Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close

smk4565

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    13,686

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    11

 Content Type 

Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    PT Cruiser was sort of low, but the Soul, HHR and Scion you don't really sit down into, you climb up or at least move across to get in them if that makes any sense. The seating position on those is higher than in a car. But there is a lot of gray area with those sort of vehicles.
  2. smk4565
    Look at Cadillac, there are months when the SRX outsells the ATS, XTS, and CTS combined, and the SRX is their oldest model. Sadly the people want boxes on wheels rather than rear drive sport sedans. Give me a rear drive car any day of the week and twice on Sunday, but the buying public thinks otherwise. Lexus is similar, the RX is their #1 product, the GS is a sales dud, the ES sells because Camry buyers had to go somewhere when they turned 70.
  3. smk4565
    I still think a Regal wagon is a waste of money, when the sedan has poor sales results. GM is better off putting that money into a Cadillac crossover. Trying to make the Regal a $35k Subaru Outback isn't going to work. I could see them making the Regal and standard to differentiate it from Malibu and give a more premium feel and position in the market.
  4. smk4565
    A wagon won't sell. Just make more crossovers for the sheeple.
  5. smk4565
    I count SUV/CUV as the same thing, pretty much anything tall with a 2 box design I lump in together. With big volume coming from that segment, van and pickups, they'll have to push mileage up on them. CAFE might be a reason to look at an Omega Escalade, but it still has to be big, clingy and have a V8, as that is what makes it popular.
  6. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    1976 W123: 186.0 inches long (190.9 with US market bumpers) 1985 W124: 187.2 inches long 1996 W210: 189.7 inches long 2007 W211: 190.0 inches long 2015 W212: 192.1 inches long That isn't that much growth, if you use the US version it grew 1.2 inches in 40 years. Look at how much most cars grow, like an 80s Accord to what it is now.
  7. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    Can you give me the next powerball numbers too? The EClass is not some great handler...its big and heavy and soft... Which is absolutely fine for the demographic who buys it. Car and Driver drove the prototype and said it was nimble, although still had the ride quality you'd expect. The E-class is the bread and butter of the Mercedes line-up, I am excited to see the final version because they put a lot into this car. Tobias Moers said the 2017 E63 has the biggest driving dynamics leap from one generation to the next of any product they have ever done.
  8. smk4565
    Crossovers are NOT outselling sedans. Market penetration by vehicle type for 2014 : SUV and CUV : 36.5% sedan : 35.4% coupe : 3.4 hatchback : 5.5% wagon : 1.2% convertible : 1% SMK's analysis : "No one wants sedans anymore". Another hole in one, Arnold!! As usual, media has overhyped the numbers in desperation to sound 'hip' with the 'new trends'. Further, cars (IE sedans, coupes, convs, hatches & wagons) are 46.5%. CUVs are probably around 25%. - - - - - Rounding out the breakdown, pickups are 13.1% of the market. But roll that forward to 2020. Sedans, coupes and convertibles are on the decline. Personally I don't like SUVs or CUVs, I wish cars sold better. But Toyota thinks the Rav4 may overtake the Camry in sales in the net 5-10 years, The Escape outsells the Fusion, the Honda Fit is basically dead because the HR-V replaced it. Cadillac plans on offer 3 more crossovers, Buick and Chevy want more, etc, etc. There are rumors that the Taurus and Impala will both die after this generation since the Fusion and Malibu have grown in size and large sedan sales are declining. Car markers are adding CUVs and removing cars from their line ups.
  9. smk4565
    I criticize base 4 cylinder and no V8 in the CT6. A big Cadillac should be a special car, really a mid-range Cadillac should be a special car. The Lacrosse has a V6, you could put a turbo 4 in there, base V6 in the CT6, and the LaCrosse has higher sales volume, thus bigger CAFE impact. You could put a 2.0T in a Traverse, and V6 in the Acadia and Enclave to make them premium over the Chevy. Etc, etc. My main problem with GM is they are putting V6s standard in Chevys and Buicks, then turbo 4's in Cadillacs. That doesn't make sense. I think you could even make a V6 standard in an Omega platform Escalade, but I think you have to offer a V8 option still. Corvette and big Cadillacs will still have to offer a V8, even in 2025. Probably any car above $30-40k will have some electrification help to it. But on an $80,000 Cadillac you can do a V8 with some batteries or capacitors and an electric motor, and you don't need a 6 liter V8, maybe it is 3.5 liter V8 in the future. We have 1.5 liter 4-cylinders, why not a 3.0 liter V8.
  10. smk4565
    There are a lot of other better options out there for that money. Even if the NSX is fast and handles well, it doesn't look that cool. An Aston Martin might be slower, but it will sound a hell of a lot better with the throaty V8 or V12 exhaust, and you'll look like James Bond in it. $150,000-200,000 for a V6 and the honda/acura corporate face is just a big ask.
  11. smk4565
