Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close

smk4565

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    13,794

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    13

 Content Type 

Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    ??? These are 3 letter names--CLA, CLS, SLS, SLR...pay attention. Yes Mercedes is doing a lot more 3 letter names now I guess I didn't realize how many, now that I think of GLK, GLA, CLA. But they pretty much only had C, E, S classes and ML, SL back when the other guys went to alphabet soup names. Lexus clearly has tried to copy Mercedes since the very beginning, but I still think Cadillac, Lincoln and Acura would have been better off sticking with word names rather than going to alphanumeric, I think they lost some of their identities when they did that.
  2. smk4565
    The 3-series may have drifted from the core values, and it does seem a bit big and fat now (as do all BMWs), but the 3-series still has enough of the BMW traits to keep people buying. Steering isn't as good, but they still have BMW suspension and BMW brakes, it is bigger, but they give you more interior room, it is heavier than it was 10 years ago, but they have an 8-speed and turbo inline 6 that is super smooth with great low end torque. BMW still does enough and the 3-series is sort of evolving or aging with its customer base. The ATS can't match the 3-series acceleration, and the ATS can't match the NVH. And the 3-series has a diesel that gets 45 mpg. The C-class is going to put the "luxury" back into luxury sports sedans, they aren't going to copy BMW like Cadillac and Lexus have done, Mercedes is doing what Mercedes does best and I think they are about to stick it to BMW. Cadillac needs to do what Cadillac does best, and not just try to copy the E90 3-series, because people aren't going to buy the copy.
  3. smk4565
    The ELR in May had a 725 day supply on dealership lots, I wouldn't say they are moving. I guess with the big discounts though (and probably them not building any) has got it down to 194 days now. But that is still over 6 months. The CTS has a 215 day inventory supply. BMW and Audi have supplies less than 45 days by comparison. The ELR selling 60 a month or whatever they are getting is what makes it a flop. Had they priced it at $54,000 maybe they could have sold like 250 a month and it wouldn't have been as embarrassing. Either way they should drop the car.
  4. smk4565
    Agreed that the CTS name should have been used on what is now the ATS, people are used to "CTS" being the entry level Cadillac. The STS name could have been brought back to be what is the current CTS. Now you have to convince people to pay $50k for what was an entry level $35k car 5-10 years ago.
  5. smk4565
    I read there are dealers giving $20,000 off to sell ELR's. This car is a flop, the idea of the car itself was bad, to charge $76k for it was a horrible idea. Had they priced it at $55k from the start, maybe they would have sold a few, but this car is tanking faster than the Allante or XLR did.
  6. smk4565
    New C-class goes on sale August 25th though, and Road & Track said the interior is possibly better than any other German car except for the S-class. That could be a game changer in the small luxury segment. But the CTS is mid-size, actually the CTS is one of the biggest cars in the mid-size segment. the current CTS is the same length as the 2005-2010 STS. I would like a back up camera, that is something my car doesn't have that I think is useful. I also could care less about blind spot warning systems, maybe in a big SUV that does have huge blind spots it is useful, but I don't need the side mirrors lighting up every 10 seconds when a car is there. These nanny systems almost encourage distracted driving, although I would be in favor of self driving cars.
  7. smk4565
    Call me crazy, but I found a 2005 Pontiac Aztek with 85k miles for $5,250. It was FWD, 19/26 mpg. The Buick Rendezvous's seem to go for a little bit more. The Aztek would have cargo space, although Pontiac Aztek and reliability probably don't go hand in hand. Chevy HHR and PT Cruiser could be a possibility. Oldsmobile Alero has sort of a contemporary look, so even now they don't look too old or dated.
  8. smk4565
    I thought that too, the connectors for the DVD screens look from the 90s. Why not have a couple holders for integrated iPads or something that would look more slick.
  9. smk4565
    The Range Rover did set the Nurburgring lap time for an SUV at 8:14, but that puts it just behind a 2004 M5 or a current Porsche Boxter S. The fastest SUV ever is still not going to match up to an average sports car, well maybe above average.
  10. smk4565
    The leather and suede trimmings are well done, the materials and build quality look first rate. What glares at me though is that shiny black plastic center stack with Cue and the HVAC touch buttons. It looks like it belongs on a Chevy, I hate it on every Cadillac. Other than that, job well done on the interior, although why massage on only the driver's seat, both fronts seats should have that, maybe even the rear seats too.
  11. smk4565
    Cadillac, along with Acura and later Lincoln went to these 3 letter names to copy the Germans I suppose, but none of the Germans use 3 letters in their names. Maybe it was to copy Lexus because they had ES, RX, LS, but then they also put numbers after the name because they wanted copy Mercedes. Infiniti is doing what Audi did, perhaps that is why Cadillac is copyrighting CT5 and CT6, to have a letter then number like A4, Q50, etc. I am in favor of Cadillac using names and using some of their heritage. Cadillac seems to run from their past, rather than embrace it. Although let's be honest, this car doesn't have a chance against the S-class, I am surprised the 7-series LS460 and A8 are still hanging on, although only by a threat at this point.
  12. smk4565
