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

ateixeira

Or AWD.

First CVT in an Infiniti, also. At least Nissan implements those well.

stickguy

I got an invite to one at my local BMW in the mail today. Probably won't make it up there though for it, but we shall see.

When I went last year for the X3 launch, they had cookies/drinks/fruit set up, and I got a stainless coffee mug as a gift for showing up.

ateixeira

I got a hat, but it's not even the quality of their earlier ones. Funny.

Oh, and no fruit here. I was hoping for a veggie tray at least.

kyfdx

Same here... cheap hat...no food..

My dealer used to really put out a good spread... hope this isn't a trend...

ateixeira

They used to pamper you and make you feel special. Boo hoo.

May try to test drive some cars this weekend with my sister. She's crossover shopping.

Wonder if I can transfer the $1000 rebate to her? X1 starts at $31.5k so it's not too much of a stretch. Not sure exactly what her budget is, but probably more like $25k.

kyfdx

I bet every X1 on the lot will be $38K and up...

I walked the lot after the shindig on Friday... got a serious case of sticker shock... Most of the 3-series (not the new sedans) that were on the lot were all $48K and up.... NAV on every single unit... Most of the X3s were over $50K...

andys120

I got a quick look at the new Fiat 300 Cabrio today, top up. An interesting grayish green with a tan roof. Nicely done I thought.

ateixeira

Sticker shock is right, I just got a quote for a SkyActiv Mazda3 touring for $17.6k.

That Bimmer has that much in options.

Could've done just about an even trade for my '08 Miata but there was a mutiny in my household, kids said no freaking way. Hysterical.

Then I saw the Elan episode on Wheeler Dealers and decided to keep my soul intact. The MX-5 remains. :shades:

stickguy

http://www.jsautohaus.net/used/Toyota/2011-Toyota-Camry-d4f2a4b2404638d300ad4bb0- 020a83bd.htm

kyfdx

Wow... it's like catching a snipe on a snipe hunt!

tjc78

Probably one of three made.

stickguy

and damned, I would go look at it except that it does not seem to have a moonroof! what are people thinking when the order cars?

texases

In my case, headroom. None of my cars have had a sunroof, and none will, if I can keep finding them.

qbrozen

damn you, stick. I think you might have trumped this rarity I just posted on the CCBA board.

ateixeira

Unicorn all the way.

Isn't that the final year they were made?

Last of the Mohicans.

kyfdx

They tried to butch it up.... looks too much like the Outback in the rear...

The previous 2008-11 model was better looking...

andys120

Got a quick look at the new 3 Series (F30) this AM, it was the same shade of red as the one in the TV ads. It looks better in the metal than in photos which make the nose seem a bit too long.

I also saw my first Toyota Prius C it was smaller and better looking than the "big" Prius .

ateixeira

I like the new one more.

Though the funny thing is, I used to like the hatch more, now I think the sedan is better looking.

Sales have more than doubled, though that may largely be due to the MPG improvement.

ateixeira

The c is about the length of my Miata. It is a lot smaller...

stickguy

Finally saw one in person. Actually 2 (an SE that we drove, and an SEL in the lot).

Pretty flashy, but a bit overdone in some areas (in and out). But overall, light years ahead of the old one!

kyfdx

Looks good, in a nice inoffensive, generic way...

ateixeira

I swear that's what I thought I read, for a second or two.

Alas, 'twas a Verano.

Of course Buick hopes it'll make the brand more youthful, so maybe I was right!

Also saw 2 Leafs. Leaves?

tjc78

New Range Rover Evoque. Really good looking SUV in a stunning red color.

Stick, DO NOT show this one to your wife. You will be begging her to buy the RDX. :shades:

stickguy

I can guarantee that she will hate it, so not worried there.

She did, however, really like the Porsche Cayanne, but that is a tad out of the price range!

she actually asked me today, what I would get. I picked the 2013 outback. And only partly because it would keep about $7,500 in our pockets (real cost differential). I also really liked it, and think it would be an excellent choice for us.

I actually made it a decision for her of the OB or a CRV. Basically the same price if anything, the sube is cheaper.

tjc78

She did, however, really like the Porsche Cayanne

My Fiance loves them too. Waayyyyy out of my price range I can tell you that.

I just saw in SFTSF NYC's parents have one and just cost them over $500 for an oil change. :surprise:

I picked the 2013 outback

I have only driven one Subaru, which was a first generation Forester it was a competent little wagon. I know quite a few people that just love their Subis to death. A solid choice.

What are you doing with the van? Going to trade it or Craigs?

stickguy

Craig's baby. wanna buy it?

after selling my Accord (one of those "unsellable" stick shifts) the first weekend for just under asking, I'll use that again. I pocketed 3k on that move (over trading it in), even after deducting the sales tax credit.

There is an advantage to having a Honda with reasonable miles on it (the Odyssey is a 2005, just hitting 73K now).

