Straight Dope Message Board

[Telemark]

Saw a few on the way home last night. A Bentley Continental cruising along slowly in the right hand lane on Rt 128, I almost didn't notice it. The car in grey just blends into the crowd from the back. Then a Maserati Ghibli headed the opposite way, weaving through traffic. Finally, and probably my favorite of the day, a late 70's Ford F150 pickup that showed just how far pickup styling has come in the past 40 years. 501

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by carnut

Can you say first day of vacation?

Yup, see post #498.


Mazda 6 hatchback - Euro version (2013). Unfortunately no longer in production. I had a 2006 US one & loved it! The only notable exterior difference was the hatch had a rear wiper. 502

[Telemark]

A 1958 Chevrolet Viking medium-duty truck, I'd never even heard of this model until I looked it up. 503

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by leftfield6

Saw a new Alfa Romeo 4c in front of the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown Atlanta. I walk past that hotel everyday and it is always an auto enthisiast treat. Teslas, Porsches, even Ferraris are common, but the 4c stood out. That is a damn sexy car. .

I just saw one here in Orlando. I didn't even know Alfa was back in the US market. When did that happen? Does that mean I can buy a 1990s GTV and get parts and stuff here? 504

[Telemark]

I saw a 1993-4 Chevy Caprice Classic Wagon (the rounded model that looked like whale) painted matte black with bright orange and yellow flames painted around the front wheel wells. That catches your eye, for sure. 505

[carnut]

Today, none. But over the weekend, many. McLarens, Mercedes, Ferraris, all manner of Corvettes.... I was at the Long Beach Grand Prix. 506

[Penfeather]

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

I just saw one here in Orlando. I didn't even know Alfa was back in the US market. When did that happen? Does that mean I can buy a 1990s GTV and get parts and stuff here?

Stuff like a truck full of money to follow you around for when it breaks down. And I saw my first F Type Jaguar in the wild today: pretty enough car, but I can't shake the feeling that it looks like a Honda S2000. 507

[Bullitt]

Saturday was a good day. I saw a 1964 Pontiac Tempest convertible, and then also a 1971 Dodge Polara vintage police car. 508

[Spiderman]

I saw a black Ford GT driving. I believe it's the first time I saw one on the road. IMO, it looks like it was pancaked in a car crusher.
Also saw a (modern) Mustang. It was blue, not dark green, but the plate gave me a chuckle: STEVE MCQ. 509

[swampspruce]

Not a car, per se, but three cars in a line at the stop light: A white Fiat 500 Pop, red Jaguar XF, and a silver Jeep Rubicon. I was bemused at the idea of three vehicles all basically doing the same job but in so manifestly different ways. That XF is a pretty beast, to be sure. 510

[Spud]

Good day for car spotting on my way home from work today. I followed a '98 Corvette Pace Car for several miles, while doing so a Ferrari with the top down passed us in the other direction (couldn't tell the model that quick from the front). Next was an i8... beautiful car and finally a 6 series BMW convertible. All that in under 30 minutes. 511

[GrumpyBunny]

Day of the Porsche sightings here. One Porsche Cayenne at the grocery store, then one 911 and one Boxter on the drive home.

I am staying in a fairly well-to-do area right now. People drive everything from Priuses to Porsches. 512

[Telemark]

I was behind a BMW on my commute today and eventually I noticed the badge, it was a M235i. I didn't even know the 2-series existed until today. 513

[Spud]

Originally Posted by Telemark

I was behind a BMW on my commute today and eventually I noticed the badge, it was a M235i. I didn't even know the 2-series existed until today.

I believe there is even a 1 series available in Europe. 514

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by Telemark

I was behind a BMW on my commute today and eventually I noticed the badge, it was a M235i. I didn't even know the 2-series existed until today.

They've been around a little while now, but i've only seen a few on the road. They get really good reviews for fun and performance, and they are nice because they're considerably smaller than the 3-series, which has gotten too big and bloated for my liking over the past four or five years.

