Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit: a rolling High-Five

F O R OVER 100 YEARS, CADILLAC HAS BEEN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPRESENTATION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. A ROLLING HIGH FIVE. A TANGIBLE SYMBOL OF SUCCESS. BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW THAT HERE, IN THIS COUNTRY, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU CAME F ROM. IT ONLY MATTERS HOW FAR YOU WANT TO GO. AND HOW FAST YOU WANT TO GET THERE. IT’S AN OPEN ROAD, DRIVEN BY THOSE WHO HAVE THE COURAGE TO CHASE THE DREAM, CATCH IT AND LET IT GO. SO THEY CAN CHASE AN EVEN BIGGER ONE. BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT. THE PURSUIT.

I actually ‘got’ the “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit” campaign.    Unfortunately not enough people resonated with it.

The V-Series is the pinnacle of Cadillac performance luxury engineering. Relentlessly tested on Germany’s notorious Nürburgring racing circuit, the XLR-V and STS-V are engineered to deliver both adrenaline-pumping high-performance driving experiences, and the level of luxury required when endorphins are not on the menu. With each offering 440+ horsepower, track-tuned suspension systems, high-performance braking systems, traction-control technology, stiff chassis, top speeds of over 150 miles per hour on the track and luxury amenities that rival any world-class sedan, manning the cockpit of either of these vehicles is a transporting experience in so many ways.

Cadillac puts every performance item they have available into the V-Series.  Or rather every item that would make that automobile better on a track, and better for touring.  Why search out and buy a V-Series Cadillac?  Because these are the ultimate examples of performance without compromise.

PLEASE BE SEATED.
Every STS-V interior is as unique and luxurious as the supple natural leather trim that covers it. Hand-wrapped top-grain leather seating surfaces bring a luxe feel into the cockpit, while perforated sueded-fabric inserts help keep you firmly in place during sharp turns and quick maneuvers. Olive ash burl wood and kinetic aluminum accents round out the handsome performance-oriented driver’s cockpit. Air bag seams on the passenger instrument panel are virtually undetectable.  Ergonomically positioned controls and instrumentation were specifically designed to communicate driver information quickly and clearly while maximizing driver focus. This is demonstrated in the Head-Up Display, which projects a digital image of your vital stats right on to the windshield, so you can keep your eyes focused on the road. Lane Departure Warning is a helpful feature that will alert you audibly and visually if you stray from your lane and Side Blind Zone Alert can notify you with visual cues if it detects a vehicle entering into your blind spots.

The STS-V entered production in 2006, and closed out production in 2009.

THE BALANCE OF POWER.
When you’re talking about 469 hp, you want to make sure all that muscle is put to its best possible use. So Cadillac engineers created a balance of power in the STS-V that does just that. Externally, an elevated rearward-positioned spoiler creates balanced, road-gripping downforce. Structurally, an optimized low center of mass improves weight geometry, while 18-inch front wheels ensure accurate steering and 19-inch rear wheels deliver abundant power transfer. Expansive stabilizer bars and muscular spring rates harness massive braking and cornering forces. And corresponding to its substantial horsepower and torque, the driver-selectable four-mode StabiliTrak stability control system has been tuned to provide an exceptional degree of control in even the most demanding situations.

One of my favorite touches is that the exhaust manifolds were extrude honed for better flow.  One does not do that on a production item casually, but only with purpose — to make the most power possible out of a 4.4L supercharged V8.

With the arrival of the new CTS-V in 2009 with a 556 Hp Supercharged 6.2L V8, the 469 hp Supercharged 4.4L DOHC V8 in the STS-V was no longer the most powerful Cadillac ever made.  Certainly it continues as one expression of the best engineered vehicle a high performance team can produce.

And that is really what it is all about.  the Pursuit.


Is Newer More Fun?

I must like to shop, because I certainly take a long time in some cases to settle on my next purchase!

Today’s question, is a newer car inherently more fun than an older model?

One of the Corvette Designers, when asked which Corvette was the best one, replied, “One should always buy the newest model on can afford, because the latest Corvette is always the best one we know how to make” or similar.

The same is true for Cadillac as well — the latest models have the latest electronics, convenience features,  and technology.

When choosing between a high-line 2008 Cadillac STS-V and a fully-loaded entry level 2010 Cadillac CTS Premium Model however, the older STS-V had a higher level of standard features.  Options like Heads-Up Display, lane departure warning, and blind spot alert are included on the STS-V and still not available in the CTS even in the Premium Model.

But is the newer 2010 Cadillac CTS cooler just because it is NEWER?  The nav system would have newer maps, the warranty will run longer, the exterior design is fresher.

Both cars cost about the same at the moment.

How much more FUN is NEW?

Cadillac marketplace

I am still watching prices on a few Cadillac Models.  The used car market has been unusually strong this year, so normal trends are out the door.

The Cadillac CTS-V was redesigned in 2009, and has been very well received.  The least expensive 2009 Cadillac CTS-V seems to float around $47K, keeping these out of my budget range. KBB.com retail is $55K.

The Cadillac STS-V stopped production in 2009, with low numbers in 2008 and 2009.  The lowest lightly used model 2008 Cadillac STS-V are running $38K.  That puts this model closer to my target but still not quite there.  KBB retail with 24k miles is $39K.

I have also been looking at the 2010 Cadillac CTS Premium Models.  These are still priced close to new of course with the 2011 models just getting out.  The least expensive RWD CTS 3.6L Premium currently is around $38K.  KBB retail with RWD and Premium package at 12k miles is $35K.

It may still be a horse race between the 2008 STS-V and the 2010 CTS RWD Premium for which reaches my budget first with the right car.   A lot of shopping for used cars is being able to have a wide time window to shop and being ready with the money when you find the right car.

As the summer comes to an end the V cars may become more affordable, since they fall into the ‘fun’ car category.   We’ll see.