oldshurst442

You know what is REALLY freakin' hill-a-rious? (yes...hill-ah-ri ous) Is that I can make total fun of this fellow using two different cultures... His birth culture and his adoptive country's culture...and the kicker...no words from me necessary ...using someone else's artistic linguistic techniques only... Aesop's words and a Warner Brother's 30 second cartoon clip...

The man, the myth, the legend? Somehow this cartoon clip springs to mind... There is a metaphor in there...several of them...and if Im guessing right, good 'ol Wile E. is wearing the perfect suit personifying this legendary figure...and how he slams into the side of the cliff...another metaphor...

Sorry slim.. the Z06 is pretty damn nice. Puts almost everything outside of a $250,000 488 to shame. Interior is Cadillac level.. which is these days better than most anything coming from your fav Benz. I cant wait to see the day when Cadillac is back on top on par with M-B... Sexy M-B V16 Cadillac Boat Tail...just as sexy and high end Iconic So is this... However....in this decade....all M-B had was that Gullwing... Cadillac on the other hand... Oh...and this is about Corvettes... Awesome History from M-B Ditto for Corvette As much as you want to show German bravado SMK4565... The Corvette... well, Ill let the Corvette speak for itself... No matter how nice that Gullwing is...no matter how posh the new SLs are evolved from that first Gullwing... Corvettes...well...they are winners!!! I dont think Mary Barra wants anything else...I think she is PROUD what GM has to offer...I think she is PROUD what the Corvette is all about...I think she is PROUD in the company she is leading...

Because the competition hasn't beat them yet. 10-15 years ago pick up based big SUVs were all there were. Then the GL game along and beat all the other guys and even beat the Escalade in sales a couple times. Add the X7 in there, updated Q7 and slowly they may eat away at those truck based sales. Remember when the Explorer, Blazer, Envoy, 4Runner and all those 90s SUVs were body on frame? Then the Lexus RX showed the world a luxury crossover, soon all those body on framers were gone, and every brand pushed crossovers because they rode and handled better, got better gas mileage etc. The Escalade is well done, GM is the best at big body on frame SUVs. But that is a dying breed. The Tahoe/Escalade my survive as the last of the breed while Toyota, Ford, Nissan give up that market. The Escalade hits that sweetspot of huge, bling, flashy, and pop culture icon, but it is going to be hard for Lincoln to copy all that. That is why they should attack from a different angle. Dying breed? Maybe for everybody else...Cadillac is marketing their Escalade the way they should be...playing to their strengths... Big...brash...loud...American...and THAT includes being body on frame... Maybe in the future...Cadillac will have to change...but if that were to happen...that would mean that the public interest and taste for the Tahoe....the Yukon....the Suburban...and the unrelated Jeep Wrangler in this family of BOF SUVs would be changing...and I dont see that happening in the near future... And NO! The 'Gator is actually the ORIGINAL AMERICAN in your face BOF luxury SUV...technically...one could argue Bravada....but not big...not brash...not full sized... Lincoln let the 'Gator play second fiddle to the 'Slade. If Lincoln did not let the 'Gator rot on the vine....perhaps the 'Slade would be the one suffering on the old GMT 900 platform today... It aint hard for Lincoln to recapture what Cadillac has with their 'Gator...they could ride the 'Slade's coat tails...the 'Gator still has mojo left...its up to Lincoln to tap into that mojo... PS: The M-B beat the 'Slade in sales a couple of times...because M-B...German...but it really says a lot for GM and Cadillac to fight off the M-B and continue to play to Cadillac's past history for big, brash, loud and obnoxious cars...IE...playing to their strenghts...EVERYBODY loves a big and arrogant Cadillac...

