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

fintail

Saw what I think was a Ferrari 599 today, black. These new Ferraris really look too similar.

I see I said I saw a new Previa yesterday...of course I meant a Sienna...guess I am stuck in the 90s :shades:

stever

The new ones should be so good.

ateixeira

Saw and drove each of these on Friday. It was a fun day. :shades:

I see about 7-8 Sonatas per day now. It may be the fastest selling new model I've ever observed, or perhaps the stand-out styling makes it seem that way.

fintail

You drove a GT? How was it? I still can't get over the look...

I am seeing at least a couple new Sonatas a day here. However, a lot of them are rentals...I wonder of H is pulling a GM.

ateixeira

Loved it.

I don't like the styling either, but it's not nearly as bad as the X6, and has twice the back seat. Plus a huge glass roof to serve front and rear.

Likes: smooth ride combined with nearly zero body roll, so very impressive ride/handling balance. 550i had torque down low and boost up high so you're always happy with the engine. Trans was slow in D mode, but DS (Drive Sport) fixed that, and you have 8 ratios to play with.

Dislikes: black text on Navi screen was hard to read despite big widescreen (Benz' smaller screen was better, ironically). No manual or at least paddle shifters. And...I'm thinking...still thinking...OK, the boot was easy to open but noone could figure out how to open the hatch, including the BMW staffer (not a 3rd party employee, he worked for BMW).

$79 grand and change. Ouch.

I could get past the styling EASILY after driving it. Total non-factor.

The funny thing is the 550i GT revealed many flaws in the 535i - laggy engine, cozy back seat (relateive to GT and E class), no rear moonroof, no seat memory for the passenger, etc.

Moral of the story - if you want a good BMW, don't just buy the base model, get the right engine and options.

Personally I might go for a 550i sedan (are manuals still available?) if I were shopping in that class.

I should go test an M35/45 for reference.

anythngbutgm

$79 grand and change. Ouch.

I looked at one myself and the sticker was in the mid eighties. And I believe these are only RWD! :surprise:

ateixeira

Yep, not an xi.

fintail

They do seem to have comfortable looking back seat configurations, but I wouldn't be sitting back there anyway. One magazine put it "looks like a chump, feels like a sneaker"...sounds right. Did it have head-up display? That's something I'd like to have in a future car.

I know the leading German rental car company has bought large quantities of the GT and if you rent in the LDAR group, chances are you'll get one or an F10 5er. I might be going over later in the year, and possibly renting a car for a couple days...if I do, maybe I'll get one (but I will be praying for an S-class upgrade of course).

BMW site lists a manual for the 550 sedan but none for the GT.

ateixeira

Did not notice a heads-up display, but it may not have been turned on.

BMW site lists a manual for the 550 sedan but none for the GT.

I'd take a manual sedan, then. The kids would still have more than enough room.

fintail

The head up display should be turned on via a button on the lower left dashboard, if it is like the 7er. There is also a recessed flat panel low on the top of the dash near the windshield to tell if the car has the feature. On the BMW system it is very handy, it gives many inputs - speed, speed limit, arrows and distances for nav directions. A case where it is very true the more options, the better...but I would buy it used and let someone else pay for that :shades:

I think the GT only has that new 8 speed auto unit.

ateixeira

And more importantly DS mode always seemed to pick the right one among those 8.

kyfdx

I was at the dealer this past Saturday, and there was a 550i sedan in the loaner pool...

I'm not that fond of the upright grill, but the car looks great, otherwise... I'm taking my wife's car in, in a couple of weeks.... going to see if I can snag that one for a loaner! :P

ateixeira

I'm looking at the brochure for the 5er now, looks like a heads-up display is indeed an option. Ours didn't have it or at least was not turned on.

I also see Surround View is available for October 2010, so not yet.

We did have lane departure warning but I didn't get how it worked - it seemed like both sides were lit all the time. Maybe it lights up even brighter, but of course I didn't test it out.

The brochure itself is WEAK, very little information, no technical specs at all. Almost more of a preview brochure. Not even options lists for each model.

fintail

My 7er had lane departure warning...it also vibrates the steering wheel. Pretty goofy, and I had it switched off most of the time. I guess if a person is a habitually sleepy driver it could be handy. The car also had the blind spot warning system, but I never was able to get it to react.

