Frisky Dingo

10 minutes ago, frogger said:

Arteon also has the "hatchback" thing going for it.

On VW Canada's site you can build and price the Arteon, as long as it is the Execline AWD model for 48 grand... Or about what a Stinger GT or base A5 Sportback go for.

 

 

The Arteon will top out right around 44-45K in the US market.

This is daring design done right. Bravo, Hyundai. Almost makes up for the wretched new Elantra. Almost.

As for comparisons to the Arteon, I don't think there will be a tremendous amount of cross-shopping the 2, but I could be wrong. I think the Arteon looks better. Hyundai could have usurped it in the interior department however. Refinement and performance is typically where Hyundais lose out big, and I would expect it to be no different here. I don't foresee a Sonata model that will approach the top  spec Arteon performance wise. Plus the Arteon will offer AWD.

Still, nice to see Hyundai doing this. If the popularity of CUV's means more sedans like this- ones willing to take some risks and really separate themselves, it might not be so bad.

I don't think Subaru understands the meaning of the word 'Adrenaline'.

On the one hand, I'm glad to see a truly new sedan hitting the market. Especially one as great looking as this. And I think it will offer a pretty strong value quotient, as well.

On the other hand, I feel compelled to point out that this should have been on sale a year ago. Especially considering VW's habit of completely botching the roll out of new models to dealers. With the inevitable low build numbers, port issues, transportation hang ups, and mismanagement of allocations that are the VW norm, it will be the end of summer before there is any inventory and people can drive them and reasonably get cars spec'd to their liking. By that point, the novelty will have worn off. Couple that to the fact that VW will be stingy on incentives and it will lease like crap, and it is not a recipe for sales success.

Also, I've driven it, and people wanting a though and through sport sedan aren't going to be captivated by it. Not trying to be cynical, but I foresee this car suffering the same fate as the CC. It will be fresh for a short while- which VW will squander- then the enthusiasm will fade and along with it, the interest and sales. I hope they prove me wrong, but my guess is this car is going to be DOA.

This cuv madness has got to stop. 🙄

1999- Diablo SV, preferably in Verde Scandal

2009- F430 Scuderia 16M

2019- GT3 Touring

Choosing as far into the future as I can within reason-

- Inevitable McLaren 750(?)LT

- Upcoming Audi e-Tron GT

Very fun thread idea! I'll add mine once I have a list compiled. I think this will be tough.

My list-

RS7 Performance 

R8 RWS

Vanquish Volante

Fiesta ST

G500 4x4²

Been a while since we did one of these. A lot of great vehicles had their last hurrah for the 2018 Model Year. From mainstream offerings, to exotics, many models had their demise. This thread will be dedicated to those. You can choose either cars that were discontinued entirely, had specific trim levels axed, or lost body styles.

Rules-

1) Must be 2018 MY

2) Choices must be offered in your market

3) Production vehicles only

4) Choices must have been discontinued, replaced with new model, had a body style dropped, etc

5) Maximum of 5 choices

6) These are your only vehicles 

Have fun!

Outgoing model looks better.

15 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Yeah, the powertrains are a bit wanting unless you get the absolute top of the line PHEV.  Even then, they're fastish, but "quirky".

They are, imo, the most unnatural feeling and unpleasing engines in any new vehicle I can think of. That little twin-blown 4 banger in the higher states of tune has got to be a ticking time bomb.

This thing is a joke. And it's yet another mediocre GM offering in what is becoming a quite extensive list of mediocre new GM offerings. I feel like they are really losing touch and are on the brink of a repeat of the bailout days. These borderline luxury segment prices for mainstream offerings are comical. Especially for a brand that actually has luxury nameplates within the corporate umbrella.

Foolish. This will inevitably turn out to be a wasted effort. It takes years and years to establish brand recognition and cachet, and therefore demand. And to build an effective dealer network. And they are mounting this undertaking at time while the car industry is more precarious than ever, and we are on the downside turn of the economy. Makes 0 sense.

