjoy! but pushing 90-100k for one of these is not a good move

[@robertsole9970]

@@autofanaticcars GM has been discounting them now a bit, high interest rates are slowing car sales. Last month it was 4500 off the prices as a dealer incentive. It’s a niche car for sure, only real enthusiasts drive them and it’s not mom and dad, looking around the lots and picking them. As for tunes, the Feds are cracking down on aftermarket tunes that disable O2 sensors and ready flags. That industry is gonna get shut down.

[@bzz4160]

I bought that exact car from Valley Cadillac, I got over 10k off sticker and got 2.9%. It’s an amazing car, every drive is a blast.

[@autofanaticcars]

Very nice! They were so desperate to sell it and took 10k off they called me weeks later but I already bought my Alfa. Killer car enjoy it

[@bzz4160]

@@autofanaticcars i just saw your other posts too! I almost ended it up with a gt350 HE, but the engine issues scared me. They are all great cars regardless.

[@chasinglimits]

I think you made the best decision ever going back to the Alfa. You get the performance, very nice and driver focused interior, great build quality using extensive carbon fibre and aluminum and lastly the awesome gorgeous looks which you can just stare at it and get lost in it for days.

[@supersportlt1]

Are you certain that the exhaust is mild steel? I’ve owned over 20 performance cars and have never heard of a car company using mild steel for the exhaust. I just bought a 2025 Blackwing CT4 when you try to order a new factory exhaust system it shows the material as stainless steel.

[@georgiosdedes]

No other car in this segment than the Giulia Quadrifoglio, period.

[@CarStory]

My local dealer in Orlando wanted $120k which included their $20k ADM. Absolutely crazy.

[@autofanaticcars]

Ridiculous thats why there not selling it seems a handful of base models could be bought under 70k but who wants a base with no options i think GM kicked cash back towards those as well

[@michaelschneider1365]

I agree. I regret getting a mini countryman because for the lease prices it has nothing in it. I should have shopped more and gotten a better car. i’m hoping for an early lease buy out and making the correct choice not making a mistake again

[@realbigdady]

Had a ATSV coup for about 3 year and loved it. It felt move special than ct4 had a carbon hood, more aggressive look and chassis and power are then same.

[@autofanaticcars]

ATSV was a much better styled car all around same with the CTSV

[@chattingwithshap8010]

Driven both of these and as most have said, here are three big differences. 1. Having a manual is key. If you don’t want a manual there are tons of options in the 65k to 100k area. BMW - Mercedes - Porsche - Audi. Just so many options w/o a manual. 2. For the money, say 70k you can come close to the CTV blackwing. Not opinion, but fact. For power and features most other cars either cost more, or have less power. 3. While Guilia is a special car, the overall cost and parts are significant. Again, comes down to money.

[@ianautry941]

Think you need to look around, plenty of deals around on them. Very few are charging over and most are under MSRP. There are other things you can do besides the HP tuner. A JB4 and some other things from Tapout Tuning do not void the warranty.

[@autofanaticcars]

Dealership are cutting stripper models to clear inventory because 24 otw but Imsa are. Not be discounted in our area still over asking. JB4 are not real tunes and cause all sorts of issues on cars I tried one on my M3 and it kept throwing codes and limp mode no thanks on those a real tune is a real tune and piggybacks are not it.

[@ianautry941]

There have been some of the Track Editions discounted. The ybhave been listed on some of the Blackwing groups. Also they aren't all strippers being discounted.

[@ebdbdave]

As someone who bought one, all valid points. Love mine

[@autofanaticcars]

Great driving cars but i was not interested in a base model and Imsa were well over msrp last year

[@ebdbdave]

I bought mine September 2023 for 4000 off the MSRP

[@timbrown9731]

With a UAW not willing to actually negotiate and get their workers back to producing cars I don’t think I’m ever gonna buy another American car ever again, I can totally understand your position Phil, not buying one it’s such a shame because they seem like really awesome cars. The dealers also need to get their heads out of their asses…..

