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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    Auto making as an industry doesn't have good margins. Probably among the worst of all industries.
  2. smk4565
    Radio and Bluetooth should be there from the start. I don't like touch screen controls for routine functions like volume, temperature, windshield wipers, lights etc. The center speedometer alone would prevent me from buying the car.
  3. smk4565
    Only way it could get built is if the electric architecture is really scalable and the battery and motor placement allow for just about any body shape imaginable to sit on top of it. But it could be 2025 before things get to that point, Mercedes wants to do an AMG hypercar that is electric around 2025, I suppose they could use the same powertrain on a big convertible. I still doubt they make anything like this or the coupe. Bu you never know, they made the Maybach Landaulet.
  4. smk4565
    It takes a car company with existing products about $1 billion to develop a new car, sometimes more. These guys want to go from scratch, that is multi-billion investment. I'll believe it when I see it.
  5. smk4565
    I have driven the 2010 Hyundai Genesis V8, it was my 2nd choice actually when I was car shopping 4-5 years ago. For a sort of full size car it had pretty good ride/handling, the V8 moved it pretty easily, not a sports car in any way, but a nice daily driver. No where near as good as an E-class though, which is why I bought an E-class. I have sat in the G90, there is a lot of low rent materials in that car, and the stuff they used to try to make it look expensive is just bling and chrome, that doesn't really make it luxurious, just flashy. I would say the G90 is about on par with a Continental or maybe CT6 at most. It falls short of any other full size luxury sedan. So if the interior isn't up to par, why even test drive it, especially when the specs show their V8 isn't up to par either. Their optional engine makes 383 lb-ft of torque, less than a base model 2007 S-class. Not good when your top engine is 10 years behind the competitor's base engine. Then Beirmann should not compare his car to an S-class. Compare to Lincoln or Acura, or Infiniti, go after them.
  6. smk4565
    This won't work. It takes a lot to build a car between wind tunnel, head on crash, off set crash, rear impact crash, side impact crash, roll over crash, and pedestrian impact. Right there is a ton of R&D just to get it to pass regulations. Before you ever get to motors, battery, design, interior, suspension settings, steering feel, etc. Then even if you make the car, you have to market and distribute it, service it, need a dealer network and so on. Automobile industry has huge barriers to entry. And even if they did pull it off, it would cost 3 times the competitors product.
  7. smk4565
    Yeah, S-class size, E-class size interior. Actually the E-class might have more interior room. Which is a problem with the XF, it is a big car too at over 195 inches long and it is like a C-class on the inside.
  8. smk4565
    Right, I thought the XJ was toast. XJ sales are terrible I don't see why they would want another product in that segment.
  9. smk4565
    Yes you can, the Model S just won't Motor Trend's World's greatest drag race.
  10. smk4565
    I forgot they made a 3 row hybrid Highlander. That has to be an exciting car. I did find this... 2013 GL550
  11. smk4565
    That is surprising that with so much torque the GL felt sluggish, I only drove a GL with the old 4.7 V8 and it felt quick for the size of it. The GL diesel and V6 Durango have the same 0-60 time. The turbo V6 or V8 would solve the power issue but cost at the fuel pump. What about Enclave/Traverse or Lincoln MKT or a used Tesla Model X? Although I would take an XC90 over all of those. And sort of surprising that no one really makes a hybrid 7 seat suv, the GLE, Cayenne, X5, RX hybrids all seat 5 and GM and Ford don't have one.
  12. smk4565
    If CA does it, then the rest of the country will follow shortly after or auto makers will just give up on gas engines. If California had 2 million car sales, that is 1/8th of all car sales in the USA. That is huge. They can't take away someone's gas car, but they can stop sale of new ones. So if they want to be emission free by 2050, they need to ban sales of ICE cars around 2035 to allow 15 years for existing cars to run their life cycle. I think EV's will get better and better and no one is going to want a gas car anyway in 2030.
  13. smk4565
    A G-wagon isn't pure luxury? If there is a gas guzzler tax to begin with it should be applied to MPG rating, not body styles. It is like saying we will tax cars but not trucks, so people buy more trucks thus cause more pollution do more road damage. Doesn't make sense.
