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

ateixeira

Just a joke, I love Subies. We own 2 and I test drove a Tribeca just yesterday.

In reality my point is that styling has never been the main draw for a Subaru. Tribeca may be love/hate, but my guess is the styling will draw those that love it in to showrooms.

Saw an NSX with pop-ups (early model) yesterday as well.

This morning I drove by a CLS500.

-juice

chidoro

Saw three more RL's on my way home from work last night. Two sivler and one black. I have to say, the more I see it the more I think it got a case of the "Bangles" in the rear. Someone at my office just got a new Outback. The '05s sit a lot higher than I expected. Looks pretty good for a wagon imo.

anythngbutgm

So where can I go to read about your test drive? Would love to hear your imprsssions on the Tribeca...

ateixeira

It is raised, but it flows with the body. The BMW 7 has that square trunk lid plopped on top of a curvy body. Stands out more so it's far worse.

-juice

boomchek

The CL55 would have the 5.5L Supercharged V8 producing 493HP
The CL65 would have the 6.0L Twin Turbo V12 producing 604HP

The 5.5 V8 Supercharged engine is also in the S55AMG, and the SL55AMG, and the V12 Twin Turbo is also found in the SL65AMG, and now the S65AMG (sedan).

Maybe the owner added some fake AMG badges on it.

kyfdx

Didn't look fake... I might not have noticed the rear badging being CL65, instead of CL55.. Maybe I just expected it to be 55..

It definitely had V-12 badging on the side, though.. got a nice long look at that..

It had all the other AMG stuff, as well... Lowered, wheels, exhaust, etc...

CL65... I guess that would be even more rare... for some reason, I'm seeing every AMG Mercedes under the sun lately...

regards,
kyfdx

merc1

Yeah I was going to say it was probably a CL65 which Mercedes just sold a bunch of it seems. Most dealers here had at least one in stock...a pretty rare car.

M

teds1

Very rare car... The 65's just came out and are stickering at around $180k. apparently they are entirely too torquey to grip any tire made right now and are actually slower to 60 than the 55s because they just burn rubber. If it was a CL65 the side badging would have said V12 Kompressor, not just V12. Also the regular V12 mercs (aka the 600's) have the badge in a drawn out oval. The V12 kompressor has pewter or silver colored sraight lettering like the stuff on the rear. I actually saw an S65 yesterday in a dealership on Park avenue that I walked by. Lower Park is one of the main "Financial services / real estate power corridors," so there are literally hundreds of various limos lining the street and several high end show rooms. I also saw an E55 wagon, a CLS500, and a Maybach 62 in the same window. A White rolls phantom was across the street parked, and the Ferrari showroom nearby had a 612 scaglietti, 430, 3200 gt maserati, quattroporte, and a maserati spyder.... also one of those goofy segway scooters for shoppers to glide around on... must be nice

kyfdx

Thanks.. those are all good identification tips... Unfortunately, I can't see the car from here... maybe, next time...

I'll be looking more closely from now on.... I didn't even know there was a CL65 until you guys told me...

regards,
kyfdx

kyfdx

A co-worker just leased this one.. I took it for a drive around the parking lot at work today (it is a big lot..lol). 6-speed, Grand Touring pkg, 18" performance rubber... Titanium Gray with black leather...

Very cool.. getting an itch...

fintail

Maybe it was a rebadged CL55. Some posers like to rebadge MB, and often do a shoddy job. I have seen rebadged SWB "SEL" 126 cars, and it is not uncommon to find V12 emblems on V8 140 cars.

Back in the day, people would de-badge their lower line MB, but about 15 years ago maybe that changed. I've seen debadged fintails, 116s and 126s.

kyfdx

Oh... from the looks of it.... No reason that it couldn't have been a CL65..

Debadging is cool... Rebadging sucks...

boomchek

You must be in a nice area. Over here the regular Beemers and Benzes are so common, even the SL's, that they don't seem like exclusive cars anymore. Haven't seen too many Phantoms, or Maybachs here yet. Some Ferraris though.

andys120

which hardly ever happens, I think it was an S55. I also found myself parked next to what I thought was a new Lexus GS. I was surprised when I backed out of my space and found myself staring at a badge that read "AVALON". :confuse:

odie6l

I'm starting to see the Freestyles pop up everywhere now. I even got one as a loaner while my escape was in for it's 65k service. There are still a poop-load on lots up here around the hershey, pa area.

