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

tjc78

Truth be told the Avalon was never really a good looking car in any generation

The first gen was very plain
Second gen was also plain
Third generation was probably the best looking ( interior was great)
The newer have all been hideous.

I owned a second and third generation. I do love Toyota’s 3.5 that was in my 2006, sweet engine.

andres3

ab348 said:

I have 2 problems with Audi, or at least my perception of Audi. First, their dealer locally has cultivated a rather elitist and unapproachable image, acting like their vehicles are made with 24K gold. Secondly, i have a hard time with the perception I have of many of their models being FWD VW-based, and the price premium they try to charge for such a vehicle. But maybe I'm just old and cranky.

As to your first problem, I've found that at 2, maybe 3 local BMW dealerships in my area. It is a turn-off.

It is one thing to hype and sell the car, it is another to act elitist and arrogant, so I get that issue. Still, if it is really bad, you could ask to take a test drive alone. They may say no, but that ATS will probably be enough to earn some respect; don't drive up in a hooptie!

As to the 2nd perception issue, have you ever driven a GTI and A3 back to back? Even better, drive an AWD Audi, you really won't remember what FWD is when you do. While the A4 is available with FWD, the Audi AWD tends to be rear-biased now, 60%, and more proactive than reactive.

I get the complaints about the older Haldex and other AWD systems being FWD except when AWD is needed. The previous generation TL - SH-AWD I drove was sort of that way. The best modern (last 2 years at most for Haldex-based systems) AWD systems solve that problem, at least in dynamic mode. Could just be faster reacting sensors and smarter computers at work, but I think the rear-biasing gives a different feel.

fintail

Saw another handful of Model 3, so common and boring now that I won't mention them again.

Also saw a new style Audi-lite Jetta, Expedition Max (rental), Jag E-Pace.

andres3

Saw a MB wagon, E500 4Matic. Is 4Matic a 4-speed auto or Benz speak for quattro AWD

Michaell

andres3 said:

Saw a MB wagon, E500 4Matic. Is 4Matic a 4-speed auto or Benz speak for quattro AWD

4Matic = AWD, in MB speak

fintail

MB has used the term 4Matic since around 1986. MB hasn't had a 4 speed auto in this market since around 1992/3, I believe.

andres3

fintail said:

MB has used the term 4Matic since around 1986. MB hasn't had a 4 speed auto in this market since around 1992/3, I believe.

Funny, Dodge used a 3-speed in my '95 Neon, and did so for many years after that. Should have argued with my father longer about getting the 5-speed manual. Would have saved a thousand dollar transmission rebuild at 60K, and clutches cost less then that. Also would have made me half a second faster to 60 probably.

stickguy

Spending a long weekend in Saratoga. Lots of money and nice cars. Passed an MB AMG wagon in burnt orange on the thruway. Doing 65 on he thruway. And a new same color e class convertible in town. THat I liked

tjc78

stickguy said:

Spending a long weekend in Saratoga. Lots of money and nice cars. Passed an MB AMG wagon in burnt orange on the thruway. Doing 65 on he thruway. And a new same color e class convertible in town. THat I liked

 Shame it’s too early for the race track (horses) 

stickguy

Harness is running. We went to listen to a bar band instead.

fintail

Had the Bluetec in for the yearly service this morning, browsed the showroom while I was waiting. Highlight was a loaded E63S sedan, over 30K in options, MSRP ~135K. Beautiful pearl white finish, boring black interior, but the option load was impressive even for an AMG. It had the acoustic glass package, which seems to be rare. Depreciation is not going to be nice to that car, however, build quality was immense, a jewel. They also had a Mauritius Blue (fairly bright) G63, around the same price as the E63 - fun quirk I just noticed is that these have the old fashioned non-aero wiper blades, a loaded C63S cabrio MSRP 94K - so after tax and if you were goofy enough to pay MSRP, you'd be over 100K for a C-class, nice. Also moderately optioned E400 coupe at 74K, CLA45 AMG at 60K, GLC43 AMG at 73K, and some other more normal cars.

fintail

I've seen a few more Clarity on the road. So weird, but somehow I don't hate it. Along with the new Accord, it almost reminds me of some kind of parallel universe Citroen, oddball and French.

berri

I liked a lot of Citroen styling, but then I didn't own one or have to work on it

fintail

I think modern ones are better, but maybe not to Honda standards.

