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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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/
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. smk4565
    They still make the Toyota Sequoia? I don't think I have seen one on the road since 2004.
  11. 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.
  12. smk4565
    Yeah, it's about time Mercedes updated the GLK.... the new GLC finally has the interior worthy of the badge. Doesn't seem like I can get it with Airmatic though :-( Airmatic is a $1,900 stand alone option on the GLC. I love airmatic, I think it is worth the money. Plus the GLC has the 9-speed transmission standard, no V6 on sale yet.
  13. smk4565
    C-class is still a small car, it is like 184 inches long, and the E-class didn't go anywhere. CLA would be sub-compact luxury, but you can't really slice every segment, there would be 50 segments. We did forget commercial vans, and the higher end sports cars and convertibles. I went with Camaro as the sports car because I figured we were talking about normal priced cars. I feel like when you get to the Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini category you are just buying styling and badge, they are all exotic and all faster than you could ever use on the street or use full blast on a track unless you are a professional race car driver.
  14. smk4565
    B-Segment - Ford Fiesta C-Segment (compacts) - Mazda 3 C-Segment (Luxury Compact) - C-Class D-Segment (mid-size) - Mazda 6 D-Segment (Luxury Mid-size) - E-class E-Segment (full size, non-luxury) - Chrysler 300 F-Segment (full size, luxury) - S-class S-Segment (sport coupes) - Chevy Camaro M-Segment (minivans and multi-purpose vehicles) - Honda Odyssey J-Segment (Small) - Mazda CX-5 J-Segment (Mid-size) - Jeep Grand Cherokee (mid-size but pricey) J-Segment (Full Size) - Chevy Tahoe J-Segment (Small Luxury) - Mercedes GLC J-Segment (Mid-size Luxury) - Tesla Model X (mid size, but not mid price, otherwise GLE Coupe) J-Segment (Full Size Luxury) - Range Rover (the big one, not the Sport or Evoque) Pickup Trucks (Full Size) - Ford F150 (taking the whole model range into consideration) Pickup Trucks (Mid Size) - GMC Canyon
  15. smk4565
    Well I wouldn't buy an X3, I wouldn't buy any crossover or SUV. And I'l agree the X3 isn't really good value, but if it drives like a BMW, that puts it ahead of most crossovers that drive like Focus or Camry. In this segment though, the GLC costs the same, has a decades more modern interior and more power, and better styling. And a better badge, it wins all around. I think the X3 is in trouble without massive improvements.
  16. smk4565
    Cadillac has 3 twin turbos in production now... you just refuse to see them on the options sheet because for some reason it isn't exactly the one you want. ATS-V engine is put against a V8 Mercedes, and a V8 Lexus IS-F. CTS V-sport was aimed against the 550i, E550/CLS550, Infiniti M56, Audi S6, and Jaguar XF 5.0, and all those have V8s. Cadillac is trying to put an NA V6 against the boosted sixes from the Europeans, and a twin turbo V6 against the boosted V8s of the Europeans. That is my problem with the strategy. I'd like to see Cadillac come up with a 3.6-4.0 liter twin turbo V8 for the ATS-V, CTS V-sport, CT6 V-sport, and future performance crossovers, and future full size coupe/convertible product. Then they can have 2 liter turbo as a base engine, 3 liter turbo V6 as a mid-level (maybe 2 boost levels, like a 350 hp and 400 hp version) and a twin turbo V8.
  17. smk4565
    A. Why isn't the twin turbo V6 in production yet? This isn't new stuff, a 2010 Ford Taurus had a twin turbo V6. Poor planning by Cadillac 4 years ago. B. If you want to support American jobs it is better to by an Accord, X3, GLE or GLC (which are all made in the USA) rather than a Fusion, MKZ or SRX which are not. CTS is American made, E-class is German made, the argument works in that segment, but doesn't in many others.
  18. smk4565
    I am a cylinder snob. I would rather have a 3.2 liter V8 than a 3.5 liter V6. I think you can't replace that V8 sound. There are a lot of 1.5-1.8 liter four cylinder engine hitting the market, double that up and you have a 3.0-3.6 liter V8 that would be some good stuff.
  19. smk4565
    Cadillac should be making more profit (total dollars) than Chevrolet. If Cadillac were properly managed, then it would be responsible for at least 50% of GM's net profit. I doubt that is the case, and GM will never break the numbers down. But consider Audi alone makes more profit than Chevy, Buick, GMC,and Cadillac COMBINED!
  20. smk4565
    Johan did nothing for Infiniti, changing names was a mistake, G37 was all they had. It would be like Cadillac dropping Escalade for XT8. Infiniti has no soul, no identity, their SUVs are just Nissans, they mostly just have that V6, which now everyone has a good V6. They had that 420 hp V8 a few years back, haven't done anything with it since, the styling is boring and bland. How hard is it to turbo an engine? Turbo the VQ V6 and put 2 turbos on that V8. Also no halo car, no flagship car, 1 hybrid that no one buys. Poor product planning, no clear brand image, inconsistent marketing all left them drifting aimlessly. And Johan is bringing that expertise to Cadillac, let's see if he learned anything.
