
smk4565
Members-
Posts
13,766 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
13
Content Type
Forums
Articles
Garage
Gallery
Events
Store
Collections
Everything posted by smk4565
-
Maybe Encore will be small sized. The Equinox and SRX are basically mid-sized vehicles, nearly 1 foot longer than a Ford Escape. Perhaps they want an SUV in the 180-182 inch long range, and that isn't a bad idea. I think small and less expensive is good given the economy we are in. Plus, more and more people get married later (or not at all) and have less kids than they used to, so not everyone needs a big SUV, or even a midsize SUV.
-
Lambda is wrong wheel drive for Cadillac. Although I would be in favor of taking the Escalade off GMT900 because it is overly huge and gets about 14 mpg. Making the Escalade a more gas friendly crossover is a good idea, but not on Lambda, we already have 3 of those.
-
An Eldorado Brougham they built for two years, and how many did they actually sell. That was the XLR or Alante of its day. They built an overpriced extravagant car, redesigned it in 59 and it was gone by 1961. So as I said, they never built anything that belonged in that segment. Every generation, Cadillac takes a stab at the Jaguar, high end Mercedes, Maserati strata, and they come up short and give up for 15 years. Let's see Cadillac build a top end car that sells and actually sticks around.
-
The largest car cruise in the area I think. They get over 2,000 cars most nights. http://www.starlitecarcruise.com/ There was a guy with a McLaren Mercedes SLR last year, pretty sick car to see in person.
-
Found this beauty for sale at a local Hyundai lot
smk4565 replied to FUTURE_OF_GM's topic in The Lounge
Yes. Looks pretty good, wasn't the Batmobile from the Adam West TV show a Bonneville conversion? -
When Cadillac tried with the STS-V, XLR and XLR-V to go into the $77-100k price range, they fell flat on their face. This is why the DTS and STS both cost $46k, Cadillac fears that high price class. The Alante tried to go up there years ago, and failed also. The other problem, is GM wants to parts bin everything, and their parts bin doesn't have what a Range Rover (or S-class) type of buyer wants. Cadillac doesn't have the platforms, engines, transmissions, technology or brand cache to attack the ultra luxury classes. GMC also does not have what is needed to go after a Range Rover type vehicle. That's what I said--GM doesn't MAKE anything of that class. They can price whatever they want, but if what they manufacture doesn't actually belong in that class, it doesn't matter. Agreed with that. GM never made anything that belonged up there even though they had a few lame attempts.
-
Agreed. Cadillac could move up market, and should, they are the luxury brand, the top brand and smallest volume brand. Plus they could bring image to GM by being an elite brand. But I don't know why they want to push Buick and GMC up to overlap Cadillac. And GM should look at how the economy is and will be. Unemployment is high, wages are flat, education and healthcare costs rise. Most people can't afford a $35k car, and many in Gen Y are about urban living, walking, and saving the environment. I think the future is more at the low end of the market, the bulk of GM's focus should be there.
-
When Cadillac tried with the STS-V, XLR and XLR-V to go into the $77-100k price range, they fell flat on their face. This is why the DTS and STS both cost $46k, Cadillac fears that high price class. The Alante tried to go up there years ago, and failed also. The other problem, is GM wants to parts bin everything, and their parts bin doesn't have what a Range Rover (or S-class) type of buyer wants. Cadillac doesn't have the platforms, engines, transmissions, technology or brand cache to attack the ultra luxury classes. GMC also does not have what is needed to go after a Range Rover type vehicle.
-
Drew, you should take it to the Starlite car cruise in Wexford. July 8th is Buick/Oldsmobile/Cadillac night. I hope the Aurora becomes a future classic so I can take it to a car cruise one day.
-
Cadillac can't even play there, GMC sure won't be able to. The average income for a Range Rover buyer is around $300,000. Far more than the $129kk income seen for Cadillac buyers, and even significantly more than the Mercedes average income of $174,000. Range Rover is way up there.
-
They aren't? What is better off road than a Range Rover?
-
We've heard this before, multiple times. Yet GMC has always directly overlapped Chevy in price, and GMC offers work trucks with zero equipment at all, at sometimes prices below the Chevy trucks. The Denali line is the only thing about GMC that is more upscale than Chevy. But to me the Denalis are just body cladding, chrome wheels and wood trim tacked on top of the base model's plastic. It isn't like the GMC Denali's have a really high level of luxury or fit and finish. It is like trying to make a luxury car out of the Impala, no matter how much chrome and wood you add on to the existing Impala, it isn't going to be nicer than a CTS. You have to design it with luxury in mind, not dress up a base model.
-
I never knew it went away. But I like that they detail the inside and outside of the car and have a low interest rate. But most of these certified programs are fairly similar it seems.
