WARD'S 10 BEST ENGINES

Ward's has once again named its Ten Best Engines. It seems as though Ward's Auto has staked out a claim on this category of engine ranking and is rather respected and trusted now. 2007's best engines come from four different Japanese manufacturers, the German big three, as well as Ford and GM.

Audi's 2.0L turbocharged inline-four makes 200bhp and 207 lb-ft of torque. BMW's twin-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six produces 300bhp and 300 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0L V6 turbodiesel in Mercedes-Benz's E-class produces 208bhp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Ironically, the three German companies infiltrated Ward's 10 Best list with four turbochargers divided amongst the three engines.

Ford's 4.6L V8 is capable of more than 300bhp in the Bullitt and Shelby GT. The 6.0L V8 in hybridized form that we've seen in the Yukon/Tahoe hybrids and GM's 3.6L V6 from the Cadillac CTS form the American contigent.

Honda's smooth and powerful 3.5L V6 from the new Accord is one of two three-and-a-half litre engines on the list. The V6 from Lexus' IS350 is another formidable powerplant. 3.7 litres equals V8-style power in the Infiniti G37, too. Finally, Mazda's 2.3L turbocharged inline-four ends the list as the fourth turbocharged model, as well as the second with just four-cylinders.

NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR - January 13

One month plus a day from now you'll hear who took the crown of North American Car (& Truck) of the Year. General Motors swept the two-title series last year with the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Silverado. Out of 54 possible nominees, GM showrooms hold four of the final six candidates. Present in the COTY triumvirate are Chevrolet's Malibu, the Cadillac CTS and the Honda Accord. The loosely named 'truck' category is represented by the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and Mazda CX-9.

Does the Malibu, a bolder; better version of last year's winner, really deserve to win? Has it moved the game on that much? Will the Tahoe Hybrid hype override what The Good Car Guy noticed to be dismal real-world fuel economy and a poor driving experience to take the TOTY title, especially considering the Mazda CX-9's seven-seat sports-car on stilts reputation and the best-Buick-in-decades Enclave?

We shall see. It should be known, however, that it was.... today - yes; today - that Cadillac's entry won GoodCarBadCar's American Impact Car of the Year.

CARS OF CANDIDATES

The Associated Press has collected some info on the past and present vehicles of presidential candidates. It's easy to find the car lovers amongst them - those who don't know an inline-4 from a V8 - and those who must have at least modicum of taste.

Hillary first drove a '62 Olds Cutlass. Sneak a peek or more thru Bill or Hillary's autobiographies, and you soon discover that they either love cars or remember them well. Mrs. Clinton is now, of course, driven in many'a Secret Service vehicle, although she makes note of a "Ford hybrid."

As does John Edwards, in addition to an '04 Chrysler Pacifica (indiciating the value of John's vehicle is equivalent to the price of one haircut) and a 13-year old GMC pickup. John's first car was a Plymouth Duster. Bill Richardson drove a used Mustang in a former day, but enjoys his Jeep Wrangler now. Barack Obama makes use of a Chrysler 300C, but once "extensively" used his grandfather's Ford Granada.

Giuliani? "I don't drive. I navigate." Sure, Rudolph. He drove a used Dodge whilst newly licensed. A little more specificity, please.

John McCain knows where it's at. The Arizona Senator drove a 1958 Corvette but has a Cadillac CTS now. Good job, John. Mitt Romney drove a 2-year old American Motors Rambler Classic in 1965 when he went to college. Mitt, who was involved in a head-on crash in France while driving a Citroen DS in 1968, has possession of an '05 Ford Mustang Convertible and a '62 Rambler American.

Fred Thompson speaks about an old red pickup. Fred hasn't elaborated yet. Mike Huckabee used to be the driver of a Mercury Montego but makes use of two Chevrolet's now: an '07 Tahoe and a '95 Silverado.

What have we learned? Unless some of these cars are using base V6's instead of the implied V8's, the candidate's vehicles likely contribute to an average of 16/21mpg, city/highway.

Keep talking, guys. Gimme all that ethanol and biofuel and dependency on foreign oil stuff.

