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Introduction
Cadillac STS – 2008 Review: Many Americans are likely familiar with the lame duck political concept. In short, after the elections pass, outgoing officials are essentially seat warmers for their successors. The same concept applies to the Cadillac STS, which along with the DTS, will fade to black sooner than later as a single replacement fills the collective void. That model should feature the quality and attention to detail found in redesigned cars like the 2008 Cadillac CTS. Until then, buyers get the less impressive STS, which despite a flashy new face and more robust V-6, fails to measure up to its as-tested $56,000 price.
What We Drove
Starting at about $42,000, the 2008 Cadillac STS is reasonably priced, but load on some options and watch out. Take our test car, a Crystal Red V-6 model provided by GM: That maroon paint added $995, the required destination charge tacked on another $745, and a V-6 Luxury Level Two Package pumped up the sticker with another $705. Those were minor compared to a $5,845 1SC Luxury Performance Package, a $4,250 V-6 Premium Luxury Collection, and a $1,600 Performance Handling Package, which granted us 18-inch chrome wheels and performance tires. Total price? $56,530.
Performance
Backing up revamped styling for 2008 is a new 302-horsepower V-6 engine with direct injection, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sport mode and manual shift features. Paddle shifters are absent. The new six-banger helps build speed quickly, and the tranny is plenty smooth in normal conditions, but push the envelope and the V-6 emits an unrefined tone. For its part, the alternate transmission selections work as intended, though the sport setting sometimes opted for the wrong gear during aggressive driving. We recorded 16.9 mpg over nearly 1,000 miles.
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