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

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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    To my eyes the most beautiful sedan in the world.

    Well, current production. :shades:
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited June 2011
    A lot of people won't give it a chance, since that price class demands brand cachet Equus will never have.

    But...check one out next auto show you go to. From the suede headliner, down the soft leather seats seemingly off the hides of Sea Biscuit, the real wood, to the wool carpeting below, it's nice from head to toe.

    Really nice.

    I haven't looked lately but sales numbers absolutely dwarfed the VW Phaeton's.

    I realize that's not saying much.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Brand cachet and some styling cachet too, which in my eyes the Equus lacks. It still looks like a supersized few year old Azera to me, no matter how nice it is inside. Suede and soft leather would be expected at that price point, especially as it is likely a loss leader like the LS was.

    Funny thing, the Phaeton has actually soldiered on in the EU market, selling at a trickle but still alive.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I agree - Equus seems like it started life as Korea's Lincoln Town Car, which basically ... it was.

    They've updated it about as well as they could, but it's worthy of a clean sheet design.

    Personally, I'd take a Genesis, nice enough, much cheaper, more modern design. 333hp is good. 29mpg is good. Both in the same car is great.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Genesis with the always just around the corner new great engine for me too, yes. I see the value in that one.

    An Amanti is a Korean Town Car to me, as it looks like one :shades:

    For 59K, I can likely find a 3 year old S-class with minimal mileage and have enough left over to buy a sturdy aftermarket warranty.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited June 2011
    For 59k....I'm putting a down payment on that bay front condo in Ocean City, MD.

    It's funny, when you get up there in price, you compete with non-automotive things. Ever notice how many yachts you see in luxury car commercials? Maybe they don't realize they are displaying alternatives. LOL

    A while ago my wife chose a (not-on-the-water) beach condo over a BMW.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Genesis with the always just around the corner new great engine for me too, yes. I see the value in that one.

    Just looked, $35,110 in stock at Fitzmall, and that's with the must-have premium package that slathers real cowhide all over your dash.

    It may not be a full blown luxury car, but to me it's the tipping point where anything that costs more gives you diminishing returns.

    I'd buy that over the $59k Equus and spend the $24k on...meh, I'm a wimp, I'd probably pre-pay my kids' college tuition or something.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    edited June 2011
    Actually, if I had 59K to just blow on something vehicle related, I wouldn't buy a new car either. I'd maybe have the fintail restored, buy a cool bike, and invest the rest so it funds many nice vacations. I'm happy enough with my modern car.

    Any Genesis I would want would top 40K as I want the tech goodies too. If I am jumping in I am going headfirst.

    I think the yacht/car thing makes sense in an aspirational sense. It's much easier to buy and keep a car than a yacht, and a nice yacht is more chic than any car, so the marketers hope it will wear off on the car. People link big luxoboat with other fancy toys, but of course the majority of car owners don't have said toys.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    For $59K, I'd probably get a loaded Cadillac DTS and have change left over for a nice used motorcycle.
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Wow, the Rapide? It's a good looking sedan IMO but even as an Aston superfan as myself, I don't like it's dachshund wheelbase.

    Most beautiful large sedan in the world right now IMO is the latest E-class. Seriously, I would take an E550 4matic even if I could have the Aston for the same money.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    My best friend (dog), Hadji, was a dachsund mix, RIP. Maybe that's why I like the Rapide. LOL

    I like the new E coupe better than the sedan. My next door neighbor has the outgoing model (sedan) and I liked that one better.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    GMC Terrain

    Passat CC

    New Civic sedan
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,675
    the Rapide is one of the best looking four-doors ever made but the roofline is too low for a practical sedan. I sat in an A-M V8 and it was like looking out thru pillbox slits and I think the Rapide uses the same windshield.

    What do I know I actually like the Panamera. ;)

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Oh yeah, in NYC I also saw a new E-class wagon. I'd take an E63 variant.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Saw a new CLS and SLK at the dealer today. CLS had an impressive interior, especially with a few options as this car had. Sport steering wheel looked very good. Car is less ostentatious/ugly in person than in pics.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Saw a W212 E350 Bluetec on the road, I think the first one I have seen in motion.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Spotted a Honda Crosstour travelling west on Levick Street near Oxford Avenue and then later an Acura ZDX a few blocks north in NE Philly. I guess somebody finds these beasts attractive.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Hopefully via sweetheart lease deals and/or heavy discounts.

    I noticed the local Nissan dealer suddenly has a huge population of those big new cargo vans, maybe 15 of them, some high top some normal. They look odd somehow.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Saw a new X3 today - driver was the stereotypical demographic. Perfect vehicle, just right for shopping trips to Whole Foods, jaunts to the pilates studio, appointments with the life coach, visits to the poolboy's apartment :shades:
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,788
    edited June 2011
    I have seen 3 of those GT 5 series things this past week. I do believe that is the ugliest bimmer I have ever laid my eyes on.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Saw what I think was a Ferrari 458 Italia today, some kind of new Ferrari anyway.

    5er GT and X6 are in an ugly death match.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,681
    a few houses apart on my street, a new Chrysler 200 (rental) in light blue, and a Dodge Avenger (think it was an actual retail purchase) with a temp tag. In silver.

    The 200 was actually pretty sharp looking. I liked it. the Dodge, however, looked kind of ungainly and cheap.

