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

anythngbutgm

texases said:

I always liked the Axiom, didn't understand the criticism when it came out. A clean modern look, IMO:

I think the criticism was more with the fact that it didn't look like a traditional SUV like the Explorer, Durango, Jeeps, Pathfinders, 4Runners etc. that were so wildly popular when the SUV craze started taking off. And it wasn't really as sleek and luxurious as the early entries to the soft roader segment by Lexus (first RX300 was a breakout hit) Acura, who released the first gen and also wildly successful MDX the same year. To me, that front clip was polarizing in the same way the Jeep Cherokee is when I see one or even Isuzu's own Vehicross when it was out.

IIRC, didn't it consist of a lot of shared parts from the Rodeo?

anythngbutgm

Michaell said:

anythngbutgm said:

Saw a new Miata as well, also in red. Still not a fan of the looks.

In the obscure sightings column, I actually saw an Isuzu Axiom over the weekend as well. I remember thinking how odd and over the top futuristic it looked when it came to market, now it just looks cheap and outdated.

I saw an Axiom over the weekend as well .. wasn't that one of the first vehicles available with direct injection?

Also saw a lovely 70's Riviera - the generation after the boattail.

Looks like you are correct, wikpedia says it received DI in 2004.

iluvmysephia1

Ditto on the Isuzu Axiom, guys.

robr2

anythngbutgm said:

I always liked the Axiom, didn't understand the criticism when it came out. A clean modern look, IMO:

I think the criticism was more with the fact that it didn't look like a traditional SUV like the Explorer, Durango, Jeeps, Pathfinders, 4Runners etc. that were so wildly popular when the SUV craze started taking off. And it wasn't really as sleek and luxurious as the early entries to the soft roader segment by Lexus (first RX300 was a breakout hit) Acura, who released the first gen and also wildly successful MDX the same year. To me, that front clip was polarizing in the same way the Jeep Cherokee is when I see one or even Isuzu's own Vehicross when it was out. IIRC, didn't it consist of a lot of shared parts from the Rodeo?

IIRC, It was pretty much a Rodeo Sport that went to a cosmetic surgeon.

qbrozen

Can't say I'm an expert on this by any means, but I seem to remember the Axiom having a trick AWD system (for the time) and a high output (again, at the time) 3.5 engine, neither of which was found in the Rodeo.

fintail

I saw a couple new style C-class wagons today (I am in Germany), they look as good in person.

fintail

Saw an S63 coupe and a CLS shooting brake today.

fintail

Saw a ghastly orange-ish G63 AMG at a MB dealer, and a new style Q7 on the road. Quite a few new style Smarts around, too.

berri

I sometimes see a Smart when I'm in places like Seattle or San Francisco. It always raises the philosophical question to me as to what is "smart" about it?

stickguy

not that rare, but I saw a bevy of Mazda 6's today. In about a 3 block stretch by my neighborhood, I saw 3 different ones. Must have been a convention.

tjc78

New Maxima in the parking lot at work. Looks sharp, but the front "buck tooth" is meh. IMO the manufacturers are struggling in the front end department. It seems we either get downright funky or big mouth bass.

robr2

berri said:

I sometimes see a Smart when I'm in places like Seattle or San Francisco. It always raises the philosophical question to me as to what is "smart" about it?

It's small and nimble. Easy to park, easy to dart in and out of traffic.

Michaell

robr2 said:

berri said:

I sometimes see a Smart when I'm in places like Seattle or San Francisco. It always raises the philosophical question to me as to what is "smart" about it?

It's small and nimble. Easy to park, easy to dart in and out of traffic.

Yeah, but the fact that it's RWD is odd, to me.

Mr_Shiftright

You have a problem with driving a phone booth that gets no better gas mileage than a car twice its size and is equipped with the worst automatic transmission ever made in the history of man?

Ah, well, Smart critics, be assured. This car is going to disappear from the market very soon.

berri said:

I sometimes see a Smart when I'm in places like Seattle or San Francisco. It always raises the philosophical question to me as to what is "smart" about it?

fintail

S-class cabrio, it's a big thing:



Smart might not live forever in the US, but it seems to be doing fine here in Germany.

robr2

Michaell said:

Yeah, but the fact that it's RWD is odd, to me.