    The problem with hitting the CAFE targets is customers don't want sedans anymore. Crossovers are outselling sedans. Sedan, coupe, and convertible are only like 35% of sales anymore, plus gas is cheap. So the old theory of sell 300,000 Cavaliers or Escorts to offset gas guzzler tucks and SUVs won't work. Automakers are going to have to make these crossovers and trucks hit the CAFE targets. But when you look at how GM cut about 10% of the weight from the Malibu, if they can cut 10% on Tahoe and Escalade that is 550 lbs. Then you get to the point where the Tahoe/Yukon are V6, Escalade could be V8 to be more special. But post 2020, they may have to push the Escalade to Omega to get weight down enough, Tahoe and Suburban could be endangered species heading toward 2025.
  12. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    Well we don't know what E-class trim levels those are, they are offering 4 different seats for example. They haven't priced anything or said what the options are. We will find out in January. As far as the Continental goes, the interior seems more like LaCrosse level, maybe CTS-level. So even if the final Continental is as nice as a CTS on the inside, it won't drive like one. I am still very curious as to how they will price the Continental, and if if will do anything to breath life into Lincoln.
  13. smk4565
    The original Phaeton was a great piece of engineering. They sold it under the wrong brand. You have luxury brands to sell luxury cars. Now the thing is so dated and last it's prime it is sad. This is a mercy killing for sure.
  14. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    A 2003 E320 had a base price of $50,220, a 2016 E350 is $53,100. $3,000 in price increase over 13 years is pheonominal. And logic would let you believe the new model will start under $55k. The base gauges and small screen look like crap, but that could be a Euro market car also, and we don't know the option packages yet. This car will be a home run, the current E-class is no where near this good and it easily outsells all competitors.
  15. smk4565
    Obviously, once they priced this car everyone knew it wouldn't sell. Better plan to add a plug-in hybrid option to existing cars.
  16. smk4565
    V12 is a small percentage to be sure. Mercedes moved their V12 production to a different factory so they could increase production, as they have increasing demand for the V12. V8s are getting rare even. I wouldn't be surprised to see full size pick ups with 4-cylinder engines in the 2020s with the bulk being V6. CAFE will force V8s down to 5-10% of the market in the 2020s.
  17. smk4565
    The 7-series and X7 are supposed to use the Rolls-Royce Ghost engine which has a lot of low end torque. The Hellcat and Z06 and Ford GT aren't making 650 lb-ft at 1800 rpm or whatever the Rolls makes it at and they aren't going to run as smooth or quiet. The BMW plans are rumor and speculation I think. Mercedes has said they are committed to the V12 and are increasing the horsepower on it. The Mercedes V12 is not going away.
  18. smk4565
    Rumor is BMW is building an X7, and the rumor on top of that is they will offer a V12. The 760Li is expected to return next year with a 6.6 liter V12 making 600 hp, that would be a monster SUV motor. For now though BMW buyers have to look elsewhere. There is now a 7-seat Range Rover, but that 3rd row looks tiny.
  19. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    The S90 interior I like, probably a good comparison for the Continental since they are both 2nd their brands, both front drive based, probably similar price, etc. It seems that we will get the E300 with the 2.0T here in the USA, that could start around $50k so you could get that interior for in the high $50s. I am curious to see what the engines are, if they are just what is in the C-class that will be a disappointment. I want the 367 horsepower M256 straight six engine that is in development. Hard to call the E-class a land yacht though when it is smaller than a CTS, XF, A6 and 5-series. The 2017 model is losing weight and more nimble than the current model accord to Car and Driver, but still has the smooth ride you'd expect. The W211 is my favorite E-class also, that is why I got one. I also like the W124 from the early 90s. The W210 sucked by Mercedes standards, and the current car looked good on the outside before they changed the front end, and the interior is well made but boring.
  20. smk4565
    Well the sedan only CTS sold over 60k units in 2005 I think it was, and they didn't even have all wheel drive offered back then. The ATS is only selling about 25,000 units a year in the same price slot. BMW brand has low ATP because 45% of their sales are 3 and 4-series and the S-class has squashed the 7-series sales into oblivion.
  21. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    But it is not an S-class interior. It is the new E-class interior, and has 64 different interior ambient lighting colors to pick from. For starting at $50-something You can get this, and option it up with the 1,350 watt Burmeister Audio, and it will park itself in your garage without you in it. Why bother with a Continental, or 5-series, CTS, A6, etc.
  22. smk4565
    They sold over 60k CTS in a year too, now it is like 20,000. The STS had better success than the CTS is having and they cancelled it. XTS sells worse than the DTS did. Maybe it wasn't the names, maybe people don't want Cadillacs anymore. Which is a shame because Cadillac could be a cool brand and had a storied history from about 1915-1975.
  23. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    They should not They should not The MKS starts at $39k and $46k with ecoboost. I thought it was a little more than that actually, but that car has no sales volume at all. Maybe a $3k price increase over the MKS, but you can't go crazy on price, no one is bought the MKS, or the Continental before that. No one is buying a $60k Continental. Yes you may.
  24. smk4565

