surreal1272
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Posts posted by surreal1272
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I may be one of the few people actually interested in seeing one.
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Well I did post examples of E-class and CLA selling in 10-11 days on dealer lots, that were from 2015, at the same time the Cadillacs were taking 120-150 days. I couldn't find any 2016 numbers.
Yet you continued to post irrelevant numbers about irrelevant to the topic vehicles, in this posting CUV numbers when we have clearly been talking about sedans.
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August 2015 fastest selling cars, from September 2015 Cars.com
Mercedes GLE 8 days
Mercedes GL 11 days
Not to split hairs over your bar moving, but those are CUVs your posting while there is a ton of numbers showing the decline in sedan sales. You do understand the difference there right?
an E-class in its 7th model year and the 2016 is no longer in production. I wouldn't worry about the E-class, the turn around starts this summer with the 2017. The more they run that ad where the driver lifts his hands off the wheel and the car drives itself, the more people will want it. That is next level, none of the competition drives itself.Wake up & read the stats !
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2016, Year to Date ::
BMW 3-series :: DOWN 30%
BMW 5-series :: DOWN 20%
MB C-class :: DOWN 15%
MB E-class :: DOWN 24%
ATS :: DOWN 22%
CTS :: DOWN 14%
And most of the age demographic that the E Class markets itself to could care less.
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Actually, it's not nearly as significant as it would seem.
Reading elsewhere, it seems these numbers for Cadillac are WITHIN 2 WEEKS of it's competition in these segments.
ALL the luxury sedan sales are down/inventories are up.
smk- you can call this another one of your "snapshots".
^This. Don't know how many times people have to be told the obvious, like reminding them of the very fact you just mentioned about sedan sales in general.
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I dare Cadillac not to worry about internet trolls who have absolutely no interest in their cars, in the first place. Oh wait. They already do that. Carry on.
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Cadillac has been saying wait till next year since 2002.
Remember they launched the STS, SRX performance crossover, and XLR roadster in the same year. That was to be an assault on the 5-series/E-class, the X5/M-class and the Mercedes SL and Jaguar XK and Lexus SC430. They attacked 3 segments in the heart of the luxury market at one time, and got no where, they gave up on all 3 products.
They have been saying "wait till next year" and "this product is on the way" for the past 15 years. The other guys have that product on sale now, and that is where the people are going.
You have a very distorted view of history. Not surprising though.
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The advantage Cadillac has over the Japanese brands and Audi for the most part is a long history and their heritage. That is something they could play up to boost their image. If they are going to try to advertise their technology and make that the focus, they better have the best technology out there. And they don't even have Super Cruise yet, when even Volvo has semi Autonomous driving. There isn't really a true identity or clear focus that they use to differentiate themselves from the crowd.
Oh and it's coming next year. Nice job of keeping up with times while your'e trolling so hard. Make sure you pay special attention to what they said about the competitions efforts in it thus far.
Better to be right, when it comes out, than to be first.
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The advantage Cadillac has over the Japanese brands and Audi for the most part is a long history and their heritage. That is something they could play up to boost their image. If they are going to try to advertise their technology and make that the focus, they better have the best technology out there. And they don't even have Super Cruise yet, when even Volvo has semi Autonomous driving. There isn't really a true identity or clear focus that they use to differentiate themselves from the crowd.[/quote
Again, down voted for your cluelessness
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It sucks when the rabid fanboys make you dislike brands because they are so damn oblivious and ignorant about their favorites.
It makes you want to just hate the brand, and for what? Because some D-bag on the Internet is ignorant? That's not fair. But that's how bad some people are.
It's one of the main reasons why I haven't even bothered looking at a Ford over the years. Just don't even want to be associated with the brand because of the rabid fanboyism.
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I can see the Mercedes slogan for their heritage commercial now
"Hey. If it was good enough for Hitler, it should be good enough for you. Take over the world in a Mercedes by visiting your local Mercedes Benz Dealership today!"
