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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    I doubt they will, but there is a GL63 AMG and the GL is rumored to be getting a V12 on the next generation, so that could be 600 hp or whatever they chose to give it. There could be an argument that if Cadillac were to be a global luxury maker, for them to make a factory built armored Escalade, and an extra luxury Escalade, and perhaps both with a V12 or at least a supercharged V8 making over 550 hp, and a 8-10 speed transmission. But an armored Escalade would be serious money and how many could they sell. Because the LWB Range Rover is coming, the Bentley SUV is coming and Mercedes is readying upgrades to the GL to stop them both, there are going to be $200,000+ SUVs in the next 3-4 years.
  2. smk4565
    My guess is 6 speed auto or manual. This is a chassis and engine of the old CTS, I can't see them trying to put in no hardware for a 500 car run. They will just give it some special paint and body moldings and keep the mechanics the same. I am not even sure why it will be around for 2015, when they have a new CTS, the current body style CTS-V should be on sale this fall, why not co-develop the V-series with the base model car and get it out sooner.
  3. smk4565
    The XTS is the size of a 7-series though. Let's see the CTS alone outsell the 5-series, then Cadillac has a claim. The 3-series is dominating the ATS and IS350 like they don't even exist. But the 7-series and 5-series are down because Mercedes is up, the E-class is way up and the S-class is outselling the 7-series, A8 and LS460 combined. I think BMW has lost track of themselves. The 3-series isn't the car it used to be, even though it still sells strong. The 5-series has gotten too big and heavy. They are trading fun to drive for bigger sizes and electric steering and softer suspension. The current 3-series looks about the size of a 90s 5-series.
  4. smk4565
    But it is still a Tahoe at the end of the day. I would challenge Cadillac to build a car that doesn't have and engine from Chevrolet. The 2.0T, 3.6 V6, 6.2 V8, the Volt powertrain is all Chevy running gear. The Twin Turbo V6 is the only exception so at least they have that. Interesting though that they seem to have designed it to accommodate a diesel, but I suspect the engine bay shares a lot with the Tahoe and Silverado, so I would think GM has to be putting a diesel in the pick ups at least, if not the SUVs also. You'd think Cadillac would want a diesel since the Mercedes GL has a diesel and is the #1 seller in this class.
  5. smk4565
    The Grand Cherokee is built on a chassis derived form the Mercedes M-class, and the M-class has basically the same off road abilities. No way a GC can match a G-wagen which was an army vehicle for off road. The Hummer could if it were still here, and perhaps an F150 Raptor also.
  6. smk4565
    Unionist is fine for a mid size or small pickup. A Grand Cherokee is unibody and can go off road and tow 7500 lbs, you can get the needed capabilities from unibody. Ride comfort and gas mileage are bigger factors that max tow capacity for a small truck, I don't think.I ever saw a Tacoma, Frontier or Ranger towing something.
  7. smk4565
    The Grand Cherokee has limited slip diffs, G–wagen has 3 locking differentials. The Range Rover is pretty tough, I think it's the only thing that could keep up with the G550 off road.
  8. smk4565
    The G-wagen might be the best off roader for sale right now.
  9. smk4565
    Exactly. The American 3-series doesn't look different than a European one. An E-class sold in China doesn't have a different body than the one sold in Germany, etc. The point of global cars is to sell the same car around the globe.
  10. smk4565
    They should make a rear engine SUV based off the 911.
  11. smk4565
    Why even change it, the fact that it has been the same for 35 years seems to be part of the appeal. But some width or length would help since it is so tall, aluminum would help on the weight, and the powertrains will of course change because they are the same that are used in other Benzes. Hopefully the looks dont' change very much, the old school look seems to be why people buy it, because it is awful on fuel economy and value, an M-class is probably a better daily driver at half the price. Off Road is another story though.
  12. smk4565
    It is like they are just trying to copy Hyundai or Honda. GM designers have no imagination when it comes to designing small cars, and typical GM refresh, add some LED lights and chrome strips or some venti-ports or body cladding to make a boring car look more dramatic.
