surreal1272

9 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

then you'll realize quite quickly that the journalism is, like I said, lazy...  

The word you are looking for here is “subjective”, not “lazy” but I guess we all pick strange hills to die on. Just skip the fact these “lazy” writers have far more exposure and wheel time with these cars than you or me. Dismiss it as “lazy” all you want but it is the exact opposite of lazy. 

I am on the fence with them. Love the van look (spent the first 13 years of my life traveling around in the same 1972 Chevy Sport10 van) but like Drew, I don't know how it succeeds beyond its obvious niche. Commercial use could be a good starter for getting the product out there and using that as a springboard to push it into the consumer level market. I defiantly dig the concept though. I am that weirdo lol.

4 minutes ago, David said:

Media, it would appear that they attack American auto companies far more than Asian or European.

And there are two really good reasons for that. 
 

1. Volume of cars involved. Far more domestics than European cars here. 
 

2. Frequency. If there are five separate problems from one company (Ford, for example) and only two from another in the same time period (Toyota, for example), then there are going to be more reports on them. 
 

Those are my two main points behind my “assessment” and there is data to back that up. 

2 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

2. American press was and STILL is not harsh on EUROPEAN and Asian cars when those are fudged up.

Then maybe you are only looking at certain stories because I’ve seen plenty of flak directed at the Koreans over the last few years and the Germans (see diesel gate). Toyota caught plenty of flak for their crap too lest we forget the floor mat/UA issues 15 years ago. 
 

And company “arrogance” aside (what company hasn’t blamed customers first, I’ll wait lol), they addressed those issues in 2002, not even a year after a bulk of the reported issues. 
https://www.autosafety.org/toyota-broadens-sludge-repair-program/

Just saying, sometimes we see only what we want to see and I’m just going to leave it at that. 

On 3/16/2023 at 8:42 PM, David said:

OUCH and the Ford recalls keep coming. This time, a retainer bolt on the inside of the steering box fails and causes the steering box to lock up. All 2023 Broncos are on a do not deliver, do not drive list awaiting replacement parts.

Ford Issues 2023 Bronco ‘Do Not Deliver-Do Not Drive’ Order (msn.com)

"The press was way too harsh on domestics". (paraphrased but you get the gist)

Repeated BS like the above issue is why. I have been liking the designs (and powertrain options) coming from Ford lately but they are having serious teething issues that should not be occurring in this day and age, if you ask me. 100+ years in the business (literally invented the process of mass production of automobiles, for christ sake) and yet they are looking like the Ford of the 1970s, as far as build quality and reliability issues are concerned right now. It's not all bad for them but it has certainly not looked good for them the last few years. Sugarcoat it all you want. Say the press is being too hard on them (duh, it's America and they talk more about American companies here, good and bad press) but don't overlook the actual facts while doing it.

12 hours ago, David said:

GLC will deliver 700 hp with over 800 lb-ft of torque let alone 800 hp with over 1000 lb-ft of torque.

He was referring to the S-Class in his hypothetical numbers scenario.

"and the S63 is V8 with 800 hp, 1000+ lb-ft or whatever the number is.  "

14 hours ago, smk4565 said:

The GLC300 is 0-60 in 6.2 seconds per Mercedes estimate, which is usually a bit conservative.  That's fine for this segment, the Acura RDX A-spec is 6.2 seconds 0-60, the XT5 is 8.0 seconds, the BMW X3 is 6.0.  And the mild hybrid will help with start stop refinement and probably they pick up 1-2 mpg vs the old car.

GLC43 is going to be 402 hp turbo 4

GLC63 is going to be 671 hp turbo 4 plug in hybrid

Same as the C-class.

See my post about which trim level will sell the most. Hint? It's not anything AMG or top level. It'll be that base level 4 banger they sell in the highest volumes, so this "going to be" just doesn't hold that much water when everyone knows the base level is their bulk mover. 

BTW, since we are cherry picking 0-60 times but throwing in the lowest trim XT5 numbers against top spec trims like the Acura RDX A-Spec, the 3.6L V6 XT5 has a 6.4 sec. 0-60 time.

7 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

You can get a coupe Wrangler and I hope the brand never makes another "coupd" SUV. 

Agreed. If you're going to get a CUV with a sloped back roof line like that, you might just skip a CUV/SUV entirely and just get a wagon since you're going to have about the same amount of cargo room in the back lol. Let me reiterate that ANY SUV or CUV using the "coupe" body style is NOT a CUV or SUV at all, since you just killed one of the main reasons for buying one (again, cargo room). 

2 hours ago, David said:

Agree that the outside style leaves much to be desired but as myself and others here have stated, the warm two-tone interior is nice. I have mixed feelings about the dash and their HUD.

