Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

sterlingdog · September 2014

stever said:
Didn't we have this conversation recently? I agree with @henryn - better just to get in and go and not coddle a new motor imo. What does the owner's manual say?

Plus, better that it blows up the first month than a month after the powertrain warranty runs out.

To you and Henryn: I'm in the process of reading my owner's manual. I'll let you know what I find out about the break in period. I'm currently on the chapter about the fuel quality and mileage. They say not to even bother checking MPG until about 2,000-3,000 miles. That's part of the break in period. Nothing yet on driving it fast. They also say that an oil change is every 10K or once a year. I would think that my first oil change should be sooner than that.

You now have me confused about the bedliner. I don't want rust and moisture trapped in the bed. At the same time, I hate to scratch it up. Are you also saying that the Ford dealer installed bedliner would not be as good as the brand that you recommend?

Richard

stever · September 2014

@sterlingdog , there's spray-in bedliners (Rhino being the brand I've heard of the most). Those seem to work good - just like painting the bed.

And there's inserts. The inserts aren't so good. The inserts just lie flat on the bed, like a big floor mat and can move around. My knowledge about this is dated though - used to have a friend who sold truck canopies and he kept me up on truck accessories, but he sold out 10 years ago.

On my last new car, the mileage improved little by little for literally years. It mostly hit its stride around 4,000 miles but it didn't really plateau until I had over 100,000 miles on it. We're talking decimal points, but still....

There's lots of fun break-in links, like this one from mototuneusa.com. The motorcycle guys who believe in this technique will say it's already too late for you.

jwilliams2 · September 2014

Richard, I couldn't find an actual picture, so I kind of cheated. I used the "Build your Truck" feature on the Ford website, and did a screen capture.....

And glad to hear it fits in your garage.

Jim

driver100 · September 2014

stever said:
@driver100, Niagara on the Lake? Wonderful place, we were there to see The Philanderer in late July, had lunch at the Stone Road Grille.

So glad you went to Niagara on the Lake and saw a play too. I would really like to see The Philanderer, but so far we saw Cabaret and When We Are Married....both excellent. WWAM is about 3 couples who are married for 25 years, and they got married together. They are gathered for their 25th anniversary picture, and they discover the preacher who married them was a fraud........they aren't really married! It was hilarious. Next month we'll see th Philadelphia Story.

If anyone visits Niagara Falls be sure to see a play at visit Niagara on the Lake......lots of winery's too.

We live about an hour from NOTL.

driver100 · September 2014

jwilliams2 said:
Richard, I couldn't find an actual picture, so I kind of cheated. I used the "Build your Truck" feature on the Ford website, and did a screen capture.....

Jim

That's not cheating....that's being creative and smart!

Glad it fits in the garage....it's like getting a rebate for $25000!

stever · September 2014

My wife reminds me that we've seen six plays at the Shaw dating back to 1999. Candida was memorable - the lead kept calling his co-star "Canada". It's a really great spot and the drive back to the Falls is nice too.

I'd even drive the 401 to get there if I had to.

stickguy · September 2014

Good news on garage. I hope it has power folding mirrors with memory at least.

sb55 · September 2014

This is for "sterlingdog". I had a 2010 GMC extended cab and had the spray on bedliner. I didn't love it. It had the texture of sandpaper, so everything except lumber got scratched without proper padding. Also, the extra thickness made the tailgate very difficult to open as it caused binding, so it took two hands to open it. I had to push in the gate with one hand while pulling the handle. I just got a 2014 Silverado last week (see the CCBA board for details) and have ordered a DualLiner brand bed liner. After my online research, it seems that this is one of the easiest to install and is not supposed to scratch the bed.
Also, when I built my garage, I had 9' doors put in. I have about 6" on either side of the mirrors. Good thing since I don't think my mirrors fold with the push of a switch!

ray80 · September 2014

oldfarmer50 said:
Do we really want drivers like this in the road?

I saw a commercial for the Q 50 that was showcasing the car's safety features. The driver was daydreaming and swerving into other cars only to be warned by lane monitors and blind spot notices. At one point he's gazing out the window and fails to brake for a stopped vehicle. He's saved by the auto brake system.

I can't help but think that this guy shouldn't have a license.

Believe I saw this one also, Kind of appears to be trying to teach us we don't have to pay attention to driving when you are behind the wheel of this vehicle. Not inpressed

driver100 · September 2014

stever said:
My wife reminds me that we've seen six plays at the Shaw dating back to 1999. Candida was memorable - the lead kept calling his co-star "Canada". It's a really great spot and the drive back to the Falls is nice too.

