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

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  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    I've ben to Sube HQ. a friend of mine is an executive with them. I did see the outback concept at the show. serious looking piece.

    and Nissan has always done their own thing with the Quest. Probably intentional trying to make people think "SUV". still, it seemed plenty big inside to me, unless you really need a school bus or a Sprinter van.

    The Sorrento is nice too. Santa fe though seemed a little bigger.

    the X3 seems to have grown a bit. Did not seem small to me. Probably about the same as the XC60, and a little more boxy. But, we are down to 1 kid at home (who likes to remind me that she can drive in 9 months), and she is on the petite side, so we really don't need anything gigantic.

    good point about the equis (sp?) It often takes the next generation (today's kids?) to move past the older generations bias. Look at the Japanese car revolution in the 70s/80s. It was the younger folks with no alligence to the 50's buying them!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Good point - Quest has always marched to the beat of its own drummer.

    And it's not obscure the way a Juke is, for instance.

    I have not sat in the new X3. I prefer the nose on the X1, but that's not here yet. What does the X3 cost nowadays?

    My kids are still young, so flashy paint jobs and vinyl stickers grab their attention. But it's nice to see a nice, low key sedan can do the same thing by coddling their every desire.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Quest has always marched to the beat of its own drummer.

    Mine's pretty ordinary. The first and second generations were all pretty tame versions of a Caravan imo. The track system for sliding the seats around is sort of cool, but surely isn't particularly innovative.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    X3 is about the same. Starts close to 40, and climbs fast if you tick the options boxes. Although I actually prefer the base (2.8) model, and don't want most of the super expensive techno goodies.

    the quest? Steve is right that the first 2 were not controversial, but they still were zagging a bit while the big boys zigged. Always mama bear sized, did seats their own way, had loaded up models when others didn't, stuff like that.

    the 3rd gen was where they totally went into bizarro land. My wife, who knows nothing about cars (and cares even less), when I pointed out they had redesigned the Quest, asked if it still had the stupid center mounted gauges. She actually remembered that from 2004 when we sat in one at the dealer (never even drove it).

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • fushigifushigi Member Posts: 1,459
    Of course in Chicago fashion they gouge you $20 to park and admission was $11 probably due to their 10% sales tax.

    $11 admission for a full day's access to over a million square feet of displays with multiple test tracks. That's gouging? Considering people pay that for a cruddy 90 minute movie IMO you should rethink your pricing criticism.

    Regarding the parking, while I also dislike $20 parking, it's been that way for some time. Chicago city lots run anywhere from $14-23 for 12 hours depending on time & location. Anyway, find any major city with parking adjacent to a major downtown venue and the parking rate will be similar.

    My wife & I scored free tickets last year via a Mitsubishi Facebook contest. No such luck this year so we'll go Wednesday. The show is running a food drive for a local food bank so admission is $7 with 3 canned goods.
    2017 Infiniti QX60 (me), 2012 Hyundai Elantra (wife)
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    Boston and NYC events are in the 30/40 dollar range.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited February 2011
    The Detroit show was $12 and a nearby lot had all day parking for $10 (and that lot went down to $5 after lunch sometime).
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited February 2011
    I think it is around $12 in Vancouver, and if you know where to go, parking is free. Similar in Seattle, but the Seattle show is much smaller.

    On the new car note, saw another Juke...still very hard to look at.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,617
    edited February 2011
    $10 in Cincinnati.. $7 if you buy your ticket in advance at Kroger..

    street parking at a meter is $1, or free after 6pm..

    The Juke is very FX35 looking from the rear (not saying if that is good or bad).. The front view is why they call it the Puke..

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I think the new style FX is atrocious, and the new QX is hideous too, where the M iust just kind of blah. Infiniti is trying to be avant garde, but I don't know if it will work.

    Oh yeah, I also saw a new Odyssey and an S60 - insane $299 lease on the latter right now should sell a few.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited February 2011
    street parking at a meter is $1, or free after 6pm..

    Street parking was around in Detroit too, but the lot had an attendant and I figured my changes of not getting a window smashed were better. I cheaped out on on-street parking at the St. Louis Arch back in the 80's and some dufus broke into my Datsun by breaking a window and stole the only arrowhead I ever found. And some other stuff I think. ;)
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,617
    In St Louis, we walked to the Arch from the hotel...

    In Detroit for the auto show, we stayed at the Renaissance Center Marriott, and walked or rode the monorail to the show.. (don't ask me how much parking was at the hotel.... :( )

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  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    not sure if this is ironic or not, but we took the commuter train in so I didn't have to deal with the parking garages in Philly. Overall cheaper too.

    at least I didn't have to worry about going to the brew pub connected to the center after the show!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,617
    I've been to Wrigley a few times for a Cubs/Reds game... we always take the train... :)

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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Although I actually prefer the base (2.8) model

    Good idea - you avoid the high-pressure fuel pump issues they've had with the turbo engines.

    BMW replaced the ones that fail, but not proactively. So you could end up stranded before they'll fix it.

    You guys are both right - it was the latest Quest that I was thinking of when I said that.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    In Philly we drove up so we had to park, that was $28. Ouch. At least we were very close (it was frigid!).

    Tickets to the show were free, from a friend who works at Subaru - thanks Patti!

    In Baltimore I did even better - wife got $5 tickets from Groupons, then I found free street parking since we went on a Sunday.

    Auto Shows are an excellent way to sample a bunch of cars back-to-back with no sales pressure. Beats going to a dealer any day. You can narrow your choices down to a short list, and then maybe test drive your 3 faves.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Where did you park? I always park at Broad and Race and it's never more than $15 and I spend all day at the show.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Right across the street, in the same building as the Hilton Garden Inn.

    There was ice and snow everywhere, so a lot of the street parking wasn't available, plus it was a weekday so the city was quite crowded.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    yeah, you paid for the convenience. there are cheaper places not too far away even during the week. many more options during the weekends, or at night.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm sure...but we were pressed for time. Drove from DC to Philly, hit the show, then drove home, all on the same day. Had to rush through part of the show.

    'Twas OK - I got a 2nd day at the Baltimore Auto Show.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Why does Nissan persist with that CVT? Other than a few hybrids, no one else seems to keep them. I thought they were supposed to be for fuel efficiency, but Nissan Quest, Altima, etc. - none are economy leaders in their class. I had an Altima rental with about 10K and its mileage was noticeably less than the Camry I drive (both 4 bangers), yet is seems that CVT durability is no better, if not worse than conventional trannies.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Saw a rental "Swagger Wagon" today, a Fiesta trunkback sedan, and yesterday saw a new bizarro Odyssey.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You should price them, I'm surprised they rent at all.

    I went to Florida and wanted one, and the price was around $600 or so, when a Grand Caravan was well under $400.

    You'd have to be crazy to pay that much extra. And that's coming from a Sienna owner...
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    They charge different rental rates for Sienna vs GC?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yes, isn't that just bizarre?

    Not a little more, mind you, MUCH more. I was shocked.

    Usually they categorize and you can choose.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Is a rental grade swagger wagon seen as some kind of prestige vehicle? Weird. Who was this with?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I shopped all the companies, so I don't recall. Budget, Avis, Hertz, or Dollar, one of those.

    I'm not crazy, we got the Dodge Grand Caravan. This was in Orlando, FL, a year or two ago. It was the new Dodge van, the current generation, but the last gen Sienna. Must've been '09 models.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Was it the same company with both vans?

    You made the wise choice...it wasn't a BMW vs a Kia or something.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited February 2011
    I don't recall, but lemme search real quick, I definitely shared the details in one of the vans threads...

    Problem is, which thread?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited February 2011
    Found it:

    http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef353cb/4439!vuserName=ateixeira

    Excerpt:

    I'm shopping for a minivan rental for next month, in Tampa. I got quotes for 4 days in an Uplander: $220. Sienna: $630!

    SIX HUNDRED THIRTY DOLLARS? What the?!


    Date was Sept 2007, and it was actually in Tampa. That was for 4 days, too, not a week.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Was this the same company? I might have misssed it.

    Over $150/day for a Sienna, lunacy. I can easily rent a 7er/S/A8 or SL/6er/CL for that kind of money in Europe.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I didn't specify which rental company, and I don't recall that far back.

    We ended up getting an Accord from the airport. We had been debating whether to share a minivan with friends (we went for a wedding), but decided to fly solo.

    I was miffed, too, because I forgot to take my Garmin. DOH!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited February 2011
    I remember in August of 07 I rented an A6 from Hertz for around $80/day (before tax/fees) in LAS...I don't gamble, so that was my splurge of the trip. Twice as much for a minivan...no thanks!

    It even had nav included.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, the sedan was cheaper than the minivan, which is why I got it. So I'm sure we paid maybe $40 a day or so.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    They charge different rental rates for Sienna vs GC?

    I remember not too long ago Hertz charged more for most any Toyota, but now it seems every 2nd rental is a Toyota - funny!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Yeah, there are TONS of rental Camrys in my area, and I saw a rental Corolla S today as well.

    Also what looked like a new style Elantra...no license plate frame, fresh plate, barcode...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    And why not? They hold their value better and I bet their operating costs are lower than competitors.

    My dad had a fleet of cars in Suriname and later in Belize. Before he got there both used Land Rover Discoverys. He switched them to Toyota Land Cruisers. Not the luxo-barges we get here, I mean vinyl seats, steel wheels, knobby tires, diesel engines, etc. Built for UN field office duty.

    No kidding - his maintenance costs were cut in half.

    Fleet managers aren't dumb. Corolla is 5-star rated by ALG for resale, a Chrysler PT Cruiser gets just one star:

    https://www.alg.com/deprratings.aspx

    Say you're a fleet manager, and you got bonuses based on profit margins. Would you really buy PT Cruisers? Or that Corolla?

    Fleet managers aren't dumb...
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,617
    They don't look as dorky in person, or as large... I think the smaller grill makes them look more generic... same with the new GTI...

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  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Fleet managers aren't dumb...

    and that's why Hertz loaded up with Toyota's during the SUA fiasco!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Saw another new QX today, this one not a Hertz prestige model. Man that thing is heinous, visual pollution.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,617
    Yeah.. saw it up close at the car show... eeeewwwwww

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  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    OK, not a new car sighting but one that I absolutely thought was permanently in the past - someone parked in our lot at work in an Excel! It was actually in nice shape considering its age but I just can't imagine anyone doing that to themselves!
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    SX4 manual AWD hatch - and get this - someone CRASHED into us! With dealer plates, about 200 feet from the dealership. Guy tried to pass us on the left when we were turning left, oops!

    Basically took the front end off the car - bumper, hood, quarter panel, headlight. We limped it back to the dealer and they are dealing with the at-fault guy who his us directly.

    Funny thing was it was the only manual SX4 in the area, but my brother deemed it too small anyway. He's shopping for a car to replace his totalled 2004 Legacy (plus he hit a deer last month - that's 3 crashes!).

    Next: Sportage FWD manual, base. I wish you could get more options with a manual, because we both liked it even more than we thought we would. Blind spots are bad, but otherwise a solid vehicle all around, at an unbelievable $19.2k!

    Next: Optima manual. A little too softly sprung. Light steering, clutch, shifter. Not as fun to drive as the Sportage, unfortunately. Great value but probably better suited for your aunt, with the automatic.

    Next: Legacy manual. Nice. He had an 04 totalled a week or two ago, so this is a natural replacement. More substantial and upscale than his, and he liked the clutch and shifter. Back seat is huge now.

    Next: Forester manual - NOPE! None in stock. Maybe next week. He really liked it otherwise.

    Next: Escape manual - NOPE! Also none in stock. Apparently we did not get the memo - these exist only in catalogs.

    So we drove a loaded up V6 model that stickered for a you-must-be-kidding $36 large. Not a hybrid, mind you. Design is very dated. It needs to be redesigned, and then that redesign needs to be redesigned. It's that old.

    So Sportage and Legacy are on his short list. He's supposed to try to drive a manual Forester if one comes in tomorrow.

    What other new cars come with:

    * AWD
    * manual trans
    * moonroof

    ???

    Very rare.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Airbag deployment? Wow...at least it was a low speed crash.

    Yeah, moonroof manual cars have to be uncommon, and exponentially so with AWD.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    No air bags, he sort of side-swiped us, going faster than us so pushing our bumper forward. We were going slow, there was a big pothole and we were turning left. Signal was on.

    The guy was just an impatient nut.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Did he have insurance? I heard some blurb on the radio today that 20% of drivers have no insurance. I can believe it.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Luckily, yes. Progressive.

    He was VERY angry at first. Probably at himself.

    We let him cool down. He rolled down his window and stuck out his insurance card and ID. It was very strange. I took cell phone photos of his license plate in case he took off. Also snapped photos of his license, insurance, and registration. Once he calmed down we politely asked if he would follow us to the dealership - 200 feet away!

    Very strange experience.

    I was happy to hand him off to the dealership manager and get the heck out of there. He got our names as witnesses.

    We bailed. I wanted to test a Kizashi but felt guilty, so we just took off.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Probably had a recent accident.

    I bet the salesman was having a great day...no sale, and ruined car.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    AWD, roof, manual. Let's see:

    you already found the SX4. my wife's cousin has one. must be roomy, since he is about 6'2", and pushing 270. at least. But, he loves it.

    And I almost got a 2007 Legacy SE wagon a few years back, but that was an AT. Great car though.

    what you missed?

    - volvo V70 AWD (think it has to be a t5). Not sure which years also came in a manual, and probably rare as hens teeth. Good luck finding one, but at least it will almost certainly have a roof!

    Audi A4 of course. again, good luck finding a stick if they were offered.

    some variants of the tuscon might fit. A prior generation Rav4? Nissan Rouge?

    Thinking hard here, but if the hard part is the roof, find something with AWD and a stick, and have the roof added (the other 2 items you are stuck with!)

    Oh yeah, a CRV used to be available that way.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, we felt guilty about it, but we weren't at fault.

    Here's the funny part - it was Fitzgerald Suzuki. Later that day we went to Fitzgerald's other dealrs, since we like the no-haggle policy. We saw a guy who works at the Suzuki dealer at the Dodge/Subaru store! LOL

    He must've said to himself, "oh no, not again".
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