May Car Spottering Thread

[Robert Hall]

Rainy and foggy so far this May....Friday was particularly gloomy and foggy/rainy...saw a white C7 convertible (top up) out in the gloom.    This morning saw a dark red '19 Camaro SS at the grocery, still had a window sticker and temporary tag, yet the rear bumper was cracked and scuffed. 

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

Rainy and foggy so far this May....Friday was particularly gloomy and foggy/rainy...saw a white C7 convertible (top up) out in the gloom.    This morning saw a dark red '19 Camaro SS at the grocery, still had a window sticker and temporary tag, yet the rear bumper was cracked and scuffed. 

Lately I have seen many new auto's where the owners seem too lazy to remove the labels and yet the auto has a license plate, not been washed in a month of sundays and body damage from winter.

Truly lazy asses, that are pathetic use and discard elements of society. Pathetic how some have become.

[Robert Hall]

10 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Lately I have seen many new auto's where the owners seem too lazy to remove the labels and yet the auto has a license plate, not been washed in a month of sundays and body damage from winter.

Truly lazy asses, that are pathetic use and discard elements of society. Pathetic how some have become.

It's funny, winter and salty roads have been over a few weeks now, but I did see a filthy, salty dented Tesla Model S the other day, just another winter beater w/ curbed rims, cracks in the fascias... 

[Robert Hall]

Coming out of the casino this evening saw some interesting cars lined up in the valet lines--a matte graphite current-gen Mercedes SL, a clean black early 90s Porsche 911 (964) cabrio, a sharp dark red C7 coupe, and a clean white '89-ish IROC Z convertible w/ red stripes (saw the same car there last year). 

[Robert Hall]

A sunny Monday morning in suburbia.....went out for coffee and a bagel, saw an eclectic mix of cars out and about.

On the road saw 4 very clean examples of late GM V8 sports sedans---a black STS-V,  a silver 2nd gen CTS-V, a dark gray G8 GXP, and a blue Chevy SS...love 'em all.    Came out of the coffee shop, and it was like a Lexus showroom---2 nearly identical metallic red NXs, a hulking black LX, a slick dark gray new generation LS, and a gorgeous bright blue LC...that is one car that looks much better in person than in photos, IMO...the Lexus ragey mouth front end works on it, IMO.  

On the road heading home saw a brown w/ tan top '70s-80s Fiat 124 Spyder--haven't one of those in ages---a gray Nissan GT-R, a gorgeous black CT6 (parked in the lot of a funeral home--so many funeral homes around here), and a sharp white last gen Regal GS. 

Also an orange w/ black hood Challenger Hellcat and a gorgeous dark red Grand Cherokee SRT. 

And for something completely different, at my local independent auto repair shop, there was a Caterpillar tanker truck...never realized there were Cat-branded trucks (red cab w/ a big "CAT' logo in the grille).    Speaking of Caterpillar, went by a huge dealer/shop with signs for 'Ohio Cat' with a shovel and earth mover out front by a fountain..I guess the local Caterpillar dealer..never noticed it before.   

Edited May 6, 2019 by Robert Hall

[Robert Hall]

Out running errands at lunch, saw a black Grand Cherokee SRT at my groomers, and across the street in an empty funeral home parking lot was a new black Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.  The funeral biz must be booming in Ukranian Village (neighborhood in Parma, Oh). 

[Robert Hall]

Saw a clean bright red 2nd gen Ford Explorer Sport Trac , a vehicle I had completely forgotten existed..hadn't seen one in a long time.  Back when they didn't have a US market Ranger crew cab. 

[Robert Hall]

Today's 'WTF' sighting...a white Ford Transit panel van, with a Cadillac wreath and crest badge overlaying the blue oval in the grille. 

[trinacriabob]

I saw an aqua colored 1994 Chevy Cavalier sedan in near perfect condition.  The owner, a senior, said it had about 95,000 miles on it.  I'd have to look it up and see which 4 banger it had.

But, today, I saw something more annoying and which counters the typical demographics.  Young women who text at the wheel outnumber young men who text at the wheel.  Today, I saw 4 "kids" texting at the wheel - 1 teenage girl and 3 guys.  The girl was in a Japanese econobox sedan.  The guys were in a Subaru Outback wagon, a black, last rendition Dodge Charger, and a white Ford F-150 truck.  The girl was on surface streets.  The guys were on the freeway.  And I remember when it was a big no just to talk on the phone while driving.

[G. David Felt]

Ran an errand and saw these two beauties. Amazing the twins still look good today.

Course I like the GMC best, but would take either one!

