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

Mr_Shiftright

I usually pick California as a bellwether for shifts in buying habits because it is such a huge market. Automakers can't ignore it. If gas prices spike, you can often find really good deals on gas hogs. I think fear works as decisively in the car market as it does in the stock market.

Might boost EV sales, too, which are rather tepid at best.

fintail

I think the only plus of price spikes is seeing drivers of large engined gasoline truck and SUVs moan and groan.

With the current regime, I shudder to think what stupidity could lead to issues.

explorerx4

I red Model X, not a great color for it Also, a medium metallic blue XC90. Usually I only see black, silver or white.

stickguy

my neighbor has a white one.

explorerx4

Another red Tesla, a Model S, New plate. One of the rear trunk lights was filled with condensation and wasn't working.

Michaell

explorerx4 said:

I red Model X, not a great color for it Also, a medium metallic blue XC90. Usually I only see black, silver or white.

I saw that color at the Volvo dealer I was visiting yesterday. Very striking, and, with the amber interior, a gorgeous combination.

fintail

Stopped by the MB dealer for a lookie-loo today, An E43 (not E63) with an 88K MSRP made me wince.

Mr_Shiftright

Wince further:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-mercedes-amg-e63-s-wagon-test-review?src=nl&mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&date=030518

fintail

I can believe it. The prior generation could easily get into the 120s, and this has a lot more tech. This is the new belle epoque, or at best, welcome to 1928. I'd rather do this than a loaded Model X anyway.

With the no doubt huge margins on these cars, I wonder if the makers could absorb some tariff costs, or just pass them on, should stable genius succeed with his witless bluster.

Michaell

fintail said:

I can believe it. The prior generation could easily get into the 120s, and this has a lot more tech. This is the new belle epoque, or at best, welcome to 1928. I'd rather do this than a loaded Model X anyway.

With the no doubt huge margins on these cars, I wonder if the makers could absorb some tariff costs, or just pass them on, should stable genius succeed with his witless bluster.

Just for grins, I went to the website and built my own E63S wagon. I was judicious with the options, and ended up at just over $117K.

If the lottery numbers were ever to hit, I'd be interested. Keep it a subdued color, skip the "look at me" black rims, and the only thing to give you away would be the quad exhaust. Total sleeper that would give most supercars a run for their money.

Mustang GT's and Camaro SS's? Leave 'em in the dust.

fintail

Depreciation is fun on those, too. Here's one at 6 years old - this one is quite loaded, and I have no doubt was well past 120K when new.

Michaell said:

Just for grins, I went to the website and built my own E63S wagon. I was judicious with the options, and ended up at just over $117K.

If the lottery numbers were ever to hit, I'd be interested. Keep it a subdued color, skip the "look at me" black rims, and the only thing to give you away would be the quad exhaust. Total sleeper that would give most supercars a run for their money.

Mustang GT's and Camaro SS's? Leave 'em in the dust.

ab348

fintail said:

Depreciation is fun on those, too. Here's one at 6 years old - this one is quite loaded, and I have no doubt was well past 120K when new.

With apologies to J.P. Morgan, if you have to worry about depreciation, you probably shouldn't buy one.

I wonder how it ended up at a Chevy dealer?

fintail

Yep, same thing goes for fuel prices and maintenance in general. The letters "AMG" are key.

No plates, I suspect an auction deal. This seller had a rare W211 E63 AMG sedan a few years ago, someone there must seek these cars.

Mr_Shiftright

Michaell said:

fintail said:

I can believe it. The prior generation could easily get into the 120s, and this has a lot more tech. This is the new belle epoque, or at best, welcome to 1928. I'd rather do this than a loaded Model X anyway.

With the no doubt huge margins on these cars, I wonder if the makers could absorb some tariff costs, or just pass them on, should stable genius succeed with his witless bluster.

Just for grins, I went to the website and built my own E63S wagon. I was judicious with the options, and ended up at just over $117K.

If the lottery numbers were ever to hit, I'd be interested. Keep it a subdued color, skip the "look at me" black rims, and the only thing to give you away would be the quad exhaust. Total sleeper that would give most supercars a run for their money.

Mustang GT's and Camaro SS's? Leave 'em in the dust.

You might have to practice first. Mashing a 600 HP gas pedal is tricky.

Michaell

Mr_Shiftright said:

Michaell said:

fintail said:

I can believe it. The prior generation could easily get into the 120s, and this has a lot more tech. This is the new belle epoque, or at best, welcome to 1928. I'd rather do this than a loaded Model X anyway.

With the no doubt huge margins on these cars, I wonder if the makers could absorb some tariff costs, or just pass them on, should stable genius succeed with his witless bluster.

Just for grins, I went to the website and built my own E63S wagon. I was judicious with the options, and ended up at just over $117K.

If the lottery numbers were ever to hit, I'd be interested. Keep it a subdued color, skip the "look at me" black rims, and the only thing to give you away would be the quad exhaust. Total sleeper that would give most supercars a run for their money.

Mustang GT's and Camaro SS's? Leave 'em in the dust.

You might have to practice first. Mashing a 600 HP gas pedal is tricky.

That I would agree with. Wonder if I could get the Air Force to lend me the use of the runway at Buckley AFB?

fintail

For as quick as most MBs depreciate, these sure take their sweet time

ab348

I wish I could understand the attraction of the G-Wagen. For all of its considerable bulk, rear seat legroom does not appear to be its strong suit according to those pics.

fintail

I suspect these have but 1-2 occupants 99% of the time. No third row, either.

