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

lemko

Any pics of the new Optima for reference?

bumpy

The Elantra Touring is already a 5-door hatch. We got the short version of the i30.

bumpy

lemko

OK, now I remember! Seems that H-shaped grille would be a cool gimmick for a Honda.

tifighter

The Elantra Touring is already a 5-door hatch. We got the short version of the i30.

Not true. We get the i30 estate as our ET, not the standard i30. Check out the difference here. Next gen will not be a wagon, according to this report.

explorerx4

I had an 88 Tbird the got 28 on the highway and had a 22 gallon tank.
Only had to stop for gas twice from CT to FL and still had 3/4 when we got to Ft Lauderdale.
About 4 years ago, I drove my Focus out to Ohio. Filled up west of Youngstown. Trip odo read 484 (registering 2% under), 12.1 gallons.
Since it was rated @33mpg highway, it was quite a shock to be able to do that.

ateixeira

I'd be more interested in the upcoming i40:

http://www.hyundai-car.co.uk/newCars/i40/

Imagine that with the 276hp turbo engine, 33mpg, etc.

fintail

"fluidic design" - stretching light assemblies past the point of no return :shades:

ateixeira

Hey man, Peugoet started it. LOL

Looks nice to me.

fintail

Well, if we look at wide lights, it goes way back, then the Solara got the new trend rolling front and back, but H seems to be really overdoing it today. Seems like lazy lazy design to me. How long until the lights hit the A-pillar? I guess plastic is cheaper than metal.

But if it allows one to coin some new jingo, so be it. I do notice "sculpture" was left off that website...that's good.

ateixeira

Dunno why but I never liked the Solara, yet I like Hyundai's design language. The details are just far better sorted out.

fintail

There are a lot of reasons not to like the Solara...if you like cars, anyway. A big Camry coupe with iffy styling.

Maybe I am too particular...takes more than some swoops to win me over.

ateixeira

I agree, actually. One auto scribe called it Toyota's weakest product.

I actually wanted a 4 seat convertible, but the Solara and Sebring were just such awful drivers that I ended up with a 2nd Miata. Guess I could have gone with a CPO 3er hard top, but prices were still quite high and HPFP issues scared me away.

To be fair, the G6 was worse than the Solara. You actually heard the structure creaking and felt the cowl shake. The Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible actually had the best back seat the interior quality was awful and it just didn't drive that well. Eos and Volvo C70 too expensive and questionable reliability history, so I gave up.

It worked out OK - even though I have 2 kids, they each have their own activities, and they love it when I pick them up with the PRHT. :shades:

fintail

I'd imagine the Solara would have some rigidity issues too - of course the typical owner would never notice. I am shocked it lived on as long as it did - it's beige even for the beigest brand.

You could have gone with an SC if you also wanted a car shaped like a football...kids could fit in the back, and they are probably reliable.

stickguy

I love that i40. exactly the type of car I would be looking at for myself (probably too small for family truckster dty).

Is that a wagon version of the Sonata platform, or based on something we don't get? Looks to be about that size.

wonder what the upcoming Touring replacement will look like? Probably similar to this, so less functinal than the current model.

ateixeira

SC430 was too pricey and didn't hit my fuel economy targets (16mpg city on premium, ouch) for what is basically my city commuter car. Back seat is actually useless, too.

Solara's suspension is soft enough that I doubt anyone notices any rigidity issues.

I checked out a 128i convertible but the back seat was pretty useless and I didn't want another soft top, and the 328i hard top was new, so it was also expensive.

Sky/Solistice had the worst folding top design in history. You had to get out of the car, and folded away it took up the entire trunk.

Miata won easily. In fact nothing came in 2nd. My alternative was to not buy a car at all.

Don't laugh, we went car shopping with my wife and she had to choose between a 325i sedan and a condo at the beach.

We chose the latter. :shades:

ateixeira

Supposedly the i30 is not Elantra-based, so I would not be surprised if this i40 is not really a Sonata wagon, either, but I'm not sure.

That's just a sketch, but we should find out soon.

fintail

Used SCs are getting down there now...but I have read they don't hold up as well as other L products. Is the back seat any worse than in a Miata? :P

Right now I am also choosing the "no new car" option...old car is paid off, but the thought of a car payment makes me wince...I can use the money for more fun.

ateixeira

Well, if the back seat is useless, I'd rather save the weight and size.

I actually prefer smaller cars. I realize only 0.005% of America does.

uplanderguy

To be fair, the G6 was worse than the Solara. You actually heard the structure creaking and felt the cowl shake.

I always remember reading reports that claimed the same thing for the Solara. Seems to me back then, even when the universe thought Toyota walked on water, Consumer Reports' owner surveys only gave the Solara an "average" reliability rating...same as a Cavalier at that time (gasp!)