  14. smk4565
    The GLE is a mid-size SUV, not a 3 row and that 3.5 is an old engine they need to drop. They do make a hybrid GLE that is 43 mpg-e and 21 combined after that, and it has 436 hp and 479 lb-ft (that is 9 more than a 6.4 liter SRT Durango). The GLS has a 9-speed and 3.0 turbo, although it gets 17/22 mpg, but it has as much horsepower and torque as a V8 Durango or Ecoboost Explorer. It is also fair game to compare the diesel to the gas. As a consumer, someone has the choice of what they want to buy. If Drew wants a 3 row SUV that can parents can fit in easily, tow and do highway driving, then a diesel engine makes a lot of sense. I don't think Drew's criteria was based on 0-60 time, so Hemi power with bad mileage probably isn't at the top of the list. A Pacifica Hybrid might make sense for his needs too, although those probably can't tow much at all.
  15. smk4565
    Sorry the attachment didn't post the right way. I will retry that. And the GL has 455 lb-ft of torque, the Explorer and Durango have 255 lb-ft and 260 lb-ft respectively. Hmmmm. sorry, reposted
  16. smk4565
    Compare Side-by-Side.pdf
  17. smk4565
    The G70 will probably already cost what a CLA or A3 cost anyway, and they don't need more than 3 sedans when there is no growth to be had in sedans. They need Genesis crossovers, luxury buyers want those crossovers.
  18. smk4565
    It has to do with the unfairness of a gas guzzler tax. You can't tax Vehicle A that gets 14/19 mpg and not tax vehicle B that gets 11/15 mpg because it weighs more. The Cadillac CTS-V has a gas guzzler tax, the Mercedes-AMG G65 does not. That makes no sense; the "working man" isn't buying a $218,000 G-wagen that gets 13 mpg highway. And the G65 buyer pisses on $2000, they'd pay a $2k gas guzzler tax because they need to be seen in Beverly Hills with the most obnoxious car.
  19. smk4565
    What about people that buy a heavy duty truck to go off roading for fun and don't use it for any business purpose? What if your profession is stunt car driving instructor and you buy a CTS-V for work purpose and get gas guzzler taxed? This is the problem. They either need to have no gas guzzler tax or tax everything under a certain threshold. I have always favored a tax per gallon so it is on usage and not initial purchase.
  20. smk4565
    There is always a diesel Mercedes GL. The GL has a 600 lb tongue weight and tows 7500 lbs. CPO with warranty.
  21. smk4565
    But you order your car from Tesla. If you want to order a base model you can. There is currently a 12-18 month wait to get it is the only problem. Tesla has no dealers so you don't have to pick what is on dealer lots. Anyone that wants the $35k Model 3 can order one. Most Tesla buyers I imagine will want at least the luxury package for $5,000. Personally I wouldn't pay $9,000 for the bigger battery pack, as 220 miles is plenty of range for my use, I assume many others will feel the same.
  22. smk4565
    I do like that Ford went to aluminum and turbo sixes for the F150, and they are going to do a hybrid also. I applaud them for pushing progress forward. Ford is the innovator when it comes to pick ups, and has come a long way since 4.6 liter V8s making 210 hp, and that was 15 years ago. And Tesla's website states $35,000 base price before incentives.
  23. smk4565
    The Freightliner Supertruck gets 12.2 mpg thanks to aero, hybrid system with waste heat recovery and solar panels and downsized diesel engine. Another great innovation from Daimler, double the gas mileage of a typical semi truck.
  24. smk4565
    Mercedes builds what the customer wants. GM has not always done that, which is why market share eroded, rebates went up, and GM filed bankruptcy. GM is usually a few years behind the trend like crossovers were hit 10 years ago, Cadillac has one, even Infiniti has 4 of them.
  25. smk4565
    They already said the Model 3 has a base price of $35,000. The only thing is they are making well equipped models first. Buick did the same thing with the Envision.
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