Manual transmission makes this 556-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V wagon especially unique.
While they aren’t for everyone, there is just something special about a high performance station wagon like the last generation Cadillac CTS-V. Sadly, wagons went way out of favor in the United States market years ago, making them a rare breed in any form, but high performance family haulers like the one displayed here have become hard to find in good shape. There is nothing like the supercharged CTS-V Wagon on sale today in the US market, even from European automakers that offer strong, rear-drive sport wagons.
Fortunately, while flipping through the Cadillac listings on Bring-A-Trailer, we came across a 2012 CTS-V Wagon with the 6-speed manual transmission that proves that clean, low-mileage versions of the last great American sport wagon are still available. Unfortunately for those shopping, they have held their value, so you won’t find them on the cheap unless they have been ridden hard and put up wet.
LSA on Sale
The Cadillac CTSWagon died with the generation that ended after the 2014 model year and so far, there doesn’t appear to be another Caddy wagon on the way.
The end of the CTS Wagon meant the end of the 556-horsepower CTS-V that so many people loved, with only 2,139 made from 2011 through 2014. This car is one of 575 built for the 2012 model year and it serves as the exact kind of CTS-V Wagon that an enthusiast would like to find.
This 2012 CTS-V looks spotless inside and out, with less than 17,000 miles on the odometer and the only modification seems to be a Corsa axle-back exhaust system. In terms of factory options, this Caddy is loaded, coming with 19-inch wheels, yellow brake calipers, Recaro seats, wooden interior trim, a panoramic sunroof and, most importantly, a 6-speed manual transmission. The manual transmission is what makes this high performance wagon so special, as there aren’t many sporty cars sold in the world that are more unique than a supercharged station wagon with a 556-horsepower, 551 lb-ft of torque and three pedals.
Holding Value
For someone who dreams of owning a supercharged Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, this is it. The only downside is that this seven-year-old super-wagon sold for $57,750. That is less than $10,000 from the original MSRP, so if you are looking for a low-mileage, LSA-powered Caddy wagon in good shape, you should be prepared to pay almost as much as some people would have paid for the car new almost a decade ago.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