Odie

merc1

I haven't seen where they "65" models are actually slower than the "55" models. I did see where C&D clocked a SL600 at 3.6 secs to 60 and a SL65 at 3.8 secs to 60 mph. I don't think that SL600 time was legit.

M

andys120

Mustangs and more Mustangs are popping up in my area. If you want to stand out don't buy a silver convertible w a black top they're everywhere. Ford has a huge hit on it's hands

navigator89

Saw a medium blue Mustang coupe today. Love the styling, it really stands out in a good way.

I also saw a white Mercedes CLS500. Beautiful car.

kyfdx

Saw the first Mustang car ads in the paper touting price.. $72 over invoice for any Mustang on the lot... 12 available.

I'm surprised it took this long..

stickguy

True, but they are all going to be V6 AT coupes. Also possible they have lots of ad-ons to drive up the price.

I don't think you r are getting a GT or a COnvert for $72 over real invoice anytime soon.
\
And, make sure this isn't 1 new one, and 11 left over old style ones!

kyfdx

I'd say just about October for the convertibles..

stan6201

I saw a car based (like a mini El Camino) pickup on the I-15 in Corona, CA. On the tailgate was "Toronado". I do not know who makes it and have not been able to find any info. It looks like the perfect size for what I want in a second car and would really appreciate any input.

seminole_kev

perhaps something sold in Mexico?

lemko

...just bought a new gray 2005 Hyundai Sonata GLS SV. He traded his white 2000 Hyundai Sonata for it and got the 0% financing. Apparently, he's happy with Hyundai.

fintail

Well, I am now living in a semi-trendy part of Bellevue WA, which is like a yuppie haven. I've seen just about every current model MB, BMW, and Lexus over the past 24 hours.

ateixeira

I bet all they have on the lot are V6/automatics, the secretary's special. The GT is in higher demand, and the drop-top is still new.

Edit: what stickguy said.

Saw a Freestyle on the road today...still not that common though.

-juice

merc1

Speaking of Ford I did spot a Ford GT yesterday. A pretty awesome sight on the road. It was red with the usual white stripes. Saw a Gallardo earlier this morning.

Also saw a "Mars Red" SLK350. The new SLK is becoming a regular sight now.

M

merc1

Finally saw a SLK55 AMG tonight. Real exotic looking at night especially from the back. Typical rectangle MB tailights with a smaller dot on top. Really classy.

M

fintail

I've seen several new GS over the past 24 hrs, a few new SLK and ML, a M45 (I was blown away by its unremarkable looks - I actually like the old one), a new Vette, and a Mustang convert that I think was a rental

merc1

Also got a chance to really notice the Hyundai Tucson, drove beside it for miles. This is the cutest little SUV on the road. I mean it’s as cute as a speckled puppy.

M

davem2001

I haven't seen where they "65" models are actually slower than the "55" models.

It was either C&D or R&T (I can't remember) but they did say that the 65 had just so much torque that it overwhelmed the tires and the "lesser" model was actually quicker to 60.

anythngbutgm

I read in a few sources that the S/SL65 motor can pull 1000 ft/lbs of torque, but had to be de'tuned to the 800 ft/lbs because MB couldn't find a tranny strong enough to handle that kind of power... That is just plain nuts, Wow. :surprise:

merc1

Yeah that was the SL65 vs the SL600, not the SL55. That time of 3.6 secs that C&D got for the SL600 hasn't been duplicated by anyone else. The SL65 was clocked at 3.8 secs, but I suspect that SL600 time was very abnormal. No one else has been able to get a SL600 to 60 mph in 3.6 secs.

M

odie6l

http://www.geocities.com/odie442/pictures/ute1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/odie442/pictures/ute2.jpg

Did the car based pick-up look like either of these?
The 1st link is the 2005 Ford Falcon XR8 Ute.
The 2nd link is the 2005 Holden SS Ute.

I personally think these would fly off the lots here in the states.

Both vehicles are sold in austrailia, but from what I've heard you can purchase the Falcon Ute in Mexico.

