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

ghulet

I don't know if it was 'new', but certainly a fairly recent rendition Bentley Arnage (I think?) sedan today (dark blue), coming out of an alley in my neighborhood (where most SFHs, in this economy at least, cost about the same, or less than, that car). Quite odd in general, but especially around here. Driver was an 'older' (than me, that's my standard) gentleman, shocking.

fintail

Maybe not brand new, but parked by me in the workplace garage this afternoon:



I must be working in the wrong department

fintail

I have to wonder how those things are to maintain as they age. That design has been around since 1999, so older ones aren't the most expensive things anymore. Might not be bad for someone wanting a lot of flash for more mundane cash.

ateixeira

Until the first thing on it breaks.

fintail

Maybe they have the same potential for $8K brake jobs as earlier models :sick:

Here's the cheapest one on Autotrader...from a marque dealer even. Seems like a lot of poshness for barely more than loaded Camcord money.

ateixeira

Oh that's so hilarious - the toolkit comes with white gloves!

The rear suspension seems to be sagging a bit. The gap in the front fender is bigger than in the rear. I wonder if it's just worn shocks? Or do those have active suspensions and maybe something needs repair?

fintail

I think they just kind of sit slightly saggy in the butt, and the styling also adds to the look. I can't imagine a highbrow main dealer selling a defective car like that either.

boomchek

Nice! Ask to get paid what the guy besides you is getting paid.

boomchek

I used to not like that body style but it's growing on me. I'd take one in dark green for some reason.

fintail

Probably the best color for it, so British.

The average gawker on the street would think that 35K car was a 200K car...for whatever reason it has aged fairly well, probably because it was never modern even when new.

fintail

Actually, I use it as a gripe at work when I complain about system issues...along the lines of "we pay people enough to drive Bentleys and we can't get this @#$%^ network to work properly!" :shades:

It was in the garage again today, parked with the top down. He's very trusting.

ghulet

....but the Bentley sedan I saw was a more 'modern' version. Nice, either way!

fushigi

Saw a convertible (top up) in stop-n-go rush hour traffic this morning. Florida plates: VEE TEN. :shades: Too bad this is Chicagoland it was not only lousy traffic but dreary weather.

fintail

One of these, I'll guess:



Kind of the successor to the Arnage, but less imposing

texases

After having seen one of those in a year, 2 showed up in a parking lot at the same time...I think they'll still be making the Arnage-class Bentleys, these are the 'bargain' line.

fintail

I think the "Mulsanne" is supposed to be a higher model, but I don't know if these exist yet, at least stateside. I haven't seen one yet.



The new Brooklands - that's a proper Bentley:



I haven't seen one on the road yet either.

ghulet

Yes, precisely, that's the car, I think even the same (exterior) color. As stated before, not something you'd see around here, ever. My neighbors (who have a double lot, and a really nice old kinda Prairie-style house that's at least three times the square footage as ours) have a LR Disco; that's about as fancy a vehicle as it gets, in general.

lemko

...a co-worker just bought a new 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan and was showing it to me a few minutes ago. It's finished in Mars Red and has a black leather interior.

fintail

How often does it run? Those were not the finest hour of modern British automibiledom.

I've seen a couple more new style Sonatas over the past couple days, also a new S-class - distinguishable from the 07-09 models by the LEDs on the bumper.

fintail

Saw a Lotus Evora outside the local dealer (who also sells Astons and weirdo stuff like Spyker)

boomchek

Saw an S63 AMG with the bumper LEDs. I thought those were just on the AMG models but I guess they're standard across the line.

fintail

Yep, standard on the W221 facelift for 2010 and also included on the P2 package on the W212 E-class...LED is the new fad. I think the C-class is being facelifted for next year, maybe we'll see them there too.

Geez, and I can remember when xenons were the big thing :shades:

ghulet

seems the Disco runs fine, though it's their 'fancy' vehicle (they have a couple of pickup trucks as well--one a Dodge, the other a Chevy) so I don't think she drives the Disco all that much. It's kept in their garage, so I don't see it too often.

ateixeira

Sonata may be the quickest seller out of the gate that I can recall.

