Cadillac STS-V

The Cadillac STS-V was the high-performance variant of the STS sedan, produced from 2006 to 2009. It was Cadillac's answer to German super sedans like the BMW M5 and Mercedes E55 AMG. The car's heart is its engine: a hand-assembled, supercharged 4.4L Northstar V8 known as the LC3, which produced 469 hp and 439 lb-ft of torque. This exclusive engine wasn't shared with any other GM product, making the STS-V a unique piece of Cadillac's performance history.

Collectors are drawn to the STS-V for its rarity and its special powertrain. With just over 2,500 units built, it's far less common than its CTS-V sibling or its German rivals. Its understated styling gives it a 'sleeper' quality that many enthusiasts appreciate, hiding its serious performance capabilities behind a conventional luxury sedan profile. It represents a brief, interesting chapter for Cadillac before the V-series fully adopted GM's small-block V8s.

The market for the STS-V is currently in a value-focused stage. With an average sale price around $15,000, these cars offer a tremendous amount of performance for the money. The wide price range, from under $2,000 to over $25,000, shows that condition, mileage, and maintenance history are the biggest factors in determining value. Top-dollar examples are low-mileage and perfectly maintained, while cheaper cars almost always need significant work.

Prices range from under $2,000 for project cars to over $25,500 for the best low-mileage examples.