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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The performance numbers for the Camaro are pretty awesome, those are Corvette Z06 numbers from 10 years ago, and pretty much Corvette Stingray numbers of 2015. The Camaro offers some legit performance. I just wish the 6th gen didn't look so much like the 5th gen car.
  2. smk4565
    And the S350 is a diesel, which isn't sold in the USA in this generation of S-class. Diesels are obviously made for fuel economy before 0-60 time. I think CT6 is more of a Hyundai Equus/Kia K900 competitor anyway.
  3. smk4565
    Base S-class in the USA is 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. S-class also offers a V12, game over to all the non-V12 cars. Without a V12, you are in the 2nd tier.
  4. smk4565
    Sliding doors are a good idea in tight spaces. I bet it handles like it is on rails with that low center of gravity.
  5. smk4565
    Maybe they should put a 2.0T in the Corvette, it weighs even less than a CT6!
  6. smk4565
    Back in reality, low entry cost is what is important for Black Car service in NYC (or any city). The Plug-In hybrid model is doing to be pricey. The S and E classes I see being used a luxury taxies are all pretty base as base gets. Note: I'm not talking about privately owned vehicles with a chauffeur, I'm talking all of the S-Classes I see with T&LC plates. The S550 plug in gets 58 MPGe and 26 mpg combined city/highway when on gas only. Pretty good for a large luxury car, that could cut down on fuel cost. The 2016 CTS 3.6 is 22 mpg combined, the 2.0T is 24 mpg combined. The 2.0T is only 1 mpg better on the highway and 2 in the city than the V6. That isn't really drastically lower operating cost. And as far as base price, a turbo 4 and a V6 probably cost about the same for GM to make, we can't be talking about more than a few hundred dollars on the price of the car. I just don't see the point of the 2.0T engine in the CT6, it makes it feel bargain basement from the start. Plug-in hybrid 4-cylinder I am all for, you can sell it to the green crowd.
  7. smk4565
    Diesel or plug-in hybrid would make more sense for livery or high mileage use than a 2.0T. If it was being used in NYC as a chauffeur car, the plug-in hybrid would be the way to go. If the 2.0T was a 40 mpg car I would see the point, since it will get like 30 mpg highway I don't see the need for it.
  8. smk4565
    The E250 gets 42 mpg, so you trade performance for that. The 2.0T engine doesn't really yield any great fuel economy improvement over the 3.6 V6, especially if you have cylinder deactivation or start/stop on the V6. That is why I wouldn't even use the 2.0T in the CT6. Also to note the new E-class goes on sale in 2016 which is dropping 200-300 lbs from the current car, and new inline six engines. Bye bye Mercedes 3.5 V6.
  9. smk4565
    5 engines for 500 sales a month. This is not the path to high profit margins. Although they are off the shelf engines for the most part, so perhaps it does not matter. I think that 4 cylinder model has to be cheap, full size luxury sedan buyers don't want a 4-cylinder engine any more than full size pick up truck buyers would.
  10. smk4565
    Nice! Way cooler than a Volvo.
  11. smk4565
    A bit of a build quality and interior difference between a Charger and an E-class. But my comparison was for a car with 130 hp less, it is still faster because of AWD. CTS has a sales problem.
  12. smk4565
    Charger Hellcat with 707 hp does 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, an E63 with 577 hp does 0-60 in 3.4 seconds. All wheel drive advantage. Tesla Model S could beat them all. I don't think more power fixes the CTS's problems. There are a lot of other areas to address first. Make an AWD V-series if you want a faster car.
  13. smk4565
    Epic fail if it doesn't have at least 1,500 hp and 10 radiators.
  14. smk4565
    They could put 800 hp in the CTS-V and the M5 will outsell it. They should put that money in the interior or an AWD system with launch control or an Electric CTS-V. Because with rear drive, they are just going to spin tire, the Hellcat Charger is a prime example. Would be nice to see a V12 CTS-V as no one else in the segment has a V12. I always wished Mercedes would do an E65 V12, even if only for a 2 year limited run.
  15. smk4565
    So it is on sale in 4-6 weeks and isn't priced yet? They are really waiting till the last minute. $55k seems low to me, that is like a base E-class. This is a big car, $55k makes it like below the Hyundai Equus, that has a base price of $61k. I think it will start over $60k and run into the $80s, and I think that is a lot of money for the engines they have in this car. Although maybe they should price it against the E-class, it might give it a shot at some sales.
