The 2009–15 Cadillac CTS-V is a mean, luxurious modern hot rod

It’s something of an oxymoron. Or the work of a mad scientist. Or both. Cadillac’s CTS-V has been called everything from a peaceful hot rod to a posh rocket to a super sweet super saloon. OK, I just made up that last one, but you get the picture. It’s luxury at its finest—and fastest.

And while values of the second-generation 2009–15 Cadillac CTS-V have been on the rise for two years, there are plenty of quality examples available at relatively bargain prices.

It seems the rear-wheel drive CTS-V is getting noticed once again, and it’s no wonder. Each one has the heart of a sports car: a 556-horsepower, 376-cubic-inch supercharged LSA V-8 based on the LS9 V-8 from the Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1. Performance is enhanced by suspension and chassis modifications, track-ventilated brakes, and a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission with dual-disc clutch, or a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.

That combination results in acceleration of 0–60 mph in 3.9 seconds for the sedan and 4.0 seconds for the coupe and wagon. The CTS-V can cover a quarter mile in 11.97 seconds, not bad for a two-ton luxury chariot.

All that performance is wrapped in luxury features like suede-trimmed seats, automatic climate control, navigation and multimedia connectivity, a Bose stereo system, and much more.

With an original MSRP in the $69,000–$75,000 range, depending on the model, values for the 2009–15 Cadillac CTS-V bottomed out in mid-2017, with a $45,000 median value for cars in #2 (excellent) condition. However, our sales data shows recent increases of 5.6 percent for CTS-V coupes, 10 percent for sedans, and 18 percent for wagons.

The most common second-gen CTS-V (3035 produced) is the 2009 sedan, which is valued at $43,000 in #2 condition and $32,000 in #3 (good) condition.

Wagons, produced in fewer numbers, are more valuable than coupes and sedans—$76,500 in #1 (concours), $62,000 in #2, and $46,500 in #3 across the board. Only 395 station wagons were built in 2011.

Knock off 10 percent for sedans with an automatic transmission and 15 percent for wagons with an automatic transmission.

If you’re looking to buy, listen for a rattling sound at idle; that might be an issue with the supercharger. Some CTS-Vs returned to dealerships with defective blowers caused by a bad internal bearing. Warranties were extended to take care of this problem, so check your paperwork. Also check the CTS-V’s magnetic shock absorbers and trunk latch release. Both are known trouble areas.

The future looks bright for the CTS-V, and we aren’t just talking about values. They’re very popular with younger buyers. According to our insurance data, 38 percent of quotes come from Gen-Xers, compared to 32 percent across all vehicles, and 28 percent come from Millennials, compared to 21 percent of all vehicles. Overall, the number of quotes has been rising since 2016.

Perhaps it’s time to consider the ultimate luxury hot rod.