Something like a 550i is something to buy new if you like losing money...see what a 2007 model sells for now. Somehow those large engined 5ers always have poor resale.

ateixeira

Dunno, I spent 535i money on my Miata and Sienna combined. It's not as fun as the Miata nor as practical as the 8 seat van.

The 550i GT does a reasonable compromise at both purposes, but it costs more than I spent even if you add my wife's Forester and a new jet ski! :surprise:

fintail

I wonder if the GT will carry any resale premium in 3 years.

I have seen 07 550i's locally for under 30K. I just can't accept that loss.

ateixeira

Yes, but OTOH I can accept a 550i for $30k. :shades:

fintail

Same here, that's exactly what I was getting at ...these things can be a good deal when used but not too old. Lots of bang for the buck. 3 year old 550i or a new Camcord...hmmm

ateixeira

The only caveat - I'd want it CPO.

fintail

Or at least a solid warranty yeah. When I bought my just out of warranty E55, I bought a 48 month aftermarket warranty for just over 2K. I've had to make a couple claims, no problems there.

ateixeira

How were your total costs overall?

And if you buy CPO, do you still get the rest of the 4 year's free service?

I was admiring a convertible 335i, which had 9k miles but actually was priced the same as a 135i convertible in the same showroom. The 3 was CPO, the 1 was new.

$43 grand for a 135i seemed insane to me. :surprise:

kyfdx

4yr/50k service goes with the car, no matter how many owners..

You can add the extended service to match the CPO warranty, but it's sort of pricy...

fintail

Other than a couple of gadget-related hiccups covered by warranty, the car has been bulletproof - no driveability isuess. I've only had one non-warranty repair, some rubber AC part that cost a couple hundred bucks. Car is going to need both tires and brakes this year, which won't be cheap....but you have to pay to play with these cars.

1er could be one of the most overpriced cars out there if you load it up...I think they can be pushed past 50K.

ateixeira

you have to pay to play with these cars

That's what I suspected.

I was lucky with a used Miata, cost me nearly nothing over 8 years or so. That's a car that totally broke that rule, you play but you don't pay (much).

For what I spent on my Miata and Sienna combined, about $48k, I could get one very nice Bimmer, I suppose. I drove an X5 and didn't like it much, though, too heavy. Plus we car pool groups of kids around for after school activities. A Benz GL would do but they're very spendy.

Back on topic, saw a MazdaSpeed3, and no the new face still hasn't grown on me.

fintail

You won't get off cheaply with a no-warranty Euro...even if it has no mechanical faults, consumables and servicing are going to be more than a normal car.

I don't like the Mazda3 smiling front end at all, dorky, would put me off from buying one.

ajvdh

I've had a couple of track events recently, and that's always good for grins.

1 - BMW club autocross: Tesla. Looks a lot like an Elise (go figure!). Very slow (I beat him by almost 3 seconds on a 45 second course), but I know he's not one of our faster drivers. And he was on those eco-tires they saddle the poor thing with.

2 - BMW club driving school: Student cars included a 650 coupe, a 550, a couple of new M3s, plus the odd Evo10. The Jalpa wasn't exactly new, but pretty exotic. It also started spewing oil during its first session, so he spent the rest of the day in his girlfriend's older 325.
You know the instructor group is getting out of hand when one guy brings an R8, another guy brings a Porsche GT3, and they're not the fastest things out there - there were at least 2 E36 M3 race cars that gave up a little in straight line speed, but had better lap times due to superior braking and lateral grip.
I'm not as impressed with hot street cars as I used to be - on a track the $120k the GT3 costs will get you something faster and better at protecting you if you do screw up. And you'll have enough change to buy a really nice rig to tow it with.

