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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    I am really impressed though how far this class of cars has come in the past 10-15 years. Look back at a 2002 Malibu and how terrible it was compared to the interior in this car. Or the Altima, Sonata, or Taurus of the late 90s, to early 2000s and how terrible they were. Most of this class was cloth seats and plastic wheel covers and power locks and windows were your luxury features. Now they all have 17"-18" alloys, sat-nav, touch screens, leather seats with stitching, voice control, lane keep assist, etc. Cars have come a long way.
  2. smk4565
    I like the new front end more than the old one, I still dislike the back end since nothing changed there. The new front is better to me, but the Impala looks way better, but more importantly, the Fusion, Sonata and Optima still look better and that is the real competition because the Camry and Accord will sell no matter what. They made good improvements, but they did so to a car that was in the back of the class. The Malibu is probably still average at best, but the Mazda 6 is getting a lot of awards and good press, the Passat is loved by auto journalists, the new Accord has been well received, the Camry sells no matter what and is back to it's 400,000 a year pace, the new Altima is strong, the Fusion really stepped up and sells nearly 30,000 a month, and the Sonata/Optima are still strong sellers. I still don't think the Malibu is better than any of those cars.
  3. smk4565
    The Cruze itself isn't that good of a car to me, adding the diesel isn't going to make it better than a Passat, which has more room, more features, looks better, etc. If you take MPG out of the equation, the Cruze is no where near the car a Passat or Chrysler 300 are. It's too bad the Passat CC didn't offer a diesel. I haven't driven a Passat or 300, but I've sat in both at auto shows, I think the Passat has better build quality, and the 300/Charger to me seem really tall and wide, my car is big, but it looks little parked next to a 300 or Charger.
  4. smk4565
    I did find a 2010 Mercedes Sprinter for $25,900, and that does have lots of room inside, and diesel mpg. But then I found this: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=15222&fuelCodes=DSL&endYear=2011&showcaseOwnerId=566795&startYear=2007&makeCode1=MB&sellerTypes=b&searchRadius=300&maxPrice=27000&mmt=[MB[][]]&listingId=346347434&listingIndex=17&Log=0 It's all there, 3.0L turbo diesel with 398 lb-ft of torque fitted to a 7-speed automatic, 6-passenger, room for stuff, rear DVD, Sat-Nav, 2 sunroofs, AMG looking wheels.
  5. smk4565
    If every other car but the Prius, Mitsu Galant and Honda Accord got wiped off the earth, the Accord is a good idea. The Accord is just one step above a beige Camry, and buying a beige Camry is admitting you have given up on life. You can get a used Passat TDI in southwestern PA for $25k or less, but they are harder to find. There are loads of Chrysler 300's to pick from at that price or cheaper. The Chrysler 300 is a bit obstentatious as well though.
  6. smk4565
    Home made car = death trap.
  7. smk4565
    A 2006 S-class is under $25,000 and that was the first year of the 7-speed transmission, and the S500's equipment list can rival any $60,000 2013 car. I am tempted by that car but they are really long, and if you spend a lot of time in parking lots or parking garages, that could be annoying. For my next car I want to go smaller and more agile than the Aurora, something mid-size. Regarding the suspension, I think all S-classes have Airmatic, which has 3 settings. The S600 and AMG models had the hydraulic active body control added on which eliminates body roll. I think if you like the Chrysler 300 more than the Passat you should do the 300, because what you lose in MPG, you can make up in the 300 being about $3000 cheaper on the used market than a Passat TDI is. The Pentastar V6 probably takes 87 octane too, so that would help.
  8. smk4565
    If you ignore the MPG part of the equation, a 2004-2006 Mercedes S600 is under $25k, I've seen them for near $16k before. That is 4900 lbs and 17 feet of car for around $20k. Per pound it is cheaper than deli meat. Maintenance and fuel costs on a V12 though must be astronomical.
  9. smk4565
    There are 40 2012 Chrysler 300's for sale for $25,000 or less within 100 miles of Pittsburgh, most are Limited. Lots to choose from.
  10. smk4565
    Forget the small cars, the Passat TDI gets 42 mpg, that beats the little cars without having to suffer with a 1.4 liter 4-banger with 140 lb-ft. The Passat is also really big on the inside, compared to it's exterior footprint. My guess too is a loaded up TDI that is a a year or two old is under $25k. I myself was going to look for a new car (well a used one) for $25k or less in the fall, I am sort of between the Genesis (due to the V8) and a 2009 E-class, because those seem cheaper than a 2009 C-class in most cases. I don't drive a lot of miles, so I was looking more for RWD and some performance and and luxury and mpg wasn't as big a concern for me. E350 Bluetecs of the 2007-2009 era are under $25,000 and they do run forever and hold value. I saw a E350 bluetech with 226,000 miles on it for sale for $15,000, not worth it to me, but most cars are dead at 226,000 miles that one still has value. 2010 or newer E-class will be out of your budget though. For FWD Family sedans I think the Optima, Fusion and Mazda 6 are all strong, but I suspect none of those are really what you are looking for, they are all pretty mass market and even though they are good, they still are a FWD appliance to some degree. Chrysler 300's on the used market are cheap, I've seen 2012 Limiteds for under $25k. I personally wouldn't buy any Chrysler because I think they all fall apart, but you do get 290 hp, an 8-speed, 30 mpg, roomy interior and big car looks for a low price. But I like the Genesis more than the 300. Genesis coupe sucks though, it is really loud and unrefined, although it is quick.