I have to agree, the design of the SUVs that will come from the companies that I mentioned...including M-B...are designing their SUVs very generic like. The German SUVs succeed because of the badge they carry...because of the help of the cars they built in their history. With the exception of M-B...because M-B has some serious cred with trucks... Rolls Royce and Bentley and Lambo...have the car prestige behind them as well, but have ZERO cred with trucks... BMW succeeded...marketing...and cred with everything they built other than cars...such as airplane engines and motorcycles have been top notch,..and their cars are prom queens... Porsche built tanks during WW2... Lamborghini...well...they failed the first time around...and the cliche saying that I always hear is 3 times a charm... It doesnt hurt Hyundai to try. Its only money...after all.

Why not? Porsche, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, BMW, Lamborghini and others...joined this niche that was once reserved SUVs based on military hardware trucks (Land Rovers and G-Wagons) and really blue collar 4x4s ('Gators and 'Slades and Bravadas)... are all in willing to play in this sandbox hoping to cash in... I dont see a reason why Hyundai cant join that club. While the Genesis is not exactly a top tier 1 luxury car...it is still a decent premium level automobile while at the same time, average joe Hyundai/KIA SUVs and CUVs are decent rides themselves...I think a luxury SUV from Hyundai based on the Genesis platform would compliment the Genesis quite nicely.

With all this talk of maybe the MKT going away...I say good....this vehicle does nothing for Lincoln image wise. Yup...Im tackling the issue on another angle. Luxury vehicles...whether loud and brash or quiet luxury as Lincoln's current direction seems to be the one FoMoCo chose for Lincoln, has to be....visually pleasing...either way...this MKT is...ugly...just to be politically correct. Nobody wants to be seen in an ugly car... Had Lincoln worked on the looks of this thing a bit better, maybe it would have fared a better fate... With that being said...in this guise...I think the MKT is stunning... Of all the current world hearses across the planet...I think the MKT is the classiest and the best visually appealing. The MKT's natural lines fit well with the classic hearse lines... Id be happy if this was my last ride in a vehicle...but if I had a choice....Cadillac would win out...this Caddy.

Good News: Its nice to be friendly with the neighbors. Bad News: Your neighbour maybe a little too friendly...with your wife...

Its nice to be neighbourly with the neighbours.

I am not into this segment...but I am slowly learning about it... I have always been intrigued by this one here. I like this one... So...that means Ill go with the bug eyed STi...

Nope! I don't, either. I've voiced before that I find it ironic that government(s) have cracked down on cell phone usage while driving ... yet, these infotainment systems are, in many cases, MORE distracting. But, what do I know? Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com 1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve "It's coming down to nothing more than apathy" __ The Fray __ 'Over My Head' Many people have voiced this about infotainment systems being more distracting than cell phones... I have a feeling the government is letting that go...because WARNING...CONSPIRACY ALERT because I think the world's leaders are secretly pushing for autonomous vehicles...so they are letting the automakers perfect the infotainment systems with all the safety nannies such as lane departure systems...and all that goes into infotainment systems because eventually...humans wont be driving...computers will be.

I usually am in agreement with you and your thoughts and opinions....not this one though. Dated? Well, one could use that term. I prefer to use classic styling. Too small for Americans? Maybe some Americans could lose some weight....not Porsche's problem if some American's are overweight... And if you are not referring to fatness but referring to that some Americans are above 6ft tall...dont forget....this a German sports car...Germans are over 6ft tall too... Technically....that classic Porsche 911 look dates back further than the 1980s...the first 911 was produced in 1963 with that "look"....but before we go anyfurther...there was a Porsche 356 in 1948 that had this now famous look...so...that would make Porsche 911 production at 52 years with basically the same look and shape and design...and maybe we could actually stretch to 66 years with the same look... 1948 Porsche 356 Its fine that you would not spend money on this car...quite frankly...I dont think Porsche gives a crap... Porsche has a very loyal following...the 911 has an even bigger loyal following...Porsche must be something right...especially with the 911... For this model to only evolve in design for 66 years...and people still flock to it...its because Porsche has perfected this design...and...66 years of refining and perfecting...and racing and perfecting...and innovating and perfecting... Sure...the look is the same...but the car itself...is as close to perfection as one could get to...in elegant design and engineering... PS: This coming from a guy that has a Screaming Chicken as a picture for a profile...an overgrown and overweight mid-sized muscle car as to how the original formula was put into place in 1964 which the car is still considered mid-sized but its closer to full sized muscle in reality...and an internet handle that clearly states where my allegiance stands...point being...I am not into small cars...especially foreign ones...and the only reason why I prefer a Vette over the 911...is because American... PSS: If this post sounds a tad aggressive...it is not meant to be aggressive...and I am sorry if it does...