[@MrSchn3ll]

UAW has lost their minds - they already make more than some registered nurses w/ degrees, and they can walk in with no education at all doing a job that can be replaced by a robot.

[@loopba]

should leave the country then, loser

[@OzDrives]

Thank you for making this video, just what I needed to hear while shopping for one! I currently have a G80 manual and looking to sell it for a BW. I've done some mods to the G80 but it still lacks that old school drivers car feel. I am hoping the BW will deliver on that through its smaller and tighter chassis. Compared to your G80 with Monoballs, was the steering feel and driving engagement still better in the BW?

[@autofanaticcars]

Glad it was helpful! The BW blows away the G80 in every aspect of the drive from the gearbox that’s incredible, chassis tuning and better steering. Go drive one but do not overpay for one as I mentioned in this video.

[@OzDrives]

@@autofanaticcars Thanks so much for a quick response! Definitely, I mostly care about the driving experience, all I want is 3k bucket seats and a HUD so staying in the mid 60s!

[@bzz4160]

@@autofanaticcarswhen were you trying to buy this? Because I bought it in September, and got a crazy deal on it. I definitely agree its at 85 it’s overpriced, the imsa really only gets you the CF seat backs over a cf1/2 pack car. I also thought about a g80 or even an m2. But at 72 plus tax it was hard to compare.

[@jetro7349]

Been an owner for about a year now and I feel you on the interior... AKG audio is poop too.

[@trevorsutherland5263]

It's really tough because there are so many awesome cars available, but you can't be sure it will still be available in 4 years due to the EV push. You can't wait very long or drive one for 3 years then try another (of course you can always go used but if you want to get exactly what you want). I have a Giulia 2.0 now four years, I love it and a QV would be awesome, but the "exotic" nature, plus few independent Alfa shops means the Caddy or even Bimmer are far better options for me for a car I'm keeping long term. The manual is a big draw of the Caddy and Bimmer as well, but the ugly nose of the BMW seals the deal for the Caddy for me. My biggest problem is deciding between ZL1 or CT4V-BW at that $67K price point.

[@protocetid]

There are so many cars being made right now that could become future classics, including the Giulia QV with its automatic.

[@yyshot3981]

Love both cars ,but when i touch my goal i will definitely be going for the alfa romeo Q, 505hp sounds amazing for my dream daily

[@autofanaticcars]

the Alfa is more special once you learn what went into creating it between materials used and the engineers over at Ferrari.

[@yyshot3981]

@@autofanaticcars now i will be doing my research ,great video & great car 👍🏾

[@timbrown9731]

Yes Sarah is pretty legit, almost met up with her in Sacramento one time when she was out here I just couldn’t get off work.

[@bocian8361]

Hey man, i always watched your videos as i was shopping between a blackwing and a m3 but i went with the blackwing because it drove better and i got a better deal on it. I know you were looking at the road atlanta IMSA edition and that is exactly the car that i got back in November of 23. I got extremely lucky though and i actually bought it for 13k under MSRP. I had a choice between one with a sunroof and the tech package and one without those two options. I went for the one without the tech package and sunroof because i really did not like the sunroof and i thought the HUD wasn't as good as BMW's and i couldn't see it well with my polarized sunglasses anyways. The MSRP was just shy of 83k so after the incentive and discount it was 69k pre tax which i thought was a steal. I live on the west side so i don't have to worry about road salt thankfully but i know your videos were the deciding factor for the blackwing vs the m3.

[@autofanaticcars]

great to hear you got a deal on one that is where it makes sense to buy one not over MSRP as I was talking about in my video. I honestly wish I was offered a deal over the summer but dealers lacked inventory with the GM production being cut back so much and they were greedy and would not budge $500 dollars. I was so close to buying one but not for $95k that dealers were asking when i was shopping. Enjoy the Blackwing it blows away the G80 M3 in terms of the handling and fun factor Hope you got the 6 speed as it is the best you can get today and glad my video helped you decide.

[@bocian8361]

@autofanaticcars yes it was the 6 speed! I hate the games dealerships play for sure. I shopped around like a mad man when I was buying.

