The Startling Similarity Between The ATS-V And A Closed Fast Food Joint
Here's what Caddilac's sports sedan shares with a closed Sonic.
The summer of my sophomore year of high school my neighborhood was elevated to a new height of fast food consumerism. After years of begging and dreaming we were finally getting a Sonic. The fabled fast food joint that was ceaselessly advertised on national TV was finally moving to my town and we were excited.
I remember the first time going there with my a family, the line stretched out onto the highway 50 cars deep as the fledging staff scrambled to feed the hoards of hungry patrons. Young waiters and waitresses rushed about on their retro inspired roller-skates carrying trays of hamburgers and the oh so incredible tater-tots. I thought to myself this is it, we finally have a Sonic and with numbers like this it look liked it would stay open forever.
That was until a few short years later our Sonic closed. After the initial buzz died down and we all realized Sonic was just a move inconvenient McDonalds we all stopped going. The novelty wore off and no amount of tater-tots or young teenage waitstaff could keep them in business.
If we imagine the luxury sports sedan market today, the BMW M3 is McDonalds, and the Caddilac ATS-V is my closed down Sonic. The initial buzz is dead and no one wants to try to new comer anymore therefore the ATS-V must die.
Caddilac announced in the summer of 2017 that the ATS and CTS sedans would be replaced by one sedan called the CT5. This move is a reflection of the times since car shoppers favor SUVs over sedans Caddilac needed to rebalance their portfolio.
Lucky for me Caddiliac let me behind the wheel of a ATS-V before the sedaopocylpse claimed yet another victim. Behind the wheel, the Caddilac ATS-V offered up a delicious driving experience with the passion and flair the perennial M3 was missing. The ATS-V challenged the M3 and it some measurable and intangible feelings won.
During my time behind the wheel the ATS-V it felt more like an extension of my body rather than a car. It was like putting on a new pair of sneakers on and going for a run. The wind rushed past my face and I felt like I could travel a a million miles an hour down and sort of twisting backroad.
This confidence inspiring sedan has a chassis fit for a corvette and the playful nature found in a minuscule Mazda Miata. I found my self laughing out loud while I carved the sweeping backroads of Monticello, NY. The torquey twin turbo V6 engine serves up torque by the tray full and provides plenty of thrust to exercise the superb chassis.
The crisp turn-in followed by the balanced neutral handling made it a joy to drive on tight backroads and long sweepers. A sedan with this much poise cannot be ignored and recalibrates what you expect from this segment.
Then I returned the ATS-V to the wonderful Caddilac PR people and never looked back. I had had my meal and although I enjoyed it, I didn't want another.
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Comments (1)
That’s weak! It’s like saying you only have to do things once and you will be satisfied for life.