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

fintail

Saw a red Camaro convertible, a new Focus, and a Charger yesterday. Latter actually wasn't a rental.

fintail

Saw a new Lexus CT today, white on tan (I think) driver was a woman who looked to be 75 anyway, it was kind of amusing and cute, modern grandma. Also, a new non-fleet highline Optima.

ateixeira

Just looked and Kia has a $1500 incentive on the 2011 Optima...there are bargains to be had.

No rebate on the Sonata. Makes the Kia the obvious choice between the two, IMHO.

Chevy is giving away left over Malibus, though, so expect to see a bunch of temp tags on the outgoing Malibu until the new one arrives.

(edited for typo)

ateixeira

Not sure but that may have been my first in the flesh.

From afar I though it was an Elise ... but got closer and voila, Tesla roadster. Eerily silent while not moving in bumper-to-bumper DC traffic.

Also saw a new 5 door Focus, BMW X3, and E350 convertible.

iwant12

Friend at work just picked up a new Avalon. Like the new tail lights. Also saw a new Jeep Grand Cherokee in my own garage at home! Me likey likey!!!

ateixeira

Did you buy it, or did a friend come over to show it off?

If so, congrats...

fintail

Funny, as IMHO the Optima is far better looking than the Sonata. The most appealing Korean mainstream sedan ever, in my eyes.

End of a model run always has a fire sale, good time to buy if you want value.

ateixeira

Should have all the kinks worked out, too.

Heck, at $4000 less than competitors almost any model would be a compelling buy. I think all entries in that class are fairly similar anyway, besides an mpg here and a horse there.

Or just get a model with $4000 worth of extra content. People may not mind having the older model if you're also getting heated leather seats, a moonroof, and Navi for the same price as a competitor without any of those.

fintail

Sadly for the Malibu and GM profit margins, IIRC the center stack in the Malibu isn't right for nav - not even an option. The car itself seems kind of narrower than a Camcord, while the Impala is more bloated and dull...hard to compete with the leaders when you don't go head to head. But an end of the run Malibu could be a very good deal for the content.

iwant12

I bought the Jeep last Sat. It totally blows my 07 4Runner out of the water. My first domestic in 11 years, in fact.

fintail

Saw a Leaf, a red CT, a Charger, an E class coupe, and a new Civic today.

qbrozen

saw a Chrysler 200 with the top down on the commute to work this morning. Yup, someone bought one!

lemko

Was it this man by any chance?

ateixeira

Congrats. Which engine? How much?

ateixeira

Saw one at a parade in the Kentlands (MD) the other day.

I like convertibles and the kids want to ride along, but it seems like you have to sell your soul to get a back seat. The fun ones have the tiniest back seats.

I'd rather have a 4 door Wrangler.

qbrozen

lol.

but, seriously, not a man driving. not to sound sexist... but WOULD a man drive one??

ateixeira

I can't imagine any other car has a higher % of rental sales than a Sebring/200 convertible. It would not surprise me if 80% of them were rentals.

Every other car in Florida is a rental Sebring 'vert.

stickguy

saw a new one in my neighborhood, still had the temp tag on it. so must have been a retail sale.

black sedan, actually looked quite sharp, at least from behind.

ateixeira

It's got a new back and a new front, but the profile gives it away as a Sebring Light.

ateixeira

Saw not one but two Cooper Countrymans/men (?) this weekend.

Also saw a new Focus sedan, not nearly as well sorted as the hatch.

Saw another Volt, too.

fintail

I saw two of those big Minis too - one normal and one wearing some kind of sign. The Germans like to be everything for everyone.

ateixeira

I don't like the whole idea of a big Mini...and it only seats 4. Though I hear a bench is coming.

BMW should just hurry the X1 (to America) instead.

kyfdx

I love the "big" MINI... (Countryman)...

Trying to get my wife to go for one... unfortunately, she doesn't like the whole MINI thing to begin with...

kyfdx

Saw my first one in the wild, today.....

Sort of a weak chocolate milk color.... :surprise:

fintail

I'm not a Mini lover, to be honest...the wagon thing is relatively OK, but I don't like the cabrio at all, and those I see driving them around here kind of turn me off.

X1 has been on European roads for over a year now, it's long overdue.

Saw a new Focus in my parking garage - but sadly, the sedan.

kyfdx

By the time the X1 gets here (and, it keeps getting put off), it will be old tech... and, we'll have to wait for the next one.. Last I heard, late 2012..

