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

stever

You should have snapped pics, but I think it's illegal to photograph one unless the lambo doors are up.

fintail

The most impressive thing about them to me is the price, and the dopey tax break. The doors are goofy (haven't seen one in the wild with open doors yet).

Mr_Shiftright

stever said:

A well equipped Volt is a bit over $40,000. Before the $7,500 tax credit.

Yeah but a much more versatile and handsome car, and considerably faster in EV mode.

The Soul EV has more cargo space, however--but cost almost 2X as much as the gas Soul.

I'm not feelin' it. It's a lot of money for what you get...or rather, don't get.

stever

Yeah, I wish the local dealer would get a few in (Volts, that is).

But the Soul looks better.

Mr_Shiftright

Well I guess if you want to drive a hamster cage.

stever

I really should go youtube some of those hamster ads; don't recall ever seeing one.

Was behind a new CR-V yesterday with temp tags on it. I understand the appeal, but they don't grab us.

imidazol97

stever said:

A well equipped Volt is a bit over $40,000. Before the $7,500 tax credit.

I just priced a Soul EV+ and it's up to $38500.

stever

Before the tax credit, lol.

The one we want runs about $26.5 OTD. Exclaim, Premium, Umber 1.

Mr_Shiftright

Driving a Soul EV rather than a gas Soul would save you $792 a year, for 12,000 miles a year with a KwH costing .15 cents per, and gasoline at $3 a gallon.

So the $12,000 differential paid for the EV will be equalized in about 180,000 miles.

Makes sense

stever

Hm, interesting. That's about ten years assuming we stuck to one car (and had no range anxiety).

That's about a three year faster payback than putting solar on our house would achieve.

qbrozen

Mr_Shiftright said:

Driving a Soul EV rather than a gas Soul would save you $792 a year, for 12,000 miles a year with a KwH costing .15 cents per, and gasoline at $3 a gallon.

So the $12,000 differential paid for the EV will be equalized in about 180,000 miles.

Makes sense

Don't forget savings in oil changes. ;b

fushigi

..and brakes (regen braking reduced brake wear), no timing belt to replace, no engine air filters. All kinds of maintenance just goes away.

Mr_Shiftright

True, but not "all kinds"---I don't know about the Soul EV maintenance fees but the Tesla has "checkups" and they aren't cheap. I believe a rough estimate for Tesla maintenance is $600 a year. If you drive a lot, it could be more.

So really, not that much different from a gasoline car still in warranty.

I'll have t collar a Soul EV owner next time I can and ask about that.

texases

Low maintenance, yes, but Tesla reliability has been poor.

fintail

Saw a blue Model X today, maybe the same one as before. Hard to tell, this was also unplated, and the driver demographic around here look similar.

Mr_Shiftright

New Subaru Outback, prettty light green metallic color. I used to joke "Does Subaru even HAVE a styling department" but this one looks pretty nice for a wagon.

texases

The latest Forester's looks are WAY overdone. Used to really like it. Still on my list, I won't have to look at it

explorerx4

A new Civic in the parking lot at work. Its a loaner.

fintail

Saw a new Civic coupe today, and something cool, no Model X!

laurasdada

First I've seen in the wild, British Racing green Jaguar F-Pace. SUV/SAV/CUV don't generally catch my eye, but this is a looker. Tall, yet sleek and aggressive. Bit blocky up front, but it is an SUV. ONce again, well done, Ian Callum!

And, of course , a herd of Model S and X at the Tesla store down the block. As always, the S is sharp; the X is bulbous.

kyfdx

laurasdada said:

First I've seen in the wild, British Racing green Jaguar F-Pace. SUV/SAV/CUV don't generally catch my eye, but this is a looker. Tall, yet sleek and aggressive. Bit blocky up front, but it is an SUV. ONce again, well done, Ian Callum!

And, of course , a herd of Model S and X at the Tesla store down the block. As always, the S is sharp; the X is bulbous.

Saw my first F-Pace last night.... at a hoity-toity art museum fundraiser. In white. Very nice looking.

fintail

Maybe not brand new, but I spotted a new style Rolls Royce coupe this evening. It's big. and not quite like classic models (of which one could buy a few for the price of the new one).

fintail

Spotted a Jag XE on the lot, had to stop and take a look. I sat in it, surprised that it felt as roomy as it did. Local lot has 2, a base car with a 36K sticker, and a loaded 56K car. Touchscreen-only nav irritated me - I want redundant controls or a knob/touchpad, as I am one of those people who will go insane from fingerprints. Also a couple F-Pace on the lot, one with something like 8K in mop 'n glo type add ons, that didn't give me a good vibe.

