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

fintail

Saw a truckload of X5s and X4s heading south on 95 this morning, and a truckload of C-class and GLC heading north. Also saw my first Model X of the trip, in a 2%er oceanfront subdivision.

And in Savannah, saw a GLC with really eye-catching (not in a good way) aftermarket door rub strips, which were also placed on the bumper corners.

berri

Don't they assemble some of those BMW models in South Carolina?

kyfdx

berri said:

Don't they assemble some of those BMW models in South Carolina?

All of the X models.

stickguy

Spartenburg, up top of the state. I assume they ship out of Charleston or Jacksonville. Somewhere around there.

berri

I remember when the Port of Charleston was a Navy submarine base. The town had a different character back then. Actually, overall I preferred it because it wasn't so Yuppie in those days. The Military Airlift Command still operates out of one side of Charleston Airport. Mostly C-17's today instead of those old C-141's.

fintail

They ship out of Charleston right now, but I was told the exact location (now almost in the downtown area) will be moving, I assume as the city wants the land.

And I definitely felt the yuppie vibe there, reminded me of home.

fintail

Saw a hockey stick 7er around Flagler Beach today.

tlong

fintail said:

Seen a lot of new BMWs around Charleston, which makes sense as they are kind of a local brand. Also saw the holding area at the port where X vehicles are being shipped out - all of the X4s you could want

A lot less Tesla presence here than in Seattle, and the Stepford set seems to prefer the Escalade or upper European makes, haven't seen a Model X.

Fin, are you visiting or have you done a massive relo?

fintail

Visiting, el cheapo miles/points vacation

It'd need to be a heck of an offer to make me move to this region, even with the hilariously cheap housing.

tlong said:

Fin, are you visiting or have you done a massive relo?

jpp75

fintail said:

Visiting, el cheapo miles/points vacation

It'd need to be a heck of an offer to make me move to this region, even with the hilariously cheap housing.

tlong said:

Fin, are you visiting or have you done a massive relo?

It's not worth it. The south has its charms but trust me they wear off quickly.

Keeping the topic on point, saw a new Continental over the weekend. Sharp looking MKS replacement.

fintail

A friend of mine who moved to GA lasted two years, and ran back home.

Haven't seen much new around Daytona. Did see a CLA with the oddball red stripe package being used as a service loaner. Also a Polaris Slingshot, which just looks off.

jpp5862 said:

It's not worth it. The south has its charms but trust me they wear off quickly.

Keeping the topic on point, saw a new Continental over the weekend. Sharp looking MKS replacement.

berri

If you decide to move around you aren't going to survive any new area unless you are able to let stuff just roll off There are no real Elysian Fields out there that I've found at least.

iluvmysephia1

Rear View 2017 Nissan Versa S sedan 5-speed stick in the color of Fresh Powder

Rear leg room in the Versa S sedan

fintail - did ya see any of these on the East Coast? As much as conventional wisdom tells me ta buy a 2017 Kia Soul base white in 6-speeds, this little pup from Nissan just keeps talkin' at me from the other shoulder. Left shoulder=from the dark forces? Or does the tempting one work from the right shoulder? Selling at Fenton Nissan just a few Griffey throws to our north in Tiffany Springs, MO. Look at the room in back! Read from someone with a stick Versa that he laid some rubber down in 2nd gear in his. The Fenton Price, you want ta know? $12,139.

They have neatly tidied up the rear end on the Versa sedan such that I am buying it now. The look, not the car. At least for now. They tie it all together with the very lower line of the bonnet...it looks as if you're looking at the side view of the gas tank or something black down there. Anyhow, it flows nicely to me - there's no part of the body design that nags at me like a leaky faucet at all. Nice job, Nissan body designers. I like the Sentra, tolerate the new world order Maxima, but this one is my favorite.

Don't think I'll go rogue and try a trade-in on the quick, but Nissan has priced this sedan at such a bargain-basement price that the Kia Soul at $4,000 more is...making me broil butterflies in my tummy again.

"Get in my belly!" ~ Fat $%^&*()%

imidazol97

iluvmysephia1 said:

They have neatly tidied up the rear end on the Versa sedan such that I am buying it now.

