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

ateixeira

Looks OK, window line seems very high so visibility must be reduced. All the lights seem to bulge outward like blisters. Not sure I like that particular styling cue.

Looked good overall, though.

Corollas sure are getting big. This is no longer the compact it used to be.

kyfdx

The new one... in bright white..

Looks great.. wish they made it in a 4-door..

magnette

Saw one of these in Baker Street this morning - not that unusual, really, but this one had a bit of a custom job - a red stripe and a dent on the rear nearside wing - couldn't decide whether it had hit a bus or a post-office van, but somebody was going to get a nice bill I would imagine

guss

On my commute home tonight. At first I thought it was a Pacifica, but the dodge grill was throwing me. I don't think they share any parts, but they are still very similar.

ateixeira

The local dealer has 2 of them - one is $26 grand and the other is $31 grand. This is after discounts.

Are they nuts? Seriously, this is basically an Avenger wagon, stretched.

What are they smoking that they think this is a $31k vehicle? :confuse:

This was supposed to replace the SWB minivans, which I've seen brand new for as little as $13k.

qbrozen

Those must be optioned up pretty well. It is supposed to start at $19,8, or something like that. But that's with a 4-banger and FWD.

Automobile mag says it is the quietest sub-$30k car they've ever driven and the best fit and finish they've ever seen on a Chrysler product. Their negative comment is that it is on the Avenger platform. hehe.

andys120

New S-Class Benzes are not an unusual sight but I saw one yesterday go by slowly and I couldn't help but feel it just didn't have the dramatic "presence" they had a decade or so ago. The new one looks vaguely Korean.

The current E-Class is the Benz to have IMO.

OTOH a Black 750i that cruised by me yesterday was loaded with presence. It looked vaguely sinister as well maybe it's the Black paint (which shone like a diamond).

.

ateixeira

I'm not surprised that it's quiet, in fact their minivan was the quietest in a recent C&D test so Chrysler must've done a lot of work on NVH control.

Still, it's supposed to slot beneath the long-wheelbase only vans, so you'd expect the prices to be significantly lower. $31k buys a pretty nice Grand Caravan.

british_rover

First one of the US Spec ones I have seen. I see some privately imported older SMARTs on occasion too.

ateixeira

I saw one while walking out of the movie theatre last week with my wife.

I've seen 2 so far on the roads.

tlcruz

we got our first 08 M3 coupe here and two 08 IS-F's! the M3 was gooorgeous in blue and the IS-F's were lookin' smoking hot in obsidian! I love my job

ateixeira

In my driveway.

No, didn't buy it, just got it as a rental while my Miata's RF fender is swapped out. Lady hit me in her XC90.

It's appliance white, which is appropriate because it drives like an appliance. Spoiler is cute but the cheesy wheel covers are not.

kyfdx

Better looking than the old one... but, no thrills..

lemko

...red Acura RDX.

ateixeira

First I saw in the flesh. Looks good, an evolution of the old one. I like this interior much better.

lemko

...my girlfriend recently rented a red Pontiac G6 while her LaCrosse was being repaired from the accident on January 2nd. She went to Budget this time instead of Enterprise and was treated much better and the car was much cleaner. She actually liked the G6 and considered it "sporty and youthful."

ateixeira

The G5 I rented was a bit dirty, mostly mud on the door sills.

I'm very, very happy to have my Miata back. Despite being 15 years old, it simply runs circles around that G5.

In fact I was ready to trade in the Miata for a newer one, but now I might keep it longer. It cleaned up pretty good after the body work they did, and still drives well (far better than the brand new G5 rental).

exit123

I saw a Smart Fortwo today. Very cute!

guss

I thought the G6 was a huge leap over the Grand Am it replaced. Unfortunately everyone from Consumer Reports to Car & Driver has totally killed it. I would give it a shot if they ever get their reliability up, and put the 4 cylinder in their higher trim levels. I guess those are some pretty big if's thought

ateixeira

They're a lot better than the G5.

Still, I test drove one of the folding hardtops and it had a nasty creak in the A-pillar. Doesn't speak well for the structure.

lemko

...new 2008 Dodge Hemi Charger in Inferno Red. My co-worker finally bought a new Charger this past Friday after talking about it for months.

Also spotted new LaCrosse sporting the revised grille.

fintail

Yesterday I saw a Volvo C30...I'm not seeing as many of these as I thought I would.

Also an Audi S5...it had the LED running lights in the front, but only one side was on (?)

british_rover

I am seeing a black S5 once a week or so on my commute and it is a pretty hot looking car. I think volvo only had plans to import 5,000 or so C30s this year so you won't see many of them.

Saw a new CTS the other day in black looked good.

fintail

The S5 is a beauty, this is the second one I have seen now. They've got their styling down. I also saw a RS4 yesterday...they sound so good...but I think it could get to be an old drone after awhile.

Volvo does pretty well out here...maybe delivery allotments haven't came in yet.

british_rover

I have only seen two out on the roads so far and this is Volvo country out here. Our auto group has two Volvo dealers and I still have only seen two of them.

Any given second I can look out my office window and see a dozen or more volvos and nearly as many SAABs. From what I have heard from people in Volvo they have very modest goals for the C30 and are importing very few of them initially. The S40 is supposed to be discontinued soon and the C30 will replace it so I would guess as the S40 is phased out C30 production will climb and hopefully that will drive the price of the C30 down some.

kyfdx

Couple of months ago... my dealer already had five of them... I'd bet they are all still there..

