I spotted a NEW (insert make/model) today!

PF_Flyer

This is sort of the opposite end of the I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) today! discussion. Not really about spyshots, but actual on the road sightings of new models...

What brought this on... driving up the road yesterday, glanced in the reaview and my eye was caught by one of the new "retro" Mustangs. Silver. I'm not really a Ford guy, but this car got my attention. Maybe it's a sign of my age, but this looked like a CAR. Back when you could tell make/model/year at a glance and before everything had the shape of a Taurus. But before we get off on a styling tangent... Maybe we should include the town,state where we make these sightings so we can get a feel for where new models are spreading to. My new 'stang was spotted in State College, PA...

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fintail

This isn't totally new, but I saw my first Scion xB the other day, and it was black and boxy. I saw it in Bellingham WA, a ways from where they actually sell them now (I think), so it counts.

andre1969

I saw both a Colorado and a Malibu in DC. I know neither one is the cutting edge of newness, but this is only like the second time I've seen a Colorado on the roads, and maybe the third time I've seen a new Malibu!

lemko

...but I saw a Mazda 3 last week.

andre1969

sometimes though, at a quick glance it takes me a moment to distinguish the 4-door model. If I only catch it in passing, which means that the first thing my vision fixes on is the roofline, my first thought is '95-99 Neon. At a quick glance, the rooflines are very similar.

PF_Flyer

Yea, we can have some retroactive sightings to get this going... but not too far back! Don't want anyone reporting seeing their first AMC Pacer! LOL

Haven't seen a Mazda 3 yet... hmm... this is kind of similar to bird watching. Maybe we need an occasional checklist of things we should try to spy on the road.

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ghulet

....haven't seen a Maxx yet, also have seen a Mazda3, but it was at the dealer, does that count? I live in the middle of the city, don't get out much during the day, work at midnight like three miles from home, so the chances of my seeing too many new cars are kinda slim. Woe is me.

mirth

Saw a Chrysler 300C on the road the other day (Detroit area). Looked very good in person.

Saw an xB in Ann Arbor, MI. Neat looking, IMO.

kenjabi

In Maryland near DC, I first saw an xB about a month ago, and saw it again yesterday. Funny thing, it has a big website advertisement slapped to the sides of it (missed the name of the site, though).

I've also seen two Malibu Maxxes within the last week.

player4

In Louisville, KY. I've seen a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country last week and I also saw a 2005 Nissan Altima at a parking lot at the mall too. I also saw a 2004 Cadillac XLR in the Interstate it was VERY nice.
Also seen the 2004 BMW X3, 2004 Pontiac GTO, 2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada, 2004 Saab 93 Convertible, 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005 Ford Escape, 2004 Chevrolet Aveo, 2004 Mazda3, 2004 Chevrolet Colorado, 2004 BMW 5-Series, 2004 Infiniti QX56, 2004 Toyota Solara Convertible, 2004 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, and 2004 Chrysler Crossfire.

andys120

The "wagon" (it's really a five door hatch IMO) version of the new 'Bu. I thought it looked far better than the (Malibu) sedan.

What a weird time, when SAAB sells a four-door but no hatch and Chebby sells a five-door hatch and both are made by GM.

seminole_kev

If I remember correctly the Malibu and SAAB 9-3 are on the same platform, yet Chevy has a 5-door hatch and the 9-3 has the sedan. Crazy I tell ya. Crazy!

ghulet

....that the Malibu is made on the same platform as the Grand Am? I remember seeing the new 9-3 and being alarmed at how much it looked like an Alero or Grand Am. Yes, I think it's a shame that SAAB no longer has a hatchback, especially now that they're coming back into popularity. Leave it to GM.

logic1

shares the epsilon platform with the new Malibu/Maxx, Opel Vectra, and the forth coming G6. The Grand Am and Alero are on a much older platform.

This (imo lovely) Saab hatch will be on the market sometime next year:

http://www.edmunds.com/future/2006/saab/93/100352828/photos.html?- tid=edmunds.f.review.vdpheaderphoto..0.Saab*

grbeck

Today I saw a metallic gray Scion xB. It looked quite small on the road, despite the boxy shape. Maybe because I keep comparing it to the bigger Chevy Astro/GMC Safari.

