I agree. I like suede/faux-suede headliners. They look cool, but alcantara everywhere else? No thanks.
I love the TT's HVAC controls. Such a clever way to declutter the interior
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The Car Thread ... !
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I agree. I like suede/faux-suede headliners. They look cool, but alcantara everywhere else? No thanks.
I love the TT's HVAC controls. Such a clever way to declutter the interior
Alcantara is only good in small doses like being only applied to the headliner and/or the front/A pillar. But once you start throwing it on the seats and dash/door panels, it gets a little overboard.
Alcantara introduces such a weird texture into the mix of smooth, shiny, etc., type materials.
With the A-pillar and the headliner, it works because it makes them disappear, it gives you more of an indefinite space (creating the illusion of more space).
The final issue, which I've been reading about lately as the GT350R steering wheel has become a popular "upgrade" on GTs: the Alcantara getting "flat" or just generally gross. It's a great material in terms of grip, especially with gloves, but with bare, greasy, sweaty hands, it gets gross pretty quickly.
Side note: when I do a GT350 wheel, it'll be in custom leather + CF
With the A-pillar and the headliner, it works because it makes them disappear, it gives you more of an indefinite space (creating the illusion of more space).
The final issue, which I've been reading about lately as the GT350R steering wheel has become a popular "upgrade" on GTs: the Alcantara getting "flat" or just generally gross. It's a great material in terms of grip, especially with gloves, but with bare, greasy, sweaty hands, it gets gross pretty quickly.
Side note: when I do a GT350 wheel, it'll be in custom leather + CF
I think I mentioned that in this thread but someone disagreed. A lot of people over Bimmerpost have stated the same, it's cool at first but you quickly realize that it's not a practical material to be placed on a steering wheel.
It's good for grip, but that's it. But you have to pair it with driving gloves to get that effect. I'm more curious about static buildup. A vague querying of Google doesn't bring up much, but that's because posters live in moderate climate states. The issues alcantara fixes over leather are merely items a leather interior owner should be on top of regardless of the material at hand. Alcantara is one of those materials that keeps coming back, like corduroy or velvet. God I hate both of those.
Read this interesting article written by Bob Lutz
Cadillac Needs More Crossovers and Less Rear-Drive Sport Sedans
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a30065/bob-lutz-on-cadillac/
Impressions: He is spot-on. Cadillac is refusing to listen to what the market wants. Their sedans are good, but when the average buyer wants an SUV, their competitors have 3-5 different models EACH to offer them. Cadillac? They have a fancy overpriced Tahoe and a SRX to offer their customers. That's it.
Cadillac Needs More Crossovers and Less Rear-Drive Sport Sedans
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a30065/bob-lutz-on-cadillac/
Impressions: He is spot-on. Cadillac is refusing to listen to what the market wants. Their sedans are good, but when the average buyer wants an SUV, their competitors have 3-5 different models EACH to offer them. Cadillac? They have a fancy overpriced Tahoe and a SRX to offer their customers. That's it.
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Can be ban the C word from this thread? I feel a fit of convulsions coming my way every time I come across it. What Cadillac needs to do to increase buyer-ship of their vehicles is train their affiliates through their dealer network, make sure the dealers are respectful to prospective buyers of their vehicles, make their cars interesting and increase the quality of their products ten-fold from where they are now. You can't sell a $50,000+ domestic sedan that's had the fit and finish done by someone of equal disability of Helen Keller, now can you?
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2016/10/usa-auto-brand-sales-results-september-2016-ytd.html
Interestingly enough, Cadillac and Acura are neck-and-neck in YTD sales.
Acura down almost 10% with the facelifted MDX out. Yikes. Cadillac sales going down as they add new models.
Interestingly enough, Cadillac and Acura are neck-and-neck in YTD sales.
Acura down almost 10% with the facelifted MDX out. Yikes. Cadillac sales going down as they add new models.
