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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The new CTS is sized and priced exactly like the STS was, CTS is 195.5 inches long, STS was 196. STS started at $46,995, as does the CTS now. The difference is they executed the CTS better, have a better chassis, etc. The ATS and CTS are a good start but Cadillac is on pace for 180,000 sales this year and they had 235,000 in 2005. The new lineup isn't doing any better than the CTS-STS-DTS lineup with the same 2 SUVs but the SRX is cheaper now. One thing that always amazes me is Americans thirst for big SUVs. GM is fortunate for this because look at the sales of pickups and 7+ passenger SUVs on that chart, compared to their car sales. I think gas could be $6 a gallon and people would still buy trucks and crossovers like there is no tomorrow.
  2. smk4565
    I predicted before the XTS ever went on sale that it would do about 2500 a month while new and fade back to around 2000 per month after a couple years. That is 30,000 a year which they are at right now and will probably end at 32-33,000. It is a fleet sale car, so assume at least 500 XTS are fleet, to get 2000 retail isn't too hard when Lincoln is on it's knees and "traditional" Cadillac buyers are still alive. Probably once the CTS is in full swing and the XTS ages a bit you'll see 20-25k annual units, sort of what the DTS was doing. The E-class crushed CTS and XTS combined. I don't think Cadillac can crack open the champagne yet. I mean the C-class in its 7th model year, with the CLA potentially stealing sales out, still beat the ATS by 2 to 1. The 3-series outsold the ATS by over 4 to 1. Cadillac is on the right track with the CTS and ATS product wise, but the armor surrounding BMW and Benz is tough to crack.
  3. smk4565
    I don't like the look of the ProMaster, but the City version looks pretty good. I think Ford wins in van styling, the new big Transit and the Transit Connect both look good, and I'd say are the styling leaders for full size and small vans. The Savana/Express I think will look like dinosaurs once these new Euro vans hit, these new vans might be 5-10 mpg better than the old Econolines and Savanas running around. Although the Sprinter is the best looking van of course, and it comes with the same 7 speed transmission you get in an S-class!
  4. smk4565
    What an epic name, the small van market is heating up. I still like the new Transit more I think, but the Promaster City has the best name and almost looks like an Alfa Romeo. I wonder if it will have a diesel option. Or maybe they can do an SRT version with a Pentastar V6!
  5. smk4565
    Maybe if it goes up for sale in Fantasy Land. I can't see it being cross shopped with anything except another car in a Cadillac showroom. Maybe if you walk in to look at a CTS, you take a look at the ELR, or if you do go in to look at an ELR, you'll realize a CTS is $20,000 cheaper and has the same dash, same features, is faster and handles better. And $20,000 buys a lot of gas. We are talking $75k for 2011 Volt technology, I think the ELR will flop harder than the Allante.
  6. smk4565
    I agree with Dwight on luxury packages. The other path to go is hybrid or diesel options. Look at the success Toyota has had with Prius and the Lexus hybrids do okay, the older demographic and female buyers that buy Buicks, Toyotas, Lexus, etc, are more likely to buy soft suspensions and gas mileage over GS performance. People that want performance are going to buy a Mustang/Camaro at the cheap end, or an Infiniti/3-series type of car if they spend a bit more. I think the number of people that would buy a 290 hp Buick Verano is the same number that would buy a 290 hp V6 Dodge Dart.
  7. smk4565
    Verano Turbo is already 250 hp, that is a lot for a smallish front driver. They don't need GS models, although they would probably just be sport styling packages that they charge more money for. They could use a coupe and convertible though. GM is really short on convertibles, Camaro and Corvette are all they have.
  8. smk4565
    A standard length Phantom is 8 inches longer than a Chevy Suburban, that is really big 4 door sedan, let alone the extended length which adds another 10 inches.
  9. smk4565
    What about a Nissan GT-R?
  10. smk4565
    Is there really any point to a Verano or LaCrosse GS? That is like a Lexus ES350 sport model, it just isn't a sporty car. The Regal is the sporty Buick and is the worst seller, so sport Buicks aren't what are winning, it is comfort and quiet that people buy. Plus what can you do with front wheel drive? The LaCrosse already has 300 hp, you can't really go more than that, unless you do an AWD turbo V6 like the XTS and Taurus SHO, but the Taurus SHO isn't really lighting up the sales charts either.
