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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    I think Balth and I are in agreement. I think one maybe two additional CUVs/SUVs for Cadillac at most... but not a Benz-like 5 or 6. Benz has 6 SUV/CUVs today.. and a 7th since they seem to count the E-Class wagon in their crossovers, with apparently CUV variants waiting in the wings. Cadillac doesn't need that many. I could see an X3 sized competitor and maybe something between XT5 and Escalade... but anything below X3/GLC should be handled (and is handled) by Buick. Cadillac doesn't need to be the next purveyor of fake Louis Vuitton bags like Benz and Audi have become. Cadillac also does not need sales dogs like the GLE Coupe and X6 just to satisfy armchair CEOs with a penchant for comparing every number to Benz. The Cadillac ELR is dead. What Cadillac needs to do now with its car lineup is expand the number of body styles in the existing lines. There needs to be a CTS Coupe and Wagon again. There need to be multiple convertibles. There should be a coupe/convertible CT6. All three of their newest sedans need to be offered in coupe and convertible format... period. We already know the XTS is dead man walking, so I'm not counting that for anything. Next you'll tell me that Cadillac needs a minivan to compete with the Mercedes Benz Metris.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    On the Malibu, if you set the AC to Max, the Start/Stop will be minimized
  3. Drew Dowdell
    No, Cadillac does not. Mercedes does because they have to cover the entire market with a single brand, that's why they've been moving into Buick/GMC (and GMC/Chevy Commercial) territory lately. Cadillac can be more exclusive and selective with their vehicle offerings.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    Which means, they really haven't even started on it.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    You can't see who gave out reputation... so don't assume it is who you think it is. In this case, you got it wrong.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    The very BEST thing that could happen is that manufacturers start competing with existing dealer networks.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Probably slightly better than the CTS with the same engine, 8-speed, and start/stop. (due to lower overall power) The CTS RWD is 20/30/24.
  8. Drew Dowdell
    That is very good to know. Although I would still appreciate a switch to be able to turn it off. And if the system is as seamless as they make it sound, then I'll never turn it off. It takes about half a day to get used to it.... and that was even on the jittery Benz version.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    It's rather simple.... if McDonalds, Marriott, Apple, etc can have both corporate owned and franchised stores, then so can dealerships. Car dealerships deserve ZERO special accommodation to protect their businesses from competition. I can't think of a single other business that has such archaic laws aside from the liquor laws in some states.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    See that argument falls apart as Tesla can do like everyone else was forced to do and sell dealer franchises like everyone else. That horse left the barn over 100 years ago. It's time to update the rules.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    In the eAssist systems, it's just a giant alternator that can also be a 15 horsepower electric motor, attached to the crank pulley via a thicker than normal serpentine belt. The technical difference is so minor..... it's nothing to worry about. The current start/stop system is just the old eAssist system with a smaller battery and smaller alternator/motor which doesn't assist the engine during acceleration. Given all of GM's other troubles over the past 10 years, the fact that we've heard basically nothing bad about the reliability of eAssist should tell us something. That said... this announcement sounds like a different setup than the eAssist in that it runs through the transmission instead, making it more of a traditional starter.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Your final point about reducing wear is exactly backwards and out of date. The GM system keeps the oil pressurized, The engine fires nearly instantly with direct injection, and in the case of the BAS system, the regular starter is not used.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    interested in trying out the new system... the existing one is very smooth
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Cadillac has 3 halo products. Escalade, CTS-V, and ATS-V.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    That argument falls apart though in that there are no independent Tesla dealerships for Tesla Corporate to compete with. I can somewhat see the argument against GM owned stores when there are lots of GM independent dealers out there... But that's not the case with Tesla.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    The answer is simple. People like you who are badge snobs. For the price, people would rather buy a Mercedes-Pretendz CLA than a equal price ATS with more equipment and better performance. The ATS is clearly the superior car, but people like you have convinced the sheep that they have to get the Pretendz in order to show that they've "made it".
  17. Drew Dowdell
    Heartily disagree on the Q50 interior. I'd put it second to last place in the segment being beaten for worst only by Acura (TLX, Rlx, or ILX , take your pick, doesn't matter)
  18. Drew Dowdell
    Olds, you're both right and wrong. The CTS, while not at the level of the germans on interior design, put Cadillac back on the performance map. It gave Cadillac the platform to hone its skills on leading into the second gen CTS on the same platform that became a German killer on the track.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    The Camry is the best selling mid size... That doesn't make it the best mid size... It just means that people have habits that are hard to break. And it's biased, agenda driven people like you who bash Cadillac constantly over non-issues that perpetuate the stigma against the brand. No, the Q is not better than the ATS... Not by a long shot
  20. Drew Dowdell
    Cadillac makes great cars now, but you can't see with the 3-pointed stars in your eyes.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    You mean that annoying chime that most people just shut off anyway....? We're not talking about something that hits the brakes for you... just the chime that tells you you're about to hit..... But when it comes to the actual impact... Once you've hit, you're actually better off in the Camaro. Yet the mustang is somehow better because it can tell you you're about to hit. The only time you're better in a Mustang is if you flip the car over..... Just goes to show you how poorly weighted this comparison is when the optional annoying chime that can easily be disabled by the driver trumps actual impact performance.
  22. Drew Dowdell
    You don't buy an ATS or 3-series or A4 to be your friends' free Uber driver. If you plan on taking bunches of friends out regularly on long trips, either pony up for a mid-size luxury or step down to a "family" car/SUV. These are personal luxury cars.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    Note to Serg: Don't piss off German regulators.... it will not end well.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    I applaud Tesla for continuing to challenge this outmoded business model
  25. Drew Dowdell
    So what's your opinion on the problem factors plaguing the Audi A4? Is it marketing / image problems there also? It was in the final year of it's model cycle last year. They sold 34,000 of them in 2014 and 37,000 of them in 2013. When it was fresher it sold better, but that car was under powered the past few years, the base car now has a 252 hp turbo. Better interior and more power always help. I think Audi reliability issues hurt that car also, and Audi styling looks a bit too like a VW and hasn't changed much recently, I think it is a bit boring. I didn't include the A5, but they sell about 15,000 of those per year, which is about what the Lexus RC sells. If you tack 15,000 units to the A5 and IS for their coupe counterparts, their numbers look pretty good. I think A4 loses sales to A3 also, because they are more similar than a CLA and C-class are for example. The new A4 looks like a Passat with an Audi grille.
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