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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    2017 Alfa Romeo Guilia's are now under $25k, and those were like $45k new 2 years ago and got all the praise. Even while under warranty people won't touch that reliability. And I have seen them with 5k miles for under $25k, not like high mileage beaters.
  2. smk4565
    Old isn't reliable, it is just old. 2018 sales Lexus GX: 26,724 Merc GLE: 46,010 BMW X5: 45,013 Audi Q7: 37,417 The buyers aren't flocking to that GX, and I can't believe they actually even sold 26k of them.
  3. smk4565
    The E-class could probably take an F150 off road, it is that rugged. And Mercedes built this in house so it counts. And that is why it is best luxury sedan, if it is tough enough to do this, it can handle mundane daily activities.
  4. smk4565
    So if the Escalade used the 345 hp V8 from 2007 model in the 2020 model that would be okay? This Lexus V8 was introduced in 2006 for the 2007 model year. Imagine a C8 Corvette with the same 400 hp engine as a C6. That is what Lexus is doing here, it is a joke. The whole Lexus brand is hideous looking, Toyota switchgear filled, underpowered, uninspired, underwhelming product.
  5. smk4565
    But there might not be a 2021 CT6, and there will be a 2021 E-class. As far as taxi duty goes, these E-classes run forever just like how they used Crown Vics for taxis because they could go 300,000 miles and take a beating. And taxi companies wouldn't buy a CTS or CT5 because 1, they'd break down too much and fall apart after 100k miles, and 2 the back seat is too small. And they should have stuck with he E300 name since the C300 has the same engine. And save E350 in case they wanted to do a 300 hp turbo 4, which I doubt they would, when you have 2 inline sixes to pick from, and a V8. Don't really need two 4-cylinder options.
  6. smk4565
    It would be a good idea, but BMW is a bit more concerned with "Grand Coupes" rather than making actual sports cars. And look at how heavy a 3-series or 5-series have become, which is all cars but still. And their next vehicle is an X8 coupe, another behemoth vehicle.
  7. smk4565
    I sort of like a standard trim, a luxury/premium package, a sport package, and a driver nanny package. Not everyone wants lane keep, blind spot, super cruise, etc so I can see keeping that separate. But if they want to make all that stuff standard in the nav of safety I don't care either.
  8. smk4565
    Agreed, I think the turbo V6 makes more sense, especially when pretty much every other big luxury sedan has a turbo V6. As far as pricing I think what they did makes sense because really they are dropping option packages and just making all this stuff standard so they have fewer build combinations to worry about as this isn't a high volume car, I don't think they want 100 different option combos to worry about. Speaking of depreciation, 2018 Infiniti Q70's which have a base of $51,000, so you know most stickers are at least $55k, now sell for $25-30k and those are like 10k miles. That is $25k drop in one year, haha.
  9. smk4565
    Mercedes changed engines and transmission over the years, and of course interior switchgear to whatever was used in other models. For Lexus money why don't they give you a 450 hp V8 that is butter smooth? Over in the GLE they have a 488 hp V8 with electric assist and the X5 has a 521 hp V8. Lexus is literally 220 hp behind BMW and the BMW gets better gas mileage.
  10. smk4565
    AMG has eaten M’s lunch the past 10-15 years. BMW needs something.
  11. smk4565
    It is embarrassing how old this vehicle is. A 4.6 liter V8 making 301 hp? What is it a 1995 Northstar? That is 30 year old numbers. Even in 2007 a 301 hp V8 was dated. For reference there have been 2 full redesigns of the GLE since this went on sale.
  12. smk4565
    A bigger motor may not fit in a small car though so this is what you get. You can't fit a V8 in an XT4 or a Chevy Sonic.
  13. smk4565
    They make a GLS for that.
  14. smk4565
    People don't buy how many seats they need, they buy how many seats they MIGHT need. A lot of people with 1 kid will buy a 3 row SUV for the off chance their 1 kid decides to bring friends along, or the twice a year the in-laws visit and they want to put 6-7 people in a car. 76% of driving is done alone, and yet 76% of cars aren't 2-seaters. Millenials with zero kids will buy GLB's for the "just in case" they have kids and need 7 seats one day. And the GLB may have a small 3rd row, but it's 3rd row is larger than the 3rd row in the Corsair, XT4, XT5, RDX, NX, X3, X2 and Q5, because none of them have one.
  15. smk4565
    Well good the GLB can outsell the Lexus RX if people want FWD, since the GLB looks better, is cheaper, faster if you get an AMG, and has more tech and better infotainment and seats 7. That is part of why the GLB is here, Acura, Volvo, Lexus, etc have had it too easy, Mercedes and BMW dominate those upper segments, that the Japanese mostly don't even bother. Well now Mercedes is coming for them in those lower luxury segments with the A-class and GLB.
  16. smk4565
    I would guess the X5 and GLE are the top 2 selling rear drive cars with a base price over $50k, in the US or globally. I think the GLC is the #2 selling luxury crossover, RWD seems to do just fine. And for those that want FWD, the GLB has them covered.
  17. smk4565
    Money.
  18. smk4565
    Basically same size, price and power as an XT4. They will have a 306 hp option and a 416 hp option which isn’t too anemic. Small crossover is a huge volume segment, why wouldn’t Mercedes be in it with 3 entries no less.
  19. smk4565
    Correct, it isn’t on sale anywhere yet. This is a new product for them and I think will be way more successful than the GLA which looks stupid.
  20. smk4565
    A little Honda Element in the headlights, the D pillar looks off a GLS. I think they wanted some GLK squareness but had to keep with the smooth body lines theme of the current cars.
  21. smk4565
    Glad is has “powerful off-road proportions” for the tens of people that will go off road. Seems a bit excessive on the black plastic but I guess that makes it “off road” as we learned long ago from the Pontiac Transport Montana. I bet these sell in big numbers, it is the only 7 seater in the segment, it looks good in and out and the 306 hp engine is coming right after launch. The crossover sheeple will like up all day for it.
  22. smk4565
    I am sure ZF makes something off the shelf that is transverse and can handle 350 lb-ft. If they really wanted a higher output XT4 there are options out there. In XT5 with more room I think it would be a no-brainer. Although if XT4 and XT5 were built on the alpha platform, then none of this would be an issue.
  23. smk4565
    It would make a lot of sense for an XT4-V. I could see that engine in the XT5 also, if not as an option, maybe as the only option since it would out power the 6 and probably get better gas mileage. Jaguar had Portfolio for a while. I don't know why they don't use Barritz or Brougham or something from their past.
  24. smk4565
    Shocker.
  25. smk4565
    Some of these luxury brands are claiming 10 EV's by 2025, so if Cadillac wants to be ahead of the curve, they might as well go all in on EV.
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