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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    I don't think the CT6 competes with the S-class. There was speculation as to what the CT6 would compete with before it was released, but now that we have seen the car and have the specs and pricing, clearly it is not an S-class competitor. Cadillac fans seem to want to compare it to an S-class, I am sure Hyundai/Kia fans want to call the Equus and K900 S-class competitors but they are not. The comparison was made of the CT6 plug in to the S-class plug in and the 0-60 time. So first off, not the same price point or segment, second the S-class is AWD. If you add AWD to the CT6 plug in you are adding more weight which will slow down that 5.3 second 0-60 time and cut into range. That was my only point. with AWD, the CT6 is probably 5.5 seconds 0-60 and loses 5 miles of range. Which are still good numbers if priced around $65k.
  2. smk4565
    If the CT6 plug-in is well priced, it is the model to buy though. It will be faster than the base car or the 3.6 V6 obviously. If the plug in is priced equal or below the 3.0TT that is a pretty good value because they will probably be similar in performance.
  3. smk4565
    The S550 plug in is all wheel drive, so that adds weight which will slow it down but you can sell it in the snow belt. The CT6 plug-in is rear drive so that will scare a lot of buyers away in the snow belt. I drive a rear drive car, but most won't consider one. The Mercedes 9-speed will help the S550 0-60 time, is looks like it is good for a .3 second gain as the S550 coupe does 0-60 in 4.5 seconds vs 4.8 for the sedan of equal weight. Mercedes did announce today that they are increasing V12 production to meet demand and there are plans to add electrification to the V12 engine.
  4. smk4565
    Agreed. Ford is just a Euro brand copy cat anymore.
  5. smk4565
    I think the Buick demographic is why there is a V6 instead of a turbo 4. The Buick customer is going to see a 4-cylinder as an entry level engine or not enough for a full size car, and the V6 would probably be smoother in that you aren't relying on boost to make power. If you want more than a run of the mill V6, that is what Cadillac is for. Unfortunately, many Cadillacs have turbo 4's and run of the mill V6s.
  6. smk4565
    Well I read some news release that this was the most powerful Lincoln ever. Problem is, they can put 400 hp in it, but it is still a Fusion chassis underneath.
  7. smk4565
    The E-class has a standard V6 and is the segment gold standard, the Lexus GS is a standard V6, Infiniti Q70 has a standard V6. Anything the CT6 is supposed to compete with has 6 or 8 cylinders. Cadillac is also the challenger, not the leader, they should use the 3.6 V6 as their base model, a 3.0 TT as a mid-level engine.
  8. smk4565
    Props to Lincoln for putting a 400 hp turbo V6 in the MKZ to breath some life into it. I was surprised that this is the most powerful Lincoln ever, hard to believe that in their 100 year history they never mad a 400 hp engine. The grille doesn't look that good, they are just copying Jaguar and some others. They will have an all new styling language in 2020 anyway, Lincoln doesn't stick with anything.
  9. smk4565
    I like the interior. The inside has a bit of a 1st generation Hyundai Genesis to it, and that is a good thing. The interior layout was good in that car. The new Lacrosse interior is elegant, and clean and straight forward. The current car was too busy and the layout was weird. I give them an A on the interior for the $35,000 full size car segment. The outside however reminds me of a Nissan, I just can't get excited by it. Has some Azera in the rear 3/4 and C-pillar area, not really a fan of the wings off the hood ornament, I'd rather focus on the waterfall grille since that is their signature. Interesting how this car gets a STANDARD 3.6 liter V6, yet the Cadillac ATS, CTS, and CT6 get a standard 4 cylinder. That makes no sense, if Cadillac is a full level above Buick. CTS and CT6 should have a standard V6 as well.
  10. smk4565
    My first thought was 2005-2007 era Saturn Aura, Malibu or Pontiac G6. They are usually in that price range. If he wants a coupe or more youthful car, Scion tC of 05-08 should be affordable. The Focus got a redesign . 2008, could probably get one for under $7k.