2-door hatchbacks are a tough sell.. Plus, they are mostly $30K, and not as cute as a MINI (subjective, I know)..

That Swedish flag on the roof just doesn't have the same cachet as the Union Jack.. :surprise:

british_rover

Our two volvo dealers have 4 C30s and the average MSRP is about 26,000 dollars.

fintail

I think the one I saw yesterday might be only the second I have seen on the road too. I see more C70s than the C30, and probably 50 new C-class for every C30. I remember looking at the C30 and being with a friend who test drove one...the price did seem high for the base model we drove.

british_rover

The base model price is ok but the problem is the middle and high equipment level C30s are 3-5 grand over priced.

ateixeira

I'm not sure if I've seen a single one out on the road. At least not in the last month or so. They're as rare as hen's teeth.

british_rover

I just saw another SMART car a few minutes ago so I have officially seen more SMARTS then C30s. There is marketing support on the C30 now too so Volvo knows they need to drop the price to get inventory moving.

ateixeira

Same here, I've seen 3 Smarts. They really stand out, though, so you just can't miss 'em.

stever

you just can't miss 'em

Let's hope the 'Slade drivers see 'em too. :shades:

Saw my first Saturn Sky Sunday. Fire engine red. Or at least it was the first parked one I've seen that I could get a good look at.

ateixeira

There's one at my kids' school. I see it in the parking lot each time I go, so it must be driven by a teacher. Come to think of it there used to be a Miata, and that's gone, so perhaps they traded up.

My concern is I have yet to see one with a good fit on the top, including that one.

andys120

Come to think of it there used to be a Miata, and that's gone, so perhaps they traded up.

Sounds more like they traded down.

ateixeira

I installed a Robbins soft top myself, even converted my NA with a zipper-windows to an NB style self-folding type, with no zipper.

I swear the fit is better than the factory fit I've seen on any Solistice or Sky.

kyfdx

Every single Sky that I've seen has chrome wheels.... ugh..

fintail

I remember the one we rode in (automatic and Swedish decal, not much else) stickered at like 26K I think. It was pretty spartan - didn't even have cruise control. I know the loaded ones can easily go over 30K...heading for C-class territory.

I see several older Smarts around here, as a private importer is in the next town over. He can't be too pleased that the little things are finally official, as he was selling them for 26-28K...and the over-monied suckers around here were snapping them up.

qbrozen

coincidentally, I came to post that I saw my first C30 just yesterday, too.

When I saw it coming towards me, I thought "oh, its an S40... but something is different. A body kit maybe ..." then the profile came into view. I think its really a great looking car, personally. It used to be on my shopping list, but I'm convinced I don't want FWD again. Maybe with AWD and a stick, it would get back on the list. But I guess that probably won't happen if they want to keep the price down (and if it doesn't sell more). A couple of minor mods and it could push 260-270hp through all 4 wheels. That would be a fun ride, methinks.

british_rover

I agree that the C30 is a great looking car and with the 2.0 upgrades it drives very great. Really just needs a short shift kit to cure the rubbery shifter.

It is just a bit too much money though so unless I can get a huge employee discount in the fall I won't get one.

Oh and I am sure a S60R driveline would easily fit in the C30 and then you would just be a little ECU tunning away from 350 hp. Can you say STI Slayer?

fintail

A 350hp C30...now that would be something!

qbrozen

well, I'm seeing used S60Rs with 30k miles for $22k around here. I'm SOOOOO tempted. If only I wasn't SOOOOO upside-down on my lease.

british_rover

Which lease the pacifica or the Honda?

qbrozen

the honda. I've got 13 payments left.
Only 6 more on the pacifica. We're pretty sure the Pac will be replaced by a used V70.

stickguy

Was that a 2 year lease? I don't remember you having that one for 2 years already (as you would if it was 3 year lease).

qbrozen

3 year.
Believe it or not, its been almost 2 years. I leased it on my son's 3-month bday in May '06.
And, so far, I'm right on the money with the miles. Sitting at ~29k right now.

british_rover

Yeah Honda does a pretty good job of setting up their leases just right. I have never been able to get someone out of a Honda or Acura early unless it was in the last couple of months and they were well under the miles.

ateixeira

Another loose fitting top. :sick: They really seem to have wrinkles around the C-pillar area.

andre1969

on the Baltimore Washington Parkway in Maryland, I saw two odd Mopars. The first one, at first, I thought was just an '08 Caravan, but it looked a bit more hunkered down, and as I passed it, it appeared to have a longer, more SUV-ish snout to it. Not sure what it was. I remember seeing this concept car at the auto show called a Dodge Journey...it's not out yet, is it?

The other was an Intrepid, but as it passed by, I noticed that it said "Chrysler" on the front door where it would normally say "Intrepid". So I'm guessing it was a Canadian that jumped the border.

Oh, and insult of insults, in the parking lot at work I saw a Caddy STS...the new style, not the Seville STS. It had one of those awful fabric carriage tops on it! Someone needs to be tarred and feathered! Oh well, at least it didn't have wire wheels and gold stripe tires! :P

andre1969

Another loose fitting top. They really seem to have wrinkles around the C-pillar area.

Now that you mention it, I saw a Solstice the other day, top up, and wrinkled. Must be a common flaw I guess?