[trinacriabob]

Saw that gen of Monte Carlo that was based on the Lumina, IIRC.  So it would have been a 1995 or so.

It was on the freeway in the fast lane and cruising along nicely.  It was a metallic dark green color.  It was in very good shape, considering its age.

I had almost forgotten about this generation of Monte Carlos.  The very last version (2000-2005 + 2006-2007 refresh) seemed to have been more popular than the one I saw today.

Who the hell said we don't need midsize and full size personal (luxury) coupes?

[G. David Felt]

Saw two Brand new Rangers yesterday while coming home with the wife and kids from Mothers day dinner. Just visually, they are not that impressive. The wife thought the front end just blended with everything else and she thought it looked as if it was a new F150. Son was equally not impressed with the new trucks. Gonna have to get inside to see how the interior is, but the exterior is meh. Forgettable, if not for the HUGE Ranger on the tailgate.

[frogger]

On 5/11/2019 at 1:54 PM, trinacriabob said:

Saw that gen of Monte Carlo that was based on the Lumina, IIRC.  So it would have been a 1995 or so.

It was on the freeway in the fast lane and cruising along nicely.  It was a metallic dark green color.  It was in very good shape, considering its age.

I had almost forgotten about this generation of Monte Carlos.  The very last version (2000-2005 + 2006-2007 refresh) seemed to have been more popular than the one I saw today.

Who the hell said we don't need midsize and full size personal (luxury) coupes?

Well full size is pretty much gone for anything but trucks..  For personal coupes you have Challenger or a fair number of luxury options starting with the A5.  I guess there is not enough money to be made on the ones based on mass market family cars with two less doors any more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trinacriabob]

@frogger  This is all true.  It's weird, though, that, when growing up, it seemed there were more larger coupes chosen by families than there were sedans.  Families were able to get the capacity of a larger proportioned American car in a more attractive silhouette.  Then, when Americans began learning how to design sedans correctly, and which grabbed people's attention, they increased in popularity and the demand for coupes waned.  That's what I think happened.

The Intrigue, released as a 1998 model in late 1997 to mark Oldsmobile's centennial, took the market by storm ... relatively speaking.  I use this as an example because I can't think of many better examples.

https://consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/00128991990003.jpg

https://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimage/housenew/480x360/2002/2002-oldsmobile-intrigue-rearside_olintgls02b.jpg

 

Edited May 13, 2019 by trinacriabob

[balthazar]

Coupes were a viable alternative when the full-size cars ruled. When the intermediates began to eclipse the full-size cars, it seems the attention to the F/Sers BY THE OEMs waned. Then as each successive model line showed up, increasingly smaller, this is where the disadvantage to a 2-dr became more pronounced, and they waned as a body style.
- - - - - 
This was sitting in a fringe parking lot at a major Lowe's /shopping center, I assume it was a prank : 

[balthazar]

This 2500HD was stickered as a 2019- guess I didn't recall the new HDs aren't out yet. Swanky; black, standard bed, Duramax, $65K.  

[Robert Hall]

A good afternoon for spotting bright red coupes—saw the ‘04-06 GTO from around the corner rumbling down the street, a clean 72 Gran Torino coupe w black vinyl top, and the 70s Lamborghini Jarama from Parma I saw last year.  

[ocnblu]

Took the day off and drove down to Ocean City, MD for the 29th Annual Cruisin' Ocean City weekend.  Met up with my bro and his family.  Was a great day.

[balthazar]

I've been there 2 years, '13 and '16. '13 was great, but in '16 it rained and it was a ghost-town. My buddy gets a hotel room and he didn't want to leave, since I rode down with him I was stuck. Even looked into getting a train north but nothing worked out. That was miserable.

[Robert Hall]

Nice sunny day today...out and about this afternoon saw a clean bright orange '68-69 Chevy C10 step side...I think it was a '68-69 because it had side marker lights and a small rear window..didn't see the front end.  Had '80s Chevy pickup Rally wheels.    Also saw a Solstice in dark green w/ tan interior, top down.  Saw a clean sliver early 90s Mercedes SL top down also. 

[Robert Hall]

It was a beautiful Sunday for a Sunday drive...went out this afternoon up to Lake County and it was Pontiac Sunday..saw a sharp black w/ gold trim '77-78 Trans Am, and 2 min later a sharp gold '77/78 Trans Am.  In a small town at a garage/resto business there was a black '63 Grand Prix sitting on flat tires w/  8 lug wheels, parked next to a primered '66 Tempest 2dr.   Saw a sharp mid 80s Trans Am in a driveway,  a dark red '05-06 GTO, a silver Solstice top down, and a sharp two-tone green '77 Bonneville Brougham 4dr.    Also saw a clean red '68 Camaro and a gold '65 Dodge Monaco 2dr ht. 

