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

fintail

That LTD is funny, extra digit in the price, you pick the digit. One of those in showroom condition with no more than a 4 digit mileage might hit 5K on a good day, you won't get there from here.

I've noticed a lot of new 6 window Kia Optimas on the road, I suspect plenty of rental cars.

berri

Didn't the 351 Windsor of that mid 70's era have a reputation for engine issues like head gaskets?

imidazol97

Didn't the 351 Windsor of that mid 70's era have a reputation for engine issues like head gaskets?

Ford mileage is never mentioned. "All glass is good," he says, except for cracked windshield. LOL
The 351 Windsor engines had troubles with the time chain/cogs wearing early. I had one at 65000 miles
and was told if it had 60 on it, the gears were worn. I traded it for an Oldsmobile the day I got it back from the shop and swore I'd never own another Ford. LOL

fintail

Saw another X today, maybe the same dark blue one from the other day, or another one. It's a gigantic egg. I am not sure how the masses see this thing as so exciting and stylish.

Michaell

fintail said:

Saw another X today, maybe the same dark blue one from the other day, or another one. It's a gigantic egg. I am not sure how the masses see this thing as so exciting and stylish.

 I have to say that I'm surprised I haven't seen one yet here in Colorado, given how popular Teslas are. Big subsidies. 

fintail

Today I saw 2 Model X - white and blue. Not the same blue one from yesterday, this one was driven by a man who appeared to be texting while driving. Definitely a good use of subsidies, well-deserved.

Michaell

fintail said:

Today I saw 2 Model X - white and blue. Not the same blue one from yesterday, this one was driven by a man who appeared to be texting while driving. Definitely a good use of subsidies, well-deserved.

I finally saw a model X today. At the Tesla showroom in the local mall. Had a sticker price of close to $140,000.

tlong

Haven't seen an X yet. But the S's are all over the place here in California.

fintail

I see at least a dozen a day here. Not even remarkable anymore, I now pay attention to their often BMW-like driving habits

stickguy

Almost swung into the jag dealer today to see an XE. But resisted the temptation.

Mr_Shiftright

Michaell said:

fintail said:

Today I saw 2 Model X - white and blue. Not the same blue one from yesterday, this one was driven by a man who appeared to be texting while driving. Definitely a good use of subsidies, well-deserved.

I finally saw a model X today. At the Tesla showroom in the local mall. Had a sticker price of close to $140,000.

Only $140K? Think of the money you'll save on gas! That baby will pay for itself in 100 years or so.

Michaell

Mr_Shiftright said:

Michaell said:

fintail said:

Today I saw 2 Model X - white and blue. Not the same blue one from yesterday, this one was driven by a man who appeared to be texting while driving. Definitely a good use of subsidies, well-deserved.

I finally saw a model X today. At the Tesla showroom in the local mall. Had a sticker price of close to $140,000.

Only $140K? Think of the money you'll save on gas! That baby will pay for itself in 100 years or so.

Base price was something like $85K .. first option on the Monroney is a $35K upcharge for the super duper battery pack.

I was able to sit in it ... god forbid anyone get a chip in the windshield. I can't even begin to imagine how much that would cost to replace.

ab348

Michaell said:

I was able to sit in it ... god forbid anyone get a chip in the windshield. I can't even begin to imagine how much that would cost to replace.

If you have to ask how much, you can't afford one.

fintail

Maybe there's a tax break for replacement

Didn't spot any X today, but the usual dozen S. A lot of them don't have a front plate (mandatory here), maybe selective enforcement.

bhill2

Do you know anyone who has been ticketed for no front plate? They are mandatory here in California too. Neither my (OK, my wife's) Jag nor my Corvette has front plates, and the Vette was my daily driver for eight years. I have never even been stopped.

fintail

I don't know anyone with a car that lacks one. WA people generally follow the rules no matter what. Maybe the badge wearers ignore it, as they seem to ignore crosswalk and turn signal enforcement in my area. Really sticks out to me though, I can't think of another model with such a frequent lack of front plate.

