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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    *sigh* Always the bridesmaid....
  2. Drew Dowdell
    Does Mazda even want a V6 anymore though? If they are the most efficient lineup, like Drew said, then they're probably content with a family of 4's. They'd probably prefer to boost a 4 banger rather than throw in a heavier V6 because they put so much emphasis on driving dynamics. Afterthought: I completely forgot about the CX-9. To me, that would be the only application for a V6 in their lineup. Everything else can be done with an I4, boost or n/a. The CX-9 is getting a boosted 2.5 liter 4-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. No need for a Pentastar. Well, there ya go then! lol Also, How large is the CX-9? Is it Explorer side? or more like an Edge? It's a 3-row SUV, right? So I assume it's larger, more Explorer-like. Per their web site, CX-9 has a wheel base of 113.2" with an over all length of 200.6" then a width of 76.2" and height of 68" and ground clearance of 6" Ford Explorer has a wheel base of 112.8" and an over all length of 198.3" then a width of 78.9" and height of 71.0" and ground clearance of 7.8" That's the current one.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Does this not come back to bite a company in the books when they have to take the hit or write off? I'm sure they still make a profit on the cars. But keeping the prices high gives the appearance of being expensive. SMK: "Oh, I just leased a new S-Class, it cost $118k"... Me:"Yeah, but you're only paying $1,500 a month for 24 months with $7k down on a car worth $55k when the lease is up, you didn't really pay for a $118k car".... SMK: "But I have an S-Class" ..... me: "Whatever makes you happy" In the luxury classes, things that are priced expensive are just profit centers, they don't usually cost the manufacturer anywhere near what they charge. The S-Class Sport Package is priced at $5,900... but there is no way it costs MB anywhere close to that for a different front plastic bumper and an upgrade from 19"s to 20"s.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    Does Mazda even want a V6 anymore though? If they are the most efficient lineup, like Drew said, then they're probably content with a family of 4's. They'd probably prefer to boost a 4 banger rather than throw in a heavier V6 because they put so much emphasis on driving dynamics. Afterthought: I completely forgot about the CX-9. To me, that would be the only application for a V6 in their lineup. Everything else can be done with an I4, boost or n/a. The CX-9 is getting a boosted 2.5 liter 4-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. No need for a Pentastar. Well, there ya go then! lol Also, How large is the CX-9? Is it Explorer side? or more like an Edge? It's a 3-row SUV, right? So I assume it's larger, more Explorer-like. Between Edge and Explorer in length, but narrower. Yes it's a 3-row, but I think the 3rd row is rather tight. The advantage of building the platform to only use 4-cylinder engines is that the engine cradle can be smaller and lighter. Making the decision early on to say "no V6 ever" allows them to save weight. They say that the platform itself dropped 287 lbs, but I don't know if that includes the switch from a 3.7 liter V6 to a Turbo-4 or not. If that weight loss is just in the structure, then total weight loss should be over 300lbs, putting it under 4,000 lbs in FWD form. That's a good bit of torque, and at a low RPM, for a CUV under 4k lbs. It should move along smartly.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    Not crappy, just not as much excitement as Detroit, NYC, or LA. But still one of the nicest facilities. I guess I have to burst your bubble on this next point. All of the auto shows in the US, even the big 4, are run by the dealership associations. That's why they feel like a new car dealer showroom. The only thing unique about the big 4 is their size and fact that new cars get the sheet pulled off them there. Once in a very rare while, a manufacturer will show something "new" at a show that isn't the big 4. Last year Chevy did the debut of the Colorado Trail Boss at the Cleveland Auto Show and Ram did a presentation (but not a debut) of the Ram Rebel.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    Buying an S-Class (but most lease anyway), you lose an entire E-Class in depreciation in the first two years. Even if a brand new Lincoln Continental had 100% depreciation in 2 years, you'd still lose less money. But that's why nearly all S-Classes are leased. MB eats the depreciation with relatively cheap leases compared to the price of the car. It's a back end subsidy that lets transaction prices look much higher.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Does Mazda even want a V6 anymore though? If they are the most efficient lineup, like Drew said, then they're probably content with a family of 4's. They'd probably prefer to boost a 4 banger rather than throw in a heavier V6 because they put so much emphasis on driving dynamics. Afterthought: I completely forgot about the CX-9. To me, that would be the only application for a V6 in their lineup. Everything else can be done with an I4, boost or n/a. Why waste R&D dollars on a V6 wen you can go Hybrid for the CX-9 and use a turbo 4 plus a decent electric motor. Better yet, use their I4 N/A as a generator and go with a pure electric AWD power train. Make the CX-9 like the Volt. Pure EV for the first 80 miles and then generator driven. Interesting you mention this as we should see such a setup on the new Town and Country available in a few months. The thought on the 880 that Chrysler is touting about the T&C's intro is 8 passenger and either 80 MPGE or 80 miles on straight electric power. Also, the T&C is going to offer an AWD system with electric motors powering the rear wheels so it doesn't effect the stow and go seating. Oh, I think someone said something about them needing hybrids earlier too. Actually the more I think about it, with a turbo 4 family, a new high tech plug in hybrid system, and the available new rwd platform appearing in the Alfa, why do they need a partner again? They don't need a partner, they need to dump the vampire brands that are sucking blood out of the money makers.... but Sergio likes to keep the Vampires as pets.