  21. smk4565
    All crossovers are expensive. $54k for an X3 is nor more ridiculous than $31k for a Rav4. What the X3 has going for it is 3-series chassis, Inline 6 engine and ZF 8-speed transmission. The X3 can run with an Ecboost Mustang or a Camaro V6 in a 0-60 sprint, might even win the drag race between the 3. Most of these small crossovers are derived on Focus or Civic platform, so the X3 has the better foundation than the Lincoln, Acura, Lexus crowd. That interior is looking really tired though, the GLC will eat the X3 for lunch, and the GLC has more power. BMW better get that Carbon Core and the next-gen 335 hp inline six in the X3 asap.
  22. smk4565
    Why do we have to wait for craftsmanship and quality? The ATS and CTS promised to be as well built as the Germans and Cadillac said they would out perform the Germans. That didn't happen, the sales reflect it. I don't think the Cadillacs are overpriced, as I have said many times they are still priced below the Germans (and Lexus) but they aren't getting the sales. So something must be wrong. Personally, I think they could price the CTS-V at $49,995 and the E-class will outsell it 3-1. Horsepower per dollar isn't why Cadillac loses the battle, there are many reasons beyond that. On the CTS I think the engine comparisons are not as bad as with the ATS. The step up from the turbo 4 on all the German small cars and the Jaguar XE is a supercharged or Turbo Six, all those cars put out 320+ lb-ft of low end torque. That is where the 3.6 V6 is out gunned. The CTS has the V-sport which is good power for the money, but I think also rwd only. At some point Cadillac has to break the brand image problem. That needs done on powertrain, interior, build quality, warranty, dealer service, styling, number of model lines, halo cars, marketing, etc. It is multi-front battle they have to fight. A good example is Car and Driver just tested the Lincoln MKX, which was $63,000, and regardless of how good the product might be, why would anyone buy that over a Mercedes or BMW? Cadillac has the same problem, if you have $65,000 to spend, why not buy the German car, rather than a Cadillac and have to justify to people why you did it.
  23. smk4565
    Not a surprise, the Viper doesn't sell, and FCA just did a new union contract. I am sure they would love to either close a plant in Detroit or build high margin Ram Trucks or a Jeep in the USA. While moving low margin stuff like the Dart to Mexico where labor cost is cheap. Plus the Viper can't fit a Hemi under the hood, the V10 isn't doing them any CAFE favors, and FCA might want to push Alfa Romeo and the Hellcats as their halos. There are probably a dozen good reasons to end Viper production, not many to keep it going.
  24. smk4565
    The engine won't drive or hurt sales all that much, the ATS and CTS are pretty much going to sell in a certain volume whether there is a 3.6 liter V6 making 335 hp or a 3.0 TT V6 making 370. The turbo engine would be nicer, but how many buyers will it sway? My dislike it is Cadillac doing what is easy and pulling from the parts bin, rather than get 3.0 TT to market faster and make that a Cadillac exclusive engine. Cadillac's big problem is lack of crossovers. They should have at least 3 in their lineup, and Crossovers have been hot for 10-15 years, this didn't just happen yesterday. So they missed the boat on that one. Part of that problem could be GMC. Upper management probably saw GMC as the luxury truck brand, so that is where the crossovers went, because again, it was cheap and easy to turn a Chevy into a GMC and charge more for it. I said during the bankruptcy that GMC should have been turned into the commercial truck and work truck brand. They could have had a Transit/Sprinter style full size van by now, work truck versions of their pickups, a small van like the Transit Connect on Delta2 platform, etc. Then you would have the entry-lux crossovers at Buick and the luxury crossovers at Cadillac.
  25. smk4565
    And what four might those be? 1. CLS, a mechanical twin to the E-class, but still a step above the E-class. 2. S-class (sedan, coupe, convertible) 3. SL 4. AMG GT I want Mercedes to go after the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari, there is rumor that they might. It is shame that they have the best Formula 1 car, and they don't put some of that tech into a road car. I think they could build a better car than the LaFerrari. And all but one of those is way above the V's price range and for under $100K it is the best bang for the buck hi-po sedan out there. Bang for the buck is for Chevy. Cadillac doesn't need to think that way. If they are top tier luxury then Cadillac needs a few $100k+ products. There is no reason they couldn't make a mid engine V12 supercar, or a Tesla-style 650 hp electric car, or a twin turbo V8 grand tourer, etc. Those will all take years to roll out, I get that. I don't think products like that are even on the radar at Cadillac however. I still think Cadillac feels like they can run out some corporate platform SUVs and toss the corporate V6 in the CTS and match up with the Germans, and that just won't cut it.
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