Artvoice: Buffalo's #1 Newsweekly
Home Blogs Web Features Calendar Listings Artvoice TV Real Estate Classifieds Contact
Previous story: Buffalo's Jewish Community Book Fair
Next story: An Avant-Garde Legend Comes to Town

When You Positively, Absolutely Have to Be There Five Minutes Ago

The 2008 Cadillac STS-V

Regular readers of this space (and I hope you’re all “regular”) have probably come to notice that I’m not much impressed by glamor and/or speed. Give me a good, reliable car that’ll get you where you want to go consistently. Throw in a good ride, decent handling, stingy gas mileage, a listenable sound system, and I’m there, ready to go cross-country. And it wouldn’t hurt if it wasn’t hit with the ugly stick, either. (This isn’t to say I haven’t owned a few dogs over the years. So sue me.)

But, with that said, I’m also not a total nerd when it comes to cars. A good case in point is the subject car for this week. I didn’t want to bring it back. Maybe it’s partially because at the end of the test drive I found myself returning to the driver’s seat of my 11-year-old Chevy. (Sorry, ol’ girl!) But you know what? I could use that excuse every week. This time was different. The folks at Cadillac have gone all out over the past few years to change their image from providing transportation for affluent retired Americans, to putting themselves on the short list for buyers of sport sedans. We’re talking BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz drivers, here. With the STS (and the just-as-exciting CTS), Cadillac has turned the corner from blue hair to BlueTooth.

Sizewise, the STS positions itself between the CTS (think BMW 3-series) and the DTS (somewhat akin to your grandfather’s Sedan De Ville). Within the STS range, you can get all- or rear-wheel drive, in a V-6 or Northstar V-8.

Then there’s the STS-V. It’s Caddy’s top of the line, and comes standard with a supercharged, 4.4-liter V-8 engine which puts out 469 hp. As Cadillac explains, “…each 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine is hand assembled to exacting standards at GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., and is built from start to finish by a single expert craftsman.” No word as to whether you get his name and number if there’s a problem.

The V-series STS is available in only three colors: Black Raven, Light Platinum and Thunder Gray Chromaflair. Interior choices are (all leather): Ebony, Light Gray and an Ebony/Tango Red combination which really grabs your attention.

This week’s test car was found at Jim Ball Cadillac in Orchard Park. It was the Black/Black combo, which looks very smart, especially with the aluminum alloy wheels. The wire mesh grille is exclusive to the V-series, and gives it a performance car look. But, it’s not just a look. The main attraction of this car is just under your right foot. Take it on the Thruway; you’ll see that when you reach the sign that says the 65 miles per hour speed limit starts here, a slight tap of the gas pedal and you’ve reached 65 with the sign still in your peripheral vision. And stepping on that gas pedal not only produces instant speed as the supercharger kicks in, but the sound it makes is music to the ear of any car lover. This car really touches all of the senses. It looks good, it sounds good, the interior leather smells good and feels good. Okay, I’m not sure how it tastes, but four out of five ain’t bad.

Starting price for the STS-V is $79,000. It pretty much ends there, too, as the option list contains only deletes for the sunroof and the XM radio, which, if chosen, would actually bring the price down a bit.

I don’t see how I can begin to list the standard equipment on this car. So, I won’t. Stop in and have a look at it yourself. If you’re up to it, let me know how it tastes.

More info: cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/vseries.