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

fintail · September 2017

MB is of questionable taste, and that's 100% stock. No doubt in a front plate state but not using one, too, as I am sure the law is enforced via socio-economic boundaries.

Mr_Shiftright · September 2017

Flip down the roof, and lose your trunk space. Brilliant!

fintail · September 2017

I wonder what amount of late model SLs ever venture more than 75 miles from home.

Mr_Shiftright · September 2017

I always thought hardtop convertibles were a bad idea. I still do.

kyfdx · September 2017

I think it depends on where you live. The increased visibility over a soft-top is great for the 8 months of top-up weather that we have. And, no trunk issues for those months either, obviously.

If it's a daily driver, I could see it.

berri · September 2017

Sometimes compromise creates synergy, sometimes mediocrity

kyfdx · September 2017

Spotted a new TLX A-Spec SH-AWD. Impressive looking.

fintail · September 2017

In a rainy place, a hardtop convertible makes sense - occasional adjustments or repairs of the mechanism are probably easier to live with than cloth top issues in damp weather. I would also prefer it for a DD - I doubt many haul family car-amounts of luggage anyway.

fintail · September 2017

A few new ones ones on the road today - A5 hatchback, hockey stick 5er hybrid, Velar (first I have seen)

berri · September 2017

Fin, Be careful cruising around right now. I hope you took my advice and bought that pair of oversized aviator sunglasses before Corolla boy finds you or you are discovered on YouTube and become a star

fintail · September 2017

I checked Youtube - nothing. This might be my only chance to be famous!

Mr_Shiftright · September 2017

fintail said:
In a rainy place, a hardtop convertible makes sense - occasional adjustments or repairs of the mechanism are probably easier to live with than cloth top issues in damp weather. I would also prefer it for a DD - I doubt many haul family car-amounts of luggage anyway.

I think "repairs" are more in the frightening category, if/when they occur. Remember when detachable hardtops were the rage, and NOBODY ever used them? So the hardtop convertible was a compromise. But you have a point--this is more of a toy car than a family car.

fintail · September 2017

Yep, convertibles are toys. They won't see the same miles and hard use as a family car.

I suppose the most worrisome ones would be MB R230 SL, R171 SLK, VW Eos, BMW F30, maybe final run Chrysler Sebring, etc. I know top issues are not unknown on early R230, but aren't universal. I don't know about the rest. I think for detachable hardtops, many just stay on the car. Most R107 SL I see always have the top on, and E36 so-equipped always seem to have it, too.

Mr_Shiftright said:

I think "repairs" are more in the frightening category, if/when they occur. Remember when detachable hardtops were the rage, and NOBODY ever used them? So the hardtop convertible was a compromise. But you have a point--this is more of a toy car than a family car.

fintail · September 2017

3 new Camrys on the road today. I think at least one was a rental.

stickguy · September 2017

I must have seen some on the road, but if so, I never even noticed. not a good sign.

stickguy · September 2017

I must have seen some on the road, but if so, I never even noticed. not a good sign.

imidazol97 · September 2017

MB AMG GT in dark gray on the road. First I've seen one of these.

kyfdx · September 2017

fintail said:
3 new Camrys on the road today. I think at least one was a rental.

Saw a whole truckload headed north on I-75. Of course, I was just north of the Camry factory.

fintail · September 2017

Lots of beautiful scenery on the road there no doubt

Saw a Titan diesel on the road, not many of those around.

kyfdx said:

Saw a whole truckload headed north on I-75. Of course, I was just north of the Camry factory.

explorerx4 · October 2017

No Cruze's in the delivery lot at Lordstown.

fintail · October 2017

Saw a dark blue hockey stick 5er in traffic today.

stickguy · October 2017

Volvo XC60. Fantastic seats and interior.

andres3 · October 2017

Spotted a 90's era Camaro joining the ACLA group for a very spirited Highway 33 jaunt. Unfortunately for them, at less than mile marker 10 on the mountain, they ended up about 10' below the road, and about 10' adjacent to the road, and oh yeah, upside down (shiny side down)!

Fortunately for the old man driver (you'd think old men would have more common-sense!), he landed on a bunch of bushes and bushy trees with a bed of soft sand. That soft cushioned landing saved his hide. He was shorter stature, and thin, so he was able to just barely get out of the car though the side window with some help from other drivers.

Lucky only to have some scratches from the broken glass sliding out of the car.

Higher up on the mountain might have been a longer fall than just 10' off the side of the road rolling over. Typical over-correction over-steer issues of that kind of vehicle based on the skid marks. Someone mentioned a Bilstein suspension, but I suspect there's only so much you can do with that chassis that doesn't make it a good selection for canyon carving.

The M3's, 4's, 2's, TTRS, TTS, S4's & S5's, and modern Corvette, and Mustang GT all made it to the end of the day without incident.

fintail · October 2017

Ha, why would you think that?

Saw another new Camry, this one a higher spec, non-rental.

andres3 said:

Fortunately for the old man driver (you'd think old men would have more common-sense!)
The M3's, 4's, 2's, TTRS, TTS, S4's & S5's, and modern Corvette, and Mustang GT all made it to the end of the day without incident.

andres3 · October 2017

fintail said:
Ha, why would you think that?

Saw another new Camry, this one a higher spec, non-rental.

andres3 said:

Fortunately for the old man driver (you'd think old men would have more common-sense!)
The M3's, 4's, 2's, TTRS, TTS, S4's & S5's, and modern Corvette, and Mustang GT all made it to the end of the day without incident.

Isn't there an old saying about being "old & wise?"

Maybe he was reliving his youth.