The exterior style reminds me that they ripped off BMW coupe SUV design and then watered down to fit their jellybean style of the EVs.

And the interior (and bear in mind, they are showing the top level trim here so let me know what the larger selling base models will actually look like) is nice but damn, I'd have to close my eyes just to approach it and sit inside because that exterior...

Ugly with a capital U-G-L-Y (in "coupe" form).

End of discussion. 

Happy Birthday @oldshurst442!

10 hours ago, David said:

I totally feel your pain mate, the right but cheek has that pins and needle affect along with the calf cramp

That is all from your back. Pinch and radiated nerve pain. I get shots of pain throughout but the worst happens across my right big toe. Literally feels like a hot wire charge when it hits. It is no joke and I am getting an EMG test for my nerve issues to try and narrow down the cause. Get that addressed pronto, is my advice here. 

8 hours ago, David said:

True, I am finally downstairs working, so I am able to keep an eye on the site. WOW, I have a high pain tolerance, but this is a new kind of pain that I have not experienced. Roll my left leg to the left and all is fine. Roll it to my right and wow, stars. On top of this, just got a call from my doctor about discomfort I have had in my right hip and waking up at night with my right calf cramping and he had me get x-rays on Friday. Results show degenerative disc in L1 to L7 and L5 pinching on my sciatic nerve. Go figure, nothing I ever do is easy or in small quantities. LOL

Yeah, I feel your pain on a personal level. I would wake up with maddening cramps in both calfs just by doing the "I just woke up" stretch. Holy hell! A s*** way to start the day. Get it taken care of, whatever it is. Mine has been that plus crazy nerve pain.

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

You could be Chevy Chase because you are the tallest one and I could be Martin Short as I am the shortest one. And @surreal1272 could be Steve Martin because well...he would be the remaining 3rd Amigo. 

I have zero issue with this lol. Love Steve Martin!

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

I think that @surreal1272 went through the same as well. 

Shoulder, four years ago, actually and currently staring at a hip replacement in the near future (have to deal with the nerve issues in the back first). We won't talk about knees though as my right knee may decide to join in on the pain party, thirty years after damn near tearing it during my very last game of pickup football lol. I have virtually no real cartilage left there since that incident and have been predicting rain with it since 1992.

3 hours ago, David said:

clearly so many people do not pay attention to the signs that go from 60mph to 20 mph in about 500 feet.

That is a HORRIBLE design flaw. Reminds me of some the short exits on I-17 in Phoenix but that is a whole other level of dumb if the speed drops that quick because of the shortness of the exit. I will say, though, that most folks just need to actually pay attention to the damn road and that might not be such a bad spot. Just craziness.

9 hours ago, smk4565 said:

The Highlander is 4 cylinder only and the best seller in the segment.

True but the 4 cylinder only Highlander has been in existence for all of one year. It had a V6 option until the 2023 model came out.

BTW, the Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Highlander in 2022, while the Toyota was the top seller in 2021.

1 minute ago, smk4565 said:

Mercedes did EQS first, but the standard trim was out before the AMG.  Just as the EQE 350 hit the market first, the EQE 500 is just now hitting dealers and the AMG is later this year.  They didn't start with the AMG and say the regular one is coming in a year.  And the larger EV platform was ready first, but they do have the EQB so that is a lower end Mercedes EV.   Future A/B-class Mercedes will be on a new mixed powertrain platform that is designed for EV but can accommodate ICE powertrains, and that comes around 2025 or 2026.  

Why are equating the EQS with the AMG versions of it. I am not talking about AMGs at all. I am talking boat EVs period. Mercedes didn't start at the bottom with theirs yet there was zero criticism from you regarding that, a standard you do not apply to everyone else. You weren't even right about GMs plan ($100K trucks first when ccap showed you the exact opposite of that). Mercedes first EV wasn't $40-50K. It was $100K+ for its BASE model EQS. 

44 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

I bash companies like Lucid for putting out a $150,000 sedan and saying, but oh wait the $80,000 version will follow shortly then it doesn’t show up.  Or Ford when the Lightning came out, it was going to be $40k base but they basically just made limited trims for 2022 and upped the base price to $53,000 for 2023.  GM is starting with the $105,000 Silverado, so how long before the regular version shows up and at what cost?

Notice the brand that is missing from your criticisms? I'll give you three guesses but I'm betting you only need one. Their new EVs have started, decidedly, from the top as well yet (and hence why your bar moving AMG reference doesn't fly here)...

Full stop.

56 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Sounds like you haven't been around Harleys in about 20 years. They're long gone from the times of needing everything tightened and tuned up after a long ride. 

Are we sure about that?