Magic body control is the S-class suspension that scans the road ahead to adjust the suspension before hitting a bump. That is where the real magic is. I wonder how fast that S-Class can scan and adjust properly on Montreal roads in the spring time...Im willing to bet...not so fast...Im willing to bet...that the S-Class drops the ball on that... it's actually pretty good at it... but it is completely geared towards being soft rather than performance. Well..roads that are full of pot holes...Ithink its a more intelligent approach to go with soft rather than performance. So...I guess if the S-Class could adjust quickly and be quite good at it to smoothen the ride of pot hole infested Montreal and Detroit roads, then magic sure seems to be the correct terminology to describe M-B's system.

Magic body control is the S-class suspension that scans the road ahead to adjust the suspension before hitting a bump. That is where the real magic is. I wonder how fast that S-Class can scan and adjust properly on Montreal roads in the spring time...Im willing to bet...not so fast...Im willing to bet...that the S-Class drops the ball on that...

You know Frisky, Im not into these cars all that much...no Vettes or 911s, no pony cars other than a Trans Am...just mid-sized and full sized muscle cars for me...but this one sounds like Id want to own as well...

https://youtu.be/5UwOBKSHl-c?t=3m51s There are countless low-profile tires that will make even a RWD car a beast in the snow. I drove my RWD 335i all winter long last year with 18"s in 8+ inches of snow. Try driving a lifted truck with with some MT's on it in the snow, and get back to me on whether or not it's the aspect ratio of the tires that gives a car winter traction. Lol. Oh, and Olds- the X6 has no job. It's a cash grab. Nothing more. The argument is not about what quality and type of low profile tire....the argument is about the X5s low profile rubber... And even then...high profile, thick snow tread and skinny tires are the best for snow... I had the lowish profile 16 inch all season Goodyear RS-As on my 1999 Olds Alero...225/50/16s....stock tires from the factory...and I did great in snow with the Alero...FWD is all that I need...so...I also had crappy Canadian Tire 14 or 15 inch summer tires on my uncle's full sized Chevy Van...and I managed...and as a rookie driver...that is not the issue... The X6 as a money grab...I dont have an issue with that...BMW is a business....they need to make the dough...and it sells....no issues with me on that...Ultimate Driving machine slogans...and them peddling that crap as Sports Activity Vehicles...is what I have issues with...and fanboys having double standards...you Frisky...are less bad than some others I know...which is all good...because at least we could have decent dialogue and we have fun talking together....that is what counts with me and you.

Lol, since when do low-profile tires keep a vehicle from performing well in the snow?? My Audi A4, and both my and my friend's E90's must not have gotten that message. This might come as a shocker to you- but YOU don't get to define what makes a sport utility good. Not everyone is trying to traverse the Rubicon on a daily basis. There's a reason why the Exploder and Pathfinder are now unibody crossovers. Again, the X5 did what it was intended to do extremely well, and single handedly created a segment that has been a huge success. The X6 is an abomination. You are laughing at the low profile tire thing in snow? That is funny as I am laughing at you with that comment... No...I dont get to define what an SUV is...BMW marketing geniuses actually did that...and that is for BMW SUVs or SAVs to be relegated only as soccer mom and yuppie mobiles... You dont have an argument from me in saying the X5 does what it does best...and that indeed created a new segment...but that is being a poseur mobile...Im glad you agree with me on that...because a Jeep Wrangler it aint...hell...it aint even a Jeep Wagoneer of the 1970s...its an X5...a poseur mobile... The X6 is great on what it does...its also a great poseur mobile...and that too...created a new niche...its a fantastic vehicle for what it is...a poseur mobile...and there is nothing wrong with that....M-B is chasing it down...in fact...I hope GMC and Cadillac make a X6 competitor...