I'd even drive the 401 to get there if I had to.

Niagara on the Lake and Niagara Falls are musts to see, and the plays at NOTL are well worth seeing too.

I don't know if I would go though if I had to take the 401!

Don't forget too, these days you have to have a passport to go across the border in either direction. We cross the border fairly frequently so we have a Nexus Pass.

I shall try an URL...see if I remember...I am going to try to do a link to sb55's new Silverado.

2014 Chevy Silverado LT Extended Cab

Wow, I think I did it! Thanks for explaining how to do that stever, that was quite an accomplishment. Now, make sure they don't change how to do it again for at least 2 years.

driver100 · September 2014

sb55 said:
This is for "sterlingdog". I had a 2010 GMC extended cab and had the spray on bedliner. I didn't love it. It had the texture of sandpaper, so everything except lumber got scratched without proper padding. Also, the extra thickness made the tailgate very difficult to open as it caused binding, so it took two hands to open it. I had to push in the gate with one hand while pulling the handle. I just got a 2014 Silverado last week (see the CCBA board for details) and have ordered a DualLiner brand bed liner. After my online research, it seems that this is one of the easiest to install and is not supposed to scratch the bed.
Also, when I built my garage, I had 9' doors put in. I have about 6" on either side of the mirrors. Good thing since I don't think my mirrors fold with the push of a switch!

That's also a nice looking truck. So, what color is your truck so we can spend days looking for one to post?

How about the deal...what did you trade in? How com you slipped this one in under the radar?

I think this has been a pretty good year for number of cars bought around here...

stickguy · September 2014

I'm out there shopping. Hopefully soon will have a story that involves the purchase part too!

imidazol97 · September 2014

ab348 said:

bwia said:
A Larger and More Expensive Cadillac?It's a darn shame that in popular culture the name Cadillac is synonymous with luxury, yet GM cannot build a sedan with the aspirational cachet and prestige that is the global standard for luxury. It was not always that way but GM chose to ignore it's prime demographic (the moneyed class) in search of a younger and illusive buyer.

The problem with Cadillac in many markets (like mine) is the dealer network. They cannot provide the environment to sell a very expensive car like that. In my market both Cadillac dealers sell mostly Cruzes, Sonics, and pickups, and the customer experience is what you'd expect of that. A buyer of a top-end Cadillac does not want that kind of sales and service environment. But they would not have enough volume of Cadillac alone to justify a standalone dealer. I really wonder if this is going to be an expensive failure for Cadillac and GM.

Another problem is the image baggage that is kept around the neck of GM brands, somewhat deserved as we've discussed before, but the negative perception is often repeated by some without consideration of the changes that have occurred in GM, those changes however still hampered by the UAW double set of leg irons.

I just found a discussion of names for various autos. For GM's new rear drive Cadillac, a good name needs to be used. LTS doesn't do it for me, and that's what has been proposed. Any ideas? Fleetwood is out; Deville, Seville, STS, and others are gone.

Look at all the various names currently in the market:
2, 200, 2-Series, 3, 300, 370Z, 3-Series, 4Runner, 4-Series, 458, 5, 500, 500L, 500X, 5-Series, 6, 6-Series, 7-Series, 911, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, AMG GT, ATS, B-Class, BRZ, C-Class, CLA, CLS, CR-V, CR-Z, CT, CTS, CX-5, CX-9, DB9, E-Class, ELR, ES, F12, F-Series, F-Type, FF, FR-S, G37, G-Class, GLA, GLK, GS, GT-R, GX, HR-V, i3, i8, iQ, K900, LR2, LR4, LS, LX, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M-Class, MDX, MKC, MKS, MKT MKX, MKZ, MX-5, NSX, NX, Q3, Q5, Q50, Q60, Q7, Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70, QX80, R8, RAV4, RC, RDX, RLX, RS5, RS7, RX, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S60, S80, S-Class, SL, SLK, SRX, tC, TL, TLX, TSX, TT, WRX, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, xB, XC60, XC70, XC90, xD, XE, XF, XJ, XV Crosstrek, XTS, Z4.

What name would work for Cadillac's new flagship sedan?

