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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The Infiniti (and Acura and Lincoln) naming is random, arbitrary and confusing, but not sure calling them Q40-50-60-70 is any better. They spend a lot of time advertising "G35/G37" and getting that model name to sink in to now just dump it. At least they will have a hierarchy that maybe new customers will understand, but this seems like the move of a desperate brand. I like names more than alpha numerics, unless you have a sensible structure such as Audi: A4, A6, A8, and S4, S6, S8 for sport versions, that is easy to understand and it makes sense. I think BMW is going wrong with the 4-series coupe, while Mercedes doing it right by having a C sedan and C coupe, they are both a C-class they don't need 2 names.
  2. smk4565
    The European or Asian market Mercedes aren't much different than the ones here, mostly just smaller diesel engines because of the fuel cost. I think because of the dollar exchange rate (and taxes), Mercedes are actually cheaper here. In China a C300 costs $75,000, in the UK, $52,000 for a C250, although the diesel models are cheaper. Even in Germany, a C250 is $44,000 without the 19% tax, those taxis they are sending over aren't so cheap. And you can't find a Mercedes chassis and powertrain in a cheaper family sedan, in the way that Acura and Lincolns are mechanical twins to their low end counterparts. Cadillac goes to the GM parts bin a lot, and gets reworked Chevys instead of what they really need.
  3. smk4565
    ELR will be a bigger bust than the Allante or XLR. Cadillac wastes time on garbage halo cars that tend to hurt image more than help. It looks like they are getting the ATS and CTS aligned with the Germans, but other than that the rest of the lineup needs work. I see the ELR as a distraction to getting to where they need to be, but GM likes to clone product to get more models out to appease dealers. It is like what Lincoln does, take a Chevy, put the wreath and crest on and add 20 hp and some leather and call it a day.
  4. smk4565
    Yep, 2-doors work on a full blown sports car like a Corvette or 911, but I don't know about an electric or economy car or whatever you want to call this.
  5. smk4565
    Agreed on the pricing problem. It also seems that the tree-hugger types don't buy luxury cars, they buy low cost hybrids. That group of buyers does not want excess, they like simple, extra power or extra luxury doesn't seem to appeal to them. The ELR will probably be priced in ATS-V and CTS-V territory, that is too high for a FWD anything. The battery life could come into play also, a gas engine is going to run for years, where as that battery may need replaced after 10 years. My car is 12 years old and the engine is fine, works like the day I got it. If it was an electric car it could be dead by now or in need of a really expensive battery. Too much risk with these electric cars.
  6. smk4565
    Looks like a Hyundai Elentra coupe in profile. I still smell disappointment coming here, my prediction is more expensive than an ATS coupe (if made) or CTS coupe, but not as good as either. Only time shall tell.
  7. smk4565
    Because they have nothing better to talk about. They could have at least done a carbon fiber tailgate that was light and easy to open, or something to make their truck stand out. Or a power fold tailgate that is foot operated like the Ford Escape has. Instead, in-laid doors and and "all new" engine from the 80s.
  8. smk4565
    Not due to Tacoma influence. The three automakers let their small trucks wither. But why did they let them wither? Detroit could no longer compete in the compact pick up segment or minivan segment in the case of Ford and GM, because the Japanese took those over. Build mediocre full size pickups for another 20 years and Toyota or someone else will move in and that that over too.
  9. smk4565
    The problem with this car, the M6, or the future M4 coupe is the name on all them. The M5 is the gold standard of sport sedans, why pay more for a Gran Cou-pay M? Or who wants to tell their friends they just bought an M4, nobody knows what the hell an M4 is, but people know BMW M3 as perhaps the best performance/luxury car over the past 20 years.
  10. smk4565
    You can replace Mercedes with Toyota since they have the same international resume sans the V12. Yet have the Tundra and Tacoma upset any of the Detroit 3 truck lines? I'm back to calling :bs: :bs: on your words. Toyota is no Mercedes, Mercedes engineers way better than Toyota does. But at any rate, the Tacoma has outsold the Colorado/Canyon combined by margin of 127,000 to 44,000 this year. And Dodge and Ford don't have a small truck, so the Tacoma is outselling the Detroit 3 nearly 3 to 1. They have work to do on the Tundra, but it is still good for 100,000 units a year, and where might all those Tacoma drivers trade up to in 5 years.
  11. smk4565
    Most likely these were the top trims that were shown, so when you see the base model it will look pretty cheap. You know that gray plastic will be all over the front end.
  12. smk4565
    Cue should run on an Intel core 2 processor powerful enough to run a good home computer, and the hard drive should be 150 GB minimum. That way 4 years from now the whole software can be updated. The problem with all these car computer/Nav systems is they will get dated quickly. People get a new smart phone every 2 years because they change so much, imagine having one of these car systems for 10+ years how dated it will get.
  13. smk4565
    Huge power numbers from a small engine. Makes me worry though that if Porsche and BMW have 4-cylinders, how long before cars like the Fusion and Malibu are 3-cylinder? Although still better than the days of 150 hp V8s.
