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Suaviloquent

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Everything posted by Suaviloquent

  1. Suaviloquent
    The total package will be what follows, not the CT6. Bring an interior atleast up to par with the new 7 Series, keep the weight low, not absurdly low that you sacrifice NVH, and make the 3.0TT standard with V8s optional and the CT7/8 will be excellent. I think a CT6 level car just transposed with Buick Styling would make a wonderful Buick, and at this same price structure, truly special. But this just looks like an excellent car that still might not do Cadillac justice. Cadillac is capable of doing so much more, and they don't need this car. Buick does.
  2. Suaviloquent
    It's hard to explain sales discounts and incentives from just a unit profit basis. There's a whole lot more to it. I can't even get into explaining it without making a post pages and pages long. Either way, incentives are a cost of doing business, but manipulating them in an objective function to maximize profit is possible. And profit margins aren't fixed for a single product. Too many people believe that a company's cost scales up the same amount as you increase price. AKA - fixed profit per unit. Not even close. Whatever Ford is doing in the pickup segment, it continues to be something that others follow. It is the segment benchmark, even if it isn't the best outright product. Everyone thinks MSRP is the upper bound for a product. Hardly, some vehicles sell above MSRP. And it's quite obvious that custom orders against vehicles on the lot have much reduced incentives. And internal pricing could really flip deal. $10k off retail might still be $10k of profit. Who knows? MSRP is more of a reference, not a measure of true profit. Like how we use the 3 states of water for the our measure for temperature. Again, going for the fully-optioned F150 that reaches $65,000 and above, sure, the incentives are there for a reason. But they're still getting massive profit from one of those. Easily one high trim F150 could account for the per unit increase of profit from 3 to 4 lower models. Everyone looks at the incentives and always quotes the maximum. It's so misinformed. And people are very forgetful. The Silverado also had a very early onset of incentive spending. But people forget, based on their priorities. Anyways, Ford continues to be operating efficiently, getting the most use out of its somewhat dated lineup.
  3. Suaviloquent
    No one is denying that this is a phenomenal vehicle. But it has everything to do with things that buyer or driver can't actually see or touch behind the wheel. The tepid styling. The inferior interior. The price leader pricing. Those come in the way of the fantastic engineering that GM brings to the table. Sadly, buyers of large luxo barges are known to care more of the former than the latter. That doesn't doom the CT6. But it makes it just irrelevant. I'm not really drawn to this vehicle. I want to the see the meat. I want to a CT7/8, something with everything, not a compromise. No expenses spared, the proper flagship. V8s, Bold styling, (basically the El Miraj), and an interior with the best cow hide and wood trim available, heck buy what Mercedes uses for that part if you have to.
  4. Suaviloquent
    Actually if you look at it closely incentives can be actually be part of a solution for maximizing revenue or lowering costs. Simply put, they are gaining more in revenue by offering incentives, that they could without. Sound business strategy. And same of GM. Brand new truck really, with incentives pushing 10k very soon. INCENTIVES aren't bad folks, especially if it maximizes the bottom-line.
  5. Suaviloquent