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/harley-davidson-motorcycles-arent-nearly-reliable-yamaha-according-consumer-reports/

Not saying they are junk but even if they have improved over the last 20 years, apparently so has everyone else. 

51 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

Funny. When GM was introducing 100K EV trucks a few months ago, there wasn’t this same leeway given to them that you have presented for your favorite brand. I wonder why?

Removed a word ("to') and learned a valuable lesson about posting before completing my first cup of coffee. Carry on.

9 hours ago, smk4565 said:

Low end cars will be the last ones with ICE powertrains due to price.  It is easy to make $100,000 EV's and thus you can kill off your expensive ICE cars.  It isn't easy to make an EV with a $21,000 base price like an Elantra or Corolla.  I agree you have to go all the way through the model lineup with EV's but the cost parity isn't there yet.  

The Equinox EV if they deliver on that around $30k promise would be a great step, but I suspect the gasoline Equinox will be on sale at least another 10 years because it will still be cheaper (at least before you look at tax credits, fuel cost, maintenance, etc).

The Mercedes lower end EV would be the sedan based on the Vision EQXX that is coming in 2025 model year.  They are working top down, have to finish the top and middle range first.

Funny. When GM was introducing 100K EV trucks a few months ago, there wasn’t this same leeway given to them that you have presented to for your favorite brand. I wonder why?

2 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I think the $104k is a fine price, but you can get a Stingray way cheaper.  If the Stingray base price goes up a bit more then the E-Ray looks like a better deal.

And I can get any base Mercedes far cheaper than their AMG versions (with larger price gaps in some cases) yet...

In other words, what is your point? That literally applies to ALL cars with multiple hi-po versions of it.

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Correct, you can get a less equipped car with less performance for less money. That is how things work. 

Be careful saying things that make sense. He is prepping that bar for movement as we speak. 

43 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

It is a lot but it's also running with the Z06 in a straight line and likely pretty dang comparable around a track adding AWD. 

Didn't the AMGs/Ms skyrocket once they added AWD to the E63/M5?

Yes they did skyrocket but again, crickets chirping on those subjects. Also, given the numbers the E-Ray is going to be put out, by all accounts it should cost MORE than the Z06 but as I said earlier, it was smart of GM to NOT do that because now you have equal choices for the old school crowd AND the new school crowd. There is literally nothing wrong with the E-Ray price being $30K higher than the base Vette. It's that simple and not one person here needs to explain to the Mercedes fan why that is so since he clearly is not interested in any actual facts, only that Chevrolet just slapped an electric motor to the rear wheels and called it a day. 

8 hours ago, smk4565 said:

Throwing an electric motor on an axle doesn’t cost that much.  If it was a $15-20k gap I could see that being reasonable.

Okay, civility is done here. Are you out of your damn mind? Did you really equate the E-Ray with what Toyota does? Just stop commenting if you're going to do nothing but make troll statements like that because it is not grounded in reality in any way. You clearly HAVE NOT read all the details of this particular hybrid and it shows. A lot of folks give your fanboy remarks here a wide birth here but not when you say completely asinine stuff like the above remarks. If this were a Benz, you wouldn't have $h! to say here because you spend far less time on threads about your favorite brand than you with anything NOT Mercedes. Think about that for more than a minute.

Okay, back to civility lol. 

8 hours ago, smk4565 said:

The E-ray has some stuff standard that a Stingray doesn’t, but you could equip a Stingray for $70-75k and get what the E-Ray has at $105k

Really? You can get an extra 155HP and AWD on a $70-75K Vette? That must be news to me…and Chevrolet. 
 

Sorry but you can’t cherry pick your way through this one. 
 

I personally seem zero issue with the E-Ray pricing here. Think about it. The E-Ray opens up the Vette to a new batch of buyers who might not want to roll in a RWD only Z-06. It’s called “options” and by keeping them at similar price points, they can appeal to both buyers without the uptick in price for the “privilege” of electric. 

2 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I assume they are just going to stick with the V8 until ICE is killed off, maybe GM can make up their CAFE and emissions requirements elsewhere and doesn't care what the Corvette does.  But it is possible to make a 4-cylinder hybrid that makes more horsepower and torque than this V8 hybrid, because it is has already been done.  But if they need to get higher MPG out of the Corvette, or want to sell in other countries that have displacement taxes, they could easily replace the base 6.2 V8 with a 2.7T they have in house, add the same electric motor and end up with  around 500 hp/500 lb-ft.  Then you get AWD hybrids on every model, add it to the Z06 even.

And again see above statement, by an actual Corvette engineer, as to why you really need to stop beating this dead four banger horse where the Vette is concerned. Not even as an option.