  8. Drew Dowdell
    Okay, just to be clear, each event is brand specific. Buick is going to have the "extra" car that is currently unknown. It could be anything from just the new Verano which we've already seen in China to a Riviera concept. It is very unlikely to be the new Enclave, though it would be interesting to intro the Envision and Enclave together. But it is a Buick event, so no non-Buicks will be shown there. GMC is showing the Acadia. Cadillac isn't showing anything. I'm sure Chevy will be showing the Bolt, and I'm told Cruze Hatch is also going to be there. That doesn't leave enough time during the 20 minute Chevy press conference to be introing a ZL-1 or Zora or Z28. Those are cars that get a dedicated presser.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    Does Mazda even want a V6 anymore though? If they are the most efficient lineup, like Drew said, then they're probably content with a family of 4's. They'd probably prefer to boost a 4 banger rather than throw in a heavier V6 because they put so much emphasis on driving dynamics. Afterthought: I completely forgot about the CX-9. To me, that would be the only application for a V6 in their lineup. Everything else can be done with an I4, boost or n/a. The CX-9 is getting a boosted 2.5 liter 4-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. No need for a Pentastar.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Bet they had to ride it hard to hit a mid eight 0-60, Plus some of the competition is a full sec faster to the same mark...... 8 speed in the 2.0 accounts for some manuf cost difference but it's still a bunch more even setting that aside. By early fall there should be a lot of leftover 2.0's on lots with healthy rebates. Am I talking to a wall here? The engine upgrades at other manufacturers are priced about the same or higher and the Malibu comes with some nice features standard that you need to pay more for at Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota. Malibu 2.0T = $28k, Sonata 2.0T = $28k, Accord V6 = $30k, Camry V6 = $32k, Mazda 6 = Not Available, Passat V6 = $36k, Ford SE 2.0T = $27k... The Malibu 2.0T is one of the least expensive engine upgrade options among its peers, so your continued ranting about the cost of the Malibu 2.0T just makes you look silly. And you want GM to price the 2.0T for the same price as the 1.5T just because they're both 4-cylinders? Do you not know how value added pricing works? Another thing you keep forgetting is that Car Play and Android Auto are both standard even in the most base model Malibu which means you effectively can have NAV without having to move up to much more expensive trims. That's a $700 to $2000 "give" from Chevy right there across the lineup. I've used Car Play, and it is superior to a built in NAV in just about every way possible. The maps are always up to date, it uses Siri's voice recognition engine, it gets traffic updates faster, it responds faster... there isn't a built in NAV system out there that can beat it. I assume that once I try Android Auto, which is compatible with Waze, that my feelings on that will be the same. So, yeah, I'd have no problem taking a Malibu 2.0T for $28k when the $28k options at nearly every other manufacturer come with less powerful engines and no NAV systems.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    If the Chinese stock market didn't have that circuit breaker to stop trading after a sudden 7% drop and the Chinese central bank hadn't put the equiv of $200 billion into the market the next day, we'd be having a very different conversation today.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Well again... something like that, GM rents out a whole facility and throws a big party. They have rented out a big facility and are throwing a big party to show us Envision (which we've already seen) and highly likely another Buick concept or production car. If they had a big Camaro or Corvette announcement, they wouldn't be wasting the facility on the Envision. The last Z/28 came out in NYC. Chevy is going to be showing the Bolt and a Cruze Hatch most likely.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    I suspect the Zora may debut at Cobo. I kinda doubt it. Something like that would be a big event and Chevy has two other cars debuting. There's no way they'd fit something like the Zora into the 20 minutes they have allotted along with the two others. If they did it at an off-site, William and I would have gotten invites (like we did for Buick this year and last, and for Stingray)
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Is that $45k before or after the giant discounts on the S-Class?
