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

i_luv_toyota

VW Touareg V10 TDI yesterday. First I've ever seen of one of those (the TDI model anyway, I see plenty of the "regular" ones, though).

I must say, it really didn't look too bad. :-)

lemko

These cars are extremely popular around here. The local Chrysler dealer can't seem to keep them in stock.

andys120

Aside from the badge, does the TDI look any different from a garden variety V6 Toureg?

ghulet

....aren't V10 TDI Touregs like $65k? Nice vehicle, but that's crazy money for a VW to me. I think most people could be just as happy with a Pilot costing half as much.

m4d_cow

nah ill take the MDX over pilot, but touaregs arent that bad seriously, theyre actually really nice

ateixeira

I had to do a double-take last night. Thought I saw a C6 Corvette, but it was a C5 with a headlight kit. The big rear gave it away.

-juice

ghulet

....I'd take the MDX over the Pilot, too, but still, they're built on the same platform, so if it were my doing the buying, I'd have to drive both and make sure I could justify the extra $5-10k first.

smartguy8514

i saw a Freestyle a few days ago..

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ateixeira

Freestyle, on the road already?

Saw another Scion tC, 3rd one now. Must be having a good start.

Also saw my first Mazda6 hatch. I've seen a lot more wagons, maybe people feel the hatch doesn't quite add as much utility.

Driving home I also saw another XLR. They do have a commanding presence.

-juice

2fastdre

The V10 TDI Touareg will have different rims than the V6 or the V8 models. It is also the only Touareg with all chrome grill. It also has a small Onstar antenna in the middle, right above the windshield (but it is an option). These are the only visual differences (besides the V10 badge on the rear) that visually differentiate it from the V6/V8.

You can hear the Turbos on open throttle, and you can hear a slight diesel chatter. And the other way to recognize it, is when you see it disappear in front of you in a small gray cloud of exhaust.

2FastDre.

ateixeira

I thought it was blueish? ;-)

-juice

m4d_cow

funny, a lot of people have seen them and i havent seen even a single one of them anywhere...
but then again here where i live H1 and H2s are common views....weird....

player4

Yesterday i saw a Silver 2005 Chevrolet Corvetter Coupe it had the roof part off, but it was amazing!!!! i couldnt believe it!!!

ateixeira

Another Scion tC, these seemed to have a good start...

-juice

jaserb

He's well into his 80's. Talk about skewing the demographic!

-Jason

ghulet

Like the Echo, it's a perfect retiree car, low cost, good mileage, reliable, and this time it's even well-equipped. The ultimate for someone on a 'fixed' income (never understood that term anyway, I think most people are on 'fixed'/static incomes, no?).

I've seen plenty of 300s, but today saw my first 300C. Looked nice, but I can't help but think I'd get claustrophobic with the small side windows and high sills, generally not my favorite things in a car.

Also saw a white new-style Altima with white wall Vogues, chromes, gold trim, tinted windows and a blue fake convertible top. I was more than a bit mortified. Looked like a Japanese Town Car from Boca Raton or Harlem, take your pick.

ateixeira

I think by fixed they mean they're getting no real raises, just cost of living adjustments. I like to call them COLAs.

I while back low cowls and big windows were all the rage. Now we're seeing a shift towards more sheet metal and less glass, perhaps for a feel of better protection?

Compare the 300C to the 300M. Compare the new Acura TL to the old TL. Same for the Galant. Maxima. All have wider pillars now.

-juice

andre1969

buy a Scion for every 80 year old, that would get the average age down to 32! Unfortunately though, there aren't very many 20 year olds that buy brand-new cars.

ateixeira

But that's why the industry generally looks at the median age, rather than the mean (average).

-juice

ateixeira

Must be on a streak, spotted another tC yesterday, light blue this time.

Also saw a Mazda3 sedan at our pool, a nice red color with all the spoilers and stuff.

RX8 was there also, but those aren't really new any more, are they?

-juice

lemko

...a black Porsche Cayenne. This is the second one I've seen. Both were driven by women. Must be some well-heeled soccer moms.

ateixeira

Saw a Cayenne myself, perhaps the same one? LOL

Also spotted another Equinox, those look pretty sharp driving down the road.