NFL IN ATLANTA

The Saints (5-7) head to Atlanta tonight to face the Falcons (3-9) in hopes of regaining some respect after their team revitalized New Orleans in last year's playoff run. (Hey, I know this is a car site, but what's more appealing than football and cars? You can't tailgate without a vehicle, after all.) Watch the game with WMP here or TVU this'a'way.

www.mysportpicks.blogspot.com

It was a little over two years ago that Sewell Cadillac Chevrolet suffered the loss of 200 vehicles after Katrina. That's right - after the hurricane. 97 of their vehicles were commandeered by the NOPD.

Carl Sewell still owns car dealerships, but the Caddy/Chevy dealer on Baronne Street has since closed its doors, whilst employees were offered positions in Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Plano, and San Antonio. One Sewell billboard ad seen after the hurricane read, "New Orleans Finest Drive Sewell."

The NOPD was claiming these vehicles at a time when many of their own vehicles had been flooded and safety was being compromised when officers were siphoning gas from abandoned vehicles. On the other hand, not many of the 97 were Cobalt's or Aveo's. The officers apparently preferred Cadillac Escalade's.



Back then, police superintendent Warren Riley said, "Those cars were not stolen. We recovered I believe 90-something Cadillacs. We recovered some of those that were stolen. We warehoused those cars. We still have those cars. We have obtained the keys for those cars and they are in a safe place for the owner." Unfortunately, most vehicles returned to the Sewell dealership were seriously damaged and freed of the air in their tires.


As for Atlanta's natural disaster + car connection, Governor Sonny Perdue asked that people consider their dirty cars a 'badge of honour'. There ain't enough water to go 'round, said he. Nevertheless, after edict went forth several state employees used their government purchase card to pay for car washes. The list of offenders includes educators from state universities.

Perhaps we should just watch the football game. The Media Player and TVU links are above, here's a TVAnts link.

TRUE CAR COST

Consulting firm Runzheimer International has released a study that suggests purchasing and operating a Toyota Corolla wouldn't cost much more than simply operating a Cadillac STS.

The STS topped the passenger-car list of most expensive vehicles to operate, followed closely by the Lexus LS460 and Audi S4. Considering fast-rising fuel prices, V8 sedans are obvious per/mile abusers of your wallet. (Assume the exemption of $200K, 10mpg Bentley's and their ilk.)

The Corolla CE is the least expensive to operate, followed by the GLS model of Hyundai's Accent and the Chevrolet Cobalt LT. The Corolla's estimated yearly operating costs of $7,933 - based on fuel economy, insurance, depreciation, taxes, and maintenance over 15,000 miles - are $11,604 lower than that of the big Caddy. There wasn't even a truck or heavy ute that approached the STS' frightening numbers.

Should we expect the smart fortwo to make a dint in next year's most inexpensive operators? With an $11,590 base price, the obvious fuel efficiency advantage, and apparently high demand (protecting second-hand values), the money-losing brand might just provide you with a money-saving option.

$$$$$ - Your's

C/D'S 10BEST

Car&Driver names their 10Best. A few dozen auto websites and blogs tell you about it straight away. GoodCarBadCar gives you more than that. Sure, the 10Best are named below, but so is an interesting fact about each. I do declare, GoodCarBadCar's own awards will be revealed beginning on the 20th of this month thru till New Year's Eve.

Car&Driver differs from many print publications in their award formats. So many place great distinction upon one new car. The problem therein? What if that one new car wouldn't have cut the mustard amongst the previous year's competition? That would be embarrassing. Also, is there really only one notworthy car displayed each year? No, there's plenty. We live in a great age for automotive ingenuity.

So, if you were a member of C/D's 10Best last year - come on back, y'all. If you're new or significantly revised and below the maximum price limit (2X the average price of new cars sold in America), come on down. Eight - yes, eight, of last year's winners made it back onto C/D's list.

BMW 3-SERIES: 17 straight years for the 3-series in 10Best, aided no doubt by a turbocharged 6-cylinder that outmuscles a 90's-era M3 and can manage a tussle with last year's M3.

CADILLAC CTS: The CTS just happens to be MotorTrend's Car of the Year and the only direct 3-series competitor on the list. Although priced like a 3, the CTS is sized like a BMW 5 and can honestly stand toe to toe with both.

CHEVROLET CORVETTE: If 430 horsepower isn't enough, but 505 is way too much, one simple option box 'check' gives you 436.

CHEVROLET MALIBU: Stuck in the past, the 4-cylinder engine is still mated with a 4-speed auto. However, the 6-cylinder/6-speed auto combo is world-class.

