Not only does the CTS pay off for owners who sell their cars after a few years, it pays off for buyers who purchase those pre-owned CTS models. Any Cadillac CTS Chicago owner knows this.  That’s why you find so many buyers flocking to new and used Cadillac Chicago dealers to purchase this car.

From Cadillac’s press release:

While most car buyers today consider sticker price one of the most significant numbers when choosing a new vehicle, the editors at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com recommend that shoppers consider a number they won’t find today on any window sticker: its resale value. Depreciation often is the greatest expense incurred by drivers during the first five years of vehicle ownership. An average vehicle will only retain about 35 percent of its original value after a five-year ownership period, meaning that a $50,000 new car today will only be worth somewhere close to $17,500 after five years. Vehicles with average or below-average resale values are generally plentiful in the marketplace and easy to find, such as models found in rental fleets. But certain vehicles are projected to hold their value better than others. While much of a vehicle’s resale value is based on supply and demand as well as current and projected future market conditions, vehicles that maintain their value best are quality-built and generate consumer enthusiasm.

Vehicle shoppers should take several factors into consideration when buying a new car to ensure as much future value as possible. Certain features available on new vehicles today will be desirable by a majority of used-car buyers three to five years down the road, and these features will help the vehicle maintain more of its original value than if they were absent. First, car-buyers should choose a popular exterior color such as silver, white, gray or black. Then, car-buyers should choose optional equipment that is customary for the type of vehicle they are buying. For instance, if you are buying a luxury sedan choose automatic transmission versus a manual transmission. Equipment and options that are popular with a broad spectrum of used-vehicle buyers include antilock brakes (ABS), alloy wheels, audio system with MP3/iPod compatibility, power-operated leather-covered seats, cruise control, remote locking and navigation system.

I’ve always tried to preach resale value, but usually that involves buying practical, less stylish cars.  But Cadillac CTS Chicago owners know this car is the sporty, stylish solution to that problem.  It is practical and extremely stylish.

Given how well the CTS retains its value, used Cadillac Chicago dealers have a lot of pre-owned CTS models that are excellent options for buyers wanting a used car that is reliable and marketable.

The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V is raw power.  Drastically stronger than the previous model years, the 2009 CTS-V takes the Corvette ZR-1′s 6.2-liter engine and pops it under the hood of this sedan.  Oh yeah, but it can hold five people and is on the affordable side of the hefty ZR-1 price tag.

Here is a nice track test video from RoadFly:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiPKcCKolj0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

Performance-wise, the CTS-V finds itself in the company of the Mercedes E63 AMG and BMW M5, both quick sedans which run around $85,000, but it is a significantly better deal.  The CTS-V will be priced in the mid-60K range even when loaded out on options.

And don’t let the lower price tag fool you.  The CTS-V will go 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, has 100 more horsepower than the Mercedes E63 AMG and outran the BMW M5 at The Ring.  Cadillac added nice touches to the CTS-V’s steering wheel and shifter, giving them a comfortable suede-like feel.  The car has Brembo brakes to keep it reigned in, given its 191 mph top speed.

Calling it “unforgettable”, Car and Driver named the CTS-V to its top ten cars this year, and I know why.  I had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of one at a Cadillac dealer in Chicago about a month ago.  My experience could be summed up by the following two sentences:  Wow.  WOW.

I wish I could go into a long description about what it was like to drive it.  Unfortunately, I enjoyed myself so much, and the drive went by so quickly, I didn’t really catalog much in the way of specifics.  Anyway I wouldn’t do it justice with the written word.  My best advice is to test drive one for yourself at a Cadillac dealer in Chicago.  Certainly, nothing was glaringly wrong or I would have noticed.  Yes, that’s what I noticed–that nothing with this car was wrong, including me being behind its wheel.  (That was incredibly right.)  I’ve been in other high-performance autos, but this one really stands out.  Maybe it is because the CTS-V is so unassuming, but it’s probably because it’s so amazing.  To say that every car I’ve driven since then seems on the clunky side is no exaggeration, and I’ve driven a couple of V-8s since.  They can’t seem to keep them in stock, but the next time I’m out at a Cadillac dealer in Chicago I’ll be asking to drive one.

I love the CTS, and I’ve blogged about the CTS Sport Wagon before.  But the a chance to drive the CTS-V is the car guy’s equivalent of a date with Jennifer Aniston.  It’s just as beautiful, after all, and is better in several ways:  it has nothing to do with Brad Pitt, it’s attainable, and it could actually make David Schwimmer look cool.

If the CTS sedan didn’t convince you that Cadillac is anything but slow and bulky, the CTS-V should leave no doubt that Cadillac is a top maker of performance automobiles.

RELATED POSTS
The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Cadillac Converj concept
2010 Cadillac SRX