  16. smk4565
    I am curious how the CT6 will be priced and wondering when more info on pricing and specs will be available. It is almost November, other 2016 models are on sale already, the 2016 CT6 is sort of a mystery still as far as pricing and on sale dates.
  17. smk4565
    Lutz also thought the Solstice/Sky, G8 and Cadillac STS were going to save GM, most of those "gotta have" products Lutz worked on from 2004-2008 led them to bankruptcy. Secondly, Tesla is a hot item and a cool car. The brand has serious cache, they need more volume than they have, but I think they will be able to expand the line up as batteries get cheaper and get more sales. They'l find ways to sell cars, and beat the archaic dealership model. Gas is cheap, but people spending $100,000 on a car aren't worried about gas prices. And compare the rivals, other 600 hp sedans are getting 15 mpg on premium gas, so there is pretty big operating cost savings with an electric. I think Tesla is strong, think of it this way, their crossover has 117 hp more than the most powerful Corvette ever.
  18. smk4565
    Google has the 25 mph pod things, and some converted Lexus SUVs. And will Google be selling a self driving car in the next 5 years? All Google is going to be able to do is develop equipment to sell to a car maker. But here is the 60 minutes story to see these cars in action. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/self-driving-cars-google-mercedes-benz-60-minutes/
  19. smk4565
    The Driver Assistance package which has Distronic plus with steer assist, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise, etc is a $2,800 option on the S550, and a $2,800 option on a C300. Perhaps they charge another $2,800 on top of that package. It is just what the engineer said, he expects a few thousand dollars will be added to the price of the car. The E-class is going to be more autonomous than the current S-class, Mercedes has already stated that it will have more technology than the S-class has right now. We'l find out in January.
  20. smk4565
    I think a car maker will crack this before Google, Apple, CMU, MIT or whoever does. Because those firms are outfitting stuff to an existing car from another company, vs the car company expanding upon their own tech and building from the ground up. What is shocking is a Mercedes engineer said the self driving tech would only add a few thousand dollars to the price of the car. And rumor is the 2017 E-class will have it. $3k on the price of an E-class is nothing, so $65,000 vs $62,000 and it drives itself, amazing.
  21. smk4565
    I think self driving is a good idea, 60 minutes had a good story on this a couple weeks ago. They said 33,000 people die in car accidents every year, the same as if a fully loaded 747 crashed every week. If the airline industry had a 747 crash weekly, no one would fly, yet people hop in a car and do distracted driving, or fall asleep, or drive drunk etc. Self driving cars will save lives. Secondly, stop and go traffic can be stressful, letting the car take over in driving like that keeps the driver calm, relaxed, makes the drive more pleasurable. I like driving, I don't like sitting in stop and go traffic doing nothing, and wasting time. The Self driving car could create time, the ultimate luxury. Doesn't mean you still can't drive for thrills. And GM is not the leader, this car is, 20,000 miles driven by the computer on public streets without an accident.
  22. smk4565
    The Ferrari F40 is still the best Ferrari ever in my opinion. I would take it over anything they build today or have built since.
  23. smk4565
    Didn't Consumer Reports say the Model S scored 103 points on a 100 point scale, and thus was a beyond perfect car? Now they don't like it? CR is full of crap and knows nothing about cars. If you choose a car based on reliability ratings from a scale designed to judge washing machines then you might as well admit you have no goals or ambition in life and just pack it up and die.
  24. smk4565
    They still make the Toyota Sequoia? I don't think I have seen one on the road since 2004.
  25. smk4565
    I am just saying that the X3 has sporty car performance, which most small SUVs do not. So there is some value in that. I don't think buyers buy it just for 0-60 time, but it is going to feel quick with good handling when they drive it compared to an Acura RDX or Lexus NX or something. As far as the Trailblazer SS goes, I found that it did 0-60 in 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph. The BMW website says the X3 35i does 0-60 in 5.3 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph. And again, the GLC450 Sport will be faster than an X3, and there will be an AMG GLC63 with 470 hp, which is pretty nuts for a small SUV. Personally I would still rather have a car, I don't think a V8 GLC makes sense, when a V8 C-class or E-class makes perfect sense.
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