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

lemko

...a new black Malibu outside the Willow Grove Mall near Philly.

bumpy

They look like the Fat Elvis version of the old xA. :sick:

fintail

Another new Focus today...the fake air vents on the fenders are very dorky

andys120

I found myself behind a new Altima coupe thinking it was an Infiniti G until I read the badge. It was the same shade of red the Infiniti comes in.

andys120

Scion xDs (replacements for the xB) are popping up all over here, (Southern AZ).
I've seen at least 3 or 4 in Phoenix and Tucson this week. I tooks less boxy than
the xB but that's deceptive, it's still about the same size and shape. Most will find the styling strange IMO.

stever

Saw my first CX-7 today and then saw a smart parked in the movie theatre lot tonight. I suspect it's one of the Zap imported ones. It was parked at the end of a row, scooted all the way over next to the curb.

I guess they were afraid someone would park next to it and open their car door and ding it. Or knock it over.

kyfdx

I thought the xD was the replacement for the xA?

Isn't the new xB, still an xB? :confuse:

ateixeira

They are starting to pop up all over the place. I can't keep track of how many I've seen, actually.

andys120

I thought the xD was the replacement for the xA?

Isn't the new xB, still an xB?

.... Stupid Alphabetic names.... :mad:

Yep, it;s the new xB that I am seeing a lot of, I'm not sure I've seen s single xD.

anythngbutgm

Highlanders and CX-9's are very popular around here. The Pilot still rules the roost though, it's like the early 90's Ford Explorer all over again.

I cannot for the life of me figure out what happened to all the Tribecas though, they were just as popular and now I go weeks without seeing even one. Gas mileage maybe? You can't even blink without seeing a Legacy or an Impreza, but the Tribeca have all but disappeared...

kyfdx

Yeah... I haven't seen one, either... But, from the pictures, it is sort of boxy, as well...

imidazol97

They've taken the boxiness out of the Xb. Inside it was spartan but tolerable. I could see it for a utility vehicle but I never could get past the $600 IIRC preparation fee. Isn't that a Daihatsu that's built for Toyota? or did I misunderstand something I read.

bumpy

I guess they were afraid someone would park next to it and open their car door and ding it.

The smart has plastic body panels. No dings.

fintail

New WRX sedan in the parking garage of my building today

ateixeira

Well, the original-look Tribeca only existed for 2 model years, plus it sold in small numbers. So the number of them on the road will be tiny compared to the Pilot or Highlander.

Also, they're not new any more, so you probably don't notice them as much.

The 08 model looks better and has set 3 records in a row in terms of monthly sales. It's still a low volume car, though.

andys120

I saw a very nice looking new Lancer sporting a small wing and a nice shade of Blue/Grey.

I'm also seeing a lot of new Honda Fits. And here I thought no one would buy a car named after something you have when you're in a bad mood.

ateixeira

I think of Fit as in "you can fit that grandfather clock" or "you can fit that large box inside".

It's a big little car.

fintail

Not fit in that I'll have to spend 2 hours a day at the gym and develop an eating disorder to drive it?

Although I suppose driving one could be good encouragement to stay in shape, so you don't look ironic

ateixeira

Oh c'mon fin, you and I both know you've never actually tried to sit inside one of those.

We (my brothers and I) helped my mom get one of those. Let's just say her cooking is fantastic, and leave it at that.

fintail

Hey, I rode in one once...a friend was on a test drive (he didn't buy it). It was roomy, but slow and kind of harsh (well, compared to my smooth Panzer). The (I assume) demo he was driving was also an oddball, automatic with a DVD system and body cladding.

anythngbutgm

Some friends of mine came in to town for the weekend and it just so happens that their rental for the weekend is a new Suburban. So we went out with them last night for dinner, they drove and I got my first ride in one of these ridiculous behemoths. The thing was loaded, Black and did I mention big? It was OK I guess, the engine was smooth (I find GM V8's to be really smooth in general), the interior was somewhat quiet and the thing took our New England bumps and ruts with ease. But with 1400 miles on the odometer, the rear passenger was missing and the speakers crackled and popped with even the slightest amount of bass. Oh and the transmission had this weird whirring noise on the highway and the rear backup lights never turned off (they stayed on while the truck was in park).

