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The CLA competes against the A3, and 1 & 2 Series. The A4, 3 Series, and C Class are competitors.

Audi, and Mercedes-Benz, did not create a new market segment with the A3, and CLA. Both companies have had small cars in their lineups for a while. Audi has the A1, A2, and A3. Mercedes-Benz has had the A, and B Class. Both companies are just trying to get more sales. BMW's 1 series has been around since 2004. So as you can see, the small car market isn't exaactly new to the German Big 3. You also need to keep in mind, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are mainstream brands in most of the world. Seeing an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz in business, commercial, law enforcement, taxi, or EMS use, isn't a big deal. In the US, we only get the luxury versions of their cars

Patrick Warburton has been doing the most recent National Car Rental ads. National is great though, it's nice to be able to get in,and out quickly. Their fleet is also getting better. Camaros are fun, but the C250s that they have are so minimally equipped - I actually have a well equipped C250, and compared to the ones ordered by National, are night, and day.

I'm not sure how I feel about the modern day Yenko revivals, but I know the original Yenko cars are highly collectible, with many trading for as much as, if not more than, some of Shelby's cars (of course, we're not comparing it to the Cobras, but check out trading prices of GT350s, vs the Yenko COPO cars). I can only imagine what Carroll must have been like in person. I don't think anyone will come close to him.

Carroll Shelby is way above 'cool' status. He is legendary. His cars are of iconic status. I think the closest anyone got to Shelby was Don Yenko.

Been watching the Patrick Warburton commercials, I see.

I think the Acura TLX, Lexus ES300, and S60, FWD versions of the Audi A4, and Buick Regal, could be considered, MKZ Competitors. All the listed cars are close in size, and drivetrain layout, as well as driving dynamics. The Audi A4 Quattro (due to its longitudinally mounted engine, and 40/60 front/rear torque split), BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C Class, are competitors to each other. The only cars that have been semi-successful in breaking into that three-way competition are the Lexus IS series, and Cadillac's ATS. Having had an MKZ rental, I will attest to its build quality, design, and driving feel, but it's never going to feel as balanced (yes, I bring this point up a bit, but that really is one of the key points of a RWD sport sedan) as the A4, 3 Series, C Class, IS, and ATS. The people buying the aforementioned RWD sedans usually (not always, there will always be badge-whores among us), look for performance over comfort, which I think the MKZ places more emphasis on. The only reason the A4 - depending on configuration - is a competitor to both categories is that depending on version, Quattro, or FWD, can feel like a completely different car. The badge snob will buy the FWD A4, and be happy, the enthusiast will buy the Quattro version (we're going to go based upon fair weather driving - bad weather doesn't happen often enough to justify Quattro for year round use). I do have to add that if the LS were still in production, it would easily fall into the latter category as a RWD sport sedan competitor. If the LS were around today, I wouldn't consider it and MKZ competitor, just as I wouldn't consider the Lexus IS, and ES competitors. If you've seen my posts, you've seen that I am an advocate for RWD cars quite a bit (just as I am an advocate for manual transmission - but that's for a different thread) - just think of it this way, all factors being equal, would you rather have a single device that performs two tasks adequately, or two devices performing two separate tasks very well?

Looks like Lincoln is doing something right.

You have just demonstrated exactly what Lincoln is shooting for. Lincoln needs people to think its products are cool, and it seems to be slowly succeeding. While not a fan, I am pulling for Lincoln to succeed.

Here's the thing about cars, they're either cool, or they're not. A manufacturer can build a car, but they can't decide whether or not it's going to be considered 'cool'. You can aim it at a certain target (let's go with sports sedan drivers), you can include certain features, and attributes, and even certain design cues, but in the end, it's going to be the press, and the consumers, who decide whetheror not something is cool. The same actually goes for just about any type of product you can think of. Apple didn't set out to make 'cool' products, they just designed based on what they thought people would like, and the cool factor came.

Additional benefits to renting a car you're interested in: - You're on your own schedule - You get to drive it around as you would your own car, and see how it fits your everyday life - Rental cars aren't known for having lived pampered lives. You might get a car with lower mileage, you might get one with higher mileage, in the event it's the latter, you'll see how well the car has held up after being passed through so many hands, and accumulating more mileage than you'd put on in a year of ownership (at the time, I found the 2012 BMW 328i to be a very solid car at 30k miles, impressed the hell out of me - no squeaks, rattles, etc - stuff that you wouldn't think about in your first year of ownership). - It's just plain fun driving various cars.

With new turbo 4s putting out 240-280hp, and 250+ lb-ft of torque (available at low RPMs), V8s aren't necessary, though they're still nice as they're smoother, and allow for a higher top end, but then again, the luxury cars us younger buyers are looking for, aren't the same ones our parents were looking for. A lot of us look for luxury sport sedans, with emphasis on performance, over that wallowy barcolounger-on-wheels feel. RWD, however, is still a key feature. It allows for a more balanced car - ideally, you want a 50/50, f/r, weight distribution. Front wheel drive cars, despite how well they handle, still feel very nose-heavy. RWD also gives more of a sense of stability - I've never felt a FWD car that's been as stable as a RWD car (even the LS was more sure-footed than the MKZ, despite the years separating them). AWD, especially if done in the way Audi does it (Longitudinally mounted engine like in a RWD car, with 40/60 f/r torque split) is the way to go, if you feel that you need AWD. Being a Mercedes-Benz owner, I'm more inclined to steer you in that direction, but honestly, get out there, see what options you have in your price range, drive each car - the larger rental car companies now offer Audis, BMWs, and Mercedes-Benzes, as well as a range of other cars that are almost competitors to the German Big 3, rent a few, see what works for you.

V8 Rear Wheel Drive works. Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, all have it. Hyundai, and Kia, even have V8 RWD. I don't see any reason why any other automaker can't.