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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    I am not sure an Omega car for Buick is a good idea. I think the top Buick sedan should have a price starting in the high $30s. And how many cars does Buick need, if you have Verano-Regal-LaCrosse as a 3 sedan line up, plus a Cascada convertible. Unless they could do a Riviera coupe on Omega and keep that priced at $40k. But then you have a Lincoln Mark VIII type large coupe, and that didn't sell 20 years ago back when cars sold, now people want crossovers. I don't think Buick needs a 4 sedan line up, I see Buick versions of the Cruze-Malibu-Impala as more reasonable, a sedan smaller than the Cruze I don't think has a place at Buick, plus they have the Encore which is sub-compact.
  2. smk4565
    I retract the "not big enough" statement about the CT6, since it is with in inches in every dimension of the 7-series, XJ, A8, and S-class. Lacks the muscle of those cars though, and the CT6 is a nice car, but I don't think as nice inside as the 4 cars I just mentioned. The lack of horsepower and interior makes me think they need to price it less than those cars. If Cadillac does price it in the $55-75k range they could have success. If they price it $75-95k I think they are dead in the water. We shall see.
  3. smk4565
    So if it beats all the other cars at the drag strip, doesn't that make it the Champion and not the Challenger?
  4. smk4565
    BMW does make a 740iL that is 205 inches long with 45 inches of rear seat leg room. So if someone doesn't think the 740i has enough room in back, they can just look across the showroom for the alternative. Every generation of the S-class has outsold every generation of the 7-series, most by 2-1 margin. S-class has often been in front on safety, luxury and performance. BMW for a brief period in the late 80s had a 300 hp V12, but Mercedes 3 years later had a 389 hp V12, so that was that. And the 7-series never had a V8 until 1992, while the S-class always offered one. The new 7-series is pretty nice, 0-60 in 4.3 seconds on the V8 model, they did a good job on it. But the S-class is still the king of the big sedans, they have the Maybach luxury, the AMG power, and more tech is coming for the 2017 model year since the 2017 E-class is getting things like the eardrum protection pre-crash audio alert system.
  5. smk4565
    Styling is of course subjective, I am just saying there is a type of buyer that wants a grand touring coupe or sports car, but maybe thinks they need a back seat, so a CLS or A7 becomes a good option. Probably why the XLR, SC430, Jaguar XK have all died, and you don't really see luxury coupes anymore. Even the BMW 6-series became 4-door and costs more than a 7-series, both of which makes zero sense to me. I don't think the CT6 attracts the buyer that wants a sporty, flashy looking car, when it has a traditional 3-box design. Personally I like traditional 3-box design and think an A7 is the ugliest Audi on the road. I see the CT6 appealing more to the Equus and K900 type buyers that want a big sedan, but don't want to pay $80,000+ to get it. That is why I think pricing is key, because those cars have V8s too, CT6 doesn't have a V8. Maybe the loaded CT6 3.0TT competes with the base 7-series at the $70-75k price point.
  6. smk4565
    I'd agree with the 6,000 a year number, that is about Audi A8 volume in the USA. And assuming they keep prices in the $60k range, not $80k range. I think the next 7-series was going to be long wheel base only here, or at least the V8 models will be. Either way, the S-class will continue to whoop on thing as it has since 1977. Here is the thing with the CT6, it has basically the same engine lineup as a CTS (which isn't a hot seller) and the CTS V-sport has a more powerful engine than the 3.0TT V6 in the CT6. So even a top end CT6 is less performance than a CTS V-sport. A CTS V-sport is $60k base, with some options let's call it a $65k car. So to me a CT6 3.0TT should be $70,000, maybe $75k loaded to the max. I don't think Cadillac will price it that way though, I think they'll pull an another ELR and overshoot the market and charge $20-25k more than a CTS with the same engine.
  7. smk4565
    Where have I seen that before? Oh right, here:
  8. smk4565
    What I don't like about the CT6 is it isn't big enough or luxurious enough to really match the big Germans. And it is too big to go against a 5-series, plus the CTS does that, and it is still too big and not sporty looking to go against a CLS or A7. Plus you can get a CLS or A7 with a twin turbo V6 for under $70k, so that makes me think the CT6 twin turbo V6 needs to be under $70k, which puts the 2.0T model at like $52-55k for it to have a chance to sell, and I don't think Cadillac will price it that low. This is a car giving you the same powertrain as a $44k CTS, and at the top end, the 3.0TT is worse than the CTS V-sport. So the customer is only getting space and a slightly different dashboard and some amenities like the 34 speaker Bose stereo. What is that worth? I'd think $10,000 premium over a CTS at most so it has to base price around $53k and max at $70k. That is a lot of overlap to the current CTS and XTS in price, unless they make 2016 the last year of the XTS, but I don't think it is dying until like 2019.
