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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    2015 C-class has 35.2 inches of rear legroom, so a worst to first swing for Mercedes there. But the old car sold because it gave Mercedes build quality at a low price and it had good looks. The old C-class was actually somewhat sporty to drive, I don't think it was a great car, but it was good enough to outsell the A4 and Lexus IS. The 2015 C-class I think is a great car, Mercedes brought their A game on that one and that is something they didn't do the last time around. Rear seat legroom isn't why the ATS doesn't sell, the car looks boring, the powertrains aren't as refined or not as many engine and body style choices as the Germans. What amazes me is how the Lexus IS which is flat out ugly and also has an engine/transmission combo circa 2008 outsells the ATS. The CUE system probably is turning away more people than it attracts. And Cadillac isn't the hot brand either, the young up and comers seem to be flocking to Audi, and the ATS needs to take on that market.
  2. smk4565
    The old models like the Avenger, Journey and Patriot have to be almost all fleet sale or deep discount. They might not even be turning a profit on those. The big 3 of the Jeep lineup (Cherokee, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee) is doing well, but those have name equity. The Jeep brand name is popular and trusted, and the Cherokee, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee names have weight to them. People are familiar with those, compared to some of the alphabet soup names or something like a GMC Terrain that has been around only one generation.
  3. smk4565
    They can probably cancel the TT already, no one is buying that thing anymore.
  4. smk4565
    Over 1,000 i3's is pretty impressive actually. Most oddball looking electrics have no sales, the i3 might get a following going. The 7-series and A8 are getting destroyed by the S-class, maybe BMW should just give up now, although I know they won't
  5. smk4565
    GM has enough crossovers and trucks. They have a whole brand dedicated to trucks, and 2 of the 5 Buicks and 2 of the 5 Cadillacs (if you don't count ELR) are crossovers/SUV (I counted Escalade as 1). The Buick-GMC-Cadillac trio has more SUVs than sedans. The Thetas and Lambdas are due for an update though, I don't think they need more, just to update what they have, although adding a compact SUV like the Trax to Chevy could get some younger urban buyers. Cadillac could use a 3rd crossover, but Cadillac could use a lot of help in other areas too, they could use some coupes and convertibles, and the CTS might have it's lowest sales year ever this year, and the price didn't get jacked up that much, they are still pricing the CTS under the 5-series and E-class. The Malibu sales reflect how good the car is, mediocre car, mediocre sales. The Impala sells well compared to the Taurus, Avalon, Azera type cars, I think the Impala is fine, for the full size $27-37k market it is a strong seller, that just isn't a huge segment of buyers.
  6. smk4565
    Their number 1 seller is a mid size sedan and #2 was a sedan introduced for 2008 model year. C-class should see a big boost this fall, so it is possible the C and E are pushing 15,000 units a month, which the 3 SUVs aren't going to do. The GL is probably being hurt by the new Escalade, I think the GLK is helped by the diesel because it gets 33 mpg which spanks most of these crossovers.
  7. smk4565
    A lot of GM cars aren't space efficient on the inside, why don't they just make better use of the space they have.
  8. smk4565
    Combining a supercharger and a turbo charger makes sense to eliminate the lag time and keep even power flow. But at $40k you are talking C-class money, and the S60 isn't that good of a car. 300 hp and 35 mpg is a solid combination, but you can get a 45 mpg diesel BMW if you give up some acceleration. And the diesel C-class should hit 60 in 7 seconds and turn out 45 mpg also. Good engine for Volvo but it will probably just push the cost of the car up and their cars don't justify that price point. I did read that Geely was going to spend $11 billion on Volvo to try to get them up to par, we'll see though, they might be too far behind.