I wonder what that 2005 Mustang was doing in State College, Pa. That is a long way from Dearborn. I hope the car makes it to Harrisburg.

wimsey1

3-Malibu Maxx
2-PT Cruiser converts.
1-Mazda 3
2-RX-8
1-Crossfire

fintail

Saw an xA and an xB today

player4

Saw the 2004 Cadillac SRX today!!

andys120

Out in front of a Chebby dealer, in bright yellow which didn't favor the car as much as the black that I saw a couple of weeks ago.

tbcreative

Over the past year, I've seen something else around the Phoenix Metro area, that isn't even due to come to the states for another year. On 3 different occasions, I have seen the Nissan X-Trail. I'm not sure whether it was the same vehicle or not, but all 3 were silver. I've heard you can get one imported here, but you have to go through some channels. My most recent sighting was today, in the Ahwatukee Best Buy parking lot, so I actually got a chance to walk around it and check it out. It was very nice. It had Georgia license plates, and was parked next to a Ford Escape, which it was nearly identical to, dimension-wise.

I'm surprised Nissan hasn't introduced it here yet, because I think it would be a top seller, easily out-selling the latest SUV offerings from Mitsubishi.

tbcreative

One of the best things about living in Phoenix, if you're a car nut, is the fact that everyone has proving grounds here. I've been seeing all of the above mentioned vehicles for at least a few weeks. What excites me is vehicles that haven't been introduced yet. I've seen everything from the New Beetle to the XC90, and the 300M to the Armada, long before they were due to hit dealerships.

But what really puts a big ol' grin on my mug is seeing spy vehicles! I haven't seen too many of them, but it's exciting to see them when I do. My most recent sighting was the new Land Rover Discovery, or LR3, as it's now called, which I just saw about a week and a half ago, while driving home from work. I was so excited, I called my dad and described it as I was cruising along side it. I didn't follow it all the way to it's destination, as I was meeting my family for dinner, but I talked with Brenda Priddy about it (she lives close to me, and we've become friends). She told me about Ford doing some testing with the '05 Mustang here, and perhaps they're also doing some weather testing for the LR3. I've seen the spy shots, and photos of it, but it looked cool in reality, even with all of the black-out, spy stuff on it. I just saw the latest Truck Trend, which has the best photo I've seen of it.

Now, if I could just see an H3...

wimsey1

I've seen an SSR sitting at a dealer too. Anyone know how they are selling?
There is a blue SRT-4 in our little town, the owner seems like a rather nice kid.

bksward

The week of New Year's I saw a Ford 500 in San Diego. It was the day of the Holiday Bowl and near the stadium.

Mazda 3s are all over the place down here. As are the Scions (a lot more xBs than xAs...) But the Scions have been on sale for around 9 months here.

Saw a both a Pathfinder Armada on I-5 today and a Nissan Titan in a parking lot in Pacific Beach. Also the new Durango.

I've seen several Gallardos as well, but I work across the street from the service center for the local Lambo dealer.

lemko

...near the Sports Complex in Philadelphia - a new black Rolls-Royce Phantom.

jaserb

It actually looked more awkward in person than in the pics, to me anyway. Surprising because I liked the pics. It was in kind of an unattractive beige/brown color, so that probably didn't help. Black or silver would work better.

-Jason

vikd

...saw an '04 GTO yesterday. Pretty unremarkable exterior wise...

Regards... Vikd

i_luv_toyota

Saw a Nissan Titan the other day. First one I've seen since they've been on sale. I did see the SUV version of the Titan, the Armada, a month back at the Mohegan Sun Casino parking garage here in Connecticut (it had NY plates, though...).

fintail

One of the high level corporate cronyists at work has a new Armada. Is there some kind of styling theme out there where a vehicle is made to intentionally seem obese? It seems over-wrought at every angle.

fintail

Are Scions being sold nationwide yet? I saw yet another xB today, this one dark blue

bretaa

Saw all of those here in Minnesota this week. The GTO does look purposeful, but it is clearly an older design. It was parked next to a late model Mercury Cougar, and I'd hate to say which was the "fresher" design...