HONDA ACCORD: Seemingly ordinary, the Accord now offers 200 horsepower more than the original 1976 Accord.

HONDA FIT: The next Fit has already debuted, but the current Fit can hustle through C/D's lane-change test faster than a Ferrari F430 Spider. Deal with the rough ride, folks. It's worth it.


MAZDA MX-5: The optional hardtop can be lowered in 12 seconds, adds just 79 pounds to the featherweight Miata, and doesn't take sole possession of your trunk.

MAZDASPEED 3: The turbocharged, hatchback 3 forces its front wheels to deal with an extra 130 lb-ft of torque as compared with a 'regular' 3, itself a pretty decent little hatch.

PORSCHE BOXSTER/CAYMAN: Since coming into existence in the 90's, the Boxster has seen horsepower upgrades ten times.

VOLKSWAGEN GTI: Apart from 197bhp, awesome seats, wicked 5-spoke wheels and a communicative nature, the GTI also has the advantage of awesome commercials.

CAR AND DRIVER ANNOUNCES 10BEST FOR 2009

From the time he was knee high to a grasshopper - whatever that means - The Good Car Guy has been a faithful believer in Car & Driver's 10Best. That's part of the reason why GoodCarBadCar.net's The Good 12 is modeled after C/D's 10 Best; with realistic cars (under $71K this year) that can be recommended year-after-year if they remain better than the opposition. Don't believe that GoodCarBadCar.net will always be in firm agreement with C/D's editors.

This year Car & Driver named two domestics to its 10Best list. Added to that were four from Europe and four from Japan. The list is below with a sentence from Car&Driver and an additional thought from The Good Car Guy. Keep in mind, The Good 12 v2.0 begins revealing itself on the eighth of December.

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BMW 3-Series: "Is this perfection? History has shown that there’s always room for improvement. But even so, in our view, no current family of cars comes closer to that elusive target." 

TGCG: No argument here.

Cadillac CTS & CTS-V: "Cadillac has created many memorable cars. This one is unforgettable." 

TGCG: Stretching only slightly less, I'd say that the CTS is memorable, the V version unforgettable.

Chevrolet Corvette: "... the standard Corvette coupe and convertible continue to deliver a level of performance and style that’s unbeatable for the money." 

TGCG: Indeed, it is the ZR1 and Z06 that show what tremendous value the regular 'Vette represents, even Chevrolet can't make its own car look overpriced.

Honda Accord: "It’s equally clear that the Accord has evolved steadily to maintain its position as a mainstream pacesetter."

TGCG: Contrary for the sake of being contrary, the thought that at some point Honda may need to revolutionize the Accord rather than simply evolve their midsize car can't help making a nest in my brain; not because Honda will need to but because I want them to. The Accord was a Good 12-winner last year.

Honda Fit: "If there’s a better combination of thrift, practicality, and fun-to-drive, we haven’t seen it yet."

TGCG: In last year's Good 12, regarding the old Fit, " The Fit possesses sharp steering, a snickety-snick gearshift or even a 5-speed automatic, and remarkable economy."

Infiniti G37: "We're not immune to the appeal of more power, of course, but there's more to the G's story than increased muscle."

TGCG: The G was a winner at GCBC last year, too. Competition has stiffened, however, even as the G improved.

Jaguar XF: "As pleasant as it is to behold, the XF’s most compelling attribute is outstanding dynamics."

TGCG: Only the letdown from the C-XF concept that led up to the XF keeps it from attaining glory at GoodCarBadCar.net.

Mazda MX-5 Miata: "... the steering provides that rare sense of connection that makes the car an extension of the driver's will."

TGCG: Yet, not as much of an extension as it once was. It is not the Miata's downfall - no not at all -  just a small discouraging factor that makes me wonder why C/D infuses such exaggeration. 

Porsche Boxster/Cayman: "Neither of these mechanically identical mid-engined cousins can be called inexpensive."

TGCG: A problem, is it not? The Boxster is so deserving, the Cayman incredible but undeserving. So much more money for slightly better handling and the loss of drop-top ability?

Volkswagen GTI: "As an added bonus, GTI ownership includes an exceptionally high practicality factor."

TGCG: The GTI isn't special because its fun... for a hatchback. It is fun first and foremost; its hatchbackness secondary.

