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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    They don't need another SUV, I wonder how long before they do a Phantom convertible though. I am sure they have some Phantom Drophead customers that don't want to be slumming in the $350,000 Dawn. Unless they have found convertible sales to be so low, that they won't make more than one. A Phantom 4-door convertible with suicide doors would be epic though.
  2. smk4565
    June would make more sense to preview upcoming model years cars. This show as it sits is dying on the vine in January. Plus there are so many big auto shows around the world now and Detroit isn't the center of the car world.
  3. smk4565
    Daimler lost $27 billion on Chrysler, Chrysler screwed them, not the other way around. Cerebus lost money on Chrysler, although not much since they were able to sell Chrysler finance to TD Bank, otherwise they would have taken a bath. The US government took a $1.3 billion loss on Chrysler after the bailout and sale to Fiat. And that was the 2nd government bailout, at least Chrysler paid the money back the first time. But this company bleeds money, and the only way FCA will get their money out is to sell off pieces to get quick cash inflows. Sergio knows it, whoever takes Sergio's place knows it, so don't be surprised when it happens.
  4. smk4565
    You can run a Terrain or Equinox over $40k and those have a 250 hp turbo 4, and they are a whole size segment smaller than the Santa Fe. All these crossovers are expensive. You can spend $50k on a loaded Edge I think.
  5. smk4565
    You wonder how this company survives with CAFE rapidly increasing over the next 5 years. Their penalties must be huge.
  6. smk4565
    True, there is no lack of power here. But this chassis is 14 years old now, and it was old when they got it, LOL.
  7. smk4565
    This is also the same press release they will use for the 2029 Charger, except the Pentastar V6 will make 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque by then. Remember when the Cadillac CTS had a 304 hp V6... in 2008.
  8. smk4565
    The SRX/XT5 have been on sale since 2010 and no engine option has showed up yet, the 3.6 V6 has gone it alone for 8 years. So I wouldn't hold my breath for options on the XT4. The ATS was also developed to go against the C-class and 3-series. The CLA wasn't even on sale when the ATS went on sale. So direct all those ATS comparisons to what the C-class brings to the table, which is as you say a fantastic car. The CLA/GLA are "below the line" or "below the bar" as Mike Tomlin would say. That seems to be being addressed as all the FWD model Mercedes will be all in 2019 and the A-class interior looks good, has new infotainment, and revised powertrains. Right now the XC40, and A3/Q3 are probably better products, but if Mercedes figured out how to make the C-E-S classes top of segment, I am sure they can do it one more time.
  9. smk4565
    The GLB is a year away, it will size and price head on with the XT4, have similar hp in the base model. But the GLB will have 300+ hp and 400+ hp AMG versions too. And ccap is right about the Jeep GC having a turbo. Hell Turbo the Hemi for an SRT model, and still sell it, but selling a 360 hp V8 is lame.
  10. smk4565
    I don't think they will sell the crap out of it, I think the low price leases will move some metal, but there is little profit to be made on stuff that that, this thing leases cheaper than the CLA which everyone here said was a drain on Mercedes. And the GLA has a 375 hp option, I think getting bumped to 400 hp, that is more than enough in a vehicle that size. I think the XT4's size is a plus, there are times I see a Rav4 or Audi Q5 and think they look pretty big, even these small SUVs are getting big, and not everyone wants more size if they do 95% of their driving alone. I see the XT4 selling more in the 2500 per month range, similar to what the MKC does, I don't know if it is stand out enough to move 5,000 units a month like some of the strong sellers. There is a GLB coming in 2019 that will line up nicely with this XT4.
  11. smk4565
    I like the look, it has an intimidating, trucky look to it and it doesn't just look like a clone of everyone else. This stands out a bit more. Seems like good pricing, compared to what others charge, it is right in line. I wonder what this weighs, it looks big for a 174 lb-ft 4 cylinder to haul around, the Turbo should move it fine.
  12. smk4565
    Yeah I would agree with all. The southern states voted Trump in, I don't see what he has got them, or what Republicans in general have got them as they are the poorest states for the most part. And the rich are getting richer at their expense. Money never trickles down.