Wrong - Above 275hp, you need Hi-Per strut.. maybe. And that argument negates the entire Audi lineup if it were true. The XTS V-Sport is very nearly track ready and it is FWD based. The SRX sux so bad that it outsells its competitors, the GLK, X3, and Q5, regularly.... even at the tail end of its production run. Audi's CUV's are not FWD, nor is their AWD system FWD-based. This is a fallacy that needs to die. Their AWD systems are dedicated AWD systems and designed as such. Hence their engines being longitudinally mounted. The XTS is not most certainly not track ready. Maybe slightly curvy back road ready. Sales are not indicative to whether or not something sucks. We all know this. It's a tired argument. In the same vein, McDonald's must have the best burgers in the world..... The sales argument HAS to be involved sometimes...the BMW 3 Series became a smashing hit...because...well...it must have bben the best at something...mediocrity usually fails in the market place... THAT argument is tiring...the Mcdonald's analogy...because from a business stand point...McDonald's still outsells its competitors...because EVERYBODY on this planet and Mars, knows what a Big Mac is all about... it aint the best in your eyes...but McDonald's has served BILLIONS after all, they must be doing something right... Like a Camry...its not the best you say? Well...tell that to the Toyota accountants...and see how long it takes them to laugh in your face...its the best at something...and to Toyota...that is all that counts... Here's the thing, though. The 3 Series was the indisputable champ for a long time. As was the Camry. That's how they got to where they are now. You could argue that they're no longer the best, and you could be right. It doesn't matter, because at one point they were, and that's why they still SELL the best. Are they bad? No. But nobody really makes bad cars anymore. McDonald's sales the most hamburgers because they're everywhere, they're cheap, and they're familiar. It's not hard to deduce. But does that mean they're better than the place down the street with the Kobe beef on brioche with garlic aioli? Of course not. Doing something right and doing something the best are not the same thing. I can't believe I need to type that out to get my point across. Burger King...it has failed in Quebec... Kobe beef and garlic aioli? Yeah...that would be BMW speak... Its hamburger meat people...poor man's food... Just as with entry level luxury we have the...gourmet burger... Mustard and ketchup with fried onions on a live fire with a touch of garlic, salt and pepper with my burger please... A Whopper comes close to that. So does a Quarter Pounder with cheese. You could keep you gourmet burger and your Bimmer. Ill keep my Big Mac and my American blue collar Muscle Car...OK...Im a little bit of a hypocrite on that as I LOVE an OLDSMOBILE 442...not so blue collar that 442 is...