I went car looking again today, BMW-Audi-Jag. Lots of interest in the Velar at the LR/Jag dealer, I saw a few test drives in action. They had a couple Jag wagons in stock, prices in the 70s, otherwise, the expected fare. BMW had a diesel 3er and a few "e" series cars, along with a host of X2 and other CUVs, and normal cars. Audi had an S5 sportback that caught my eye, and I noticed a diverse assortment of assembly locations - a few in Germany along with Slovakia, Spain, Mexico.

texases

I followed one of these in to work today. Made me think of some over-styled late '50s car. Maybe what Mercury would have made, had CUVs been a thing back then...

fintail

Saw a new GLE63 coupe with the vertical grille bars. It's a....look.

fintail

I seem to notice at least 10 new Camry for every new Accord around here. I know rentals are some part of it, but still.

texases

Same here. I'm guessing the Accord's styling (and resulting bad visibility) turned off some of the 'practical car' buyers. I know it did me.

fintail

I find the Camry decent from the sides (tall greenhouse for a modern car), but in my eyes the front and rear migrates between "ugh" and "yikes".

The Accord is kind of weird and almost kind of French-like, to me, which may alienate the white goods car buyer.

ab348

I still have only seen one new Accord in the wild here.

stickguy

I hardly see any accords, but also seeing fewer new camrys than I expected. Both are hard to miss, accord more so.

berri

Maybe kind of easy to mix the new Accord with the new Civic?

tjc78

stickguy said:

I hardly see any accords, but also seeing fewer new camrys than I expected. Both are hard to miss, accord more so.

Someone at work just got one burgundy over black. Looks like an SE or whatever the sport trim is. Front end is horrific but rest I actually like.  

JustinS

I spotted three vehicles for the first time today:
1. Gray BMW X2
2. Black Acura RDX
3. Yellow Lamborghini Urus (!!!!)

kyfdx

JustinS_Edmunds said:

I spotted three vehicles for the first time today:
1. Gray BMW X2
2. Black Acura RDX
3. Yellow Lamborghini Urus (!!!!)

Urus? Only in Florida... lol

Mr_Shiftright

What? You don't think you need 640 HP to haul those 100 lb sacks of arugula salad mix?

fintail

I have yet to see a Uterus around here, but it is coming - I see Bentayga around more often than I imagined, and this will attract the same Marie Antoinette demographic (before the Cullinan poaches the truly rich from the plain old rich).

JustinS

fintail said:

I have yet to see a Uterus around here, but it is coming - I see Bentayga around more often than I imagined, and this will attract the same Marie Antoinette demographic (before the Cullinan poaches the truly rich from the plain old rich).

I think the Urus was a test vehicle for a dealer because I don’t think they’re available quite yet. I also see more Bentaygas than I would have guessed. Maybe 1 every 1-2 weeks here in Tampa. 

fintail

That makes sense, I didn't think they were on sale yet either. I saw one at the auto show in Vancouver at the end of March.

Speaking of new 4x4s, tons of new style Jeeps on the roads around Seattle. Outdoorsman cosplay is a thing for tech workers here, so there's a market.

JustinS_Edmunds said:

I think the Urus was a test vehicle for a dealer because I don’t think they’re available quite yet. I also see more Bentaygas than I would have guessed. Maybe 1 every 1-2 weeks here in Tampa. 

fintail

On the road today: new style Aston Martin, higher trim Stinger.

andres3

fintail said:

On the road today: new style Aston Martin, higher trim Stinger.

I saw a Stinger GT as well today. My first in the wild.

tjc78

I've only seen one so far...

fintail

Was out for a little drive yesterday, stopped at the MB dealer, which is next to the Porsche dealer. They had a couple Panamera Turismo models - one was in the showroom (I didn't check it out), the other outside, no sticker. However, sitting out on the lot, they had a Panamera hybrid turbo with a 210K MSRP - that's a spicy meatball. Other highlight was a Targa with nearly a C-class in options, 162K. MB dealer was little changed from my visit a couple weeks ago when the car was serviced, I think it is funny that a moderately equipped AMG GT roadster at ~135K seems like a value proposition these days.

