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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    Tesla is probably not going to have profit until 2019. But if they can get production straightened out and the orders filled, the cash will follow. They have the product demand in place and loyal customer base.
  2. smk4565
    I would still bet on Mercedes being the #1 selling luxury car maker in the USA and World at the end of 2018, and I think they will repeat that in 2019 with the new A-class line (A sedan, CLA, GLA, etc) and GLB because that will hit penetrate that $30-45k segment of the market. They also have new GLE and GLS hitting next year. The long term success depends on how quickly they can roll out electric cars at prices that are reasonable. The Tesla Model 3 outsold the Ford Fusion last month, it is sucking up huge market share in the $40-50k sedan space. That is where the treat to luxury makers is coming from.
  3. smk4565
    No, No, No. If there are 25% tariffs then it should punish GM just as much as it punishes Toyota or Honda. First off I believe there should be no tariffs on anything, but if there is a 25% tariff then everyone should get screwed.
  4. smk4565
    This is one bad month, if this is still going on 3 months from now they can worry, one bad month doesn’t make a year. They are winding down the GLE and GLS which have new versions next year plus the GLB next year and people like SUVs. The CLS isn’t at dealerships yet and they quit making E43 because the E53 is coming this fall so that explains the drop on the E lineup. BMW and Audi didn’t have big gains and most luxury brands were down so I don’t think this is Mercedes losing buyers to competition I think it is people waiting .
  5. smk4565
    If this does go through, which I doubt it will from previous court rulings, what is to stop California from imposing a 20% sales tax on all gas powered cars and giving EV’s a $5,000 credit with money from the “California Excellence Fund” assuming they get that thing going. They could crush gas car sales and those same car companies resisting EV’s will be screwed. I think sticking the current 2025 Target but not imposing fines until 2030 would be a more reasonable approach and maybe California will accept that.
  6. smk4565
    Luxury car sales tend to drop first before a recession, most of the luxury brands were down over 10%. Mercedes has product shortage and some models phased out for the model year change so I think this is temporary, I think they’ll have a big 2019 with new GLB, GLE and GLS because people want those SUVs. But. You can see the market starting to turn and the tarrif impacts are probably just now coming into play. GM said they are raising prices on 2019 models because of it, higher prices usually don’t mean higher sales.
  7. smk4565
    Eyesight, the driver aides and AWD are the appeal for safety, I think especially for senior citizens that maybe don't have the reaction times they use to or drift out of a lane or live in the snow belt, etc. But it sounds like there are a lot of shortcomings with this car and the CVT issue also, that there are better choices out there.
  8. smk4565
    My guess is the take rate on Black Label Lincolns is really low, like less than 5% so they don't want all these trim levels. And I imagine Lincoln doesn't want to have to provide extra privileges because that just costs money year to year that they have to pay. And look at the interior of the MKZ, $51,000 for that thing is criminal, plus the Fusion underpinnings. I think even at $10,000 off sticker, there are better choices on the market than the MKZ, which is why after 2020 there won't be an MKZ.
  9. smk4565
    I don't get it. Jaguar couldn't sell sedans, so they start making SUVs, because people want SUVs. And now they have Land Rover with their 100 years of SUV building or whatever it has been, wants to build a full size sedan, at a time when full size sedans aren't selling too well.
  10. smk4565
    Toyota is a full line brand though so there is going to be more there. But all their products focus on reliability and fuel efficiency is a theme that runs through the brand with the number of hybrids they offer. Even though they have a few guzzlers with old engines like the 4Runner and Tundra. Buick wants to be like a discount Lexus with cushy ride and soft seats with sound deadening, but then you a european sports sedan in the Regal and the Cascada.
  11. smk4565
    But Subaru has an image and a brand message. Buick is a miso-mash of GM product from Europe, South Korea and China and a couple warmed over Chevrolets. Buick doesn't really have a clear message or common trait.