Also saw a Sienna.

ateixeira

A friend offered me a ride to a work event, and lo and behold, she pulls up in a new Hybrid Lexus Hyrbid HS Hybrid 250 Hybrid H Hybrid.

By the way - it's a Hybrid.

No surprise, there are tons of soft-touch surfaces. Elbow rests, door panels, dash, fabric-wrapped A-pillars, padded headliners, plush carpets, the works. This is not a Prius by a long shot. It's better in many areas than my buddy's Camry hybrid, except interior room.

The seats are perforated leather, again glove-soft. The dash and other parts are wrapped in a soft-touch vinyl they probably call leatherette, but it's softer than you'd expect and may not be very durable with abuse.

It's eerily quiet at low speeds with the engine off, naturally. Very smooth in operation, but nothing here to get your heart pumping. I drove the last little bit, including a very challenging parking job in a tight spot. The backup cam came in handy, that screen is HUGE, too. 8" at least.

She got Navi on it, and told me she loves the concierge service - you hit a button and it's like calling 411, except they find it for you and enter your destination. Very red carpet. It doesn't even use her phone, so I guess there must be some monthly fee associated with the service (wonder if it's satellite linked?).

Lexus knows their customers well. She's delighted with the car, FWIW.

$38 grand loaded up with Navi, moonroof, etc.

qbrozen

But I THINK it was a Ferrari California. Top down. Ferrari red, of course. It was just nosing out of a driveway when I was going past, so I only saw it for a brief second. But enough that I spotted the hood scoop and curvaceous fenders.

I don't believe there is anything else from Ferrari in recent years that has both those features. I didn't think California until I got to work and looked it up. I was thinking something with Maranello in the name (forgive me for not knowing all the damned numbers). So when I was perusing the pics on the web, that's when I discovered the scoop and curved fenders are not a common combo in their designs. The 575M Maranello is close, and probably what I was thinking of, but the fenders are definitely too straight on that model.

fintail

Saw another new Sonata...this one undoubtedly a private purchase, fancier wheels and new temporary registration on the window.

anythngbutgm

I agree, I've seen a bunch of them already.

The Sienna tho is keeping right with it in my area, selling like gangbusters.

ateixeira

IIHS just gave the Sienna the Top Safety Pick designation (first minivan to do so), which won't hurt sales, which were already way up.

anythngbutgm

Yup, read that as well. The Sienna is finally sized right to keep up with the Ody this time around rather than being 7/8 scale.

I really believe AWD popularity is on a huge upswing (Look at Subie ) so offering that feature in a minivan is a great alternative to conventional SUV's. Also, isnt the Sienna capable of carrying a sheet of plywood with the rear hatch closed?

Don't think there is a single ute out there besides maybe one of Government Motors school busses (Escalade, Yukon XL, Suburban) that can claim the same ability...

ateixeira

Even the old one (2004-2010) could fit plywood with room to spare:

See more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com

I'm surprised you call it a 7/8 Odyssey, though, since it actually had more interior volume, 148.9 vs. 147.4 cubic feet.

fezo

And of course we know that plywood is the official measuring unit for such things.

It's right up there with football fields for describing how big a piece of land is... or a big building.

Speaking of that, my daughter used to go to a high school that was built inside the hanger that used to house the Hindenburg when it was stateside. Even with this high school built in it they said it was big enough to run three regulation football games in at once. When the Hindenburg was in it it stuck out at both ends.

3233

And those GM full sizers cost more, get 12-14mpg in real world driving (per a relative) and have less spacious seating than vans (again, per a relative). The normal family with 2.5 kids (rounded up to 3) should have plenty of space in a van.

On topic, a lot of Sonatas are springing up around here. I've spoken to a couple people who own them and they all absolutely love their cars. We all love to bash modern cars for being too heavy, too boring, too coddling, but I really think Hyundai hit it out of the park with this one. Great mileage, good driving dynamics, and an interior that belies its low cost. Not bad Hyundai.

anythngbutgm

Really? Wow that's impressive. I'll admit to not delving into too much research on minivans as I don't have any kids myself, but side by side I have always thought the Sienna was smaller than the Odyssey.