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Read this interesting article written by Bob Lutz
Cadillac Needs More Crossovers and Less Rear-Drive Sport Sedans
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a30065/bob-lutz-on-cadillac/
Impressions: He is spot-on. Cadillac is refusing to listen to what the market wants. Their sedans are good, but when the average buyer wants an SUV, their competitors have 3-5 different models EACH to offer them. Cadillac? They have a fancy overpriced Tahoe and a SRX to offer their customers. That's it.
That's what I've been saying to all the Cadillac fanboys. It's great and all that the ATS/CTS finally has the driving characteristics found in German cars but guess what, they're playing from behind. While Cadillac was focusing on finally getting a fun and dynamic car, they missed the fact that the Germans have moved on past that to create world-luxury cars while Cadillac was still building cars in the shadows of the Germans. That's not to say the ATS and CTS are bad cars, they're just made and released at the wrong time when Cadillac should have been making something more to attract the masses.
When Cadillac kept on repeating "We used the E46 as the benchmark", I thought that's cool and all, but your focus and selling point is based on a two generation old car when the consumer has moved on from that. You look at the market now, Cadillac releases a car that should have been made at least 7 years (one car generation) ago and now they're still behind because they didn't adapt to the current market of SUV/SAVs.
You don't have to like the Germans, but you have to acknowledge the fact that they always try to stay ahead of the curve and try to have a product for the masses. You can call that selling out if you want, but by doing so, they avoid becoming a Cadillac. We can hate BMW for not building driver-focused cars, I sort of do, but being an independent, they're one bad mistake of potentially ending up in a very bad financial situation.
Sigh
Apparently there's a Rolls Royce SUV coming out soon. That's going to be marvelous! Unless I've gone crackers, the car looks like a lifted sedan/coupe with the rear added on. Oh joy, another hideous SUV. I get the market wants SUVs, but this is taking ridiculous to new proportions. Since spotting my first Bentayga, I've spotted a darker one. And no, @AutoUnion39, I cannot in good faith concur with your assessment that darker colors look better on the car. It still looks very bad. But since then, I've spotted several Bentleys and Rolls in the area. There's been no new housesales in the area for a while and these weren't your typical white car driven by a particular crowd, if you catch my drift.
Cars I'm looking forward to seeing soon: Jaguar XE SVR and the Kia GT. Knowing Jaguar, refinement may go balls up at the end or it'll be a tremendous sucess and a nice sporty sedan for rather cheap in its segment, around $70,000. The Kia GT... well provided it doesn't use battery run drive motors made with batteries by the company that provides to Samsung or Apple, we shouldn't see any exploding cars. That said, I doubt the GT will live up to its concept figure. Though I suspect their luxury company, Genesis (that should excite bible thumpers), might contain an upmarket interior and more powerful engine than their rumored V6 powertrain.
And there's a supposed Jeep Wrangler pickup coming out. The Wrangler is possibly the only Jeep to have never been a complete mess by anyone's standards, even under the greasy hands of FCA, but I think it's going to be a knockout success. I've always wanted a Wrangler for quiet weekend drives in the country. That is until you look at the prices for optioning a new one to the gills or if you want something fun, a manual old one, that's still selling for an obscene amount. East Coast buyers tend to buy from here and pay obscene amounts for a late 80s Wrangler.
That's not instilling a lot of confidence given that Acura and Infiniti are neighbors to Caddy in this chart. I suspect one the Q60 400 Red Sport or whatever they've called it penetrates the market more we're going to see an increase in quarterly sales for Infiniti. Just be on the lookout 6 mo. to a year from now when the car garners build quality and reliability complaints.
Apparently there's a Rolls Royce SUV coming out soon. That's going to be marvelous! Unless I've gone crackers, the car looks like a lifted sedan/coupe with the rear added on. Oh joy, another hideous SUV. I get the market wants SUVs, but this is taking ridiculous to new proportions. Since spotting my first Bentayga, I've spotted a darker one. And no, @AutoUnion39, I cannot in good faith concur with your assessment that darker colors look better on the car. It still looks very bad. But since then, I've spotted several Bentleys and Rolls in the area. There's been no new housesales in the area for a while and these weren't your typical white car driven by a particular crowd, if you catch my drift.