I had noticed the improvement in the rear view. It has a sophisticated look now.

iluvmysephia1

I had noticed the improvement in the rear view. It has a sophisticated look now.


Agreed, imidazol97. And what the metallic blue 2016 Nissan Versa SL sedan did was draw me to look closer at it. The person who owns it backed it in to the office area parking of the Russelville, AR, Motel 6. I immediately detected someone who loves their small Nissan sedan like I would love mine if I were to pull the trigger on one of my own. I like them in Gun Metal grey and Fresh Powder white the most. Nissan won't sell a Versa S in metallic red or blue - you've got to pay more for a better-outfitted Versa in order to get the more "premium" colors.

Incidentally - Chevy's new Cruze in both sedan and hatchback forms are really looking attractive to me. Even the Chevy Spark looks better minus the alien-reptile drawn back headlights from the original Spark. Even so, I've noticed that the original Chevy Spark owners love their Spark's!

fintail

I saw one of the big new VW SUVs on the highway south of Macon earlier today.

tlong

fintail said:

Visiting, el cheapo miles/points vacation

It'd need to be a heck of an offer to make me move to this region, even with the hilariously cheap housing.

Oh I understand.

fintail

Saw a new E-class on the road in a nice Atlanta neighborhood this morning. Haven't seen tons of these yet,

stickguy

saw a new style C300, in dark blue over tan. Gorgeous color combo. Nice looking car.

tlong

Driving a Chrysler 200 rental.
I always thought it was a nice looking car, but boy it's not impressive to drive IMHO.

• Interior is a sea of black (don't like all black interiors.
  
• An ergonomic disaster. Driver door so far open when getting in that you have to reach waaaay out to grab the handle. Not sure how any ladies could manage this.
  
• Rear view mirror so low that I had to adjust the seat waaay down to even see out the center of the windshield. And then I'm looking over the window sills like I'm in a bathtub.
  
• Climate control is a mess. Buttons for fan speed and some controls (AC), but need to touch on screen multiple presses to bring up temperature control.
  
• Mute the radio and it's back on again when you come back into the car.
  
• Electronic gearshift on center console. What does the pushing the button do? Too afraid to try that while driving. Hopefully that can't happen accidentally.
  

I can see why it doesn't sell well.

fintail

That reminds me of a quirk on my rental 300, same thing - if the door was opened more than about half way, there was no way to grab anything to close it. I am at least modestly tall with some reach. Can't imagine how fun this would be for someone who is 5'5". I'd grab part of the door panel, rather than a handle or armrest.

You should have tried the gear button - that's what rentals are for

200 is an odd thing - it's a pretty impressive budget reskin, but it becomes obvious most of the work was done on the outside. Good excuse to book a higher rental class

tlong said:

Driving a Chrysler 200 rental.
I always thought it was a nice looking car, but boy it's not impressive to drive IMHO.

• Interior is a sea of black (don't like all black interiors.
  
• An ergonomic disaster. Driver door so far open when getting in that you have to reach waaaay out to grab the handle. Not sure how any ladies could manage this.
  
• Rear view mirror so low that I had to adjust the seat waaay down to even see out the center of the windshield. And then I'm looking over the window sills like I'm in a bathtub.
  
• Climate control is a mess. Buttons for fan speed and some controls (AC), but need to touch on screen multiple presses to bring up temperature control.
  
• Mute the radio and it's back on again when you come back into the car.
  
• Electronic gearshift on center console. What does the pushing the button do? Too afraid to try that while driving. Hopefully that can't happen accidentally.
  

I can see why it doesn't sell well.

tjc78

My mom had a rental 200 and she absolutely hated it. Her ride is a 2012 base model Venza so it's not like she is used to something super fancy.

fintail

Saw a new Lacrosse in traffic this evening. Looks like a quantum leap.

stickguy

Volvo S90. Impressive looking car. looks really long (longer than it actually is). Certainly has style. And doesn't look like anything else, and avoided the angry bird grill look.

tjc78

fintail said:

Saw a new Lacrosse in traffic this evening. Looks like a quantum leap.

I like it... alot! GM really making some nice stuff these days!

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

Volvo S90. Impressive looking car. looks really long (longer than it actually is). Certainly has style. And doesn't look like anything else, and avoided the angry bird grill look.

