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

kyfdx

Might be one of the last ones... I bet they haven't sold more than 500 of them, across the whole country..

andys120

i saw one last week, it was a dark silver sedan and looked fairly good. Saab is on the financial ropes now and will probably go the way of Packard, Studebaker, Duesenberg, Cord, Auburn, Plymouth, Mercury, Triumph, Sunbeam, DeSoto etc. etc.

fintail

2 more big weird Nissan vans at the dealer today.

Local Saab dealer has a host of the new cars on his forecourt...must be a brutally tough sell. Orphan baggage already, endlessly different, not cheap.

ateixeira

I saw one of those new Corollas the other day, also.

It got the bulging lights that's common on Toyota's now (also on Camry, Sienna, 4Runner).

ateixeira

Saw my first, and then my 2nd, a couple of days apart. First a white one near Williamsburg, VA. Then a red one in the MD 'burbs.

Definitely looks better in person.

fintail

I've noticed the bulging lights too. Seems like it would expose the lenses to more wear and greater risk of damage. Another wonderful Asian brand styling theme...

I've seen several new Focus on the road in the past couple days.

ateixeira

There are advantages - I'm sure the turn signal indicators are visible from greater angles.

fintail

Funny that not everyone would be on the bandwagon then. It's being different for the sake of being different, IMO

ateixeira

I guess the alternative are the side marker lamps common on European cars, but they you have to add a whole extra light and cut an extra hole in the sheetmetal.

You've gotta admit - Toyota's solution is more elegant.

texases

Naw, the protruding thing is strictly a styling gimmick. No need to stick out like that, looks odd to me.

fintail

Bulging light assemblies from a company that led the way for huge hilariously stretched out light assemblies? I am not seeing the elegance, nor anything about better visibility - this isn't the response to a mandate like side marker lights, just a new styling trend of questionable at best aesthetics.. It's the product a designer with his own sense of taste and a suit who agrees.

texases

Yep, my '96 ES met all the regs, not a bulge in sight (note, not mine, I'm not a 'leopard skin' kinda guy :P ):

ateixeira

Others put them on the front fender, or the side mirrors nowadays.

stickguy

saw one of them recently too. Did not recognize until i saw the badge.

This is just a styling refresh, right? Seems like Toyota is doing a Bettle like model cycle on this one! Man is it outdated.

Or did they really release a new model, and just no one noticed?

stever

New categories - "we have 12 mostly new categories like Most Wanted Car We Can't Have, Most Wanted Exotic, Most Wanted Cheap Car, Most Wanted Fuel Sipper, Most Wanted Hatchback, Most Wanted Hot Rod Division…things you actually care about."

2011 Edmunds' Inside Line Readers' Most Wanted Awards

ateixeira

It's just a mid cycle refresh.

Actually, I saw another one today, and then the look that it replaced. I think the update looks a little better. Both set of lights bulge out, but the new one has more shape to it.

qbrozen

But I really don't think I've ever seen one of these in person until today... a Jag X-type wagon. Took me a minute to figure it out since I completely forgot they even made one.

ateixeira

Should have come as a Mondeo wagon.

Having Jaguar slotted above Ford really hurt Ford products. It limited what they could be. It was also a reason to withhold the best Ford products from Europe.

Good riddance.

lemmer

I don't know if it was the same one, but I've seen an X wagon multiple times around here lately.

fintail

Saw my first 500 on local roads, red. Also a rental new style Charger, a loaded looking new 300 with dealer plates apparently on a demo run, and an Explorer Limited.

ateixeira

Do you live at the HQ hub of all the rental agencies or something?

I don't think I've seen as many rentals cars in my life as you have the past week or so.

fintail

There is an endless list of large corporations with headquarters or major operations within a few miles of where I live. It is a rental car mecca indeed. With a little observation (lack of license plate frame, recently issued plates, barcode) I can keep up with the fleets anyway, interesting car spotting.

fintail

I've seen 2 new Optimas in the past day, and the biggest shock of all - both private vehicles, not rentals, unlike every second or third Sonata I see.

berri

I just saw a 2012 Honda Civic. Is it just me, or does anyone else see a resemblance between its rear end end and a Dodge Neon?

andys120

I've been seeing a few 2012 Ford Foci, all of them five door hatches. It's nice to see that imminently practical bodystyle catch on in the US.

I also got a quick glance at a new Fiat 500 on the NYS Thruway near Kingston. It looked just like the Cabrio tested by Inside Line >



I wonder if it was the same car.

ateixeira

Love it...wonder if it's really as fun as it looks.

I like the slide-back top, takes up no space. Of course it does block the rear view...can't have it all.

fushigi

I don't think they're for sale yet in Illinois so this blue Leaf had apparently fallen far from the tree.

The Leaf wasn't plugged in, but the owner was refueling (I saw it in a Burger King parking lot).

ateixeira

Pink one, must've been a Mary Kay Cosmetics rep.

stickguy

got 2 of the Honda products serviced yesterday, so since I was there I sat in a new Civic.