[@Sbailey294]

If Caddy ever did a V8 small car I would have had the ATS-V the day it dropped. I waited breathlessly for that… still till now, it’s a great car with a lackluster engine. (I don’t want a 1LE, but it’s great). For me, the QV (which I left all my previous M cars for) still feels like I made the right choice… the QV is just so pleasing. I’ll keep all my vintage cars for manual… or get a P car. BMWs best days for drivers cars are behind them.

[@autofanaticcars]

I agree still loving my 23 QV the soundtrack lets you know it’s special

[@zacharyarmenti2833]

Love all the manual cars you mentioned but what about a civic type r or Acura type s maybe a new lotus ?

[@autofanaticcars]

Lotus is impossible to get in the USA right now and they are having lots of quality issues, super neat car I would get one

[@christianr772]

The Emira is probably the worst rollout in history. The number of issues surrounding the car and its QC failures is ridiculous and the Comms from the company are abysmal. I had a deposit on one for a year and a half and pulled the plug to buy my Alfa QV. Once the Emiras get here to the states, the support to maintain those things is not in place, and people will be going back and forth often and long distances for repairs.

[@orbitalgolem91]

@@christianr772 Thanks for this - Emira was on my list, but your info above changes that.

[@markrichards5944]

Hi in 21 I think the market was such that it was possible to trade in car at hardly any loss but now in the UK that is not possible and now looking at circa 7-8 K depreciation on QV per year - ie normal market conditions - is this not the cast in the US?

[@autofanaticcars]

US markets are strange but supply of good cars new and used is still limited so trade can be great depending on dealer and their intention

[@xmunitrader]

New to the channel Great videos Im cross shopping the Alfa with Audi RS3 you are quick to say you dont want/like the AWD component. Do you have any seat time in latest model RS3? Such a great engine and damn is it quick. Im also belive it or not considering the Acura integra . Yeah its under powered but the car is 3200 lbls and if I want 6 speed had to ignore that little Japanese gem. Real curious to hear your thougths? thx

[@autofanaticcars]

Go drive the new Integra 6sp a friend of mine has it and it’s a fun car and great value.

[@xmunitrader]

@@autofanaticcars yeah I hear the same and lets be honest for daily driving on most roads the level of enjoyment could be comparable in a 320 bhp car But more curious on your opinion on the Audi RS3 Thats the front runner for me but decision hasnt been made Thoughts thx

[@bjjbrawler1]

But a manual trans Caddy is so f'n cool!

[@autofanaticcars]

a manual Shelby or Porsche GT car is way better trust me on that one.

[@JamesonsDiecastCars]

How much is a new Porsche GT car though, $160-250k without markup? There are no new Shelbys. So again, the great shifting Tremec for sub $65k is hard to beat in the 4BW. Optioning them up to $75-90k just makes the interior seem out of place. $60-65k is the sweet spot.

[@westsideskateshop564]

@@autofanaticcars disagree. Traded my Shelby for a Blackwing, zero regrets.

[@sethalbert386]

I love the Giulia but at the last minute before coming back, Alfa pulled the plug on the manual. That really bummed me out. That would be the perfect car for me and a lot of other people. Why did you not like the G80 stick? I'm leaning toward getting one since I'm concerned in 2-3 years nobody will be making them anymore and I have a hard time getting past the fact that the CT4-V is a GM product with, as you said, the use of cheap materials.

[@autofanaticcars]

G80 is a great car extremely well built and engineered but too big i hate styling and manual feels like rubber it sucks in my opinion. The Blackwings use a Tremec which is one of the best manual’s in the business next to a Porsche GT car. You gotta drive a lot of cars back to back to see what i mean there so different. The zf in the Alfa is awesome i don’t think a manual Alfa would improve much as i heard manual in Europe isn’t that great. Best not to have a bad manual just to have a manual today

[@hg1496]

Is the ct5 black wing also with Cheapo cost cutting measures? Hmmmm.