The 300C is another case entirely. It has tremendous road presence and is very fresh. I couldn't help but think "modern day Bentley" when I was parked next to it.

I know the SRX has been out a while, but I saw my first one here. It does attract attention. I still think it comes away looking a wee narrow, and not as "planted" as I would like.

My $0.02.

- Bret

carguy58

Seen about 13 Acura TL's that I counted.

Seen about 11 Mazda 3's so far(When I go to work sometimes I see a young girl driving a 3 going the opposite way.)

I saw a Nissan Pathfinder Armada way back in December or something.

Seen about 4 Chrysler Crossfire's(not alot of them around.)

Seen about 4 04 Mitsubishi Galants so far(all 4 in the same day as a matter fact and haven't seen one since.)

Also have seen a few Caddy SRX's around.
Seen about maybe 6-10 04 BMW 5 Series around.

vikd

...the GTO is simply a watered down version of the Volvo C70. I appreciate that Pontiac did away with the cladding theme on the GTO, but they could have made the vehicle just a bit more striking in appearance as would befit the GTO badge. It is one heck of a "sleeper" though! Lots of folks getting fooled at the stop light drags I'll bet...

Still waiting to see a 300 on the street; saw one on the turntable at the auto show but that's it. Looking forward to see ing the Magnum in person as well.

Regards... Vikd

lemko

...I'd get a GTO and put one of those little "E" Enterprise car rental decals on it and fool people into thinking it's a rental Grand Prix.

vikd

...I didn't go that far but I know what you mean...yaawwnnn...

Regards... Vikd

andre1969

has a son who works as a tech at a Chrysler dealership. He said that the 300's are in stock now. They only got a few of them though, and naturally, they're loaded to the gills. <sigh> Looks like it's gonna be the Pacifica/K-car/Volare all over again!

andre1969

that's a sick idea, but I kinda like it! It'd be a nice practical joke...maybe if one of my co-workers ever shows up with a GTO, I'll do it to them! ;-)

seminole_kev

I dunno. That 300c (specifically the "c" version with the V8) intriques me. I might, in a year or two, get a new car and I'm mulling the idea of a big cruiser that might still be a little fun. The 300c is the only version of the 300 I'd be interested in. So I'm hoping they have a bunch of loaded c's in stock (ok minus the sunroof) in dark blue ;-)

Actually, I'd probably just order it from the factory.

it's weird, but there's something about the 300c that draws me too it. Can't quite figure it out. I'll have to go drive it to see if I might get one, or hate its size enough not to be tempted by it.

andre1969

the 300C intrigues me too! When I made a reference to the Volare/K-car/Pacifica though, what I meant was that they still seem to be repeating their old habits of only offering fully loaded-up models at first, which tends to hurt sales. They made that mistake with the Volare in '76, and almost botched the launch of the K-car by only offering loaded models to begin with, and did the same thing with the Pacifica.

I agree though, that the Hemi C is probably the only model I'd be interested in, but I'm also not ready to pay $30K+ for car yet! My Intrepid came out to about $22.3K out the door, and looking back, sometimes I wish I hadn't spent that much, and just got a used one instead.

With a 3.5, the 300 might not be TOO bad, but this car just screams out for the Hemi! And I think I have a rough idea of about how a 300 with the 2.7 will peform. Probably about the same as my Intrepid with 4 people on board and a trunk full of luggage. Umm, no thanks!

seminole_kev

oddly enough I had a talk with the wife over breakfast this morning about a...(ahem) hypothetical situation if I was to buy a new car in a year or so about how much she'd be comfortable with me spending. (Hey she runs the checkbook and does a hell of a lot better job than I can/did!). Specifically targeting the 300c optioned out the way I want (approx $35,000 MSRP). Well she didn't have a problem with that. So woo hoo.