And those current names are just the vehicles that are currently on sale or new for 2015. It doesn't include defunct alphanumerics like STS, RSX, HHR, I30, L-Series, 1-Series, HS, etc.

houdini1 · September 2014

How about the "Moac". (Mother of all Cadillac's).

driver100 · September 2014

imidazol97 said:

ab348 said:

bwia said:
A Larger and More Expensive Cadillac?It's a darn shame that in popular culture the name Cadillac is synonymous with luxury, yet GM cannot build a sedan with the aspirational cachet and prestige that is the global standard for luxury. It was not always that way but GM chose to ignore it's prime demographic (the moneyed class) in search of a younger and illusive buyer.

The problem with Cadillac in many markets (like mine) is the dealer network. They cannot provide the environment to sell a very expensive car like that. In my market both Cadillac dealers sell mostly Cruzes, Sonics, and pickups, and the customer experience is what you'd expect of that. A buyer of a top-end Cadillac does not want that kind of sales and service environment. But they would not have enough volume of Cadillac alone to justify a standalone dealer. I really wonder if this is going to be an expensive failure for Cadillac and GM.
Another problem is the image baggage that is kept around the neck of GM brands, somewhat deserved as we've discussed before, but the negative perception is often repeated by some without consideration of the changes that have occurred in GM, those changes however still hampered by the UAW double set of leg irons.

I just found a discussion of names for various autos. For GM's new rear drive Cadillac, a good name needs to be used. LTS doesn't do it for me, and that's what has been proposed. Any ideas? Fleetwood is out; Deville, Seville, STS, and others are gone.

Look at all the various names currently in the market:
2, 200, 2-Series, 3, 300, 370Z, 3-Series, 4Runner, 4-Series, 458, 5, 500, 500L, 500X, 5-Series, 6, 6-Series, 7-Series, 911, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, AMG GT, ATS, B-Class, BRZ, C-Class, CLA, CLS, CR-V, CR-Z, CT, CTS, CX-5, CX-9, DB9, E-Class, ELR, ES, F12, F-Series, F-Type, FF, FR-S, G37, G-Class, GLA, GLK, GS, GT-R, GX, HR-V, i3, i8, iQ, K900, LR2, LR4, LS, LX, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M-Class, MDX, MKC, MKS, MKT MKX, MKZ, MX-5, NSX, NX, Q3, Q5, Q50, Q60, Q7, Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70, QX80, R8, RAV4, RC, RDX, RLX, RS5, RS7, RX, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S60, S80, S-Class, SL, SLK, SRX, tC, TL, TLX, TSX, TT, WRX, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, xB, XC60, XC70, XC90, xD, XE, XF, XJ, XV Crosstrek, XTS, Z4.

What name would work for Cadillac's new flagship sedan?

And those current names are just the vehicles that are currently on sale or new for 2015. It doesn't include defunct alphanumerics like STS, RSX, HHR, I30, L-Series, 1-Series, HS, etc.

They should bring back the name "Eldarado". The only thing is, they probably need a name that younger people can identify with. Cimarron would not be a good idea. Maybe, Eldarado with some letters and numbers, like Eldarado FNGD......say it fast!

Mr_Shiftright · September 2014

I think Cadillac should launch an entirely new brand, like Toyota/Lexus. Horrifically expensive enterprise, however. Nobody is going to pay $100K for a Cadillac, because they'd be suspicious it was a Chevy underneath.

abacomike · September 2014

@imidazol97‌ said:

"What name would work for Cadillac's new flagship sedan?"

I like "ROYALE", once used with Oldsmobile. It smacks of a continental flair while instilling a sense of elitism - for those who "deserve an elite vehicle!"

"So, what kind of car do you drive?" "...I have a brand new CADILLAC ROYALE - fit for "royalty"!

imidazol97 · September 2014

abacomike said:
@imidazol97‌ said:
"What name would work for Cadillac's new flagship sedan?"
I like "ROYALE", once used with Oldsmobile. It smacks of a continental flair while instilling a sense of elitism - for those who "deserve an elite vehicle!"
"So, what kind of car do you drive?" "...I have a brand new CADILLAC ROYALE - fit for "royalty"!

I like that. Good logic, and that's what will be needed in the focus groups.

imidazol97 · September 2014

Mr_Shiftright said:
I think Cadillac should launch an entirely new brand, like Toyota/Lexus. Horrifically expensive enterprise, however. Nobody is going to pay $100K for a Cadillac, because they'd be suspicious it was a Chevy underneath.

That point comes up often about needing to autonomous. I've read in another group that the new manager for Cadillac wants to make it seem more like Audi seems and appear to be independent. He wants Cadillac to be able to get what is needed now for the prestige and aura of the car, such as a particular engine, rather than having to wait until that engine spec becomes feasible for GM as a whole to produce.