  14. smk4565
    Well Apple is the richest company in the world, so over rated or not they do something right. And I have a Droid phone so I am not just an Apple fanboy, I do own an iMac though. Bottom line is I have read more poor reviews than good form CUE. When you are trying to break the German luxury car strong hold you need to be perfect top to bottom because people already don't trust Cadillac like they do BMW or Mercedes.
  15. smk4565
    I don't think, the exteriors and interiors are not bad, but nothing special either. Remember this will be on sale for 8 years probably, if we aren't really impressed now, imagine how dated this package will look in 2020. The engines will be lame, just wait and see. We already know the LT1 has about 5% more hp and torque than the outgoing LS3. Even a 50% gain in horsepower to the 4.3 liter leaves them behind Ford and Ram.
  16. smk4565
    If Mercedes made a pick up truck then the Detroit 3 would be in big trouble, because they would do it so much better. They already build commercial trucks, tough off roaders and German military vehicles, and they have an excellent 3.0 V6 diesel, loads of V8s, and if people think the Raptor is fast, imagine the AMG pickup with a 620 hp V12. Not that I am advocating Mercedes building a pick up, I think they stay focused on sedans, coupes and SUVs.
  17. smk4565
    The Sierra looks a big blocky and chunky on the outside, although the Silverado just looks boring and forgettable, so the Sierra probably wins on exterior design. Both don't seem too different from the current trucks. The interiors aren't too impressive, looks like a couple big LCD screens with some cheap buttons around them, but for work trucks they will suffice. This interior is better than the work truck interior now, but I'd say worse than the LTZ/Denali trims currently on sale. Engines are a joke, that 4.3 liter has been around for 30 years. The Ford and Ram V6's make over 300 hp, and the Ram has 23 mpg on 4x4 and 25 mpg on 2 wheel drive models. Somehow I doubt this "new" 4.3 V6 makes more power than the outgoing 5.3 V8 while getting over 25 mpg, which is what GM needs to compete. And we know the Ram is getting the VM 3.0 diesel in 2014, which I suspect Chevy has no answer to. First he 2013 Malibu then this Silverado, I think the "good enough" mentality is what Runs Deep at Chevrolet.
  18. smk4565
    Fail.
  19. smk4565
    I haven't used CUE yet, but read mostly bad reviews. I don't like not having old fashion buttons for radio controls, because I am more likely to adjust the radio than climate. Other cars do it too, but Cadillac has all sorts of climate control buttons, when it is an automatic system, you shouldn't have adjust it. A second problem I see is they want this to work like a tablet, but the iPad is the best tablet. It isn't going to work better than iPad, GM should have just paid Apple to design the system.
  20. smk4565
    Probably it will cost $100,000 and then when people can't afford that, they can have a Fiat, since it is still Italiano and full of passion and soul. In fact, you could buy 2 Fiat's so you have a back up for when the first one breaks down.
  21. smk4565
    Seems lofty for a niche brand. New S-class will swat the Quattroporte away like a fly.
  22. smk4565
    Mostly agreed, but I don't think the Fusion can outsell the Altima, it will be lucky to be 4th, it could probably beat out the Sonata which will take 5th. This segment is super competitive, the Camry outsells the new Malibu 3-1, I bet on retail sales it is even more. It will take time, but they need a better effort than the 2013 car and to be consistent, they have never been able to keep the Malibu competitive year after year.
  23. smk4565
    I think a Verano convertible is good, because the Opel convertible is a good design that looks elegant and upscale. GM also needs a convertible other than the Corvette/Camaro, and a convertible that is affordable and more about elegant looking and every day driving and not straight line power. Buick needs the convertible to compete with the VW Bettle and Eos, Chrysler 200 (it's rubbish but people buy it due to lack of choices), Mini Convertible, etc. I think there is always a market for affordable convertibles and hardly any manufacturers outside of Europe make convertibles anymore. I don't think the Buick David is a good idea. The Encore is already their small, tall car, and they have the Verano for a sedan. Plus the name is as bad as the Mercedes Karl or the Chrysler Walter. No one wants a car named Karl or Walter or David.
  24. smk4565
    The Corolla sells big too and is terrible. Imagine once Toyota over hauls that car and makes it competitive. We can all knock the Camry, I know it sucks, but people keep buying them in huge quantity because few automakers ever mount a challenge to the Camry and Accord. The Malibu just doesn't do enough to stand out from the crowd or to convince people to give it a look over the safe bet Camry. But I think it goes back to the mentality behind the Malibu, they just don't seem to care that much about it. GM wants to build 5-6 W-bodies or Epsilon 1 or Epsilon 2, they care more about making 5 average cars that are slightly different than a couple all stars.
  25. smk4565
    It isn't about average buyer age, Chevy just has had a low rent, rental car image for years. Not as bad as Doge, but still, when you sell Cavaliers, Cobalts, Impalas and the best you have to offer is the 08 Malibu which was class average there isn't a lot in their main line to get excited about. The Camaro helps the brand image, but for 10 years they didn't have it, and the Camaro just isn't my sort of car. Buick is a little different, it was the senior citizen brand for years, the LaCrosse continues that, the Verano and Encore seem very girly, similar to how Mercury was and VW is with the Jetta and Tiguan. Not that that is a bad thing for Buick half of car buyers are women, but Buick makes nothing that interests me, and their brand image does nothing for me either.
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