Impressive packaging

fushigi

The Sienna has always looked smaller on the outside to me as well. I haven't shopped the segment so I can't really say I pay that much attention to them. I'm sure the interior packaging/layout makes the space feel different and affects usability.

ateixeira

The new Sienna is wider outside, FWIW.

Inside, though, Honda puts the spare tire on the left rear side, upright. So that eats up some width. At that spot the Sienna is a good 5" wider. I'm sure that's where it wins the cargo volume battle.

Toyota puts the spare under the vehicle. Honda puts the Lazy Susan storage system there instead. So, pick your poison, I suppose.

Saw yet another new Sienna this morning, in Silver.

Also saw a silver Sonata with temp tags.

Then I found myself driving behind a new 4Runner.

Must be New Car Thursday.

fintail

I think I saw one of those new pseudo-sport model Lexus LS today...it had more aggressive wheels and maybe even some subtle body cladding.

texases

"I think I saw one of those new pseudo-sport model Lexus LS today...it had more aggressive wheels and maybe even some subtle body cladding. "

What a weird coincidence - I'm watching the Motor Week review of that exact car. They said it's slightly sportier than the normal Lexus, but far from 'sporty'. 'Soft suspension...plenty of body roll...fine on regular roads...more of a baby step'. Doesnt sound like the German 3 have much to worry about.

fintail

I wonder if the Germans made a softie version of their large cars, if any Lexus people would buy it. Probably not, as it would retain the Euro dealer and service experience.

I saw a fun one last night, at a gas station...a GT-R...decked out with an obnoxious bodykit and a big wing on the back. What's wrong with stock on a car like that? And the owner...I will just say it completed the full [non-permissible content removed] effect.

stickguy

Hyundai Horsey (er., Equis).

Pretty darned sharp looking. certainly makes a statement.

Almost seems like a Buick from the sides, with an almost Lincolnish grill.

But with the hood ornament, certainly makes a statement. And a really, really nice interior.

I know they aren't out yet, but I know someone in Hyundai corporate, and he always has the new stuff a few months in advance.

If Acura could have put this out as the new RL, it would have revitalized the brand.

stever

So, Hyundai really is keeping the hood ornament?

ateixeira

Decent looking, much smaller than the old one. I guess they're copying the Lexus RX formula as far as size goes.

We were at the beach so I also saw every new Wrangler sold in the past 4 years.

ghulet

...but my neighbor appears to have replaced her Disco II with a Nissan Armada, an even more obnoxious behemoth. Pulling out of her garage, it appeared to have about an inch vertical clearance. Granted, she does have a daughter and granddaughter living with her, but I doubt she needs a vehicle this large. Ugh. Whatever, if she can afford it and the gas, not my problem.....

lemko

What is an Armada but a Nash Rambler station wagon on steroids?

texases

I thought that Aramada greenhouse looked familliar...

fintail

The Armada/QX56 really are ugly obnoxious things, and at least from my anecdotal experience, the drivers usually fit at least the latter part of that description as well. Perfect vehicle to drive with a Starbucks cup in one hand and a phone in the other.

ateixeira

Saw a new Land Rover LR2 and a pair of Benz GLK350s.

The LR2 seems like a big improvement over its predecessor, though I haven't driven one or even been in one for that matter.

ghulet

Nice picture, Lemko!! Thanks for that, I'd take the Rambler in a heartbeat!

fintail

Today saw new Sonata x2, both black, at least one rental, and a dark red new Previa, also rental.

scscars

Saw a black F-150 Raptor this afternoon. It looked menacing enough for the woman in the silver Honda Pilot to pass it and get away from it when it pulled along side of her. That truck does have some presence on the street and it looks a whole lot better on the road than it does when sitting at the front of the local Ford dealer's car lot.