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

kyfdx

Mercedes E550 Coupe, with the windows down. Nice!

texases

tlong said:

Driving through Beverly Hills yesterday on the way to the Hollywood Bowl. Saw a car from a distance, I believe it was a Benz but could have been something else. It was parked on a sidestreet we could see from the red light we were sitting at. It was fully silver chromed! I wish I had gotten a better look. You definitely would stand out with that one.

That's a silver Mylar-type wrap. There have been posts where folks talk about 'gold' cars, when it's just a plastic film wrap. 

kyfdx

A few years back, we saw fully "chromed" vehicles. It was a paint job, not a wrap. No idea how they did it. Not a great look.

fintail

Saw a new NSX on the road today, and a C cabrio.

laurasdada

At a Cars and Coffee event this morning, local billionaire's Lexus dealer I saw everything!

ab348

Saw my first VW Atlas up close. Actually a very nice looking rig. I was surprised I liked it as much as I did given that it is a rather large beast. It was painted a sparkly metallic gray with a hint of blue, which may have had something to do with that. It seems to be getting decent reviews. The one I saw had the 235HP Turbo 4, which doesn't seem a lot to push around a 4000lb vehicle, but I assume it's more than adequate.

texases

I followed two Tesla X in today, side by side. Looks kinda dumpy to me. And one already had a ding in the rear hatch, and its spoiler wasn't all the way up or down. Oops...

kyfdx

I agree... not sure the proportions/styling of the S translate down to the new 3 model, either. It's not too pretty.

fintail

The X looks like an egg to me. In my area, it seems to attract the Stepfordian set who might choose anything between a RX and a Range Rover.

laurasdada

A BMW i8 in the garage I parked in pre-Moody Blues concert. Yes, I am old. And, I think I want an i8. Wonder if I can get in and out gracefully? Likely, I'd hit my head on the scissor doors each and every time.

fintail

Bike day - saw something that looked like one of those Can-Am wheeled snowmobiles in the front, and maxi-scooter in the back, 3 wheeler, weird. Someone at work has shown up with a KTM Duke 390, which is a sweet little bike.

kyfdx

fintail said:

Bike day - saw something that looked like one of those Can-Am wheeled snowmobiles in the front, and maxi-scooter in the back, 3 wheeler, weird. Someone at work has shown up with a KTM Duke 390, which is a sweet little bike.

Was it a Slingshot?

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot

fintail

Nope. Single seat, seating like a big scooter, but two larger wheels in front. Front of a Can-Am, rear of a maxi-scooter.

kyfdx said:

Was it a Slingshot?

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot

Mr_Shiftright

I saw a new compact SUV I couldn't identify--went by too quickly. I wouldn't call it attractive. It had two bulbous fender bumps rising from the back end.

kyfdx

Toyota has a new one.. C-HR?

texases

fintail said:

Nope. Single seat, seating like a big scooter, but two larger wheels in front. Front of a Can-Am, rear of a maxi-scooter.

kyfdx said:

Was it a Slingshot?

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot

Not a Piaggio?

fintail

Nope, not an mp3 or similar. It was like rear section of that (or a Burgman etc) but with a more aggressive Can-Am front end. I will have to do some nosing around.

texases said:

Not a Piaggio?

Mr_Shiftright

kyfdx said:

Toyota has a new one.. C-HR?

That's it ! What do you guys think? Not sure if I could get used to it...

andres3

Someone in the club just traded in their black RS 5 for a new white TTRS. 400 HP and at least a couple linebackers lighter, yeah, she's gonna enjoy it.

I'm sort of jealous. I like the the mechanical rear wing on my TTS to the bigger fixed wing on the TTRS. I like my rear bumper and exhaust layout/diffuser more too. Front ends looks are a tie in my opinion. However, the TTRS gets 25% more cylinders and size, with 33% more power (stock), probably only about 15-20% heavier engine too; so great numbers. Most importantly, I do believe it still gets an adjustable suspension to match mine, but also adds a tall 7th gear to the DSG transmission (mine only has a measly 6; small weight benefit though) to make it the superior daily driver down a high speed freeway. Of course, all these things are not free.

Mr_Shiftright

Is your engine really wound up at highway speeds?

texases

That C-HR is a mess! And think of the (lack of) visibility to the rear. Add on the small room inside resulting from the 'styling'. Next best thing to a Juke.

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

kyfdx said:

Toyota has a new one.. C-HR?