[@autofanaticcars]

CT5V is identical just bigger size and engine same materials across the board,

[@CardiffGiant100]

@@autofanaticcars a lot of folks experiencing issues with the 4 and 5. I won’t go into details here but you might have read about it on the V-net forums.

[@Reckamech]

Such a sad story 😭. Hennessey has done some mods on the CT5 V BLACKWING, was that ever a consideration?

[@autofanaticcars]

I had many heavily modified CTSV nothing new plus that Hennessey build is over $250k no thanks not for a heavy 4 door GM i rather build a final gen Viper

[@musictomyears7965]

GM owns Cadillac enough said there’s nothing else to talk about. They make the car look appealing from the outside until you get under the hood and you start seeing the budget cuts they do and corner cutting. I’m even surprised the panel gaps are good usually American cars have a horrible fit and finish.

[@autofanaticcars]

I also despise the GM corporate culture i decided to edit that out of this video to avoid getting banned on here lol such a joke

[@musictomyears7965]

@@autofanaticcars I completely agree your better off with the Alfa Romeo it’s more unique and has Italian influence.

[@carlop445]

I would have never considered a Cadillac compared to an Alfa Romeo QV. I have a 2020 QV and I absolutely love it. No comparison. You made the right decision. Hands down. The looks alone is enough to go with the QV. And then the ride, the sound. Night and day.

[@rafiulrasheen4738]

the double wishbone on the alfa is better imo, but the magneride is suburb still.

[@autofanaticcars]

GM and Ferrari do the best Magneride programming in the industry for sure.

[@gunmanaz]

I own a Ct4 V BW A10 for me it’s the best car I have owned only car I would be on the table with this car is my E92 M3 I miss and loved that car but the BW gives me every and more minus that amazing v8. I love hearing people say the BW is better than the M3 cause I do want a m3 cause all the mods

[@autofanaticcars]

Enjoy what you have the M3 is good but not that exciting the BW destroys it in fun factor

[@loopba]

Thanks, driven both and still overall feel the QV is much more exciting with the engine and overall character. The CT4BW is also just too narrow and average looking.

[@autofanaticcars]

The QV has the personality and heritage in spades for sure. The manual was really the only factor leaning on me considering the Blackwings other than. That i had zero interest in a GM product.

[@loopba]

⁠@@autofanaticcarsthanks, I am only considering the automatic as in bad Boston traffic. Leaning towards the QV, but not easy choice. Like the seats better in the QV (Caddy are quite stiff) they sit lower and better overall position. Seems QV much more rare also. Maybe ill just move to a Cayman GTS instead

[@loopba]

test drove the automatic CT4-VBW today and the transmission is pretty disappointing and off the list

[@analogguy5548]

Will never pay a dealer mark up. Local Ford dealer has a $5,000 “Addendum” on every 2024 Mustang on their lot + “mandatory” dealer add ons like window tint, door edge guard, and LoJack. Salesman told me he has no choice, if I order the car from Ford, the dealership corporate policy mandates all cars get the standard of ons. NO THANKS

[@autofanaticcars]

Unions and supply shortages are seriously hurting American car brands

[@bluequadrifoglio6057]

The rear looks weird to me, and it just seems like it's trying to hard to be a QV. Definitely nor worth over $90,000

[@autofanaticcars]

If you could score a Blackwing IMSA for around 70-75k i think its worth it considering how great it drives youll overlook the stuff I mentioned in this video but pushing 100k no way in hell. You can buy a stripped down version in mid to high 60s but it’s boring as hell to look at the IMSA does jazz it up a bit to have caught my attention yet dealers made me run away

[@jjchockey]

I agree. I love the design accept the rear. CT5 rear looks significantly better.

[@HouTexHemi]

Seems like one of the main issues that swayed you decision was wanting to buy one of the IMSA edition cars. They really don't offer very much value for the extra cost. I was able to pick up a fully optioned (sans carbon fiber package) new 2023 CT4BW in August for well under $70k. Not sure why you weren't able to get a much better deal after the 2024's hit the lots. I've not heard of anybody paying $100k for a 4BW within the last 6-8 months. Also, it pains me to no end to see in this video that your dealership desecrated the car with their tramp stamp, and curiously that tramp stamp moved between the passenger side and the driver's side throughout the video.