I could never stop being reminded of the "Polara" whenever I saw that big chrome "Solara" script on the middle of the decklid in front of me.

fintail

You wanted a smaller car with a usable back seat? Good luck

fintail

Saw a white Juke this morning...I know what my next car won't be...

lemko

They should replace the "J" with a "P." Good God, I haven't seen such an ugly vehicle since the Element. The Juke makes the Aztek look like a Ferrari.
The Juke's styling seems to have been inspired by this guy:

fintail

That's pretty much the face. Those eyes!

Different for the sake of being different, I guess.

ateixeira

You wanted a smaller car with a usable back seat? Good luck

That's just the tip of the iceberg.

I basically want an 8-seat convertible that weighs under 3000 lbs and has AWD with a range of 700+ miles for under $30 grand.

LOL

ateixeira

I agree the Juke is hard too look at, but I hear it's actually selling well. 3163 left dealer lots in December.

I'm not sure if sales are ramping up, or leveling off, to be honest, but that's not bad. 36k/year would be double what the Scion xB or Nissan Cube manage, and the Juke sells at a higher price than those.

Be prepared to look away. LOL

ateixeira

The first time in the flesh - looked great.

I like the intricate headlights, and overall this makes other cars in this segment seem old.

ateixeira

Also saw lots of new minivans this weekend - a pair of broke-in-half Odysseys and a new Swagger Wagon among them.

Wonder when the new Quest will hit the streets?

ateixeira

A bit overdesigned, but it is a concept:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/hyundai-curb-concept-detroit-2011/

Others are probably watching Nissan count the money and want in on the new segment.

fintail

And is a manual and has a diesel option, right?

ateixeira

Manual ONLY with a clutch, of course.

fintail

Lowers my faith in humanity :sick:

It better be good under the atrocious sheet metal. Really, is that hard to make a nice clean design?

fintail

Of course

ateixeira

Remember you said it was as matter of time?

Bingo:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/toyota-prius-c-concept-detroit-2011/

The headlights actually *do* touch the windshield.

lemko

...black Honda Insight at the drive-thru at the bank today.

fintail

Nice "styling" there. Sad, as I actually don't mind the idea of a hybrid that isn't a chunky pointless thing like the existing Prius.

ateixeira

I don't mind the rear 3/4ths of it. The frontal view reminds me too much of the Juke.

Then again, the Juke is a hit. Maybe I'm just getting old and Toyota designers are on to something.

fintail

I actually don't mind the rear 3/4 either, it's kind of European and better looking than a normal Prius. Maybe the production model will be toned down a little.

I don't know if sales volume is a correlation to a good sound design.

ateixeira

It'll be toned down for sure.

The design is MUCH more interesting than the kinda dull Prius V.

I wonder how that front end will end up looking.

andys120

I saw my first Caddy CTS station wagon outside of an auto show. Nice rig! Metallic red like the ones in all the ads.

lemko

I think that color's called "Passion Red" if it's the same color used on the CTS sedan. I saw a Chevrolet Equinox yesterday going west on Rhawn Street in NE Philly in an equally nice red. I had a 1994 Cadillac DeVille in a striking dark red metallic called "Carmine Red."

ateixeira

I like 'em too.

ateixeira

New Bimmer in the garage. I feel mixed - less controversial than the Dame Edna predecessor, but not attractive either. OK for what it is, I suppose - understated.

Also saw a new Touareg. I think this is the model that wears the VW corporate grille the best. The sedans with the same grill look boring, but this looks OK.

Finally, saw my first non-tinted window Sienna. Must have been the rare 4 cylinder/base model.

fintail

I loathe the Dame Edna so much, inside and outside, that the new one is wonderful just because it is mellow. BMW has never been about groundbreaking design - at least not until Bangle came along and messed around.

550i wouldn't be the one I would choose...the options list on the 5er is insane (70K is easy) and a stupid buy new unless you love burning money...but they do have awesome seats.

ateixeira

Yeah, but it's tough to find a clean pre-Dame Edna 5er, especially in the manual trans I'd want.

andys120

Yeah, but it's tough to find a clean pre-Dame Edna 5er, especially in the manual trans I'd want.

Not if you know where to look:

Concord Motorsport, Chichester NH. I bought my '00 528iA from them 6 years ago for about what a loaded Camry costs. They always have good E39s on hand with or w/o manuals.

fintail

I see quite a few locally, but this climate is more gentle than back east.

Or just wait a few years and the F10 will be affordable.

ateixeira

NH and no signs of rust. Maybe a Florida transplant?

I don't even spot any curb rash.

Wow, that thing's clean! For the price of a Fiesta or Fit.

andys120

They go to auctions all over to acquire these cars and also buy them from original owners. BTW these cars are well made and do not rust if they are garaged and well cared for.

Mine has 130K and still looks and runs well.

qbrozen

Oh, hey, and only $4k overpriced!