balthazar

No; so far the fabric is fine. But it seems a surprising/questionable choice. I'd be fine with an eBrake switch. Never use the PB anyway.

• I cannot imagine anyone having a dislike for the front end, it's head & shoulders above it's segment competition, namely toyoyo, honda, nissan. The rest is nice, clean, mildly dynamic, but the rear isn't as striking as the front. Sort of generic. Whole car really doesn't say 'Chevy' anymore, but it's still well-designed. • I greatly prefer the parking brake on the floor (or as a button if an OEM offers); console-mounted levers take up room and are ungainly to look at. Old school at this point. • I'm interested to see how fabric on the dash lasts long-term- it's going to be harder to clean if soiled than any other material. • Our '16 does not have the heated seats or paddle shifters the '09 did. The paddles are wildly out of place in this class- we never used them outside of the first few 'playing around' times. Still getting used to Start/Stop- it's less obtrusive than I had expected. Question- this feature must be having a measurable effect on 0-60 times, right? • I have not driven this car much yet, but it's 2 thumbs up from Mrs Balthy so far.

'Hood bumper'.

My last 2 DDs are many years apart. '04 Silverado LS 2500HD 6.6L, '94 F-150 XL 4.9L. '04 ~ Seats are much more comfy, 4WD, DuraMax power, capabilities in towing/cargo, power windows. '94 ~ long bed, lower to ground (2WD), simpler/less features to eventually go down, easier to drive (20-in shorter wheelbase). I also greatly preferred the styling of the '94. Interior features aren't as important to me; I'd like an Aux port on the '04 but it doesn't have one (AM-FM/cassette/CD). I am intrigued tho on a few of the early '19 Silverado unveiling videos; where there's a whole host of interior features that might be very useful. Trailer hook-up assist via camera would definitely be one of those.

Everybody keep your cheat sheets handy!

Sure! Just make out the bank check to 'Jagooarr US' for $694,000.

The question is; is it ever?

Guess she must be over-compensating for... something.

^ I agree in principal; would be a nice change of pace. However, the majority of modern stuff has little in the way of a 'natural divider' for 2-tones. The Lincoln looks a bit off above/below the headlight.

Depends which year- started with the 383, then the 440, then the 360.

'30 LaSalle at Milford Proving Grounds :

Other that reading the badging, only a MB tech can tell. CLA/S-Coupe :

No prob- just expressing my POV. SOMETIMES odd & funky is cool- that's true. But in my book, 'odd & funky' struggles to be 'cool' and almost never achieves being 'a thing of beauty'. Unless smk was calling the A7 'odd & funky', then I'll go away. ;)

Interesting, yet difficult to fathom.

Bentley 4-dr in the lil strip mall at the end of my street. Hard to miss- it was entirely painted matte nuclear orange. I'll assume the owner lost a high-stakes bet on that one, because it looked hilariously bad.

Is it an A-class? a C-class? an E-class, a CLS-class? an S-class? WHO CAN TELL???? - - - - - Customer of mine has an S-class. I know it's older, but what year I don't know, maybe a '10. Haven't ridden in it, but have been inside it/it's trunk. It fails to impress.

Interceptor ^ reminds me much more of an AMC Pacer than another slice off the Audi sausage. It's an awkward, ungainly car.

By 'peak' I meant it's at it's peak, not that a segment reverse course is imminent.

I've been a good member here, well-behaved, haven't caused trouble/gotten any warnings. Why must you taunt??

No doubt; but as a mainstream, high volume, mass market brand, MB is DECADES late to the segment and has forfeited billions in profits to the competition. Now, when the segment is at it's peak & competition is fierce, they come in with a downmarket, corner-cutting rebadge, showing they still have no idea about how & why Americans are spending on trucks.

^ without pics, it's kinda worthless. - - - - -

One's an (ugly) RWD-proportioned coupe, the other is a (passable but generic) FWD-proportioned sedan. Not seeing it. And NO ONE will buy one, so it could look like a Lamborghini or a lawn tractor- doesn't matter.

'truck = overcompensation' ranks right up there with 'camaro = mullet'.

... because the OEMs offer both a low, sleek, sporty front clip and a chiseled, upright clip, and everyone is going for the chiseled clip. Yea, that's how it works.