Cars I'm looking forward to seeing soon: Jaguar XE SVR and the Kia GT. Knowing Jaguar, refinement may go balls up at the end or it'll be a tremendous sucess and a nice sporty sedan for rather cheap in its segment, around $70,000. The Kia GT... well provided it doesn't use battery run drive motors made with batteries by the company that provides to Samsung or Apple, we shouldn't see any exploding cars. That said, I doubt the GT will live up to its concept figure. Though I suspect their luxury company, Genesis (that should excite bible thumpers), might contain an upmarket interior and more powerful engine than their rumored V6 powertrain.
And there's a supposed Jeep Wrangler pickup coming out. The Wrangler is possibly the only Jeep to have never been a complete mess by anyone's standards, even under the greasy hands of FCA, but I think it's going to be a knockout success. I've always wanted a Wrangler for quiet weekend drives in the country. That is until you look at the prices for optioning a new one to the gills or if you want something fun, a manual old one, that's still selling for an obscene amount. East Coast buyers tend to buy from here and pay obscene amounts for a late 80s Wrangler.
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2016/10/usa-auto-brand-sales-results-september-2016-ytd.html
Interestingly enough, Cadillac and Acura are neck-and-neck in YTD sales.
Acura down almost 10% with the facelifted MDX out. Yikes. Cadillac sales going down as they add new models.
That's not instilling a lot of confidence given that Acura and Infiniti are neighbors to Caddy in this chart. I suspect one the Q60 400 Red Sport or whatever they've called it penetrates the market more we're going to see an increase in quarterly sales for Infiniti. Just be on the lookout 6 mo. to a year from now when the car garners build quality and reliability complaints.
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I wasn't following the new Q60 coupe, mentioned here:
... it's a terrific design, then I checked the engine options:
and it looks like Infiniti did what we were discussing should happen with the IS!
... it's a terrific design, then I checked the engine options:
and it looks like Infiniti did what we were discussing should happen with the IS!
I'd love to see a really hot IS variant (IS350M that's right ... M!
Yup, based on the upcoming X7. The renders have been awful
Jaguar needs to improve their interiors in all of their new models before trying to have more high-end models. The XE interior is Cadillac/Acura-levels of terrible.
I must be one of the only people who don't like Wranglers. I've been in a few. They just seem awful in every possible way.
The Q50 Red Sport has been out for a few months now and they're struggling to sell them. Huge discounts are to be had.
I think the sweet spot for these cars will be 1-2 years old with a CPO warranty for pennies on the dollar.
Infiniti's (new) pricing is absurd. $61k for a loaded Q60 RS AWD? You can get a 440xi for that much... with a manual!
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Full market penetration refers to people buying it and seeing a lot of it on the road. That hasn't happened. FMP happened with the G35 and G37 to an extent. Infiniti/Nissan were one of the first mainstream companies to tune their exhausts, too.
FWIW, the Wrangler isn't the most comfortable car or the most efficient. Most don't really daily it because it has plenty of shortfalls. But it does succeed in getting through mud, snow, water, etc. It succeeds where many 4x4s and SUVs fail. The four door longer wheelbase has a smoother ride but the two door is optimal because it doesn't get stuck as easily.
FWIW, the Wrangler isn't the most comfortable car or the most efficient. Most don't really daily it because it has plenty of shortfalls. But it does succeed in getting through mud, snow, water, etc. It succeeds where many 4x4s and SUVs fail. The four door longer wheelbase has a smoother ride but the two door is optimal because it doesn't get stuck as easily.
The ultra uber luxury SAV/SUVs look terrible. You can't take a regular Bentley and Rolls Royce and stick it on a SUV/SAV chassis because the classic body shape/design doesn't fit that of a typical SUV/SAV.
http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/12/10/photo-comparison-2015-bmw-x6-vs-2015-mercedes-benz-gle/
These are probably the worst... actually, the Tesla SUV is worse - but these do look pretty awful.
These are probably the worst... actually, the Tesla SUV is worse - but these do look pretty awful.