Being that there is no reception for cellphones on that mountain, it was a long time before we realized we had "lost" a third of the group. They were nice enough to stay behind until help arrived.

fintail · October 2017

Spotted a new style Tiguan, thought I would see more by now.

fintail · October 2017

In traffic today: rental new Camry and a VW Atlas.

stickguy · October 2017

I saw an Atlas on the road a few days ago. Nice looking.

fintail · October 2017

I think I might have seen a Kia Stinger today. Looked like a shinier fancier Optima, but seemed larger (it was from a distance).

kyfdx · October 2017

Cadenza?

fintail · October 2017

Nope not a Cadenza, I have seen several of those.

explorerx4 · October 2017

In the parking lot at work, a white Chrysler 200!

stickguy · October 2017

a new Camry out driving around. Not even a rental!

fintail · October 2017

Saw a non-rental Camry too, and a Buick Envision - not new, but quite rare, I see more Lamborghinis on the road. I don't know if I can envision myself in a Chinese-made GM CUV

berri · October 2017

Envision doesn't seem to get anything better than mediocre reviews.

qbrozen · October 2017

Saw my first V90 in the wild. Black on black with black or charcoal or just really dirty wheels.

Good looking vehicle other than those wheels. Seemed to be sagging in the back.

stickguy · October 2017

I just don't like cars that long.

qbrozen · October 2017

i think it is more of an illusion. It is only a foot longer than the XC60 and V60, and, interestingly enough, about an inch shorter than a Caddy CTS and only 2 inches longer than a 2018 Accord.

fintail · October 2017

Saw another new Tiguan today.

andres3 · October 2017

fintail said:
Saw another new Tiguan today.

Saw a Kia Optima dawdle along holding up traffic until at least 5 cars trailed them on the scenic way home. It wasn't me. I was one of the 5. Idiotic they didn't let people pass.

fintail · October 2017

Laws are only meaningful if the powers that be have the desire to enforce them. They love speeding, and don't care about many others.

Saw another new non-rental Camry, they seem to be selling here. Spectacularly unpretty, but I notice the glass seems to be tall, which is a good trend. Of course, still thick pillars and poor rearward visibility.

andres3 said:

Saw a Kia Optima dawdle along holding up traffic until at least 5 cars trailed them on the scenic way home. It wasn't me. I was one of the 5. Idiotic they didn't let people pass.

fushigi · October 2017

fintail said:
Laws are only meaningful if the powers that be have the desire to enforce them. They love speeding, and don't care about many others.

Agreed. We've never needed (and still do not need) the 'no cell phones/texting while driving' laws as there have been distracted driving laws on the books for decades. What was always lacking was enforcement.

fintail · October 2017

Enforcement and IMO citations with teeth. Some of the fines out there don't seem low enough to be a deterrent.

I suspect if the enforcement community would go after phone users and non-signalers like they chase violators of often arbitrary speed limits, they could erase the national debt. I know of local intersections where I swear half the cars are either not using a signal or the driver is holding a phone.

fushigi said:

Agreed. We've never needed (and still do not need) the 'no cell phones/texting while driving' laws as there have been distracted driving laws on the books for decades. What was always lacking was enforcement.

fintail · October 2017

Saw a new Odyssey, reminds me of the old one but with the now trendy faux floating C-pillar.

fintail · October 2017

Saw another new Odyssey today - reminds me of a stretched Opel Adam. Also an A5 sportback,

fintail · October 2017

Saw a Velar today, should be a good seller with the leisure demographic in Bellevue.

Mr_Shiftright · October 2017

That should punch out at close to $60K with options, don't you think?

andres3 · October 2017

fintail said:
Enforcement and IMO citations with teeth. Some of the fines out there don't seem low enough to be a deterrent.

I suspect if the enforcement community would go after phone users and non-signalers like they chase violators of often arbitrary speed limits, they could erase the national debt. I know of local intersections where I swear half the cars are either not using a signal or the driver is holding a phone.

fushigi said:

Agreed. We've never needed (and still do not need) the 'no cell phones/texting while driving' laws as there have been distracted driving laws on the books for decades. What was always lacking was enforcement.

Easy solution, make the 1st cell phone/distracted driving offense equal to what they charge for a red-light camera violation ($500+). They love camera fines being high, why not make the important violations equally high? None of this $100-$200 BS for the first offense.

I've heard there might be legislation approved in CA making the right turn on red without a complete stop a reduced fine as compared to actually running the red light. I suppose I should thank the camera industry for this one as no one liked getting fined $550 for a 1-2 MPH (or even less) discrepancy in stopping.

Michaell · October 2017

Mr_Shiftright said:
That should punch out at close to $60K with options, don't you think?

When was the last time you were at a LR dealership?

I was at one last Saturday - the Velar we looked at was north of $60K

Folks in the leasing thread have quoted sticker prices of $70K and higher, depending on engine, trim level and options.

fintail · October 2017

Also extra fines for yappers in cars with bluetooth, and then make the fines progressive. I love seeing a late model Range Rover/Tesla/senior MB-BMW etc where the "driver" has a phone to their ear. If these people are supposed to be smarter and more logical and harder working than most everyone else, they sure have a funny way of showing it. Or maybe they know they are virtually untouchable in what is becoming an oligocracy.

andres3 said:

Easy solution, make the 1st cell phone/distracted driving offense equal to what they charge for a red-light camera violation ($500+). They love camera fines being high, why not make the important violations equally high? None of this $100-$200 BS for the first offense.

I've heard there might be legislation approved in CA making the right turn on red without a complete stop a reduced fine as compared to actually running the red light. I suppose I should thank the camera industry for this one as no one liked getting fined $550 for a 1-2 MPH (or even less) discrepancy in stopping.

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

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