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

ghulet · August 2005

....(2006, that is) today, strangely enough, after I had read the entire 2006 discussion forum last night. The one I saw was black or dark blue (it was from the elevated train, so not the best sighting); nicer looking car, certainly, than the last one, but a whole lot less distinctive. The car basically has an old Impala-meets-Accord-meets-Stratus (rear end) look. And what's with the really long front overhang of recent GM cars (the Impala and LaCrosse, in particular)? It's not good.

andys120 · August 2005

I happened to see a couple of 2006 Impalas this weekend, I thought both were huge improvements on the rather insipid looking current style, very clean and sleek looking.
No gimmicky tailights or silver nose band.

One was an SS sporting a big pair of tailights and big (19"?) wheels.

The best looking Chevy sedan since the 970 Malibu(?) :shades:

ateixeira · August 2005

Plenty on my way home today...

BMW 3er
Qvale Mangusta (!)
Saab 9-2 Linear (not new but still uncommon)
Lexus GS

-juice

boomchek · August 2005

LOL, those are true car enthusiasts up there (anythingbutgm, and teds1) if the favourite part of an overseas vacation is seeing a rare exotic car that you rarely spot here.

I am like that too. When my parents returned from their London trip last month and were showing me the photos of the trip, all I was doing is spotting the unique cars parked along the streets that we don't get to see here. :P

anythngbutgm · August 2005

I'll admit it here on the boards, but don't tell my wife... :P

ateixeira · August 2005

In fact I remember people according to what I saw them driving. It's pathetic.

-juice

PF_Flyer · August 2005

But I saw a Mercedes CLS 500on the road today. The sweeping arches of the lines, in almost every direction is what caught my eye. Very "concept car-like" if you know what I mean. It certainly was more striking than the photos of the Mercedes CLS 500 come across on the photo page here.
It's always amazing when a car looks different while it's in motion

lemko · August 2005

Don't know whether this should be here or in the "Spotted an Obscure Car" topic, but last night I saw a medium gray VW Phaeton.

At lunch I saw a new black VW Corolla...er...Jetta.

ateixeira · August 2005

Still seem rare, but I have seen a couple in the past week or so that I forgot to mention.

-juice

xmf314 · August 2005

At lunch I saw a new black VW Corolla...er...Jetta

I have also seen a few VW Corollas...er...Jettas... What were the Volkswagen people thinking?

ateixeira · August 2005

I think their prices just crept up too much lately. An A3 breaks $30 grand easily, even without Quattro or a V6 engine. It's a fancy Golf, for goodness sake. That's where the A4 Avant should be priced, not the A3.

Lots of Jettas sticker for $27-28k and that's not even fully loaded.

I don't know about you, but when I think Jetta I think $20k, not $28k.

-juice

lemko · August 2005

...a Jetta seems high - except for maybe a really loaded one. Whatever happened to the "People's Car?" I remember seeing a concept Bus. Was this project shelved?

ateixeira · August 2005

Yeah, but they're doing some other type of van now.

VW prices are where Audi should be. Audi is way high right now.

-juice

lemmer · August 2005

HHR - looks like a Trailblazer wrecked into a PT Cruiser. Is there anyone left looking for this kind of novelty?

Tribeca - looks like a Murano wrecked into a...I don't know, it just looks somewhat like a Murano with a really ugly front end.

Jetta - I would love to defend it, but I can't. I have to think a GLX with bigger wheels will help in the looks department.

andre1969 · August 2005

Murano wrecked into a '58 Edsel, perhaps? Or one of those old "pregnant" late 40's Packards? :P

ateixeira · August 2005

Murano + Alfa nose?

-juice

kyfdx · August 2005

Umm.. that makes it sound way better than it looks....

ateixeira · August 2005

I think they look good in person, distinctive.

Initial reactions were negative but people seemed to have warmed to the look. I had a press car for 4 days and got a lot of looks with the thumbs up.

-juice

fintail · August 2005

It reminds me of an early 60s Saab

Yesterday I saw a Lambo Murcielago driving down my street, and late last night maybe 11pm I saw some kind of newer Ferrari, it was black..I could hear it and I looked out the window. Couldn't tell what it was though.

kyfdx · August 2005

Reminds me of the girl with a "great personality"..

