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

stever · July 2014

The mosquitos are still pretty challenging after our wet winter/spring. Better them than the biting flies.

Was actually a great day here; yesterday was a bit too warm. Sunny but cooler; would be perfect top down weather. Just don't stop and let the skeeters catch up with you.

fintail · July 2014

Spotted a white Canine-Hundred today, in traffic, couldn't tell if rental or not.

fintail · July 2014

Saw an ELR at the dealer, and an M235i in a parking lot.

Michaell · July 2014

@fintail said:
Saw an ELR at the dealer, and an M235i in a parking lot.

I think I can one up you - I saw an ELR in the wild, with temp tags on it.

fintail · July 2014

Ooh, a private plated ELR, definitely haven't seen one of those. I saw it at the dealer again this morning. It'll be a tough sell here, where all of the wealthy tech dorks adore Tesla.

@Michaell said:

qbrozen · July 2014

And rightly so since we're talking similar money for significantly more performance, room, comfort, utility, etc. The whole idea of the ELR is ridiculous, IMHO.

fintail · July 2014

I almost think the ELR was conceived before product planners knew about the Tesla - and by the it was ready, it was too late. A big "oh crap" from the development team, no doubt. Future rarity.

@qbrozen said:
And rightly so since we're talking similar money for significantly more performance, room, comfort, utility, etc. The whole idea of the ELR is ridiculous, IMHO.

berri · July 2014

Speaking of the ELR, and maybe Caddy's in general, I wonder when the industry styling trends will move back to these more angular looks? I think I see bit of that influence in things like the new Sonata or maybe even a bit in the new Avalon in the rear fast back. Of course, I don't think mileage and performance requirements will ever bring back something like a '66 Plymouth Fury or Ford LTD sedan My current wish is to kill off all of the large fish mouth front ends, and that includes the Lexus "spindle" and it's spillover into some of the newer Toyota's.

stever · July 2014

Er, you want more angular? Can't help you with the fishmouth spindle though.

berri · July 2014

I know - you'll grow to love it

qbrozen · July 2014

omg. Is it going to stand up and start wielding a fiery sword?

fintail · July 2014

I've seen 2x new Fit in the past day, and maybe not brand new, but an F sport LS has to be rare.

stickguy · July 2014

oh yeah I was next to a new fit yesterday too. Quite a bit different looking than the old style.

stever · July 2014

"Nothing in the subcompact segment comes close"

2015 Honda Fit Road Test

2015 Honda Fit Video Review

kyfdx · July 2014

I like the look of this one a lot more..

lemko · July 2014

Spotted a silver Cadillac XTS hearse at Tabor and Rhawn in NE Philly. It does make for a pretty sleek last ride!

robr2 · July 2014

I've seen quite a few of those around.

I remember a local funeral home using a Cadillac EXT as a flower car.

fintail · July 2014

There was a new unplated 428i in the parking garage of my building this morning - black with lots of black trim and kind of plain wheels - looked basic.

qbrozen · July 2014

also saw a new 4 today. But didn't see the trunk, so I don't know what model. Blue. Looks pretty good from the front.

henryn · July 2014

On my morning commute today, I was driving next to one of those Murano convertibles. In person, with the top down, it looked even weirder than they look in pictures.

Michaell · July 2014

@henryn said:
On my morning commute today, I was driving next to one of those Murano convertibles. In person, with the top down, it looked even weirder than they look in pictures.

Get a good look; Nissan is discontinuing both that and the Cube for 2015.

stickguy · July 2014

saw, and sat in, a new 2015 Legacy today. Very nice upgrade to the previous model.

stickguy · July 2014

2015 Hyundai Genesis and Sonata, parked out front of the dealer. front ends quite similar. And both much more attractive than the last generation.

fintail · July 2014

I saw a dealer plated Lexus NX in traffic today. I can't say it looks better in person.

lemko · July 2014

Don't know if I should post this here or in the "I Spotted an Obscure Car" topic, but I saw a silver Hyundai Azera on Tabor Avenue near Levick in NE Philly.

stever · July 2014

Forgot to mention that I saw a Wrangler Unlimited a couple of weeks ago. Nothing too unusual about that but this was the first one I've seen cruising around with all the doors off. The roof appeared to be on, which seems to be an unusual combination judging by the lack of images on the net.

Michaell · July 2014

@stever said:
Forgot to mention that I saw a Wrangler Unlimited a couple of weeks ago. Nothing too unusual about that but this was the first one I've seen cruising around with all the doors off. The roof appeared to be on, which seems to be an unusual combination judging by the lack of images on the net.

Steve, you'll see a lot more of that when you move out West. Not a day goes by that I don't see a Jeep (2 doors or 4) with the doors off and the roof on.

stever · July 2014

~Six more weeks.

stever · July 2014

Chevy Impala LTX, sunroof, bluish Silver Topaz Metallic color. Didn't notice if it was the V6 or the 4 cylinder. Nice looking sedan and looked pretty tricked out. No idea of the year.