7. I aint bashing BMW nor praising Cadillac for the money factor...I am not even bashing BMW for the existence of SUVs and FWD little CUVs...what I am bashing is fanboys that find excuses...a X1 is a Pontiac Vibe replacement...its funny that you give that a pass...yet bash cadillac on a 5 year old SUV that was made in haste to sell in this market because Lexus cleans up...all Cadillac did was follow Lexus' lead...and it paid off...nig time...yet you fail to see this..and just plainly say...the SRX sucks...and THAT is what Im bashing...THAT point of view you have... 8. No..the X5 was not great...what was great was the marketing behind it...Sports ACTIVITY Vehicle... The Grand Cherokee Orvis Edition was THE lux SUV to get at that point in time...Im sure a muscle car bound SRT style Grand Cherokke would have existed without the "help" of BMW...why? Syclone and Typhoon...454 Chevy Pick-up...Dodge Ram Indianapolis 500 Edition, Ford Lightning...all American Muscle Trucks...and the SRT Grand Cherokee follows THAT lead....not BMW's lead...sorry...its more like BMW emulated the Typhoon with "better" handling other than the other way around...\And with all that said and done....a Grand Cherokee is still on top of that SUV hill...even after BMW has "invented" another niche with an X6... 7)Again, I'm not giving anyone a pass for anything. I don't care if the SRX or the X1 are FWD, AWD, RWD. They can fly for all I care. I'm not in the market for such a vehicle. It makes no difference to me. Would the X1 be better if it were RWD based? Absolutely. Does that mean it sucks that it's not? Maybe, maybe not. Probably not by default, but it almost certainly isn't going to be as entertaining as the outgoing model. And it definitely won't perform as well, seeing as in how it's lacking a 6 cyl model. You're consistently trying to attack a stance I don't have. Again, I don't care if it's FWD or not. I'm not bashing it or excusing it either way. 8)The X5 did exactly what it was intended to do, and it did it very, very well. Most SUV buyers don't go on treks across the Gobi. They might use AWD/4WD to make it to the cabin when it snows, and that's about it. BMW capitalized on this and offered something nobody else was doing. It was a sporty/luxury SUV. That's nowhere near the same thing as the Syclone and 454 SS. Nor is the GC SRT-8. And the first gen X5 drove very well. BMW X5 owners only go to the mall...When it snowed...the X5 was a joke...with those very low profile 18 or was it 19 inchers?...meant for summer hot lapping...yeah...I know...change to winters...*SIGH*....That X5 was meant as a Sports ACTIVITY Vehicle...not a snow bound SUV...like a...full sized Blazer... So...explain to me why in the world would a SAV need low profiles...to make it to the cabin...or in snow hell Montreal? Frisky...the X5 and now the X6 does what it does best...its a poseur vehicle...and there is nothing wrong with that...just dont try to overvalue it... It sucks as a SUV...because the X5 does not accomplish what SUVs are supposed to accomplish. its not much of an SUV...it wont tow...it wont off road... It sucks as an Ultimate Driving Machine...because its too heavy and high...sure...it handles better than my dad's old 1986 Celebrity...but If I want a track car...I aint buying an X5... Its great for soccer moms to snub their neighbors with. Which is fine...but that is all that its great at...because hauling families...there are vehicles that are meant for that that do a better job...a Ford Flex comes to mind...a X5 is great as a poseur vehicle...its comfortable and it rides great for those that like to pose in it...

After arguing about an 8 Series Bimmer in another thread....this piece of news just drives the message home... Porsche always finds a way to expand the 911 world and somehow meets and exceeds the business case made for each and every one of them...that is how its done...Porsche learned from their 928 flop and since then...has not slipped up. I respect Porsche immensely for this.

Wrong - Above 275hp, you need Hi-Per strut.. maybe. And that argument negates the entire Audi lineup if it were true. The XTS V-Sport is very nearly track ready and it is FWD based. The SRX sux so bad that it outsells its competitors, the GLK, X3, and Q5, regularly.... even at the tail end of its production run. Put an XTS V-sport on a track against a CTS V-sport and who wins? The SRX is bigger than those 3 Germans, and I think the Lexus RX and SRX both benefit from a lot of people liking Toyota or Chevy crossovers (or fwd crossovers in general) and it is a logical move up. But with the Q3, GLA, and X1 in place it allows the GLC, X3, Q5 to grow a little, add more content, more power etc. The Germans over time have a way of wearing down the market and winning people over. That is called great marketing... Where I come from...its brainwashing... Dont worry...Its the way of the Corporate World in 2015...technically this has been happenning since the 1970s or 1980s...and BMW has great marketing strategies...something that GM and Cadillac sorely lack...so...Ill give you that.