This thing would have MSRP'd at 155K or so when new, not a huge discount for 3 years.

qbrozen

fintail said:

Depreciation is fun on those, too. Here's one at 6 years old - this one is quite loaded, and I have no doubt was well past 120K when new.

Just for grins, I went to the website and built my own E63S wagon. I was judicious with the options, and ended up at just over $117K. If the lottery numbers were ever to hit, I'd be interested. Keep it a subdued color, skip the "look at me" black rims, and the only thing to give you away would be the quad exhaust. Total sleeper that would give most supercars a run for their money. Mustang GT's and Camaro SS's? Leave 'em in the dust.

And overpriced at that. $46k max, IMHO

fintail

And with those miles. Now if it had half the mileage, 5K less price, and a different color interior, it would be pushing my buttons, as it appears to be a virtually full option car, and 212s wear white well.

qbrozen said:

And overpriced at that. $46k max, IMHO

kyfdx

I saw my first Tesla Model 3, in the wild (Nashville, in this case).
Not as ugly as the pictures, but not nearly as attractive as the Model S.

Mr_Shiftright

They really messed up the nose on the Model 3. Looks like an old Panhard.

fintail

Nah, this is actually cooler:

Mr_Shiftright

Panhard makes only armored vehicles now for various militarys around the world.

texases

I followed a new Volvo S90 in traffic. Can't say the rear end does much for me, kind of blocky:

iluvmysephia1

That Volvo S90 rear end almost calls to mind some late-model Mopar product packaging.

explorerx4

I saw this the other day.
Dodge Charger with black rims, not so unusual.
It was painted a green called 'Tank', which I have only seen on Wranglers.

fintail

Someone at work has turned up in a new narrow-eyed/Infiniti-eyed SL, unsure of model but not an AMG. Not sure if I am a fan of the new face, as it is really Infiniti-like to me (not knocking Infiniti, but it is just too close).

ab348

explorerx4 said:

I saw this the other day.
Dodge Charger with black rims, not so unusual.
It was painted a green called 'Tank', which I have only seen on Wranglers.

That's sort of Olive Drab, ins't it? Was the Charger given a gloss finish or flat?

ab348

Was behind an Alfa 4C coupe in traffic today, the first I've seen here since we don't have an Alfa dealer yet. Was white instead of the typical red color. Raucous exhaust note. Rear window that was clear for maybe the area of a small cookie sheet. Didn't look like it would be fun to drive in city traffic. Certainly stood out though.

explorerx4

@ad348,
The paint has a gloss to it, not flat. Works better on a Jeep, not so well on a Charger.

fintail

Newbies on the road - unplated Ferrari FF, yellow G-Wagen 4x4/squared, new style Lexus LS.

andres3

So in States like CA where you can go a month or two or 3 without a license plate by buying a new car every 3 months, that will be my method to stay off the grid if I win the lottery.

fintail

If I win a powerball, I won't be doing most of my driving around here

fintail

Saw a new style E63 wagon on the road tonight, probably the same one I saw in the showroom a couple months ago.

tifighter

Ford Ecosport in Grey. Because people look at the Fiesta and think, “it would be better with a lift.”

berri

I think Ford has some product issues and it is not self driving or electrics. They need to get back to what brings in the cash and start dealing with aging product lines.

fintail

Saw a recently plated Maserati convertible today, yellow with a black top and kind of beige/tan interior - not my first choices.

berri

You are a Bellevue man, so it is only time before you're tooling around in an expensive SUV or large crossover that sticks in everyone's face. They do it in the wealthier suburbs throughout America

fintail

I'm happy in my relatively anonymous (especially for this area) E-class, it suits me. I'm not one of those Bellevue-ites.

However, if I was to get an SUV, it would be a G-Wagen. The thought has crossed my mind, especially with the high depreciation floor, and our decaying roads.

explorerx4

A new Traverse in white. Talk about anonymous.

fintail

Got behind a Model 3 in traffic while I was in the fintail. Meh - but at least it didn't have an obnoxious personalized plate. Also saw a blacked out Bentayga in a very nice neighborhood, what would Marie Antoinette drive?

tjc78

explorerx4 said:

A new Traverse in white. Talk about anonymous.

Yeah I’ve seen about 5 in the last week.  I liked it in pictures but now in the flesh not so much.   Same deal with its cousin the new Enclave.   Nothing special for the money.  I’m sure it drives nice and is competitive but I think they could have done more with the looks. 

Makes me kind of happy I grabbed the last of the prior generation. 

Michaell

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:

A new Traverse in white. Talk about anonymous.

Yeah I’ve seen about 5 in the last week.  I liked it in pictures but now in the flesh not so much.   Same deal with its cousin the new Enclave.   Nothing special for the money.  I’m sure it drives nice and is competitive but I think they could have done more with the looks. 

Makes me kind of happy I grabbed the last of the prior generation. 

Funny, my ex has the Enclave on her short list for a new SUV in the not-too-distant future.

tjc78

It’s a great vehicle and gorgeous inside.  My wife and I just preferred the looks of the outgoing model.  I haven’t driven one but I’d assume it drives similar to ours which is a good thing.   

explorerx4

Got behind a black sedan today. Had no clue what it was unless I got closer. A new Accord, that make 2.
Think back of the previous generation looks better.

kyfdx

explorerx4 said:

Got behind a black sedan today. Had no clue what it was unless I got closer. A new Accord, that make 2.
Think back of the previous generation looks better.

I agree with that..

fintail

For some reason I see just a hint of Citroen C6 in the Accord silhouette.

berri

Citroen; show me a DS or SM!

fintail

I am sure this little scrape will buff right out of this new car