Car rebuild expert buys Cadillac CTS V-Sport from dealer for half the price, thinking he’d hit the jackpot—but there’s a reason it was so cheap
- Florida-based car-rebuild expert bought a Cadillac CTS V-Sport
- It was half-price off the usual cost
- However, when he tries to drive it home he discovers why
Published on Jan 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
When a Florida-based car-rebuild expert got his hands on a Cadillac CTS V-Sport at a dealer trade-in auction for 50 percent less than the usual price he thought he’d bagged a bargain.
He paid just $8,000 – way below its original price of $70,000.
However, there was a reason that it was half-price.
Turns out the automotive content creator needed to put a lot more work into it than he’d bargained for.
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The 2014 Cadillac CTS V-Sport
After driving away from the auction, stating: ‘This ain’t your Granddaddy’s old caddy’, content creator Samcrac, known simply as Sam, thought he’d bagged a bargain.
“I figured it could be a pretty great gamble for just 8,000 bucks,” he said – especially considering the emotional connection many have to the American
To make matters worse, it stalled on the road due to an empty fuel tank.
“The car literally has died,” Sam said.
He was forced to take an e-bike home to grab a can and refuel in order to get it home.
The reason for the price
When he finally got it back to his home shop, he found various cosmetic and mechanical issues, including worn suspension components and minor oil leaks.
Thankfully, the transmission seemed well-maintained, which was a positive sign for the car’s history.
The main problem, however, was slack in the timing chain, a common issue with GM 3.6L V6 engines said to be caused by infrequent oil changes.
Sadly, this can lead to catastrophic engine failure.
Sam plans to fix the timing chain and make sure it’s looking as good as it possibly can – a project that will set him back a few thousand dollars.
We’ve seen huge glow-ups on Cadillac CTS previously.
If it can make this rare and coveted car a solid and reliable daily driver it’s arguably worth it.
“These cars are still pretty darn desirable,” Sam said.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
