First proper road trip for CT4V Blackwing

[suburbandoom]

Just knocked down 3266mi from the Charlotte, NC metro to Albany, OR. This trip was spread across five days of varying stage lengths. Zero mechanical or technology issues - which was expected. Only negatives are the heavy accumulation of road grime and excessive bug splatter.

While I've had the car for just over two years now, it's never been on what I'd consider a true road trip, aside from the initial purchase drive from Las Vegas to Charlotte. Mostly been a commute and pleasure rig. This hop was an excellent test of machine and its cargo capabilities. The CT4 is a small car....both cabin and trunk. However, I was able to carry precisely what I wanted. The only open space was just the driver seat.

3266mi and 25.6 mpg, as calculated by the dashboard. Bone stock 2023 Cadillac CT4V Blackwing with the sweet TR-6060 gearbox. When time allows, I'll go through the gas receipts and crunch my own numbers. Me riding solo with probably 350lbs of cargo. While it was a blast to make this drive, I'm happy it's done!

Will update soon. Cheers!

 

[mitsuman47]

Cool car. Sounds like a great time.

Will there be a return back across the country? If so, do you plan to take the same route?

 

[suburbandoom]

Cool car. Sounds like a great time.

Will there be a return back across the country? If so, do you plan to take the same route?

Oregon is now home for the car (and me). Starting a new job and this nearly coast-to-coast trip was the opening salvo for the move. I'll stay here, while the wife hangs back in NC to get the house ready for listing and wait for a buyer. In the interim, she'll make a couple trips out here to help me hunt for a new place. Once the NC house sells and we have something in the works here in Oregon, the "real" move will be far less enjoyable.

United Van Lines will handle the bulk of our household goods, but some items they won't haul. So I'll be piloting a rental box truck to haul the prohibited stuff and maybe tow my other car. The wife will drive her SUV with two cats and dog. Woof.

Tucumcari, NM to Albany, OR was absolutely stunning. Only a few hundred miles of that was interstate - the bulk was second and third tier roads through desert and mountains. Killer stuff.

 

[suburbandoom]

Here's the obligatory dash pics.

 

[fantastic]

Love those Caddy's! I will say I've seen a ton of the older ones with "Blown engines" on Marketplace that I'd probably never touch a used one.

 

[shortyb]

CT4V Blackwing is on my short list for a sleeper sedan. Would love a CT5V BW, but I have a fear of federal prison for the bank robbing I would need to do . Now if they would just bring back a wagon version.

 

[suburbandoom]

CT4V Blackwing is on my short list for a sleeper sedan. Would love a CT5V BW, but I have a fear of federal prison for the bank robbing I would need to do . Now if they would just bring back a wagon version.

I looked at the 5BW, even test drove one. But I knew six figure price wasn't on my radar. As much as I love a brute force, supercharged V8, I'm really a sucker for turbocharged stuff. So the 4BW won me over. And yes, a wagon would be great.

 

[shortyb]

I looked at the 5BW, even test drove one. But I knew six figure price wasn't on my radar. As much as I love a brute force, supercharged V8, I'm really a sucker for turbocharged stuff. So the 4BW won me over. And yes, a wagon would be great.

Agreed. Plus, there is always some sort of electronic wizardry out there that can seriously increase output on a turbo engine for relatively cheap money.

 

[suburbandoom]

After combing through fuel receipts, I calculated an average of 26.1mpg. Not too shabby. During the first half of the trip, many on-ramps and various stretches of roadway were treated as my own proving grounds. The second half was spent ripping through high desert and mountain passes.

13 total fuel stops, including the fill-up in NC before heading west. No oil usage detected. PP Euro 0W-40.

My work rig in Oregon is a '23 F350 SRW 7.3L 4x4 crew cab long bed with hydraulic rail gear. Which I discovered today is way overdue for an oil change.

 

[MCompact]

Agreed. Plus, there is always some sort of electronic wizardry out there that can seriously increase output on a turbo engine for relatively cheap money.

Exactly; when my extended warranty ends on my C43 I'll be installing a mild tune from RENNtech or Weistec to knock my quarter mile times down into the low twelves.