THE DETROIT THREE OFFERS TOO MANY TRUCKS? BY THE NUMBERS

Wall Street insiders attempting to predict the demise of the Detroit Three (GM/Ford/Chrysler) blame most of the domestic auto manufacturing difficulties on the rise and fall of the SUV. They believe that General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler LLC (mostly under the management of Daimler-Benz) didn't have the foresight to build high quality cars when money was pouring in from easy-profit vehicles like the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Dodge Ram. On the surface, these insiders appear to be correct. 

Take American luxury cars, for instance. In the early part of this millenium, the only prominent vehicles at Cadillac and Lincoln were their jumbo SUVs, the Escalade and Navigator. Mainstream brands like Chevrolet and Ford were offering an abomination called the Malibu and an ancient design called the Taurus. The few takers snapped them up at rock bottom prices.

For a deeper look at the gravity of the situation in numerical terms, check this Numbers post from a few days ago with figures supplied by TIME. For perspective on the issue, read The Good Car Guy's question from yesterday. For facts about automaker offerings in the U.S. domestic market in 2009, keep reading. Oh, and by the way, to attempt to sway the argument in favour of cars instead of trucks, models like the F-150, F-250, and F-350 were lumped together. It didn't help. Also, TSV means anything that isn't a car: trucks, SUVs, and vans.

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TOTAL CARS @ GENERAL MOTORS: 21

TOTAL TSVs @ GENERAL MOTORS: 26

TOTAL CARS @ FORD MOTOR CO.: 10

TOTAL TSVs @ FORD MOTOR CO.: 14

TOTAL CARS @ CHRYSLER LLC: 8

TOTAL TSVs @ CHRYSLER LLC: 16

Buick cars/TSVs: 2 to 1

Cadillac cars/TSVs: 4 to 3

Chevrolet cars/TSVs: 6 to 9

GMC cars/TSVs: 0 to 8

Hummer cars/TSVs: 0 to 2

Pontiac cars/TSVs: 6 to 1

Saturn cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Ford cars/TSVs: 4 to 10

Lincoln cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Mercury cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Chrysler cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Dodge cars/TSVs: 5 to 7

Jeep cars/TSVs: 0 to 7

BRAND NEW CADILLAC CTS RECALLED FOR AIR BAG PROBLEM

12,662 recently built small Cadillacs - that'd be the CTS - will be recalled "for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standards #208". Since you aren't up to speed on the code, let me remind you. Safety standard #208 is the one about occupant crash protection. The passenger air bag may be disabled when it should be enabled, says NHTSA, or enabled when it should be disabled.

The Recall will not mandate any mechanical change. A software update at your Cadillac dealer should do the trick.

The '09 Cadillac CTS is just like the '08 CTS which The Good Car Guy drove on GM's proving grounds. Check out that review here.

OTHER CADDY SPOTS - Not So Hot

General Motors, more specifically Cadillac, somehow landed the enigmatic Bob Dylan. Check out his Cadillac/XM commercial from earlier on in this seemingly all-video-day at GoodCarBadCar. That advertisement really seemed to hit the spot.

Just one month ago, however, I had a conversation with a GM Communications exec (read about the post-Milford dinner here) and made a point about sending unbelievable messages. Unbelievable, in terms of an inability to believe. Not unbelievable in terms of amazing or incredible. Just plain not-going-to-ever-believe.

One such message appears in the TV spot you can see below. Four young-ish guys, appearing to be relatively cool, have a golf-related argument while inside a DTS. At the country club, other older men settle the scoring debate. The older men are preparing for their round at the trunk of their DTS. I made it pretty clear that an unbelievable message (that four cool young guys would drive a DTS?) does more harm than good. We, potential future Cadillac buyers, see the brand de-valued when the advertising attempts to push a message that can not be trusted.




Then you have another DTS television ad, where these four young fellas are "welcomed to the world of gentlemen" by four older DTS-driving men outside a diner. The negative messages are flying; and it hurts Cadillac tremendously. Firstly, Cadillac is admitting that, traditionally, DTS/Deville buyers were older men - usually Floridian retirees. Second; it's unusual for young men to be seen driving a DTS. Thirdly, aren't they wealthy enough to be found outside a fine dining establishment? We all love a good breakfast, but at least Cora's looks appetizing. Finally, the main selling-point, at least the point mentioned, is spaciousness. That's terrific, but I think I'll stick with the CTS and its performance. Remember, I am young.




