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

qbrozen

Saw my first MKS today.

positive: its unique and stands out

negative: its very tall (was behind it as we drove past many other cars, and it seemed to fall just between a minivan and 300C). And what the heck is up with the upturned rearend? I could see everything up to and including the rear suspension. Very unattractive from that angle and once the exhaust pipes start to gather rust, it will look HORRIBLE.

andys120

I saw a new silver A5 coupe today. It was great looking even in a bland color like silver, makes the competition at Mercedes and BMW (CLK & 6 Series) look like last decade's cars.

It's the first one I've seen outside of an Auto Show or showroom.

lemko

...white Mercedes CL550 on Oxford and Cottman in NE Philly.

ateixeira

Looks decent, though I'm not convinced it should cost more than a Passat. For the price it seemed a bit ordinary.

qbrozen

Actually, according to the quick take I just read in ... I think C&D ... the 2.0T CC is actually a few hundred bucks cheaper than a comparably equipped normal passat.

ateixeira

Really?

I guess I didn't realize the Passat had crept up in price so much.

Of course I test drove a Passat 1.8T in 1998, so it's been a while!

fintail

The loaded 4cyl CC I looked at was 35K. A pretty car with an excellent looking interior...but that's a pretty penny.

On the new car front I saw another new TL yesterday. That design is just a mess. The TSX can almost carry it, but the TL is a nightmare compared to the nice looking previous model.

texases

"On the new car front I saw another new TL yesterday. That design is just a mess. The TSX can almost carry it, but the TL is a nightmare compared to the nice looking previous model. "

Same reaction to the TL at the Dallas car show. One other bad trend-instead of shiney chrome-plated plastic grilles, lots of makers are now going to matte-finished chrome work. Didn't look good to me. :lemon:

fintail

I have noticed the TL kind of carries the hokey shield design at front and back, while the sides are forgettable blandness. Did Honda hire the Aztek design crew?

The matte finish chrome, which usually looks like plain old silver paint, doesn't give an air of quality.

texases

I'm going to give Acura the benefit of the (great) doubt - lots of cars are now showing up with tall grilles and hoods, thanks to the EU. I wonder if the Acura "shield" is part of meeting those pedestrian crash requirements? Like the 'nose' on many recent Toyotas? (equally ugly, to me)

fintail

I think the TL might be a NA-market-only product, or maybe NA and Japan...I don't know of they are sold in Europe. I know the RL exists there, but it isn't offensive. I believe they are just trying to develop a corporate styling theme, like the Europeans have done for generations...although I am sure the ugly high front does help in dubious pedestrian regulations.

boomchek

I haven't seen too many of the new TLs, at least not up close to be able to have a good look.

I'll reserve my judgement to when I go to our Auto Show. The trunk lid crease though reminds me of the old CL coupe.

fintail

My eyes! Ouch!

That rear shield...I just can't like it. What's the point of that?

Oh yeah, the auto show is coming in a few weeks...I'll be coming to Van for that too

lemko

I can almost see the "Decepticons" logo painted on that shield-like surface. The TL's "beak" has the purpose of opening very large old-school beer cans.

kyfdx

I'd like to have one of those beers...

fintail

My theory behind it all is that BMW has seen massive success with questionable designs that are pretty much different for the sake of being different. Acura wants to see if this can help them now.

These just aren't cohesive designs.

boomchek

Also I don't know if I read it here, but I heard the trunk access into ther TL is inconvenient due to the shape of the trunk lid.

Let me know which day you'll be down here fintail, maybe I'll run into you at the show.

fintail

I'll be there for several days, an acquaintance of mine has a vacant condo near there they rent out now and then, so I have it for about a week, a nice mini-holiday. Are you working the show, or does your dealership do that?

boomchek

Our dealership had a day allocated at the show last year and I worked it. However this year the show has been cut to only 5 days I think, so not sure if we get a day. I usually end up going 2-3 times every year anyways, so there's a good chance we can meet there.

fintail

Do you actually sell anything via the show?

I noticed on the website it's shorter this year. Somehow I prefer it to the Seattle show...easier access to the highline cars, and the venue is more fun. I have that entire week free, so something will work.

imidazol97

>Did Honda hire the Aztek design crew?

That was my thought when I saw one.

boomchek

By law we're not supposed to doi any transactions at the show, so no, we can't sell.