Used car section of the Porsche dealer was also amusing - many Porsches and higher end cars, but one outlier, a rental spec late model Corolla, replete with hubcaps.

sda

For the longest time I didn't see many new Accords on the road. They are common sight now. I've only seen two Stingers so far, didn't get a close look to determine what model. Also seen a couple of Alfa Romeos, the Gullia (sp?) looks a lot better in person than in the pictures I've seen. They look lean and sporty.

andres3

fintail said:

Was out for a little drive yesterday, stopped at the MB dealer, which is next to the Porsche dealer. They had a couple Panamera Turismo models - one was in the showroom (I didn't check it out), the other outside, no sticker. However, sitting out on the lot, they had a Panamera hybrid turbo with a 210K MSRP - that's a spicy meatball. Other highlight was a Targa with nearly a C-class in options, 162K. MB dealer was little changed from my visit a couple weeks ago when the car was serviced, I think it is funny that a moderately equipped AMG GT roadster at ~135K seems like a value proposition these days.

Used car section of the Porsche dealer was also amusing - many Porsches and higher end cars, but one outlier, a rental spec late model Corolla, replete with hubcaps.

That Corolla must be the "out" when a salesman guarantees a young guy their credit isn't so bad they can't drive home in a new car (for them) today!

fintail

I was thinking it was a "car for every budget" claim, I can't imagine why it would be there. Your credit won't matter if you don't have the cash flow for that 100K note

andres3 said:

That Corolla must be the "out" when a salesman guarantees a young guy their credit isn't so bad they can't drive home in a new car (for them) today!

jpp75

Saw my first new Stinger GT in the wild this morning. Red with temporary tags on it.

Michaell

jpp5862 said:

Saw my first new Stinger GT in the wild this morning. Red with temporary tags on it.

Speaking of Stingers...

fintail

Saw an Ecosport today, and a new style Jetta that seemed to be like a light mint green.

stickguy

I saw a Jetta in that green color in the showroom. I really liked it. My daughter, she did not.

she plans to get a platinum gray. Sharp looking in that color.

iluvmysephia1

Do you like the new Jetta body style, you guys, or is it really pretty much the same?

stickguy

I really like it. IMO, looks much better than the old style. More interest to it, and looks more expensive. And I think it is overall attractive.

texases

Can't say I'm a big fan. Looks OK, but front (grill in particular) looks kind of heavy.

benjaminh

Not a fan of the new Jetta in style. Plus I think it has torsion bar rear suspension. I guess Hyundai does that too for the Elantra, unless you get the Sport. In terms of bang for the buck I guess it's ok.

stickguy

they did go back to the simpler suspension, but from the tests I read, it does the job fine. I had no complaints about the ride the 2 times I rode in one. More comfy than our 2015. Have not driven one though myself yet.

Correct about the Elantra. I have the multi link set-up.

fintail

I think design-wise, it looks more connected to Euro market VWs, the grille and greenhouse.

andres3

Saw a nice, but probably 7 or 8 year old MB with the plates "NBAPLYR" on it. Hmmm.....

tjc78

stickguy said:

they did go back to the simpler suspension, but from the tests I read, it does the job fine. I had no complaints about the ride the 2 times I rode in one. More comfy than our 2015. Have not driven one though myself yet. Correct about the Elantra. I have the multi link set-up.

A small car does just fine on the older suspension.  The Elantra rides like a much bigger car. One cost cutting thing I have to knock them for is the drum brakes in the back.  Our base model 08 had four wheel discs and the much better equipped 17 has drums.

To be perfectly fair the brakes are great and I haven’t warped the rotors yet so there’s that.  The 17 Enclave just started a little pulsation at high speed braking. The 15 Enclave I had the rotors cut under warranty sometime during the lease too (I think around 18k miles).  

qbrozen

texases said:

Can't say I'm a big fan. Looks OK, but front (grill in particular) looks kind of heavy.

I picture a Chrysler or Cadillac badge on that grille. Can't quite pin it down.

stickguy

It looks nice in person. And unlike some new cars, no overwrought tortured styling!