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

bumpy

looks like a cross between a Veracruz and a Rondo, with taillights from those Volvo XC wagons. Does not resemble an Elantra in any meaningful way.

ghulet

....today at the grocery store; kind of resembles a 7/8 scale xB, but it's uglier. It also, due to its narrow stance and smallish greenhouse, doesn't look like it has too much room, either.

anythngbutgm

3 new Challengers, 2 Red R/T models and a smokin hot Black SRT.

Also a ton of Venza's, new Pilot's, a few GLK's, new model Accord's in every color and trim level out there and a few new Lexus RX's. Even cooler than any of these was a Porsche festival that was in the area and seeing a dozen or so old 356 Speedsters wizzing by.

ateixeira

I saw a gorgeous yellow 356, I'll guess about 1964 or so, on a trailer on I-270 in MD. Last night so he must have been coming back from the same event.

fintail

Today - a bright red Soul and my second smiley faced Mazda 3.

kyfdx

I've seen my first few in the wild, the last couple of weeks..

It really looks like a cartoon car... Without the big star on the grill, it could be the Kia Soul's big brother....

A poor showing by Mercedes.. I like the look of most of their cars, but this one and the R-Class... what were they thinking?

ateixeira

I couldn't agree more.

And the new ML looks so good, too. They should have just done a mini-ML.

The GLK looks stubby, too upright and maybe even a bit dorky.

The R class is avoid and not as well executed as Benz' own B-class.

I pretty much like the whole lineup minus the R and GLK.

anythngbutgm

My wife and I both agree the GLK looks like the last gen Forester. I think it's the big wheels that throw off the whole profile.

ateixeira

You think?

I owned one of those, I guess the tall greenhouse has a bit of resemblance.

The GLK is fat on the bottom half, though, while the old Forester was low and more sleek. The GLK has that bulldog look to it.

lemko

...white Pontiac G6 retractable hardtop with top down.

fintail

I've seen three new Insights in the past 2 days.

lemko

Amazing! How can you distinguish them from Pruises without seeing the "H?"

fintail

The rear quarter treatment is different. They are less dorky than a Prius, but attracting the same basic customer no doubt.

ateixeira

They're not dorky, they are GEEK CHIC!

andys120

They are less dorky than a Prius, but attracting the same basic customer no doubt.

I doubt it. The Prius appeals to a crowd that wants to proclaim "Look at me, I"m getting better mileage than you, saving the environment etc."

The first Insight with it's even more outre styling said the same thing but was too small to be successful. This new Insight looks like it could be a Civic hatch. I think it'll be a huge success for Honda.

lemko

Wow, if only the dorky clothes Mom bought for me from the 1973 Sears and Roebuck catalog could still fit, I could be GEEK CHIC!!! Hey, where did that wallet inspector go? :confuse:

bhill2

Actually, I don't think they are after the same customers. The Prius is larger, better fitted, and more expensive. I think the Insight targets a younger and/or less affluent customer than the Prius, although they will both tend to be tree huggers. Oh by the way, the Prius is also more efficient and gets better mileage than the Insight. One of the reasons that it is more expensive.

fintail

I agree with that much, the Insight will be a hit. I might actually even prefer it if I had to choose between it and its counterpart. I bet it drives better, anyway.

But I see both going to the enviro-chic types.

fintail

Other than gas mileage, how is the Prius more efficient? More efficient use of profit margins? :P

fezo

Sorry. You can't use 1973 and chic in the same sentence. It's so wrong....

stever

My wife has expressed interest in checking out the Insight.

But I'm the one that graduated in '73, not her. Geek is the new dork (and thank goodness for that eh?).

kyfdx

Let me guess.. Toughskin jeans?

ateixeira

Insight costs more than early forecasts thought. Edmunds had one article where the estimated starting price was $18 grand.

Turns out with freight it starts at close to $21 grand. :surprise:

And it is smaller than the Prius, plus Toyota has a base 2010 Prius with a price very nearly the same as the base Insight.

Honda missed an opportunity, IMHO. Either that or Toyota got smart and de-contented the base Prius to remain competitive. The starting prices are only about a grand apart IIRC.

ateixeira

First a black Challenger SRT8. Very nice, lots of presence.

It was right next to a new BMW 328i sedan and I swear the BMW was completely invisible. The Challenger is so much wider, grabs so much more attention.

I liked the car on the show stands but out on the street it stands out even more, and it's not even my type of car.

Another unique car, and get this: a one-off, custom Cadillac Deville 4 door....convertible! :shades:

I wonder about the structure for that hack job but it looked GREAT. Total flashback to the big convertible barges of the 60s and 70s. I thought it was so cool.

stever

You can get a nice Miata for that. :-)

ateixeira

True but it would take 3 of them. I think that DHS-C could seat 6!

lemko

...it was a Volvo but looked like it had some Pacer DNA in it. The rear end of the car looked like that of a frog with a HUGE back window. I couldn't get close enough to see the model designation.

stever

Well, not to go too far afield, if you want to see a weird looking car that has some Miata lines...