The world already understands that big Cadillac's are driven by old men, that young people don't drive DTS's, and that a DTS is huge. Don't spread the embarrasing news.

BOB DYLAN'S ESCALADE AD

Iconic musician Bob Dylan surprises us all and markets, both himself and Cadillac, in an XM/GM commercial. It's available for viewing below. The most uncool part of this advertisement has to be the fine print that pops up in the bottom left: "Optional equipment shown". So tacky.

Tiger Woods, Kelly Ripa, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Gordon - and now Bob Dylan. It's hard to convince anyone that Cadillac Escalade's are a necessary part of life. But there's no denying the built-in cool factor, a strong dose of panache, a heavy-duty dollop of gross excess. Bob Dylan enhances these things. You can read The Good Car Guy's favourable review of Cadillac's CTS, but the CTS just wouldn't have looked right in these ads. Not with Bob Dylan. It needed to be the 'Slade.

IS GENERAL MOTORS LAMBDA PLATFORM BIG ENOUGH FOR NEXT ESCALADE?

Rumours abound that with the soon-coming stiffening of miles-per-gallon standards in the United States that General Motors is considering arresting the development of larger Cadillacs (or has already) and that the next Cadillac Escalade won't be on a shared platform with the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe.

No, as the rumour goes, the gigantic Escalade could be a cooperative effort on the Lambda platform - the architecture that's spawned the Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse. 

Heresy, you say. Can you imagine such a backwards solution? What 'Slade owner would be willing to sacrifice their magnitude and grandeur? 

(Click here for Lambda search results from GCBC)

Truth be told, of the three generations of Escalade produced so far, only the short-lived first-gen suffered in terms of differentiation. The first real Escalade (2001-2006) was a very unique vehicle, and the current Escalade is about as far from the Yukon and Tahoe as an SUV can get without jumping to a new platform. So fears that Cadillac wouldn't be able to produce a sharp, edgy, high-class Escalade ought to be allayed with that realization.

Ignoring the Escalde ESV and EXT for a moment, have a look at the Numbers below. They show the dimensional differences between all-wheel drive derivatives of the regular Cadillac Escalade and the most luxurious Lambda to date, the Buick Enclave. Now, is it such a stretch.... or rather, such a shrink?

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680 - extra pounds on the Cadillac Escalade

0.7 - extra length of the Cadillac Escalade, measured in inches

0 - difference in overall width, measured anyway you like

2.1 - extra height of the Cadillac Escalade, measured in inches

2.9 - extra length between the wheels of the Buick Enclave, measured in inches

0.6 - extra height of the Cadillac Escalade in ground clearance, measured in inches

7.3 - extra cargo volume in the Buick Enclave, measured in cubic feet

18 - extra passenger volume in the Cadillac Escalade, measured in cubic feet

2.5 - extra seconds required by the Buick Enclave to hit 60mph from rest

3 - extra miles each gallon of gasoline will give you in the city in the Buick Enclave

CADILLAC RECALLS THE 2004 SRX FOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE

The first model year of Cadillac's first crossover will undergo a Recall because of automatic transmission problems. As many as 17,301 Cadillac SRXs from 2004 could "have a condition in which the transmission shift lever can be moved from the 'park' position with the ignition 'on' and without the operator depressing the brake pedal or, in some cases, the shifter can be moved from the 'park' position with the ignition turned off," NHTSA says.

(Click here to see what the 2010 SRX will look like)

Accidental shifting of an the SRX, say, parked on a hill, could result in a great deal of danger. SRX owners will be notified before the end of the year to have their dealer "replace the pawl stopper and a bushing within the shifter assembly".

CADILLAC CTS - Driven

Once the standard of the world, Cadillac is now in a fight to be considered a worthy alternative to the best of Germany. When it comes to small-to-midsize sports sedans, the BMW 3-series reigns supreme. Audi's A4 and Mercedes-Benz' C-class are major players, and Japan has gotten in on the act, as well, with the Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS.

Parts of the world see a Cadillacized Saab called the BLS. It's a front-wheel drive sedan or wagon; smaller than any American Cadillac. For those of us in North America, the Escalade-SRX-DTS-XLR-STS train ends at the CTS. Up until now, the CTS has been seen only as a 4-door sedan. Its progenitors include the nightmarish Cimarron, the decent-but-dull Catera, and the first-generation CTS.

