Took 92 year old Dad for a ride

[deckofficer]

I wish it could have been in the Track-T or a Cobra.

Hope you don't mind me sharing a new driving experiance with you folks. I posted this on the the Caddy V forum. I know what your thinking, "that 4300 lb brick is a polar opposite of our Cobras, and on many counts your all correct. But for some of you gearheads that need a more refined ride, consider a 556 hp, 6 speed manual CTS-V with the GM approved top speed of 191 mph. Yikes, 4300 lb, 191 mph brick, how do you stop it? These are by far the most powerful, fade-free brakes, on a production car that I have ever driven. On to my posting on the V forum........


Bought it, parked it, but today, drove it, I'm a "V" believer

Long story short, after buying the V, 6-speed manual, it sat in the garage, didn't have any time to drive it. However, I did enjoy reading some of the posts here about the V driving experiance. I thought it was good entertainment but felt the V's attributes were a bit over-blown by the good folks here on this forum.

Well as my friends always seem to point out, I'm sometimes wrong and I'm wrong again about the assumption that the V is "just a nice but heavy, Grand Touring type of car". For as few of this units that are produced, we V owners are the recieptiants of some talented and serious engineering. Most of you don't know me, but I'm an old school gearhead, having owned many one off hot rods and many muscle cars. To put my forth coming evaluation of the V in perspective, I have a rod now that if the V shared the same power to weight ratio, it would need an output of 1075 hp, which upon reading this forum, I know it can be done, but I won't do that to the V.

The first "real" drive was eastbound on hwy 50 in California, over the Sierras at 7600' elevation, down into Lake Tahoe and return back to Placerville, all windy roads. I got my 92 year old Dad out of the house (when we get out of the house I cancel my physical therapy with him for that day) for this drive. I can hear you guys saying "What a fool, super crank and bank type of roadway and he takes Dad". That my new friends here, is part of the engineering beauty of our rides. To test my theory, I'd say "Dad, you know what speed we are going?", he replies 45 when going 65, 65, when going 85, etc. Combine that with cornering attributes that for the smoothness of all transistions and total lack of stiff or harsh suspension means I had a great time and dear old Dad was none the wiser. For you folks that are familar with the trans-Sierra route of State hwy 50 going to Tahoe you KNOW about the curves and few and far between passing lanes, this hwy the V rules. Imagine this, every yellow sign curve speed "recommendation", you can count on a 50% faster speed with flat cornering and your passenger not even knowing the speed. Now passing, though impressive for 4300 lbs, is sadate compared to my Track-T, but my T wasn't on the highway, other "normal" cars were, and this V really reals them in. I have never taken Dad over 100 mph ever, but today in those passing lanes, we did on 3 occasions and he had no idea. His comment was "when I was driving this road alot, they never slowed down in the passing lane, but sped up to make it impossible to pass". Things haven't changed, but the V at altitude just flys by all the normally aspirated cars like they DID slow down. Dad's perception at 92 isn't what it used to be, but if he felt the other drivers were slowing down so we could pass, I'll just let him keep that image for future trips to Tahoe.

I don't believe I've ever felt this good about a new car purchase, and the cars I've owned in the past set the bar rather high. Finally had to fill the tank, 14.9 mpg, not bad for pulling a 7600' summit and going over 100 on 3 passes. I guess I am V addicted and want to thank the folks on the forum for describing their driving impressions, even though I thought they were inflated, now I know they are not.

Geez, I finished typing this and scrolled up to proof read, and saw that I started this with "to make a long story short". Boy was I wrong, you just can't relate your first real spirited driving experiance in a short missive.

[4RE KLR]

Great story. You will remember this for the rest of your life.

_______________
Ferrari Killer
Steve

Must Sell Right Now

.

[HI Cobra]

+1. i have put the CTS-V on a wish list (if the economy for me ever changes for the better).
I once took a friend from Kalaupapa, Molokai, Hawaii who happened to be on Oahu for a medical check up and had free time before returning to Molokai.
He was 82 at the time, no legs due to bone cancer (had prosthetics), no
fingers to speak of due to Hansons Disease and had lived there since sent at
age 17 when they found out he was infected with it. Kalaupapa's roads aren't
meant for any speed. I picked him up in my Cobra at the hospital, put him in
the car and took him on the scenic route around the island through Waimanalo to my house in Kailua, where we had a couple of Coronas and a burger on the grill. I didn't have to worry about him burning his legs on the pipes because his were plastic and metal. He was smiling all the way and I showed him a short burst to triple digits on a portion of H-3 where there was no traffic. I will never forget his smile - He died 2 years later from Pancreatic cancer.

If any of you ever get a chance to do something like this for someone - please do it - you will glad you did.

[Skully]

How big was the smile on your dad's face? You are very lucky to be able to take dad for a ride, I'm jealous.

[deckofficer]

Smile, check 1st picture.

[Bill Wallace]

My dad would have been 100 last Sunday and I wish he was here for me to take him for a ride. I am proud and envious of you. Keep it up!

[deckofficer]

Thanks everyone. He is a great old guy, treated us kids great, and now laments "I should have gotten into this car thing with you 40 years ago". Had he done that, we would have had a couple of REAL Cobras in the garage.

And I took him for another ride yesterday. In the past Pop had a short limit as to the distance he could travel in the car. I think that was my fault by not having the right car. Today's trip after I took him out for breakfast was (and I do this for Whip, he is into tracking movement on US highways) Diamond Springs (old mining town where our favorite restuarant is) south on 49 through Plymouth (Speed's Diner, 2nd Sat of the month, Noon till 3:00PM) to Trans-Sierra State highway 88 east over 8600' Kit Carson Pass to 89 north to South Lake Tahoe, and hwy 50 west back to Placerville (Hog Wild 1st and 3rd Monday for hot rods). Total trip 174 miles and he did fine. Also learned if we turn off the AC, open the sunroof and windows to enjoy the high Sierra air, that with the wind noise comes the sensation of speed and no more spirited driving. With the quiet of all the windows up I can get away with a lot higher speeds and Pop just doesn't know. The payback was 18.5 mpg going up the mountains, and 26 mpg coming down from them 'dar hills. Not too bad for a 556 hp, 4300 lb brick with only 400 miles on the engine.

[4RE KLR]

He sure seems to enjoy these trips.

It seems to me you have found a new (and better) theropy program. Stick with it.

________________
Ferrari Killer
Steve

Must Sell Right Now

.

[4RE KLR]

Hmmm, I was just thinking. If this is his new theropy program would the CTS V be deductable?

________________
Ferrari Killer
Steve

Must Sell Right Now

.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by 4RE KLR

Hmmm, I was just thinking. If this is his new theropy program would the CTS V be deductable?

________________
Ferrari Killer
Steve

Must Sell Right Now

.

That would be a good idea, problem is, I'm a big coward when dealing with the IRS and my taxes. Home office, never claimed, along with many other things. My hope is to never have to go through an audit, but if the IRS decides to audit, then it will be them cutting me a check.

[VRM]

Just curious - How are you allowed to drive it without a licence plate? And doesn't CA require a front plate and the goofy mounting hardware that ruins the lines of the car?

Steve

[392cobra]

Dealer Plate

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by VRM

Just curious - How are you allowed to drive it without a licence plate? And doesn't CA require a front plate and the goofy mounting hardware that ruins the lines of the car?

Steve

It is registered, taxes and DMV fees paid. Awaiting plates that DMV will mail out when they get around to it. I have had a lot of cars that have no provisions for a front plate, and so far (knock on wood) no cop has ever said anything.

[VRM]

No worries - My state usually gets plates out pretty quickly - I guess CA takes longer.