[@yangxai3317]

$65000sale plus tax$4500. License Fee$299, dmv fee$600and $75000out the door. This weekend I'm go pick up my ct4v.

[@autofanaticcars]

What options spec are you getting?

[@yangxai3317]

@@autofanaticcars jet black. Lpo interior protection package. Standards package

[@brandonchism6960]

I haven’t finished your vid yet, but I can already tell we both walked away from the Caddy for the same reason. I LOVED that trans and chassis… BUT the dealers made the caddy a non-starter for me. IMO, GM should have put the LT1 in this car instead of the tt-v6. I don’t think they did as good of a job as the Alfa on the V6 and I think the S58 is the superior option between the 3 (I’m obviously biased). Nice vid as always and I can’t wait for you guys to relocate to the Atlanta area.

[@autofanaticcars]

yeah the biggest factors were the dealers making me get one of these but no regrets there are cooler cars coming in the future and we can not wait to go south

[@orangepeel2223]

STFU...Cadillac is a beast in IMSA racing and your opinion is why you are not on the Cadillac Production team...

[@Kinvesu]

MSRP on these are utter bs. Here in sacramento ca area, they are charging over 26k+ over msrp. They are making the msrp whatever they want, to get around Cadillac telling dealers to stop going over msrp. Msrp is supposed to be 61k, but supposedly it cost 26k to put the carbon fiber package, carbon fiber package 2 and the list goes on and on. Stuff I am sure probably costs like 12k to actually put in. Just disgusting and shameful. It already costs like 25k from the ct4v to the ct4v blackwing. There shouldn't be any more costs after that and all that fluff added after the msrp should be standard. No wonder american cars can't compete with the germans/japanese. You can get an m340i that blows the ct4-vBW out of the water in every thing but power, but with the money you say, spending only 58k to 60k on an m340i, you can get a $450 tune and utterly destroy the ct4-v BW. These are amazing cars and I really wanna buy american, but a manual is not worth 26k+ over msrp.

[@autofanaticcars]

This is exactly why I didn’t but one plus dealers have their heads up their asses and refuse to negotiate because GM cut back production most dealers have limited cars to even sell still

[@graemetimmins]

@@autofanaticcars I think the market has swung because I was able to get a '24 manual 10k below msrp a couple weeks ago. Mine had a lot of options, and I didn't want the carbon packages, but I talked them down to making those free. I also got over KBB for my trade in. Might want to try again.

[@markmcg8912]

Inaccurate info about tuning. Buy a JB4 and increase RW HP to 481. That’s about 545 at the crank. This will cost you +- $1200 installed. Also cannot be detected by GM.

[@autofanaticcars]

Jb4 is not a tune those piggy backs are a joke and cause all sorts of issues on cars no thanks

[@markmcg8912]

Malarkey- I did one and am very satisfied with the results. No Issues. Are you speaking from personal experience???

[@Davis0725]

Making me regret buying my ct4 v bw. It comes next week

[@autofanaticcars]

Don’t there awesome cars i hope you got a good deal when i was shopping Cadillac dealerships were impossible to deal with on markups etc. in the 60s these cars are a steal once you get to 79-95k on there special edition trim models its a bit steep when other options are considered. I still see these advertised new well over msrp in certain parts of the country

[@betochipistube6543]

Cadillac CT4 V Balckwing for the win 🏆 alpha please

[@alexpaic2984]

Why do I feel you made this video because you regret your ass not buying this car actually. Why would you bother making a long ass video about a car you have zero interest to buy. My logic brain would not even think about something I don’t want. There’s zero space in my brain for things I’m not interested in and all my focus is dedicated on things I want and what do I need to do to get them. I do admire the amount of knowledge you have about this car. Impressive as shit.