That's it ! What do you guys think? Not sure if I could get used to it...

It's Toyota's version of the Nissan Puke. Actually, those don't bother me as much as they used to. Either I'm getting used to them, or that's the way the whole Asian market looks are heading.

andres3

Mr_Shiftright said:

Is your engine really wound up at highway speeds?

Not posted limit speeds, but at speeds I like to travel and cruise at, yes. Not quite Miata-like, but I'm pushing 3K RPM at about 76 MPH. Funny the new '17 A4's are barely idling at 80 MPH in 7th.

stickguy

texases said:

That C-HR is a mess! And think of the (lack of) visibility to the rear. Add on the small room inside resulting from the 'styling'. Next best thing to a Juke.

It's uglier in person

Mr_Shiftright

andres3 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Is your engine really wound up at highway speeds?

Not posted limit speeds, but at speeds I like to travel and cruise at, yes. Not quite Miata-like, but I'm pushing 3K RPM at about 76 MPH. Funny the new '17 A4's are barely idling at 80 MPH in 7th.

That is a bit tight for your type of car. Even the little 1.6L Mini is only turning 3000 rpm at 72 mph.

fintail

Don't let overdone bad styling become normal over time. If it was bad then, it is bad even if you get used to it. Now we just have slashes and faux aggression to mask the beige. I still like how the C-HR isn't just a fake off-roader like a CUV, it is a fake CUV. And the demographic will eat it up.

TTRS doesn't have standard turn signals, right? I am certain A/S/RS5 models don't include them

imidazol97

Mr_Shiftright said:

That's it ! What do you guys think? Not sure if I could get used to it...

Between that CHR and the Civic, I don't want to hear about Aztek again.
Looks like they took the Civic's taillights... The front is not as bad as many of the toyota line, in my eyes.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

tjc78

The Aztec is still worse IMO, however this is right up there

imidazol97

tjc78 said:

The Aztec is still worse IMO, however this is right up there

LOL.

tlong

Mr_Shiftright said:

kyfdx said:

Toyota has a new one.. C-HR?

That's it ! What do you guys think? Not sure if I could get used to it...

Boy Toyota is swinging for the fences with their weird styling these days. And even Lexus. Only the Corolla looks normal - for now.

tifighter

I saw a TON of these new Toyotas on the ground in Paris and Zurich two weeks ago.

Mr_Shiftright

imidazol97 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

That's it ! What do you guys think? Not sure if I could get used to it...

Between that CHR and the Civic, I don't want to hear about Aztek again.
Looks like they took the Civic's taillights... The front is not as bad as many of the toyota line, in my eyes.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I suppose...if you are a male banana slug and see a female one.

berri

Americans are into to too much video games and it has moved to car design...

fintail

It's not just Americans. This is for people who hate cars and hate driving, but want to appear as dynamic and aggressive. It's a cultural universal.

stickguy

new Accord released. I like the design, from what you see in the pictures, especially the interior. but as always, need to see in the flesh (metal and plastic?) to know for sure! At least the equipment levels and driving dynamics (and powertrains) sound top notch. I am really interested in this one. Could be a perfect option for us if I want to go new but not lease.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/accord/2018/2018-honda-accord-first-look-lower-wider-shorter/

tjc78

The front is just awful, IMO. The rest I could live with and the interior looks really nice. I like how Honda kept knobs for HVAC and Volume.

berri

I noticed the new Accord will have about an inch lower seating height like the new Camry. I wonder how that will go over with the aging new car buyer demographic? May not be a big deal in reality, but I'm curious given the increase in crossover sales because among several factors, new car buyers like a higher seating position.

fushigi

What's the square in the middle of the front end below the bumper? Really detracts in the photos for me, though I'm sure it probably won't so much in person.

I really don't like screens that look like they pop up. Just seems like it was tacked on at the last moment. Obviously it wasn't but that kind of placement makes it look like it was. And there doesn't look to be any glare shielding.

Power numbers seem fine; being a little lighter should make up for the loss in HP in the 2.0t. But a 10 speed transmission? I can't imagine the gear hunting it might do. Why not just go CVT at that point?

Does anyone else wonder if dealers will stock all 15 trims?

stickguy

Hard to tell about that square, but it could be for mounting a license plate, or something to do with the Honda Sensing features. Though that could be a problem, once you mount a front plate. Hard to tell how open the lower grill is. If totally, could be an issue. They had that problem on the 2005 vintage Odyssey for a few years, and condensers were taking a lot of rock hits. there was a whole DIY series floating around for adding mesh to protect the components.