My wife thought an Impala should be bigger.

fintail · July 2014

I saw a couple of new RAV4s today - usually something that couldn't be less remarkable, but these ones were Bing Maps photography vehicles.

stever · July 2014

Saw a Tesla dealership last night.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2014

Saw 3 Teslas yesterday on a 200 miler around central CA...even 3 different colors. Handsome car. I even tailgated one to see if I could get him to drain his batteries, but no such luck

fintail · July 2014

Saw an i3 in traffic today - it even used turn signals twice, so probably someone new to driving a BMW

stever · July 2014

In Santa Monica today; Mercedes with a 5550 (?) badge, Ferrari of some sort at the curb with a fat guy yakking on his phone in speaker mode, and a plug-in hybrid Prius.

anythngbutgm · July 2014

(2) new Outbacks last night. Looks great, still not sure about the CVT...

laurasdada · July 2014

In Pac Pal, a Lambo Aventador with an Audi R8 right behind it. As well as a MB SLS AMG convertible, several Ferrari Italias, including convertible, McLaren convertible, several Bentley Conti GT 'verts and a few new Jag F-Types 'verts. I love LA...cars!

stever · July 2014

Got some passenger seat time in a rental Ford Edge yesterday. Nice enough rig but a bit meh. Nice interior, leather, etc. Played with the nav and Sync a lot. Seemed okay from the intuitive standpoint but a few items were buried a menu or two too deep (like seat heat and switching from FM to XM, but some of that could have been unfamiliarly with the system). Overall it was a lot better than I was expecting after reading about all the complaints (at least the JD Power comments) over the last few years.

I dunno, if I'm going "big" why not go minivan? My guess is that the space isn't much worse in a smaller hatch, like a Soul.

Michaell · July 2014

@stever said:
Got some passenger seat time in a rental Ford Edge yesterday. Nice enough rig but a bit meh. Nice interior, leather, etc. Played with the nav and Sync a lot. Seemed okay from the intuitive standpoint but a few items were buried a menu or two too deep (like seat heat and switching from FM to XM, but some of that could have been unfamiliarly with the system). Overall it was a lot better than I was expecting after reading about all the complaints (at least the JD Power comments) over the last few years.

I dunno, if I'm going "big" why not go minivan? My guess is that the space isn't much worse in a smaller hatch, like a Soul.

my sister and her family of 5 are in central Florida for the week, taking in the attractions. Their rental for the week is an Edge. She seems to like it; their family car at home is a Navigator.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2014

I've driven the CVT and....well, it's a CVT. The manual paddle shifting helps but it seems like an awkward pretense in a car like that.

@anythngbutgm said:
(2) new Outbacks last night. Looks great, still not sure about the CVT...

fintail · July 2014

I saw a new Sonata today, white. From a distance I thought "Fusion", but then realized it wasn't. It has less styling, which isn't a bad thing. The 6 window thing is a full blown fad now.

lemko · July 2014

Spotted a white Chevrolet SS in a driveway near the SE corner of Palmetto and Stanwood in NE Philly.

qbrozen · August 2014

Ok, I'll need some help here. 2 days ago, we were driving through Death Valley and happened upon an interesting sight. A tent was set up on the side of the road with 4 vehicles: 2 camouflaged Benz cars along with a Chevy SUV and Benz SUV support vehicles. We pulled a quick u-turn and pulled into their camping spot to say Hi. The one man who spoke had a German accent of course. I didn't want to put them on the spot and ask about the vehicles and we didn't get out of the car.

Anyway, one was fairly heavy disguised but I can only think it was an SLR. Are they coming out with a new one soon? The other was more lightly camouflaged but I'm still not sure what it was only because it was partly blocked by the other vehicles. It was big, but they just intro'd a new S class. I then thought maybe a new CLS? Any other ideas?

Then about another 15 mins down the road, we saw a 3rd going the opposite direction back to camp. This was heavily masked but the shape was obviously X6-like, so the upcoming Benz competitor. Needless to say, this was all a very cool experience for me personally.

Funny enough, we got to Furnace Creek in the middle of the Valley and there at the gas station were 3 more disguised vehicles filling up. These, however, we're not Mercedes. Based on some of the cues, I thought Chevy, but then thought I could make out a Toyota symbol under the tape on one of the wheels. Before I ever mentioned my first thoughts of Chevy, the wife said she believed she saw a Chevy logo under tape, so I think we'll go with that. These seemed to be all the same car and pretty much the same car and about Cruze size. Now, they are working on the 2016 Cruze, but what is a bit odd is that the ones we saw were far more disguised than the spy photos Car and Driver already published. Doesn't look like the same car.

hopefully this link works

robr2 · August 2014

That looks like the next Volt.

qbrozen · August 2014

Hmmm...interesting suggestion. Not sure how/why they'd be testing that in Death Valley, but you never know.

Edit: just checked and I think you nailed it. Looks like the C&D spy photos they say is the Volt.

qbrozen · August 2014

M-class coupe

GT AMG

I gues those are what they are being called for now. Still not sure on other car. Thought S coupe but I see now that has been revealed. Could it have been the C63? I dunno. Seemed bigger but maybe cause it was next to the sportscar.

qbrozen · August 2014

or maybe this next E

fintail · August 2014

Yup it's official, MB is going for the BMW and Audi "sausages of different lengths" design ideal.

@qbrozen said:
or maybe this next E

robr2 · August 2014

@qbrozen said:
Hmmm...interesting suggestion. Not sure how/why they'd be testing that in Death Valley, but you never know.

Edit: just checked and I think you nailed it. Looks like the C&D spy photos they say is the Volt.

It needs to have the AC and cooling systems tested just like any other car and of course the cooling system for the batteries.

stickguy · August 2014

last year we spent a night at a hotel on the outskirts of Columbia, SC. in the parking lot, was a fleet of disguised cars (I think on trailers at that point? but under wraps). I was going to pump the desk guy for info or go peek, but my wife gave the stare of death. In the AM, they were gone before we went down for breakfast.

I suppose they could have been one of those touring caravans where the dealers bring in competitors to drive. At this point, my mind is mushy so I can't swear they had cammo on!

explorerx4 · August 2014

@stickguy. There were probably BMW's. Their plant is not far from Columbia, maybe Spartanburg?

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

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