Last year a customer wanted to buy a Cahllenger, so we whisked him back to our dealership where he laid a fat deposit on one.

stever

You mean the dealer is afraid that the buyer could try the three day cooling off period rule and try to back out of the sale if a car was sold at the show? I don't think that's an issue from some links I found a year or so ago. link

kyfdx

In Ohio, dealers aren't permitted to sell off-site.. (including the car show) I always assumed that it had something to do with the three day, right of recission laws..

However, in KY, the local dealer association will have a big "tent sale", anywhere there is a huge parking lot (university, race track), and all of the dealers will trundle their stock over there, and can sell freely.

Just two examples..

fintail

Probably a tough venue to get a sale anyway...so many lookie-loos. Of course, if one is spending $10 to look at cars, a few might be serious.

Maybe I will ask the MB guys weird technical questions about the cars and receive puzzled looks in return....that's always fun. Either that or asking when each model will finally come here in diesel form.

boomchek

No it's not that. We don't have a cooling off period in British Columbia. We (dealers) are governed by a motor dealer council that isseus licenses to premises and salespeople selling cars. A dealer that wants to sell off site, like at an auto show, needs to apply for a seperate license which in most cases is not worth the money time and hassle just for a 5 day show.

Hence there is no selling at the auto show.

It's easier to bring the customer from the show to our dealership. Or to take their name and number. Besides the vehicles at the show are usually not dealer owned, but manufacturer owned and travel across counrty during the show season, so we cna't even sell those if we wanted to.

stever

Ok, but why are you there if you aren't "selling"?

Seriously, are you paid to attend and do you hang out at the cars your dealer sells to answer questions and chat folks up? (I don't want to know if you have to wear an evening gown and heels :P ).

berri

New TL looks like it has a shovel up its [non-permissible content removed].

boomchek

We're there to gather potential leads, and to answer questions. We dont' get paid but attendance is on a voluntarily basis. Usually we do end up winning stuff from the manufacturer for being there.

stever

mmm, swag. Thanks!

guss

New TL looks like it has a shovel up its [non-permissible content removed].

The next TL I see I will be trying hard to get that image out of my head. Five or 5 years ago Acura had the most clean designs around . Did their lead designer leave ?

ateixeira

I think it peaked at least one generation ago.

I can see why they want a family resemblance, but I don't like chrome and they seem to have a lot of it, and the fake stuff at that.

boomchek

chrome and they seem to have a lot of it, and the fake stuff at that.

I can imagine, you tap it and it gives off a plasticky vibration and feel.

ateixeira

Thing is - I like the overall shape.

I know the RL wasn't selling well, but it looked better before this latest face-lift.

boomchek

I liked the line of the RL before the facelift too. Really well balanced, well proportioned. I imagine it must be a great used car bargain, just like previous RLs were.

lemko

...of the Acura RL, but the exterior is hideous! I guess it's a great car if you don't step outside it and look at it.

ateixeira

Nah, it may be slightly bland, but it's pretty unoffensive.

fintail

That's the TL

andys120

four door sedan, looks like a cross between a Sentra and a Versa, sized right between them. Sonora license plate, dealer tag from Nogales, Son.

kyfdx

In a "panel van" configuration... No back doors... Used as a small delivery/repair vehicle, I'm guessing.... In white...

Didn't even know they came this way..

bumpy

Tiida IS the Versa.

bumpy

Yep, GM kicked that one out a year or so ago. Local Chevy dealer has had a white one on the lot for a few months now.

guss

A painter near my work has an HHR configured that way with a roof rack. It actually looks pretty practical.

kyfdx

I agree.... my only issue would be that it's front-wheel drive... You couldn't really load it up, like a van...

Great for light stuff, though...

texases

Kinda like this?

kyfdx

Yeah..... only about 1% of the cool factor, though..

Actually, it looked 3 times better than a regular HHR...

imidazol97

I kind of like the HHR. If it only had bench or split seats...

stever

I agree.... my only issue would be that it's front-wheel drive... You couldn't really load it up, like a van...

What kind of load are we talking about for a FWD van anyway?

a modest load

~550 sq ft of flooring

Anyone see a Kia Soul in the wild yet?

ateixeira

Now that's a big load!

No Soul yet.

kyfdx

Neil Young says that, "even Richard Nixon has got SOUL.."