Probably A Strange Comparison ... Nontheless Let's Talk
 

To start I am a big fan of performance wagons, yes I said wagons. So knowing that those of us in the US are performance wagon impaired I have a strange request, yes I searched but have not found these vechicles compared. If the M5 Touring, Audi RS6 Avant, or even the RS4 Avant were available in the US I would not be asking this but they aren't so here goes; my choices for my next car are the X5M and the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon.

I know this is BMW forum and I expect the BMW bias but on paper these seem to be in the same ballpark. From a performance perspective they have similar power, the Cadillac has a bit more torque, the skid pad numbers are similar, the 0-60 times are similar, the braking is similar (actually remarkable for the X5M), the cubic feet for transport is a bit better for the X5M, but they really seem to be very similar. There are a few very clear differences though, the Cadillac can be had with a manual transmission, it is after-all a car not a SAV, and it is about $21K less expensive.

So you know I have had an e39 M5, an e92 M3, and currently have an e70 X5 35d so I am a BMW fan but the Cadillac has peaked my interest. Any comments or insight would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I sat in CTS-V and found it to be incredibly small particularly in the back seat. Also numbers aside, it is not the same built car as BMW>>GM. Now if you could get RS6 Avant that would be a different story.

Completely agree. I am having a hard time with the looks of the CTS-V, it seems just a little too in-your-face or boy racer. Also agree the fit and finish is just not on a level playing field, do you remember looking at the headliner?

On a side note I know of two RS6 Avants in the US; one was imported through Mexico and lives in CA, the other lives in NY and I don't know how that one came to be here. Ah, if only money was no object!

You want a fast wagon.
E63 AMG wagon!

You cannot compare a caddy to a BMW.

I bought my first Caddy a few years ago because I wanted a replacement for my QX. I picked up a brand new Escalade EXT. What a total POS.
It doesnt even have bluetooth??? You have to use the Onstar phone with a different number then your regular cell???? It was slower then the QX, it rode like crap with the factory overweighted 22 wheels. and the front struts kept blowing out. But the last straw was the piston slap when the engine was started on a cold day. They first swapped lifters. Then they swapped engine.
I lemon lawed the junker and GM settled with a check for 5k to me(they settled with the lawyers)
I traded the junker in for my E63 and went a bought a new QX for a winter/tow vehicle

I will never buy another caddy. I do not care if the CTSv come out with a twin turbo'ed 1000HP powerplant. It will still be junk

I would have included the E63 Wagon in my original post but the last year it was available in the US was 2009. So yes I could by a used one but that was never really a consideration.

As to quality of GM products, yes I agree that build quality, fit and finish are something less than BMW. But let's also agree that there have been plenty of BMWs that have been lemoned.

It will probably come as no surprise but I will most likely end up ordering a new X5M in the coming months.

I am still curious if anyone on the board has owned or spent some substantial time in a CTS-V.

I say ditch the wagon idea and go for F10 M5 ;)

Maybe, but I really wanted something that could be disguised as practical for my DD ... But why can't I have a M5 Touring? Oh, I know because BMWNA refuses to import wagons into the US.

Get one from Canada.

Wouldn't be the first or last time I was wrong, but I didn't think that BMWNA brought the M5 Touring to Canada. If they did, or better yet still do, how do I confirm.

Obviously easier than trying to get it from Europe as it would have had to have been Federalized for Canada. My understanding is that any car sold in Canada can be registered in the US. Again, I could be wrong. But if this is true this would solve my problem.

Rumors are the E63 wagon will be coming back....can't confirm, almost all true AMGS are off the website as they re-model for 2012...

No M5 Touring in Canada. There have been some models that came to Canada and not the US, but not that one.

It is not true that any car federalized for Canada can be licensed in the US. There are different (but harmonized) processes. It would likely be easier to modify it for the US if it was legal in Canada, but there are still separate sets of regulations.

For the money it is hard to beat the CTS-V. For everything else it is hard to beat the X5M.

Thanks for the clarification. Knew I wasn't entirely correct.

Looks like more than just rumors according to what I have read and heard lately. So with that said let's add the W212 E63 AMG Wagon to the discussion.

Thanks.

I did some laps in CTS-V sedan and coupe on the race track recently. Here is my thread about CTS-V for whatever its worth. :)

I was about to order a manual V wagon...however, as Rez stated, the rear seat is very small & wouldn't work for me (as I have 3 kids in carseats/boosters). If space (or lack of) is not an issue, I'd go w/ the V. That being said, I love my X5 M!;)

The new twin turboed E63(stupid since it is back to a 5.5)
runs a 12.00 1/4!!!!!!
I wonder how fast the new Twin turboed M5 will be?? if it is the same powerplant as the X5M, it should be alot faster

To be honest with you I was done with BMW. the little problems and the shitty dealer service was more then enough. I had a brand new E46 M3 and it was full of small, but annoying problems. It did drive great. Better then any Caddy could ever, but the lack of customer service caused me to dump it in less then a year. I was trying to buy a new ML63 as my new truck, but there were none. One in California and it was not for trade
My next choice was the Cayenne Turbo, but they are just way too plain. But I was still going to get one. Until I saw all the vids on the X5M on youtube. That made the choice easy, especially the vid where the X5M kills a Ml63 and a Cayenne Turbo.

LeMans, thanks that looks like it was fun.

IgotID, thanks. No kids but two big dogs and yes they will ride in whatever I end up with.
donho, thanks. I have to say the F10 M5 is out as I cannot have a wagon and I just need/want the practicality in my DD. I think its down to the X5M which I have driven a few times and very impressed with how well it defies the laws of physics, and the W212 E63 Wagon which I will go drive a sedan at some point in the coming months.

Just got my Automobile Magazine over the weekend - 2012 new car issue with e63 wagon...on sale now in europe..hopefully coming here soon..get the AMG performance package and get 550hp and 590 lb-ft of torque...debadged it is almost stealthy.

i'd go with the V wagon in that case...:thumbup: