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

andre1969

isn't the Colorado still about the same size in most dimensions as the S-10 that it replaced?

ateixeira

It's a little bit bigger. I think they call it a mid-size.

Dakota is huge now. Tacoma is bigger.

Ranger is still small, but that's about it.

If you allow Crew Cabs, the Explorer Sport Trac is still kinda mid-sized. Only the Subaru Baja is truly compact.

-juice

andre1969

I just did a comparison check on Edmunds, and I didn't realize what tiny little things the outgoing Tacoma and Ranger were! According to them, the regular cab, short bed Ranger is 187" long, while the '04 Tacoma's only 184"! In contrast, the Colorado's 192" long, and the '04 Dakota is 196".

For '05, the smallest Tacoma's stretched out to 190.4"

lemko

...a new Mercury Montego sedan. That car would make a really nice Buick. The grille is classic Buick. All it needs is some portholes and a sweepspear!

andre1969

I've only seen one Ford 500, and it was at a dealership in Pennsylvania about a month ago. Haven't seen any out on the streets yet.

Any news yet on how well they're selling? Grbeck and I didn't get a chance to sit in the that night because they were closed, but it looked pretty nice inside, IMO.

ateixeira

More than half a foot longer, then. Usually it takes 2-3 generations for a vehicle to grow that much.

Haven't seen any of the new big Fords on the road, surprisingly.

-juice

stickguy

I also saw a Tacoma today (was at the dealer and wandered the lot). Passed it by at first, since I thought it was a Tundra, until I saw the taillights. It is big (this was a 4X4), and dwarfed the '04 parked behind it.

Seemed to be a reasonble price, but the rear seat (on the extended cab) looked like a torture chamber. Lots of leg room, just terrible cushions/angles.

ateixeira

I think they design the seats to fold out of the way easily, and lie flat against the back wall. Seat comfort is not a priority because I bet they are often empty.

-juice

scscars

Finally saw a new '05 Mustang on the street today. Silver with black rocker panel stripes. It looked great, even if it was the base model. The '05 is definitely larger than the '94-'04 model and it has a more aggressive stance, very much like a '69 or '70.

andys120

The '05 is definitely larger than the '94-'04 model and it has a more aggressive stance, very much like a '69 or '70.

Uh oh! That sends up a red flag to me If there's one thing that ushered in the ruination of the Mustang IMO, it was that it just got too large (around 1970 or so).

andre1969

it looks like the new stang is about 4" longer than the old one, 187" versus 183". I don't think most people would notice that when driving However, the wheelbase is up about 6", to 107.1", from 101.3", which might make some people take notice. However, the turning circle is actually down, from a Caprice-like 38.7 feet to 36 feet. And weight looks like it's up around 100 lb, which given the current trends in cars, probably isn't too bad. The old Stand was definitely a twister anyway, especially in convertible form, so the new body is most likely much stiffer.

scscars

Thanks for the clarification on the '05 Mustang. Like Andys120, I thought that the new Mustang would be bloated like the '71-'73 models, since it was to be built on the same platform as the Lincoln LS, Thunderbird, and Jaguar S-Type (DEW98 platform). In the end, Ford opted to give Mustang its own platform and the result looks like it turned out fine. The '05 does not look to be as large as the S-Type or boxy like the LS.

Andre, you are correct about the body being a lot stiffer. I've been reading that Ford stiffened the body to reduce NVH, and to provide a more solid structure for the 300 HP 4.6L in the GT which has 320 foot/pounds of torque.

m4d_cow

I don't think so...did it have dealer plates?

no. now that you mention it, it doesnt have anything more than the lincoln marque on it, no designation model, etc...and tinted windows, making me unable to look at the interior

i gotta keep a camera in my car, in case i see it again next time

ateixeira

Yeah, carry those cameras!

Someone in the CR-V thread saw a Mercedes test mule, we think it might have been their new small SUV.

-juice

jaserb

I just looked it up, and a Tacoma Double Cab with the long bed is longer than any Tundra shy of the new Double Cab that just came out last year. The new Frontier will be a slightly downsized Titan, the Dakota has always been a big truck and I'm sure the Ranger will grow in its next iteration. I have a hard time believing that nobody would want a compact pickup that can be an inexpensive commuter during the work week and haul around a pair of mountain bikes or a load of mulch on the weekends.

Is the market ripe for Isuzu to come out with a new Diesel P'up?

-Jason

kyfdx

Wow... This one was in white...

I don't care that they are big fat pigs.. I'd love to cruise around in one..

ateixeira

Good catch, Jason.

How bizarre is that?

But they're not unique. The TrailBlazer EXT is longer than a Tahoe (but not a Suburban obviously).

So what makes a mid-size vs. a full-size? The lines have blurred.

Saw a new RL yesterday, looked nice.

-juice

kyfdx

Mercedes CL600

Dodge Viper SRT-10 (with temp.tags)

'05 Mustang... probably see a lot of these soon.

210delray

A Ford Five Hundred, actually on the road (not on a dealer's lot). Pretty unexciting to look at, just as everyone's been saying.

a_l_hubcaps

I took a walk through some dealership lots this morning, and saw the following:

2005 Chevy Cobalt: The dealer had 2 on the lot, both base sedans. There were also a bunch of 2005 Cavaliers for comparison. The Cobalt definitely had a tighter build quality to it. In styling, it was a toss-up...IMHO, the Cobalt has a nicer front and the Cavalier has a nicer rear. The Cobalt interior looked good and lacked the shapeless '90s look of the Cavalier. The base interior looks plainer than the uplevel one that was shown in the press photos, but it's perfectly acceptable for a $15-16K car, which is where the stickers were on the two I looked at.

Cadillac STS: This thing looks BIG, which in my opinion is a good thing. The old Seville/STS always looked too slim and "flattened" to me. The interior is obviously very nice, though I thought the Caddy emblem on the steering wheel looked cheap...it's just a sticker.

Mercury Montego: They had only one on the lot, and it looked very nice inside and out for a car with a $26K sticker. I would have believed $32K. I think Ford has finally noticed that, if they price cars competetively to start, they don't need $5000 rebates.

Chevy Malibu: I just thought I'd comment that the Chevy place had two long rows of 2004 Malibus still on the lot! Maybe people think they are overpriced or something. They seem like nice enough cars. The same place had sold out of 2004 Impalas and Cavaliers, so it's not like their overall sales were just slow.

Saturn RELAY, Pontiac Montana SV6: I actually saw the RELAY on the road, not at a dealership, so I didn't get a close look at it. Both of these vans look BIG. If they are trying to appeal to large-SUV buyers who don't like "wimpy" vans, this should do it. The SV6 I saw was a loaded model with a sticker around $32K. The interior looked much, much better than the old GM vans. The RELAY I saw was a standard 2 model. It had black bumpers, which looked a little cheap, though they are nice for city parking because they don't start peeling as soon as the paint cracks.

-Andrew L

toomanyfumes

new malibu a few weeks ago. Very nice driver, lots of power with the V6, And I'm not usually a GM fan.

ateixeira

Saw a Phaeton, boy are these rare, a year later I've only seen 2-3.

Still haven't seen any Freestyles or Five Hundreds. Or Montegos, or any of the new GM vans (which are actually kinda narrow).

Maybe I need to get out more! LOL

-juice

kyfdx

I saw a new Maserati convertible yesterday... The first one I've seen on the streets..

Also, another Mercedes CL600 and CLK500

andre1969

first one I've seen on the streets. It was kind of a light brown color, and actually looked good in that color! One thing I wasn't impressed with, was the fit and finish. Most of the panel gaps were pretty tight, but just looked really uneven. Even one of my friends, who was in the car with me and normally doesn't notice things like this, agreed when I pointed it out. He just said "I wasn't going to say anything, but yeah, it does look pretty cheap close up"

But then again, Mustangs have always been slapped together. Heck, that's part of their charm, isn't it? ;-)

Seriously though, I hope they have their act together on this car, because it looks like it could be a real winner. I'm not even a Ford fan, but this is the first Mustang in ages that has aroused my interest.

ateixeira

300hp for $25 grand, yeah, they gotta cut corners somewhere.

I was surprised they kept the live axle.

-juice

seminole_kev

was visiting relatives and some of us popped out for a few and stopped by the Ford dealership. Had a new, black 2005 Mustang GT on the showroom floor. Now I've liked the new Mustang's looks in pictures, but in person, this car has something that really makes it look great. Maybe it is just the connection to the past, but it looks really, really good (especially in black in my opinion).

Oddly enough, my wife who has no love for Mustangs, Camaros and Firebirds (except for the early 64.5-66 Mustangs) REALLY liked it. (big surprise to me)

First car in awhile that has "clicked" with me stylewise. From the front on view it looks a lot like a 1969 Mustang. Side profile reminds me more of a 65-66 fastback just with the side vents replaced with windows. Interior looked very nice for a pony car. Nice retro touches inside and out. Dash reminds me a lot of the '66 Mustang I had in high school.

jrosasmc

On Main Street in my hometown over the weekend I saw a new '05 Dodge Ram SRT-10 pickup (the one with the Viper V-10). Needless to say this truck has caught my fancy, as it is just slick-looking! I also have to comment that I think it has a simple elegance to it, while appearing brutal and powerful at the same time.

210delray

...two C6 Corvettes, both yellow. The exposed headlights make them easy to tell from the C5. Plus the big butt of the C5 has been nicely toned down in the C6.

ateixeira

Saw a Phaeton, then a new Odyssey on the way to work today (first on the road I've seen). Looks beefier.

Also saw a new Grand Cherokee yesterday. Too little too late? I hardly noticed it.

-juice

kyfdx

Porsche 911 GT (2?, 3?.. something like that). It is the special edition non-turbo with all the racing stuff.. special wheels, suspension, brakes, fixed spoiler, etc.. In a nice gray with tan interior..

Sitting at a side street intersection, then pulled out behind me... Very cool.

anythngbutgm

Spotted a Noble M12? driving through town. Reminded me of an old MR2, which isn't a bad thing by any means... Nice growl from the exhaust too.

ateixeira

Might have been the one from the C&D Supercar shootout.

-juice

bksward

This morning I was walking out the back door of my office and saw a flat bed driving around our building to make a U-turn. The interesting part was that it had a Bentley Contental GT on it...

m4d_cow

"Spotted a Noble M12"

wow thats a rare one, the steering wheel is supposed to be on the right side isnt it?

once i spotted a TVR parked near starbucks, amazing car. Not sure what model it is though...

i_luv_toyota

I saw a Ford 500, and then the next day I saw a Ford Freestyle, both going the opposite way on the Merritt Parkway here in southern CT.

Looked pretty nice from what I saw...

andys120

wow thats a rare one, the steering wheel is supposed to be on the right side isnt it?

IIRC the M12 is being introduced to the North American market in a LHD version.

ateixeira

You must be near my in-laws, they're in Darien, CT. My brother-in-law lives in Milford. When we're up there we end up on that parkway often.

Saw an STS on the road. With a front license plate to break the monotony of the front bumper, it looks better. Definitely looks better in person vs. in photos.

-juice

anythngbutgm

THis one was LHD. Black. I spotted it in a small town outside of Worcester, MA that I go through every day to get to work. The only other one I've seen was at NYIAS last year, mixed in with all the Lambo's. This one even had the front plate that said "Noble" on the front clip.

shiphro

An orange Pantera at a Gas Station just north of Doylestown. Only saw the back end of it... that car looks like it means business.

ateixeira

Saw an RS6 here in DC and boy did it look sweet. I realize it's not new but they seem pretty rare.

-juice

jaserb

saw a new A6 with the monster schnoz. Doesn't look bad at all, IMO.

-Jason

ateixeira

I've seen a lot of Magnums but my wife saw her first up close yesterday. She absolutely hated it, compared it to a hearse, even.

Funny because I think they look cool.

I prefer the old A6. Audi was on top (in terms of styling) so there was no where to go but down.

-juice

andys120

I spotted a new Buick Allure, the Canadian version of the LaCrosse (it had Quebec plates). How ironic that the first LaCrosse that I see would be the Canadian version, given that the first thing I read about 'em was that GM decided not to use the LaCrosse name in Canada because French Canadians
associate the word with self-gratification (?)

The car I saw was silver and struck me as blandly handsome design that could've been great with a few distinctive touches. I recognized it as a Buick immediately.

stickguy

saw a new pointiac (G6?) at Target. actually looked kinda good outside (almost Mazda 6-ish). Didn't check out the inside though.

i_luv_toyota

I saw a 2005 Pathfinder today. I think it was green, but I saw it during morning twilight, so I can't really be too sure. Looks a bit like the Mazda Tribute in the back, especially the taillights.

The jury is still out on the front end, though...

anythngbutgm

There is a small furniture store nearby and you'd think that Audi was their company car. The employee parking lot has 2 older S4's, a brand new S4 and an RS6. Those RS6's and new S4's are mean looking. Gorgeous body lines on those.

toomanyfumes

Ia surpisingly roomy inside. The dash design is nice,too. Not busy like some other Pontiacs. It's almost too dull, lots of grey and flat black in the one I sat in.

teds1

Well I am new but I saw this and had to make a posting b/c I had a crazy week for sightings. I live in Manhattan where the pickings are ripe, and in the last week I saw a G55, a maybach 57 and a rolls phantom (next to each other)a continental gt (just gorgeous) a maybach 62 parked (and nobody seemd to notice it), an Arnage and a black gallardo on my block. It's fantastic, instead of reading the dupont registry I can just take a stroll down in soho on a sunday. people have too much money here I think

ateixeira

Saw a new Mustang on the way to work today, red. looks decent.

-juice

teds1

I saw an RS6 wagon on Friday night, dark grey, didn't realize they had the wagon here... very cool car, the new a6 looks nice as well, lareger more A8ish and elegant, I saw it from the back though so I couldn't fully absorb the trapezoid grill...