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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The CT6 is the gen-1 CTS but a class up. The original CTS was 5-series size, 3-series priced and was knocked for being a tweener. This is 7-series size, but 5-series price, so you get a big car, but not the luxury or tech or V8 of a 7-series, you basically get the interior of a 5-series with a longer wheel base. I just don't see the appeal for a car this big with this engine mix. If 300-400 sales a month is their goal I guess they'll be happy, but then they put a lot of money into this car for not a lot of return. Not like you have a huge margin when CT6 is the only product on this platform and isn't selling for a really high dollar amount.
  2. smk4565
    E-class will have a better interior, and probably only give up like 3 inches of rear legroom, which to the old folks that buy these cars and don't even use the back seat, it probably won't be an issue. We'll see if the CT6 carves out a niche, but if you want a driver's car, then you'll buy a CTS or 5-series or other mid-sizer. So CT6 is just a bigger CTS, you aren't really getting more power or luxury, just space, and the CTS isn't really a small car, it is as big as the 2005-2009 STS was.
  3. smk4565
    The 2017 E-class will compete well with the CT6 as far as what Mercedes it would be closest to. Not sure what the point of having CTS, XTS, CT6 all in the $44-55k base price range, that is a lot of overlap there.
  4. smk4565
    There hasn't been an S350 since 2013 model year. And a 2016 S-class does not do 0-60 in 7 seconds. Outside of Europe Mercedes went to the plug in hybrid to replace the diesel for the fuel economy model, seems like that was a good idea in light of the VW scandal, and the plug in technology offers better fuel economy and acceleration than the diesel did. And the CT6 is priced below the Kia K900 and Hyundai Equus, so we know where Cadillac has placed the target and it is not on the S-class, so it doesn't really matter.
  5. smk4565
    Pretty aggressive pricing on the CT6, but I figured they would want to price it close to the E-class. I still don't get why the 2.0T is in this car for $2,000 more buyers get a V6 and AWD, no one is going to buy that 2.0T model anyway, it shouldn't even be there. The twin turbo V6 price seems good, but $84k for the Platinum seems steep. I wonder what a Platinum has over a twin turbo model that makes it cost $19,000 more. CTS pricing is messed up, too many trim levels, and too may trim levels on the different engines, and it is just confusing to figure out. They try to make the CTS look cheap with the $44k base price, but as mentioned a V6 becomes $55k which is what a CT6 V6 costs. And then they have Luxury, Performance, Premium trims, but it isn't clear what is better or what packages include the other. Why not just offer base, a stand alone luxury package and a stand alone performance package and let buyers pick neither, one or both packages.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. smk4565
    Maybe they should put a 2.0T in the Corvette, it weighs even less than a CT6!
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. smk4565
    Nice! Way cooler than a Volvo.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. smk4565
    Epic fail if it doesn't have at least 1,500 hp and 10 radiators.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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/
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
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