Mr_Shiftright

bhill2 said:

Do you know anyone who has been ticketed for no front plate? They are mandatory here in California too. Neither my (OK, my wife's) Jag nor my Corvette has front plates, and the Vette was my daily driver for eight years. I have never even been stopped.

Yeah, ME. In Berkeley California, where writing tickets for fun and profit is approaching an Art Form. AND the car was parked, too.

I swore that from that day forward I would never spend another dime in Berkeley, and I never have.

stever

Okay, when we go to Spenger's, I'll drive....

slorenzen

stever said:

Okay, when we go to Spenger's, I'll drive....

Ah, Spenger's, takes me back(a LOOOONG way...).

Are you sure they're no in Emeryville?

fintail

Went car browsing this morning - BMW prices amused me. $95K M4, M5 with a $9500 (I think) exhaust option, 650 cabrio at $125K. There was a cool dark blue on porcelain Alpina B6 Gran Coupe sitting on the side of the lot, NJ plates, I assume a manufacturer demo. Didn't spot any M2s, but they had a couple M235s, prices in the 50s I think.

stever

slorenzen said:

stever said:

Okay, when we go to Spenger's, I'll drive....

Ah, Spenger's, takes me back(a LOOOONG way...).

Are you sure they're no in Emeryville?

Only in Berkeley afaik from looking at the net, but it's probably been a decade since we were last there. So-so ratings anymore, but I'd go just for the memories. That reminds me, bring me a loaf of bread when you get out this way @Mr_Shiftright. Be a nice shakedown trip for S2000. Boudin will be fine since Parisian got shut down (remember when you could get that in major airports?).

Mr_Shiftright

slorenzen said:

stever said:

Okay, when we go to Spenger's, I'll drive....

Ah, Spenger's, takes me back(a LOOOONG way...).

Are you sure they're no in Emeryville?

Spenger's ain't what it used to be....sigh....but it is well clear of the black-booted thugs who write those tickets.

It is, sadly, down to 2 stars on Yelp.

It's actually in "West Berkeley".

I doubt I'll ever go back there. Try Flying Fish Grill in Carmel.

explorerx4

I'll probably never see this again. An X6 towing a trailer with an I3 on it.
Also, driving by a car dealer at night, a new MKZ(?) Continental'ish looking grille.

stickguy

reminds me of the day last year I saw a Cayanne towing a GT2 (or one of those racer models). Both white.

I posted about it here, and someone actually knew who it was (Qbrozen maybe)

qbrozen

yup. Me. GT3, actually.

tlong

Two Tesla Model S's today, and my first Model X. The X was distinctive but I wouldn't say super attractive. But it did catch my eye.

explorerx4

A white Lexus RC coupe. I liked it better than I thought I would, having only seen it previously in pictures.

fintail

Got behind a new unplated SL400 today, the current 6cyl SL being the first in many years. I honked at it (fintail, loud horn), as it pulled out too close in front of me, then went 10 under and slowed to a crawl in an easy turn.

anythngbutgm

Saw my first Tesla SUV in the wild yesterday. Gun Metal Grey, looked pretty good.

Neighbor got a new Honda Pilot, replaced a Buick Rainer (Trailblazer clone) Second new Honda for him this year (Accord Sport).

stickguy

Seeing lots of new pilots and civics around here now especially civics.

berri

Saw a new version white Malibu. Surprising thing was that it had a rental car barcode on it. I thought Chevy was using the old Malibu now marketed as Classic or some such for current rental car sales? Maybe a misread something.

ab348

Saw my first new Malibu parked on display at a dealer. I was moving along in traffic so I could not get a good look but it had some really ugly wheels on it - almost aftermarket-looking but I am pretty sure they are not. Petal-style spokes with black on the rim, almost like some Asian cars I've seen. Not good.

fintail

I have seen a few new Malibu around, unfortunately, I think all were rental cars. I think there was supposed to be a "Malibu Limited", the old model, that was intended for fleets - same thing has happened with the Impala. I don't know if it became reality, I will have to keep an eye out for badging.

Were these the petal wheels?