I don't expect it to be a hard item to sell.

fintail

Haven't seen anything new of note in my past week or so in FL and GA. Saw a couple SLS cabrios in Miami Beach, but there's a good chance those were exotic rentals. I've noticed more Volts here than on the west coast, which surprises me. One thing I have noticed by its absence is Subaru - people don't buy them down here.

tifighter

Neighbor down the street just picked up an electric Focus in a silvery blue color. Didn't know these were available yet, but at least the mini-Aston front end is distinctive from other Foci.

fintail

Looked at cars with my friend here yesterday, as he is always kind of thinking to replace his miled up Accord. Stopped at a college town MB dealer - salesman said bluetec cars sell poorly there, and nobody will touch their relatively base E350 wagon - but the gasser Es with sport and lower cars do sell. Odd...on the west coast, wagons and diesels don't seem to sit on the local lot for long. They also had a new E63 and S63 sitting around, can't imagine those will be an easy sale. Adjacent Nissan and VW dealers (same owner group no doubt) made it clear they would club a baby seal to make a deal, very strong sales pushes.

lemko

What's Bluetec?

tjc78

Fancy name for diesel.

fintail

The marketing driven name for MB diesels, based on the emissions system...you will know one when you see one, as they are badged on the trunklid.

Right now, NA gets a bluetec E sedan and S-class along with ML and GL, and the bluetec C and GLK are coming soon.

texases

I think the BlueTec includes the urea injection, right?

ateixeira

absence is Subaru - people don't buy them down here

Useless trivia factoid: Subaru's market share in Vermont is 14 (yes, fourteen) times what they have in Florida.

Funny.

It's not just the AWD - Subarus are not flashy and pretentious enough.

You still in Miami Beach? Notice even the mannequins in store windows are, um, shall we say, turbocharged?

ateixeira

had a new E63 and S63 sitting around, can't imagine those will be an easy sale

Lots of folks in Miami have big money, I'm sure they'll sell.

Took my nephews there last summer, and they almost didn't leave the parking lot. I think we saw 3 Lamborghinis, just parked.

They also saw a Ferrari and a Spyker. Pretty cool for a little kid from a small town in Brazil.

ateixeira

How can you see out of those things?

Don't you love how automakers remove windows, then get you to pay thousands for surround-view cameras.

lemko

Spotted a red Can Am Spyder travelling west on Rhawn Street near Tabor Avenue in NE Philly.

ateixeira

Saw one of these boxes running down the road.

Funny, it looks small on the bottom, but huge on top. Almost like a box truck fell on top of a Sentra.

That's an illusion. It's just that the sides go straight up. It's as wide at the top as it is at the bottom.

fushigi

In white. Luckily I hadn't had lunch yet.

anythngbutgm

Saw one this morning in kind of a yellowish, green color. Big thumbs down on the styling IMO, I liked the old one a lot better.

Saw a Blue Subaru BRZ on the highway yesterday afternoon. I'm really digging this one, need to take it for a spin.

Also a couple of JX Infinitis, those seem to be selling well.

Neighbor a couple of streets over bought a new CX-5 this weekend, they had one of those Pontiac Torrent clones before this. They also have a 2012 CR-V which they got back in March/April timeframe which replaced an older Ford Edge.

Another neighbor brought home a loaded Ridgeline that he traded his 375k mile Toyota Solara for. The dealer actually gave him 2500 bucks for his Solara!

I'm still toying with a new vehicle for myself. My 2007 Impreza hatch is going to hit 100k soon and I'm getting the itch. It's tough because other than brakes, tires and a PCV Valve cleaning, she needs nothing at all. The battery is starting to go maybe as she has had a couple of hard starts lately, but 31mpg, manual hatches are rare and I love this one but I'd like a few more "toys". Current vehicles in the running are the new Acura RDX, JGC and Volvo XC60.

ateixeira

May be hard to find a BRZ in stock, and even if you do there may not be test drives unless they know you're a serious buyer.

CX5 is nice, if a bit small, but the small engine is taxed with all that weight, at least the loaded AWD automatic we sampled.

31mpg, manual hatches are rare

Another Impreza, a Focus, Golf TDI, or Mazda3 SkyActiv. Those are my suggestions.

lemko

...blue Ford Fiesta at Rising Sun and Knorr in NE Philly.

ateixeira

Temp tags and all, with so many LEDs you'd think they just wrapped Xmas rope lighting around the whole car. This is getting tacky.

anythngbutgm

Thanks for the recommendations juice. My plan is to keep my little Impreza for as along as I can. But my commute is about 50 miles each way and I think something a little bigger, more comfortable and effortless acceleration are in order.

Like my S2k, the Impreza will be used on those good weather days (I have kept it in immaculate condition), maybe I'll even get into a bit of tuning and getting her out on a local trackday.

Out of the three choices, I would definitely go with the new Impreza tho. Love our Scoobydoos!

stickguy

based on that criteria, if you aren't obsessed with every last MPG, you should really like the RDX.

ateixeira

The new ones get dramatically better gas mileage. Back seat is HUGE. Dwarfs the Mazda3.

Heck, the back seat has a lot more leg room than the CX5.

fintail

I think that's the origin of the name, yes.

fintail

Oh, this was in Athens, GA, Nice college town, but probably not a good market for 100K+ cars (well, the E63 was pretty base, 95K).

Miami Beach is a good place for exotic rentals, too. Saw a Phantom Cabrio on one rental lot, aside various sundry Lambos, Ferraris, and 2x SLS.

I spotted this new Bentley coupe cruising among all the Sunday evening douchiness on Ocean Dr.:

fintail

"This is getting tacky"

More copycat sycophant designers at work.

fintail

Probably a good 10x in Seattle vs FL, too. I saw only a couple Subies apart from a few trashed loud WRX in FL.

Miami Beach is its own planet. Fun for awhile, but I have found I prefer things from about the space coast northward.

Oh, I swear I saw a new Fusion on the highway in northern FL yesterday, but it was a split second corner of the eye glimpse, so maybe not. Also saw a Verano on a small old time multi GM make dealer somewhere in southern GA.