  15. Drew Dowdell
    "under 9 seconds" could very well be a lot like the 8.7 seconds the old Malibu 2.4 would do. Which is fine for drivers in this class. If you want a bit faster, the Hybrid is actually faster than the base model by about a second.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    Looking like a cross between a Kia Soul and a Range Rover or Volvo XC90, Kia released a teaser for a surprise concept they will be showing next week at the Detroit Auto Show. This could signal Kia's return to the large SUV segment after the less than stellar sales of the 2009 - 2011 Kia Borrego. Kia says the concept will feature state of the art health and wellness technology and a new direction for Kia's design language. Little else has been released at this time. The Kia SUV concept will be officially unveiled at 2:15pm eastern time on January 11th. Stay tuned to CheersandGears.com for all of your 2016 Detroit Auto Show coverage View full article
  17. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Detroit Teaser: 2016 Kia Concept"
    Looking like a cross between a Kia Soul and a Range Rover or Volvo XC90, Kia released a teaser for a surprise concept they will be showing next week at the Detroit Auto Show. This could signal Kia's return to the large SUV segment after the less than stellar sales of the 2009 - 2011 Kia Borrego. Kia says the concept will feature state of the art health and wellness technology and a new direction for Kia's design language. Little else has been released at this time. The Kia SUV concept will be officially unveiled at 2:15pm eastern time on January 11th. Stay tuned to CheersandGears.com for all of your 2016 Detroit Auto Show coverage
  18. Drew Dowdell
    Low inventory. On new you mean, right? But still, a fire sale on outgoing model combined with some new, with such a significant drop, should be troubling. On both. There are 8,304 new 2015 Camaros listed in inventory right now for over 3,000 Chevrolet dealerships. That means an average of 2.7 2015 Camaros per dealership. Some will have more, some will have none. There are a bit over 3,000 2016 Camaros for the same total number of dealerships, so 1 per dealer. It gets pretty hard, even with strong incentives, to sell an old model when the fantastic new model is sitting in the showroom. A Camaro (or Mustang, or Challenger) is largely an emotional purchase. You don't buy these cars because you need a car today... so if someone really wants one, they'll probably also be willing to wait for the perfect 2016 to come along or order straight from the factory.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    Most brand lines down significantly. Note the numbers for GLC have a footnote.
  20. Drew Dowdell
    Low inventory.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    The Tigershark is actually a collaboration between FCA, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi. Each manufacturer tunes it differently to their own needs. But you're right, it would have been better if those three had paid Mazda to do the engine.
  22. Drew Dowdell
    No doubt about it. Are U going to Detroit?? I think I'm gonna stay East Coast this year and do New York again. OH.. PM sent Oh of course. I travel to all 4 major auto shows each year. daaaaang.. I wish I could do that. How is Chicago's? That's within driving range for me for a little weekend trip. As a member of the press it's the least important to attend. If my day job didn't pay for the trip to get there, I probably wouldn't go, and may skip it this year. As a member of the public, it's the largest and nicest facility, but there will be fewer concepts shown there on the floor.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    It's all the 200. They probably pulled back incentives. They must have pulled them back hard or people don't find it worth paying full price for it.. either/or/and.. I think it's a good looking car. I haven't really looked into them much and I've only heard negative things about the trans in the I4. You can't look at one month of numbers when there are huge swings like that. It almost always signals something else going on beside huge shifts in the market (VW excepted at the moment). If you look at the December 2014 Fiat-Chrysler Sales, you'll see that the 200 was up 187% over the previous year. 2014 was the first year of the new model so old/big fluctuations are to be expected. What is more important is that the 200 is up 52% for the whole year, and Chrysler brand as a whole is up 5% in spite of T&C being down big as it nears its end.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    No doubt about it. Are U going to Detroit?? I think I'm gonna stay East Coast this year and do New York again. OH.. PM sent Oh of course. I travel to all 4 major auto shows each year.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    Buick is going to see some big sales gains in the next 24 months as Enclave, Regal, Verano, and Lacrosse all get replaced. Edit: Plus, I hear we're in for a surprise at Detroit.
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