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

navigator89 · April 2005

At my high school, several kids own some really fancy cars. I'll list them for you.

Black Hummer H2 SUT with some huge chrome rims
Yellow Hummer H2 also with some big chrome rims
Black 2003 Lexus GS300
White Porsche Cayenne S
Maroon Porsche Cayenne S
Black Nissan Patrol
Silver Mercedes ML55 AMG
Blue GMC Yukon
White Cadillac Escalade ESV
Orange Nissan 350Z

and the list goes on and on. By the way, at the mall I saw an orange Lamborghini Murcielago and a blue Lamborghini Gallardo as well as a maroon Bentley Continental and finally about three Ferrari 360 Modenas. All were driven by young kids, maybe 20-25. Lucky guys......

andys120 · April 2005

#@$%#$* most of the kids I went to high school didn't even own wheels let alone
Benzes and Porsches. What HS was this, Beverly Hills? :-(

davem2001 · April 2005

Not sold in the US? Never heard of it...I assume it's some type of SUV

navigator89 · April 2005

This high school is the American School of Kuwait. You find some pretty cool cars here in Kuwait, however a lot of the models that you have in America aren't sold here. For example, there is no Acura, Pontiac Buick or Saturn. Infiniti is here, but you don't get some models like the G35 sedan, and I haven't seen the M35/M45 sedan either.

Here are cars that you have in America, but are not sold here.

Toyota Sienna (we get a newer Previa)
Toyota Matrix (we have a Corolla wagon)
Toyota Corolla (ours looks different on the outside)
Toyota Sequoia
Honda Element
Chevrolet Malibu and Impala (we have the Caprice and Lumina, they are rebadged Holden vehicles. The Lumina SS coupe is your GTO)
Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego
Mercury Monterey
Ford Freestyle
Dodge Magnum
Chrysler Pacfica

There are few more that I forget. What do you think is the most popular SUV and car in America? Here the most popular car is the Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis, and the most popular SUV is either the GMC Yukon/Chevrolet Tahoe or the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.

navigator89 · April 2005

You're right, the Nissan Patrol is an SUV. It seats about seven or eight, and it's a really good vehicle to take off-road. It's bigger than a Pathfinder, but slightly smaller than an Armada. It's pretty popular amongst Arabs here. Speaking of the Armada, it was just launched here a month ago. America has had since last year.

Here's a pic of the Patrol.

http://www.trader.pl/images%5Cpl%5Cbig_images%5Cnissan_patrol_gr_2.jpg

http://www.pentayitisrentals.com/images/nissan_patrol.jpg

davem2001 · April 2005

Just curious, what is the price of gasoline there? dirt cheap, right?

On the original topic, I saw a Lotus Elise last night, first time I've ever seen one on the road - British Racing Green.

andys120 · April 2005

Dang, it looks as if the Nissan Patrol has undergone the same evolution as the Toyo LC, the early ones were small JeepCJ-like stump jumpers.

navigator89 · April 2005

Dirt cheap? It's incredibly cheap. Here it is 0.060 KWD, which is like 20 cents per litre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No wonder every other vehicle you see here is either an Expedition, Yukon/Tahoe or a Suburban. As I mentioned earlier in post #862, the most popular cars here are the Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis, Chevrolet Caprice Classic 1980-1989 and the Chevrolet Caprice 1990-1996.

Here are some other cars that seniors at my high school own.

Beige Cadillac SRX
Black Mercury Mountaineer
Beige GMC Yukon
Brown Lexus LS400
White Land Rover Range Rover
Yellow Chevrolet Silverado

The owner of our school himself has a blue Ferrari Maranello, white BMW 745Li, red Hummer H2, white GMC Yukon XL, and a silver Porsche Cayenne. And these are just the cars that I've seen. Imagine what else he has!!!!!

ateixeira · April 2005

Yeah, they get the ForTwo in Canada.

