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

Mr_Shiftright

In any event, not hard-earned money, if you can easily write off the massive depreciation rate.

fintail

I think for a Continental, where to the average punter on the street, a 10 year old car looks almost identical to a new one, they are often not on their first owner. I don't know if the maintenance can be written off so easily.

ab348

Unless there is a local indy shop that does it, the nearest Bentley service center is in Montreal, a fair distance away, especially if it would need to be flatbedded.

Michaell

Spotted something unique while out running errands today. I wasn't able to get a picture, unfortunately.

Hyundai badge. At first, it looked like the new Elantra GT (small, hatchback shape). But, I then noticed it has the blacked out wheel arches like a CUV.

New Kona? I thought it would be taller, like the HR-V or C-HR - this looked like the old Outback Sport.

Michigan manufacturers plates.

Michaell

Michaell said:

Spotted something unique while out running errands today. I wasn't able to get a picture, unfortunately.

Hyundai badge. At first, it looked like the new Elantra GT (small, hatchback shape). But, I then noticed it has the blacked out wheel arches like a CUV.

New Kona? I thought it would be taller, like the HR-V or C-HR - this looked like the old Outback Sport.

Michigan manufacturers plates.

Looks like it's the Kona - found this via Google Images:

explorerx4

In the parking lot at work, a new Compass(?), the Compass/Patriot replacement.

stickguy

I wanted to like the Kona. Maybe in dark blue or gray the exterior would be OK. Need to see one in person when they show up on the lots.

Michaell

stickguy said:

I wanted to like the Kona. Maybe in dark blue or gray the exterior would be OK. Need to see one in person when they show up on the lots.

Depends on what engines it comes with. Would be quite fun with the 1.6T from the Elantra Sport.

ab348

I thought the Kona was strictly a hybrid?

Michaell

ab348 said:

I thought the Kona was strictly a hybrid?

That's the Kia Niro, which I suspect is on the same platform.

But, the Niro is FWD only, so really just a slightly lifted hatchback.

fintail

Saw a silver and black Rolls-Royce Wraith parked on the street today, maybe the same one I saw a month or two ago. No plates, no temporary registration.

stickguy

Niro is the Kia version of the Ioniq, which is all hybrid. The kona is IIRC based on accent, maybe Elantra, and just comes with 2.0l four.

andres3

Mr_Shiftright said:

ab348 said:

I think rental car agencies like them.

There you go--didn't think of that. Perfect Hawaii/Florida rental car.

I think I do remember noticing rather low speed limits on the island of Maui. I had a rental Sentra.

tifighter

stickguy said:

Niro is the Kia version of the Ioniq, which is all hybrid. The kona is IIRC based on accent, maybe Elantra, and just comes with 2.0l four.

Kia Stonic will be their version of the Kona. Hard to keep track of them all.

stickguy

Niro is same platform, different body shape.

andres3

This body shop gets cars like this all the time.

andres3

Most reliable Chevy ever made.

Should have license plate "BadPrkd" RS7

Oh yeah, that Chevy was made by Toyota.

fintail

What are the odds the RS7 doesn't have a handicapped placard? Most don't make that kind of money by following the rules.

On that subject, I saw a Bentayga on a flatbed truck, I assume being picked for service by a concierge program. But I can hope it was being towed for illegal parking, and the clueless Stepford or sinister money launderer came out and was stumped about the location of their car.

stickguy

Volvo XC60. At the dealer. Very good looking. Phenomenal interior. Just sat in, did not drive. He demo had every option, and an eye popping 62k bottom line (before options was low 40s)

andres3

fintail said:

What are the odds the RS7 doesn't have a handicapped placard? Most don't make that kind of money by following the rules.

On that subject, I saw a Bentayga on a flatbed truck, I assume being picked for service by a concierge program. But I can hope it was being towed for illegal parking, and the clueless Stepford or sinister money launderer came out and was stumped about the location of their car.

Not sure about the odds, but that one did have the ADA placard on the mirror in front; I checked!

Still doesn't excuse the crooked parking job.

Michaell

stickguy said:

Volvo XC60. At the dealer. Very good looking. Phenomenal interior. Just sat in, did not drive. He demo had every option, and an eye popping 62k bottom line (before options was low 40s)

Was that a T6 or the T8?

stickguy

T6.

Michaell

stickguy said:

T6.

I wonder how expensive the T8 would get?

stickguy

more if you pile on. This one was over the top, with options I doubt anyone will ever get. Well, very few people.

andres3

The "options" cars have available have gone nuts. But, if they are selling them, more power to them.

