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

fintail

Spotted a new Mazda 6 today....it's a noticeable change.

lemko

...some for the first time: silver Hyundai Genesis, light blue metallic Jaguar XF, medium gray metallic BMW 1-Series, white Mercedes-Benz CLS550, maroon Cadillac XLR.

ateixeira

Agreed, big change. Literally, the car is huge.

I went to test drive a Miata and sat in one real quick.

The back seat is a lot roomier but you have to duck to get in the back seat.

I have mixed feelings, especially since they ditched the 5 door and wagon.

fintail

A friend of mine has a 5-door, V6 model, I think it is an 04 or an 05. They like it and have had no problems with it, although IMO some of the interior finishes are harsh. But the average consumer doesn't notice things like that. It's versatile and they got it for a decent price.

The new one kind of looks like it could be a 5-door, but it's just a big sedan. The whole flared/bulging fender thing to make a mass-market car look aggressive is iffy too...I am sure I will have something to say when I see my first new Maxima.

ateixeira

I agree about the interior, actually, plus it was just too close in size to the Mazda3 5 door, which is boxier and probably had more head room.

I like the fenders because it mimicks the RX8. The miata hints at it, too, only on a smaller scale.

fintail

The new one sure looks bigger than a 3.

There's a common design theme yeah...I guess I just find it funny when cars that will in most cases be put into duty by middle-of-the-road types who aren't car enthusiasts try to look sporty and aggressive.

texases

"I guess I just find it funny when cars that will in most cases be put into duty by middle-of-the-road types who aren't car enthusiasts try to look sporty and aggressive. "

This whole 4-door coupe thing is getting nuts - either there's not a lot of headroom in the back seat of the new 6, or you're sitting on the floor :sick:

fintail

I can't imagine tall people fitting well back there. Even in the 5-door 6 my friend has, I think it is tight...I swear I rode back there once and if I leaned back I ran out of room.

Is the little window looking thing in the C-pillar an actual window, or just decoration? Asian design seems to love an upward kick at the end of a window line. But hell, it's better looking than a Camry anyway.

ateixeira

Like I said, I had to duck to get in.

Headroom is actually OK, I'm 6" and had a couple of inches to spare above my head.

The seat is low, though.

The car looks better in person, though I'd say that about a lot of cars.

fintail

Today I saw a facelift Cayenne, a new Maxima (front end is weird IMO) and most noteworthy, what I am pretty sure was a Bentley Brooklands Coupe...it was behind me in traffic and made a u-turn and I barely caught a glimpse as I just assumed it was an Arnage behind me (not an unknown sight here), but it was a coupe and looked smaller than the big old 90s Continental.

andys120

I Isaw a new Maxima the other day too, I thought it looked good, perhaps the best looking Maxima yet.

fintail

I've always thought the 89-94 models were the cleanest looking, if maybe a little dull (but not bad for the time). I see too many weird creases and curves today, existing simply for the sake of having creases and curves. Bangle, you're a [non-permissible content removed].

boomchek

lol, I agree with you on the 89-94 maxim looking the best. The generation that followed lost all of it's sporty looks imo, and became another round looking mid size sedan.

fintail

The one that came after the "4DSC" was such a bland design, like the kind of debadged car you see in insurance commercials. I guess they were pretty reliable and sturdy though. The one that came after that, for MY 2000 I think, was the oddest in my eyes, like three different designs in one.

lemko

...two Lincoln MKS - one black, one white. The first time I've seen them in the "wild."

andys120

I've seen a couple of those MKSs, they're a lot sexier than Town Cars.

ateixeira

Saw my first one outside of the car show arena. Looked good, orange.

It was owned by the service writer at the local Mazda/VW dealer.

While I was there, I also sat in a Tiguan (too small) and also saw a Routan.

Funny thing about the Routan - the Monroney said it had alloy wheels, but this model had cheap plastic wheel covers over what seemed to me like black steel rims. I pointed it out to the salesmen, who didn't seem to mind.

How about some quality control, VW? Wrong wheels, seriously?

I went there 4 days later to pick up my Miata (had some body work done) and the same sticker was still on that van, so apparently noone cares.

fintail

I saw 2 MB badged Sprinters today. I know the Sprinter is not new, but are they coming with the star already attached now?

I also saw 2 new Fits.

guss

The Sprinter had a Mercedes star and a Dodge name plate ? That is weird.

My company bought a Sprinter 3 years ago and it is tough enough already to get a union member to drive it , I am sure within a week the star would disappear.

kyfdx

Sprinters come badged as MB, Dodge or Freightliner..

