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

fintail

Do any club members rent out their hearses for the ceremonies of departed enthusiasts? That might be kind of an interesting niche market - vintage hearse rental.

Fintail hearse wouldn't be a bad way to go, or for something more modern, a W126 works, too:

tjc78

S350 Bluetec this morning. I didn't know they made the S class in the diesel.

ateixeira

Mail slot opening.

Check out the trunk opening on a Camaro. Smaller than it even needs to be.

ateixeira

Driving on the Whitehurst Freeway approaching Georgetown.

Matte black, done right. I've seen a lot of folks try and fail, but this paint job nailed it. It was just stunning.

The car it was on didn't hurt, of course.

lemko

Look at this tiny opening on the 1965-1967 AMC Marlin:

fintail

Not just that, but they are all AWD, too. Oddball, probably some deals on them right now.

kyfdx

I see a bunch of these, obviously... they look like a much more expensive car.. a class above the normal Chevy, and also seem larger than their competitors...

Maybe, it's all appearance... but, I really like them.... reminds me of a Euro sport sedan..

ateixeira

Here in the garage. A little Accord coupe-ish but still a handsome car.

explorerx4

Has a big looking front bumper with narrow vertical slits(for LED lights?) and Explorer like rear lights.

ateixeira

It has grown so much.

I think the Impreza XV is bigger than the original '98 Forester now.

Sales were up a bunch last month so I guess it is family sized now.

Get used to seeing lots of them.

anythngbutgm

Made it to NYC on Saturday for the Auto Show and the sightings as follows:

- Spotted some of the BRZ-FRS club in Connecticut, maybe 6 or 7 of them lined up at a rest area.

- A few members from the Miata club about an hour later heading up 95

- New Acura RDX were a very common sight

Tesla Model S, Couple of Panamera's, latest Boxster S in screaming bright yellow, a few new RR's, new Foresters, XV Crosstreks, new SLK350, couple of new CLS's (one AMG :shades: )

I made the mistake of going down 95 to get there, what a miserable, congested and pot hole ridden disaster that was... My little Impreza took a beating on that road, especially on the Bronx Expressway where hitting a frost heave was like driving up over a sidewalk :sick: Going to take her in to check the alignment and suspension this week...

On the way out, we took the most gorgeous, smoothest 65 miles out via Rt 5? where doing 80mph was considered slow! I got passed by Mercedes after Audi after Bimmer, Lexus, Acura, Volvo like I was standing still. Felt like being back in Germany actually.

And the only cop I saw was one in one of those new G8/SS cop cars sitting in the island of an exit ramp with a busted wheel (rolled underneath) and lol you would think people would have slowed down when they saw him? Nope :surprise:

Needless to say, if you are going to head into the Big Apple, I highly recommend this route! I think it dumped us out around I684. near White Plains.

ateixeira

New style, with temp tags and all, in Washington Circle here in DC. Loaded up, SX-L V6 I think?

ateixeira

the only cop I saw was one in one of those new G8/SS cop cars

You reminded me, last week I saw a new SS, but it only had a "Caprice" label on the back. Was an unmarked cop car, lights hidden behind the grille. He was driving on Westlake near Montgomery Mall. I wonder if Montgomery County police will start using those?

First one I've seen around here.

anythngbutgm

They had one on display at the show as well, with one of NY finest there to pose for pictures.

kyfdx

No comments.. just spotted them...

explorerx4

So now you know why so many people like to drive SUV's.
I swear the ramp from the Major Deegan to the GW bridge has been a mess since the 60's. Maybe they just never get a chance to fix it.
Kind of sounds like you took one of the Parkways back.

fintail

Saw a Buick Encore on the road today

stickguy

I can vouch that it has been a mess there since at least 1979.

so the 60s is a distinct possibility.

tjc78

IMO every road in and around the GW bridge is messed up. There is just so much volume any repairs don't last long. I don't go up there very often at all, but if I'm heading to CT or further north I've become accustomed to taking the Tappen Zee. Yes, its further and still congested but must less stressful.

Saw quite a few new Altimas yesterday, seem to be selling well.

stickguy

me too on the TZ. I know that in theory it is more miles and should take longer, but I usually don't care. Plus, whenever I am going up that way, it is usually to Hartford or Boston so I have to end up North anyway.

ateixeira

With the rims and the styling.

Not common, I see far more hybrids.

Also saw an Avalon on the way home.

fintail

A lot of SEs in my area are rentals - keeping it grounded to the ground makes for a safer drive on unfamiliar roads, you know :shades:

tjc78

My mom had an 09 Camry SE it was firmer than an LE but I would bet that they handle at the limits exactly the same.

fintail

My mom has an LE, kind of roly poly when pushed beyond a straight line. I look at it as a Ciera for the new century. She likes it a lot anyway.

ateixeira

The rear spoiler keeps the rear end planted ... at speeds the car cannot reach.

For all the criticism they get, they're actually not very different from most other mid-size sedans. The differences are far more subtle than we are led to believe.

texases

Edmunds pretty much liked their SE long-termer. I always wonder why the mags test the LE in comparisons, instead of the SE, while using the Accord Sport, for example. (recent Automobile compare).

ateixeira

LE does the volume. I bet even the XLE outsells the SE.