Originally Posted by Spud

I believe there is even a 1 series available in Europe.

Actually, BMW have been selling the 1-series in the US for a while. I've seen heaps of them here in San Diego.

The latest version of the 1-series, however, is apparently not coming to the US, at least according to BMW's current plans. It's a shame, because it gets rave reviews.

I saw my first BMW 4-series on the road a few weeks ago. It's basically a 3-series coupe, but instead of having a 3-series coupe and sedan, the company decided recently to use different number designations for the two body types. 515

[Telemark]

Originally Posted by Spud

I believe there is even a 1 series available in Europe.

The 1-series is available in the US, I've even seen the 4-series here. I've just never seen a 2-series here. 516

[Pork Rind]

Originally Posted by Telemark

The 1-series is available in the US, I've even seen the 4-series here. I've just never seen a 2-series here.

BMW did one of their periodic numbering adjustments which they'll screw up in short order. Odd numbers are sedans and even numbers are coupes/convertibles. Thus the 1 series as sold here in the states is now with the latest refresh a 2 series.

That leaves the 1 series no longer brought here (it’s a hatchback in Europe) as the outlier.

Eta: or, on reflection, what mhendo said. 517

[carnut]

I saw a row of five Tesla recharging stations at the Culvers in Mauston, Wi. Evidently, Tesla drivers like ButterBurgers. Saw one Tesla and three Corvette C7s, one of which was in the process of becoming a race car (installing safety gear, etc.) over the weekend.

Today, the most interesting vehicles viewed were those that are in the process of tearing up my residential street. Enduring two months of awkward mess for twenty years of good access seems like a fair trade. 518

[Airman Doors, USAF]

I live in Carlisle, PA and this is car show season, so I see tons of unusual cars all the time. Even when it's not car show season we have lots of fairly exotic cars around here. Within 10 minutes of where I am right now off the top of my head I can see a Bricklin SV1 and a Citroen SM, a collection of International Harvester Scouts and Travelalls, a few late-'60s Impalas, and at least one Ferrari. 519

[swampspruce]

Immaculate black Porsche 928 with what appeared to be Rinspeed wheels. Similar to this. Drool. 520

[Sunspace]

I saw a Maserati parked near Peterborough Square this afternoon. 521

[Chefguy]

What I'm sure was a 70s vintage Porsche 914. Boxy rear end looking more like a Sunbeam than a Porsche. 522

[GrumpyBunny]

Yesterday, I saw a nun, in full "penguin" outfit, driving an emerald-green Nissan Cube.

*blink* 523

[Telemark]

This morning it was an Audi S4 with Alaska plates, here in Boston. Is there any place to driver a performance oriented car in Alaska? 524

[Bullitt]

Yes you drive it to Boston! 525

[Bullitt]

Had lunch with a friend the other day. He recently bought an Audi SQ5, brown leather interior and metallic black paint. Very nice. That metallic black paint sparkles, and it has flecks of blue, green, purple and some other colors in it. 526

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Telemark

This morning it was an Audi S4 with Alaska plates, here in Boston. Is there any place to driver a performance oriented car in Alaska?

The highway from Anchorage to Palmer is four lane divided, so you could probably get some fun going there, although the highway patrol cruises there also. 527

[lieu]

Everything at the DE. That's a McLaren in the garage but my favorite was the '15 GTS. Very sweet. 528

[Hopeful Crow]

The other day I saw a 1912 Stutz Bearcat or something similar. Something about it made me think it was a replica, like this. I only got a quick look at it so can't be too sure. The one I saw was red, though.

I love this time of year when the cool old cars start coming out after a long winter's hibernation. 529

[XT]

There is a 1968 Pontiac GTO convertible for sale up the road. It looks to be in pretty rough shape (and a hideous brown color), but man, I seriously want to buy that car and do a resto-mod on it! 530

[Bullitt]

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, - early 1960s, maybe 1961 or 1962. It was white, not red. 531

[carnut]

I saw a running Saab 96 today. It wasn't running fast, but it was making progress down the street. I haven't seen one of those in years. 532

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by carnut

I saw a running Saab 96 today. It wasn't running fast, but it was making progress down the street. I haven't seen one of those in years.