Drove by a Freestyle on the way in to work today. Still, not that many out there given the amount of time on the market.

-juice

fintail · April 2005

I saw an Audi A3 sport wagon thing (I think thats what it is, a small 4 door hatch) today , near the Porsche/Audi dealer in Bellingham WA.

a_l_hubcaps · April 2005

I drove through Philly today and I saw THREE different 2005.5 Jettas! All of them were loaded cars too, with the sunroof and alloys. Interestingly, I saw even more Jetta billboards than Jetta cars. I counted 6 billboards on 95. After I saw the three cars (all fairly early in the trip), I was pretty surprised because I really didn't think the new Jetta would be a hot seller, particularly the loaded $26,XXX models. Then a conspiracy theory occurred to me: Could VW be hiring people to drive new Jettas up and down 95, as a counterpart to the billboard blitz? Sounds silly, but I was just shocked that I saw 3 of the things so soon after launch. I notice cars, and I almost never see so many of a new model that quick -- particularly here in PA, where people tend to drive older/cheaper cars. When I used to live in NJ, the average age of cars on the road seemed to be quite a bit lower than it is here.

-Andrew L

fintail · April 2005

I was in the hood and stopped by the dealer...and lo and behold, the A3 was sitting out. I snapped a couple pics. It's a pretty neat little package. Sticker was around 25K IIRC

andys120 · April 2005

The local dealer here is advertising that he has a demo A3, gis ad illustrates a black one like the one in your pic. Looks good to me.

kyfdx · April 2005

Yeah, but no Quattro for that price..

I priced one out the way I would want it.. pretty loaded, but not everything.. Almost $31K... Then I noticed... NO QUATTRO for that price... Add another $2K for that... Now, almost $33K... yikes..

ateixeira · April 2005

Looks solid, IMHO. But the Golf is kinda funky looking, and the mainstream model should've gotten the A3's styling.

Still, sedans are what Americans buy, so the Jetta is the one that matters.

-juice

navigator89 · April 2005

spotted a silver Bentley Continental in the fast lane today, doing at least 120km/h. What a magnificent car! I can't wait for the sedan, the Flying Spur.

ateixeira · April 2005

Saw it in NY, that thing is just imposing...

What is a flying spur, anyway?

-juice

teds1 · April 2005

I hate to say this but they are actually getting common in NYC right now. I am averaging about three a week. From what I've seen just poking around ( wishfully) they aren't selling at premiums and there seem to be plenty in stock. I thought there was a year waiting list. Anyway, I'm not complaining because they are awesome looking. Definitely the ride of choice for all the Greenwich CT venture capitalists and hedge fund guys. I wonder about that back seat though, is it large like a CL Merc (you can kinda get back there), or is it more Jag XK ( maybe a small dog could get back there... sideways) Anybody been in one?

ateixeira · April 2005

Avalon. This car has got to take the cake for quickest sales upon launch. I see them all the time.

OK, well, maybe Odyssey beats it, but that's about it.

-juice

andys120 · April 2005

-A black GTO, prolly an ' 04, nice looking but I noticed the badge on the flank was slightly askew (tsk, tsk).

-A Caddy STS, the first I've seen, Alpine white driven by a 60ish female who looked like a traditional Caddy type. Nicer looking than in photos which tend to make them look a tad bland IMO, I thought it was sharp looking except for the boxy trunk.

ateixeira · April 2005

STS does look better in person. Mainly I think a license plate breaks up the monotony on the front bumper.

-juice

andre1969 · April 2005

but I got a chance to ride in a PT Cruiser convertible today. I was walking out during lunchtime to go to the bank and get something to eat, when I see one of my friends parked out in front of the building. His daughter works in my building, and he used to work here, too. Well, he normally has a silver 300C, but it had to go in the shop because of some sensor that needed to be replaced. This convertible was his loaner.