    I think for sure the biggest Cadillac sedan should be called Fleetwood, and if they make an Omega coupe that should be Eldorado. Escalade keeps its name, SRX and whatever 3rd SUV they choose to put in there could use Imaj or Provoke or some modern names. I actually think the ATS could be renamed CTS, and the CTS renamed STS. Had they downsized the CTS and kept it their entry level car, then it would still be $35k base price, and what we currently have as the CTS could have been Seville or STS which was always their car priced like an E-class or 5-series. Instead what used to be the entry level car is now their most expensive car when fully optioned. The downside to using something like "CTS" is the "S" implies sedan, so making a coupe or convertible with that name doesn't make sense. Where as there could be a "Seville" sedan, coupe, wagon, etc.
  13. smk4565
    I don't think an Escalade is going to out-handle a Range Rover. The Range Rover is a great SUV, although any 500+ horsepower SUV is sort of pointless because it isn't going to be able to perform like a car.
  14. smk4565
    They should call it Fleetwood and the coupe off this platform Eldorado. Dump the alphabet soup names, otherwise Escalade should be renamed ETX or something to make it consistent with the 3 letter names. And that would make no sense. Names aren't bad, as Drew pointed out a lot of high end cars have names.
  15. smk4565
    It drives, but they could have put a 3.6 V6 in the concept car. I haven't seen any pictures with the hood open or where they detail the engine. Plus what a concept car has isn't what a production car will have. I think though what they release next April will be near production ready, so time will tell.
  16. smk4565
    I remember that, but they also gave almost no specifics on that engine, I think it was more a hypothetical engine. I wonder if they will actually build an all new V8. Cadillac ought to make a 3.0 liter straight six turbo based on the 2.0T, but that would probably be more suited for an ATS or CTS, it might not be enough for a base engine for the LTS. Even though a lot of the other guys have a 3 liter six as the best engine in their flagships, I think Cadillac has to go bigger than them.
  17. smk4565
    I saw 2 different Tesla Model S this weekend, one had the P85+ upgrade.
  18. smk4565
    So back to the LTS (which is a horrible name if they really use that) does anyone think it will have a new engine? My guess is 3.6 twin turbo V6 base and some optional supercharged Corvette engine with 550 hp for a V-sport model.
  19. smk4565
    I know they sell 1.4 million cars in the whole line, that is what I said, although this year it looks like they are on pace for 1.6 million. I also said the A8 is a weak seller, Audi lives on the volume of the cars below the A6 in most parts of the world and the A6 in China sells well. The A6 was the number 1 selling luxury car in China in 2012, they sold 138,000 of them. They are now selling about 14,000 A6's per month in China. The A8 on the other hand is pretty much a non-factor in most parts of the world, China is its best market too with 18,500 sold in 2012. But in the USA the A8 sells about 5,000 cars a year, and in Europe they are down from 10,700 per year in 2006 to just 5,400 last year (financial crisis I suppose). I'm sure the A8 has a decent profit margin on it because they do rip parts of other VW products, mainly the A6.
  20. smk4565
    2000 a month? That is what the ATS and XTS sell per month. The S-class sells 2,000 per month in the USA. Keep in mind that Audi, Lexus and BMW all have starting prices in the $70k range to undercut the S-class class and they still manage to sell about 500 each per month, 1,000 on a good month. Cadillac can't undercut the A8 or 7-series in price, otherwise they'll be with the Hyundai Equus in price, and that is not where they should be.
  21. smk4565
    The A8 though has a V8 and a W12, neither of which are found in any of the VW cars, they are found in Bentleys, though modified. The A8 interior is pretty good too, also not found in a VW. It does ride on the VW modular platform thing, but the A8 is aluminum unlike other Audi or VW models. So there is a lot to make the A8 unique, but it is still outsold by the Panamera, 7-series and LS460 most months, and the S-class outsells it like 5 to 1.
  22. smk4565
    Audi has already sold 1.4 million cars this year, in the United States they have only sold like 120,000 this year, Audi could sell zero cars in the USA and turn a profit. The American market isn't that important to Audi, but crucial to Cadillac who has little global presence. Plus the A8 platform is used for Bentley which has crazy markup, so they get to recycle some engineering there. Halo effect does work, and is needed not only to sell more of your lower end cars, but also to expand globally. Cadillac needs the Omega car, but if they botch it and it is one and done product it won't have the desired Halo effect. Whether or not Cadillac can pull off a success here is the question, but I look forward to seeing the debut.
  23. smk4565
    They should raise the gas tax, but not on diesel, if diesel was the same price as 87 octane and cheaper than premium gas, people would buy more diesels too.
  24. smk4565
    V-TECH!!!! MUGEN!!!!! TYPE-R!!!! FTW!!!!
  25. smk4565
    It could cost over $1 billion to develop a new model on a new platform. Some car companies spend more. But lets suppose GM spends $1 billion on the Omega/LTS. If they sell 300 per month at a profit of $10,000 per car (over a 10% margin which is better than what Audi or Mercedes operate at) Cadillac over a 6 year life cycle would make $216 Million in profit, against the cost of $1 billion, a loss of $784 million. They can't only sell 300 a month. Surely though some at GM has "built the business case" which makes you wonder if the budget is more like $500 million, in a hope that if they sell 500 a month they could break even on it.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search