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It may not have a pithy monikier like “sport sedan” or “supercar,” but there’s no denying that super-fast station wagons hold a magnetic appeal to many automotive enthusiasts. They’re the point directly in the center of the Venn diagram between performance and utility, equally capable of carrying a family on a cross-country road trip as they are tearing a road course apart with glee. Part of their appeal stems from their rarity, especially in the wagon-phobic United States; right now, the sole new car contenders for the crown are the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo (ideally in Turbo or Turbo S E-Hybrid forms) or the Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon.
But earlier this decade, there was an American champion vying alongside the Germans for four-door two-box supremacy: the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. Not only did it pack a 556-horsepower supercharged smallblock V8 derived from the unit found in the C6-generation Corvette ZR1 and a spectacularly competent magnetic ride suspension, just like the sedan and coupe versions, it also offered a choice of six-speed automatic or manual gearboxes. And it’s one of the rare latter versions that has currently broached the surface of Bring a Trailer.
The stick isn’t the only thing that makes this Cadillac one hell of a buy. The CTS-V wagon in question has just a little more than 7,200 miles on the odometer, making it practically new. (A clean Carfax and comprehensive service records are also there to vouch for its pedigree.) A lack of a sunroof means it packs added structural stability — perfect for anyone planning on tracking their Cadillac station wagon, which is a sentence that would probably break your Eldorado-owning grandfather’s brain — while an integrated K40 radar detector helps you know when you really need to tromp on the giant Brembos at all four corners. Heated and cooled Recaro sport seats keep driver and passenger alike cozy and comfortable, while Black Raven paint brings out all the menace in the angry, angular design.
Considering their rarity, six-speed manual CTS-V Sport Wagons often command a pretty penny for used Cadillacs, especially when they have few miles under their belt. Past examples with four-figure mileage counts on BaT have sold in the last two years have sold for $53,000–$65,500, so expect this car — which, as of this writing, has a high bid of $41,900 — to sell for similar money when the auction closes in a couple days. Still, considering that a new, just-slightly-quicker CTS-V starts at $86,995 (and doesn’t come with a manual gearbox or a station wagon rump at any price), that’s practically a bargain.