I think their touch screen would drive me nuts, though. It's an oddball thing.

ab348

tjc78 said:

fintail said:

Saw a new Lacrosse in traffic this evening. Looks like a quantum leap.

I like it... alot! GM really making some nice stuff these days!

I like it from the B-pillar forward. Really do not like the fastback "Crosstour" hatchback look to the rear half.

fintail

Was in traffic behind a Model X 75D (diesel?) . I honked at it, as it wanted into a clogged turn lane, and blocked the straight lane with no signal (as traffic laws don't apply to those in certain socio-economic groups). Lovely.

explorerx4

In the parking lot at work, a black RX350, white Wrangler Unlimited, silver C7 with black over the top stripes.

anythngbutgm

fintail said:

Was in traffic behind a Model X 75D (diesel?) . I honked at it, as it wanted into a clogged turn lane, and blocked the straight lane with no signal (as traffic laws don't apply to those in certain socio-economic groups). Lovely.

I believe the D moniker denotes AWD. The 75 is is new, used to be a 70D.

http://autoweek.com/article/green-cars/tesla-model-x-gets-battery-range-and-price-boost-all-once

fintail

Yep, it was a joke

Although if I fell for the hype, it might be fun to rebadge a Tesla with an old MB "Turbodiesel" emblem, just to make the sheep's head spin.

anythngbutgm said:

I believe the D moniker denotes AWD. The 75 is is new, used to be a 70D.

tifighter

I'd put one of those old Toyota '5-speed' badges on one. At least I'd be amused.

explorerx4

Ram has a bunch of extra 'Hemi' badges.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20161128/RETAIL05/311289930/that-thing-got-a-hemi-if-not-refer-to-bulletin-no-23-053-16

fintail

"5-Speed" on the rear, maybe 80s era GM "Fuel Injection" badges for the front fenders

stickguy

nah. Put a big fake hood scoop on the thing. Maybe a faux blower stack.

kyfdx

I had the 5-Speed emblem on my '82 Accord.

fintail

Maybe somehow hook up the stacks to make it roll coal - of course, the coal from a Model X would be from burning Starbucks cookies or Whole Foods bread.

berri

Plenty of wine too (however you spell it)

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

Maybe somehow hook up the stacks to make it roll coal - of course, the coal from a Model X would be from burning Starbucks cookies or Whole Foods bread.

Rollin' Kale?

Michaell

Mr_Shiftright said:

fintail said:

Maybe somehow hook up the stacks to make it roll coal - of course, the coal from a Model X would be from burning Starbucks cookies or Whole Foods bread.

Rollin' Kale?

I was thinking of another plant material that is legal in WA

fintail

I think the execudrone/Stepford set who makes up the majority buyer demographic for those things would be scared to touch the wacky tobacky. Besides, we need darker smoke. Maybe a rich-running 2-stroke auxiliary engine, or a battery incinerator.

Michaell said:

<
I was thinking of another plant material that is legal in WA

fintail

Saw an Electric Soul at a charging station with something blinking on the top of the dash, also a RR Ghost, and had a semi-close call with a late model S63 in a green signaled crosswalk, "driver" had a phone to his ear, no entitlement or irresponsibility there, nope.

Mr_Shiftright

I think there's a YouTube clip devoted entirely to MB drivers plowing into things. You might find it cathartic.

fintail

There are youtube clips now of car crashes idiot drivers by brand - very amusing. Schadenfreude can be fun. MB still has nothing on the other big German competitors

ab348

I just watched on YouTube a video of Ford Raptor drivers doing awful things to their trucks due to incompetence or poor judgment.

explorerx4

One of the neighbors brought home his orange McLaren. Pretty easy to spot in our neighborhood of gray Volvos.

fintail

Saw a new de-beaked MDX on the highway, middle lane, going slower than every car in sight, because of course.

kyfdx

Two Mercedes GLC 300 SUVs.

Nice clean generic look. They should sell well. Much more mainstream than the GLK it replaced.

Mr_Shiftright

2017 Kia Cadenza. Nice looking car I must say. Seems like a pretty good value for the low $30Ks.

explorerx4

@kyfdx,
You reminded me, one of my neighbors traded their early 2000's C series for a new GLC.
On saw part of it in the garage.