This is a rental but still, 1400 miles?

At dinner in Boston, I spotted new Sequoia and bazillion new Highlanders (something about riding around in a truck just makes you notice other large vehicles for some reason ) I did see a new Volvo C30 hatchback outside the restaurant though...

anythngbutgm

the rear passenger was missing

Oh, I was missing alright... like half my thought process was missing :sick:

What I meant to say was the rear passenger door handle was missing. It could only be open up from the outside or (in my case) I slid over an got out the other passenger door.

kyfdx

Wagon...

It's still shocking to see one of these on the road... I can't imagine this being your main mode of transportation..

ateixeira

I was gonna ask if you found the missing passenger.

teds1

The Audi showroom on Park Ave. in NY was letting people sit in the cars today. It was empty except for me and the attendant so I spent a half hour exploring all the features of the RS4, S8, New TT, A6 Avant s-line... and oh yeah the R8!

There are only 300 available this year and I got to sit in one and shift through the gears (on a rotating pedestal, not the street but still pretty cool) It struck me as just as comfortable and useable as the sedans and that is a pretty neat trick for a mid engined low slung sports car. So gorgeous. The S8 and Rs4 had these afwul agressive red interiors, maybe they look good in a showroom but can you imagine driving around in a $100k v10 bordello?

ateixeira

R8? Sweet. Nice xmas gift.

I'm really surprised it was open.

anythngbutgm

Black Mercedes SLR...

There is nothing that I could point out that would top this.

anythngbutgm

left today to head back to the west coast. The transmission apparently still whines badly on the highway, but now does it on the main roads as well. I guess it settles down around the side streets. I guess it also makes a nice "REHH" noise if you start and stop in traffic, didn't hear that when we went to Boston.. must be new as well.

Fillups cost 105 bucks, twice in 500 or so miles. We managed to burn through a half a tank going into and out of Boston the other night so I'm not surprised.

How these guys ended up with a Suburban in the first place is beyond me, he drives a WRX and she drives a Jetta normally :confuse:

fintail

I still haven't seen an R8 in the flesh, damn.

I did see a new S6 today, those LED running lights can be spotted from a mike away.

teds1

I have now seen three R8s in that showroom (1/100th of total production!), a silver one, the white one I sat in yesterday, and a gorgeous indigo blue one with blacks side blades and saddle leather interior. You can guess which one I would choose.

fintail

Blue sounds interesting, much moreso than white.

I am surprised I haven't seen one...the Audi dealer in my town is certainly the busiest in the region, I'd have imagined they'd get one. Maybe someone took delivery and it is stored away until summer.

uplanderguy

With a handle like "anythngbutgm" I don't expect you to be very interested in this, but the backup lights staying on in Park is a safety issue, not a defect (duh). My 2005 Chevy van also does this..it's like the headlights staying on until you get in the house/away from the vehicle...only in the rear.

qbrozen

I didn't even know this car was out yet. I saw those funky headlights coming at me, then saw the sleek profile, followed by the S badging on the trunk. At first, because of the headlights, I thought "NO way! An R8??!" Still, though, an S5 wasn't much of a letdown. I think I prefer it to the R8, frankly (from an aesthetic standpoint).

anythngbutgm

Interesting, never heard of that one before. So they go off when you're driving (Forward that is)?

Seems like it could be distracting to oncoming traffic. If you've got one of these parked in a driveway, rear facing towards the street, people driving by are going to think you are backing out of the driveway and slow down or come to a stop which could cause an accident. Kind of stupid using the back up lights if you ask me.

And regarding the handle, take that one up with the mods if you have a problem with it. I've been here for years with it. Of course if I changed it to NothingbutGM or GMrules or GMisgod there would be no problems huh?

uplanderguy

I'm sure you and your ilk would consider the backup lights staying on for a moment after the car is shut off, cutting-edge safety technology if one of our friends from the Rising Sun had implemented it. Why is it dumb to have bright lights behind a vehicle stay on after it is turned off when people are exiting the vehicle?

