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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    The E-class has a standard V6 and is the segment gold standard, the Lexus GS is a standard V6, Infiniti Q70 has a standard V6. Anything the CT6 is supposed to compete with has 6 or 8 cylinders. Cadillac is also the challenger, not the leader, they should use the 3.6 V6 as their base model, a 3.0 TT as a mid-level engine.
  2. smk4565
    Props to Lincoln for putting a 400 hp turbo V6 in the MKZ to breath some life into it. I was surprised that this is the most powerful Lincoln ever, hard to believe that in their 100 year history they never mad a 400 hp engine. The grille doesn't look that good, they are just copying Jaguar and some others. They will have an all new styling language in 2020 anyway, Lincoln doesn't stick with anything.
  3. smk4565
    I like the interior. The inside has a bit of a 1st generation Hyundai Genesis to it, and that is a good thing. The interior layout was good in that car. The new Lacrosse interior is elegant, and clean and straight forward. The current car was too busy and the layout was weird. I give them an A on the interior for the $35,000 full size car segment. The outside however reminds me of a Nissan, I just can't get excited by it. Has some Azera in the rear 3/4 and C-pillar area, not really a fan of the wings off the hood ornament, I'd rather focus on the waterfall grille since that is their signature. Interesting how this car gets a STANDARD 3.6 liter V6, yet the Cadillac ATS, CTS, and CT6 get a standard 4 cylinder. That makes no sense, if Cadillac is a full level above Buick. CTS and CT6 should have a standard V6 as well.
  4. smk4565
    My first thought was 2005-2007 era Saturn Aura, Malibu or Pontiac G6. They are usually in that price range. If he wants a coupe or more youthful car, Scion tC of 05-08 should be affordable. The Focus got a redesign . 2008, could probably get one for under $7k.
  5. smk4565
    Over $90k is steep for a car that starts at $55k, and isn't giving you a V8 either for that price either. I suspect most of the sales will the the 3.6 liter V6 model for around $60k, which will give XTS buyers a place to go when the XTS dies, even though it costs more.
  6. smk4565
    One day they might build the trucks and SUVs in Mexico too.
  7. smk4565
    And people said GM needed Pontiac and Saturn, etc. And GM is doing better with 4 brands than they did with 8. There just seems like a lot of overlap still in FCA and you don't need to be all things to all people. Jeep builds crossovers and SUVs, do you really need carbon copies of them in other brands if Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler are all in the same dealership? Do we need a 300 and a Charger? And is Maserati ever really going to compete? Sergio wants to consolidate, but has an army of low volume niche products, and probably about 1/3rd of their products are really profitable.
  8. smk4565
    If FCA wanted real consolidation, they could probably keep Fiat as the small cheap car brand, pick one of Dodge and Chrysler for the middle, dump Alfa and put the effort into Maserati as the luxury brand. Then you have a 3 step car line up. Jeep and Ram stay for trucks and SUVs. But they won't do that because they like having 8 boutique brands rather than 4 strong ones.
  9. smk4565
    A Chinese built car will be a hard sell. I do think this opens up the slippery slope of build more and more in China where labor is cheap, and send those manufacturing jobs over seas. Most car companies build vehicles where they get sold (with the exception of low volume), but if GM can get super cheap labor in China, they don't need the UAW factories anymore.
  10. smk4565
    A good way to boost Alfa Romeo sales would be to include a free Mercedes or BMW with the purchase of every new Alfa.
  11. smk4565
    As far as the Continental goes, if they want it to sell they should price it about $42,000 for the base V6 model, and $49,995 for the fully loaded twin turbo V6. I think so few people want a Lincoln sedan, that it could be nicer than an MKX and cost $10,000 less and still not sell.