    No! They did not learn their lesson. The ELR was doomed because it was simply not enough car for the money. This car is. I refuse to accept that Cadillac cut corners on this car in the interior and styling because they want to compete against Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln and Acura. Because that's not a compliment of those brands. This is a white flag. Sure, sell the 2.0T in China because it's the only was possible. But here? C'mon nobody is fooled. This is a luxury product. Which means it needs to make money. All this top notch engineering has to cost a lot. And so far, with only one vehicle on the platform, it doesn't look rosy. This isn't the case of Ford for example with the F150 bringing in all this new technology and quickly making up the initial investment costs due to huge volumes. All of the vehicles on this platform that could be created combined aren't going to be volume sellers. What that HELL is GM doing? The pride of Cadillac is at stake. The moment that I can bring Lincoln and Hyundai in the price realm of the big luxury Cadillac's, something is not right.
  6. Suaviloquent
    Let me clarify. I think both the 2.0T and LGX powered versions are redundant. I'm very sure they'd be better off going straight for the moon with the 3.0TT. I see no harm either. But that's the point. Cadillac doesn't need more filler, more build-up of products that are mid tier. They need absolute segment busters. And this car is, at the core engineering level, a segment buster. But everywhere else I just can't get over the missed potential, like the interior for starting point. And this pricing actually turns me off. Where's the pride of being a Cadillac? Freaking price it like one, it's not a Hyundai of the luxury brands.
  7. Suaviloquent
    Because it is unlikely to be the only car on this platform. There is still the CT8 which we know about, and that leaves a CT7 for us to wonder about. And then there is also Buick with the strong desire to create an Avenir level product and a Riviera level product. I don't really want to indulge into how an Avenir-like product would fit in, because it'll detract from the thread. If it's really well received, I'm not sure if Cadillac should under-price themselves in this larger car segment.
  8. Suaviloquent
    I'm actually taken aback by this pricing. I would rather make the car more expensive enough that the interior is atleast on par with a Lexus LS. And these standard features make it a great value play. But I want more. I want to see what the driving impressions are of multiple sources.
  9. Suaviloquent
    So Cadillac is going the typical Korean brand "value" route? Offer a lot of features for not a whole lot of money on the base model. That's interesting. I thought this car would start at around $65-67k and end at around $78-80k. But that's one hell of a price spread between top and bottom. And if all the press cars in the Detroit show were high content models, I'm not convinced that this car will deliver the solidity and refinement of a luxury product. Sure, you can pander to folks that value features and spec sheets. But I would think that's NOT the kind of buyer Cadillac should go for. How is this car even viable at a $54k starting price? In any case, it's a brilliant product. But I don't think its luxury.
  10. Suaviloquent
    The whole premise of this thread is stupid. The reviewer says there is no complaints. The car delivers. Yet people still find a way to complain. How about the fact that the SS is also going to crush a Z/28 at half the price? Makes anyone buying that absolutely idiotic as well. You can put your money where your mouth is El K. But you've been known to give MT's opinion credence when it is favourable. It's been favourable for GM quite a lot lately. And they've earned it. But Ford earned it here as well. I'm not going to make an economic argument, because that would absolutely crush the Z/28 as well. And I will bring it in, because it absolutely follows the basis of your point. This is not Ford trying to deliver an all-around sports car. This is a track focused machine. It's got all the hardware for that specific purpose. A stock Camaro SS, for all its worth, is not a track machine. Sure, we can wait for an 1LE. But don't ever say that GM fans never say "wait for X to show up" I don't give a damn either way. I don't want a car that I can't see out of. So the Camaro gets canned for me. The GT 350/R, delivers consistency just like the Z/28, at better price, and at just a sweet, and potent powerplant. If some people don't still understand...
  11. Suaviloquent