I have to agree because only then will some of the image that started in the 80s with the merging of the assembly and the various divisions at GM be corrected to let Cadillac be its own prestige-laden brand.

laurasdada · September 2014

Yes, to paraphrase Mr_S, first Caddy should produce a true "halo" type car, whatever its mission, the reviews should be akin to the original Lexus LS and Infiniti Q45. Do not mess up the pricing as they tend to do with such vehicles. See: XLR, ELR...and said Lexus/Infiniti pricing strategy circa 1989.

driver100 · September 2014

abacomike said:
@imidazol97‌ said:
"What name would work for Cadillac's new flagship sedan?"
I like "ROYALE", once used with Oldsmobile. It smacks of a continental flair while instilling a sense of elitism - for those who "deserve an elite vehicle!"
"So, what kind of car do you drive?" "...I have a brand new CADILLAC ROYALE - fit for "royalty"!

I don't know...I kinda think of The Queen, and she is 88! Is that the image Cadillac wants?
How about the "Kate", or the "Eugenie" or the "Beatrice"? Camilla has a nice ring to it, but then again.....................

There used to be Presidents and Senators or Ambassadors, but those don't sound too reliable these days. Need something more modern and with it...maybe " Cadillac Tech 500" or "Cadillac HT" (Hi Tech).

fezo · September 2014

Richard - since you posted that truck and folks have posted the picture I have been seeing vehicles in approximately that I'd never noticed before. I was parked next to a Hyundai Santa Fe that looked remarkably similar and on the road back from PT caught a Sonata and a Veracruz in the same color.

The, amazingly I saw a Pontiac G6 in a very similar color.

It's a great color. Not speeding ticket red, which is a good thing for you, and not nearly so sedate as burgundy. I like burgundy and a lot of cars look good in it but ruby is a great color. My daughter Michelle was born in July and is thus a ruby baby.

I don't know if there are just fewer trooper on the Parkway or the anonymity of the 6 helps but I don't get any notice from the officers any more. My brother the attorney said a good rule of thumb on the big highways in NJ is that 14 over the limit will go unnoticed but 15 won't. I drive 79 mph a lot.

qbrozen · September 2014

I use that 14 over rule myself if I'm in a rush. Most of the time, I follow 9 over. I figure less than double digits is likely safe. I've gone through many a speed trap and 9 over and they never flinch.

abacomike · September 2014

@driver100 said:

"I don't know...I kinda think of The Queen, and she is 88! Is that the image Cadillac wants?"

Only a Brit or a Canadian would think of "The Queen" when they hear or see the word "ROYALE"! I kind of think of "pudding" or "cherry gelatin" when I hear "ROYALE". But not Queen Elizabeth II.

imidazol97 · September 2014

The question is what to name the new puppy. Cadillac 825iL? E500L?
The name has to have a connotations when heard by those in their 30s and 40s
as potential buyers. Any of the older Cadillac names have meaning to me
as one of the older folks, but that's not the market Cadillac needs to catch.

It needs to have the oomph that a name like CTS-V has to connote what the vehicle is--what
we hope it is when it comes out--I mean.

fezo · September 2014

You mean Fleetwood Brougham is out?

imidazol97 · September 2014

fezo said:
You mean Fleetwood Brougham is out?

That's a good one for people my age, over 39 (and then some). I'd take Cadillac Electra 225. Or 62 Park Avenue model.

But it's not good for 30s and 40s folks who want to show conspicuous consumption. They're going to see Mercedes, BMW, maybe Lincoln will have their act fixed soon, as the other choices.

robr2 · September 2014

The new Cadillac flagship was to have been christened the LTS. But with Johan de Nysschen recently named as President of the Cadillac brand, that may not happen. He is the one who in his previous position changed the naming convention at Infiniti from the imperfect but at least a sensible scheme of EX, FX, G, M to the overly confusing Q everything.

mako1a · September 2014

Anyone that watched the movie Pulp Fiction saw John Travolta tell Sam Jackson that the Burger King Wopper was called The "Royale" in France.
Then there is this- Cadillac names European exec Jim Bunnell as U.S. sales chief. So, I don't think you want your flagship car being called the "Whopper" throughout Europe. Or maybe you do.

graphicguy · September 2014

Gotta vent for a moment here, so indulge me, please.

My phone was having some issues (iPhone 4s), so I went to the Apple Store to get some help this weekend. I had forgotten the iPhone 6 had just released, so getting my phone looked at, in any reasonable time frame (let alone getting the phone fixed) was an exercise in futility.