-juice

andyman73

A CTS-V! In black, with the new car cardboard license tags. Down in Bethany Beach, Delaware. It was beautiful. Sorry(current)M5, CTS-V looks a lot nicer, and more affordable(not to imply cheaper as being cheap.) It was black. Exhaust sounded sweet. With many major dealers in my area, I have seen dozens of 300Cs, Equinox(en), all manner of Mazda 3s and 6s, and RX-8s. Also a handful of Touregs(no TDIs yet), and Cayennes. Saw the same Merc SLR again, silver haired dude driving.

ateixeira

I'll be in Bethany Beach on Friday, so I'll keep an eye out for it. They definitely look cool.

-juice

andys120

9-2X, the one based on an Impreza/WRX. This one was sitting in front of a dealership with a lot of 9-3s and 9-5s.

It didn't look the least bit like a Saab, notwithstanding changes to the fascia. The goofy air scoop just screams SUBARU!

This may explain why GM will not offer the 9-2X or the 9-7 outside of the USA.

andyman73

That reminds me, I did see one Saabaru, while at the shore. The first G35 coupe I saw was at Bethany Beach, the other year. Of course when the houses start at 750K what do you expect the owners to drive. There is, I think, a new second hand dealership that had several RRs or Bentleys, a Ferrari 355, and many other lesser high end brands(Porsche BMW Merc., etc.) Oh saw a 360 Modena today. A yellow one.

ateixeira

There are condos in Bethany for under 200k. Not on the beach, though. Anything on the beach nowadays, it's "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it".

You do tend to see nice cars there.

-juice

andyman73

I had forgotten about the condos. Wife's uncle owns house in Bayview Park, will be rebuilding this winter for about 1M. They drive a loaded Chrysler T&C AWD, and loaded LS430, and 375K motorhome. That whole area is under massive explosion of home construction, especially off the backwaters and a few miles inland.

Andy

odie6l

Did DCX bring back the Prowler? I was just down at Cape May for the last 10 days and there was a Chrysler Prowler parked next to my escape on 3 of the days. I got a good look at it and had Chrysler markings all over it and was a 5 spd. It had Michigan Manufacturer plates on it and was a bright Blue color. never saw the person who drove it. But boy howdy it was a nice looking vehicle.

Odie

m4d_cow

chrysler didnt bring back the prowler, but they re-badged the prowler into chrysler brand after they killed the plymouth, they did it for a year or so before chrysler finally discontinued the prowler.

ateixeira

Andy: tax-free shopping might be one of the attractions causing the boom?

Saw a Z8 on the way to the beach this weekend, as a matter of fact. He was on the shoulder. I spotted the nifty taillights from a mile away. I think they are LED-style.

Also saw a Chevy SSR on the road, but it was within a mile of that Chevy dealer on US-113, so it might have just been on a test drive.

-juice

andyman73

Juice: What color was that SSR? I did see one at that Chevy dealer, sitting right out front for all to see.

I have seen a handful of G-wagons rolling around, lately. I'm keeping my eye out for an AMG version. That would be sweet.

ateixeira

Silver, IIRC?

The dealer had a full row of SSRs, pick a color. I think Chevy dealers shot themselves in the foot with markups early on, customers ran away and now noone is buying them.

Guess it was a fad that didn't last at all. They probably thought they had a Cooper or a New Beetle.

-juice

ghulet

...I saw a black with chrome wheels (eeek!) BMW Z8 sitting in the parking lot, second one I've seen in the neighborhood. Then, when I was pulling out, I saw a Panoz Esperante, wasn't sure what it was at first, it looks a lot like a 911 from the front, but moreso like a giant Miata in general.

