Cadillac V-Series – Thom Blackett’s Advice:
It wasn’t long ago that I thought of Cadillac as nothing more than the nicer Buick. That was before seat time in the CTS-V, STS-V, and XLR-V. Though I’m not exactly sure where the idea for a 400-horsepower Cadillac sedan with a manual tranny came from, or how it got the green light, I’m glad it’s here. As a single 33-year-old guy, the brute power and ability to interact with the CTS-V via its gearbox make it one of my top two choices – the $50,000 price is high, but big-boy toys don’t come cheap. Positioned in the middle of my personal lineup is the STS-V, an enjoyable driver but not one I’d choose even if $75,000 was literally burning a hole in my pocket. The right pieces are there – chrome exterior trim, mesh grille, sporty seats – but the overall design looks soft compared to other V models, and the feel behind the wheel, while engaging, is too much like a big Caddy with a few performance tweaks. And then there’s my favorite, the XLR-V. With two seats and a $100,000 price tag, this ride is ridiculously priced and almost completely devoid of any practicality. Screw it – it looks hot, goes like stink, and grabs the pavement like a lonely empty nester. However, there are a few points that would at least cause me pause before handing over all those greenbacks: my XLR-V sure as hell better not overheat; that factory-tuned exhaust would need to be tweaked, allowing it to growl at lower revs; and the transmission shift points would need to be made crisper. Better yet, how about a manual option?

Cadillac V-Series – Brian Chee’s Advice:
If you want performance, American-style, buy the Cadillac CTS-V. It’ll give you a great time on the road – 0-60 in 4.6 seconds, good handling and major attitude – but one heckuva headache at the gas station. As far as the STS-V and the XLR-V, leave those very-fast but very-flawed vehicles off your shopping list, unless you need to ferry Mom and her friends to their weekly bridge game (STS-V) or just met the most fascinating 18-year-old yoga instructor (XLR-V).

Cadillac V-Series – Christian Wardlaw’s Advice:
Going into this test drive, I had high hopes. A native Detroiter, I admit a soft spot for domestic iron and a long road trip in a Cadillac CTS-V two years ago left a favorable impression of GM’s effort to create an in-house, high-performance division similar to what the well-regarded European brands have done. However, after spending a week in all three of the Cadillac V-Series models, the best thing I can say is: “nice try.” All three of these cars need additional development if they want to compete with, let alone beat, the best from BMW and Mercedes-Benz – especially the STS-V and the XLR-V. My favorite V-Series car continues to be the least expensive, the simplest, and the most comfortable of the trio – the CTS-V. It made me smile every time I fired up its 6.0-liter V8. The XLR-V made me smile until I drove it the way Cadillac intended and it left me stranded on the side of the road. The STS-V left me wondering if Cadillac had ever driven a BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, much less a 550i or E500 with sport packages.