3 - NASA road race: A Panoz GTS, which had to get dragged back to the pits after its motor let go.

fintail

Was at the local MB dealer today and saw a SL65 black series, with the big bodykit etc...pretty crazy car.

texases

There's an SL guy in my parking garage, just replace his '05 SL600 with an SL63. Rough life....

euphonium

Maybe he just leases.

texases

I bet you're right about the SL leasing. Still, some serious $$/month!

ajvdh

On the road between Boulder, CO and Lyons. Probably here for high altitude testing. Later on that day I saw an original 500 in downtown Boulder. Those suckers are tiny!

fintail

Saw a fun one today...a Hybrid Lexus HS Hybrid HS250H Hybrid H Hybrid. Not so remarkable, but this one had wheels that I think were from a IS-F, and what looked like a bodykit as well. What the hell?

stickguy

a prior generation (2004 I think) 4 door accord. aftermark wheels (but normal size), tint and window deflecto(rain guards, whatever you call them). Nothing obscene.

The mid-rise hoop wing was a little silly, but not outrageous.

But, the twin snorkle hood scoops (looked like a recent GTO) really put it over the top.

New Mexico plates too, up in New Jersey.

I decided my Accord really needs a set of those snouts. Should knock a good 1-2 seconds off the 0-60, right?

ateixeira

Nothing like enormous wheels to increase unsprung weight and take away a hybrid's efficiency!

I saw a Jetta that was so cheesed up it looked like a Mercury Milan!

fintail

Spoilers and fender vents make the most hp gains, but fake air intakes add a bit too. Should be good for an 11 second quarter mile

fintail

I was thinking the hybrid had specific wheels, but these ones seemed larger and different. Unless that blandbox has some kind of sport package...someone swapped them out.

I saw a new style CTS with a vinyl top not long ago...old habits...

ateixeira

Each sticker also adds 2hp, 5 if it's yellow.

fintail

NOS sticker adds at least 50hp.

ateixeira

boomchek

Saw the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee today at our Jeep training session. Very impressed with everything about this vehicle.
Interior quality is top notch, body is sexier than ever, and some of the technological advancements in it would be at home on luxury vehicles. Heck even the fender wells were lined with some sort of synthetic sound deadening materials,
Tons of room inside too, and the best part was the avaiable Quadra Lift air suspension that gives you a 4.5 inch lift for your 4X4 needs. I shot a quick video of the Jeep doing its thing on a set of ramps, while on the highest setting. Link is here:
See the youtube video here

See more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com

fintail

That's a fancy Fiat! :shades:

anythngbutgm

I really dig the new GC as well man, it is a ginormous improvement from the outgoing model which I found was huge step down from the previous one. It's nice to see that they have gone back to a more elegant, upscale and classy design, the last one could have been a Dodge Durango it was so blocky and cheap.

ateixeira

Like it at the car show and haven't seen anything to change that impression.

It's handsome right out of the box, no waiting for it to grow on me, either.

Sales will double instantly, watch.

boomchek

Believe it or not it's chassis is actually based on the current ML. Development on this started when Chrysler was still with Mercedes.

Also on a side note: Chrysler uses Mercedes keys for almost all their vehicles now, and I noticed Chrysler and Mercedes share power window switches too.

lemko

Heck, the shifter in the 300 is similar to the one used in the older E-Class.

ateixeira

Didn't they borrow the whole rear suspension?

We'll see Fiat slowly phase that stuff out, probably when future new models arrive.

Fiat can help Chrysler, though, because they specialize in small cars, which was Chrysler's weakness. Let Dodge build trucks, Chrysler build minivans, Jeep build off roaders, and Fiat build B- and C-segment cars.

That could actually work well for them.

fintail

I think I have read the ML platform might have meant to go to Jeep to begin with, but was pilfered.

I will agree that GC is a vast improvement, and I know Chrysler has been working hard on interior quality upgrades. So long as gas remains reasonable, and the economy doesn't collapse...it should find plenty of customers.

Does Chrysler use the fob style key, with no actual metal key?

Hopefully Chrysler doesn't use old fashioned MB rear window regulators...

boomchek

As far as I know it is still based on the ML. How extnesive that basis is, I'm not sure.

The keys are the fob style with no metal key, with the acual metal key being inside the fob.

The interior is amazing on this one, even in the base form. Wouldn't look out of place on a luxury european vehicle. Apparently ecenomy is great too on the new Pentastar V6, giving it the ability to have 600 mile cruisng ranges on the 97 L gas tank.

fintail

Will there be a diesel?

boomchek

Maybe, but nothing soon. For now just the new Pentastar V6 and the Hemi V8.