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

stickguy

My local Honda dealer sold those. As always odd seeing a few parked outside

fushigi

There are a number of those in taxi service in Chicago. They're running on CNG.

stickguy

I think the ones I saw were done up as handicapped transport. I forget how they were rigged, but designed to handle wheel chairs.

ab348

stickguy said:

My local Honda dealer sold those. As always odd seeing a few parked outside

Funny you mention that. When I saw it my first thought was that of an oversized Element.

fintail

Did the Sindlefingen factory tour again, saw E-class body stamping and S-class final assembly, the latter was pretty interesting with the numerous variations on the line in seemingly random order.

Also inside the factory gates (photos forbidden) saw 4 or 5 test mule of prepro updated CLS (I think) in varying camo, a couple of heavily disguised what looked like GLC, and a camo A-class 5 door.

This was the scene at the "Center of Excellence" on a frosty clear morning:



And in front they had a couple of these cladded E-wagons posed on an incline to demonstrate off roading, I guess:

qbrozen

fintail said:

Did the Sindlefingen factory tour again, saw E-class body stamping and S-class final assembly, the latter was pretty interesting with the numerous variations on the line in seemingly random order.

Also inside the factory gates (photos forbidden) saw 4 or 5 test mule of prepro updated CLS (I think) in varying camo, a couple of heavily disguised what looked like GLC, and a camo A-class 5 door.

This was the scene at the "Center of Excellence" on a frosty clear morning:



And in front they had a couple of these cladded E-wagons posed on an incline to demonstrate off roading, I guess:

LOL. Well, in that case, every day I go up and down my driveway, I must be offroading. woohoo!

Michaell

qbrozen said:

fintail said:

Did the Sindlefingen factory tour again, saw E-class body stamping and S-class final assembly, the latter was pretty interesting with the numerous variations on the line in seemingly random order.

Also inside the factory gates (photos forbidden) saw 4 or 5 test mule of prepro updated CLS (I think) in varying camo, a couple of heavily disguised what looked like GLC, and a camo A-class 5 door.

This was the scene at the "Center of Excellence" on a frosty clear morning:



And in front they had a couple of these cladded E-wagons posed on an incline to demonstrate off roading, I guess:

LOL. Well, in that case, every day I go up and down my driveway, I must be offroading. woohoo!

Wait, is that an E-class ..... Outback?

And here I thought it was only a US thing...

fintail

There are some other butched up wagons in Europe, it appears to be a high margin idea, MB is running with it too I guess.

tlong

Wagons are very popular in Europe, SUVs not nearly as much

fintail

Yep, full sized ones aren't so common here, a tall wagon is more likely. CUVs are big, but not like in Seattle. Wagons still to appear to outnumber them both.

Michaell

fintail said:

Yep, full sized ones aren't so common here, a tall wagon is more likely. CUVs are big, but not like in Seattle. Wagons still to appear to outnumber them both.

Do you think this has to do with turning circle and maneuverability?

fintail

Size certainly has a lot to do with it. Even the height-seeking mommy set here doesn't seem to need more than a small CUV or maybe an AWD wagon. Of course, the Stepford set still buys many of the same things here as in the US, save for Lexus, which exists, but not with huge influence.

Michaell said:

Do you think this has to do with turning circle and maneuverability?

tifighter

Michaell said:

Wait, is that an E-class ..... Outback?

And here I thought it was only a US thing...

Supposedly the All-Terrain is coming to the US. Now that Volvo has gone up in price with the V90 CC, it would be interesting to see how they sell against each other.

tlong

The streets are narrow in Europe. A car like the VW Golf is a mid-sized car in Europe. They have few of the monstrosities we have in the US like F150 or Escalade or Navigator or Titan.

fintail

Streets are narrow, not as many acres of shoddy mcmansions and 3 car garages, etc.

Saw an Audi Q2 today, gotta find a seat for every butt

Mr_Shiftright

Audi's niche marketing is getting a bit ridiculous.

explorerx4

On the way home from work, a new Volvo S90.

fintail

Lots of new models at the massive MB dealership attached to the museum:




This was maybe the newest thing:

explorerx4

Looks like a Ford Explorer Sport trac.

tjc78

explorerx4 said:

Looks like a Ford Explorer Sport trac.

