CAAD = Cannondale Advanced ALUMINUM Design
It doesn't come in Carbon.

I have the CAAD10 and really like it, but some find it a bit twitchy. It was a big change from my Trek 1000, but that is kind of like going from a Pinto to a Mustang. At that pricepoint they are all going to be fairly similar. I'd get the best components for the money or the bike that fits better.