  13. smk4565
    The Impala is a good car, looks good, has a well laid out interior and is very roomy also, and not too expensive. I haven't driven one, but from looks and interior it is better than an Avalon or Taurus. The Kia Cadenza is pretty nice in that segment too, but a bit blingy. The Malibu has probably the smallest interior in it's class, there is more room in any of its competitors, the Optima and Fusion are lookers, the Malibu looks like a rental car. The CamCord have crazy resale value, the Malibu obviously doesn't. Plus you have mid-size sedans with hybrid and diesel models pushing 45 mpg or more, the Malibu gets 36 at best, not the end of the world, but the Malibu doesn't have any wow factor to make it stand out.
  14. smk4565
    The Malibu actually sells well for the car that it is. The Malibu is not a very good car, at least not as good a a Camry, Accord, Altima, Fusion, Sonata, Optima or Passat, and they still sold nearly 20,000 Malibus. I am surprised that it isn't more like 12-15,000 a month.
  15. smk4565
    Mercedes makes a factory limo, with or without armor. The advantage to the armored S-class limo is it is built from the ground up as an armored limo, where as most other armored limos are just added the armor plating in an after market shop. The S-class Guard (limo or standard length) also has cool features like internal air supply and external fire extinguisher in case of gas or napalm attack. I do believe they are only sold in Europe and the Middle East.
  16. smk4565
  17. smk4565
    And after 1981 they made a limo in the 90s, then again in the early 2000s, then again in 2007-2013.
  18. smk4565
    The old Maybach was saddled on a really old W140 platform, and really expensive and I think a lot of people didn't know what it was. People know the S-class, the S-class is a sales winner, and they'll find enough people to buy an extended length S600 with an over the top interior. They have always had a factory made Pullman limo and an armored version, so nothing new there. Mercedes took a old military SUV, gave it 6 wheels and a pick up bed in back and are charging $500,000 for it and are sold out, so I am sure they can sell some $250k S600 limos.
  19. smk4565
    SUV coupes are dumb, but Mercedes version does look better than the X6. I imagine about 95% of SUV buyers of any brand don't go off road, the GLK doesn't need to have off road capability, nor does the GLA. The M-class is debatable, I would say it does because you need something that goes off road that isn't $100k like the G-wagen.
  20. smk4565
    People buy an S-class to say how they are wealthier and better than Lexus, Audi or BMW drivers. But they need an S-class Maybach for people who believe they are better than other S-class drivers, and an S-class Pullman for the people that believe they are better than the guy with the Maybach.
  21. smk4565
    Hard to see them charging double for what is mostly a trim package, unless they do a lot of changes to the car. But note that in Euros the S600 converts to $228,000, while it is sold here for about $160,000. So double the S600 price could be $300k, still too much for an extended S-class. They could charge that for the Pullman limo though with ease.
  22. smk4565
    250 hp is enough for a 3,000 lb car, and I believe a turbo version of the Toyabaru GT86 is coming which will address the power concerns, and a convertible is rumored too. The Mustang is supposed to lose a little weight, that gives you 300 hp, well under $30,000 and about 3400 lbs, not bad at all. The Genesis coupe and Kia Stinger if they build it would fit in also. There just isn't a lot of demand for these kind of cars though, the 370Z is a slow seller, the Mustang does well but how many of those are rental fleets also.
  23. smk4565
    It will outsell the Malibu though.
  24. smk4565
    A better refresh would have been to leave the front end alone, and add the 3.0 diesel to it, if they can get 30 mpg on a Grand Cherokee, I bet they could get 33 on a Charger. And the police would love that too since diesels run forever.
  25. smk4565
    I love a V8, that is why a bought a V8 car, but Chrysler's V8s don't make that much power. And I am not convinced anything Chrysler makes will last 250k miles, I hardly ever see Chrysler products from the 90s anymore, seems like after 10 years their cars are done. The Ram 3 liter Diesel makes as much torque as the 6.4 V8 if the goal is rock climbing that would do it. If anything the Power Wagon should have the Cummins turbo diesel, that has 800 lb-ft of torque, that is some serious power.
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