So, after experiencing this, I went to Best Buy (BB), thinking they've become a much better place to look at, question sales people, buy tech these days. I got to their cell phone dept and was waited on after about a 3-4 minute wait. Good deal.

Ende up, my phone's charging port was loose. I could probably limp along with it for a little while longer, but the sales person said I was eligible for an upgrade. I buy my phones,. I do not "pay as you go". I figure if I want to make a change of cell carriers, I can do it without any undo stress. I'm on AT&T. Have been for years and years. They always seemed to be concerned about how they were servicing me. Every time I called them on the phone, they would text me a survey asking me to rate them. If it wasn't all peaches and cream, I would receive a phone call from them trying to resolve whatever issue I had. I appreciated that.

Well, just so happens, BB had an iPhone 6 in stock. Which, given it had just been released, and all the drama that accompanies a new iPhone release, I figured it would be a month or more before I ever say one. Pretty amazing they had one. I believe Apple designs some of the best smart phone on the market. They also have the best build quality I've ever seen for any product. The iPhone 6 is so far ahead of my own iPhone, only its shape and the Apple logo are the same. These are really well made, well designed pieces of tech.

Anyway, my original thought process was if I'm going for a bigger phone, may as well go all the way and get the iPhone 6+, and use it as a tablet as well as a phone. There was a waiting list for those. About 4 weeks. I was OK with that, and would limp along with my current iPhone until the new one came in. I placed the order with BB and AT&T. They had displays in the store. The more I looked at the 6+ the more I realized it is so big, I couldn't manipulate it with one hand, a major drawback. 10 minutes after I ordered the 6+, realizing the "regular" 6 would be more than adequate, I asked the sales person to change my order to a 6.

Apparently, easier said than done. AT&T said I automatically entered into a new two year agreement with them once I ordered the 6+ (even though it would be a month before I got it and I hadn't even paid for it, yet)). As such, I couldn't get yet another iPhone on my account. After both BB personnel and I had both explained that I was canceling one for the other, apparently they speak a dialect of English no one else understands.

Being on the phone with AT&T for an hour Friday, 2 hours Saturday, another hour yesterday, they still don't seem to understand how to fix the obvious situation. The level of incompetence, by such a large company, extending to such a small issue is astounding.

At one point, both the BB sales person and I became so frustrated with AT&T, we were both yelling on a speaker phone, talking to an alleged AT&T supervisor, at the same time.

Long and short of it, I canceled my phone contact with them, my wife's phone with them. It's unnerving to experience that amount of idiocy at any company. For a company like AT&T it's inexcusable.

I announced to the customers in the BB cell phone dept how they should not look at signing a contract with AT&T. It would cause them severe anxiety and probably high blood pressure.

I went to Verizon. Oh, I did get the iPhone BTW. And, I'm selling my old one for $100.

Thanks for reading. I feel better.

mako1a · September 2014

Yeah, GG, the person that has the ability to cancel a contract never seems to want to push the button and relieve you of charges on your account. Even if they say it's done, you have to check and a lot of times after you've forgotten their name and it wasn't done you're stuck with starting the process all over. What we need is a card with a small limit that will refuse repeat charges unless authorized by the cardholder.
I'd like to see a good lawyer turn off ATT or Verizon repeat billing for good.

abacomike · September 2014

@graphicguy‌ said:

"I went to Verizon. Oh, I did get the iPhone BTW. And, I'm selling my old one for $100."

As I posted recently, I also just got the iPhone 6. I also traded in my 4S and they gave me a gift card for $110 which I immediately cashed in for an extended warranty (total of 2 years including the standard warranty on the new phone).

The new phone is faster and I noticed the battery lasts much longer between charges.

I agree with your comments about the iPhone compared to other phones on the market. I like the fingerprint thing-a-ma-jig that you use to open and lock the phone. I also purchase iTunes using the fingerprint thing instead of having to enter my iTunes password all the time.

I was not happy with ATT either. That's why I went with T-Mobil - no contracts, $50.00 a month for unlimited talk and text, and 1.0 gig high speed data and after the 1.0 gig is used up, it merely reverts to 3 gig until the beginning of the month. I only use 30-40 Meg's of data a month because I am on WiFi most of the time.

Enjoy your new iPhone - a great piece of technology!

ab348 · September 2014

Here in Canada, we have Bell, which way back when was affiliated with AT&T and I think still may be. I had an AT&T-worthy experience with them recently.