  9. smk4565
    The numbers used to mean engine size, but the engine sizes change a lot and now that engine sizes are going down, they probably don't want to go down in numbers. BMW does it too, the 328i has a 2.0 liter engine. I think what Mercedes could do to make the numbers simple is 300 for 4 cylinder, 400 for 6 cylinder, 500 for 8 cylinder and 600 for 12 cylinder. When the day comes they have a 3 cylinder they could use 200. Then as engine sizes change you keep the same number, easier for marketing. The S500 in Europe is S550 here, no reason for them to be different. Diesels could be 250, and 350 for 4 and 6 cylinder. 450 if they have an 8 cylinder diesel, but I don't think they do anymore. On the AMG names, they should have named the CLA45 AMG the CLA35, since it is 4 cylinder, if AMG does a 6 cylinder in the future it could be 45 AMG, make the V8 55, so you'd have an S55 AMG like they used to, then S65 is V12. And it fits in like with an S500 would be a V8, an S55 would be an AMG V8, S600 is V12, S65 is AMG V12. Much more cohesive.
  10. smk4565
    As bad as it sounds, why not rename the ML to GML or GLM, the M being for mid size if they want every SUV to have a "G" in it. GLE sounds like a trim package on a Camry. Keep GLA, GLK and GL the same. This isn't broken so it doesn't need fixed. They already went from M to ML to appease BMW why change it again.
  11. smk4565
    I hope they don't do this and it is an idea they are considering to they put it out there to see if there is backlash or not. The naming scheme makes no sense because the M class and GL share a platform, neither of them are based on an E-class or S-class platform, and that is continuing as the GLK, C, E, CLS will all be built on the new MRA platform, while the SL and SLK share a platform, and the S-class get's it own. K on any Mercedes stands for kompaktklasse in German, compact class to us. The G stands for Geländewagen, which translates to SUV or cross country wagon or what ever you want to call it. The names mean something, no reason to change them. Using a G for all SUVs makes sense, but the M-class is the only one that doesn't match, it is dumb to change the names of other products just because one doesn't match.
  12. smk4565
    I'd agree with Dwight on the CUE system and the new logo, the old way was better. I see valid arguments to both you guys on engines. I think we can agree the 2.5 liter base engine doesn't belong at all. Leave that for the Malibu and base Colorado. I think all would agree a diesel should be optional on the ATS and CTS. The Germans and Jaguar are using a turbo 4 and turbo/supercharged 6 set up in their cars, so that would make me agree with Dwight on having the 2.0T and a light pressure turbo V6. Personally I'd rather take a NA V6 over a turbo 4 even given similar power and fuel economy. If they can improve fuel economy in the 2.0T, even if it means losing some power, I would be in favor of keeping it for the base, and at a light turbo V6 to it. If they don't improve that 2.0T, then it really doesn't belong in a Cadillac either. Bottom line is the ATS and CTS both got engines that were already on the shelf, so either plan could work better. I don't think the ATS-V will get a V8, but if the LT1 can meet the refinement levels needed for a luxury car then I'd say go for it because the C63 AMG is going to have an all new 500 hp twin turbo V8. I question whether the LT1 will meet the NVH standards though. And BMW and Mercedes can get away with little flaws, the press will overlook them, but when one of the challengers have a flaw they will jump on it to protect the status quo.
  13. smk4565
    From the measurements the Colroado seems pretty big. The 80s and 90s S10 pickups were actually small. It seems like the new Colorado/Canyon are closer to the Silverado in size than they are to the old S10s. Maybe that will work out well for them, but I think they should have made them a bit smaller so that there is more of a difference, I feel like the Colorado is now like the old Dodge Dakota, more mid-size than small.
  14. smk4565
    The Trans Am is a good idea, but not at that price. 15 year old cars will have some upkeep cost, and if you drive it, it will depreciate quickly. Plus the back seat in those is tiny, so it isn't all that usable on anything more than a 15 minute trip. I think you could find a Camaro/Firebird from 2000 for under $8,000, just not in that good of condition. Maybe get a cheap one if you want a sports car for occasional use. The G6 is better than an 04 Malibu, but I'd agree with black-kinght, the G6 isn't a very good car. I guess it could be worse though.