Growing up in Upstate New York, my friend's dad had one while my dad had Buicks. The Saab looked funny, until in the winter snows it ran circles around the GMs with its front-engined, front wheel drive advantage. 533

[Telemark]

I'm out in Seattle on business and spotted a VW Thing that really caught my eye. But there were also many Maserati and Ferrari models in the high tech parking lots. 534

[Telemark]

Two Jaguar F-Types today, one convertible, one not. Darn that's a sweet looking ride. 535

[Bullitt]

BMW 525i station wagon; circa 1993, a clean and well-running example.

From the license plate sequencing (3CBY---, in California) and a look at the driver it's my guess she is the original owner and has owned this car since she bought it new off the lot 22 years ago. I can appreciate that. 536

[wolfman]

I saw a weird little 3 wheel car today. One wheel in front, 2 in back. It looked fairly late model, but I didn't recognize the make. I couldn't quite catch up to read the nameplate before it turned. 537

[Telemark]

A new Bentley convertible, weaving in and out of traffic like a boss, during the morning commute. 538

[swampspruce]

Kind of a car, but I saw my first Slingshot in person three days ago. Daddy want! 539

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by swampspruce

Kind of a car, but I saw my first Slingshot in person three days ago. Daddy want!

Fixed link:
http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot 540

[Bullitt]

Can I brag a little about mine? I see this car every day.

It's a 2014 JGC CRD - Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0L V-6 Diesel engine (CRD = Common-Rail Diesel). I bought it a little over a year ago and, despite a few bugs (first year of manufacture) I have been very happy with it. This rig has a comfortable, almost luxurious ride; much quieter than my last car (2001 Honda CR-V, a noisy ride); long range on a single tank (500-700 miles depending on how lead your foot is); with 420 pounds-feet of torque it can tow 7,400 pounds and it has decent power; and it is quite capable offroad for a stock 4X4 rig. It has Jeep's Quadra-Lift suspension, for some additional air adjustable height.

On top of all that it gets excellent fuel economy:

● 24 MPG @ 85 MPH
● 28 MPG @ 75 MPH
● 34 MPG @ 65 MPH
● 45 MPG @ 55 MPH

So yeah, I'm really happy with it. I started a thread about it here: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/...d.php?t=752485

OK I love my new rig and wanted to post this, but don't want to derail this thread. 541

[Magiver]

Saw an old Buick Wilcat with 24's on it. Looked like a 1965 model. Couldn't understand why people were passing him on a 60 mph highway until I got up close. The front steering geometry was so jacked out of shape I think he was having problems controlling it. Both front wheels had serious negative camber. Whether you like or hate the rims it couldn't be fun to drive. 542

[Bullitt]

Wagon wheels, that's what I call those. Are they called by any other name?

https://www.google.com/search?q=cars...w=1024&bih=671 543

[Bullitt]

A black MG Midget on I-280 in Palo Alto. 1974 I think. 544

[Telemark]

1958-60 Chevy Impala four door, in powder blue. Sitting in the parking lot of a Dunkin Donuts. 545

[swampspruce]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Fixed link:
http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot

Thanks Bullitt. Saw a gunmetal Lotus Elise yesterday on the way home from work. I'd happily drive on of those, or the 72 Europa Chip Foose did up a few years ago.... 546

[blondebear]

I saw a 1923 Locomobile Model 48 Sportif this afternoon at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River. Cool car, even cooler museum. 547

[Urbanredneck]

I finally saw a Chevy Volt. 548

[Ms Boods]

I've seen an unusual number of Robin Reliants [holding up traffic] on the motorway the past couple of weeks. 549

[carnut]

Originally Posted by Ms Boods

I've seen an unusual number of Robin Reliants [holding up traffic] on the motorway the past couple of weeks.

The first sign of spring! Very rare over here. 550