Ridgeline too. 

ab348

GMC Canyon with a different grille.

fintail

Saw a couple more Audi Q2 today, a camo'd apparent A-class 5 door prototype in Stuttgart, and a Euro Ford Ranger.

fintail

Saw one of the big lifted new style G-Wagen on the road, wacky.

explorerx4

Despite living a couple of miles from a Nissan dealer, the 2nd new gen Titan I've ever seen.

fintail

Saw a new Accord on the road this afternoon.

berri

Seems like those are finally starting to trickle out.

texases

The new Accord Touring got a great review at R&T, said no need to buy a luxury car. 

ab348

texases said:

The new Accord Touring got a great review at R&T, said no need to buy a luxury car. 

That sounds like a bit of a stretch.

texases

ab348 said:

The new Accord Touring got a great review at R&T, said no need to buy a luxury car. 

That sounds like a bit of a stretch.

I agree, but that’s what they said:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/a13818067/2018-honda-accord-review/

Mr_Shiftright

"Luxury" is really a marketing term, isn't it? I mean, it's hard to quantify exactly. You can spend $80K for a Ford F-250 Platinum edition pickup, but is that "luxury", even thought the seats are leather, and heated and cooled, and give you a massage?

fintail

I loathe Honda's new trim detail theme at the end of side windows, like the rear quarter window on the Accord. Pointless goofty different for the sake of different design "flair" that I would have to modify if I owned one. A vibrating hood would also bug me to no end. Still, I'd probably choose it over a Camry, based on looks alone.

iluvmysephia1

fin, care ta enter a vote over in the Cars and Conversations thread?

kyfdx

Mercedes AMG C63S sedan.

Seems awfully pedestrian looking, considering the cost and horsepower.

fintail

In the olden days, AMG was all about being a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Michaell

fintail said:

In the olden days, AMG was all about being a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Guess that's still the case....

fintail

Yep, and that's how I like it. I don't want all of the gills and stickers and double decker spoilers etc. Maybe have a slightly different stance, barely-different wheels, subtle exhaust tips, maybe a lip spoiler, and that's it. Save it for under the sheetmetal.

Michaell said:

Guess that's still the case....

fintail

Saw 2 new E-class coupes in traffic this evening.

stickguy

was out walking the dog around the neighborhood, and hard something that sounded unique coming up behind me. Turned out to be a V10 audi R8. Convertible. Interesting looking, but IMO not attractive in white with a black top (cold today, so it was up). But, I would not kick it out of bed.

tifighter

Yesterday I saw my first Lexus LC500. Dark metallic red. It is pretty striking in person; I can't decide if it will age well or not yet. But it looks like you spent the money, and in the expensive coupe market, that's half the battle. It is distinctive.

Michaell

tifighter said:

Yesterday I saw my first Lexus LC500. Dark metallic red. It is pretty striking in person; I can't decide if it will age well or not yet. But it looks like you spent the money, and in the expensive coupe market, that's half the battle. It is distinctive.

I saw a white one some months back, and share the same opinions as you.

fintail

I've seen a few LC in Bellevue. Striking anyway, yes. They are 100K, so they should be special in some way.

explorerx4

A orangy/copper color Chevy Bolt. Kind of thought it was a Honda Fit at first glance.

fintail

Velar, for when an Evoque is too proletarian, and a Sport is too hard to park.

Michaell

fintail said:

Velar, for when an Evoque is too proletarian, and a Sport is too hard to park.

Took a ride in a Velar when @jpp5862 test drove one. Beautiful, but cramped, interior. I think of it as the RR X6

fintail

Not a bad comparison. A Sport is probably a degree higher, so the Velar fits in. For better or worse, the high riding low headroom ostentatious CUV/SUV is a thing now, and probably here to stay, X6 really got that wonderful ball rolling.

Michaell said:

Took a ride in a Velar when @jpp5862 test drove one. Beautiful, but cramped, interior. I think of it as the RR X6

qbrozen

Saw a Velar today, as a matter of fact. Not very attractive, IMHO. Wife actually said "ew."

fintail

Saw an E63s wagon at the MB dealer - 123K.

Michaell

fintail said:

Saw an E63s wagon at the MB dealer - 123K.

Isn't that the end of the year bonus amount for many of the techies in your neck of the woods?

fintail

That's about right, it's also probably about the weekly allowance for many in the satellite child devilspawn demographic around here. I've heard amusing stories from a salesman here. A surprising/depressing amount of never-employed under-25s in vehicles in that price range in these parts.

Michaell said:

Isn't that the end of the year bonus amount for many of the techies in your neck of the woods?

fintail

New style Panamera in the workplace parking garage.