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

stickguy

That I know. Why I am sticking with the boring, hi volume appliances!

I also like the Cruze, but she seems to have a hatred of them. Plus my wife for some reasons dislikes them as much as fords. So not likely what I am going all out for.

ab348

stickguy said:

That I know. Why I am sticking with the boring, hi volume appliances!

I also like the Cruze, but she seems to have a hatred of them. Plus my wife for some reasons dislikes them as much as fords. So not likely what I am going all out for.

Pictures of the new Cruze were out a week or so ago. I guess it is coming in the fall? Looks much improved over the current model. I hope they offer a bit more power under the hood.

kyfdx

Paging @fintail for a Mercedes dealer recommendation..

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/34434/mercedes-benz/c-class/leasing-2015-c400-and-european-delivery#latest

anythngbutgm

Followed a dealer plated E400 4matic home last evening. Still my favorite large sedan. They just got the proportions right and the stance is perfect.

Stopped in to a different Volvo dealer this morning and they have (3) of the new XC90's on the lot, ranging from 55k to 77k. There was one in a gun metal grey with charcoal interior and matte silver 19's that was just about perfect for 56k.

slorenzen

wow...56K for a not-fully-loaded XC90...

A friend just picked up a fully loaded GMC Denali.

68K...

How do people AFFORD these things?

kyfdx

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT: $71K MSRP

ab348

Was behind a flashy-looking blonde lady in an equally flashy Mercedes SL550 AMG today. It was misty so the top was up, but the window was down since she was a smoker. Man, I hate to think what that cost. Pretty car too, in white. Must be nice.

slorenzen

ab348 said:

Was behind a flashy-looking blonde lady in an equally flashy Mercedes SL550 AMG today. It was misty so the top was up, but the window was down since she was a smoker. Man, I hate to think what that cost. Pretty car too, in white. Must be nice.

Smoking?

In a car like that??!!??

Sad to think about.

kyfdx

No... no.. she was smoking...

texases

I think you mean "Smokin'!"

ab348

Well, she was certainly hot.

explorerx4

In the parking lot at work...
Another new Impala.

stickguy

parked a couple of houses down, a black over black TLX. sharp looking car.

robr2

slorenzen said:

wow...56K for a not-fully-loaded XC90...

A friend just picked up a fully loaded GMC Denali.

68K...

How do people AFFORD these things?

$2500 down and $499 a month - that's how. Or they own a business and it's expensed.

robr2

slorenzen said:

ab348 said:

Was behind a flashy-looking blonde lady in an equally flashy Mercedes SL550 AMG today. It was misty so the top was up, but the window was down since she was a smoker. Man, I hate to think what that cost. Pretty car too, in white. Must be nice.

Smoking?

In a car like that??!!??

Sad to think about.

Smoking in any car or smoking in general is a bad thing IMHO.

fintail

Saw a BMW 4er with a big Hello Kitty decal on the side, I love this place.

Regarding smoking in the SL, I am sure it was well earned.

fintail

Saw a new S550 coupe on the road today.

stickguy

up in NY saturday, a screaming yellow Aston. not sure which one, but it was loud. Big wing on it. I liked it!

stickguy

while out shopping today, sat in a new HR-V at the Honda dealer. Nice package. Very roomy. nice upgrade from the Fit. Did not drive it, so can't comment on the putt putt factor. I suspect they will sell like virtual hotcakes.

Michaell

stickguy said:

while out shopping today, sat in a new HR-V at the Honda dealer. Nice package. Very roomy. nice upgrade from the Fit. Did not drive it, so can't comment on the putt putt factor. I suspect they will sell like virtual hotcakes.

That's what I am Afraid of. 

fintail

Rode in my friend's MKZ hybrid today. Seems pretty nice, hides the Fusion roots well, save for the A-pillar, which catches my eye. Fairly striking looking in pearl white, rakish design. I dislike the touchscreen. He's very pleased with the car, and he is a younger Lincoln driver (he's 37 or 38, I think) - says it's worth every cent it costs more than the Prius it replaced.

stickguy

pretty cool that you are friends with Matthew Mcconaughey

berri

pretty cool that you are friends with Matthew Mcconaughey

You need to mumble that

stever

Michaell said:

stickguy said:

while out shopping today, sat in a new HR-V at the Honda dealer. Nice package. Very roomy. nice upgrade from the Fit. Did not drive it, so can't comment on the putt putt factor. I suspect they will sell like virtual hotcakes.

That's what I am Afraid of. 

CR-Vs sell well too, but lots of dealers seem okay with whacking the price. Hopefully they will deal on the HR-V once ample supplies get to the dealers. Good ammo for talking to Kia and Toyota at least.

fintail

I wonder if the weird Lincoln ads helped anything. My friend was attracted to the styling, hybrid, and the reasonably cheap lease. He hasn't complained about the car to me, he'd complain about the Prius all the time.

robr2

Today was an AMG E63 Wagon in dark blue with tinted windows driven by someone who obviously has watched that one MB commercial too much. We were on I95 around Boston and I was doing the go with flow 75 or so. He came up with high beams flashing so I pulled out of the way. I watched him for about a minute and saw his tail lamps light up 2 or 3 times as he tailgated other cars.

berri

Fin, I think the new Lincoln MKZ is kind of neat looking, but luckily he leased it or he'd probably take one hell of a depreciation hit when he traded it. Personally, I like it's looks better than the comparable Cadillac's', but that's really just a personal thing. I think the Caddy art and science look is starting to get kind of old. I just read somewhere that GM is going to be toning it down some because the Chinese aren't all that fond of the style. So send those Lincoln's over to China while they can!

anythngbutgm

Yesterday:

GLA45,
(2) Porsche Macan Turbos,
(2) new Honda HR-V's with dealer plates (road test?)

and a Seriously Bada$$, Triple-black ML63...

