Bye Bye Z
 

Well, the time has come that I let the Z go. She was aging, we just had our first baby, and I needed a more practical car. The Z was a fantastic car and I still love it. Wasn't easy seeing it being driven away. I've enjoyed this forum immensely, benefitted from all those who contributed, and hope I've helped some people along the way.

Here's the 'more practical' replacement...all 556HP. :)

2013 V-Wagon with manual trans and all options checked.

Nice! If you have to go practical that's the way to do it.

556HP... wow.

:bowdown:Wow, nice new ride!

:ban:


j/k :icon17: Sorry to see it go, but I think you will still be ever so slightly more pleased with the TQ/HP increase. :bowrofl:

Sorry to hear :tiphat: I'm just glad all your DIY threads/posts will remain :tup:

That's one hell of a beastly wagon, that's for sure. Enjoy! :driving:

Is that the first gen with the LS7, or the newer one with the super charger?

Those used CTS-Vs are getting so damn affordable now. Much want.

wait wat? :eek:

That is a beastly upgrade!

Shame to see you go, I thank my lucky stars that with our baby I've been able to still keep my Z,

Thanks for all the contributions! I've used many :tiphat:

My next move also :tiphat: but I'm keeping the Z lol. I can't let this little lady go! I was undecided between the wagon or sedan. I love wagons but unable to decide if I'm a fan of the styling yet.

Dually impressive! Looks like the kind of car that makes you feel like a million dollars each time you drive it! :tup:

Very Nice! :)

First gen was a LS2 or LS6 option I believe, but this version is the LSA with a supercharger. :driving:
Also, for those looking check out the first couple years sedan as they are cheap. The coupe & wagons are a bit more expensive because there are less of them.

:( to see the Z go, but :tup: on the new car, dare I say in certain ways it's an upgrade.

Very nice. But you'll be a Z fan forever. :tup:

Nice!!!

Love those cars (except the headlights)!

My uncle has a V sedan with some power upgrades. An absolute beast to drive (even in stock form). Also, for as heavy as they are they handle very well. The driver feedback from the steering wheel and the brakes aren't as good as the Z (imho)...that might be the only thing you miss.

If I had to get a four seater/door, that's exactly what I would have gotten as well. Nice choice!

P.S. the Corsa exhaust sounds awesome on that car.

But the color...and the hatch back version...

Anyways. Best of luck with it.

What a beast is right!!!

Congrats on kid and new car!

Best wagon in the world! That is too sick. Congrats man! Love the color combo too.

Image what it would feel like to have 500+ whp on tap Mitch. Oh wait...

OP, love the new car, great colour too.

That car is but ugly! I am sorry some cars no matter what you do to them they just shouldn't have been made, that is definately on that list, right there next to the Jag station wagons and the Mercedes station wagons.

awesome car :D

Did you get the Recaro seats too? If I had to get a family car, this would definitely be it.

Congrats on the new baby. And it's just a shame, when I had my kids, this "practical" car wasn't around :tup:

that isnfreakin hot, hate the color but all else totally rocks. go daddy go

I thought you were buying a Z06? I was also looking at CTS-Vs, but seeing that I'm not married nor have kids... a Z06 awaits me :)

Great purchase! Love all 3 variants of the CTS-V

I approve

sorry to see the Z go, but nice replacement! You gonna track it? I considered one because you can actually put 4 track wheels in the back.

Thanks Everyone.

It was tough letting the Z go but I got a lot of equity out of it to offset the cost of the new V. I couldn't be happier with the swap though. The first time I put my foot into the V while rolling in 2nd gear and the rear end squirreled all over the place despite traction control fully engaged put a huge smile on my face. While I've lost the nimbleness of the Z, the power and effortless speed of the V is really a thrill. Not to mention I can put the baby in the back, dog in the way back and take the family around town.

V wagon ownership is a strange thing. Either the car goes completely unrecognized and people pity me for owning a station wagon, or it's instantly recognized and lauded. This morning I went to a Coffee and Classics car gathering with the V wagon. On the highway up there, a guy in a Porsche 928 pulled ahead of me and gave me a huge thumbs up through his sunroof. Then I got to the event, parked in the lineup and an old couple walking by said "What is that? A Cadillac station wagon? That can't be part of the show..." I got a kick out of seeing them miss out on probably the most unusual car at the whole event...even if it's just a station wagon.

It will definitely go to the track at some point. I need to do some autocross first and get a sense of car control with it. I think it will be a hairy beast with traction control off. Then I'll get her to a track day after a rear diff cooler is installed and a transmission cooler upgrade happens.

The color was a mixed bag for me initially that I've grown to really enjoy now. Photos don't do it any justice. I bought the car sight unseen at a dealer 1200mi from me and had it delivered. You just can't find these things anywhere and this one was brand new with 6 miles on it. It's loaded with a manual transmission, Recaro seats, microfiber wheel and shifter, ultraview sunroof, satin black wheels and the red Brembos. In person the paint looks like a light blue metallic in sunlight, a silver metallic in shade, and a pearlescent multicolor any time it's near something vibrantly colored (grass, brick driveway, etc). With the blacked out bits and newly added window tint, I think it's pretty sharp.

Given that big displacement V8s and manual transmissions are a dying breed, I couldn't pass this up and plan to keep this one for a very long time. Guess that's why I couldn't find one used!

I'll continue to poke around the forum. This community has really added to my Z ownership and it's been a pleasure benefitting from and contributing to the camaraderie.

Sounds like you're really enjoying it! :driving: :tup: :tup:

O.G. You're one of those guys I saw in one of the first Z35's :crying:


But you definitely didn't downgrade and you did it for Adult Reasons. :tiphat:

Congratulations man. That's one serious vehicle. Much love and be safe in your new maniacally fast luxury wagon. :driving:

MT FTW! :tup:

I have the roof rails too. I think Motor Trend fabbed up a roof tray for their track wheels to keep them outside the car.

:icon18::driving::tup:

A 556HP Grocery getter.. NICE..

Good luck, sorry to see you go.

Sweet