  9. smk4565
    It is about time they got new engines, it has had the same engine lineup since 2007. What makes no sense is you can't get AWD with the 2.0T which is the volume engine, or should be the volume engine for people anyway. Secondly, where did they find a 3.5 liter V5 making 255 hp? 2004? Is that the old Chysler 300M engine? Thirdly, won't the gas mileage be the same on a 3.5 liter V6 making 255 hp, as it is on the 3.5 liter V6 making 306 hp? So what is the point, who would buy the weaker V6 if you get the same gas mileage on both. Why even offer both? Just offer one V6 to simplify manufacturing and ordering.
  10. smk4565
    I think that CT6 is going to get eaten alive, I am curious as to how they'll price it. I think they'll aim too high, which is why I see it getting eaten alive.
  11. smk4565
    I heard Dave Leone himself say the CT6 would have a 265 hp 2.0 liter turbo 4. Now maybe they will only sell it in China, but they are building it for sure. This is Cadillac's big gun, it should bring something better than that. Consumer choice is good, so offer turbo V6 and V8, a diesel and a hybrid. I was against the 2.5 liter ATS since launch, if Cadillac wanted to topple the 3-series, they should have come out guns blazing, and not used the 2.5 liter engine found in the base Malibu (and now the base Colorado). It's a Cadillac, step it up. I'll agree on the eAssist, at the time gas was expensive, so they were trying to push fuel economy and I think that car got like 36 mpg highway when it first came out, so at the time that was good. And I imagine they will move to a 2.0T and 8 or 9 speed, as that is where the market is going. I'd still be an advocate for the V6 continuing in mid-size to large Buicks like LaCrosse and Enclave, or a Riveria or Avenir if they happen. I'd like to see a V6 option on the Buick version on the Malibu to make it different. Sort of how Fusion is turbo 4 only, but MKZ has a V6 option.
  12. smk4565
    I agree that a 4-cyldiner is enough for most people. The Camry V6 has like a 6% take rate, and the hybrid is about 10%, so over 80% of those are base 4 banger. 175-200 hp is enough for a small to mid crossover or family sedan, most people don't drive in any sporting nature. A Cadillac CT6 is not for "most people" it is for a higher end buyer. The Corvette weighs less than a 335i, I don't see them putting a 2.0T in the Corvette because it would be enough for the typical Camry/Accord buyer. V6 should be a minimum on a CT6. The ATS has less standard hp and torque than a CLA, and they want the ATS to compete with the C-class which is 241 hp base. The A4 is going to have 252 hp base, Lexus IS will have the 245 hp 2.0T. I still think the ATS should have the 2.0T standard, and they could beat them all on base hp, rather than being 40 below them all. And if even Cadillac buyers are content with a 260 hp, I am sure a 306 hp GMC Canyon is plenty of power, thus no need for a Cyclone.
  13. smk4565
    Then why do we have to have a 2.0T in a Cadillac CT6? Why not make a 3.0tt V6 the base model, and a 4.0tt V8 optional? Why a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder in the ATS? That 2.4 liter eAssist engine in the Lacrosse, when the Avalon, Cadenza Maxima and Azera have a standard V6? Every GM sedan is basically designed with one eye on CAFE so they can sell more Silverados and Tahoes because that is where the profit is made. Which is why CAFE is stupid to begin with, and you can make cars larger and get around CAFE, which makes no sense. If you want better gas mileage, put a $1,000 gas guzzler tax on any vehicle under 30 mpg combined, $2,000 gas guzzler tax on any vehicle under 25 mpg combined, $3,000 on anything under 20 mpg combined, $4,000 on anything under 15 mpg combined. Then you place a $1,000 tax credit on any car above 40 mpg combined, and $2,000 on any car above 50 mpg combined. And watch fuel economy soar, and sale of fuel efficient vehicles soar.
  14. smk4565
    Buick can't go really high up market with sedans or coupes with $50k+ Aviners or Rivieras, etc. Cadillac struggles to sell 2,000 CTS a month at that price, a Buick would sell worse, and a large car would sell worse than a mid-size. $25-45,000 is the Buick sweetspot. What I'd do, as I put in another thread is call the next Verano the Regal, which would be 185 inches long, 1.5 liter and 2.0 liter turbo 4 engines. Optional all wheel drive. Priced at $24k base so it is well above the Cruze, but still cheaper than the current Regal that doesn't sell well. The Envision would share chassis, engines, etc with this Regal. The next Malibu is to be 193 inches long, perfect size for the LaCrosse and you could price it around $30k, undercutting the Azera, Maxima and Cadenza which are also about 193 inches long, and still priced well enough above the Malibu. 2.0T standard here, I'd V6 as well, all wheel drive option. Sedan #3 is the Park Avenue, which would be 201 inches long like an Impala or XTS is now. This you could price around $38k, a $10k premium over a base Impala. V6 and all wheel drive, maybe a turbo 4/hybrid option also. This would compete with ES350 and MKZ, although be larger than those cars, and help fill the void left by the XTS. Then you have the Cascada convertible on the Delta platform, and I would do a Riviera priced about $34k with very limited options because above $40k there are too many luxury coupes to pick from, including ATS, so you want to stay away from that. Riviera should be mid-size, a little larger than Camaro, luxury focused, maybe the 3.6 V6 is the stand alone engine, because this is a low volume car I'd think, and probably older buyers who would want a V6 over a turbo 4.
