Somebody needs to tell the guys at Cadillac that cars are supposed to be a trade-off between fun and practicality, because lots of people there obviously didn’t get that memo.

I had run in to Connie Burke from General Motors back in the spring and she was kind enough to lend me a new CTS-V Sport Wagon for a week in exchange for my thoughts.  ( Dave’s note to Connie: you were right and I was wrong; this is one amazing car).

Skeptical until it arrived, the elongated lines of the Sport Wagon give it a much more balanced look that simply eludes its sibling coupe and sedan.  Not often I wax poetic about a wagon but the shape makes the coupe and sedan feel like a design after thought.

Crystal Red Tintcoat, 19 inch satin graphite wheels, and yellow calipers make for a very attractive exterior, especially when mated to the ebony interior that’s the best looking inside I’ve seen in a while.

Recaros seats came with my car and are a $2,500 must have option considering the high cornering speed this thing is capable of.

Twist the key and a distant rumble announces 555 HP has just come on-line, and even your kids are going to know you didn’t buy this thing just to haul stuff.  But haul it will and I think I put things back there just to see what would fit.  (a lot)

PROS:

• 0-60 in 4.2 sec (the manual is even faster)
• Ticket-proof—“I couldn’t have been going that fast officer.  It’s a wagon…”
• Fat wheel and tire combination make corners fun
• Recaro seats and they’re a must for spirited driving
• Lots of “cool dude”, comments when parked
• Long on SPORT and short on WAGON
• to a 150 MPH  you will surprise 90% of the “fast cars” out there

CONS:

• Badly needs a sports exhaust–seriously, if you’re going to cram this much grunt into a car, you have to be able to hear it!!
• Should say “Supercharged” on the sides
• Power windows need a surgeons’ touch to get them to stop where you want
• Get a sunroof
• Front spoiler easily scraped

The Competition:

Porsche Panamera S, and the BMW X6M, both of which are a ton more dough, and in my opinion,  don’t have nearly the pizzazz.  You really have to get way, way up there until you’ll find a sports wagon that can beat this beast.

You can spend a whole lot more money than the Cadillac and buy a whole lot less car.  Caddy’s done their homework and somebody in their think tank needs a pat on the back.

See you on down the road,

Dave