When I retired, my employer gave me the iPhone 5 they had issued me in late 2012. I have had the same mobile # for a dozen or more years and I wanted to keep it in retirement. But being retired I didn't need the full meal unlimited calling/data package that my employer provided when I was working. I wanted to keep my number but only have a much more basic package. The contract for the phone had been completed, and in fact if I was still employed I would have been eligible for a free upgrade of my device, but I was happy with the 5 and was glad to have it.

Except Bell said that was impossible. They could not downgrade my service. They could let me keep my number if I wanted to pay $120/mo for the full meal deal package, or I could go with a more basic package on that phone but only with a new number. I even got my former employer's business agent involved on my behalf, and he ended up getting as frustrated with them as I was.

Finally I bit the bullet and changed my number. I wanted to switch providers entirely, but unlocking the phone would involve more charges from Bell that I didn't want to pay.

I am firmly of the belief that mobile phone carriers are next to cable companies as the worst firms on the planet.

driver100 · September 2014

abacomike said:
@driver100 said:
"I don't know...I kinda think of The Queen, and she is 88! Is that the image Cadillac wants?"Mike said:
Only a Brit or a Canadian would think of "The Queen" when they hear or see the word "ROYALE"! I kind of think of "pudding" or "cherry gelatin" when I hear "ROYALE". But not Queen Elizabeth II.

The name Royal but without the "e" on the end was used by Dodge in the mid to late 50s.
As in this 56 Dodge Royal:

I thought car names could not be used by another company. Can anyone think of a case where a name of one car was used for another?
I think "Cadillac Royale" is actually pretty good, sounds aristocratic, but, not sure if "cherry gelatin" is quite the image they want to project. A lot of those old names could work, Invicta, LeSabre, Cutlass, Aero, Jetstar, Starfighter, Delmont (mmm maybe not that one), Firenza,
Toronado (probably wouldn't use today...kind of has a negative connotation). Could get something more current..."The Cadillac Drone"

abacomike · September 2014

@driver100 said:

"I thought car names could not be used by another company. Can anyone think of a case where a name of one car was used for another?"

Actually, the Oldsmobile 88 ROYALE was a GM product and thus it would not be a problem calling the new elite Cadillac "The Cadillac Royale". I think it has a nice ring to it. The Dodge Royal is a different name because the ending "e" is not part of its name.

Rolls Royce has been using supernatural names for its recent vehicles, i.e., WRAITH. PHANTOM, GHOST.

I think it would be great if Cadillac came out with a truly exquisite sedan/coupe priced in the $65,000 - $85,000 range. Also, to reduce the cost of production, keep optional equipment to a minimum like wheels, interior leather quality, wood trim, etc., and make things like GPS, high performance audio, safety features like lane tracking and blind spot monitors, surround view cameras, forward and reverse accident/collision avoidance systems and the like STANDARD.

If they could produce a truly great car, I'd seriously consider buying one assuming they could provide a dealership experience that was equal to or better than Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, etc.

sterlingdog · September 2014

driver100 said:

abacomike said:
@driver100 said:
"I don't know...I kinda think of The Queen, and she is 88! Is that the image Cadillac wants?"Mike said:
Only a Brit or a Canadian would think of "The Queen" when they hear or see the word "ROYALE"! I kind of think of "pudding" or "cherry gelatin" when I hear "ROYALE". But not Queen Elizabeth II.

The name Royal but without the "e" on the end was used by Dodge in the mid to late 50s.
As in this 56 Dodge Royal:

I thought car names could not be used by another company. Can anyone think of a case where a name of one car was used for another?
I think "Cadillac Royale" is actually pretty good, sounds aristocratic, but, not sure if "cherry gelatin" is quite the image they want to project. A lot of those old names could work, Invicta, LeSabre, Cutlass, Aero, Jetstar, Starfighter, Delmont (mmm maybe not that one), Firenza,
Toronado (probably wouldn't use today...kind of has a negative connotation). Could get something more current..."The Cadillac Drone"

Perhaps the Cadillac QE III. Those with higher grade packages could be the QE IV and QE V. Perhaps the 30s and 40s crowd could identify with that series. It would also identify with the big luxury ships. Come to think of it---the Cadillac Clinard III.