For that car, I would opt for the LE, most likely. Maybe even the hybrid version, which is surprisingly quick (better FE than Passat TDI and much quicker).

If I want something sporty, I'd get something else, most likely. The LE should offer a very comfortable ride and great NVH control. SE would add big rims and compromise both of those.

Though I like the new Accord more. Honda did a great job with the latest one. Altima would be tempting only for the seats and the 38mpg + large fuel tank = incredible range. I also like the Fusion and the hybrid version of that.

To be honest, though, I don't want a sedan.

fintail

Maybe it's because with so many Camrys on the road, and a demographic that adores them, one is more likely to see a stupid driver in one, and then a bad vibe is created. I know in my area, they are embraced by those who, to be nice, seem to lack situational awareness.

On the new car tangent, saw a new style Range Rover today.

berri

Haven't had a Camry for awhile, but the SE at least used to be the main rental version at Hertz. The wheels may have changed with the new model, but prior to the 12's I had driven quite a bit in Camry's and didn't really think the LE and SE drove all that differently. If it has over-sized wheels now, I'd avoid it frankly.

ateixeira

Not designed for enthusiasts, so a model that pretends to be like the SE picks up a lot of flack.

fintail

Yeah, fake sporty is a tough sin to forgive. Like 90s Pontiacs, or the Corolla S.

texases

The SE really isn't 'fake sporty', it has a beefed up suspension and tires, along with an upgraded interior and seats. Kind of like the Accord Sport. No body cladding or rear trunk spoiler, unlike the Corolla S...ugh.

fintail

Doesn't the SE have more aggressive looking bumpers and maybe a side skirt?

Never been able to embrace a spoiler on such a car, especially one taller than a lip spoiler.

texases

Yeah, looks like it has a side skirt, but not too big. And no rear spoiler, at least.

Here's Edmunds take on their SE:

"During the trip [LA to SF] the Toyota proved once again that this is the best Camry since the mid-1990s. And it's a great road tripper. Comfortable. Quiet. And economical. But also interesting to drive. For a few generations, Camry's have been so boring you couldn't remember driving the sedan ten minutes after climbing from its driver's seat. Not anymore. Our Camry SE has plenty of personality. "

fintail

I suppose it shouldn't be impossible to make it more interesting than a numb old LE - couldn't make it less involved.

tjc78

My Mom's had the full "SE" treatment. Body cladding, rear spoiler, front spoiler (bottom), and the 17" rims. The inside also had slight differences in the steering wheel and gauges. Oh... and the same weezy 4cyl from the LE. All show, and no go.

This is a V6 but otherwise the same:

fintail

Ooh, grounded to the ground! That spoiler isn't pretty.

Fanciest thing my mom's white LE has is a moonroof. Maybe it's more honest tht way, not pretending.

tjc78

The funny thing is she loved that car and actually used to get tons of compliments. Thank God Toyota didn't change the exhaust and make it louder, that would have been over the top.

ateixeira

Even some Corolla models have/had a bigger engine. Didn't they stuff the Celica GT-S motor in there for a while? Maybe the 2.4l engine more recently.

Haven't looked as no 5 door = no interest.

Throw back moment - who remembers the FX16 hatch? The girl who used to live in my house used to own one of those.

iwant12

"Doesn't the SE have more aggressive looking bumpers and maybe a side skirt?"

And a rear defuser also, I believe. A couple of my friends have the SE and they like them well enough. FWD . . . not my cup of tea!

tifighter

Loved the FX16. Same motor as the AE86 and MR2 in the GTS. Probably better to own than a 323GTX, but c'mon, the Mazda was more desirable.

uplanderguy

Drove by Junction Auto Sales, a rather large Mopar dealer in a rural area east of Cleveland yesterday morning and a bright orange Dart caught my eye. Darts have been out for a good while already, of course, but this was a bright orange not unlike seen on Superbirds and Charger Daytonas of 1970 IIRC. Interesting in a field of earth tone-everything else out there.

fintail

FX16 is a rare bird, 2 years only, I think.

fintail

I've seen one in that orange, too. Definitely a retro color.

fintail

Don't give them any ideas.

Actually, the compliments speak the truth. That's what middle America thinks of when it comes to a sporty sedan.

berri

Well, besides the spoiler you get plastic ground effect fender extensions, fog lamps, and different wheel covers and seat fabric.

texases

Edmunds sure liked the 2012. And they compared the seats, LE/SE, liked the SE better. And the suspensions a notch up.

berri

Personally, I find that a drawback to Toyota (and all brands have their own issues) is that too often the seats don't seem as comfortable on long drives as some of the competition. Seats is an area where GM seems to have improved quite a bit over the past few years.

texases

Seats are near the top of my list. It continually amazes me that current cars often come with seats inferior to my '83 GTI's seats.

Edmunds said the 2012 SE's were very comfortable for repeated SF/LA trips.

berri

I haven't driven a 12 Camry any distance. The interior seems improved some. I've owned an 09 and can tell you that while they weren't awful, they weren't great either. A bit short on the seat bottom and maybe a little too low. Sometimes over distance they could get to starting to feel lumpy or something as well, but fine for shorter distance driving. Actually, I'm not really sure I'm sold on the more angular outside styling of the '12 either, although I think that it is still pretty popular. I'm sure you could do a heck of a lot worse in a car though.