surreal1272

To the bolded.. Who is able to spend $46K on a CTS and not spend a measly $7K on a new E350? Who are those people? U??? Are U one of those people who have a hard time figuring out if $7K is gonna fit in your budget? LOL... f@#k outta here. Its so comical its downright stupid that U try those underhanded put downs. For some people a Mercedes is too much car, or they worry what if it is expensive to maintain. When the past 3 years Mercedes has been 5th, 2nd and 8th in reliability. My mom had a client of hers looking for an SUV, she could have afforded a GLK, I suggested a certified used diesel GLK at the time since they put over 20,000 miles a year on it, and with the 4-cylinder diesel it got like 33 mpg. They bought a Nissan Rogue new instead, because they were worried a Mercedes was too nice or would have higher maintenance costs than a Nissan or Subaru. There are people who want average, and do not want the Best. I bet a lot of Lexus GS350 buyers buy the car because of Lexus's reliability, fit into the crowd styling and low ownership cost. They aren't buying it because it is better than a Mercedes, they are buying it because they never owned a German car, heard some old wives tale, and the GS350 has the same V6 their Camry had 10 years ago and it seems safe to them. Sorry but that first sentence is a load of apologetic elitist bull$h!. Btw, it's not an "old wives tale" when it's the truth. Ask any mechanic who is not paid by Daimler. I sure towed enough German cars, back in the day, to open up my own overpriced unreliable car lot.

My question is, why is Smart still in business in the US? Clearly no one wants them.

So the E Class is the only sedan with a year over gain for April. Seems to fit the pattern of every other make out there. Maybe some don't care about the best either.

Honestly I'm surprised that the Camaro is not doing better. Kind of a head scratcher given how well it's been received by everyone that has reviewed it.

Lincoln had nowhere to go but up and sure wasn't because of their sedans.

Why did you not include A4 and ATS sales figures in your summary? Because it specifically says MID-LARGE. Why limit to make your point? Why not include all competing sedans from both mfg's? Why does it matter so much to you? He laid it out clear as day so splitting hairs over it is just silly.

LOL Are you kidding me? They literally went after you for your Cadillac saying you should buy a Benz. That's almost offensive how they would target you like that. I do think it's funny that they know you have a CTS but no clue you buoght the biggest and baddest CTS and they're trying to put you in a 300hp E Class.. That isn't 650hp of badass. No thanks. as U can see.. my first impulse was to rip that $h! up and toss it in the trash.. then I decided to scan it and let U guys see the tactics they use. That is sad and hilarious at the same time.

I may be one of the few people actually interested in seeing one.

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.

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. And most of the age demographic that the E Class markets itself to could care less.

^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.

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.

You have a very distorted view of history. Not surprising though.

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. http://blog.caranddriver.com/cruise-slip-cadillacs-semi-autonomous-super-cruise-tech-wont-arrive-until-2017/

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.

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!"

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. I'd up vote this a hundred times if I could!

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

A quote from this piece. 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.

A quote from this piece. 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!"

My thoughts exactly. His bias was plain as day as well.