Blah.

pretty much had to see them side by side to even notice it was different. Interior very similar too, but the seats seemed to be slightly more comfortable (still not good, just better).

Overall, seemed like much more of a MMC than a new model.

And IMO will only appeal to the people that liked the current car and want more of the same. if you didn't like the outgoing model, you ain't gonna like this one!

anythngbutgm

Overall, seemed like much more of a MMC than a new model.

I believe that is all that it is. A full model change won't happen till the next round.

I am anxious to drive the K24 in the new Si. I've driven multiple TSX's with it and it's damn near perfect if you are like me and enjoy working to get the most power. The 34lb/ft increase in torque should be a welcomed improvement. :shades:

ateixeira

I saw a new sedan pulling out of Westfield Shoppingtown Montgomery yesterday.

The only notable difference is the tail lights, and oddly enough they remind me of the Neon.

ateixeira

First of many, I'm sure. Especially around here.

I probably see a dozen or so Q5s per day.

qbrozen

huh. I'm not even sure I would know a new Civic if I saw it.

kyfdx

My local BMW dealer, which is pretty large.... has a grand total of two (2) X3s on the lot...

The prior proliferation was due to killer lease deals, which have yet to appear on the new ones... I wouldn't look for too many more sightings...

I love the Q5... leases out higher than the X3, though.... too rich for us.

ateixeira

I like the Q5 but they seem so small. I'd just get a 5 door GTI instead, probably at half the cost.

No AWD on the GTI, though. Wait for the R.

fintail

Saw a Sonata hybrid today, and a normal Sonata rental

kyfdx

The wife wanted an SUV... she got the X3.... there is no going back. Don't know if we can afford another X3, once her lease is up.. but, it will definitely be a small/mid-sized crossover..

She is hooked on the seating position, visibility and bad weather traction..

I've been shopping heavily, as she only has 5 months to go.... lol...

ateixeira

She is hooked on the seating position, visibility and bad weather traction

Same with my wife. Substitute "X3" with "Forester". She had a wagon before, but no way she's going back.

Add easy ingress/egress to that list.

ateixeira

Red one, driving in Georgetown.

texases

I was about to mention the Forester - my son and I just drove his to Dallas from LA, it did great. I'll have to give one some thought next time for my wife and I...

But not very BMW-like...

ateixeira

Yeah, but not intended to be...the WRX wagon (more of a hatch lately) fills that niche.

anythngbutgm

In this segment, I am a big fan of the XC60 and Infiniti EX35. The latter for me, because I don't have kids and it drives like a G coupe (goes like stink). But the airy cabin and giant moonroof on the XC would seal the deal if it were my wife

stickguy

great, you can do the research for me. whenever we finally are able to get out of th eminivan ($ issue now, not space needs really!) my wife wants some kind of cross over.

I also relaly like the XC60 (as did the wife), and the X3 is really nice. One decision will end up being exactly how small to go. Might need to stay with something about the size of the Highlander, though most of them weigh as much as the van. if not more.

The Hyundai santa fe is also a very nice (and well priced) option.

kyfdx

The EX35 would be a great choice for her.... and, they sometimes have giveaway lease deals, because it hasn't been very popular.. But, the first three times I pointed it out, she said, "That's not an SUV, it's a wagon."

I guess it just doesn't have the look for her... Of course, we all know that wagons are the coolest..... but, she ain't buyin it...

Now that she works from home, and her mileage has dropped from 16K/yr to about 10K/year, we may look closer into buying new or CPO... I like the XC60, and it comes with 5yr/60K warranty and maintenance.... , which we've grown to love with BMWs...

We'll see how it goes..

stickguy

the EX isn't a wagon. It is a hatch. and way, way too small in the cargo area (distinct lack of U) to be considered for our family car.

kyfdx

Only child leaves for college in 2012... plus, he already has his own car...

The EX35 would be big enough for us... Yeah, it's not going to fit the 52" LCD (still in the box) from Best Buy, like the X3... but, it will haul our little bit of crap...

ateixeira

I find the EX to be tiny, but I have kids and drive a minivan now.

Still, we think our Foresters is borderline, just barely big enough. We wouldn't go any smaller.

I like the XC60. My favorite in its class as far as styling goes.

Anyone considering a Santa Fe should also look at the Kia Sorento, which is a clone but is a fresher design. It's bigger than any of the above, though.

fintail

Saw a red Fiat 500 today

kyfdx

Shelby GT500 convertible.. A friend of mine just bought it, on a whim.. :surprise:

ateixeira

Lemme see if I can remember them all....

Ford Explorer, then another. They're not uncommon now.

Toyota Highlander, the refreshed one.

M-B E350 4Matic wagon.

Elantras left and right. I see a couple of day now.

Drif-tastic Lexus GX at the beach.

This morning on the way in, saw a 550i sedan, then a new X3.