CTS 1 brought some credibility to Cadillac; the v performance edition even more so. Although not a very small car, this Cadillac competes ably with the small sedans previously mentioned on price and specification, whilst in many cases providing more occupant space.

At one time not so long ago, the minds of young men (such as myself) linked Cadillac with Lincoln as cars for the rich retirees in Boca Raton. To be a Cadillac executive and understand that your cars had become indelibly connected with Floridian communities for the seniors among us - well, that just had to hurt.

The CTS brought change. First generation styling was not to my liking; many other critics used much harsher language. But the CTS was no Catera. There was life inside this car, a little bit of joie de vivre and je ne sais quoi. To be honest, I hated the way it looked. The CTS-v had instant pull and satisfaction, however, with its Corvette engine and BMW M5-baiting performance.

CTS version 2.0 is upon us, and while at GM's Milford Proving Grounds - at their expense - the CTS was one vehicle that truly excited me. Clearly this vehicle is not a Cadillac to be linked with the Boca Raton rich, if I, the representer of a new generation of first-time car buyers, am excited by its potential.

A rear-wheel drive, 6-speed automatic-transmission CTS with direct injection will propel its 3,874 pounds with 304 horsepower. Rough idling apart, this engine is a monster. Its revtastic nature marries well the quick shifting transmission. The 6-speed is abrupt; firm; and immediate, but never - in no wise - in a negative way. To put it simply, forward progress is enjoyable and effortless; the CTS being fun to provoke, knowing that it will always respond and never flounder in gear confusion.




What about the twisties? Our ride & handling loop was furnished with some low-speed cornering opportunities as well as a couple higher-speed sweepers and plenty of nasty bumps, yumps, and holes mid-turn, as well. It was a challenging course for any car. Some failed to generate high ratings on my internal thrill-o-meter, others thrilled but did not succeed in offering an experience. Having driven four General Motors' vehicles in the morning and ten in the afternoon, my five mile journey in the CTS has to rank in the top two drives of the day, right behind the Chevrolet Corvette.

Consider that this is the smallest car in Cadillac's North American fleet and you'll think the CTS is small. It's not - but it does drive small. The tighter the corner, the more nimble the car felt. Stability on the enduring sweepers, one of which would throw the odd bump in for good measure, felt autobahn-inspired.

Cadillac's are not renowned for direct and accurate steering, but the CTS exemplified how fine steering could - if necessary - hide other transgressions. No, I can't say it was particularly feelsome, but in 2007, a communicative wheel is hard to find. There was never a need for readjusting the line in a corner; not because of 17" wheel impacts or lack of driver confidence or an inability to retain speed. Direct the CTS where you want to go, and it'll take you there. Sure, more communication wouldn't go unwanted, but the CTS is a driver's car nevertheless.

Letdowns? Or shall we say letdown, singular? Interior design is pleasant in apperance, but disappointing to touch. It causes genuine consternation in my automotive heart, knowing that the CTS deserves high praise and terrific recognition in almost every area, yet finding that it lets me down in the one area where the driver spends all his/her time.

Cadillac's CTS has a 3.6L V6 that starts at by achieving 263bhp on the dyno. Selecting that engine option would net you a basic savings of $2,300 USD, but you'd be losing a few features as well. If you want full-bore performance and luxury, a $35,290 Cadillac CTS is a decent bet. Waiting for the CTS-v in its second iteration wouldn't be perceived as such a bad idea either.

A LIST OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN'S EIGHT CARS

Frankly, the old American dream of a wife, a few kids, two cars in the garage and a white picket fence doesn't belong to John McCain. Oh, he's got the wife; kids; and probably picket fence(s) but take a stroll by his driveway(s) and two cars there may not be.

Over the weekend, it was discovered that John and Cindy McCain, candidate for President of the United States and First Lady, combine to own thirteeen cars. Do the math. Inevitably you see at least three of the McCain's homes lacking the obligatory second car. 

(Click here for a post on all the candidate's cars)

Seriously, the part that has made the news has actually centred on the Senator's claims that, "I've bought American literally all my life and I'm proud." While the mainstream press doesn't like to share some of the specific models therefore making it difficult to know exactly where all the cars were built, the list below lets you in on some problems related to John McCain's claim.

