2010 Cadillac CTS-V
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For some, nothing can replace German engineering, and for some, it's American or nothing. Whether you're talking about quality, reliability, performance or features, there's a list of pros and cons on either side of the aisle. Today we ask: if you could put either one in you garage, would you choose the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG or the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V?
First up, the E63 AMG. Apart from costing a pretty penny more than the $62,000 CTS-V, the $85,750 2010 E63 is a close match for the Cadillac, though many would prefer the Merc's materials and finish quality over the American competition. At 525 horsepower from a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 engine, the car isn't hurting for speed--it can run to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and hit an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph in a hurry, and it'll handle the shifting for you with its 7-speed MCT transmission--a computer-controlled manual that's a step above the standard torque-converter auto in the Cadillac. Fuel economy isn't great, at 13/20 mpg city/highway, but all that power has to come from somewhere.
Next, the CTS-V. Cheaper, a hair quicker at 3.9 seconds to 60 mph, and little less luxurious in its accommodations, the CTS-V sedan has a lot going for it--556 things, actually, if you're a horsepower fan. With a 6.2-liter V-8 engine supercharged to deliver instant torque, it's fast from idle, and just keeps getting faster--right up to its 191 mph top speed (178 mph for the automatic). Like the Mercedes, it's a thirsty beast, sucking down gas at the rate of 12/18 mpg with the automatic and 14/19 mpg with the manual. Therein lies one of the V's big advantages: it's available with a stick. While the automatics in both the V and the E63 are impressive units that can get more out of the car than most drivers can, there's an element of purity to a manual 'box.
Aside from the raw stats, there's the issue of image or brand cachet. Some wouldn't be caught dead slumming it in a GM car of any label, while others might feel like they'd be shot dead driving a high-dollar German car through the Heartland. It's a matter of personal preference that can't be boiled down to an easy formula. But it's definitely a major factor in spending for either car.
There's a lot more to both cars--suspension, handling, comfort, and maintenance costs, for starters--than we've covered in this high-level overview, so we put the question to you, dear reader: if you had the cash in hand to buy either one, and an empty spot in your garage, would it be a three-pointed star greeting you each morning or would it be the Caddy crest? Let us know in the comments below.
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