  11. smk4565
    Over $90k is steep for a car that starts at $55k, and isn't giving you a V8 either for that price either. I suspect most of the sales will the the 3.6 liter V6 model for around $60k, which will give XTS buyers a place to go when the XTS dies, even though it costs more.
  12. smk4565
    One day they might build the trucks and SUVs in Mexico too.
  13. smk4565
    And people said GM needed Pontiac and Saturn, etc. And GM is doing better with 4 brands than they did with 8. There just seems like a lot of overlap still in FCA and you don't need to be all things to all people. Jeep builds crossovers and SUVs, do you really need carbon copies of them in other brands if Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler are all in the same dealership? Do we need a 300 and a Charger? And is Maserati ever really going to compete? Sergio wants to consolidate, but has an army of low volume niche products, and probably about 1/3rd of their products are really profitable.
  14. smk4565
    If FCA wanted real consolidation, they could probably keep Fiat as the small cheap car brand, pick one of Dodge and Chrysler for the middle, dump Alfa and put the effort into Maserati as the luxury brand. Then you have a 3 step car line up. Jeep and Ram stay for trucks and SUVs. But they won't do that because they like having 8 boutique brands rather than 4 strong ones.
  15. smk4565
    A Chinese built car will be a hard sell. I do think this opens up the slippery slope of build more and more in China where labor is cheap, and send those manufacturing jobs over seas. Most car companies build vehicles where they get sold (with the exception of low volume), but if GM can get super cheap labor in China, they don't need the UAW factories anymore.
  16. smk4565
    A good way to boost Alfa Romeo sales would be to include a free Mercedes or BMW with the purchase of every new Alfa.
  17. smk4565
    As far as the Continental goes, if they want it to sell they should price it about $42,000 for the base V6 model, and $49,995 for the fully loaded twin turbo V6. I think so few people want a Lincoln sedan, that it could be nicer than an MKX and cost $10,000 less and still not sell.
  18. smk4565
    I think the 2nd tier luxury brands need to worry. Hyundai can offer a pretty temping value proposition in any segment. When you look at where Elantra and Sonata were 10 years ago to now, they made big gains. With a dedicated luxury brand, with rear drive platforms, a 3.3 liter turbo V6, a big V8, 8-speed transmission, they have the hardware to easily outshine Lincoln or Acura and give Infiniti and Cadillac a run for their money. Even the Lexus sedans haven't had any significant powertrain improvements since 2007, the RX and ES keep that brand alive.
  19. smk4565
    I think most diesels beat the highway estimate also. But for comparison reasons, you have to compare the EPA sticker. The Grand Cherokee could probably beat it's number just as easily as a Colorado could. $3,700 seems like a big price premium though, that might slow down the take rate.
  20. smk4565
    But it is a crossover, so it is the best thing evarrrrr!
  21. smk4565
    How much cargo do these CUV owners haul? Most of the time you see 1 person in the car, empty cargo area. I think it is ride height and some perceived level of safety, coupled with image of if you drive an SUV you are more successful than a sedan driver.
  22. smk4565
    Pretty good, would have been nice if the 4wd model hit 30 mpg highway. The Grand Cherokee diesel is 30 mpg highway with a V6, I would have thought the Colorado might be like 30 mpg with 4wd and 33 in rear drive. But still better than the gas engines.
  23. smk4565
    I still think they need their own unique look. The grille is Audi-like, the tail lights are like an S-class. The concept looks pretty good, but I think they'd be better off making something that stands out, rather than blends in.
  24. smk4565
    I read the Lexus RX can go 100,000 miles between oil changes or tire replacement and that the hybrid model's exhaust saves baby seals. True Story.
  25. smk4565
    But if Cadillac wants to go upscale and push their performance luxury attributes they need to leave the hearses and vinyl carriage roof Devilles behind. And if GM wants to make Buick more premium and not just a slightly nicer Chevy, let them have Cadillac's old market. And back to XT5, I assume they are going after Lincoln MKX and Lexus RX here and not the Germans. Which it would be nice if Cadillac could decide who they are targeting. The ATS and CTS want to copy BMW, the SUVs Lincoln, and the CT6 the Kia K900 I guess. Johan needs to get a plan going.
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