[G. David Felt]

Saw my first Audi E-Tron in the wild. Boy those are sharp EVs. Really need to see the inside and see how I fit. Sharp CUV.

[balthazar]

^ WAY overpriced & not selling. Might be a long while before you see another.

[trinacriabob]

On Sunday, I saw one of these.  I was driving, so I could not take a photo.  It was the exact same color as this one in Wiki ... that pale ivory offered in those years.  Unbelievable.

I believe it was a 1966 Bel Air.  I surfed the web and found the Bel Air and the Biscayne.  The Biscayne had 2 segments in the rear lamps but the Bel Air had 3 segments in the rear lamps, as the Impala did, and the one I saw had 3 segment real tail lamps.  I am guessing it had a 283 V8.  However, the stripped down version came with the 250 inline 6 standard.  Both were indestructible.  The full size Chevrolet modified its front grille and rear fascia ANNUALLY back in the day.

It made for a great sighting.  Oh yeah .... the guy driving it was not even middle aged.  It was a hipster who looked just like the guy who is the spokesman for TD Ameritrade these days ... same glasses, but with a bushier beard.  That also made the sighting humorous.

[Robert Hall]

It's always a fun sight to see a 50+ yr old car out and about, esp. in the Rust Belt.    

One sighting that seemed funny today...was sitting at a light and saw a clean 10-12 yr old Mercedes S-class at a gas station air pump, the driver was putting air in the tires... it was black w/ dark window tint, blingy chrome wheels.  The young driver was  tall, pale and balding w/ a hard face..wearing a track suit.   Looked for all the world like a stereotype Russian/Eastern European gangster. 

 

Also saw a clean 68 Firebird convertible in a driveway, dark blue w/ a white top. 

Edited May 22, 2019 by Robert Hall

[Drew Dowdell]

Was following behind a white 1961 Mercury Meteor today while I was in the Toronado. 

My Toro is smelling gassy when I'm at a stop, but otherwise running fine.  Will need to investigate. 

[trinacriabob]

@ocnblu

Love those Pontiacs I see in your post from the car show at Ocean City, MD.  I'm guessing the first one is a GP (don't know which year) and the second one is a 1977 Can Am variant off the LeMans (so many engine offerings in all lines of that car in '76/'77 - I think one 6 cylinder and about four V8s).

Must be nice to live somewhere where going to the beach (MD, DE) can be done as one long day trip.

[balthazar]

^ That first grey Pontiac is indeed a GP, 1963. Gorgeous design, and a trend-setter. 
- - - - -
Friend of mine's '55, runs a 502CI : 

Edited May 22, 2019 by balthazar

[ocnblu]

1977 Caprice Classic sedan, in that popular light green color and in beautiful condition, crossing the mighty Susquehanna over the Wrightsville bridge.

[oldshurst442]

JDM 1990s Nissan 300ZX.  Non-turbo and no T-Top.  Bummer for the no T-Top... 

Right in back of it was a newer 350Z.  Maybe a 2018 model.

What a contrast between the two. Id rather the older 300ZX than the newer 350Z.

 

[Robert Hall]

5 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

JDM 1990s Nissan 300ZX.  Non-turbo and no T-Top.  Bummer for the no T-Top... 

Right in back of it was a newer 350Z.  Maybe a 2018 model.

What a contrast between the two. Id rather the older 300ZX than the newer 350Z.

 

Those 90s 300ZXs looked great, IMO....my sister's last Z was a silver '90 300ZX t-top.  Her 4th going back to a '77 280Z.

[oldshurst442]

I loved those 300ZXs. Especially with the T-Tops.  It took me a couple of years after they came to market for me to fall in love with them because I had this "nothing could touch an American car" attitude with my love for Trans Ams.  But I quickly changed my tune. The Dodge Stealth/Mitsubishi 3000 and the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon changed the way I viewed "imports". And so I also looked at the 300ZX differently.  

It was a Car and Driver article of 1992 or 1993 that I read about the 300ZX that said that they viewed the 300ZX as a (then) modern classic car that had a timeless design, much like a 1969 Camaro. I think that was the turning point for me liking it. I secretly loved the Eclipse/Talon and I thought the Stealth/3000GT were awesome looking, that I finally was honest with myself about it being OK to like other makes and brands.  

I always hated BMWs. I still do. THAT will NEVER change...

 

Edited May 23, 2019 by oldshurst442

[G. David Felt]

Just saw this at the local store, as I was getting in after taking a picture, a little old lady came out with her grocery cart. Amazing.