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You really think they care if Cadillac had the first 3 pedal, interchangeable parts or even one that matters like the Electric Starter. Give me a break.Todays buyers are all about what can you do for me now. They want to know.How fast can you make me?How powerful will it make me look owning your car?How much advanced technology will I get for my money?How well will my car work with my Cell Phone?Does the car look cool?Todays market is all about what can you do for me and look at me. Yes it is self centered. The fact is no one needs a high end luxury or performance car you have to make them want it for what it is and what it can do for your image. We all could easily get by with a Spark if it was just about getting there. It is what the product will do for your experience getting there and what it will do for your image.A business person going to say Firestone Country club for 18 holes and to make a deal will want to make a good impression. Will his potential business partner be more believing in his pitch if he is in a Honda Civic or a Bentley? When you go down the street many people like it when other see them and wonder what they did to succeed. This is what Cadillac needs to represent. Cadillac needs to be the symbol of achievement.These buyers can give a turkey about what you did in 1911. Many don't know and most don't care. Just worldly crusty old men who have fond memories of models of the past that often if they were in the last 40 years were no where near as good as they remember them.By the way they steel the Benz hood ornament's because of the image not what they have done.Funny how Benz leaves out the great cars they built for Hitler? They were some of their best cars. Selective history?"Cadillac" we never built cars for people that killed millions. That could catch on.Here is another one, "Since 1886" Cadillac could easily do a similar ad, and talk up the heritage. Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti have no heritage, unless Lexus wants to run that video of the 1991 LS400 balancing champagne glasses on the hood. Cadillac needs their word names back, Fleetwood, Eldorado, play up the heritage they have, spark some emotion, you strike the memories of older buyers, you teach the young ones who you were. To people under 35 they only know Cadillac as a poorly made American land yacht who only recently tried to make sports sedans, and has the Escalade, that rappers and athletes drive. The millenials don't know Cadillac was the first modern car really with the 3 pedal set up, and gear shifter on the floor that every other car adopted, that they had interchangeable parts, first V8, etc. You gotta tell the story. https://www.ispot.tv/ad/A5ac/mercedes-benz-since-1886
I'd up vote this a hundred times if I could!
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Whatever you have to tell yourself. You've been proven wrong so many times that posts like this don't even need a real response. You to try to dodge and weave but just corner yourself with double standards (letter naming schemes), outright lies (like saying dealerships don't matter), and so much BS that I can't do anything but laugh at the utter fanboy blindness.
CLA median buyer age is 46. But Mercedes brand overall is 52-56 depending on what survey you believe. So they are marketing toward younger than their norm with the CLA, but they aren't ignoring their customer base. CLA is a way to get new buyers into the brand. That is what smart companies do, they cover all bases. They sell 4 crossovers, 5 if you want to count GLE coupe as separate.
You're right Cadillac doesn't do that. MB does though MB markets towards that same group of 30 year olds, hence the CLA and the heavy marketing push by MB touting its "under $30,000" campaign. Funny how you don't mention that.
Yes, Cadillac has to market to the people that aren't buying the car now. This is what they are awful at. They aren't conquesting from the Japanese and Germans. If they don't conquest, they have to get huge numbers of first time luxury buyers, I don't think they are doing that either.People that are going to buy Cadillac will buy Cadillac. You need to focus on the folks who have not considered them before and change their impressions. It is not much different than the sell to the youth argument as you can sell a old man an young mans car but you can not sell a young man an old mans car.
Besided if you are building for the future you do not go after 65 year olds you go to the younger buyers. While some may not buy now you need to make an impression on them to consider you as they become more affluent.
The truth is Automaker market to kids today to get them to form a positive opinion on their products that often carry over to adult hood.
They have to market to people that can afford the car though. If they make a car that 30 years think is cool, but they can't afford more than a $25,000 car, it doesn't do Cadillac any good.
How about the Corvette? Median buyer age of 61, and they don't build it with VTEC for the younger buyers, they build it to suit the fan base, and the fan base buys it. They aren't trying to sell it to 30 year olds that can't afford it.