I always need to see a car in person to really tell about these little details.

andres3

fintail said:

Don't let overdone bad styling become normal over time. If it was bad then, it is bad even if you get used to it. Now we just have slashes and faux aggression to mask the beige. I still like how the C-HR isn't just a fake off-roader like a CUV, it is a fake CUV. And the demographic will eat it up.

TTRS doesn't have standard turn signals, right? I am certain A/S/RS5 models don't include them

The under-door LED projectors that illuminate "quattro or the 4-rings" onto the ground surface seems to be a more popular option to pay for in Southern CA RS models. However, I will say in Southern CA Audi drivers do use their signals. Must be a regional thing!

andres3

fushigi said:

What's the square in the middle of the front end below the bumper? Really detracts in the photos for me, though I'm sure it probably won't so much in person.

I really don't like screens that look like they pop up. Just seems like it was tacked on at the last moment. Obviously it wasn't but that kind of placement makes it look like it was. And there doesn't look to be any glare shielding.

Power numbers seem fine; being a little lighter should make up for the loss in HP in the 2.0t. But a 10 speed transmission? I can't imagine the gear hunting it might do. Why not just go CVT at that point?

Does anyone else wonder if dealers will stock all 15 trims?

CVT has proven unreliable thus far pretty much across the board. They are nosier and tend to drone like an aftermarket coffee can exhaust. Anything else, in my opinion, is an improvement.

fushigi

Ah, unreliable & noisy. That explains why Honda uses CVTs in the Civic, current Accord, Fit, HR-V, and CR-V.

andres3

fushigi said:

Ah, unreliable & noisy. That explains why Honda uses CVTs in the Civic, current Accord, Fit, HR-V, and CR-V.

Well, the jury's still out on Honda's versions, started no sooner than 2013, so maximum a 4 year window; not long enough to make a judgement.

tlong

Mr_Shiftright said:

kyfdx said:

Toyota has a new one.. C-HR?

That's it ! What do you guys think? Not sure if I could get used to it...

Boy Toyota is swinging for the fences with their weird styling these days. And even Lexus. Only the Corolla looks normal - for now.

fintail

Saw a MB E43 in traffic today

andres3

Toyota Corolla's used to be sold with a "S" Sport Package.

I believe it included:

Aero Body Kit front, sides, and rear = 10% faster
Tightened suspension to be like a Camry SE = 10% faster
TRD Sticker label = 10% faster.

With all these improvements, it is amazing to me the majority of Corollas weren't equipped this way.

Michaell

andres3 said:

Toyota Corolla's used to be sold with a "S" Sport Package.

I believe it included:

Aero Body Kit front, sides, and rear = 10% faster
Tightened suspension to be like a Camry SE = 10% faster
TRD Sticker label = 10% faster.

With all these improvements, it is amazing to me the majority of Corollas weren't equipped this way.

So if the 'base' Corolla did 0-60 in 10 seconds, the "S" trim did it in 7?

andres3

Michaell said:

andres3 said:

Toyota Corolla's used to be sold with a "S" Sport Package.

I believe it included:

Aero Body Kit front, sides, and rear = 10% faster
Tightened suspension to be like a Camry SE = 10% faster
TRD Sticker label = 10% faster.

With all these improvements, it is amazing to me the majority of Corollas weren't equipped this way.

So if the 'base' Corolla did 0-60 in 10 seconds, the "S" trim did it in 7?

I was kidding about the 30% faster numbers I forgot that the spoiler should make you about 10% faster too. Just stick a big wing on it.

Michaell

andres3 said:

Michaell said:

andres3 said:

Toyota Corolla's used to be sold with a "S" Sport Package.

I believe it included:

Aero Body Kit front, sides, and rear = 10% faster
Tightened suspension to be like a Camry SE = 10% faster
TRD Sticker label = 10% faster.

With all these improvements, it is amazing to me the majority of Corollas weren't equipped this way.

So if the 'base' Corolla did 0-60 in 10 seconds, the "S" trim did it in 7?

I was kidding about the 30% faster numbers I forgot that the spoiler should make you about 10% faster too. Just stick a big wing on it.

I know you were kidding - I should have stuck an emoji onto my comment.

I knew two people who bought Corollas with the "S" trim. Same color.

tjc78

When I was shopping small sedans the Corolla S was certainly the one to get.  Much sharper car