  12. smk4565
    Buick going 100% all wheel drive like Subaru but with a softer, cushy ride for suburbanites who are the opposite of “active lifestyle” could work for them.
  13. smk4565
    I don't think anything will move the needle on Regal sales unless they change the name to "Camry"
  14. smk4565
    So the top trim is front drive only, and no AWD offered? That makes no sense because most people buying the luxury model are going to want all wheel drive.
  15. smk4565
    I like the interior, I think it has a modern look without a lot of buttons and clutter, this is a really strong interior for the segment. Best part of the car I think and MBUX will be interesting since they have used COMMAND for like 15 years. What I don't get is the 188 hp engine, why not the 208 hp engine from the CLA? Just make it all the same. There will be an 300+ hp A35, that should be pretty quick. I don't like the headlights because I don't like the CLS front end either. The tail end looks a bit too much like a Jetta or Mazda, if you took the badges off the back you'd think it was an Asian car I think. Which is not my cup of tea, but I suspect they are targeting buyers around the globe that never bought a Mercedes.
  16. smk4565
    The Envision is the size of a Q5 though. The Cadillac XT3 that doesn't exist yet would be the competitor for the Q3, and I assume Cadillac will build something smaller than XT4 eventually.
  17. smk4565
    Looks like a strong contender in the segment. Interior looks pretty high quality and modern and the outside shape is like mini Bentayga, so that should play well. I think they did a good job here.
  18. smk4565
    He did save this company, I still think FCA is in trouble, but they would be been out of business without him. 66 is pretty young, so that is a shame he passed so early. Interesting year ahead for FCA without Sergio and the COO that stepped down.
  19. smk4565
    Exactly. An options bundle with trim, it is easy profit margin. The Terrain Denali is way over priced, I sat in one and it is basically the same interior of a Terrain SLT that costs $10,000 less. A Terrain Denali is $45k, you can get a Cadillac or Lexus that is much nicer.
  20. smk4565
    Already forgetting $4 per gallon gas? If Oil goes to $200 a barrel we'll have $6-7 gallon gas. And good luck to FCA with their Hellcat strategy. $147 a barrel helped to bankrupt Chrysler and GM, and it would have bankrupted Ford if they didn't mortgage everything they had to get capital in 2006.
  21. smk4565
    Not surprising since there are not any engine choices on the Enclave, just trim levels. And shopping for individual options can be confusing for a customer, so having Denali or Avenir as the "fully loaded" model that also comes with a special name and badging to let people know you got the fully loaded model is easy for the consumer to understand and something they can feel good about. Not having a big price leap also helps, an AMG or M trim can raise the price of a car 50% or more, where as Denali or Avenir aren't such a big leap for a consumer to take.
  22. smk4565
    Carmakers don’t want to build a car 2 ways, and rely on engine control software to meet emissions, so they later lose a lawsuit for having defeat devices in their software.
  23. smk4565
    States rights conservatives use that argument when they don’t like what the Federal Government does and they want something different. Politics aside, I also just read oil could go to $200-$400 per barrel in 2020. That basically will kill gasoline car sales. Oil hit a record high of $147 per barrel in 2008 and everything collapsed. How will these car companies manage $300 a barrel because that means $10 a gallon gas in the USA. 1,000 up votes.
  24. smk4565
    I never said FWD cars don't sell, they sell well in fact. I said the Genesis cars don't sell, so what is a Hyundai N model going to be? Are they going to take Genesis engines and chassis and put it in a car for $50k but use the Hyundai name instead? That will sell worse than the Genesis G80.
  25. smk4565
    15 states which compromise 40% of the US population use California emission rules. CARB has had that waiver for 45 years and it is still standing, Trump can try to revoke it, but 15 states will sue and it will get dragged out in court and California will win because they got granted that waiver and there is no basis to revoke it. California is also the world's 5th largest economy, car companies will bend over backwards to sell there.
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