I have long said Cadillac desperately needs a small crossover, that is a way to attract younger buyers. But their older buyers probably want V8s and classic American luxury, give it to them. Cater to both.
See above post and then go watch the "get your cheap ass Mercedes for under thirty thousand dollars" ad on YouTube. Yeah, great emphasis on luxury heritage by trying to pimp a car that can be beat by cheaper non-luxury compacts on so many levels.Here is another one, "Since 1886" Cadillac could easily do a similar ad, and talk up the heritage. Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti have no heritage, unless Lexus wants to run that video of the 1991 LS400 balancing champagne glasses on the hood. Cadillac needs their word names back, Fleetwood, Eldorado, play up the heritage they have, spark some emotion, you strike the memories of older buyers, you teach the young ones who you were. To people under 35 they only know Cadillac as a poorly made American land yacht who only recently tried to make sports sedans, and has the Escalade, that rappers and athletes drive. The millenials don't know Cadillac was the first modern car really with the 3 pedal set up, and gear shifter on the floor that every other car adopted, that they had interchangeable parts, first V8, etc. You gotta tell the story.
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People that are going to buy Cadillac will buy Cadillac. You need to focus on the folks who have not considered them before and change their impressions. It is not much different than the sell to the youth argument as you can sell a old man an young mans car but you can not sell a young man an old mans car.
Besided if you are building for the future you do not go after 65 year olds you go to the younger buyers. While some may not buy now you need to make an impression on them to consider you as they become more affluent.
The truth is Automaker market to kids today to get them to form a positive opinion on their products that often carry over to adult hood.
Yes, Cadillac has to market to the people that aren't buying the car now. This is what they are awful at. They aren't conquesting from the Japanese and Germans. If they don't conquest, they have to get huge numbers of first time luxury buyers, I don't think they are doing that either.
They have to market to people that can afford the car though. If they make a car that 30 years think is cool, but they can't afford more than a $25,000 car, it doesn't do Cadillac any good.
How about the Corvette? Median buyer age of 61, and they don't build it with VTEC for the younger buyers, they build it to suit the fan base, and the fan base buys it. They aren't trying to sell it to 30 year olds that can't afford it.
You're right Cadillac doesn't do that. MB does though MB markets towards that same group of 30 year olds, hence the CLA and the heavy marketing push by MB touting its "under $30,000" campaign. Funny how you don't mention that.
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Delorenzo has some good points, the CT6 marketing campaign is craptastic. However the XT5 should not be called Escalade S or Escalade sport or anything like that. Horrible idea when you are going to have at least 3 crossovers, you can't call them all Escalade-something.
You are aware PDL is an ex GM-copywriter who was 'slighted' in the early '80s and hasn't 'seen a GM ad he likes' since, right?
CT6 campaign so far has been very decent- has created nice aspiration & mood. FAR better than the mercedes 'disco chicken' ads.
I agree that 'Escalade S' is a poor suggestion.
Interesting that Johan wants to get to an 11% operating margin in 10 years. Audi is there now. People want to say sales don't matter, margin does, well Cadillac margins must be terrible if they are 10 years away from getting to Audi's level, especially when you can platform and engine stare with other GM vehicles.Mercedes & BMW are hoping to get to Audi's margins too, but they don't have a vast volkswagon part warehouse in which to make it work yet.
Audi A2 thru A6 : VW powertrains. For shame.
Uh oh, found this on Forbes. com
"The boost in volumes has also trickled down to Mercedes’ margins. As automotive companies typically have large fixed costs, they have a high degree of operating leverage. This means that a significant increase in volume sales/top line trickles down to the profits, as well. Driven by the high volume rise and product and price mix, Mercedes reported EBIT from ongoing business of €2.2 billion in Q3, up 38% year-over-year, and profit margins of 10.4%. The company has recuperated well after one-time costs associated with the launch of new/refreshed models had lowered operating margins to around 3% in the first quarter of 2013. High demand for the luxury automaker, and favorable pricing, should boost profitability in the last quarter, as well. In fact, Mercedes’ 10.2% operating margins for Q1-Q3 2015 are more than Audi’s 9.2% and BMW’s 9% reported operating margins during the same period."