dtruong8

hi everyone

i couldnt seem to find out where to post this so i hope this is the right place. i was driving down the strip in vegas and i saw 3 test cars. They were following a white mercedes c class wagon (which unusually had no alloy/aluminum rims) and was followed by a red c class coupe. They were a little shorter than my cr-v and a little smaller in length. The roof line was very smooth, almost past the wheel wells like the prev gen rx300. the cargo window on the side was not connected to the rest of the windows on the door, like the cr-v. it was a 5 door (like a pt cruiser style). It had a small center airbag cover on the steering wheel and rounded instrumentations for the speedometer, etc. The interior was black and modernly styled. Also the hvac vents were rounded, ala pontiac style. the outside was COMPLETELY covered. only the lights werent covered. Indicator lamps on the mirrors on the side, rounded lamps mounted vertically on the back, and arched headlamps. (like popped up from the surface kinda arches) Low ground clearance so it cant be an suv. It had california plates. I couldnt get a pic since the camera was way in the back of the car.I thought that it was a benz but it couldnt be due to the interior styling. Maybe its a pontiac? Any ideas on this? my inside told me that i should have fought to get the camera, took a pic, and sold it to a mag like motor trend. Hm...

seminole_kev

could have been a Mercedes A-class? Maybe an early new B-class prototype?

new A-class:

ateixeira

Panoz are very rare, that was quite a sight I'm sure!

Nice spotting! I think you might have seen the new Smart SUV based on the ForFour.

Get any pix?

-juice

lemko

...a black Chevrolet SSR with the top down about a block from my house. I wish all new Chevrolet trucks had SSR styling.

turboshadow

Saw a Mazda 6 Wagon this morning. Good looking car. v-6/5spd would be an awesome ride.

Turboshadow

ateixeira

And bless Mazda for offering that combo.

-juice

dtruong8

the interior was WAY radical for a benz. The instrumentation cluster was like an altima/murano with pontiac air vents for the hvac. i really think it was the Smart Suv since it looks strikingly similar with the tall rear lights and the expectingly modern interior. this is all based on some concept drawing i found using google.

Darn...i should have taken more pics. Make some $$. :P oh well...too late... They went WAY behind our car after we continually stared and tried to memorize the looks. Well thanks for the info. the curiosity was killing me ever since i saw it.

andys120

I saw a nice looking black one with an amusing lic. plate "UTAKER". I've seen perhaps 4 or five of these and I read that they aren't selling well
because they are too pricey for the less than strong performance offered.

Still that's 4 or 5 more of those I've seen on the streets than I've seen Pontiac GTOs which offer more practicality and performance at a lower price point.

Kinda curious, say I, where are the GTOs?

ateixeira

I've only seen one or two new GTOs, so I'd have to agree. Then again the SSR stands out more, while you might not notice a GTO it blends in so much.

-juice

kyfdx

My co-worker has a GTO..

1) They need a convertible version or at least a friggin sunroof.

2) They should have put bigger rubber on it.. 245/45-17 now.. The tires on my wife's BMW with only 184 HP are that big.

3) I swear.. every time I see one, unless I am directly perpendicular to it, I think it is a Cavalier or a Grand Am. When I am directly off to the side, I notice the longer wheelbase (which doesn't make it any prettier).

4) For 350HP, it should be faster..

ateixeira

I hear it makes a good drifter with those skinny tires. Isn't Rhys Millen doing that now?

-juice

kyfdx

I guess I just don't get it.... It reminds me of the county fairs, when I was a kid.. and the stunt car teams would drive off the ramps and up on two wheels.. Sure, it was cool looking (if you are six years old) and I guess it paid the bills between movie stunt gigs...

I can't imagine putting my time and effort into it.. I think I'd rather auto-cross..

regards,
kyfdx

setzer

i saw 2 SSRs, 1 2005 ES330, and a 300, and a Scion xA

lemko

I passed by a Chrysler dealership on Rte 611 outside Jenkintown, PA and spotted a strange-looking Chrysler 300 on the lot. It had a mesh grille reminicent of the one the CTS-V. Is this a special edition of the 300-C or just some oddball aftermarket mod?

andre1969

for the 300. My supervisor, who has a 300 Touring, was looking into getting one, but they're so popular that they're on backorder. He showed me two types though, one which is just a solid mesh, and another that has a dividing bar down the center, which lines up with the crease in the hood.

Normally I don't like aftermarket grilles, but I think these two were actually quite tasteful. And more subdued than the bold eggcrate grille that comes stock.

But, since he couldn't get the grille, he decided to get an aftermarket wood trim kit for it, and a spoiler for the back. When he told me about the wood kit, I just smiled, and jokingly told him that he's trying to take that car back to the 70's!