2015 BMW X6 M vs. 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe - Head 2 Head Ep. 70
If I ever win the lottery, I'll be at the BMW dealership getting the X6 M in this pretty blue color. Yes, I know some people think that it's ugly from the back, but I just love it. Disclaimer: I don't know much about cars, but there is just something about the way X6 M or the X6 looks. I just like it.
If I ever win the lottery, I'll be at the BMW dealership getting the X6 M in this pretty blue color. Yes, I know some people think that it's ugly from the back, but I just love it. Disclaimer: I don't know much about cars, but there is just something about the way X6 M or the X6 looks. I just like it.
2015 BMW X6 M vs. 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe - Head 2 Head Ep. 70
If I ever win the lottery, I'll be at the BMW dealership getting the X6 M in this pretty blue color. Yes, I know some people think that it's ugly from the back, but I just love it. Disclaimer: I don't know much about cars, but there is just something about the way X6 M or the X6 looks. I just like it.
It's not that the X6(M) is pretty aesthetically, although I don't mind it, it's the idea of it and what it does to other cars given the type of vehicle it is. It's pretty much one big **** you, I will destroy your car! The X5/X6 M are just magnificent tanks! The current generation can post similar or faster times than an E9X M3! WHAT?!?!?!?!?
That RR SUV is hideous.
Perhaps it's me, but RR really has done nothing for me since the BMW buy-out. The Phantom-in particular-was just a slab-sided monstrosity that hurt my eyes. It also killed me that they made the Phantom the "standard" sedan(saloon?) in the line-up. Phantom is an old name for RR, but pre-BMW it was a vehicle supplied "in the old way" where you bought it and then the coach builder of your choice built the body you wanted. It really was an exclusive vehicle.
To me, the last attractive RR was the Silver Seraph. The SUV is just terrible.
Pre-BMW, as I'm sure you all know, RR and Bentley were built right along side each other. If I were shopping in that segment(you'd need to add a couple more zeros to my salary to even consider it) I'd choose a Bentley any day since to me they are still the essence of the RR of old.
Since we are talking crossovers, though, I wonder if there's any chance of getting these in the US?
Perhaps it's me, but RR really has done nothing for me since the BMW buy-out. The Phantom-in particular-was just a slab-sided monstrosity that hurt my eyes. It also killed me that they made the Phantom the "standard" sedan(saloon?) in the line-up. Phantom is an old name for RR, but pre-BMW it was a vehicle supplied "in the old way" where you bought it and then the coach builder of your choice built the body you wanted. It really was an exclusive vehicle.
To me, the last attractive RR was the Silver Seraph. The SUV is just terrible.
Pre-BMW, as I'm sure you all know, RR and Bentley were built right along side each other. If I were shopping in that segment(you'd need to add a couple more zeros to my salary to even consider it) I'd choose a Bentley any day since to me they are still the essence of the RR of old.
Since we are talking crossovers, though, I wonder if there's any chance of getting these in the US?
Wow that's pretty fast.
Yes They are definitely tanks. I just found out that they weight more than a F-150.
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So I have a Dodge Charger as a rental until next Friday..... Let's say my thoughts are mixed on it so far..... Looks are great, interior is fairly good, and the Pentastar V6 moves it fairly well along with the ZF 8 speed. I think my issues with it is the brand image when I think what a Dodge should be. I hope the RT, SRT8, and Hellcat change this, but with the V6 model, it feels way too isolated from the road for what should be a performance sedan. It's a cruiser more than a performance vehicle. Very comfortable, suspension more for comfort, etc.
Best way I can describe it, it's got the looks with some sportiness to satisfy the guy, but then has the isolation and comfort to keep the GF/wife happy too.
Best way I can describe it, it's got the looks with some sportiness to satisfy the guy, but then has the isolation and comfort to keep the GF/wife happy too.
Right there with you. The X4 and X6 do not do it for me, even the X6M. Not a huge fan of any of the X series, the X5 is ok but always felt left behind tech wise compared to the other cars. The X5M is a beast though, but not a subtle sleeper for sure.