Mercedes had a 6.2% operating margin in 2013, and up to 8.3% in 4th quarter 2014. Slow steady climb up to the 10% of today. And exactly where they want to be. I guess their strategy worked. And a lot of people say the CLA has a lot of volume, the CLA barely outsells the S-class.
Uh oh. You are trying to compare the entire Mercedes lineup against one brand of GM instead all the brands of GM, which (btw) has increased it's profits every year since coming out of bankruptcy. Just thought you should know before making yet another apples to oranges comparison.
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^ Ignored the question.
Do people know the 'CTS' name now or not?
How is introducing 'CT6' now any different WRT people learning what it refers to over time?
Did people get confused & think the mercedes 'GLC' was a rebadged mazda GLC?
Yes people know CTS now because they spent 15 years advertising it. So they throw that away and spend 10-15 years advertising CT4 and then they'll throw that away and start over again.
GLK to GLC isn't that bad of a change, when there is already a similar looking C-class. And they changed SLK to SLC even though it has nothing to do with the C-class chassis. GLC sales up 84% in February and 97% in March. GLC is on fire!
Same problem for both companies but of course you only see it as a problem for one company. Typical.
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" CRUCIAL QUESTIONS FOR CADILLAC. "http://www.autoextremist.com/
A quote from this piece.
The new XT5 shows promise, but it should have been called the Escalade S in order to capitalize on the Escalade’s name recognition and reputation.[/size]
I'm sorry what?! NO NO NO NO
I do think Peter does make some good points once in awhile. But they are buried in a mess of other words. To put it simply.
Exactly because then the trolls would be screaming "the FWD Escalade S deludes the Esclalade brand because of FWD der de der!"
Thanks for the down vote. That's how I know I was telling the truth.
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" CRUCIAL QUESTIONS FOR CADILLAC. "http://www.autoextremist.com/
A quote from this piece.
The new XT5 shows promise, but it should have been called the Escalade S in order to capitalize on the Escalade’s name recognition and reputation.[/size]
I'm sorry what?! NO NO NO NO
I do think Peter does make some good points once in awhile. But they are buried in a mess of other words. To put it simply.
Exactly because then the trolls would be screaming "the FWD Escalade S deludes the Esclalade brand because of FWD der de der!"
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PDL gets more 'rambling' as the years go by.
His 'point' that no one knows the name of a brand new Cadillac model…. that didn't replace a prior one is… a non-issue. No one "knew" what a 'Model S' was, now it's outselling the S-class. C'mon, give the auto consumer a bit of credit.
My thoughts exactly. His bias was plain as day as well.
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It is always better to look at a full year to really see how a car is selling. We all look at the monthly sales report to see what is up or what is down, what is hot and what is not. But it isn't all doom and gloom with one bad month. S-class was up 9.7% in February. If it is down again in April maybe they should worry a little, but the S-class outsells its next 3 or 4 competitors combined. But if crossovers are up when sedans are down, as long as overall brand volume rises, they are fine. BMW goes through the same thing with the 5-series and X5. If 5-series is down 1,000 units and X5 up 1,000 units, what do they care, they got their money.
Again you contradict yourself. You say here to wait a full year but had no problem emphasizing the S Class for December 2015.
Do you see the problem or are you going to continue on and act like none of that ever happened?
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It is always better to look at a full year to really see how a car is selling. We all look at the monthly sales report to see what is up or what is down, what is hot and what is not. But it isn't all doom and gloom with one bad month. S-class was up 9.7% in February. If it is down again in April maybe they should worry a little, but the S-class outsells its next 3 or 4 competitors combined. But if crossovers are up when sedans are down, as long as overall brand volume rises, they are fine. BMW goes through the same thing with the 5-series and X5. If 5-series is down 1,000 units and X5 up 1,000 units, what do they care, they got their money.