I just judge every expensive car to the $50K baseline I paid for my '14 S4. Yes I could have more room in an SUV at $50K, but I'd rather have the S4 for every other reason imaginable.

I'm not rich but I got to own a brand new S4 made in Germany for 4 months (made in Escondido after that). To keep things affordable, I did without built-in Navigation, rear-view camera, and perhaps a couple other safety sensors/radars now widely available.

If people realized a loaded up "economy" car wasn't that much cheaper than a stripped out luxury car, I think more would opt for the stripper luxo-sport car. I think the other reason more people don't follow in my footsteps is availability. Higher end dealers don't like taking up any allocation on "stripper" models.

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

T6.

I just priced one out, and yeah, the T6 you looked at obviously had every option box checked.

texases

Followed a new CRV. The rear end has graduated from 'quirky' to 'goofy', to me. 

stickguy

nice interior, but my wife really does not care for the looks of the butt end.

explorerx4

I think Toyota started the trend of lights jutting out sideways from the fenders.
A lot of other vehicles are styled like that now.

berri

I think overwrought styling is kinda becoming the norm lately. Hello 1959!

tjc78

It seems at least GM has some restraint.  The Japanese makes certainly do not. 

fintail

I saw a Rolls-Royce Ghost yesterday driven by who I think might have been a football player - very large/built youngish guy with flamboyant hair, probably not a hedge fund owner

Mr_Shiftright

yeah might be. Some of those guys sign big first year contracts, start spending money and then it hits them "Oh, I owe taxes on this"?

Michaell

Mr_Shiftright said:

yeah might be. Some of those guys sign big first year contracts, start spending money and then it hits them "Oh, I owe taxes on this"?

If it's a football player, rookie contracts are strictly managed in the player agreement between the union and the league.

Now, someone who's signed a new contract would certainly have enough $$$ to get a Rolls.

Mr_Shiftright

Yes that's true. They do try to protect newbies. Depreciation on a new Rolls does make one think about "funny money" though.

stickguy

Could be a loaner? Drives it around for free for publicity.

fintail

Today saw a white Ferrari 488 and silver Ferrari F12 on the road, and a recently registered Range Rover Sport "Autobiography" (sounds like a model Edwina Monsoon would buy) in the workplace parking garage.

fintail

Saw my first new E-class coupe on the road today (I have seen one at a show and at the dealer). It's a pretty posh package, and really shows how MB is moving to smooth soft lines from a generation of angular styles and creases. As creases are now the thing with mainstream brands, I wonder when they will follow suit.

texases

Saw my first new Miata hardtop. Most unusual thing was the paint - kind of a dove grey, not metallic. I can't find it on their web site. Custom?

andres3

texases said:

Saw my first new Miata hardtop. Most unusual thing was the paint - kind of a dove grey, not metallic. I can't find it on their web site. Custom?

Is that like a flat looking "battleship" grey? It has been made popular in the Audi ranks as R8's are available in what they call "NARDO."

One woman reviewer on YouTube didn't get it, and called it "concrete grey."

Makes sense that the Military and Navy guys would like it. Lot of those guys around here.

qbrozen

Saw an F-type before leaving my neighborhood today and realized it is the first one I have seen in the wild. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Front struck me initially as a bit Saturn Sky, but overall the car is beautiful.

texases

andres3 said:

texases said:

Saw my first new Miata hardtop. Most unusual thing was the paint - kind of a dove grey, not metallic. I can't find it on their web site. Custom?

Is that like a flat looking "battleship" grey? It has been made popular in the Audi ranks as R8's are available in what they call "NARDO."

One woman reviewer on YouTube didn't get it, and called it "concrete grey."

Makes sense that the Military and Navy guys would like it. Lot of those guys around here.

Yes, I almost called it 'battleship grey'. But it was gloss, not flat.

andres3

Nardo:

texases

Yep, like that, maybe a shade lighter.

kyfdx

I really like that color

ab348

Scion had a shiny non-metallic gray like that too. I think it was called "Cement", how glam. A little too grunge/hippie for my liking but to each their own I guess.

andres3

ab348 said:

Scion had a shiny non-metallic gray like that too. I think it was called "Cement", how glam. A little too grunge/hippie for my liking but to each their own I guess.

I'd of gone with the name "Mortar" myself.

berri

Wonder how long that clear coat primer will be popular Seriously, it does look better than I originally thought the concept would.

qbrozen

Speaking of flat finish, this was in front of the PetCo today.

kyfdx

I can see a Yorkie..