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

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 268,324
    The Italia has three exhaust pipes right in the middle.. If you are behind one, you can't miss that feature...

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  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    edited June 2011
    Three pretty rare new cars: Jaguar XK - TINY rear window, they try to conceal it with the 'blackout' treatment around the edges, and I didn't know it was a hatchback; Caddilac CTS Coupe - big rump on that one; and the rarest, a new 911 GT3 with the wing rear spoiler and loud with loud paint - don't know how satisfying it is driving a near race car in rush hour traffic :confuse:
    Something like this:
    image
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Looks like the next gen is coming out of the gate pretty well sales-wise. Seeing a bunch more of them on my morning commute.

    Saw a few more new Volvo S60 models over the weekend, that one took a few months to see... Also, the Mini Countryman, those are pretty popular, I wanted one but can't get past the looks.

    Also, noticing a lot of Mitsubushi Outlanders and Outlander sport models lately. That may be the best selling Mitsu out there right now. :D
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,788
    Actually saw a commercial for the 500. Glad to see they are advertising it.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Either someone showed up an hour early for a dentist appointment at the office across from where I live, or the dentist got a new car, as a fresh A5 Sportback pulled in this morning. So much better than the BMW and Hondacura hunchbacks. Dentist previously had a beige RL (two tone beige then, I guess), step up in my book.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    edited June 2011
    Do you mean A5 or A7? No A5 sportback on the US Audi web site. First I've heard of it, is it for sale in Canada?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    D'oh...A7 is what I meant yeah, A5 is the Euro.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    You had me wondering, IL actually test drove an A5 Sportback.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    It's a nice looking car, the A7 is pretty much just a larger version of course. I was in Germany shortly after they were released and actually saw a freshly delivered one at the Audi Forum

    image
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Stopped by a few dealers today for the hell of it. Saw an A7, usual equipment, 66K. Seems like a lot of money. A SWB A8 next to it stickered at 82K, which seems like a better deal.

    MB dealer has a couple more new SLKs - looked at one up close, it is big. Maybe gaining on R129 SL size - not only mainstream cars are undergoing bloat.

    No new Passats at the VW dealer.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Was in Maine this week. Spotted:

    2 Fiat 500's - one with MA vanity plate ABARTH - I guess he wanted to secure the plate while waiting for one

    3 Suzuki Kizashis - Maine is a wonderful place for oddball new cars - they have a penchant it seems for the offbeat, inexpensive models

    1 AC/Shelby Cobra with VT plates GENUINE.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Saw a 5er GT today with a grey E39 M5 right behind it. In less than a decade, look what happened...
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,681
    I saw a 5GT recently parked next to a Sube Baja. Guess which was the ugly one?

    Not just BMW. Acura too. out front of my house today, a prior generation Acura TL drove by, and passed my neighbors last gen TSX. Both extremely good looking, well designed cars. How that spawned the current generation, I do not know.

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

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Acura seems to have evolved worse than BMW. The ZDX is best kept hidden, and the current TL compared to the old one is as bad as the E60 vs E39 5er. The new TSX bloated and blanded up too. Designers just aren't able to do much other than be copycats or be different for the sake of different, with no actual grasp of aesthetics involved.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    It's funny/sad that Acura's had to advertise the (pretty minor) attempt to 'fix' the TL, in effect saying "It's not as ugly now, see?" The 'improvement' is small, IMO :sick:
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    And the lame ad campaign "aggression in its most elegant form" - sorry marketing sucks, the TL is neither aggressive nor elegant.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    It's like a fat ugly girl losing a lot of weight. She's not fat anymore, but she's still ugly!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Went to a little car show yesterday, and a local Ford dealer had a display. A Mustang, a Raptor, some SUV I forget, and a new Focus. Loaded. 26K! Seems like a lot of money.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    You can spend $26k on a Cruze, too, just check out IL's test car. Then their drivers complain about the price! But yes, I'd skip most of the options. More to break/wear out/add weight...
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    Seems funny to me, you can get a nicely equipped Camcord for that, or endless options of higher model used cars. That thing better be pretty awesome.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,788
    Yes, but you are then comparing a loaded example of one model vs a "nicely equipped" example of another model. Not exactly a fair comparison.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    True, but some of that equipment might also be included in the larger car. Anyway, it's a daring strategy for a car of that size in this market.
  • fushigifushigi Member Posts: 1,459
    Focus, Cruze, Civic can all be equipped to sticker over $26K Elantra and Corolla seem to top out around $23-24K.

    The segment ain't what it was 10 years ago.
    2017 Infiniti QX60 (me), 2012 Hyundai Elantra (wife)
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,675
    edited July 2011
    I saw one of those "Americanized" 2012 Jettas. A Corolla looks sportier.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,599
    edited July 2011
    True. I am just getting old :shades:

    I do seem to remember some kind of "Sony edition" or something Focus several years back stickering in the low-mid 20s...I chuckled then too. I hope the new one gets some good mileage anyway.

    I am seeing lots of those dull new Jettas lately, some good leases out there I'm sure.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    I'm seeing a lot of new Jettas, two at once today, both red. I wonder how well the new Passat will do, looks a lot (too much, to me) like the Jetta:
    image
    image
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Black Chevrolet Cruze Eco.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,681
    my neighbor has had one of those for the last few weeks as a rental.

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

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