Grab a history book. There you will see why Cadillac changed the naming scheme and it's mainly because all of those old names were drug into the ground by half ass efforts and horrible execution to the point that everyone forgot about them. The name change was a good thing when you take those silly little Daimler blinders off and understand those basic facts.
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This is a Continental thread, can we keep the Cadillac ads in their own thread?
Nevermind.
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Cadillac and Mercedes or BMw are not the same. The 3-series has been around 35 years, the Mercedes SL for 60 years the S-class for 50 or so years. They have consistancy of that naming convention and those products.
Cadillac had a history of word names, people don't know CT6 or XT5, they are easily forgettable. It is like when Pontiac introduced the G6, no one knew what a G6 was but they knew Grand Am. I have long said I think Cadillac is better with word names, just like I was glad to see Lincoln bring back Continental, it is just too bad it is wrong wheel drive.
Cadillac has done a good job making stand alone showrooms in recent years, I think their dealerships are fine. Maybe they aren't as large or luxurious as Lexus's but I don't think it matters.
We all know Cadillac needs crossovers badly and they have some on the way. I think they need a convertible too because convertibles are aspirational products, and a luxury brand is aspirational. This can relate to when 1/3 of CTS sales were coupes. Take away the coupe and a buyer wanting a 2 door car just goes elsewhere.
Think it all you want but dealerships do and will always matter to non blind customers.
The rest of your post doesn't even merit a response because I'm no longer taking part in your bar moving.
A one month snap shot, E-class is on a model change over, C-class adding 2 body styles this year. They'll stabilize, but sedan sales are dropping, crossovers are rising.
Do not forget the rebadged Nissan Truck that will show up along side the vans for sales s
Of course, because MB follows revenue above all else!While SMK is trying to move the bar again, I just wanted to point out that as I was passing by the MB dealership, I posted a picture of the other day, I saw that they moved the vans right next to the entrance of the building.
March 2016 ~
cla-class : DOWN 28%
c-class : DOWN 13%
e-class : DOWN 19%
s-class : DOWN 36%
VANS :: UP 29%
Expect to see increasing emphasis / dealer stock on from the etherial "van division" of Daimler in the coming year as the rest of the brand is entering a sales 'slide'.
The overall luxury sedan market was down like 15% last year.
And? You sure had no problem pointing out the one month snap shot of S Class sales back in December. Again, moving the damn bar.
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DeLorenzo nailed it. The Escalade is their one grand slam product, and it is big, heavy, V8, has a word name, etc. It is the opposite their other products. The Escalade is riding high now in times of cheap gas, there is risk there if gas gets expensive or the economy tanks. But they could easily put a V6 hybrid system or something in an Escalade to get the fuel economy up if they had to.
The rest of the line needs work, they need word names, they need marketing. The alphabet soup names are forgotten among consumers, the ads aren't drawing people in or moving the needle.
For $h!s sake bar mover. They don't need name changes. They need more variants and CUVs, of which you agree with not even three damn days ago. Pick a stance and stick with it.
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I am not saying that convertibles will help sell more sedans, but there are a number of buyers out there that want a convertible. So if you want that body style, Cadillac isn't even on the radar. Yes it is a small segment, but you can't just ignore it totally. It would help the image of the brand also to have a convertible.
Best news of the day is that Cadillac is planning a car based on the Cruze, that will be priced in the mid $20s with a 1.5 liter turbo and a 2.0 turbo range topper to compete with the CLA. Everyone wants to trash the CLA, yet Cadillac seems like they need to build a competitor for it.
Well considering how much better a well appointed Cruze interior looks compared to a $30K CLA, that should worry you a lot. Go ahead and debate that but those two pictures posted are worth a thousand words.
What does Cadillac mean to you?
in Cadillac
Posted · Edited by surreal1272
That is sad and hilarious at the same time.