  15. smk4565
    I think Malibu, Impala, LaCrosse, and Regal will all be on the same platform. Hopefully the XTS is dead at the end of this cycle. I don't think they'll do a Grand National, because GM doesn't have 40% market share like back in the 80s. So I suspect they won't want in house competition for the Camaro or ATS. Plus I think a GNX would be low volume, and the cost to get it crash tested and emissions certified, etc probably makes it not worth it. It would be nice for them to do a Riviera coupe, they could even be off the next generation Epsilon platform, and share powertrain with the Regal or LaCrosse.
  16. smk4565
    Maybe they'll put a 700 hp Ferrari V12 in it, and it will weigh 2,500 lbs, cost $40,000 and go 0-60 in 2.5 seconds.
  17. smk4565
    There is a whole lot of "grow in size" going on with their lineup.
  18. smk4565
    Can't put a V8 in a car that small. Remember the Miata is 1,000 lbs lighter than a Corvette. Even if a V8 fit under the hood, which I'd doubt it does, then the weight would have to go way up, the price would go way up, because you need bigger brakes, bigger transmission, structural enhancements, etc. Interestingly enough, the Hemi V8 doesn't even fit in the Viper.
  19. smk4565
    It is possible of course, I was being a bit sarcastic about CAFE, but that is often a reason as to why they don't do things. GM sells 500,000 pickups that get poor mileage, yet they can't put a V8 in a Cadillac (other than CTS-V) because of CAFE. But then what about a Buick GNX, a Cadillac XT5 V-series, an Escalade V-series, an Impala SS, etc. You can't really build a business case for all these variants, and you probably can't even put 400 hp into a Terrain or similar FWD crossover. They could put a Corvette engine into a Colorado, but then what would that cost, like $50,000+ ? Does anyone want a $50,000 Colorado? And doesn't that steal thunder from the Silverado, their real cash cow?
  20. smk4565
    Oh yeah, Chrysler quality was industry leading when they were owned by Cerebus. And the Dart, Cherokee, Renegade and 200 are on Fiat platforms, the Ram and Jeep V6 turbodiesel is because of Fiat. I think FCA is a bit of a mess as well, but Chrysler would be out of business right now with Fiat. And Fiat might be out of business by now without Chrysler, somehow they are keeping each other alive.
  21. smk4565
    I think it should play the Spaceballs clip when you put it into ludicrous mode. I'd like to see the Model S in ludicrous mode drag race an Aventador or GT-R.
  22. smk4565
    Buick Envision is 183.7 inches long on the D2XX platform, I bet the Equinox moves to that, I think the size could even drop to 180 inches, which is still longer than an Escape or CR-V. The C1XX platform short wheelbase will be XT5, and new Chevy, and the current Lambda trio moves to long wheelbase C1XX. Question is does the GMC Terrain move to D2XX or C1XX? Or does GMC bring back the Envoy as their C1XX, while Terrain goes to D2XX. Personally I think if Buick is going to have Gamma and D2 crossovers, GMC should get a short wheelbase C1 crossover, while Buick does not, to try to reduce overlap in the showroom.
  23. smk4565
    Who cares about quality, it will have passion and soul because it is Italian. I think Fiat needs more models, obviously they need a 500L convertible, a 500X 4-door crossover coupe Abarth and a 500L-XL that is a long wheelbase, 3 row 500L, better make a coupe version of that too.
  24. smk4565
    If you want a roomy 3rd row buy this: Most of these crossovers never have anybody in the back seat anyway. They probably could get a small 3rd row into a mid-size SUV, but then who needs a Traverse or Tahoe, when the mid-size SUV has 3 rows.
  25. smk4565
    Equinox will become Cruze based, share the 1.5 liter turbo as the base, maybe the Malibu's 2.0 turbo optional. This could be 180 inches long, in line with an Escape and CR-V. I smell a Trailblazer return for a real mid-size (around 191 inches long) 5-seat crossover.
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