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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    That is what is coming, it used to be V8 with a 4-speed automatic, now it will be 4-cylinder with a 8 speed automatic, and in time, 3 cylinder with a 10 speed automatic. The Mercedes 9-speed transmission should be on sale in 2014, the rest will follow.
  2. smk4565
    Doesn't make any sense for hybrid or diesel AMG cars. Diesels and hybrids make sense for the mainstream vehicles. I've never been a fan of this "performance hybrid" movement that other cars have tried to do, they aren't all that fuel efficient and they just add loads of weight and don't give great performance.
  3. smk4565
    Major car companies, i.e. Toyota, Honda, Ford, and GM love that sort of vehicle.
  4. smk4565
    4.3L V6, what is this a 1984 Astro van?
  5. smk4565
    The front looks pretty bad ass, but I don't think will make any serious threat to the Germans. Probably will just take away sales from the Quattroporte, since this is cheaper and not so huge.
  6. smk4565
    I am surprised it took this long. Toyota will take any model, add leather, wood and a better stereo and call it a Lexus. And if they add 5 horsepower and 19 inch wheels they can call it F-sport!
  7. smk4565
    ATS and CTS need sedan and coupe body styles. BMW and Mercedes do a mid-size coupe. ATS is a given since the Lexus, Infiniti and Audi have coupes, you can't be sedan only, otherwise you're Lincoln or Acura.
  8. smk4565
    Cadillacs convertibles, coupes, sports cars, 4-door coupes, etc for the USA, before they even get to Europe. BMW and Benz have so many model variants they attract a wide array of buyers. Compare to Lincoln, Acura, Infiniti who mostly have used a 2-3 sedan line and a couple cookie cutter SUVs based off a Honda or Nissan. The Germans aren't worried, Audi already sells the A3 hatch, the new A3 sedan will sell better and attract a new kind of buyer, although perhaps a VW buyer. The Mercedes CLA will sell, and probably steal a lot of people off Acura, Volvo, VW, etc.
  9. smk4565
    Lame, but people will buy it. I think the slew of SUVs is to attract female buyers that like sitting higher up and don't care so much about 3-series handling and just want BMW image.
  10. smk4565
    But BMW and Lexus have an 8-speed now, Mercedes will have 9-speed in 2014. Mercedes and BMW each make 4 convertibles, Audi has 3. Audi, BMW and Mercedes all make a 4-door coupe. BMW and Mercedes each make 2 SUVs with over 500 hp. Back in 2003 when the CTS came out, Cadillac had the STS coming to fight the E-class, the XLR coming to fight the SL, the SRX coming to fight the X5 and M-class and Cadillac only had a 5-speed but a 6-speed was coming, a supercharged V8 was coming, then when it all arrived the Germans had something better and the STS, XLR and SRX all tanked. Cadillac has to move faster.
  11. smk4565
    If it is bigger than the Tacoma, then it is going to be too heavy to get decent fuel economy, and probably too close in size and prize to the Silverado, which was the same problem last time around. And the Ram gets 25 mpg, I don't see why Chevy can't get 25 mpg from the Silverado. Put a diesel in there with an 8-speed and it should get 26 mpg easily, cut the weight and it could be 27-28. So I hope they are aiming for 30 mpg on the Canyon, otherwise what is the point.
  12. smk4565
    Cadillac definitely has to go global, but the road will be long and expensive. I don't know if GM wants to make that sort of commitment. Mercedes has 28 new or redesigned models coming in the next 7 years, and Audi and BMW aren't holding back either. I'd like to see Cadillac make a run at it, but I just can't see GM putting billions upon billions of Dollars into Cadillac to make it happen. Cadillac doesn't stick with things over time, their longest surviving nameplate is the Escalade which came out in 1999, and they have had 5 marketing agencies since 2007. Here is what Cadillac needs in the next 3 years: - 8 or 9 speed automatic standard on every model - hybrid drivetrain (either I4 or V6) - turbo diesel 4 cylinder, turbo diesel V6 - ATS coupe and convertible - CTS coupe and wagon (but the wagon won't sell here) - 4-door coupe slotted above the CTS - full size luxury sedan - 2 seat sports car/roadster - all new Escalde - all new SRX - V-series of ATS, CTS, big sedan, SRX (if rear drive) and the sports car That all is going to cost a lot, and I don't know if the General's pockets are deep enough, they still need to feed Buick and GMC and redo the Malibu.
