Thoughts on a 2006 CTS

[bigfoot68]

Well my 04 CS did not survive a collision and is a total loss.  I found a 2006 Turbo S I am interested in.  Big difference from the 04 CS.  It looks to be in pretty good condition and drives well.  Only 59k miles on it.  At some point the turbo was upgraded to the EVOLUTION MOTORSPORTS GT650/700 (TURBO S) KIT.  Should I be concerned about that?  It also will come with a lifetime powertrain warranty, and the coolant pipes are aluminum. Price is under KBB.  Anything I should look for besides the usual problems I know about on the 04?  Thanks.

[hahnmgh63]

Lifetime powertrain warranty. Check out the warranty company and if they are reputable buy it.  You'll still have the standard stuff if it hasn't happened yet, Cardan shaft (it's right at that age & miles), Brake rotors (front) are coming due in the next 20~30K depending on how it was driven and they're expensive but work **** well. Coolant pipes were done but what about the Coolant Tee's? Years ago us poor bastards didn't know about the Tee's and just did the pipes and ended up having to do most of the work all over again.

Edited February 14, 2016 by hahnmgh63

[clarksongli]

Well my 04 CS did not survive a collision and is a total loss.  I found a 2006 Turbo S I am interested in.  Big difference from the 04 CS.  It looks to be in pretty good condition and drives well.  Only 59k miles on it.  At some point the turbo was upgraded to the EVOLUTION MOTORSPORTS GT650/700 (TURBO S) KIT.  Should I be concerned about that?  It also will come with a lifetime powertrain warranty, and the coolant pipes are aluminum. Price is under KBB.  Anything I should look for besides the usual problems I know about on the 04?  Thanks.

Personally i'd find something else.

 

1st.  Lifetime powertrain may sound like a no brainer, but in all reality you don't typically hear of transmissions/axles/differentials just exploding.  There is a reason why companies offer lifetime powertrain.....because they can make money off of it.

 

The real reason i'd steer clear is the upgraded turbo kit.  You now know power was important to the owner.  But look at the life of most CTTs.  Many reach a "tired" point where you hear about scoring, etc.  Now add bigger boost and turbos.  Turbos never extend the life of a motor....

 

Also, most people who go for big power kits like that.....LOVE to goose the throttle.  You have no idea how this guy treated it, but you have a pretty good bet he didn't drive it like a 80 year old person.  I'm thinking cold engine/cold start but hitting the throttle to get those big turbos spooling.

 

Finally....you live in a cold climate.  Cold starts is a much bigger concern IMO.  If this person didn't take the time to warm up the car etc.  your likelihood of the guy joy riding it cold is pretty good.

 

You can never be 100% sure that a grandma didn't romp on a car, but you can almost always guarantee someone who spends the money on a turbo kit that they DO romp on it.

 

my 2 cents.