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

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    If only they could get "creative" and discover tailfins. Maybe Lexus could be cool.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Yeah, and a pair of small antenna's on the tail fins.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    And claim they created it.

    Maybe whitewalls can come back, too.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...and suicide doors! Maybe Lexus will feature a small fan mounted to the steering column or a huge metal visor over the windshield?
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,951
    Saw a new X1 today. Meh, tall 3 series wagon. I don't get it, but it will probably sell well.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Was up in Stamford, Norwalk, and Milford this weekend. Saw 7.8 billion Subarus and:

    Altima - first in the flesh.

    Escape.

    X3 - these are abundant, the official lux crossover of the state.

    CX5.

    Stayed in a hotel across the street from Stamford Subaru. Visited my brother-in-law next to the Subaru dealer in Milford. There's one at every exit it seems.

    Here's how you give direction in NE:

    OK, so you drive up that way, make a left at the 3rd Subaru dealer. Then drive up and make a right between the 4th and 5th Subaru dealers, then another right at the 3rd Subaru dealer, and you've arrived.
  • tifightertifighter Member Posts: 3,785
    Last week, I had an Escape AWD with the ecoboost 1.6 in it as a rental a few days ago. Really like the drivetrain; in the right gear most of the time, responsive. SE trim so no MFT, but had a 4" LCD in the center stack and one in the dash. Bluetooth streaming a little confusing. Comfortable and quiet. Handles like a car, looks good, only downside seems to be the small cargo area. If you can live with that, it seems like a solid choice.

    Yesterday's rental was a Traverse. Which was funny as I originally reserved a compact.

    25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Compact, LOL.

    Isn't it usually the other way around? You ask for a mid-size and get a Cruze.

    Will try the new Escape with my sister now that they're out.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Somehow, I could imagine the windshield visors. I've seen more than 1 IS with the side window visors, which look oh so good.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,612
    Out for a test drive.. Not a bad looking car.. Much better than that lame 200...

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  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    ...yep I saw one the 14 they sold.

    It really is a nice looking vehicle.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    E350 coupe. Old couple driving.

    C250 coupe with a young guy in a suit, lobbyist type.

    Old money, new money. :D

    Saw that VW van again, Touran TDI. Diplomatic plates. Wonder how well it runs on USLSD?

    2 Prius Vs yesterday. One used as a cab. For DC traffic nothing makes more sense, IMHO. You're idling half the time.

    Traffic was heavier than usual on Car Free day. LOL
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Saw that VW van again, Touran TDI. Diplomatic plates. Wonder how well it runs on USLSD?

    If it's less than 10 years old, it probably runs just fine. Europe has required ULSD for years.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I was worried about the opposite, i.e. our diesel not being clean enough. Guess it's as clean as Europe's by now?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Subaru dealers in CT had a few of these in stock.

    Trivia: what does this XV have in common with a W123 and the Golf and Octavia?

    They've all been the best selling car of Switzerland:

    http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/09/best-selling-cars-around-the-globe-japa- nese-earthquake-in-switzerland/
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Subaru is huge in Switzerland, and fairly rare when you cross the border. Never seen one of that model, but I am sure I will as Subaru is also huge in this area.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They just came out here. Haven't even seen one on the roads yet.

    It replaces the Outback Sport, but gets a little more differentiation. Mostly a big lift, but also a roof rack, bigger gas tank, and some beefing up.

    I guess (?) it will compete with the Juke, Outlander Sport, Buick Encore, etc.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited September 2012
    Saw one this morning. Taillights have chrome eye brows over them. Looks like an angry birds character.

    image

    image

    URLs if you can't see those images.

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/Angry_Birds_promo_art.png

    http://autocarspeed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2012-Buick-Verano-Rear-Left-4- 70x281.jpg
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    It will sell, too. Make it with a built in ski rack for the posers, and sell even more.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They've sold Yakima accessories in the past, probably will again.

    Not just posers, check out the instructors' parking lot at the local ski resort, that's all they drive.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Around here, I check out the local office complex lot where many who have never set foot on a slope park - lots of them there too. No different than the poser outdoorsman fancy Jeep crowd that goes off road as much as I do, I guess.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm sure those Swiss buyers will be taking them skiing.

    In Europe they'll have the diesel. 258 lb-ft ought to help at elevation.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Weren't we supposed to get a diesel Subaru, once?

    I was amazed at all the Imprezas and Foresters in Switzerland.
  • tifightertifighter Member Posts: 3,785
    The Swiss are smart; they take the train to ski. Shoot, cars aren't even allowed in Zermatt.

    25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They put the US media in a diesel Forester 6MT, but it was just a tease.

    Would make sense, though, with partial owner Toyota focusing on hybrids, to let Subaru do diesels so they don't cannibalize each other.

    IMHO a diesel Forester and Outback make perfect sense for those types of cars. Decent utility, yet efficient, long range, enough torque to haul all the gear on the roof and small trailers they have.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They're not as popular as the CR-V but I seem to see more of those than the CX7 it replaced.