[@autofanaticcars]

as great as these cars are the video was clearly to prove a point that GM cut serious corners in areas compared to the competition under the car and in the interior materials etc. GM also priced it way too high along with dealers all over the country being greedy with substantial markups that just did not make sense when there are other alternatives that offer more quality and value. I like the cars fully loaded with the carbon packs they just look way nicer and more premium but when dealers wanted over $95k for them I just walked away as they were not willing to come to their sense, The Backwings are Awesome cars non the less but a new ZL1 1LE is now on the channel which has the same chassis platform and a huge set of balls ha ha ha

[@daboxer181]

For the money you save . You can replace the exhaust when need be or, rust proof it lol. Italian cars are unrekiable , expensive to repair. Personally, this would be a summer car for me anyway.Also , most ppl aren't tuning cars . So , you want a tuned 500+HP car , lowered ....and complaining about the exhaust might rust because it's cheap metal? Bro, don't drive a 500hp lowered car in the winter. Get a beater.

[@user-vk3yo3ou3t]

I know you’re not buying it for the looks, but looks wise -and this is all a matter of personal preference- I think the CT4-V Black wing looks like it’s from 2003. Even an Alfa Romeo 156 facelift looks better. imo.

[@klasseact6663]

That dealer sticker on the trunk was a deal breaker for me, LOL❗️ As far as the price for the tune, well, it's supply and demand, right🤔 Now complaining about money is a bit funny. You guys are talking about upper crust cars, gotta pay to play. My EN isn't in the same league but i bought an ECU tune for my EN and paid $1150 (new ECU) and my intake/TIP was another $730. In proportion I paid good money for my parts, if I can do it, so can you, LOL😅 The next step is a cat-back and its about $1500😇

[@autofanaticcars]

Issue is nobody makes parts for these Caddies so it’s kinda lame if your into modding cars this isn’t best choice

[@klasseact6663]

@autofanaticcars yeah I hear yah but a friend of friend has a mid 10 second ATS-V and actually drove it from Illinois to Florida with his slicks and a jack in the car, raced it won $1500 and drove it home, so there's an aftermarket for it, LOL. You mentioned a tune, intake and exhaust, what else are you looking for exactly🤔 The cost cutting stuff you mentioned makes for sense to me though.

[@CardiffGiant100]

Good insights, thanks. I was in the same situation, I wanted a CT5 BW so bad and tried to order one in March of ‘21. Sold my CTS-V3 in anticipation. Well, my local Caddy dealer decided they’d rather order cars for their stock rather than fulfill my order. GM dealers are the worst of the worst. Back in ‘22 the 5 BW was a bargain. These days? I built one online today the same way I spec’ed it in 2021 and it’s now $131k. For a Caddy? Never. I custom ordered an M5 instead and I love it. I still kinda want that LT4 with a manual, though. Not for $130k.

[@autofanaticcars]

the M5 are awesome I was considering an M5 CS but those carbon seats are the same ones I had issues with on my M3 so i killed that idea fast. for GM to charge $130k and give you fake leather trim and a mild steel exhaust is just criminal to me.

[@timbrown9731]

Yeah but if you compare this car to like a IS500 ect. I think this Cadillac should be about a 60 K car out the door….

[@jjchockey]

LOL. These cars are significantly more fun, engaging, and true drivers cars. The IS500 is essentially an IS350 with a V8. You can’t compare an IS500 to these cars at all.

[@HingleMacCringleberry]

Great breakdown. If you already have a Merc GTR it wouldn't make much sense to get a SRT Viper considering the Merc GTR is basically a german Viper. Go with the Porsche GT3. Have you seen the 911 Dakkar? The Dakkar will turn even the shittiest of roads fun again.

[@tlrprice7]

If you want a manual BMW is not the place to be. I have driven a manual G82 its just not good at all, the auto is way better and quicked if you care about the speed.