  15. smk4565
    But other than the quality of the interior materials and decent diesels, they have nothing to offer, really. And they are bone crushingly expensive to repair. An SCCA buddy of mine runs an indie shop that often services Benzes. A recent A/C repair on a fairly new Benz cost more than my car is worth, due mostly to the cost of OEM parts. Mercedes makes more 400 hp cars than any other car maker, and they make more 500 hp cars than anyone else also. They also make 4 convertibles and are adding 2 more (although the SLS is going away and the AMG GT may not get a convertible). BMW and Audi each have 3, Lexus has 1, Cadillac none. So if you want power or open air motoring, they have plenty to offer. Audi and BMW have high repair costs too, and they don't have Mercedes reliability or longevity. Lexus probably is cheapest to own as far as repairs, but that is to be expected since it is just a glorified Toyota with a V6 from 2008.
  16. smk4565
    Mercedes has no lack of perception. The Germans own the global luxury market and Mercedes probably has the strongest image of the 3.
  17. smk4565
    There is about a foot of length difference between an ATS/3-series and the CTS/5-series. I could see how if you added 6 inches and put it solely on rear seat legroom you make a bigger backseat, and that could have appeal in China. But then why doesn't a Hyundai Genesis or Toyota Avalon or some roomy car sell there that already has passenger room. But I suppose they just want the badge on some level. Mercedes makes a long wheel base E-class for China also, I guess if the luxury market really wants chauffuer driven cars that is what car makers have to do there.
  18. smk4565
    I will say BMW interiors lack imagination, and they have looked basically the same for a long time but BMW owners like that look. The 7-series gets beat in every measure by the S-class, making the 7 lighter and adding an M version are probably just a couple fixes they are working on, they will have to work on the interior also. The S-class line is about to expand though to add the Maybach model and the convertible, the others in this segment can't offer so many body style variants. I guess the others will never admit defeat and back out of the segment, but you wonder how much money is Audi or BMW willing to put into a car that probably won't sell that well. Same for Cadillac, think they are going to spend $2 billion on the LTS for it to be a slow seller, I doubt it.
  19. smk4565
    That is a really good price, because this car basically performs with or maybe even better than the old ZR1 and that was about $40k more.
  20. smk4565
    Is this the most fuel efficient V8 now? I would think 16/29 is hard to beat, especially since a lot of V8s are heavy sedans.
  21. smk4565
    You have to wonder about the reliability of these cars. Dodge isn't exactly great to begin with, are these transmissions and chassis really going to stand up to this much power. With the Viper they can put even more power in, but the wheels are just going to spin and it is still going to have loads of oversteer and wild handling. It is easy for the people in the marketing department to sell horsepower though, doesn't matter if the car is awful or not, if it has 700 hp it makes for a nice commercial and whoever buys it has bragging rights.
  22. smk4565
    But Mercedes isn't selling S-class taxis in the US, and it clobbers the competition in sales here. Maybe fleet/government/taxi sales help in Europe, but the S-class beats anything else by over 2-1 margin. And in China, Audi is the fleet/government brand of choice, and the S-class outsells the A8 there. Even if 50% of the S-class sales were fleet, they are still outselling anyone else on retail. Bottom line is the S-class is a profit machine for Daimler, it generates more total profit than any other car line, only the Big 3 pickups create more total profit and they need to sell 500-600,000 a year to do that. These other automakers underestimate the S-class, other than maybe BMW who is looking at carbon fiber to cut 600-700 lbs off the 7-series and to do a 600 hp M7, I think at least they realize they need to step it up, but the others might as well die on the vine.
  23. smk4565
    Excuses, excuses though, why can't BMw Lexus or Audi compete with the S-cpass then? Infiniti, Acura and Cadillac don't even try although at least Cadillac is taking a shot at it. And you think a $100,000 Cadillac sedan won't depreciate fast?
  24. smk4565
    If the S-class was overpriced, it wouldn't be a market share god all over the world. Every competitor undercuts the S-class by about $20,000 and it still outsells the BMW, Lexus, Audi and Jaguar combined. If the S-class price was too high, buyers would go to cheaper alternatives. The S-class is almost good value, it is a better car than what you get from a Flying Spur or a Ghost, and those cost over $200,000.
  25. smk4565
    Cadillac is planning a car below the ATS to compete with the Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA. If the ATS is $33k, then you gotta figure $28-29k for the new smaller Caddy. They are copying the Germans at every turn, so GM must think the German strategy works.
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