Just don't look at her face...

andre1969 · August 2005

to pay some homage to Alfa. Unfortunately, narrow, vertical themes on cars rarely worked out well, especially once the 40's set in and hoodlines became lower, while fenders filled out and rose upward. Think of the Tucker's 3rd headlight, the Edsel, the pregnant Packards, some of the beakier Pontiacs and the big Fords and Mercury Montegos with the "poke through" center grille sections. And truth be told, that vertical slit didn't look so hot on some of the Alfas, either.

andre1969 · August 2005

I guess that's what paper bags are for! :P You can also try turning out the lights. But transferred to automotive terms, I guess that means you can only drive it at night, and I don't think they make paper bags THAT big! :shades:

ateixeira · August 2005

I got positive reactions from the people I saw. My nanny liked it, my neighbor (who drives Audis and Volvos) loved it. Some surfers that walked by when I was at the beach gave it the thumbs up, too.

It's a very distinctive look so people that like conservative/boxy are the ones that complain the loudest. That group is a lot more vocal than the people that like it (like me).

-juice

kyfdx · August 2005

The local Cadillac/Subaru dealer sponsors the home show... they park a car in every driveway ($1MM dollar homes)..

My wife, who loves SUVs, came out of the garage of one home, and saw the Tribeca sitting in the driveway... "Ooooh.. what is that? Looks nice"..

Then came around to the front and did a double-take...

I feel the same way.. a very nice vehicle... looks good from about 2/3 of the normal viewing angles..

regards,
kyfdx

ateixeira · August 2005

Frankly, I think it's much ado about nothing. The grille is just 12"x16".

Compare that to a Dodge Ram, and you barely even notice it.

Subaru should offer a chrome delete, though, it would look better with a black mesh insert.

-juice

teds1 · August 2005

I just can't believe that given the negative press and pulic opinon on the shape and design they went ahead and extended it down the line. Now one of my favorite cars (WRX STI) is going to have the "Subaru Schnozz" as well. I guess I will have to hold onto the 04-05' as the last years post bug eye headlights and pre ugly nose. What is is it with the corporate grill nowadays in general. We love the one's that are classic and established... Kidney BMWs, vertical bar jeeps, crosshair dodges, mesh bentleys etc... but none of the redesigns I have seen recently were such hits. The three bar fords are not really worth mentioning, they are pretty bland. The Audi trapezoid is still kind of ugly but since the cars look so good otherwise I'm willing to overlook it. But the Subaru?... I am a devoted Subaru owner and fan but this is really trying my loyalty. I think the tribeca is a tremendous waste of time in general although the dash is really cool and they will probably sell a lot of them despite it's flawed appearance. Bad name Bad grill, suv too late in the game, too much money... There just doesn't seem to be a lot going for it

ateixeira · August 2005

It's selling at about the pace they projected, FWIW.

I don't agree that the press and public opinion was universally negative, as you imply. Plenty of people like it, too. It is polarizing, though, and like I said before, the people that dislike it are more vocal.

Check the Tribeca thread - most bought it because of the styling, not despite it.

-juice

kyfdx · August 2005

Yeah.. while I think that front view is ugly.... BMW got the same reaction from the new 7-series, but went right ahead with the same look on the Z4, 5-series, X3, and now 3-series, and soon... the X5..

People squawked, but you get used to everything...

And besides, I can't see what the car looks like while I'm driving it...

This won't be a make or break deal for Subaru... No one was buying them for the looks, anyway.. ;-)

navigator89 · August 2005

while going to the dentist, I saw plenty of cool things.

First up was a bright Ferrari red Escalade, and then a yellow Corvette ZO6 parked in a house's driveway.

Then another has a green QX56, black Range Rover, black 745Li, silver CLS500, black Escalade, and a beige S500.

Then at my dentist's building there was an Aston Martin DB9 which apparently belongs to the building's owner. However the car was under a cover so I didn't get a good look. There was also a black Range Rover and black 745Li.

Then parked nearby the building was a pearl white SC430 with some very nice, and large chrome DUBS.

But the best part of today was yet to come. There's a car dealership that specializes in fancy cars across the street from the dentist. Usually they have FX45s, Escalades, H2s, but today they had a long, red American looking car, probably from the 60s or so. I could not recognize it. There was also what looked like a black Rolls Royce from the 50s.

But amidst it all, I spotted a white Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R!!!!! This car is so damn rare! I went to Singapore recently, and spotted a grey one there, but it was a sedan. This was the first time I've seen the R34 GT-R! It had some nice yellow brake calipers.

On the way home I spotted an orange Range Rover Sport, and it looks very nice.

The on the highway, traffic slowed. When it picked up again I noticed three almost unrecognizable wrecks on the side of the road. One was a white Maxima, and a white 5 series, and there was an unrecognizable white SUV, probably a Patrol. Those were crumpled so bad it was unreal. The concrete divider had a lot of paint scraped upon it, and broken glass was all over the highway. The people in those cars would NOT have survived, IMO.

fintail · August 2005

SC430 on DUBS...ROFL...should be in the bling thread. Just the thing for a pimpin dentist or CPA

andys120 · August 2005

-A black Isuzu Axiom which was surprisingly attractive for an SUV. Unfortunately it was wearing a garish set of chrome dubs. Those look really silly on something capable of off-road travel.