Well the engine is in the rear so it makes sense from that perspective.

robr2

Mr_Shiftright said:

You have a problem with driving a phone booth that gets no better gas mileage than a car twice its size and is equipped with the worst automatic transmission ever made in the history of man?

Ah, well, Smart critics, be assured. This car is going to disappear from the market very soon.

Um, no it isn't. The 2016 FourTwo was just introduced. It's a little wider and they now are offering either a 5 speed manual or a 6 speed dual clutch as well as a new engine.

stever

Mr_Shiftright said:

Ah, well, Smart critics, be assured. This car is going to disappear from the market very soon.

What do you think the tipping point will be?



(Washington Post)

slorenzen

stever said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Ah, well, Smart critics, be assured. This car is going to disappear from the market very soon.

What do you think the tipping point will be?



(Washington Post)

I see what you did there...

berri

I'll drink to that

stever

Saw one this afternoon, but not sure if it was a new model. It was mostly hidden by one of those little bitty temp plastic signs like the politicians use.

fintail

It doesn't get much newer than a camouflaged prototype (I am pretty sure this is MB W213, upcoming new E-class)

ab348

Looks to be a plumped-up C-class design. Not sure I like that sloping tail.

robr2

It is. The recent S class styling first infected the C class and now it's a full blown epidemic as the E gets it.

I like the S class. I just don't think it's styling translate well to the other models.

fintail

Audi BMW and MB are now all in the "same sausage different size" model theory.

New S and C (they are everywhere here too) are big hits, the company likely assumes this will translate to E sales.

berri

Geez, looks liked its wrapped in black & white 60's psychedelia

stickguy

so, got to check out a new Tuscan today. In the showroom, while I waited for my Sonata to get serviced. Looks nice. Classier interior. terrible looking rear visibility. Should do well.

but, I immediately crossed it off the list. Failed the headrest test. Way too big and pushed forward. Felt like someone was shoving a football against my head. Oh well. Plenty of other choices!

and yes the headrest test is an acid test for me!

Mr_Shiftright

It'll take a year or two to die in the US market, but it's simply not sustainable here. The numbers tell the story.

In October, the ForTwo sold how many in the USA? Guess.......it's 721 units. And THAT was among their best months for 2015. July was 441.

robr2 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

You have a problem with driving a phone booth that gets no better gas mileage than a car twice its size and is equipped with the worst automatic transmission ever made in the history of man?

Ah, well, Smart critics, be assured. This car is going to disappear from the market very soon.

Um, no it isn't. The 2016 FourTwo was just introduced. It's a little wider and they now are offering either a 5 speed manual or a 6 speed dual clutch as well as a new engine.

fintail

Renissan/Nissault styling is a thing

robr2

Saw the new Civic at the local dealership. It didn't look as good in person as in the photos. Also, the new wing across it and the Accord protrudes a bit too far for my taste.

tifighter

Saw the new Tacoma on the road. Black extended cab. I found the looks to be...challenging.

Mr_Shiftright

The polite term when addressing the new owner is "Oh, that's an interesting effort".

fintail

Spotted a PINK CLS350 Bluetec Shooting Brake in the hotel parking garage - not the best choice.

Michaell

fintail said:

Spotted a PINK CLS350 Bluetec Shooting Brake in the hotel parking garage - not the best choice.

Mary Kay is in Europe?

tifighter

Saw a few of these CLS shooting brakes in Zurich two weeks ago. For sure it is nice, but I can't say I'm a huge fan. Like the E wagon, though.

fintail

E wagon is a classy thing. I wish NA got the diesel.

CLS shooting brake has been around for a couple years. The surprising one is the CLA shooting brake - I've seen a number of them. It seems droopy like the CLA sedan. Rounded shooting brake designs are hard to pull off.