[Robert Hall]

Took the day off to start the holiday weekend, was lazy..spent a lot of time in the back yard w/ the dogs.  Puttered around the house and did some cleaning.  I did see, though, a very clean red Mitsubishi 3000GT drive down the street when I stepped out to bring in mail packages.  Saw my neighbor's teenager wrenching on his red BRZ/FR-S..still doesn't have a front bumper.  And the neighbor down the street got his S2000 out for summer..was waxing it in the driveway.. 

[G. David Felt]

Today has been a funny day, as posted above a running just fine old oldsmobile station wagon and saw 3 mercedes all being towed. Then on the way home from the gym this was in front of me at the light! Total of 4 for the day. WOW

What happened to the best or nothing at all slogan?

[Scout]

I saw the new gladiator going down the freeway. I haven't been paying attention to availability.  So at first I thought it was a press loner. But then I checked and apparently they're available now. 

[Drew Dowdell]

Car Cruise in Irwin PA yesterday.

 

[ocnblu]

 

Benz is actually just following the tow truck.  This is just the owner's idea of "stance".  It's the latest craze.  All the kids are doing it.

[G. David Felt]

On 5/25/2019 at 10:14 AM, Scout said:

I saw the new gladiator going down the freeway. I haven't been paying attention to availability.  So at first I thought it was a press loner. But then I checked and apparently they're available now. 

Saw a brand new Gladiator from the local Jeep store. Had it's 90 days paper in the rear window. Fire Engine Red. Not bad.

[G. David Felt]

On 5/26/2019 at 1:33 PM, ocnblu said:

 

Benz is actually just following the tow truck.  This is just the owner's idea of "stance".  It's the latest craze.  All the kids are doing it.

It does help keep the miles low for resell as a CPO!  

[G. David Felt]

Amazing what pops out in spring around my neighborhood.

[ocnblu]

20 hours ago, dfelt said:

It does help keep the miles low for resell as a CPO!

LOL you don't understand what I'm saying.

[G. David Felt]

11 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

LOL you don't understand what I'm saying.

Ummmmm, OK, I know I am an engineer, but what are you saying? ?

[ocnblu]

Uh, the photo from this angle, with prodding from me, is supposed to appear that the wheels on the ground are attached to the Benz... so it is getting miles on it.  Moltie got the joke.  Explaining jokes take all the fun out of them.

Edited May 29, 2019 by ocnblu

[Robert Hall]

3 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

Uh, the photo from this angle, with prodding from me, is supposed to appear that the wheels on the ground are attached to the Benz... so it is getting miles on it.  Moltie got the joke.  Explaining jokes take all the fun out of them.

Not sure I'm familiar w/ a towing arrangement like that with the 4 little tires.  I'm used to flatbed rollbacks when I've had Mercedes towed. 

[balthazar]

37 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

I'm used to having the Mercedes towed. 

I'll bet you are.

[riviera74]

Can anyone explain to me why GM does not have a semi-affordable RWD sedan like the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger twins?

Cadillac has the CT6 and more recently, the CT5 and CT4.  Why won't GM build (essentially) a Camaro sedan (again)?

[balthazar]

What was the prior 'Camaro sedan' - the G8? Just want to see what you were thinking of.

[Robert Hall]

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

I'll bet you are.

Thankfully that’s in my past.  No more high mileage German cars.  Or any high mileage car in my life. 

46 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

Can anyone explain to me why GM does not have a semi-affordable RWD sedan like the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger twins?

Cadillac has the CT6 and more recently, the CT5 and CT4.  Why won't GM build (essentially) a Camaro sedan (again)?

Not enough of a market, I assume. Full size sedans are a dying niche in NA.  I’d love to see a RWD Impala/Caprice and something from Buick using the CT6 platform (Omega?).  But GM, like others, is moving away from sedans...

44 minutes ago, balthazar said:

What was the prior 'Camaro sedan' - the G8? Just want to see what you were thinking of.

Or the Chevy SS, I would think.  

Edited May 29, 2019 by Robert Hall

[oldshurst442]

Going to my daughter's softball practice this evening.  '69 Cutlass convertible. White. It looked like a red or burgundy  interior. Great shape.  I was on a two lane small winding road while he was coming on the opposite side.   I saw him a mile away.  I knew it was a '69 Cutlass as soon as I saw it on the horizon.    

Gave him a thumbs up from a looooong distance, the phoquer either didnt see me (how could you not see me?  Two lane road, one going one way and the other going the other way...) Or he decided to ignore me....either way...asshat!

 

 

Edited May 29, 2019 by oldshurst442