  11. smk4565
    I don't think they will go away from the V8, but there could be an argument made for a turbo 4. The CLA45 AMG makes similar power to a Corvette of 10-12 years ago, match that to a 7 or 8 speed transmission and vet weight to about 3,000 lbs and it would DBE fast and get pretty good mileage. I don't think they ever do that though, I think other vehicles will be sacrificed for CAFE instead. But CAFE is going from 35 to 54 in 10 years, something has to give, unless they go diesel crazy on their sedans.
  12. smk4565
    They could at least make it unique, I am a Genesis fan but the one complaint from many was always the derivative styling. And I don't think they fixed that.
  13. smk4565
    I don't like the front end, they took some Audi, some BMW and Infiniti Q50 and mashed them up again. It looks a bit like a Kia also. The inside looks great, but I am just not digging the exterior. What I don't get is how the Elantra and Sonata are I think among the best looking cars in their class, and Hyundai has some good styling cues on other cars, then the Genesis doesn't use them. If they are going to use that massive grille, they should put some mean looking headlights on it. At least they still have V8 and RWD, when most have given up on that. Optional all wheel drive will be a big plus in the snow belt states, but I don't think you really need it. I drove my rear wheel drive car with summer only tires in the snow this morning, which was a big struggle, but I have snow tires on it now and it is fine. AWD = over rated.
  14. smk4565
    In electric mode it is Corolla slow, and in gas mode it is thirstier and slower than a diesel powered A6, 5-series or E-class. Not seeing how this car costs more than a Jaguar F-type.
  15. smk4565
    It is just epic looking. One of the best looking cars at any price and I like the coipe more than the convertible.
  16. smk4565
    The K900 if it is priced like an Equus I think has a really hard time on price point. I agree with ONC. The Genesis being priced from the low $30s is against the Avalon, Lacrosse, etc and if you want RWD V8 and full size there is the Genesis and 300/Charger and that is it unless you spend $70,000 or more. So I can see where a Genesis or $40k rear drive Kia would work because the traditional big American car buyer has no where else to go, the Grand Marquis is dead. Bit at a $60,000+ level no one is looking at Kia.
  17. smk4565
    Sounds like a $60,000 Audi Q5. At least it has 400 HP, that makes it a Porsche in the performance area. I think they should make a rear engine crossover based on the 911.
  18. smk4565
    It isn't as ugly as most Lincolns but at the end of the day it is still a Ford Escape. If MKS is a sedan and MKX is a crossover you would think MKC must be a coupe, but not in Lincoln world. The 2.3 liter eco boost will be in the Mustang, I could see them dumping all the naturally aspirated V6's across the Ford line up for that that engine.
  19. smk4565
    I think it looks good, better than the Silverado. The engine choices are good too, that diesel should put the Colorado over 30 mpg and give V8 like torque.
  20. smk4565
    Exactly. Unless they mean the Volvo S80 if that still has a V8. Because the V8s in an E550, 550i or Jaguar XF would smash this thing. And you can get 38 mpg from a 5-series or A6 and 45 mpg from an E-class so they didn't win their either. These Japanese companies bet on hybrids and they aren't really the answer.
  21. smk4565
    The combination of a V8 and rear wheel drive is a good thing. However, do they really expect to sell them with that name?
  22. smk4565
    Those should replace the current line of 4-cylinder engines. You wonder if the V6 Accord will go away and they will hold the V6 for SUVs, vans, and Acura.
  23. smk4565
    I think the V8 will be here a while due to cost not being too high and the history of the Vette. The 3.6TT doesn't give enough fuel economy gain. If anything, I could see them doing a 300 hp turbo 4-cylinder because of CAFE and if they want a low base price Corvette to get sales. And it isn't so far fetched, there is going to be a 4-cylinder Mustang, there is a 4-cylinder 5-series, CTS and Impala, and about 5-10 years ago you wouldn't have thought any of those cars would have a 4-banger.
  24. smk4565
    It sure is fast around the Nurburgring, they are nearing the 7 minute mark!
  25. smk4565
    Right, and a V6 at best is going to get 30 mpg, a lot of turbo 4's can get closer to 35, and probably with a flatter torque curve. And who wants to a 270 hp Dodge Dart anyway, lol.
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