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2004 Cadillac CTS: John's "daily driver"

2001 Honda 'sedan': one can assume it's a Marysville, Ohio-built Accord

2007 Ford F-Series: good for a ranch or three

2001 GMC 'SUV': GMC built a few in '01 - Yukon, Yukon XL, Jimmy

2005 Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet: Built by Mexicans in Mexico

2008 Jeep Wrangler: McCain would actually look like an everyday American if this was it

1960 Willys Jeep: Can you be any more American war hero than an owner of a '60 Willys and an '08 Wrangler?

2000 Lincoln: Guessing Town Car, considering the Senator's age, but it could be a Navigator, Continental, or LS

(3) NEV Gem electric: Like the aforementioned Town Car, every rich retiree needs a Gem

Lexus: Cindy's car is an unspecified Japanese luxury car with a license plate reading "MS BUD"

Toyota Prius: This car could actually be the vehicle of daughter Meghan or the Senator's or Cindy's. One struggles to keep track.

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Barack Obama recently traded in his Hemi V8-powered Chrysler 300C for a Ford Escape Hybrid.

CTS-V COMPETITOR YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT - BMW M5

Everybody seems to be pointing out that the Cadillac CTS-v appears to be an M5 beater. Outrage is necessary, don't you think? I mean, so.... okay, the Caddy has more power and speed, better looks, a better transmission, and will cost less money. But what else have you got? 

The M5 has a button that unlocks an extra 100 horsepower from its V10 - yes, ten cylinders in a V formation. BMW's super sedan is also the 'Ring taxi at the Nurburgring, the car of choice to frighten passengers on a track where Cadillac points so that you know about GM's development time for the CTS-v. GoodCarBadCar.net has posted extensively on the CTS-v this morning and it's past time that a little bit of M5 action was shown. The clip is below.

Nose up, M5 drivers. Chin up, CTS-v drivers.

CADILLAC CTS-V PROMO VIDEO

Having noticed that over 50,000 YouTubers had viewed this CTS-v clip, and having noticed that it was indeed a very good one, and realizing that CTS-v photos were posted on GoodCarBadCar.net six times this morning, it was decided that there might as well be more Sunday morning supercharged V8 power. This Cadillac is one mighty car.

MORE 2009 CADILLAC CTS-V PICTURES

Only a few minutes ago, GoodCarBadCar.net posted new pictures of the long-since introduced Cadillac CTS-v. They're just such great pics, we thought you'd want to see some more.

NEW CADILLAC CTS-V PICTURES

The 2009 Cadillac CTS-v will be Cadillac's (likely) successful entry into the supersedan segment where many of the competitors are priced tens of thousands of dollars higher than the Caddy. With 556 horsepower from a supercharged V8, Cadillac says the CTS-v will roar to 60mph in 3.9 seconds and finish the quarter-mile in 12. Its magnetic ride control reads the road 1000 times per second.

And this is what it looks like. Oh, you've seen it before. But these are new pictures, something for American car lovers to be proud of. For more on the CTS-v, click here to watch it attack the Nurburgring, click here for the introduction post from January, or here for the CTS wagon, or here for The Good Car Guy's drive of the regular CTS at GM's proving grounds. Cadillac's CTS-v website allows you to hear it roar, as well.

857,735 VEHICLES FROM 13 DIFFERENT GENERAL MOTORS NAMEPLATES RECALLED FOR OVERHEATING WASHER FLUID

Pay close attention, because this is about to get really deep. The list of recent General Motors vehicles affected by this Recall is below. For some of them, this is the second recall currently affecting their model. For instance, the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook were just sent to the principal's office for other windshield wiper problems.

This time 857,735 GM vehicles built sometime between 2006 and 2008 with heated windshield wiper systems will be recalled, but NHTSA isn't yet sure just when. "A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire." This could lead other electrical systems to malfunction. Dealers will be installing a wire harness with an in-line fuse to take care of the problem. More information is perhaps available at GM's recall page. Add up the vehicle sales from other countries and your total hits 944,000 GM vehicles.

The vehicles affected are as follows:

2008 Buick Enclave

2006-2008 Buick Lucerne

2006-2008 Cadillac DTS

2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalde EXT, Escalade ESV

2007-2008 Chevrolet Avalanche

2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado

2007-2008 Chevrolet Suburban

2007-2008 Chevrolet Tahoe

2007-2008 GMC Acadia

2007-2008 GMC Sierra

2007-2008 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL

2006-2008 Hummer H2

2007-2008 Saturn Outlook