One thing I'll say for it, is that it's actually a nice little car. I can fit in it, both front and back, and it has a nice, high, 40's/early-mid 50's seating position. It's a decent little 4-seater. One thing I don't like about it though, is that in the back my head is actually higher than the "basket handle" roll bar! It's annoying because it lines up roughly with my eyesight, but it also makes me wonder how much good this thing would do me in a rollover! Overall though, I do like the open, airy feeling you get with the top down. Kinda like an old convertible. One thing I don't like about some of the current convertibles is that you sit so low, and the beltline is so high, with a windshield that curves back almost over top of you, that even with the top down, I still feel like I'm inside. With the PT and it's relatively upright windshield and high seating position, I don't get that feeling.

It was a silver GT model with leather, turbo, etc, and a sticker price of around $29,700. Lots of hard plastic inside, and not a whole lot of soft-touch stuff, but it made me think of a subject that comes up in these forums from time to time, about "plastic is plastic". Well, it's not. This interior was kind of an off-white/creme/pearl color, and I thought it looked nice. The hard plastic has kind of an "elephant grain" to its texture, similar to the hard plastic in my Intrepid. I thought it was pleasing to the eye, if not to the touch.

One thing I thought was a bit odd, though...every time I got in this car, I'd forget to put my seatbelt on! And usually that's a reflex for me! You'd think that, getting in a convertible with the top down, putting the seatbelt on would be the FIRST thing on my mind!

ateixeira · April 2005

Those have impressive leg room, more than a lot of bigger cars. And reliability has been good in ratings.

I'm not a fan of the interior, though.

-juice

kyfdx · April 2005

Looks nice, if you go for the wagons...

merc1 · April 2005

I have finally seen an Aston-Martin Vanquish on the road actually being driven by a live person. This car has been out since what 2002? I was starting to think it only existed for magazine articles and auto shows.

Some recent lookers I've spotted, the Mercedes CLS. Stunning on the road, imo.

You're right about the Avalon they're like all over the place. A really large and very unnattractive car imo. A car that still looks so good everytime I see one despite the fact that its old as dirt is the Jaguar XK8/R. Talk about timeless.

I saw a Lamborghini Gallardo too, but it was during a mild snow we had here a few months back. Have awd I guess will travel.

M

xkss · April 2005

I saw a new Cadillac STS a few weeks ago and really liked it a lot.

I saw a new MB CLS and it was stunning. It blows the new 5 series out of the water.

I've see a coupe of new Pontiac GTOs and it looks better in person than in pictures.

I can hardly wait for the next Jaguar XK which will use the new XJ's aluminum chassis and it will have to comply with new European pedestrian safety regulations.

I've only seen one Vanquish, but it was gorgeous.

I've seen a couple of new Corvettes on the road and I really like the rear end and the fenders which go into the doors like a C2 and C3 Corvette.

I've seen a new 5 series on the road and thought it looked worse in person. It just looks like a Korean car, more so in white. The 7 series looks out of proportion. The X3 looks cheap with its black bumpers.

ateixeira · April 2005

Saw a Freestyle and yet another Avalon.

Also saw a Dodge Viper, not new because it was the convertible that had that old toupee-looking hard top. Yellow.

-juice

kyfdx · April 2005

In Louisville.. Had KY temporary tags, but a license plate bracket from Bentley of Downers Grove (Chicago).

Not sure what model.... the basic (?) four-door sedan.. brand new.. Stunning.. After seeing it, it made me think that the new Chrysler 300 got a lot of styling cues from this car.

regards,
kyfdx

navigator89 · April 2005

just spotted a black Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII being tailgated upon by a red Porsche Cayenne (ugly). Lancers are pretty common around here, but the Lancer Evolution just gives an awesome feeling of speed just watching it go. Must be the body kit and spoiler.