    Also saw another C coupe.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Saw a CX5 today as well, along with a new Altima I am 110% sure was a rental (confirmed to be in the National fleet now) and a couple new 5ers, new A8, etc.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Two Altimas this morning. Front grille resembles the Lexus spindle a bit.

    Also two Prius C in their environment - urban traffic.

    Over the weekend I saw a Ford S-Max vanlet. Democratic plates.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Saw an Infiniti minivan this morning - seem to be selling like hotcakes here. Not pretty, but I am becoming tolerant of their different for the sake of different design, maybe as they lack the shamelessly false wannabe masculinity found on other AWD machines.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    edited September 2012
    Or BR-Z, whatever, coming out of the same neighborhood that has the Figaro... The styling is fine, OK, but doesn't knock me out.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Infiniti just was named the brand with the best "emotional attachment" whatever that means:

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/105637931/2012-Leap-Index

    I'd expect a brand like Jaguar to be up there, but who knows how marketers measure stuff like that.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    With temp tags, in Arrest-Me-Red.

    Best Defense: your Honor, I couldn't be going that fast. No, really! ;)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Car isn't what stood out to me, it was the driver's sunglasses.

    Older lady had those fake RayBans with neon green sides, the type your dentist gives away for free.

    Lady can afford a $70k plus car but not the real thing? :confuse:
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Older lady had those fake RayBans with neon green sides, the type your dentist gives away for free.

    Maybe she's a wanna be hipster? But since she drives a $70K MB, I don't think the kids in Brooklyn will accept her.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited September 2012
    Are we sure it is Infiniti cars? Really...I have never known an Infiniti owner to talk about their car...at least not to me. Would be interesting to see the methodology.

    Saw a "hybrid" badged Cayenne today.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Sure those aren't some weird designer brand that costs $1000? You never know...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The kind they sell outside Nordstroms? Long shot, I don't think so. Not in that hue.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited September 2012
    Expensive can be classy looking, but sometimes crosses a border and gets ugly. Think diamond encrusted Rolex or any custom by Mansory.

    Oh, speaking of that, this morning I saw a white Rolls Ghost with fairly inappropriate aftermarket wheels. Local pro athlete or something similar, maybe. Tinted windows, couldn't see in from a distance.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Juicy couture (sp?).
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    edited September 2012
    I spotted a Rolls-Royce Ghost in my neighborhood last week. It was driven by an older gentleman and mercifully free of bling. The Ghost - The Budget Rolls!
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    They sell RayBans in colors. One of my kids has a red pair. They are part of her signature look.
    We also have a couple pairs of the tortoise shell style that I bought back in the 80's.
    We keep them in the Mustang. Not only do the kids and their friends get to ride in a car older than they are, they get to wear some 'cool shades' older than they are, too.
    Of course they think those are the original RayBan's, but they don't remember 'I Spy'.
    I think the style of glasses goes back even before that.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited September 2012
    It's a very nice 7-series.

    Speaking of new cars, just saw the Crosstour ad I mentioned earlier - $299 lease for a 2012 EX-L. I didn't see the initial payment, but that's cheap. Looks subsidized.

    And I visited with an old co-worker today, who just bought the cheapest new car he could find - a Spark. I've only seen a few in person, and I even rode in it. It is surprisingly roomy inside, and has a modern touchscreen experience - but definitely built to a price. His is stick, anyway. He said it was something like 14K out the door.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited September 2012
    Did a quick search for RayBan images, and no, the ones I saw were black front and neon green on the side. Definitely a knock off.

    They looked like these:

    image

    URL if you can't see the embedded image:

    http://cn1.kaboodle.com/img/b/0/0/155/b/AAAACz04jHMAAAAAAVW4fg/retro-90s-days-of- -thunder-neon-green-black-sunglasses-3.jpg?v=1305266227000
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Spotted a Crosstour crossing Magee Street at Oxford yesterday in NE Philly. I thought visually-impaired people weren't allowed to drive? If this is the man's choice in automobiles, I'd certainly hate to see his wife/girlfriend/mistress! :P
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    14K out the door

    At the low end you can take small steps up in price and get much better vehicles, IMHO. A basic Cruze isn't much more money.

    It's past 25k or so that you get diminishing returns.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,951
    The Crosstour is a very sad looking vehicle. At least the Venza has a half decent shape, and is well proportioned.

    I don't get why the manufacturers need to try and "fool" the public. Maybe some people would actually buy an Accord/Camry station wagon, and not some half wagon/half SUV styling nightmare.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    There were Camry/Accord wagons back in the day. I just saw a 1993 or so Accord wagon yesterday. I'd much rather have a proper station wagon myself than some stupid SUV/minivan/cross-over.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    There is a TSX wagon.

    I'd much prefer to see a Corolla Fielder vs. the Matrix, but I think it's just being discontinued.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I hate to say it, but for that lease payment, it is probably a fair deal. Ugly, but I bet it is comfortable.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    And it is slushbox and V6 only. If only the NA market Honda diesel had come to fruition. I remember a parking lot at the AMG facility in Germany had several Euro Accord wagons in it - if AMG workers like it, that can't be bad.
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