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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    This makes a lot of sense, and I was saying 3 years ago they should drop the 2.5 liter and make the 2.0T the base engine. Putting more equipment and better powertrain in the car was what they should have done all along. I actually think Cadillac should drop the 3.6 V6 over the next 2 years and make the 3.0 TT as their mid-level engine, even if they have to dial back the power a little bit to 370 hp to improve refinement. The 3.6 V6 is just useless when it comes to torque compared to the German sixes and the Jaguar V6. Cadillac should be striving toward an all turbo lineup by 2018.
  2. smk4565
    It is not irrelevant as Electric will improve but it is not going to take over the entire industry in all areas. It will still take all variations of energy to meet the needs and desires of customers. While technology will improve we are still decades from infrastructure that will meet the needs to most people. Hell there are still many places with out cell coverage yet today and will not have it in the near future. Not everyone lives in a metro area. I don't think it is unrealistic to think that in 2050 every new car sold will be electric. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen in time. Electricity is more readily available than gas also. And electricity has better performance too. Cost is the obstacle, eventually they will overcome that.
  3. smk4565
    If I had a dime for every person that wanted to trade in their E-class or 5-series on a big Alfa Romeo sedan, I'd have ZERO DIMES!!! FCA for sure should spend $1 billion dollars to develop and E-class rival so they can lose money on it. Good plan, get to bankruptcy sooner so this company can close down once and for all and some one else can buy Jeep.
  4. smk4565
    We know diesels need the urea systems, and some technology to get compliant, so I guess the question is, how much are these car companies doing to get these cars to pass emissions. They probably all cheat to some degree, but gas cars are letting off emissions too, and they have emission control systems that I am sure some lawyer or scientist somewhere could claim is not meeting a standard. It does seem like a witch hunt on diesels, but it will all be irrelevant in a few years. As electric motors and batteries get better, plug in hybrid and EV's will grow, people won't want diesel anyway.
  5. smk4565
    The 740's numbers don't surprise me. Most BMW 35i/40i badged cars are underrated. The "300 horsepower" 335i a few years ago on dyno tests was showing it probably made more like 330 hp, the 740i might make 340-350 hp but they call it 320. It also makes peak torque at 1,350 rpm so you are instantly at max pulling power and that ZF transmission whips through those first couple gears fast. Audi uses ZF transmissions also, look at their launch times. 4.8 seconds is quick for a full size sedan, had I not read that I would have guessed about 5 seconds flat, but I am not shocked to see 4.8. 26 mpg makes sense too, a lot of BMW's have re-gen braking and capacitors to save on alternator load, engine start-stop, etc., my friend has a 535 diesel that does that to squeeze extra mpg's out. Sort of like the Mazda i-eloop thing does.
  6. smk4565
    They should buy FCA to have 500 models!
  7. smk4565
    Not a good car, the Olds and Pontiacs actually look nicer inside and out. This is a sad piece of GM 80s cost cutting and crap building. However, for 2,100 miles that is pretty insane to find a 30 year old car with 2,000 miles. I see the auction ended at $4,500. The low mileage is awesome, but it isn't a desirable or collectable car. I voted Cheers anyway though, low miles and it is cheap.
  8. smk4565
    It is pricey, but it is also a more up level trim Cruze. I am not sure how it compares to all those other cars trim levels though. And Car and Driver just has a comparison in this segment which the Mazda 3 won for the 3rd time in a row, so that is still the best buy. I don't think the Cruze hatch is overpriced compared to the Cruze sedan, when you look at it that way the hatch might be a good value, it costs about the same equally equipped. I think the Sonic and Spark need combined into one sub-compact cheap car, that is like $13,500 and bare bones. The Cruze should shrink in size and price closer to what the Sonic is now, this way Malibu and Impala stick around. As they push the Cruze up market, it gets right on top of the Malibu, and big cars aren't selling, if the Malibu grows anymore they'll discontinue the Impala.
  9. smk4565
    I think the LT1 could have been a good option for 2014-2017 model years, to replace the 3.6 TT and maybe even the 3.6 V6. I still think the 2.0T and 3.6 V6 are pretty redundant as they make similar torque, the fuel economy is similar too. But if they had an LT1 V8 CTS for $55k priced the same as a Corvette, then maybe the Cadillac could have gotten some better sales numbers. I don't think a pushrod V8 is the right engine for Cadillac, but compared to the V6s they have, it would be been an upgrade. And at the time they didn't have a Cadillac V8. Ideally, Cadillac would have an 100% turbo lineup of 4, 6 and 8 cylinders. And you would add hybrids and plug-ins to those 3 engines. Later down the line pure electrics.
  10. smk4565
    As I said, car companies will move toward electric. And I know they have more torque. And zero emission. Electric is the future, pure EV is just a little while away still. And I meant to type "diesel is good" before, not god. I didn't mean to sound like diesel was the best, just that you get good torque and highway mileage from a diesel engine. But you have the emissions problem, so a plug in or hybrid can get the torque and mileage in a cleaner fashion.
  11. smk4565
    Diesel is god from a torque and highway fuel economy standpoint, but bad from the emissions standpoint. And I think going forward people (governments) will care more about emissions than mpg. Makes more sense to offer plug in hybrids and push toward electrification, because the market will go there eventually.