  12. smk4565
    I think the 2nd tier luxury brands need to worry. Hyundai can offer a pretty temping value proposition in any segment. When you look at where Elantra and Sonata were 10 years ago to now, they made big gains. With a dedicated luxury brand, with rear drive platforms, a 3.3 liter turbo V6, a big V8, 8-speed transmission, they have the hardware to easily outshine Lincoln or Acura and give Infiniti and Cadillac a run for their money. Even the Lexus sedans haven't had any significant powertrain improvements since 2007, the RX and ES keep that brand alive.
  13. smk4565
    I think most diesels beat the highway estimate also. But for comparison reasons, you have to compare the EPA sticker. The Grand Cherokee could probably beat it's number just as easily as a Colorado could. $3,700 seems like a big price premium though, that might slow down the take rate.
  14. smk4565
    But it is a crossover, so it is the best thing evarrrrr!
  15. smk4565
    How much cargo do these CUV owners haul? Most of the time you see 1 person in the car, empty cargo area. I think it is ride height and some perceived level of safety, coupled with image of if you drive an SUV you are more successful than a sedan driver.
  16. smk4565
    Pretty good, would have been nice if the 4wd model hit 30 mpg highway. The Grand Cherokee diesel is 30 mpg highway with a V6, I would have thought the Colorado might be like 30 mpg with 4wd and 33 in rear drive. But still better than the gas engines.
  17. smk4565
    I still think they need their own unique look. The grille is Audi-like, the tail lights are like an S-class. The concept looks pretty good, but I think they'd be better off making something that stands out, rather than blends in.
  18. smk4565
    I read the Lexus RX can go 100,000 miles between oil changes or tire replacement and that the hybrid model's exhaust saves baby seals. True Story.
  19. smk4565
    But if Cadillac wants to go upscale and push their performance luxury attributes they need to leave the hearses and vinyl carriage roof Devilles behind. And if GM wants to make Buick more premium and not just a slightly nicer Chevy, let them have Cadillac's old market. And back to XT5, I assume they are going after Lincoln MKX and Lexus RX here and not the Germans. Which it would be nice if Cadillac could decide who they are targeting. The ATS and CTS want to copy BMW, the SUVs Lincoln, and the CT6 the Kia K900 I guess. Johan needs to get a plan going.
  20. smk4565
    Well then they'll get crap service, but it will be free with the gift card. So the quality will match what they paid. They do, I never have seen on on the road. But I think it gets over 40 mpg. They have had it a few years, but they seem to only advertise the TDI.
  21. smk4565
    I've seen XTS hearses, I saw one today actually. Glad they are getting out of that business. A hearse or Limo doesn't need acceleration, or handling her performance, which is what Cadillac sedans are supposed to be about. Let Buick serve that market.
  22. smk4565
    A pretty good deal, you can use the $1,000 total in life cards on maintenance at the VW dealer. Gives the customer a free year or two of service, keeps the dealership service bays busy. So that is a win-win. Give VW a chance to kiss ass of all these customers so they don't flee to another brand, even though they probably will.
  23. smk4565
    Crossover buyers don't care about performance, luxury sedan buyers often do. Plus there is a refinement issue that a V6 will in most cases be smoother than a turbo 4, and refinement should trump all in a car like the CT6. XTS is here for 4 years still?!?! I do think Buick should introduce a livery version of the LaCrosse and make the XTS $54,000 base price (make and standard), so the V6 XTS is priced more closely to the V6 CT6 and CTS. This way if the Livery market still wants to buy a Cadillac, they will pay through the nose for it and Cadillac will make huge margins, while slowly forcing the livery market to Buick.
  24. smk4565
    An RX 350 starts at $41,900, so what do we think the SRX will be? $40,995? Still not sure why the XT5 and XTS get standard V6 power, while Cadillac tries to peddle 4-cylinder power in the CTS and CT6. Why not just make every Cadillac standard V6 then.
  25. smk4565
    A convertible SUV is pretty much pointless, but it is unique and sometimes people like to buy cars that are pointless an unique. The Murano convertible tanked, but I think this will do better than that did.
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