  13. smk4565
    Lexus's top 2 sellers in Europe are the RX (which has a hybrid) and the CT200h (a hybrid hatchback). Those 2 are over 50% of Lexus' European sales, because they like hatchbacks and high fuel economy there. But still they sell in tiny volume compared to the Germans. Cadillac's cars don't fit over there, no diesels, no hybrids, no hatchbacks and the CTS wagon just died. ATS and CTS are a start, but 2 cars doesn't make a lineup. Money is the other factor, when Lexus spent $1 billion to build the first LS400, Mercedes turned around and spent $1 billion to redesign the S-class (already the class leader) for 1991. The Germans aren't going to let anyone just waltz on in, they will double down and drive newcomers right back out. I think at some point Cadillac has to try, they can't just sit on the sidelines forever, but it is a near impossible task to take the Germans on in Europe when they can't beat them in the USA.
  14. smk4565
    Europe will be tough to crack, even if they put diesels in the ATS and CTS. Their overall product portfolio is still not strong enough, and Cadillac doesn't have the brand image or marketing needed, or the dealer network. Even with the dealer network and better cars, they still lose on image, possibly the #1 reason for buying a luxury car.
  15. smk4565
    The Lambas are doing really well, that refresh worked. I am surprised Tahoe and Yukon sales are up, I thought people were moving away from huge trucks, but maybe they are used to $4 a gallon and it will take $5 a gallon to shock the market. I also can't believe 3,538 people bought a Spark.
  16. smk4565
    GM should dump that terrible eAssist 4-cylinder with no torque in favor for a 2 liter diesel with 280, and my guess is the 328d will post huge fuel economy numbers. If the gas engine is 34 mpg, I bet this is more like 44 mpg.
  17. smk4565
    The outside looks the same, but I love the interior.
  18. smk4565
    I think it loos cool, and it has some punchy little engines. Most small cars give you a miserable 130-140 hp engine, 170-201 is pretty good. The 201 hp version is going to go like a stabbed rat.
  19. smk4565
    This isn't a RWD car, it is AWD, on a FWD platform. The NAv screen s weird, I don't know why it has that tacked on look. The only way that would be cool is if it were a detachable tablet that you could take with you. And $48k for a 4-banger yes, but there are other cars over $40k with 4-bangers now and this car does 0-60 faster than a lot of V8 cars. It isn't really my cup of tea, but the people that bought a WRX or Evo 10 years ago and have money now may like this a lot.
  20. smk4565
    The regular XK looks so elegant and classic, it is such a pretty car. This looks like a tacky mess.
  21. smk4565
    Here is a Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324789504578382260127618472.html?mod=WSJ_hp_EditorsPicks It is a bit critical but it does point out how Cadillac faces the same problems they did when the 03 CTS came out, this car seems more up to the task of going against the Germans, where the last 2 generations didn't make a dent in their armor, in fact Audi's market share has more than doubled since the 2004.
  22. smk4565
    I don't like the black wheels, so hopefully the traditional 5 spoke silver AMG wheels are offered. The front wheel drive proportions let down the styling a bit, but I like the back end a lot on this car. Under $50k for an AMG car is nice also, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds was M5 territory a few years ago, even now that isn't far off from a Corvette or 911.
  23. smk4565
    The best thing is that Cadillac now has a car sized and prices like a 3-series and a car sized and priced like a 5-series, although the CTS is sized more like a Jag XF. They have needed this for years and the CTS trying to split the gap wasn't working. I don't know if making it bigger was the right move (but maybe it will be) the new CTS is about STS size, and will likely be priced like the STS. The STS-DTS duo didn't work, that is why they are both gone, Cadillac is recreating that in a way here, but this car is executed better than the STS. Lexus is who needs to worry, that GS is terrible, and the Infiniti M looks like a gawdy Maxima. The Germans will be fine.
  24. smk4565
    The CTS's interior dimensions as far as head, shoulder, leg room are with in an inch of the XTS, XTS wins most of the categories. The big difference is the XTS has 5 inches more rear seat leg room, I am surprised it is that much since the CTS has a longer wheelbase. Overall this new car looks way better than the current, I liked the first CTS, the 2nd gen looked fat and bulky, this one has sleek proportions back. It will be interesting to see how it sells and what happens to XTS sales.
  25. smk4565
    Boring, looks like a Crysler 200. Still less powerful than a Sonata and not as fuel efficient. If the Regal were priced like a Malibu it would be a good buy, but it costs too much, that is why it doesn't sell.
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