[@autofanaticcars]

I owned a 2023 G80 M3 manual and i did everything to modify the shifter and it still sucked. Was one of the reasons i sold it and bought another Alfa

[@tlrprice7]

@@autofanaticcars out of the super sedans the I havent driven the CT4 or the Alfa. I don't really like the interior of the Ct4 and I was always a little concerned about the maintenance of the Alfa. I have always thought the Alfa was beautiful but baby Ferrari kinda scares me lol

[@autofanaticcars]

the CT4 Blackwing and the Alfa Romeo QV are the best driving sport sedans in this segment, the Caddy has the best manual option compared to the rubbery BMW shifter but the Alfa is made of more exotic materials and is a bit more special for sure.

[@Antsir12]

Your Alfa Giulia is simply sexy! That word cannot be used for the Cadillac.

[@autofanaticcars]

I agree

[@sdifilip07]

I couldn't agree more regarding the QC with GM cars lately. I had a Gen 6 Camaro and it was a blast to drive but I could not stand the quality and fit and finish. Plus the small issues that would pop up were always a hassle to deal with at the dealers. Technically brilliant cars but the dumbest things hold them back.

[@autofanaticcars]

yeah but the secret to GM on these models driving so great on the Alpha Platform is all in the PTM computers and software because the chassis and the sum of the parts are nothing spectacular by design and material spec in any degree but it just shows you what software can do to a car when properly developed and GM killed it on these models for sure.

[@freshjerky1]

The dumbest things hold the Alfa back too. Sick and tired of my QV throwing check engine light !! Alfa get your shit straight!!

[@orangepeel2223]

Cadillac is doing its own thing those motors in the BlackWing are all Caddy not GM....

[@sdifilip07]

​@@autofanaticcarsI agree with your take on the drive. Any thoughts on a new Stelvio Quad? There is one that has piqued my interest. What is it like for maintenance?

[@Jb-mp1in]

They should have thrown the lt4 in it

[@autofanaticcars]

Camaro ZL1 much easier to obtain and better priced we just got one on the channel

[@novakinb]

I ordered my 4BW, waited 12 months, and got SN#270 🤷. Paid MSRP. The first dealership I went to turned me away and told me to come back another day, despite telling them I wanted to order/reserve/purchase a new car. So I walked and found a different dealer that was no-frills and gave me exactly what I wanted. They placed the order to GM in my name and I didn't have to haggle for price. The Quadrifoglio is a way nicer car, but you are gonna pay +20k base price for it.

[@autofanaticcars]

Was it the IMSA or a base model under 70k?

[@autofanaticcars]

Glad to hear you got one with no hassle unfortunately every dealer I engaged with treated me horribly and gave me no choice to walk away. Enjoy the BW it’s an amazing drive

[@novakinb]

​@@autofanaticcars base model with 6MT, CF1 package, performance seats, black wheels, red seat belt

[@novakinb]

@@autofanaticcarstbh I think I got a hard time because me and my wife are young... They must have thought I was joking or not really ready to commit. I'm not really in Cadillac's target demographic lol.

[@cdcnd4spd13]

" those guys " 😂

[@mauriceconger1926]

This car would be much better if it had the V8 from the Camaro. It would out sell the CT5 BW for sure.

[@autofanaticcars]

V8 definitely but then be easier to buy a Camaro

[@DailyDrivenVseries]

The LF4 is amazing though. Just $2k worth of mods & a Schmidty Tune and it runs pretty consistent 9s in the CT4-Blackwing’s predecessor the ATS-V.

[@marvinheemeyer6660]

"Every car is only as good as the sum of all its parts" When you start taking parts off a car and discover their cheaply made and quality has been comprimised its a warning sign of what to expect down the road.

[@autofanaticcars]

It’s a disgrace for GM luxury brand to be cost cut in so many areas yet the inflated prices do not justify this and most consumers have no idea in the end

[@HiThere-sc2jr]

Big mistake.....Alfa's don't hold up, they don't Last. Have fun with the maintenance

[@autofanaticcars]

i guess you one of the owners who overpaid for a GM car made with lesser materials and engineering if you got a great deal then good for you but if you overpaid youll regret it.

[@bluequadrifoglio6057]

Lmfao says the guy that's never owned a QV or anything Alfa. 😂

[@christianr772]

I guess you’ll be staring at me in my AF as we pass, but regrettably I probably won’t notice you. My apologies in advance. And actually Alfa took top honors with JDPowers this past year for QC. Crickets….