  11. smk4565
    Mercedes has the electrified self tinting glass, but it is only on used on sunroofs or roof panels. They are looking at doing it on rear side glass, but legal issues arise. Not only do states have different laws, but every country also. Could be hard to fight the legal battles in all those places, and probably not worth the hassle just to have tinted rear glass. Great technology for sunroof or glass roofs though, and I think consumers would pay for it there, where as rear side tint, not so much.
  12. smk4565
    I wonder how Acura stays around and sells cars, they are just badge jobs of Hondas, although Honda has some pretty big fan boys. I can't imagine that RLX will sell in any decent numbers, $60,000 for a 300 hp fwd V6, no thanks. And this is $30k for a Civic. Hopefully the Mercedes CLA puts a hurt on this brand.
  13. smk4565
    I don't get the delay on the 9-speed, they run risk of not being first with a 9-speed, and the S-class is always first. I read that one headlight costs over $1,500, so it isn't like they are trying to cut corners on costs. It also made me think that Cadillac was worried about the $4.80 door handles on their flagship, how do they feel about spending $3,000 on the head lights. Another interesting factoid, is the perfume lasts about 7,000 miles and costs $65 to replace.
  14. smk4565
    CTS is getting it, and my guess is the ATS-V also.
  15. smk4565
    I am surprised, and a bit disappointed that it still has the 7-speed because they have been working on a 9-speed for a few years now. It would have been nice to have that at launch, but it looks like they'll add it for 2015 model year. The interior is outstanding and the front may look plain, but S-class fronts always have and they are always timeless classics. The side and rear views look good. They'll probably never sell it here, but the S300 bluetech hybrid gets better mileage than a Prius, pretty amazing for a car this big.
  16. smk4565
    Regardless of what they do with the XTS, it won't ever out handle the 3700 lb CTS with 50/50 weight distribution and the same magnetic shocks and RWD. FWD/AWD can't do it. So the enthusiast buyer is going to pick the CTS, because the 2014 models of XTS and CTS will probably be priced the same, and the CTS got bigger and on the inside should be nearly as roomy. To me, a 410 hp XTS is like a 350 hp Chevy Malibu, you could do it, but it just doesn't make a lot of sense. Most XTS buyers are probably 70 and don't even use the full 300 hp, but I know for marketing purposes it looks good when you have a big horsepower number next to your car. And having a 410 hp engine helps change the image that the XTS is for 70 year olds.
  17. smk4565
    Yep, and they keep rehashing the 5.3 liter V8 when they need to put a 3.0 liter turbo diesel V6 in that will make more torque and probably get 27 mpg, rather than 22.
  18. smk4565
    I totally agree with Drew on market shift and it isn't the government forcing out V8's and big cars it is the market. For most drivers, 200 hp is suitable and a 4-cylinder gets you that. And monster vehicles just seem uncool or tacky now, where people now don't want the image of excess, but now they want to have the image of how responsible they are and how they care about the environment. The Navigator was the status symbol of 1998, in 2008 it was the Prius. Times change. Neither the Impala or Taurus (or Maxima) are worth $43k to me, they do pack on a lot of options that on a BMW or Benz would cost you over $50k, but still, $43k for a big front driver just isn't worth it to me. The Genesis has better value in that regard, or a loaded Fusion gets you most of what you get in the Taurus, and the Fusion looks better, assuming we are comparing new cars, because $40k buys a heck of a used car.
  19. smk4565
    Still the best car in the world.
  20. smk4565
    I have not driven one, but it seems to me like making a twin turbo Lexus ES or the MKS Ecoboost is the best comparison. In the MKS's case the power is nice for more straight line power, but you still don't have handling. 400 hp makes sense in the CTS since it has the chassis to handle it, it makes less sense in an XTS. A driving enthusiast is going to pick the CTS over the XTS because the CTS will always handle better due to less weight, 50/50 balance, rwd, etc. Acura could make a 420 hp RLX, yet it won't be as good as a CTS or 5-series because it is a FWD Accord underneath. Putting 400 hp in an Acura, Lincoln, Volvo or XTS is basically pointless from a driving standpoint, from a business standpoint it makes sense because there are always people that will pay the extra $5000 for power they can't really use.
  21. smk4565
    I don't really see the point when it will still have over 60% of the weight on the front axle. Power doesn't fix FWD weight distribution. Although there are probably some old guys reliving the muscle car era that will pay the price premium for more power and like how it is fast in a straight line. So from a money making standpoint, it makes sense.
  22. smk4565
    Cars are expensive. But $40k for an Impala is a lot. I don't really think the Maxima, Taurus, Avalon or Impala are worth that, but if you load them up that is what they cost. The Azera I think has the best value in that segment, and it is roomy on the inside without being huge on the outside. To me the Genesis/Charger/300 are the way to go here because of the RWD. At least you get the RWD benefits at the $35-40k price point.
  23. smk4565
    Sounds like the Vortec V6 is now the Ecotec V6. I wonder how Eco it really is, the Ram gets 25 mpg, and if an automaker got smart and cut the weight and put a 3.0 liter turbo diesel in a pick up they could get 30 mpg highway or close to it. I wonder if this 4.3 L has better NVH characteristics than the Pentastar 3.6 or Ford's 3.7 liter, my guess is no,
  24. smk4565
    If they go after the S-class, they'll fail. The best option for Infiniti is probably a 4-seat coupe based on the GT-R but longer, and not as race track inspired. The GT-R is already developed and they could basically put an M56 interior in it and have a halo car. They could go more after the BMW 6-series and Gran Coupe or Audi A7. But that may not sell either, but at least it would have a chance.
  25. smk4565
    If they price the CTS above the XTS then that will hold true. But right now the XTS is the most expensive Cadillac sedan going off base price. I sort of think they will price the CTS the same as the XTS, like they did in 2006 with the STS/DTS.
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