Odie

davem2001

Maybe it was the nice weather - saw an Escape Hybrid on the road (first one I'd seen), then a new Rolls-Royce.

ateixeira

Baja has not sold well, even with the turbo.

But those are 2 seaters with a bigger bed, not a crew cab with a tiny bed.

Saw a Five Hundred and a new Sportage.

-juice

seminole_kev

I see a ton of Ford 500's here. Must be selling well in this area.

jaserb

I still see the old ones, usually with a diesel, every once in a while. Seems like it would be a natural fit with the new TDI engines. A light duty runabout pickup that gets 40++ MPG would fill the gap left by the supersizing of the Frontier, Dakota, Colorado, Tacoma ...

Edit: Here's a Brazilian version, actually looks surprisingly butch. These are tiny, much smaller than the current Ranger, but something more the size of a Jetta wagon would probably work here.



-Jason

navigator89

Saw the refreshed BMW 7 from the rear. It was parked in someone's driveway along with a black Cadillac Escalade and black Cadillac SRX.

The car's taillamps look incomplete, as if the bottom segment is missing. When I see previous generation BMW 7's, some of them look really good, better than the current version.

Also saw a white Ford Thunderbird, and a silver Lincoln Navigator. I know they aren't new, but for me they're pretty rare.

fintail

I saw a current model 6er cabrio today...not so unusual, but this one was absolutely filthy, looked like it had just driven the Alaska Highway in winter or something. It was white, which didn't help.

A blinged out G-wagen just drove by my window, looked like it had 24" wheels. Money and taste are mutually exclusive.

ateixeira

Jason - that's based on the brazilian Gol, which is a smaller platform than the Golf. In fact it's even smaller than the Polo.

They'll never certify that for the US, but maybe something Golf-based like you mentioned.

-juice

stickguy

I was going to vote yes, you are crazy, but that picture does look pretty slick.

VW might as well give it a try. They need something to liven up the brand.

The biggest problem these days might be the cabin space. 2 seaters are a touch sell, unless the top goes down.

But, if they package and price this right, they might sell a few.

kyfdx

Umm... I think this is why the last one didn't work..

stickguy

worked OK on the Rbbit and Rampage (Dodge OMni varient), since they were small and not really designed (or sized) to carry heavy loads or do any towing. Certainly not a good idea for an F150.

Throw on Quattro if you are worried about traction.

kyfdx

I didn't think it worked on the Rabbit... I still can see guys with a load of Sakrete or mulch going down the road with the front wheels bouncing off the ground... The Rampage... well.. it had enough other problems, just being an Omnirizon at heart..

I'm still iffy about the Ridgeline... even though it is AWD, it is still a FWD based system... Not good for hauling..

I guess you could get a Baja.. then there would be three of you....

ateixeira

There are at least 5 or 6.

-juice

jaserb

Most of the fleet trucks I see (think auto parts runners, etc) are still 4-cyl reg cab Rangers. The only redeeming quality I see in them is the 25/29 EPA rating, which is far and away the best you're going to get in a truck. My buddy has an Diesel Isuzu P'up that he won't sell for anything, because it hauls stuff and gets 40 MPG. Maybe make the VW TDI pickup a mini-Ridgeline with 4 doors and a small bed and you're getting somewhere. Make it a bit bigger then the Baja with Touareg styling and I'd buy one. Baja didn't fail because it was a bad idea, it failed because it's Ugly with a capital Ug.

-Jason

kyfdx

It was still a bad idea.. It was bad when they made the Brat, and it is still bad..

Of course, here in german sausage country, we pronounced it Braht..

i_luv_toyota

I finally have seen my first Ridgeline today. I have seen them at the Dealer lots before, but never on the roads until today. It was red with the obligatory (at least around here) chrome reflecting front plate with chrome Honda logo on it.

Not only was I blinded by the sunlight coming off of it (the plate), but I was also blinded by the sheer ugliness of the thing, LOL.

andys120

Ridgeline are getting popular here in NH which is Pickup Country.
A friend of mine recently bought a Nissan Titan, which is huge. He's already concerned about poor mileage .

I told him he should get a diesel Ford if he wanted a big truck but he didn't listen.