Brown manual wagons occupy a specific corner of enthusiast imagination, and this Mocha Steel Metallic CTS-V lands in the middle of it. Registered to one owner across Southern states since new and showing 43,300 miles, it pairs the supercharged LSA V8 with the six-speed manual, Recaro front seats, and Magnetic Ride Control. Bidding stands at $51,234 with four days remaining and six bids placed.
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What it’s worth right now
Market data from Classic.com records only 514 manual CTS-V Wagons built, with a generation high of $121,000. CarBuzz puts manual wagons at an average auction value of $65,451 against $53,625 for automatics, and notes low-mileage examples reaching $75,000. A 37,000-mile manual sold on Bring a Trailer for $64,646 in March 2026.
That March result is the closest comparison available. This car carries 6,000 more miles but adds single ownership, an unmodified specification, and a color combination that stands apart from the usual black. Fair value lands between $62,000 and $78,000, with $69,000 most likely. The current bid of $51,234 carries six bids and four days to run against a reserve.
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Condition and details
Specification is close to the ideal build. The window sticker confirms 19-inch wheels, a Brembo braking system, Magnetic Ride Control, a limited-slip differential, power-adjustable and heated Recaro front seats, an UltraView sunroof, leather and suede upholstery, a rearview camera, and Bose audio. Carfax shows no accidents or mileage discrepancies alongside registrations to one owner in Southern states since new, and the sale includes two keys, the owner’s manual, and the window sticker.
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Tires are the first expense. They carry 2017 and 2018 date codes, meaning rubber eight and nine years old regardless of tread depth, and on a car sending 556 horsepower to the rear wheels that is a replacement job before the keys change hands rather than a line item to defer. Other disclosed flaws amount to chips on the front end and creases on the driver’s seat.
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Service documentation is thinner than the presentation suggests. Carfax records an oil change in October 2021 at 37,699 miles and then a 5,000-mile service with differential fluid work in May 2026 at 43,110 miles, leaving a four-and-a-half-year gap covering 5,400 miles. Lightly used cars still need time-based fluid changes. A pre-purchase inspection should cover the Magnetic Ride Control dampers, the supercharger snout bearing, and the rear differential bushings, all known consumables on these.
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The offer
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Make | Cadillac |
| Model | CTS-V Wagon |
| Year | 2012 |
| Mileage | 43,300 miles |
| Engine | Supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 |
| Power | 556 horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual |
| Drive type | Rear wheel drive with limited-slip differential |
| Exterior color | Mocha Steel Metallic |
| Interior color | Light Titanium |
| Current bid | $51,234 with four days remaining |
Interested in this car? View the listing here.
What makes the CTS-V Wagon unique
Corporate logic never explained this car. Cadillac took a station wagon nobody was buying, fitted the supercharged 6.2-liter LSA derived from the Corvette ZR1’s LS9, added Brembos, Magnetic Ride Control, and Recaros, then offered a six-speed manual that almost nobody ordered. The result made 556 horsepower, out-argued the German super-wagons on pace, and cost meaningfully less than any of them.
Cars & Bids
Rarity has caught up with it. Only 514 manual wagons left the factory against 1,253 automatics, and production ended in 2014 with no successor, since every V-Series car Cadillac has built since has been a sedan. A wagon that stickered near $63,000 now averages $65,451 in manual form, which places it in the small group of modern vehicles worth more used than new.
My take
At $51,234 with six bids and four days to run, my call is $69,000, with $78,000 reachable if two buyers weigh single ownership and the Mocha Steel combination properly. Everything the market rewards is present, from the manual and the Recaros to an unmodified specification and a color that is not black, on one of only 514 built. What needs pricing in is a set of tires eight and nine years old, a genuine safety matter on 556 horsepower rather than a cosmetic one, plus a service record leaving four and a half years between documented entries. Buy the tires first, have the Magnetic Ride dampers checked, and this is the version of this car people will still want in twenty years.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. We are not a dealership or broker. All vehicle specifications, pricing, and availability are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for typographical errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the provided information. Please verify all details directly with the seller.
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About the author
Kyle Edward
Editor-in-Chief, Autoblog