Richard

driver100 · September 2014

abacomike said:
@driver100 said:
"I thought car names could not be used by another company. Can anyone think of a case where a name of one car was used for another?"
Actually, the Oldsmobile 88 ROYALE was a GM product and thus it would not be a problem calling the new elite Cadillac "The Cadillac Royale". I think it has a nice ring to it. The Dodge Royal is a different name because the ending "e" is not part of its name.
Rolls Royce has been using supernatural names for its recent vehicles, i.e., WRAITH. PHANTOM, GHOST.
I think it would be great if Cadillac came out with a truly exquisite sedan/coupe priced in the $65,000 - $85,000 range. Also, to reduce the cost of production, keep optional equipment to a minimum like wheels, interior leather quality, wood trim, etc., and make things like GPS, high performance audio, safety features like lane tracking and blind spot monitors, surround view cameras, forward and reverse accident/collision avoidance systems and the like STANDARD.
If they could produce a truly great car, I'd seriously consider buying one assuming they could provide a dealership experience that was equal to or better than Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, etc.

Sorry, but I think it won't be easy for Cadillac to make a big comeback. I once read this rule about business;

It's easier to keep your current customers than it is to try to get new ones.

The problem is, too many people have been burned in the past, and many of them just won't go back. I have talked to lots of people who were burned by the D3, rightfully or wrongly, and they say they won't be coming back. Newer generations will choose whatever suits them, they have no loyalty...but, they tend to like the unfamiliar - Asian or European.

I would like to see Cadillac comeout with competitive cars, the more choice the better it is for the consumer. All I know is we have owned 9 new cars since 1999, all European, all 100% satisfactory. The Passat is #9, and I would consider that to be European (though built in the US and marketed for US) and it is completely satisfactory. I don't change just to change, so, there would have to be a really good reason to switch, superior engineering and design, or unusually good pricing. It could happen, but, I think the chance is not great.

sterlingdog · September 2014

My dumb post got caught in the quoted shade box above. sorry.

Richard

abacomike · September 2014

@sterlingdog‌ said:

"My dumb post got caught in the quoted shade box above. sorry.

You are forgiven, Richard. You have too many things on your mind to expect perfect posts right now. Good grief, just thinking about the clearance between your outside mirrors and the garage walls is enough to boggle anyone's mind. And the glare from that cherry red F150 in the sun must be blinding. Can't expect someone who is going through all that to post perfectly all the time.

Mind boggling, I dare say - mind boggling!

ab348 · September 2014

driver100 said:

The name Royal but without the "e" on the end was used by Dodge in the mid to late 50s.
As in this 56 Dodge Royal:

I thought car names could not be used by another company. Can anyone think of a case where a name of one car was used for another?

There are ways to get names released for use by others. I thought there was a recent example but it's slipping my mind right now.

Not really relevant but there was also a Chrysler Royal, though obviously the same parent company.

fezo · September 2014

Do remember that the Fusion was originally supposed to be called the Futura. You'd think this would be easy as Ford already had a car with that name. Not so fast. Pep Boys sued saying that name in automotive use was there's because they sold Futura tires. Rather than fight Ford just changed the name.

I wouldn't do business with AT&T cellular for anything. In the four months I was in Hope Lodge NYC recovering I had one caregiver who had an ATT phone. There was no coverage. This was in frikkin' midtown Manhattan! 32nd St. You could see both Madison Square Garden and the Empire State building from the terrace of my building. You also got a strong Verizon signal. My friend had to leave the building for every phone call.

sterlingdog · September 2014

isellhondas said:
Great truck in a great color!

Pickups used to be strictly for work and utility. Not anymore!

Imagine you commenting on the color of a vehicle! I will take your comment as a form of high praise for what I selected.

Richard

sterlingdog · September 2014

stever said:
Didn't we have this conversation recently? I agree with @henryn - better just to get in and go and not coddle a new motor imo. What does the owner's manual say?

Plus, better that it blows up the first month than a month after the powertrain warranty runs out.

Stever, I reached the break in section of my owner's manual for the truck. It says, "For the first 1,000 miles, do not drive fast or force the engine." I'm following that advice.

Richard

sterlingdog · September 2014

jwilliams2 said:
Richard, I couldn't find an actual picture, so I kind of cheated. I used the "Build your Truck" feature on the Ford website, and did a screen capture.....

And glad to hear it fits in your garage.

Jim

The fact that you took the time to put the truck together speaks highly of your kindness. Thanks again.

