I Have One Of These For The Next Week

"Patrick George" (pgeorge)
08/23/2013 at 10:09 • Filed to: 2013 Cadillac ATS, Cadillac ATS

This would be a 2013 Cadillac ATS with a 3.6-liter V6 and automatic transmission. Yes, it's as good as you have heard.

I'm not sure if we'll end up writing about it since !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but I'll try and figure something out. I'm bringing it to the Cars and Coffee at Katie's in Great Falls, Virginia tomorrow morning, at the very least. I plan on seeing what it can do on some back roads this weekend too.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Things I like: Plenty of thrust from the 321 horsepower, 275 lb-ft V6 (slamming your foot down will easily spin the tires); agile handling that's nearly as tail-happy as a BRZ; decent automatic with paddle-shifters; very fun to drive with a sporting character.

Things I don't like: Cadillac's CUE infotainment system is laggy and unintuitive; !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is extremely wonky (Buttons, people! Buttons are your friends!); interior is very nice, but I'm not sure it's on par with its $53,295 price tag.

So far I'm pleased. It's been a blast, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else it can do.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments and I'll answer them as best I can.

DISCUSSION (39)

PS9 > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:12

When caddy told you, "This, the fastest trim we have available for now, will not be offered with a manual.", how upset did this make you?

William Byrd > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:13

Can we take turns driving it tomorrow morning? :)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:13

How is the outward visibility? And does the car come with turn signals? I don't think it's main competition has them.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:13

I heard it has a V6, that's what I heard.

*crossed arms*

Cadillac, Vs 8-16 or GTFAC, please.

PS9 > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:13

Kinja'd!!!

Second Question: I see these little squares on the front bumpers of a lot of luxury cars as of late. What the hell is that?

Takuro Spirit > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:13

Kinja'd!!!

Designers, please stop making fake honeycomb vents, especially on $50k cars. Either make them functional, or figure out a less derivative way of styling a front bumper.

(EDIT: Woot! Kinja put up the correct section of photo for the annotation!)

Hooker > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:14

Can we get a shot of the interior? I mean, the exterior is beautiful, however, we spend most of our time inside. Plus, I kind of geek out on interiors.

Formula4speed > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:15

Do you ever find yourself marveling that a v6 Cadillac has more horsepower in 2013 than a v8 Corvette had in 1998? Amazing what 15 years of progress brings.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:15

Also, because it's an auto, does this make you not a true enthusiast?

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > PS9
08/23/2013 at 10:15

I think they're parking sensor slots.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > PS9
08/23/2013 at 10:15

Tow hooks go there.

McMike > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:19

$53,295 price tag.

When they announced the ATS, I thought it might be Mrs McMike's next car. Her parents have a CTS, and I really like it. What was I expecting? I dunno... maybe mid $30s once optioned out?

Then they announced pricing and we took it off the list.

Then we saw one at the DC auto show. That rear legroom? No thanks. Her 7th gen Civic has more rear legroom that this thing does.

I'm sad I'll be missing the C&C Great Falls this weekend.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:20

When you close the door does it sound like a vault or a tin can? Does the car creak over rough surfaces?

Would you trade a GTI in for one? In all seriousness, ATS-V wagon and I'm there. I don't care if it was a mt or not. I want this.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
08/23/2013 at 10:20

Those are the little circles.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/23/2013 at 10:22

Then he must be talking about the headlights washer. It's not that new though.

HDSalinas > PS9
08/23/2013 at 10:22

If they are close to the headlamps they may be washers if not they are where you screw the tow hooks.

Patrick George > McMike
08/23/2013 at 10:23

To be fair, this ATS is fully loaded. It starts at $33,095. I'd get the 2.0 turbo four and a manual and I'd be quite happy with it.

Patrick George > PS9
08/23/2013 at 10:24

I do wish the six had a manual, although the paddle-shift auto is pretty good. I don't know how many people would buy it, though.

Patrick George > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/23/2013 at 10:25

I have had no problems with outward visibility, and yes, it has turn signals.

Patrick George > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
08/23/2013 at 10:26

It sounds really solid all around. Build quality feels as good as anything from Europe or Japan.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
08/23/2013 at 10:27

Nah I think he's referencing the tow hook cut outs.

Patrick George > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/23/2013 at 10:27

Hey, I takes what they gives me. If I bought this I'd get the manual. I will admit that since I live in traffic-ridden metro DC, an automatic has its perks sometimes.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:31

Thanks for responding to my sarcasm. But, I get way to bored in traffic with an auto.

Patrick George > McMike
08/23/2013 at 10:32

Also, in Caddy's defense, pricing here is about on par with the 3-Series, its intended competition.

liquid_popcorn > William Byrd
08/23/2013 at 10:34

Pretty please?

McMike > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:35

Yeah. We thought the CTS's little brother with the V6 would be a lot cheaper than the CTS. That wasn't the case... I started looking at the turbo4 (and making a case against the AWD she thinks shes needs for the two DC snowfalls we get every year), then we saw that back seat.

This is our one nice car, and it needs to have room for at least four (sometimes five) passengers. It's just too small.

Oddly enough, she liked the new Accord the best. I can save my anti-AWD debate for another day.

William Byrd > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/23/2013 at 10:35

You need more traffic.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > William Byrd
08/23/2013 at 10:37

Is I-75, Columbia Parkway, I-275, and I-71 not enough?

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 10:39

How's the seats? Supportive but comfy for a 6 hour drive?

William Byrd > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/23/2013 at 10:39

Without at least a state to start from, I have no clue. haha

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > William Byrd
08/23/2013 at 10:41

Cincinnati, Ohio. The rubberneck capital of the world.

William Byrd > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/23/2013 at 10:44

Not sure where that ranks in the list, sounds bad. DC is usually in the top 5 or so. I tend to agree with Patrick, as much as I hate automatics, I have grown to love them in stop and go traffic.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > William Byrd
08/23/2013 at 10:45

I'm a fidgety person by nature.

bbulinski > PS9
08/23/2013 at 10:56

Headlight-washers. Standard on all clear xenon-systems.

Patrick George > McMike
08/23/2013 at 10:57

I'll agree with you that AWD isn't necessary here... DC is hardly Chicago or Colorado. Hopefully she'll come around.

PS9 > McMike
08/23/2013 at 11:00

Are you stuck on new-or-else? If not, a lightly used CTS with roughly the same engine could be had for much less that $50k. You could even get the V if you're willing to step back a generation (though the interiors were not so nice back then)

philipilihp > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 11:46

I'm curious to see it up close tomorrow!

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Patrick George
08/23/2013 at 12:16

Everything shuts down during those two snowfalls as aside from racing everyone to the grocery store for "essentials" do you really to leave the house during them?

/school teacher, laughs at the snowfall that closes school around here.

McMike > PS9
08/23/2013 at 12:34

I'm never stuck on new. She is.

I get all the used shit, she gets the new one.