Don't think there are any actual differences, other than the badges..

fintail

Today I spotted a new M3 Cabrio and a C63 parked within a couple blocks of each other.

Also, I saw a Genesis...caught the corner of my eye, and without looking at it couldn't decide if it was an Accord or a BMW. So I had to look closer, and I saw what it was. It does have an upmarket look.

boomchek

Fintail, you always seem to spot the nice high end stuff.

I actually saw a VW Phaeton today, and a slammed new M5 with chrome deep dish rims yesterday.

New 2009 Ram just arrived as well to our showrooms. Not bad looking truck.

fintail

Too many people around here with a bit more money than sense, methinks.

I like the C63 a lot for what it offers, but I think AMG cars have lost one of their key values - subtlety.

I see a Phaeton parked on a street near where I live from time to time. They look like a used bargain. Locally I saw an 04 W12 model for under 20K.

boomchek

I'd hate to run into problems with a Phaeton though. I wonder what the advanced electrnics cost to fix. It's pricey enough in a run of the mill Jetta, let a lone a flagship. :surprise:

fintail

Audi parts availiability combined with VW service, sure to be fun as the car ages.

boomchek

Especially stuff like the draft free quad zone electronic climate
control. I bet if the system goes it would cost as muich as a decent used car to fix. :surprise: :lemon:

fintail

I think those cars have a few application-specific bits that will eventually die and never be fixed. Imagine a 15 year old Phaeton with 150K miles on it, needing HVAC and engine management work.

lemko

I imagine at least 2 tons of very prestigious scrap metal.

I saw a 1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche at the Fall Carlisle meet for sale. A sign taped to the windshield claimed "$10,000 in mechanical repairs recently completed." What did he have done? A brake job, an oil change and maybe a radiator flush?

fintail

You're probably not far off on that

fintail

I saw another black C63 today, just like the first. It could have been the same car.

lemko

...one of those new Acura TLs with that weird chrome nose.

lemko

...silver Dodge Nitro at lunchtime today.

ateixeira

Saw my first new model on the roads. Looks better in person than it does in photos.

Basically looks like they modernized the old one...an evolutionary update. Which is exactly what they should have done.

qbrozen

I've been seeing those for about 9 months, maybe more. I guess its just more popular in my area? Although I can't figure out why. Fugly hummer-inspired styling, heavy, bad mileage, low power, etc, etc.

lemko

...silver-gray Dodge Journey - first time I saw one in the "wild."

q45az

New Dodge Challenger's one Black and one silver... Amazing looking machines

andys120

It didn't look much larger than the old design but I recognized the new tail, not-bad-looking if you can't see the grille.

fintail

I've seen a few Challengers in the past couple days. They do have a presence.

boomchek

I'm seeing the all over the place. Saw 3 new ones on Sunday.

Also saw an orange Lambo Gallardo with an N sign in the back. In BC, N signs signify New Drivers (both young and old that just got their license).

The driver of the Gallardo looked like an 18 year old (lucky bum!). He pulled off into an expensive nighbourhood.

fintail

I've noticed quite a few new style Fits around here too. If I had one I think I would rebadge it as a Jazz.

I bet the Lambo has some "custom bodywork" within 6 months or so :sick:

boomchek

That would be funny if someone tries to add a body kit to a Lambo.

stever

Think new teen driver and tree.

Makes for a different kind of bodywork.

fintail

That's exactly what I meant

But I swear I have seen pics of customized Lambos ...so maybe it will have custom bodywork twice.

boomchek

ahhh i get it now. lol. He wasn't speeing though or driving like a maniac.

stever

Not yet, LOL.

lemko

...red Chrysler Sebring retractable hardtop.

ateixeira

And I saw a soft top one this morning.

What bothered me about that car is that the hard top's window is no bigger than the soft top. That's lame. Visibility isn't any better than with the soft top.

Look at the Miata - the hard top is totally different. The rear window is both wider and closer to the driver, so visibility is notably better with the top up. Chrysler should have done the same thing.

I saw a new Fit as well, plus one of those new Jag sedans.

fintail

Spotted another Genesis in traffic today...same color as the one I saw a few weeks ago so I suppose it could be the same one, but it was about 15 miles away. Strangely enough, the driver looked Korean, too. Also saw a MKS.

boomchek

A subaru Impreza STi, pulled up to our showroom.

I like the bulging fenders, quad exhaust, the wheels, and the interior seats. Really nice all around package. Silver color too.

guss

I saw it from behind and thought it was a new Acura because Acuras have gone weird now. Well, at least the MKS is something different from the usual Lincolns, I can't say I loved it but it was OK at best.