I am the only one on the planet to not give a damn about infotainment systems? Am I the only one on the planet that wishes there was NO infotainment systems at all? Just a good 'ol working radio and a USB port so I could use my USB key for my music is all that I require for "high tech".... I dont give a damn about LCD screens...Ive got my eyes looking out the bloody window that tells me where I am going... I already know where the closest gas station is to my home...or McDonald's...and if Im visiting a new city...here is my secret...I would prefer to explore the new city by myself and discover the city that way...oh boy...what a concept that is!!!!! Alls I need is a 2 dollar map...no wait...Ive got internet at home...why dont I just google this shyte at home with Google Earth Street View and google what I nned to see in this city I am about to visit...and print that shyte and take it with me...oh...that would be too much trouble... I guess families also like the idea to be connected on the interwebs to keep their kids quiet...I guess..."are we there yet" is too much for them to handle... But...when the kids' eyes are glued watching Shrek or Frozen for the millionth time...the kids dont see what kind of scenery they are missing...its true its true...they could always use Google Earth Street View to see where their daddy was driving on their family vacation...

Wrong - Above 275hp, you need Hi-Per strut.. maybe. And that argument negates the entire Audi lineup if it were true. The XTS V-Sport is very nearly track ready and it is FWD based. The SRX sux so bad that it outsells its competitors, the GLK, X3, and Q5, regularly.... even at the tail end of its production run. Audi's CUV's are not FWD, nor is their AWD system FWD-based. This is a fallacy that needs to die. Their AWD systems are dedicated AWD systems and designed as such. Hence their engines being longitudinally mounted. The XTS is not most certainly not track ready. Maybe slightly curvy back road ready. Sales are not indicative to whether or not something sucks. We all know this. It's a tired argument. In the same vein, McDonald's must have the best burgers in the world..... The sales argument HAS to be involved sometimes...the BMW 3 Series became a smashing hit...because...well...it must have bben the best at something...mediocrity usually fails in the market place... THAT argument is tiring...the Mcdonald's analogy...because from a business stand point...McDonald's still outsells its competitors...because EVERYBODY on this planet and Mars, knows what a Big Mac is all about... it aint the best in your eyes...but McDonald's has served BILLIONS after all, they must be doing something right... Like a Camry...its not the best you say? Well...tell that to the Toyota accountants...and see how long it takes them to laugh in your face...its the best at something...and to Toyota...that is all that counts...

7. I aint bashing BMW nor praising Cadillac for the money factor...I am not even bashing BMW for the existence of SUVs and FWD little CUVs...what I am bashing is fanboys that find excuses...a X1 is a Pontiac Vibe replacement...its funny that you give that a pass...yet bash cadillac on a 5 year old SUV that was made in haste to sell in this market because Lexus cleans up...all Cadillac did was follow Lexus' lead...and it paid off...nig time...yet you fail to see this..and just plainly say...the SRX sucks...and THAT is what Im bashing...THAT point of view you have... 8. No..the X5 was not great...what was great was the marketing behind it...Sports ACTIVITY Vehicle... The Grand Cherokee Orvis Edition was THE lux SUV to get at that point in time...Im sure a muscle car bound SRT style Grand Cherokke would have existed without the "help" of BMW...why? Syclone and Typhoon...454 Chevy Pick-up...Dodge Ram Indianapolis 500 Edition, Ford Lightning...all American Muscle Trucks...and the SRT Grand Cherokee follows THAT lead....not BMW's lead...sorry...its more like BMW emulated the Typhoon with "better" handling other than the other way around...\And with all that said and done....a Grand Cherokee is still on top of that SUV hill...even after BMW has "invented" another niche with an X6...

You want neither. You need to go with an Accord Coupe...because wrong wheel....err FWD drive. Secondly...the sun and the beach are waaaaaay overrated...snow and ice is what you crave...and you know it! Seriously...that is such a personal decision to make. Because the cars in question are so different... Alls I got to say is that it aint a negative if the Miata is for YOUR own driving pleasure and you cant fit more than one friend in the Miata...its too damned bad for your friends....let them hitch rides from some of your other friends...