  12. smk4565
    Mercedes also announced today that they will spend $7.8 billion in the next 2 years on greener powertrains, such as the 48 volt electric system mild hybrids, fuel cell and pure electric drivetrains.
  13. smk4565
    I can't wait to see the performance capability because the battery and motors will end up in a sedan that should be awesome. Sort of smart of them to start with a crossover, because people are crazy for crossovers. And a lot of electric cars are little, weird looking cars, if it is good looking crossover people will gobble it up.
  14. smk4565
    Jermey Clarkson likes the Skoda Yetti, he had a helicopter land on the roof of one while he was driving it.
  15. smk4565
    They must not need that large of a car if they just bought 100 BMW i3's considering the i3 is 10 inches shorter than a Chevy Trax. If the i3 is large enough for the LAPD, a Chevy Trax is more than large enough for their needs.
  16. smk4565
    Here are new E-class police cars, and they are for Autobahn police. Which does make sense because you need high speed capability, in the 120-150 mph range. This car can do that. In America we don't really need police cars that do 140 mph, because our speed limits are 60 and 70 in a lot of places. Looking at the German police cars, the E-class is on the big side of them. A Malibu or Fusion is the size of an E-class, I don't see why police need larger than a mid-size car. And maybe the police departments want cheaper, more fuel efficient cars but the Big 3 only want to sell full size products to them because full sizers have better profit margins. That is almost my bigger complaint. The Taurus might be dead now without fleet sales, so by Ford only offering a Taurus police car, and no Fusion police package, they force departments to pay more for the larger, thirstier vehicle, and basically the tax payer gets to subsidize keeping the Ford Taurus factory open since the general consumer isn't buying them. I bet if Ford sold a Fusion Police package for $4,000 less than the current Taurus Police package and offered them side by side, the departments would buy the Fusion at 5-1 at least.
  17. smk4565
    One of those was a C-class wagon from the early 2000s, the E-class sedan is a 2003-2006 car, the 5-series and e-class wagons are newer, the newest E-class police car I saw pictures of were from before the 2014 model year refresh. I would guess both have the 4-cylinder diesel, so those are 40+ mpg vehicles. But with the emissions becoming a big deal, it looks like they want more electric or hybrid power now.
  18. smk4565
    GM could bring the Insignia/Regal wagon to sell to police agencies here, with a 1.6 liter turbo it would get way better mileage than an Explorer, probably cost the same, maybe less. Lots of cargo room too. Cruze RS Hatchback, and I guess Germany proved the Volt can be a police car. The Volt wouldn't have the space advantage of a wagon or hatch or crossover though. The Bolt could work.
  19. smk4565
    e-Golf!!! Electric and a hatchback 2 for 1 deal. Another wagon...
  20. smk4565
    Here are some German police cars: Hmmm, looks like they use the Volt's Opel cousin over there (among many others) Many Opel Insignia Wagons Seems they like the A-class, proving a hatch back can be a police car. Hmm, what about a Focus ST hatch police car here?
  21. smk4565
    Subaru Outback would make a lot of sense, they aren't too expensive, they are good on gas, have cargo room, and have all wheel drive. They are even made in the USA.
  22. smk4565
    More BS because first off, most times on your car are at the 5.1-5.2 mark. One publication getting a slightly better time does not change that fact. Second, the Hemi AWD edition is $36K not $41k.http://www.nwmc-cog.org/SPC-Documents/SPC_2016_Charger_Pursuit_Price_List-_Order_Form-3.aspx Third, I wonder how you feel about Germany's use of mostly larger Mercedes models for their police fleet? Fourth, most of those chargers are for state troopers and highway patrol (not much city use) and that Hemi is rated 27mpg on the highway. Again, if you don't get why most cops prefer larger vehicles, then you need to just stop now. You've been told why repeatedly and just ignore and make up ridiculous reasons why they shouldn't. Ford plans to kill the Taurus, so I guess cops better get used to a Fusion. Unless they only buy SUVs, that are slow. So their goes the "we need speed" argument.
  23. smk4565
    Here is the car and driver test of the Charger police car, with the as tested price of $40,875. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-dodge-charger-pursuit-v-8-awd-test-review And here is a review of my car stating the 4.8 second 0-60 time. http://www.motortrend.com/news/2008-mercedes-benz-e550-quick-test/ And another quoting 4.8 http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2007-mercedes-benz-e550-page-3 And a 3rd magazine that got 4.9 seconds (07 model, but same as an 08) http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/road-tests/reviews/a12789/2007-mercedes-benz-e550/ Considering I used Car and Driver's time for the Charger Police car, makes sense to use their time for my car.
  24. smk4565
    Car and Driver tested the Dodge Charger Police car with Hemi and all wheel drive, 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. My car does 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. So no, it couldn't catch my 08 E-class. But there is no reason really to spend $41k of tax payer money on a car that gets an observed 16 mpg when using tax payer funds. I'd also like to see government fleets and police department fleets meet the same CAFE standard they want the masses to meet.
  25. smk4565
    I think an off road E-class Estate is pointless. But the only reason I could see the justification is if they think wagon sales are dropping too low, and the E-class wagon alone doesn't have enough volume. By using the exact same body and drive train, and just lifting the suspension 2 inches and putting a skid plate or side skirt on it, it doesn't take any development cost, and maybe it makes the total wagon sales volume go up. I don't think it will make total wagon sales go up, but that is the only reason I can see them doing it.
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