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Base models generally are NOT a good buy to begin with. . . . . regardless of make and model. Especially on a luxury marque.

As far as M-B goes, I suppose one could say M-B is a full spectrum automaker--from subcompacts to top-line luxury sedans, SUVs, cargo vans, etc. It's just they have everything under one brand rather than GM's 4 brands or Toyota's 2 brands. Though they do have additional heavy truck brands in some markets (like Freightliner). Outside of 2-3 sedans at Cadillac, will the Malibu be the only GM NA sedan in a short time?

Because they still sell cars in markets that want small cars and efficient vehicles? Not all markets are as enamored with CUVs, SUVs and huge pickups as the US.

Wow they are really getting the last drops of milk out of this old cow.

I cringe every time you say that. Mercedes does sell a lot of cars, yes. But not all their sedans that they sell have that luxury status. In Europe and in North America. What constitutes luxury for you? Badge? Like I said, not all 3 pointed star sales are of the luxury appointment inside and outside the car. Price? Chevrolet, let alone GMC, overall sales outsells Mercedes Benz in the price department just with their top of the line Silverados and Tahoes. Meaning, more high priced Silverados and Tahoes that are MORE expensive than the lower tiered Mercedes cars, including the mid-ranged C and E Class cars are sold in the US and Canada... If you mean only the 100 000 dollar priced cars, then maybe Ill be in agreement with you. But then again, livery service S Classes dont mean anything to me either. Do not forget about GM. Buick seems to be going the all CUV and no sedan route also.

I wonder how high it is from the pavement to the top of the hood? 6 feet? This thing looks so tall it needs a forward vision camera to see pedestrians, small cars, small buildings, etc in front of it... From a design perspective, it is different than the Chevy, not sure if it's better or not...it's very busy. And the grille surround seems disjointed. Too many details.

Hey you beautiful piece of professional grade heavy machinery - way to be. These things look bigger every time. Rolling fists of American justice. I almost expect these things to be more military grade than like an Abrams tank...

Because... #1 Americans weren't really into Kamikaze AWD Superhero Sport Compacts. #2 The WRX STi is no longer particularly high performance in today's context.

The best and least cluttered Evo is the Evolution IV with the low profile spoiler. Unfortunately, you don't get it in the USA. The Evo IX is the next most desirable version. The Evo VIII is ugly with the elephant trunk grille. The Evo X is not too bad looking, but it gained 300 lbs and has the 4B11 engine shared with Chrysler and Hyundai. The 4B11 is LESS refined and LESS durable than the old 4G63. Less refined because it eliminated the Balance Shafts. Less Durable because it has a die cast, semi-open deck block, whereas the 4G63 is has a super durable closed deck iron block.

? I feel for you. That is rough having high fever. You could literally not do anything. Even just tucked into bed is an energy sapping activity. Rest well. Eat well (if you can) and drink lots of liquids. Hope you get better soon!

The above being said...holy crap batman...both WRX and Evo have fallen a bit in resale value around here. Yes...I like the WRX better but a couple of the Evos at the Buckeye Miata Club autocross do well. And looking at used CTS...prices falling there also. Going to have fun buying the next car.

What constitutes luxury? Because a Sierra Denali that creeps up to the 100 000 dollar price tag has all the electronic gadgetry and pizzazz that a 100 000 dollar Mercedes has... Obviously a Silverado does not get to be 100 000 dollars, but it gets pricey that it costs MORE than the lower level AMG branded Mercedes Benzes. That Silverado that creeps up in price to match lower level Mercedes Benzes has got the SAME amount of luxury features of those lower level AMG branded M-B cars... You put too much into the sales thing...it means nothing for luxury... EXCLUSIVITY is one of THE most important definitions of luxury and price has NOTHING to do with it! Along with that is desire to own that rare object...and while rarity often means high price, again, price has NOTHING to do with it. Value is something else altogether. But we must not confuse all those things... And...JUST because something has a high price tag does NOT mean its of value or its valuable or its worth the asking price...that includes Silverados, certain AMG cars. But if you gonna bring down Silverados, you MUST bring down Mercedes Benz and certain cars they sell at high prices that makes YOU think Mercedes Benz is THE #1 luxury maker. 1. That would only be YOU that says that. 2. Mercedes does NOT outsell the REAL luxury brands. Rolls Royce, Bentley in those REAL high priced luxury niches... In fact, they tried to do so but FAILED with the Maybach a decade ago... Maybach is also a failed brand from the past that M-B tried to resurrect with no success... 3. Ferrari and Lamborghini outsell Mercedes Benz in the 1 000 000 dollar car sweepstakes. Like since the automobile was invented. And Mercedes Benz had several cars in that realm over its course of its history, but Ferrari is Ferrari and million dollar cars for them is like making cappuccino...no big deal...to them, but to you and me, we make a mess out of it. So...we go back to a watered down definition of what constitutes sales and price tags of luxury cars, but even there, Mercedes is not #1 because General Motors sells MORE luxury priced cars than Mercedes does... 1. Mercedes does NOT outsell the REAL luxury cars...Rolls, Bentleys, hell even Ferrari and Lamboghini in those ultra high price tags. Mercedes Benz gets to sell 1 car model every decade in that stratosphere... 2. General Motors has got Mercedes beat in over all luxury priced vehicles... You got nowhere to go with this, SMK...