Not a fan of the MINI convertible, either... For me, I'd take the coupe..

stever

I like 'em all just fine, but the split barn doors on the Countryman bother me. Rather see it be a one piece hatch.

ateixeira

I wanted to like the MINI convertible, in fact we checked out both the old and new models.

The rear seat is ridiculous - it's bolt-upright, a torture chamber for kids with no legs.

The way Fiat did the 500 cabrio would have made more sense because it likely would have preserved the back seat.

Instead, the Cooper 'vert is stricly a 2 seater, and if that's the case, gimme a RWD Miata instead. In fact that's what I got.

fintail

Saw another Focus today, this one looking loaded - and it was another sedan.

robr2

I saw a Volt for the first time today - with MA plates. Must've bought out of state.

I've seen a few Focuses around - mainly sedans. Saw one hatch and have decided that it looks better in person than the sedan.

kyfdx

... not feeling it... :sick:

fintail

I feel it when I see those...what I feel is my last meal coming up through my throat :shades:

The great disconnect between money and sense, for those who want something both hideous and flashy but don't want to spend X6 money.

lemko

...and see they brought back those cool sequential turn signals!

texases

I like those turn signals, and this time they'll work for more than a few months! No mechanical relays to worry about. Wonder who will come out with accessories that spell out words instead, like "Back off, ya maroon!" :P

ateixeira

What's this trend towards swollen impregnated hatchbacks? Who is buying these things anyway?

Accord Crosstour
ZDX
X6
5 series GT
Panamera

Rolling barf bags.

fintail

Barfbags, I like it. Barfbags after a 10 hour rough seas cruise or a transcontinental turbulence flight.

I wouldn't touch any of those. I think the Crosstour appeals to boomer-hoarders who want something they can fill with junk and still pretend to be "sporty". The rest seem to be about showing off how much money you can waste.

ateixeira

something they can fill with junk

That's what bothers me - I measured and you have about 30" between the wheel well housings.

My smaller Forester has 41". The Outback has 42".

That's a whole FOOT wider.

You'd have to be both blind and insane to pick a Crosstour over an Outback.

texases

I read that sales are really poor on the 5GT, to the point of letting it die...good riddance! I see few ZDXs or X6s, but there are two identical Crosstours in the garage at work, have to see them every day ...gack :sick:

Audi did a better job:

fintail

I suspect the customers are just hauling junk from Wally World or the mall, not sheets of plywood. I bet it actually has some very happy owners. They think they are not in an SUV. Perfect vehicle for a late 50s public sector retiree with money to blow.

It's just such a weird and disjointed design.

ateixeira

I agree, it is the least offensive by a wide margin.

However, I'd still take an A6 or A8 over that.

If you tell me it has 50% more cargo space than either sedan I'd give it a full pass.

lemko

I'd rather have an old school station wagon than any of those monstrosities.

ateixeira

True, and then you get 5-7 times the cargo capacity, instead of just 20% more.

jwilliams2

My younger brother (he's 65) has a Crosstour. He really likes it. They travel a lot, and have had several SUV's, but loves the way the Crosstour drives. About the only thing they haul is luggage and grand kid paraphernalia when traveling between their out of town kid's, so it's perfectly adequate for that.

Like they say.....a butt for every seat.

fintail

Sadly, look how many exist nowadays. We don't even get the 5er Touring anymore. Yay for MB and Audi anyway.

qbrozen

Saw the forte hatchback this morn. It is ok looking. Pretty anonymous compared to the Coup.

anythngbutgm

Damn, that's sexy!

fushigi

My neighbor had a CR-V and a Pilot. Now they have the Pilot & a Crosstour. They're definitely part of the Honda Faithful and are interested in cars as basic transportation only. The guy says he likes it but that's about as far as he goes when it comes to talking about cars.

ateixeira

Lots of wagons exist, but they are disguised as "crossovers":

Audi Q3
Audi Q5
Audi Q7
BMW X1
BMW X3
BMW X5
Benz GLK
Benz ML (the old one was, is this one still BOF?)
and so on...

Every brand has one, they have to.

robr2

Benz ML (the old one was, is this one still BOF?)

No - it's unibody. IIRC, gen 2 was unibody as well.

ateixeira

Seems like every automakers has 2 or 3 of them.

Even Porsche wants to build another one. If so, they'll have more crossovers than Lexus.