IL Track Tested: '93-'94 Mazda Miata LeMons Racer (Straightline)

bumpy

Volvo C30:


supposed to be a retro-type version of the old P1800ES:

ateixeira

The C30 looks great in person. Best back side in the business, IMHO.

stever

I saw a C30 last week too. The taillights are very distinctive. I didn't make the connection with the P1800ES though, although I used to see one often. (In real life, not on The Saint).

imidazol97

Looks like this



and this

ateixeira

Not really, the Volvo frames the glass in an attractive way and doesn't look, um, how do I say this and not get banned, fat-bottomed?

bumpy

The Pinto maybe, but the Pacer not so much. Of course, the Volvo came out several years before the other two.

bhill2

Other than gas mileage, how is the Prius more efficient? More efficient use of profit margins?

OK, point well taken. The sense of my statement was that I think that techie types, especially those whose techiness has resulted in their having money, will tend to gravitate to the Prius, whereas the Insight will appeal more to those for whom purchase price is more of an object.

fezo

Another unique car, and get this: a one-off, custom Cadillac Deville 4 door....convertible!

Dang! I almost had an accident!.... Sweet! That's enough to turn me into another lemko...

bhill2

I didn't make the connection with the P1800ES though, although I used to see one often. (In real life, not on The Saint).

Oh Steve, forgive me but I can't help myself. The Saint didn't drive a P1800ES. He drove a P1800 (or 1800E); anyway, the coupe version.

stever

I knew someone was going to say that. I get sloppy about model numbers. The one I kept seeing back in the 90's was the ES with the big sloopy piece of glass on the hatch.

ateixeira

It was sweet. I almost pulled up and asked him if he would be willing to sell it.

BTW, saw another Challenger today, this one an R/T.

fintail

I saw a 2010 (W212) E-class parked at my local MB Dealer today. I went back around the block to take a look, and someone was driving it off the lot, presumably on a demo run. I will stop by again tomorrow, hoping to check it out.

bumpy

Mustang convertible with weird taillights, presumably the new 2010.

lemko

...orange Dodge Challenger in the Drive-Thru at the local Dunkin' Donuts.

lmp180psu

Hyundai Genesis Coupe in dark gray. Looked nice even with the 'smaller' (18") wheels.

fintail

Today I went and checked out the W212 2010 E-class I spotted at my local dealer. The car is a moderately equipped E350 - sport package, pano roof, nav.

The styling is odd to me - somehow it gives me a strong sense of large Honda DNA. The front is very odd to me as there's really no front bumper, the grille drops right off. I guess that's the trend. I could live with the styling, but it doesn't seem either revolutionary or evolutionary to me. It's just kind of there. Inoffensive. I do appreciate the heritage-themed accent line above the rear wheel opening, which is influenced by pontons and fintails.

The interior was excellent - quality of materials and fit and finish seemed top notch. This car should be on a success, as it improves some of the iffy interior quality seen in W211 cars.

Here's a couple phone pics I took:

ateixeira

Saw a couple of those at the beach this weekend, Ocean City, MD. They don't look nearly as good as the outgoing "retro 1967" models.

Also saw a Kia Soul, all white, this morning. Those things are TALL. Nearly as tall as the new MDX in front it.

ateixeira

Exterior styling peaked with the previous model, which was timeless and looked good the day it came out.

I agree the front bumper (or lack thereof) is a bit odd, but it's probably due to pedestrian crash standards in Europe.

Overall is looks like it was inspired by the little C-class, but somehow didn't turn out as elegant, and it should be more elegant, not less.

fintail

The W210 and W211 have aged pretty well, and are the basic design most people seem to associate with MB today. This new design, with the 'edgy' theme being embraced by lemminglike designers everywhere, is not timeless, and could look dated with the next fad emerges. The W211 was an evolutionary step from the W210 - this one abandons that old path.

I guess the lack of a bumper doesn't matter when it is often the same piece as the fascia anyway. If you damage it, it is replaced whether or not it protrudes an inch.

ateixeira

There seems to be almost no crumple zone at all before the hood, though.

fintail

It reminds me of the front end theme of the current CTS.

The previous E 'bumper' was a very small extension on the front end...maybe it doesn't make a difference...but its a new look for MB. The C and S have just a tiny bit more of a hint of a traditional bumper shape.

andys120

Kia's new Soul seems to be a popular item around here. I took a good look at a parked one and was impressed by the quality of fit/finish inside and out. Reports are that the car does not live up to the promise of it's offbeat styling which is a shame as it's a refreshing change from the drab, copycat styling of most Hyun/Kia designs.