[@shueher1]

CT5 V blackwing is where it's at. The V8 is well worth it. The CT4 blackwing is understandable, not paying all that for a V6

[@autofanaticcars]

Dealership who had the CT5V we’re asking $125-$159k and some still are and nobody is taking this ridiculous bait. At MSRP or below yea but with these ADM they can keep it. Look how all the hype with the C8 Zo6 died out and quickly. Dealership were asking $300k now they barely can sell one at msrp. The smart buyers realize any GM product isn’t that special to overpay versus cars from Porsche and Ferrari

[@christianr772]

Well the GT4 can come off of your list as they’re done producing them. GT3s are pricey AF. I seem to have followed your direct path of purchasing the Alfa. I offered to buy a Watkins Glen Edition in Waterbury at their price shown, and then came the BS. At the time they asked for 5k over MSRP. I was ok with that. They hemmed and hawed and said the manager actually changed the price that morning!! Never reflected in the in store label or on line. Easy sell, and was ready to buy. Refused a sale. The arrogance of the Cadillac dealership was off the charts, and yet another reason I will NEVER set foot in one of the dealerships again. Any GM dealership for that matter as they’re all seedy and stink like cigs. The Alfa is AWESOME and getting coated as we speak. My god the acceleration is off the charts, and for that matter out of the box, every drag video with a QV vs. CT4 BLACKWING, the QV prevails. We made to right choice and don’t EVER second guess yourself on this!

[@autofanaticcars]

Thanks for sharing i also was appalled by how these GM dealers treated me considering they barely had cars in stock to sell due to supply shortages

[@cultofmodernism8477]

I bought a CT4V (non BW) and it was the cheapest piece of garbage I've ever owned. After 6 months, I had to get rid of it. This is probably much of the same but with a much better powertrain. The 4 banger was horrible. And yes, the dealers suck. They didn't want to negotiate on a car that sat on the lot for 170 days. No joke.

[@autofanaticcars]

Thanks for sharing GM is GM after all

[@jimmyk7527]

Great video where you don’t drive the car just show pictures . A kid could have on this “review” what click bait you have done. I dont even think you were in the car.

[@autofanaticcars]

This is not titled “Review” read title firsthand

[@namename1]

Ct4 small better ct5 ct6

[@piotr2951]

You can thank UAW for those cost savings and high prices. Never imagined communism would start thriving in the US.

[@autofanaticcars]

It’s disgusting what has and continues to happen in our country and we all know who is to blame.

[@charlesclement383]

I won't buy a Cadillac either. The Alfa is the better car all round.

[@autofanaticcars]

better quality to when you consider all the carbon fiber, aluminum, Ferrari leather on the interior and more that went into the QV

[@Nocloudedminds]

NEVER BUY ANY CHEVY

[@autofanaticcars]

Unless it’s a classic Chevy of the 50s or 60s is my motto

[@bencarey243]

goober

[@awepossum1059]

Twin turbo V6, as an engine configuration, is just so soulless and disposable, not to mention probably unreliable.

[@tsakoncars9275]

The Cadillac is an ugly car

[@autofanaticcars]

Not sexy like the Alfa but ot grew on me

[@westsideskateshop564]

The Caddy looks amazing to me 🤷‍♂️

[@Ryan-cp4rh]

I paid $69k out the door for my 2023 with just over 2k miles on it. It had all the boxes checked except the carbon fiber package including the bronze wheels and the tan interior. Absolute steal 🥷 JB4 tune won’t void your warranty and is a measly $699 for another 80whp I will not fuck with the suspension on this car, it drives like an absolute dream on the road and on the track

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

The caddy lost on looks alone.....

[@autofanaticcars]

i actually liked the looks better than my M3 i sold recently the Caddy grew on me but really lost me once i dove into it further.

[@kanyobanda1206]

He said naaaahh I don’t want nothing new give me Seconds 😭🫶🏾 the QV is amazing