I looked at a 12 year old Maybach at the adjacent Bentley dealer, typical Continental assortment, but a 2009 Phantom coupe caught my eye, wearing its original window sticker of 509K.

explorerx4

Across the street, neighbor came home with a silvery blue Outback wagon.

Mr_Shiftright

Did you like the styling?

explorerx4

There are plenty of Outbacks around here. The styling has improved, not trying so hard to look rugged, and I like the size of them.

fintail

I see so many Outbacks, I might not even instantly recognize a new one. They blend in with the scenery in this part of the world.

Was out doing errands, stopped by the MB dealer. This is the doldrums time, not many cars on the lot, maybe more at the offsite lot. Just one or two of each model. A nearly zero option S-class might have been the most remarkable thing, that and a Cardinal Red E63 wagon.

stever

Saw two identical white Chevy Traverse LT's heading into the college campus this morning, both with dealer plates. Maybe there was an event happening.

stickguy

New security department units?

stever

Oh, good guess, that didn't occur to me. These weren't decaled up yet, but maybe they could be for maintenance use too.

fintail

New convertibles on the road - a new Miata with a smaller older couple who appeared to have been built for the car, and a newer red Bentley Continental cabrio not observing all traffic laws (shocker!).

jpp75

Saw a new Pacifica parked on the street while visiting friends. Not a bad looking vehicle, reminds me somewhat of the Kia Sedona in the looks department.

stickguy

an i8 BMW. white with the blue and orange (red?) trim. Actually 2. I stopped at the BMW dealer and they had one on the floor, but coincidentally on the way there, I passed an identical car out driving around.

anythngbutgm

Triple - Black F-Pace outside Boston. Young kid driving it, maybe late 20's early 30's. Looked fantastic.

qbrozen

? What is the 3rd black? the wheels?

PF_Flyer

A reporter is looking to talk with someone who is currently in the market for a new pickup truck. If you're willing talk about which truck(s) you are considering please reach out to pr@edmunds.com by no later than June 8, 2016.

fintail

Not brand new, but a Bellevue trifecta of sorts: white Tesla, no front plate, no turn signal. Maybe if they some more ridiculous perks, they will behave better.

slorenzen

fintail said:

Not brand new, but a Bellevue trifecta of sorts: white Tesla, no front plate, no turn signal. Maybe if they some more ridiculous perks, they will behave better.

They were just trying to save power by not using the signals.

Range anxiety, ya know...

Mr_Shiftright

I'm waiting for my first panhandler to approach me with an extension cord in his hand, asking for enough money to get his EV running until he can get to a supercharger.

texases

Great post on Edmunds' model X road trip, trailer included:
http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-x/2016/long-term-road-test/2016-tesla-model-x-range-and-charging-while-towing-a-trailer.html

stickguy

Reminds me why I never will own a pure EV.

And I doubt more than a handful of tesla owners will ever actually tow. You would need to be insane to do it!

fintail

If you have nowhere to go and all day to get there, why not?

stickguy

Way too much stress is why not.

I get the sweats if my gas gauge drops to 1/4 tank and start hunting for a station. Watching an EV running out of range might stroke me out.

fintail

What still gets me most is the refueling/recharging time. Even if I walked into the station and got a drink rather than just used a card at the pump, I bet I could refuel a modern diesel car in 10 mins, and then have 700+ miles of range - without the need to average 30 mph.

fintail

Out on the city streets this evening, saw a white Model X, black wheels, no front plate (of course, laws are for plebes). The drones and Stepfords around here have found their new toy.

fintail

Saw a new unplated F-Pace in the garage in my building last night - thought it was a Cayenne from a distance.

fintail

First sighting of a new C-class coupe today, well at least in the US - I saw them in Germany over 6 months ago. It's curvy, as all new MBs seem to be, maybe to a fault. Curvy can ride a fine line to droopy.

stickguy

C class coupe is quite striking. Just too small for me in the back seat! My son reported it was nice from the driver's seat.

the back end though, if kind of squished up.

fintail

It does have a presence to it. The prior one sold better than I expected, I suspect this one will too.

Also saw a new Volt.

stickguy

I was surprised that they seemed to have quite a few in stock. Must have been 4 at least in the front row, and one in the showroom (in matte gray. Hideous paint)