I think a big difference between domestic-brand "fanboys" and Japanese-brand "fanboys", is that the domestic guys know and can admit that there have been quality issues with the domestics in the past (as well as sometimes in the present) and have been "beat up" for liking domestic cars because of perceptions formed sometimes ten years or more ago by the Japanese-brand fanboys. So be it. We can accept that. The domestics did cause a lot of their own headaches back then, and continue to do so in some ways today. But when the Japanese brands start having serious issues (do you think that Suburban's tailgate will separate in two like Tundras are??), with the Japanese-brand fanboys, what I like to call "Baghdad Bob" syndrome takes over...."There are no American bombs going off near here!", when you could hear them in the background! There is an abject inability to admit that the problems are serious, and embarrassing to the manufacturer.

I discovered about twenty years ago, that those who consider themselves liberal-minded and enlightened, are actually some of the most narrow-minded folks out there. Point-by-point discussions are met with rolled eyes and name-calling.

Bill P.

anythngbutgm

Why is it dumb to have bright lights behind a vehicle stay on after it is turned off when people are exiting the vehicle?

Because they are just that, backup lights... No different than those idiots who leave their right blinkers on, you think they're turning right as your pulling onto the road and oops, they're still going straight.

I'm sure you and your ilk would consider the backup lights staying on for a moment after the car is shut off, cutting-edge safety technology if one of our friends from the Rising Sun had implemented it.

Uh huh, yeah that's it :confuse: btw, I am a Ford guy who just happens to accept that there is more to the Automotive universe than what comes out of Detroit. Otherwise, I consider that to be narrow minded.

kyfdx

I stopped by the Porsche dealer to drool over Caymans... Forgot they had Volvo..

Only two Caymans on the lot, but they had five (5) C30 hatchbacks! One had the Swedish flag painted on the roof, ala the Union Jack on the MINIs..

Nice cars.. $30K? :surprise:

onlygmmatters

A ton of new Malibus this weekend. I didn't even see one Accord or Camry at all which is a good thing btw. Must have been a ton of trade ins I guess. I know a few people I work with who cannot wait to dump their troublesome Camcords for a hot new Malibu!

kyfdx

Aston Martin DB9

Is that the Vanquish? In a light turquoise color (nicer looking than it sounds). With California plates..

Incredible sound under WOT..

fintail

I thought this was amusing...Audi seems to do a good job of protecting its new cars. I don't spot any R8s hanging around here, as usual

imidazol97

What are the bundles above the driver's door on each one on top of their raincoats?

fintail

I have no clue, I thought the whole getup looked pretty strange

qbrozen

my guess is that is a panel for the driver's door that is rolled up and tied up top for access to the car.

imidazol97

>panel for the driver's door

Thanks. Very logical.

onlygmmatters

Now THERE'S a wrapped gift I wouldn't want to open!

The gift that keeps on taking (your wallet in repair bills that is :P )

teds1

Ferrari 599 in Shark Grey. I might have seen this one before, how many could there be in new york in that color?

Ford GT

Audi S5

All on the long Island expressway and FDR drive Monday afternoon.

Also a dealer in Riverhead looked like he had 4-5 Z06 Vettes in stock. Maybe the demand for these is slipping? I want a black one.

guss

Now THERE'S a wrapped gift I wouldn't want to open!

I dunno, I would take an A8 for the first 4years or 50K miles.

ateixeira

Cool pic.

I guess that allows them to use open air transporters.

I believe BMW, or is it Mercedes (?), delivers their cars in sealed carriers. That's gotta cost a bundle.

anythngbutgm

A guy in my S2k club says you can get Z06's for 7 grand off down south. That is before the bargaining takes place. The new GT-R is the hot car to buy at the moment, the ZR-1 that is coming will probably be the next hottest car...

ateixeira

The Chevy dealer on 355 in Rockville, MD, had 3 vettes in the showroom last time I dropped by. One was a Z06.

Obviously they're not selling as well as when they first came out.

The ZR-1 will, though. At least for a year or two.