Not the best thing I've ever seen. Wheels with black trim like that became a trend a few years ago, and are still a thing, but aren't exactly an aesthetic triumph.

texases

I think those rims are a step back from the all black craze, thankfully. Maybe just because I had one, but the 1st gen GTI had good looking rims with that treatment, IMO.

stickguy

One of my all time favorite cars.

anythngbutgm

Ironically, I passed a company on my way to work this morning that was delivering (2) car carriers worth of new Rentibus, all silver, in the parking lot. Looks like a replacement fleet for them as the parking lot was full of Ford Focus hatchbacks, Fusions and older Rentibus.

Oh, but there was (1) Chrysler 200 on the very front of the first carrier, perhaps someone mistook it for a Chevy...

ab348

fintail said:

Were these the petal wheels?



Not the best thing I've ever seen. Wheels with black trim like that became a trend a few years ago, and are still a thing, but aren't exactly an aesthetic triumph.

That may well be them. I only got a quick look before I averted my gaze.

They look nothing at all like the older GTI wheels @texases noted. Those at least did not break the rim into black and silver sections. That Malibu design treatment looks like it came straight out of some aftermarket discount wheel supplier catalog.

Mr_Shiftright

BMW X1, fresh off the dealer's floor, dressed in ...ahem....Conspicuous Orange...? I dont' know the real name of the color but......no, please.....

fintail

That bugs me about those wheels too, how the lip is broken up by the black trim. Reminds me of aftermarket truck wheels.

There are other "two tone" wheels offered on the car. These are much better (might be hybrid only?)



These normal wheels are also fine:

ab348 said:

That may well be them. I only got a quick look before I averted my gaze.

They look nothing at all like the older GTI wheels @texases noted. Those at least did not break the rim into black and silver sections. That Malibu design treatment looks like it came straight out of some aftermarket discount wheel supplier catalog.

texases

I agree, I don't like those Malibu 'petal' wheels. Interesting how just a minor change really affects the looks. The Civic now being tested by Edmunds has wheels that also don't appeal to me (still, better than all black):

imidazol97

Malibu wheels for 2016 from catalogue.

imidazol97

I don't see what's so bad about the rims for the LT2



I saw a similar rim at Kroger a few minutes ago. It has a black interior to the rim.
Is it offensive as well? It's on a Toyota.

ab348

imidazol97 said:

I saw a similar rim at Kroger a few minutes ago. It has a black interior to the rim.
Is it offensive as well? It's on a Toyota.

Yes, at least to me. I would have to swap them.

stickguy

my daughter's Jetta has the black inner part. I think they look really nice on the white car, and really set off the color well.

fintail

Toyota truck, right? That's part of the problem to me.

That Honda above is also iffy, like it's trying really hard to be hip. Some of these styles won't age well.

imidazol97 said:

I don't see what's so bad about the rims for the LT2


I saw a similar rim at Kroger a few minutes ago. It has a black interior to the rim.
Is it offensive as well? It's on a Toyota.

explorerx4

I really like these MKZ wheels.

Michaell

 What will age well, then?

ab348

To be clear, I don't mind a black accent on the spokes. It is the blacking out of the rim adjacent to the tire that I don't like, especially if it is broken around the circumference.

fintail

Some wheel styles are "timeless" - old muscle car era rally wheels, several AMG wheels, etc, and some are just spokes that don't try hard to be trendy or cool. Those will age well. Even some modern-ish wheels like "fat five" Honda wheels from the 90s are classics now.

The breaking up of the lip at the edge of the wheel, as ab348 mentions, bugs me too. I used to see it on lifted bro trucks, but it migrated to cars.

Michaell

fintail said:

Some wheel styles are "timeless" - old muscle car era rally wheels, several AMG wheels, etc, and some are just spokes that don't try hard to be trendy or cool. Those will age well. Even some modern-ish wheels like "fat five" Honda wheels from the 90s are classics now. The breaking up of the lip at the edge of the wheel, as ab348 mentions, bugs me too. I used to see it on lifted bro trucks, but it migrated to cars.

 Would love to see pictures of some examples…