Still looks great. Still has mediocre-at-best powertrain. These things just don't make any sense anywhere near their upper reaches in pricing. The Q7 eats this things lunch in every facet, other than style.

16 hours ago, ocnblu said:

That green makes my thing grow

23 hours ago, dfelt said:

Love that Green, WOW! 

Pass on the Diesel, cool spec's, but Pass, would rather take a gas or better yet Hybrid / EV version.

Dash looks dated to me and the Nav screen is an after thought again and looks out of place. I can just see so many of these getting broken off as people reach for other stuff.

Nice proportions of the side and front. I like the look, but the rear makes me think blah German, is it BMW, MB or Audi. They all seem to have this same very generic look. Sad,  

The color is Azores Green, and it is really lovely in person.

23 hours ago, smk4565 said:

They need a gas SQ5 for the rest of us.

The SQ5 in gas 3.0 Turbo V6 form has been on the US market for a year already.

It's a shame there are no more VAG diesel offerings here. A previous gen A6 Prestige TDI that I spent 2 weeks driving daily is one of absolute favorite all-around cars I've ever been in. Just such an immense total package. 

5 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

@balthazar you sir have a lot of projects not even counting the cars. 

Mini-barrels or... what? I can't imagine having room for lots of full sized barrels.

A combination of mini-barrels- 1-10 liters in size- and bottles with wood aging staves in them.

Better. Still not good.

About time they brought this car up to spec with the GTI. Been a long time coming. If this offers ventilated seats and rear seat vents, it could be a contender for my daily driver in a year or so.

I don't believe this car was ever going to be a hybrid in the first place. Which is a good thing, as it shouldn't be.

Cool, how about we start with a Coyote-powered new Phaeton? 

This is somewhat difficult for me with my car situation, but the closest would be the comparison between my 2014 4Runner Trail and 2016 GTI. So, here goes-

Currently driving my 2016 GTI SE w/ Perf Pkg and DSG. Leased new. Had it 32 months. Just rolled over 26k miles. What I like more about it-

1) Clearly, and the biggest difference, it's a sport offering. Not a full-on sports car, but a sporty car, at least. So it was nice to come back to something with fun driving dynamics.

2) Refinement. The fit and finish on my GTI is exemplary, and notably better than Toyota's.

3) Efficiency. Averaging 24-26 beats the heck out of 15.

4) Tech. Great Fender audio system, Proximity key, Android Auto, etc are all newer features that surpass Toyota's tech.

5) Usability. It's far easier to exploit what a GTI offers on a daily basis that it is a 4WD SUV.

Before my GTI, I had a 2014 4Runner Trail Edition Premium. Bought 1 year old w/ 14k miles. Had 18 months and put another 14k on it. Here's what I liked more about it-

1) Space. Duh. Held people in more comfort with more space, and had plenty of room behind the second row.

2) Off-road capability. Unlike most, I actually off-roaded in mine. I was always taking it out and going down rutted out, muddy trails; across/through rivers/streams/creeks; taking it down by the river, etc.

3) All-weather ability. The GTI's FWD does fine most of the time, but 4WD with the right tires is just on another level.

4) Ease of ownership. By this I mostly mean I didn't feel like I had to give it as much attention. I feel the need to always have my GTI spotless inside and out. I never cared if my 4Runner was dirty.

5) Lastly, just the general comfort that comes with owning such a vehicle that has a sterling reputation of reliability, indestructibility, and resale value. I went into buying with no concerns of future worth, managing miles, repair worries, etc. 

I don't usually post in here, as due to the nature of my work, and where I live, I see a fair amount of exotics, supercars, high-end luxury cars, oddities, etc, etc. Had to make an exception for this one.

Wednesday night there was not one, but TWO McLaren P1 GTR's at my dealership. One of them belonged to Ken Griffin. Made for quite a spectacle out in the parking lot. Even customers who had no idea about cars knew they were watching something special. 😂