PS: let it be known that being arrogant and having the space in our countries and money to own and drive huge wasteful behemoths is a luxury in itself. Also, North America aint the only place in the world where such arrogance is present. I want you guys to observe, while there is a Mercedes Benz in that police force, so there is a FORD Mustang too. And THAT is my point, while Mercedes-Benz sells a lot of cars in many many niches and markets all over the world, luxury, especially today, has a different meaning. Badge? Price? Exclusivity? That particular Ford Mustang was not sold outside of North America. Its exclusive to that part of the world...and its just a Ford at the end of the day. Yet, here it is, proudly displayed with exotics... Price? Like I said, GM probably sells more mid level to high level priced cars than everybody else. Is THAT a definition of a #1 maker of luxury cars? Well, technically it is!!! Badge? Does Mercedes Benz really sell the most 100 000 dollar priced cars? But what about Lamborghini and Ferrari which actually sells a ton of 250 000 dollar plus vehicles respectively? Because Mercedes Benz actually does not sell THAT many as compared to Ferrari and Lambo...

I can see that... maybe I just don't like that color combo. I think it would look better on Red or Black.

Oh yeah. I dig the darker colored, non-chrome grille...a lot.

Yep, the AT4 looks fantastic.

This, except the AT4, is an effing beauty queen compared to the 2020 Silverado HD

So True, plus most American Sized Trucks and SUV/CUVs will not fit on the pre-WWII roads of Europe or Asia.

I know I'd appreciate that.

I don't agree. I think #1, Cadillac in terms of CUVs was in emergency mode. I think that the platform is fine for the time being and will do no harm to their credibility as far as luxury going forward. Comparing it to the Lincoln Aviator's performance is inevitable, but the engine choice changes could quell that issue immediately. Will they do it is my question. Materials? I'd have to see. It has been my experience as of late that Cadillac, and GM as a whole likes to reserve better materials for their higher trims. I maintain that the Base models should be killed and that at Caddy, that only the material quality currently present on the Premium Lux and Platinum (and V) should be available for their vehicles. The Prem. Lux and Platinum interiors, on say an XT5, are extremely nice and if they were the only choices avail during reviews, Cadillac's reputation would be solid and rightfully so. I'm not saying that they are the only luxury make that does this (look at BMW) but they are the most scrutinized of them all. That includes Jag, which I truly believe has one of the worst interiors in the luxury game

Hitting pedestrians, small cars, and small buildings is a feature not a fault in some circles....just sayin...

VWAG will never go under because it is part-owned by Lower Saxony, Germany. (Imagine if Michigan owned a large part of GM or Ford). If Germany was that cutthroat, then Daimler or (more likely) BMW would be forced to walk the plank.

Wow... I thought only electrics will be homoginized and "souless"... Because of National pride...so I think this has good chances of happening. Yes, if we were was still in 1980s or 1990s. If GM and Ford could build transmissions together and before that, go to congress and try to get help together so no Big 3 goes under then I think BMW and M-B could do a platform or two for FWD mass market appliances. Sure, but if they could get some money from another source (BMW) to lesson the financial burden, then its win win, non? And no, like in North America, it wont be a good thing for Germany if one of their Big 3 goes under. M-B and BMW are probably aware of this as this nearly happened in North America. Im sure M-B, BMW, VAG and other German economists studied the Detroit situation and learned from that.

GUYS

I feel like this is unlikely to happen. This would be like the unholy alliance. Mercedes can get enough scale off their FWD platform that they don't need BMW to share cost on, why help them out. I think it more likely the combine efforts on autonomous driving systems.

From a purely subjective viewpoint I really like the feel of a GTI on an autocross course over the feel of a the Focus ST. That being said...I am very sorry that sport compacts seem to be going away...and from a personal stand point...I am really thinking about a Cherokee as my next vehicle. AWD goodness for Ohio Snow, and I love the idea of finding one CPO with the Trailhawk package. And the Focus ST...in the end I will miss it. One of my sons friends had a black Focus ST that he totaled while being stupid...I miss that car. Yes...but as enthusiasts we have choices. I love living in a country that gives me so many choices...

+1000 I would take a CPO V over the STI any day of the week for that amount of money.

And hate to say this, but at $40K I can buy a gently used CTS-V also....yes...different caliber of car but...for the money... Also...once you goa bove 30K you are starting to talk Mustang GT and Camaro SS/V8 Challenger money. LOTS of options in the thirty plus range. Which is why i doubt we will ever see a Turbocharged BRZ....and why Nissan has dropped the price on the badly badly dated 370Z. Ford and GM are the best buy for performance over 30K....unless you want to spend a LOT of coin and wind up with something AMG-ish from Benz. They are fun to hoon around an autocross or Rallycross course at an SCCA event. The thing is....Subaru is able to play this one smart because they only build a limited number of these cars which keeps the resale high. Domestics are learning not to be everything to everybody... Which is why I am not so sad about so many cars being cancelled. I like the idea of Ford going one hundred percent in on the new Bronco like they did the aviator...and of Cadillac being 100 percent in on the next gen of V cars.

..nobody really has electrics ready for the market..

Which is excusable if the STi is a cheaper product with a better price-performance quotient. But, BOTH cars are basically priced at $40K.