-A Saab 9-2x, one of the few I have seen, they don't seen to be selling well here in an area generally hospitable to both Saabs and Subarus. This one had Minnesota plates (another Saab/Subaru area.

I haven't seen many Tribecas either which strikes me as weird for the same reason. The one I did see looked surprisingly attractive, it could be a knockout in the right color.

ateixeira · August 2005

I believe those actually gave up the low-range gearing normally offered on the Isuzus. It was their most car-like SUV, if you can call it that.

Tribeca will do low volume (35k/year) due to the prices over $30k. But it should meet targets.

I'm sure Ford builds as many white Explorers in a month. LOL

-juice

forza · August 2005

I saw a burgundy Avalon, a beige Lexus GS and best of all, a silver Porsche 911 Carrera S.

boomchek · August 2005

I actually always liked the Axiom styling but haven't seen too many here as they were never sold in Canada.

Anyways the VW dealer across from our Honda dealer just got a shipment of the 2006 Passats and I am not too keen on their looks. The front and rear overhangs seem too long, and it doesn't have the fluid lines of the previous gen Passats.

You have to see in in person. The Jetta is kinda growing on me though.

ateixeira · August 2005

Haven't seen one yet, but it does look a bit generic for a German sedan.

Saw an M45 at the pool the other day, very nice. The new 5 series next to it just isn't as appealing to me.

-juice

lemko · August 2005

...beautiful red GTO in the Whole Foods parking lot in Jenkintown and a cool red SSR near King of Prussia.

jcat707 · August 2005

I saw this wagon like vehicle called a Nissan X-Trail. It had Canada plates so I'm assuming it is only sold in Canada because I've never seen one here. Also I saw this Buick pass me on the freeway. It had manufacturer plates. It looked like the LaCrosse from the side but the rear was flat and had lights like the Corolla and Jetta

ateixeira · August 2005

I know that in Canada they use a different name for that model because of it's slang term in French.

-juice

lemko · August 2005

...is called the Allure in Canada.

boomchek · August 2005

Unless it wasn't even a Lacrosse/Allure you saw but maybe the new Lucerne (especially if it had manufacturer plates).

Do you guys not get the Nissan X-Trail in the States? Just curious.

kyfdx · August 2005

A new '06 BMW 330i in Sparkling Graphite...

I know they are selling a lot of these... but, I rarely see one...

ateixeira · August 2005

Nope, we never got it. I think Nissan made a mistake there. The XTerra appeals to a different crowd, they could have had a double whammy.

-juice

teds1 · September 2005

I saw the big boy Aston two days ago on Park Ave. Stunning but I don't understand why one would purchase it with the better looking (although it's really close) and significantly cheaper DB9 out there. My "uninterested in cars," girlfriend can't tell the three astons apart in a picture I showed her. Seems odd, but I wish the biggest problem I had was choosing which one to buy.

BTW did anyone see the photos of the Ford Iosis Concept for Frankfurt?...

I really hope that is their new styling direction!

ateixeira · September 2005

Yeah, I saw that. Name reminds me of "halitosis", but then they always pick odd names (SynUS sounded like "sinus" last year).

-juice

anythngbutgm · September 2005

What you are about to see are some super secret, candid shots of what appears to be the next gen Buick Rendevous. These pics are illegal and should not be posted anywhere else.

Repeat: these are ILLEGAL spyshots of the 07' Rendevous:
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Saw my first HHR in red today. A blatant ripoff of the PT if there ever was one

xmf314 · September 2005

LOL!

fintail · September 2005

Finally saw a new Passat on the road yesterday...in a little podunk coastal town where there's no VW dealer for maybe 75 miles. Not bad looking.

ghulet · September 2005

....but I have seen two or three new 3-series. Anyone know when the new Civic will hit the road (in Chicago, or anywhere else)? I'm dying to see the sedan.

ateixeira · September 2005

Saw a red Elise on my way to work today. Very sharp in that color.

Also saw a Lexus GS, they seem to be selling well around here.

-juice

navigator89 · September 2005

a silver Mustang driven by some high school kid, and then a white Chrysler 300C, and a black STS.Thats my 4th Mustang, and 5th 300C and 4th STS.

I know these are common cars, but I live in the Middle East and they''re still coming here. The Armada took over a year to arrive here.

Damn...that means I'll have quite a while to see the new Fusion, H3, and the lastest GM fullsize trucks/SUVs.

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

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