    Continental Uncovered

    smk4565 replied to a topic in Lincoln

    Is it better than this one?
  25. smk4565
    First off the GL450 has a lower base price than the Escalade. The GL550 is a higher trim level, thus it costs more than a base Escalade. The GL was pretty far behind in sales in the 2006-2009 era, but outsold the Escalade in 2012 and 2013, that is good progress. The Navigator and Japanese full sizers really tanked over that time frame. The new Escalade vs an aging GL got Cadillac the sales crown back, but the new GLS is coming, maybe a Maybach trim, so we'll see happens. The GL450 had a V8, they dropped it because it was an older engine and not fuel efficient. So they offered a more efficient twin turbo V6 that made the same power as the old V8, and they still offer a twin turbo V8 in the GLS550, and a 577 hp V8 in the GLS63. Yes the GLS550 is $20k more than a base model V8 Escalade, but it is faster, more luxurious, has more technology, etc. An Escalade 4-wheel drive platinum is $92,945, that is pretty close to GLS550 price, and they are similarly equipped. The only options on a GLS550 are the Distronitc Plus package and off road package with 2-speed transfer case and skid plate. The 2-speed transfer case is an option on the Escalade platinum also, and they don't have Super Cruise on and Escalade. So that is pretty apples to apples if you go Escalade Platinum to GLS550. My problem with the CT6 is it has a 4 cylinder. Mercedes didn't put a 2 liter turbo 4 into the GL. They used a TT V6 to replace a V8, and still offered two V8 options. If the CT6 would have a base TT V6 and option TT V8, I would have no complaints on powertrain. The CT6 is supposed to be a premium car, turbo 4's are for the small, entry lux crowd.
×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search