  13. smk4565
    I still feel like Cadillac dropped the ball with the XT4 because they will never get big money for what is basically a glorified Equinox. They will just have an Acura RDX/Lincoln MKC type competitor that sells a couple thousand a month because of $309 lease specials, but that isn't a big profit driver. And on size, XT4's dimensions are 181 L x 77 W x 64 H Car and Driver had 3 SUVs this month with dimensions and price of: 185 L x 77 W x 66 H $85,340 186 L x 77 W x 62 H $104,910 185 L x 76 W x 63 H $96,295
  14. smk4565
    Thats even cheaper than a front drive GLA lease that comes in at $36,87 down and $339 a month.
  15. smk4565
    Jeep also isn't a luxury brand, so I would hope they outsell the Audi Q's in the USA. And as I said Jeep's brand image and styling and off road reputation and American image all work really well for it. FCA is the weak part, they don't have any new powertrains or hybrids outside of the Pacifica. Look at the lower end Jeeps with that awful 2.4 liter engine from the Dodge Dart for example. And the fact is, the Alfa Romeo V6 has 505 hp, the 5.7 liter Hemi has 360 hp and the 6.4 liter SRT Hemi has 475 hp. So the V6 out powers both and gets better gas mileage than both. FCA gives the good powertrains to Alfa, Jeep and Chrysler are still using Daimler-Chrysler era stuff. Where is the update?
  16. smk4565
    Hahaha! 20 cars and you have to pay $1,100 a month to subscribe to it? PASS. You can get an M3 for less money and blow this thing away. Or an Alfa Romeo Guilia, or a C43, or C63, etc.
  17. smk4565
    This is what I mean, if FCA didn't have a weak V6, then the V6 would be faster than the current Hemi and still get the gas mileage. The Grand Cherokee is a compromised vehicle because the engines in it are from 2010. A nice change would be to put that new 300 hp turbo 4 in the GC, and the Alfa Romeo V6 as the optional engine. The Alfa V6 would spank the Hemi in power and get better fuel economy.
  18. smk4565
    Worldwide Audi outsells Jeep. And the cheapest Audis are Grand Cherokee price. Jeep is a successful brand no doubt, they have the styling, they have the loyal fan base, they have brand image, they have a lot going for them. They are by far FCA's best brand. But Jeep is saddled with FCA's sub-par powertrains and poor reliability. If Jeep was owned by GM they outsell Buick, GMC and Cadillac combined and be more profitable than they are now.
  19. smk4565
    The real problem is FCA has a torqueless V6 that came out in 2011 model year and hasn't seen any meaningful gains in power or fuel economy. Maybe they should update that, so buyers don't have to look to a 5.7 liter engine that gets 14 mpg city and still only gets the Grand Cherokee from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. The GLE with the 3 liter turbo does 0-60 in 5.3 seconds. The Audi Q5 2.0 does 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, Audi Q7 3.0T does it in 5.5 seconds and it is bigger than a GC and gets better gas mileage. The Hemi GC is slow by comparison, because the Hemi engine is even more dated than the Pentastar V6.
  20. smk4565
    Agreed and very good point. The GL is more than capable for actual off roading, and 95% of the people buying this thing aren't going to drive on a gravel driveway, let alone do actual off roading. And I doubt a Lexus RX can make it though an off road course like a GLS can.
  21. smk4565
    Let's lose 600,000 jobs and raise the price of a mid-level Camry or Malibu to $40k in the interest of "national security." These tariffs are a horrible idea, and I am glad these auto companies are banding together to put their lobbying power behind something good for a change.
  22. smk4565
    The GLS is a full size SUV and has more 3rd row room than the Escalade. They have 7 SUVs if you count the 2 coupes and a GLB and electric SUV coming in 2019. That is 9 freaking SUVs, I think they have the market covered.
  23. smk4565
    Everyone wants an S-class, just not everyone can afford an S-class.
  24. smk4565
    It is the Best when it is easy to clean, super durable, doesn't crack, doesn't wear out, etc. MB-Tex is durable. Although I have the Nappa Leather upgrade in my car and it is also a good material. And maybe some people don't care, you give the consumer a choice of MB Tex or pay extra for leather.
  25. smk4565
    The American market is the biggest in North America, but in the world it isn't. China and the EU are larger car markets than the United States. Audi sales 2 million cars a year, only 200,000 of those are in the USA. Even GM sells about 4 million cars a year in China and 3 million in the USA. So if you start these global trade wars, every car maker gets hurt, prices rise everywhere, and the consumer gets stuck with the higher prices.
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