UPS AND DOWNS: So when we were in LA earlier this month, I rented a car from Sixt. The deal was a BMW 5-series “or equivalent” for 42 bucks a day. When the “equivalent” turned out to be a Cadillac CTS, I was a bit miffed, but it was actually a very pleasant car to drive — quick, taut, with comfy/sporty seats and a good nav system. It actually had a German feel to it, not the mushiness I associate with Cadillacs. On the other hand, when we drove the Insta-Daughter to the airport, it started bucking, the check engine light started flashing, and it informed me that the “Stabilitrack” traction-control was shot. After limping to the terminal to drop her off for her flight, I returned it to the Sixt place at the airport and they very quickly gave me a new one. You can’t draw a conclusion about reliability from a single incident, but this didn’t inspire confidence.