Then she turned around and said "This isn't about that Chrysler you've been looking at is it!?!?! No! No way you're spending that much money on a Chrysler! A Chrysler?!?!?" She then proceded to rattle off a few "suggestions" as to what other cars I should look at in that price range ;-)

I'm going to look around at quite a wide range of cars, but I'm going to give the 300c a fair shake. I think she has a little issue with the Chrysler name though ;-)

*To be fair, she works for a law firm that handles bankruptcies for DaimlerChrysler, so I think she's also burnt out on the name.

ghulet

I worked at JDRP for ten years, I don't regret my move from law firm slave to bartender one bit!

lemko

...turns out to be all that, I might consider one as a cost-effective alternative to a new STS. The only problem is, I'm happy with Cadillac and Cadillac service in general. I've only owned one Chrysler vehicle - a 1985 Chrysler Fifth Avenue - and it turned out to be one of the best I've ever owned. However, the one experience I had with Chrysler service was awful. I needed a new wheel lock wrench and the surly guy behind the counter gave me a response as if I just told him I slept with his wife. Fortunately, this dealer was bought out by somebody else so maybe things have changed.

andys120

Automobile sez the 300C comes with a 3.5 V6
and is only 2.5 sec slower to 60 than the V8 which puts it in the mid 7s.

I'm anxious to see one of those.

andre1969

yeah, I just read my issue of Motortrend last nite, and in addition to the 300C with the Hemi, which gave 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, they also tested a Magnum wagon with the 3.5, and got 0-60 in 7.5 seconds.

I think that's actually pretty impressive, considering that with the 300M/LHS/Intrepid R/T, lighter cars using the same engine, 0-60 was more like 7.8-8 seconds or so. In the RWD Magnum and 300 though, the 3.5 uses the same 4-speed automatic as the Jeep Wrangler and the V-6 Dakota/Durango. Maybe the RWD tranny is just more effective at putting the power to the wheels? I've heard that with the FWD tranny, they designed it so that it doesn't make the most use of the engine's power...if they did it would shred it!

I think the 3.5 now also has a revised intake that gives it a broader torque curve, so that might help, too. The 3.5 (and 2.7 and 3.2) in the LH cars tended to be pretty "peaky" when it came to power.

vikd

...at the Chrysler dealership. It was the Limited with the 250 horse 3.5. I asked my salesman why it was sitting in the corner of the lot, he replied that it was sold within 3
hours of it's arrival!

I really like the vehicle after having walked around it a few times. The doors were open and I was allowed to sit in it. The rear seat accomodations are more than adequate for even someone my size. The overall feel of the vehicle is muscular and purposeful. The salesmen milling around kept referring to it as the "Chrysler Bentley". This may be a turn off to some but I can appreciate the departure from the same old-same old that the vehicle represents. The interior is also very nice with most surfaces feeling of high quality and soft to the touch. The steering wheel has a thick solid feel to it along the lines of say, an M5 and the like.

This Limited stickered at around 33k with a 2995 adm tacked on.

Regards... Vikd

andre1969

looks like I might have to go 300 hunting this weekend. I don't plan on bagging anything on this little safari (I'll make sure to leave the checkbook at home, but hell, they take credit cards nowadays!), but I'd like to at least give the car a test-sit and if I'm lucky, a test drive!

andys120

wimsey1

Heres a thought for Chrysler, Give it a manual trans. and some suspension work and under cut the CTS-V with a special model. It's only a few ticks away on acceleration with the auto trans and I think AMG could make it handle even better than it does now.
For all my snarling at the 300's styling I think it could turn out to be a winner for Chrysler. America likes BIG.

vikd

...I agree. Though it is far too early to make any predictions, the fact that the few 300's that have hit dealer lots are being snatched up so quick is a good start. My salesman at the Chry shop said that the only reason the Limited wasn't delivered yet is because they are waiting for premier night to do it "in style".

Regards... Vikd

andys120

coming at me, but didn't get a good look cuz it was going in opposite direction, it was either
a DB7 or a Vanquish.

It looked sleek, low and very fast with nothing boy-racer about it, just the way I like cars.

wimsey1

Amen! Looking at an Asotn is always a good experience.

seminole_kev

Just looked at a Chrysler 300 today (only had the base model which is not what I'm looking for). Since it wasn't the "C" version, I didn't bother driving it, but the car looks well put together and thought out. Salesman really turned me off though. Hopefully this was just a bad salesman, but wasn't a good start for Chrylser trying to change my image of them.

Looking forward to giving the 300c a whirl.