Also, co-worker traded in a total lemon Rentabu on a new 320i x-drive. Another from a 2010 F-150 to a new 2015. I'll be really curious how it holds up being all new...

fintail

Saw an ELR parked on the street. Still in production, can't call it obscure yet.

robr2

Maybe not obscure, but I've seen Chrysler 200's all over the place this week. I can tell they are not rentals as they have dealer plate frames and no barcodes on the driver side windows.

berri

They are sure offering big discounts and rebates on the 200's. I haven't been in one, but I hear they are a bit tight inside compared to the competition?

stickguy

I saw a couple of new 200s also. Actually quite sharp styling. Not a big fan of the interior though from what I recall seeing at the auto show.

imidazol97

robr2 said:

Maybe not obscure, but I've seen Chrysler 200's all over the place this week. I can tell they are not rentals as they have dealer plate frames and no barcodes on the driver side windows.

Lots of 200's in this area. The dealer(s) is the factor. A good dealer with whom folks have had earlier good experience sells a lot of cars. That's true around here.

The 200 styling looks like the Genesis from rear.

fintail

Saw my first HRV in the wild today. Not my kinda thing, but I have to appreciate that mass market soft roaders are getting smaller, it's a good thing.

stickguy

Surprisingly roomy and comfortable interior. Have not driven be of course, but reviews say the power train really let it down.

robr2

What I've read is the performance in the HR-V is underpowered compared to it's competitors. 0-60 is in the 8 second range which for a small CUV seems fine. The buyer it is targeting isn't at the drag strip ripping off 1/4 mile times. In fact most of it's competition is in the high 7 to low 8 area.

In any case, Honda will sell 100K of them because it's a Honda - painless to buy and painless to own.

texases

The criticism I read (CandD) was for the CVT, typical CVT moaning. They must be cheaper, I wouldn't build a car with them otherwise.

Michaell

texases said:

The criticism I read (CandD) was for the CVT, typical CVT moaning. They must be cheaper, I wouldn't build a car with them otherwise.

I read the same review. The HR-V has the powertrain out of the Civic - 140HP 1.8L + CVT.

I'm interested in driving it, but I don't need a car until my current lease is up in November 2016.

stickguy

I saw high nines. At least for the AWD AT set up. Might be fun as a FWD stick!

Lethargic engine mismatched with a cvt Is not pleasant.

robr2

texases said:

The criticism I read (CandD) was for the CVT, typical CVT moaning. They must be cheaper, I wouldn't build a car with them otherwise.

Yes a CVT is less expensive than a traditional hydraulic automatic but they also deliver better performance and fuel economy. The sound has always been the issue and automakers are improving that by creating simulated ratios and locking ratios in while accelerating so the engine note changes. All of that comes at a price in terms of performance and economy but consumer acceptance/approval of the CVT has improved - on par with traditional automatics.

texases

"but they also deliver better performance and fuel economy."

That's the claim, I know, but I haven't seen it born out in execution. Compare the CX-5 and the Forester - same sizes, engine capacity, and no advantage to the Forester in performance or mpgs in the tests I've read.

robr2

The Forester and Mazda use different engine technologies. My understanding is the boxer engine tends to be less fuel efficient than inline or V designs and Mazda has their Skyactive technology which improves economy.

I'd like to see a comparison of the same car/same engine with the 2 different transmissions.

texases

True, different technologies, but to the same end. And no impact of boxer vs. inline or V, as far as economy goes. Put the same cylinder/cam/intake/exhaust system in different configurations, it won't care.

Checking on fueleconomy.gov, the Forester does get a couple of extra mpgs compared to the 2.5l CX-5, but a bit less than the 2.0l base CX-5. Not worth it to me, to live with an irritating drive train.

stickguy

Might not be the only reason, but EPA#s jumped for Subaru when they switched to cvts. Same with accord.

texases

Yep, they did improve when Subaru dropped the antique 4-speed AT. But put a modern 6 to 8 speed AT on it, I bet the change would be small.

fintail

A co-worker used to have an Impreza, maybe an 03 - automatic, dismal highway mpg, I think my old E55 was more efficient at a steady 65mph. Eventually, the head gasket went, I think, and he bought...a Prius.

explorerx4

In the parking lot at work...
2 door Jeep Wrangler, Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda CX5.

explorerx4

In the parking lot at work...
White Honda CR-V, white Mini 4 door, blue Chevy Trax.

fintail

I see the Prius C now has a bold gaping maw of a mouth, horray.

New CRV at the workplace parking garage, base with painted wheels - something honest about it. Loaded new Grand Cherokee in the garage of the building where I live.

stickguy

I hate that gaping mouth look. ranges from bad to awful.