    2015 Regal Turbo

    Suaviloquent replied to CSpec's topic in Buick

    The CC is among the founding members of the club of four door coupe styling. Except it carried through on the promise of being a sporty coupe with another set of doors in a way that no affordable four-door sedan can really do, even to this day. It's utterly refreshing. Excellent choice, excellent price. Can't beat that!
  12. Suaviloquent
    That's actually quite funny.
  13. Suaviloquent
  14. Suaviloquent
    Yup a PROUD Total NERD! I believe the correct euphemism is "TURBONERD" TURBONERDS get TURBONERS. I pick definition #3 Someone who goes above and beyond regular nerds. Is someone that regular nerds strive to be. Since I'm a nerd...I strive to be like DFelt http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=turbo+nerd
  15. Suaviloquent
    I think it's just a case of holding back, err what's the right word. Right, bean counting. It works, sometimes really well. Either way, for a 50th anniversary, I wanted more. I think the GT350/R make up for the more, but the market has reacted well enough to this redesign. Maybe the global launch put a ton of constraints, and making a one-size fits all Mustang probably is what caused some reviewers to comment about it being a little too soft for a GT, and the I think it was Ford saying they tuned the car to attract European buyers as well. I always thought they just took the S197 and just changed the front and rear suspension, not exactly at a shaving all the weight kind of approach but just a solid, somewhat (I can't find the exact word to describe the feeling) conventional approach for the Stang. Not really pushing the limits of the technology, just getting something done on time and on budget. However, my subjective opinion of the styling, I think it's a gorgeous car, and it loses a lot of its musclecar look that I think the Challenger and Camaro still keep. It's more of just a coupe. Just another RWD coupe, leveraging its styling and then the legacy to great affect. Somewhere in there the whole performance message was drowned out, so yes, the marketing team got a win. The accountants were satisfied, and the product managers were told to wait for the next one. It doesn't have the all the performance it should have to back the looks. I'm sure it's competent enough for the lay driver. But even more bloodlust? There's better cars for that purpose.
  16. Suaviloquent
    The last time I was at the Toyota website and then a dealership (a few years ago), I can swear I saw those exact same 3 words on a banner talking about Toyota cars!
  17. Suaviloquent
    The thing is, the Z/28 is a great track machine. But the GT350 on price alone, just has to match the Z/28's lap times to be an instant winner. I think it's going to definitively beat the Z/28 everywhere. The R will just build on the performance standing, at the expense of a less favourable, but still better price delta. But the Camaro SS. We're still waiting for the GT350 test results, until then speculation is that the SS will give the the GT350 a good run, atleast for the full tank of gas that it is capable of driving on at a track. Where the SS, Z/28 and GT350/R diverge is that two are track oriented. One is not. And if the SS is good enough match a GT350, a vehicle that will atleast match the Z/28 at a lower price, then, by logic, the Z/28 is absolutely overpriced. Even though it's not. It will be if the logical argument holds.
  18. Suaviloquent
    Here's my reaction: I think it looks like a fusion of a Scion XB, Popemobile and a London Taxi. It's just so...goofy. But I guess it's super practical, because it's a just another ugly box on wheels.
  19. Suaviloquent
    Aside from just the issue - the dieselgate... These modern automotive companies, especially the giants. Their operations are so complicated. Their plans made years, years in advance, and contingency planning is based on the best information available. Sometimes that information itself can be questionable. So you throw a monkey in the works, and it's likely that VW never expected this to happen; either them really being at fault or really bad control mechanisms to ensure something like this would never happen.... This is gonna be a muddy affair. And VW U.S., really one of the worst performers in recent times in terms of VW's global market presence is going to go through even more tough times. No wonder all that investor value was lost. And then the estimates of the penalties and fines keep getting revised.
  20. Suaviloquent
    Well, now it's a short wait to see how quickly the Camaro can put up some crooked sales numbers... I think it's going to outsell the Mustang, if not at the outset, then definitely gradually over the course of both vehicle generations. As for the Mustang, I think this will be the same platform atleast until D6 gets up and running in 2019. So four years. But it is hard to imagine that GM will really need to introduce a new platform for the next-next gen Camaro. They could easily reuse Alpha, make it even better and get good life out of it. And that's a discussion that has to happen AFTER we get the 1LE replacement, ZL1 replacement, and a GT500
  21. Suaviloquent
    That looks DAMN GOOD!
  22. Suaviloquent
    I think legacy costs such as fully-funded pension benefits are definitely going to be extinct someday, even for the UAW. Contribution plans are the way forward.
  23. Suaviloquent
    Yes, the quintessential issue lies with who's at fault when a system breaks down. BTW, I'm not really for self-driving, so a balance seems like a good deal. No systems will ever be perfect. But that still means less people will die or crash severity will be reduced. So many ethical perspectives, like an economic one. What are the economic benefits? - Not only for automakers, but think about it. Less traffic jams. Less lost time, countless other things. Are all markets fully competitive? - You can bet these will be driven downwards in price. In the last few years we've seen technology migrate really quickly. 3-4 years, and we're going to see this in mass-market segments. Are all customers fully informed? - Nope. It's a work in progress, but there are incentives at play here for all players at the table. Have all external and internal costs been fully included? There's a potential that every system could degenerate over the service life of the vehicle. Potentially every vehicle with this technology could be affected. In this sense, internalizing all the costs would prove this prohibitive. We could also go to the different frameworks, such as consequentialist and non-consequentialist theories about self-driving cars. Utility? Virtue? Rights? Fairness? Categorical Imperatives? I think it's such an exciting ethical issue, for autos...
  24. Suaviloquent
    What am I looking at? And is that a penis for a head?
  25. Suaviloquent
    Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I'm getting the message that this new Super Cruise will be fully automous capable right out of box. That would be great as people would only need an over the air update to enable it, espcially years after the legal hurdles facing these technologies get sorted.
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