Also spotted a white Bentley Arnage today. Nice car, but the new Flying Spur looks better.

teds1 · April 2005

I spotted an SLR McLaren on the west side highway on Friday. It was going south and turned at a light in midtown right in front of me. They look soooo cool in person, but that is definitely the first one I've seen in the street. I also saw a maserati gransport parked the same day

ateixeira · April 2005

Saw another today, but I might be seeing the same one again. Dark Blue with temporary tags, so she must've just bought it.

-juice

andys120 · April 2005

It's not often I see two new cars of British origin in a single day but today I saw a brand new Jag S-Type R and a new Mini convertible, both in dark green and lookin' pretty good by me.

I also saw a couple of new Honda Ridgelines, the second was towing an E-Type Jaguar production racer thereby making good use of the reputed 5000lb towing capcy.

kyfdx · April 2005

S55 AMG

Nice!!

ateixeira · April 2005

Haven't spotted one yet. I wonder if they got off to a good sales start.

-juice

davem2001 · April 2005

I've only seen one of them on the road so far.

I've seen a few new Avalons - they look better to me in person than in pictures

kyfdx · April 2005

I saw one Friday, when I took my CR-V in for an oil change..

The one they had in the showroom was the top trim level... $33,XXX + about $2K in accessories on it.. I've only seen two on the road..

The only thing that I don't like is the transition from the passenger area to the bed.. It is a downward sloping angle and looks a little off.. By contrast, the Avalanche looks a little "cleaner" (just in the transition area, not overall).

regards,
kyfdx

ateixeira · April 2005

I think they call them.

I think normal crew cab trucks are oddly proportioned. Like 3 boxes. Honda was probably trying to mask that.

-juice

navigator89 · April 2005

Spotted a silver Jaguar X Type wagon today in the fast lane of the highway. It looks like a nice car, I wonder how it will compare with the rest of the cras in the class, such as the C Class wagon, Volvo V50, Audi A4 Avant.

lemko · April 2005

...two Pontiac G6s - one silver, the other black. Last night I saw a black Ford 500.

kyfdx · April 2005

New Mercedes SLK, with the top down.. I'll take one..

andre1969 · April 2005

to be fair, there isn't a whole lot you can do to a crew cab truck that has a tiny bed in back. None of them look proportioned correctly, IMO. The only crew cabs I think look "correct" are the ones with a standard 8 foot bed. But then you have about 22 feet of truck to pilot around, which is a helluva a price to pay for being "proportionally correct"!

I seriously doubt that we'll ever see anything that's a crew cab with a <6 foot bed that ever looks "correct".

ateixeira · April 2005

Look how long a Dakota is, and that's not even full-sized.

Saw an SL500 at lunch just now, though they aren't exactly new.

-juice

andre1969 · April 2005

218.8" for the Dakota, regardless of whether you get the crew cab or the club cab. I think my '85 Silverado, with its 8 foot bed, is "only" 212...

kyfdx · April 2005

Aw heck, andre...

That new LeMans is 208", right?

ateixeira · April 2005

Does that make it a "compact".

-juice

fintail · April 2005

I saw my first G6 that I vividly remember on the road today. Kind of a maroon/burgundy with chrome wheels. Not a bad looking car...but at the same time, not a revolution.

I am seeing 500s and the Murcury sibling almost daily.

davem2001 · April 2005

I've been seeing more and more of them lately. Not bad looking, not great either....To me, the styling of them isn't the biggest problem, it's the pushrod engine and the 4-speed auto.

ateixeira · April 2005

...and MSRPs in the $28k range.

Hyundai offers more technology in their powertrains for $10 grand less.

-juice

davem2001 · April 2005

Well, we all know that the MSRP on a GM is sorta irrelevant, you're going to get a $4000 rebate and the 0% financing, but yeah....$28K is way too high

ateixeira · April 2005

But it's just silly with GM. A 3 year old model might be worth $10 grand used, how can they even put that kind of price on the window? Some luxury brand cars sticker for less.

-juice

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

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