Here's an oddball - MB E200 Natural Gas.

anythngbutgm

Saw not one, but 2 different Chevy's this week, on Monday I saw a new Volt. This one was Blue, not bad looking if a bit derivative of a new Honda Civic.

Then this morning I got behind this white sedan that looked kinda like a new 200C but almost looked like a knockoff like something out of China. So I got closer and low and behold it was a brand new Malibu. Impression of it was meh, looks like a rental car... And with a really dopey looking front end...

http://cgi.chevrolet.com/mmgprod-us/dynres/prove/image.gen?i=2016/1ZB69/1ZB69__1VL/GAN_LFV_MNH_IP1_RRY_MNHgmds1.jpg&v=deg01&std=true&country=US

I don't think either of these cars are available for sale yet, but there are mules here in the New England area apparently.

Michaell

anythngbutgm said:

Saw not one, but 2 different Chevy's this week, on Monday I saw a new Volt. This one was Blue, not bad looking if a bit derivative of a new Honda Civic.

Then this morning I got behind this white sedan that looked kinda like a new 200C but almost looked like a knockoff like something out of China. So I got closer and low and behold it was a brand new Malibu. Impression of it was meh, looks like a rental car... And with a really dopey looking front end...

http://cgi.chevrolet.com/mmgprod-us/dynres/prove/image.gen?i=2016/1ZB69/1ZB69__1VL/GAN_LFV_MNH_IP1_RRY_MNHgmds1.jpg&v=deg01&std=true&country=US

I don't think either of these cars are available for sale yet, but there are mules here in the New England area apparently.

The Volt is starting to trickle out to the dealers now, but not certain of the Malibu....

explorerx4

In the parking lot at work, a new red Civic. It just revealed one for sale already?

Michaell

explorerx4 said:

In the parking lot at work, a new red Civic. It just revealed one for sale already?

Starting to trickle onto the lots, it seems.

robr2

I stopped at the local Honda store last week. They had about 10 new Civics in stock. They show 76 units in stock across their 4 locations.

qbrozen

Spotted my first S-class coupe. I was approaching from behind and had no idea what it was until I got a look at the badges. An S550 4matic, to be precise. Not bad looking from the back. Still not sure what the interest is in such a large 2-door, though.

I guess this one has been around about a year, but this is definitely the first I've seen in the wild. Wonder how many they have sold.

fintail

Selling quite a few in the Seattle area, anyway. I have seen several new S-coupe in Germany, too. The interest is in the style, and the $$$. And to a point, it is 8/10ths of the panache of a Bentley for a lot less money.

Saw a Tesla in Zurich, and speaking of Volt, the unusual Opel Ampera. Also 3 non-taxi Lexus. a record. Approximately 2 minutes worth back home. A couple of RX in city traffic and a CT going really slow on the highway.

tlong

Saw a new Volt on the road today. Looks quite a bit nicer on the outside IMHO than the old one.

fintail

Saw another Lexus today. One. I was on the road for hours. It's a different world.

explorerx4

A white Miata convertible and a black Jag XF convertible. Both looked good in their own way.

stever

Aston Martin.

Yeah, it was in the Bond flick - the chances of actually seeing one here are pretty slim.

anythngbutgm

stever said:

Aston Martin.

Yeah, it was in the Bond flick - the chances of actually seeing one here are pretty slim.

So how was Spectre anyways? I saw it opened at #2 this weekend and made something like 14 mil in the US. Kinda mediocre for an opening weekend.

robr2

anythngbutgm said:

So how was Spectre anyways? I saw it opened at #2 this weekend and made something like 14 mil in the US. Kinda mediocre for an opening weekend.

Actually, it's the 3rd weekend for Spectre. It did $70.4 million the first weekend, $35 it's second. This past weekend it had to deal with Katniss and JLaw in a leather catsuit will always win over Daniel Craig.

stever

I heard that the reviews were so-so. My wife didn't think it was all that good (usual gratuitous violence) but I enjoyed it a lot. Typical escapist fare that required perhaps a bit more suspension of disbelief even for an 007 flick. I like the G character - nerds rule, lol.