Richard

sterlingdog · September 2014

sb55 said:
This is for "sterlingdog". I had a 2010 GMC extended cab and had the spray on bedliner. I didn't love it. It had the texture of sandpaper, so everything except lumber got scratched without proper padding. Also, the extra thickness made the tailgate very difficult to open as it caused binding, so it took two hands to open it. I had to push in the gate with one hand while pulling the handle. I just got a 2014 Silverado last week (see the CCBA board for details) and have ordered a DualLiner brand bed liner. After my online research, it seems that this is one of the easiest to install and is not supposed to scratch the bed.
Also, when I built my garage, I had 9' doors put in. I have about 6" on either side of the mirrors. Good thing since I don't think my mirrors fold with the push of a switch!

Thanks for the info on the bedliner. I'll see what my dealer is offering. My mirrors don't fold with a switch either. Still, I am so grateful to get my truck off the street that I don't mind doing it by hand. The one on the driver's side is a snap because I'm sitting right there, so it's just a little trouble for the one on the right. If my wife is with me, it's no trouble at all.

Richard

sterlingdog · September 2014

fezo said:
Richard - since you posted that truck and folks have posted the picture I have been seeing vehicles in approximately that I'd never noticed before. I was parked next to a Hyundai Santa Fe that looked remarkably similar and on the road back from PT caught a Sonata and a Veracruz in the same color.

The, amazingly I saw a Pontiac G6 in a very similar color.

It's a great color. Not speeding ticket red, which is a good thing for you, and not nearly so sedate as burgundy. I like burgundy and a lot of cars look good in it but ruby is a great color. My daughter Michelle was born in July and is thus a ruby baby.

I don't know if there are just fewer trooper on the Parkway or the anonymity of the 6 helps but I don't get any notice from the officers any more. My brother the attorney said a good rule of thumb on the big highways in NJ is that 14 over the limit will go unnoticed but 15 won't. I drive 79 mph a lot.

I agree. Once you start thinking about that color, you begin to notice it on the road. I saw a new Ford Explorer today in the ruby color. It is so pretty. I haven't seen another truck that color yet, but I'm sure that I will.

I was so proud today. I had to give a talk on our county's history at the North Carolina Welcome Center out on I-95. As I was walking out, a gentleman from New Jersey approached me as I was opening the truck door. He commented that he had never seen a prettier truck and asked me about the color and the silver trim. That was so nice of him.

Richard

Michaell · September 2014

sterlingdog said:

stever said:
Didn't we have this conversation recently? I agree with @henryn - better just to get in and go and not coddle a new motor imo. What does the owner's manual say?

Plus, better that it blows up the first month than a month after the powertrain warranty runs out.

Stever, I reached the break in section of my owner's manual for the truck. It says, "For the first 1,000 miles, do not drive fast or force the engine." I'm following that advice.

Richard

The two cars we've recently acquired had similar instructions - not to excessively rev the engine and don't drive at the same speed for too long. Was for the first 600-1000 miles.

robr2 · September 2014

driver100 said:

Sorry, but I think it won't be easy for Cadillac to make a big comeback. I once read this rule about business;

It's easier to keep your current customers than it is to try to get new ones.

The problem is, too many people have been burned in the past, and many of them just won't go back. I have talked to lots of people who were burned by the D3, rightfully or wrongly, and they say they won't be coming back. Newer generations will choose whatever suits them, they have no loyalty...but, they tend to like the unfamiliar - Asian or European.

IMHO, those burned by the D3 20 years ago are not the people that Cadillac is targeting. Nothing personal, but people beyond the age of 55 or so are no longer the ones that Cadillac wants buying it's products. It's the 30 - 45 year olds that they have to reach as they have the potential to buy many more cars in the future.

robr2 · September 2014

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

The name Royal but without the "e" on the end was used by Dodge in the mid to late 50s.
As in this 56 Dodge Royal:

I thought car names could not be used by another company. Can anyone think of a case where a name of one car was used for another?
There are ways to get names released for use by others. I thought there was a recent example but it's slipping my mind right now.

Not really relevant but there was also a Chrysler Royal, though obviously the same parent company.

Car model names are trademarked are if a company allows the trademark to expire, it can be used by another automaker. "Citation" was used by Chevrolet in the early 80's and it once was a model name used by Edsel.

venture · September 2014

LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP

I had a little free time yesterday so I started looking on line for a replacement for my wife's 2011 Subaru Forester even though it only has about 27,000 miles on it. She is on her second Forester and really likes it.

I found a 2.5i Premium locally that I figured she would like; mainly because it's green - her favorite color. It has the cold weather package, Eyesight, and Navigation.

I researched trade-in value, invoice cost on the 2015, and any available incentives. Then I figured out my "one offer" difference.

Last evening I announced my plan and was greeted with, "Why? There's nothing wrong with the one I have".

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