-
GM Executive Calls Out Nissan Leaf, Talks About Spring Hill
smk4565 replied to William Maley's topic in General Motors
Yes the Leaf is single purpose, but it still fits the needs of many drivers. And electricity is more readily available than gasoline, so I don't get the fear of not being able to recharge it. And really Ruess should be concerned with an Aveo and Impala that are pathetic, a Corvette that doesn't sell, and full size SUVs with sales dropping at a 20% rate. -
I think to be a flop, the car has to be a one and done model cycle. So cars like the Sebring though terrible, had multiple generations, and the 200 replaced it, but is basically the same. Much like the Ion was around a long time and replaced the SL/SC cars. I think to be a real flop that has to be no second generation or close copy. So I'd look to cars like the Aztec, Cadillac XLR, Thunderbird, Blackwood, etc. These were cars that were on market for 2-5 years, sold in limited numbers, then cancelled with no replacement. Ridgeline and Subaru Tribeca saw redesigns or second generations, I think the Smart will stick around. Mercury Maruarder was really a trim level of the Grand Marquis which sold well. Chrysler Crossfire is a good one and done car. Cars like the Catera, Astra and GTO fell short of sales expectations. I think the grand champion is the Lincoln Blackwood though, they sold like 700 in a whole year.
-
Flop is different than bad car, the Sebring is a bad car, but not a flop. Biggest flops I'd say are: Lincoln Blackwood Lincoln Mark LT Pontiac Aztec Ford Excursion (massive environmental backlash also) Ford Thunderbird (perhaps a collectable now, but has less market life than the Lincoln LS and Jag S-type) Buick Terrezza Saturn Relay Saturn Astra Pontiac GTO Cadillac Catera Ford Freestyle Ford Five Hundred But I think the Lincoln Blackwood I have to put #1, that thing was pointless and didn't sell at all.
-
With the CTS soon to be the middle Cadillac priced in the high $30s, the XTS likely priced in the $45-55k range where the DTS resides, Buick can't really move any farther up market. Buick isn't a luxury brand, it is a medium brand, so if you want a car nicer than Buick, that is why GM has Cadillac.
-
This car is front wheel drive right, for $2200 you can buy an Aurora V8 and stick that in there and engine problem solved.
-
I looks to be in great condition, looks showroom new. I was never a fan of the bustle back design, but it at least makes the car unique. The 4.1 liter is a problem, many of these 80s luxury cars had little power, the Town Car for all that mass only had like 150 hp. If you want an 80s luxury car that can go, Mercedes 560SEL is one of the few that isn't slow by today's standards.
-
Cadillac ATS-V On the Way, Will Get Twin-Turbocharged V-6 - Car News
smk4565 replied to BigPontiac's topic in Cadillac
They do need more than 380 hp if the rest of the class is all well over 400 now, and the ATS-V is 2-3 years away. But what made BMW over the years was not being the most powerful car, it was being the best car in the corners. So I think 380 hp is not enough, but the goal shouldn't be to have the biggest most powerful engine in the class, but the best handling, steering, and braking. That is how BMW racks up so many awards and sells so many 3-series. -
Cadillac ATS-V On the Way, Will Get Twin-Turbocharged V-6 - Car News
smk4565 replied to BigPontiac's topic in Cadillac
Why does Cadillac always have to undercut the Germans by $15k? That is what Hyundai does because they are Hyundai and building main stream cars with 2 sedans that try to give you most of what you get on a Lexus or Mercedes at a bargain price. Is Cadillac going after the Germans or does Cadillac want to compete with Hyundai and Lincoln. Although, right now, Hyundai is doing a better job of building a knock off, discount Mercedes than Cadillac is. At least they have a V8 rear driver, Cadillac gets the XTS. -
Cadillac ATS-V On the Way, Will Get Twin-Turbocharged V-6 - Car News
smk4565 replied to BigPontiac's topic in Cadillac
Of course, light weight alloys and chassis refinement matters a lot. But, how does going for a heavier, more expensive and less powerful engine help? So the Regal should lose the 2.0T in favor of a 3.1 liter pushrod 4-cylinder? The Malibu and Lacrosse should get that also? How about the 4.8 liter pushrod V8 with 275 hp for the CTS rather than the 3.6 DOHC V6. Cadillac in the early 90s gained credibility with the Northstar engine. The 4.5 and 4.9 liter pushrod V8s were no match for Lexus or the Germans. The Northstar in the 90s was just as good as anything the imports could offer (aside from the German V12s) it was just too bad that Cadillac didn't have a rear driver or something smaller than the Eldorado, Seville, and Deville which were pretty much large and extra large. -
Cadillac ATS-V On the Way, Will Get Twin-Turbocharged V-6 - Car News
smk4565 replied to BigPontiac's topic in Cadillac
The GT-R is a computer with AWD. That's why it can beat most other cars around the 'Ring. For analogy's sake, if the ZR1 is Ken Jennings, the GT-R is Watson. Good analogy, I like it. That is the Corvette's problem, it is the same formula they have used for 30-40 years. The ATS-V should not be like the Corvette, Camaro or any other American sports car that just crams in a big V8 from a pick up. The ATS-V needs to be Watson. -
Cadillac ATS-V On the Way, Will Get Twin-Turbocharged V-6 - Car News
smk4565 replied to BigPontiac's topic in Cadillac
The GT-R as a twin turbo V6 and beats the ZR1 around the Nurburgring. I'm sure a turbo V6 can make the ATS-V powerful enough. The real important thing is handling, braking and steering.