caddycruiser

Darts. Everywhere. All of a sudden this month, I see new Darts everywhere more than once a day on the road, plus the one a neighbor bought. Even odder, except for one that was white and one that was a lime green-yellow color, all others have been a medium gray with upgraded wheels. Look nice on the road. Seem to be catching some sales traction.

Last rumor I've heard included dropping the 2.0L so that the 2.4L is standard across the board, and the base model with a $26795 MSRP will remain but drop the cloth/manual driver's seat and get the leather and power seat from the 2nd model up standard. We'll see. Now that its rated 35 mpg with the 2.0L, the ratings will need to drop if the engine does get bigger. Acura/Honda at least wait until very late to release details, and then the cars go on sale days to weeks after, right away or soon after. Wish other makers did that.

Cool Tesla! I see Fiskers in Philly, but never a Tesla S yet. Now said, I'll probably pass 5 tomorrow. They are around here somewhere, they have to be.

Word to the wise from your resident Acura dude...just because articles come out using quotations from Acura about changing things, then not, then yes again but other stuff, doesn't necessarily mean so. There has been chatter about the 2.0L for a while, Acura included. But it performs well in the car and would simply be even better with another gear, and direct injection. As is, peppy, efficient, and Honda smooth best describe it. I've not had any complaints about a lack of power from my clients considering or driving them. The car is smoother and quieter in ways than the larger TSX, but back to back where the TSX has a sport edge and firmer, communicative feel and more power (a few Acura drivers comparing have said "it's more BMW like" as the best way to explain), the ILX is softer and not as edgy. The TSX is going to remain, even as the price point of ILX to TSX causes confusion. The ILX should be just a bit less. The TSX is an upgrade in vehicle, but also very expensive to build and ship over from Japan...Acura's main issue with it right now. Lots of possibilities here. It's been an interesting car, just so new it has to catch traction. There is always room for advancement and adding features, updating powertrains, etc. but that's a good thing. To say the 2.0L will go away or was a mistake, that the 2.4L will be standard, etc. are just not correct yet. Intelligent blabber by Honda and writers to perk up peoples ears a bit. In the past month the ILX has caught nice traction, more so than before, part due to even more attractive leases and part them being on road. Hope to see it continue to advance, and it will. Not an issue like the 2012 Civic, by any means. We shall see. Watch and wait. Fun little car. Not necessarily what all previous larger Acura vehicle owners would expect or take to, but is getting new people from other brands into the brand. As for Turbo, not saying its a bad thing, but there are better options available and mainly by way of direct injection and newer transmissions. Turbos aren't for everyone and although our past RDX clients like them, the turbo surge and lower fuel economy of the last one weren't right for all. Too much for a smaller car, I think, that 2.3L at least.

Forgot, last weekend while in NYC, my first MKT Town Car stretch limo trying to make a turn. Looked cool, stretched and all.

Great review on an interesting sedan. Accolades everywhere and a big, comfy Americanized one, which people seem to be liking.

Very cool old tanks! Been a while since I've been in a B/D body car, since my own '95 Fleetwood. Only 1 left in the family. Looks like a great find, for sure.

Awesome car. I've seen and want to drive. Fit, trim, crisp and aggressive, without excess bulk and a seemingly very strong SkyActive engine. I liked the smaller version in a Mazda 3 I tried before, and assume the same here. Marketing marketing and more marketing, Mazda needs. I never knew a thing about Mazda until working for the Mazda dealer for a short time, and love them. So well done and engineered, they are "special" where competitors are nice but blah. Want to drive one too, just to see.

Looks like the transmission is being resolved for 2014, at least according to Allpar. Current car remains, but with a 6-speed auto: http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2013/01/conventional-automatic-compass-patriot-coming-soon

Also tonight... 2 new black ATS sedans on the highway. Had to stare both times as when moving, its 100% CTS until you get closer and realize smaller with different details. Also a crystal red new Regal GS in Delaware. That breaks an all time record of me seeing 3 GS's in 3 months.

Back home tonight to Philly after a day in Delaware, and there's a dark gray mid to upper level Dart parked outside my place. Even better looking car up close, very well detailed and proportioned. Still a shock this is a Dodge small car...hopefully it gets sales traction regardless of that fact.

Today while still down in southern Delaware for New Year's, an all new black cherry colored 2013 Avalon on road with temp tags. The fish mouth set it off, first seemed like a Lexus. Doesn't appear as bloated box anymore.

Santa's GS sleigh headed back again to southern Delaware for Christmas. I haven't had it washed or cleaned in well over a month, and between the rain and Brembo brown & black thick dust caked on wheels, it needed it badly. Washed and headed back north again last night. GS remains comfy, quick, drum solid and a pleasure to drive. I like the turbo more and more, and its sound/surge of power. For a sport suspension, 19" wheel'd car, it rides better than some soft luxury cars I've been in but handles incredibly. Good work, Opel. Nearing 3 months in a few days, and just crossed 2500 miles. Guess I should be okay for the 10k yearly lease, as for now I still only drive it on weekends and trips home. Filling up in the cold dark last night: Finally saw another on the road Monday night as well, a black GS with the 20's. Cool.

From a few days back...an all new redesigned black Range Rover carelessly weeving in & out of traffic, with NJ dealer plates. Had to look closely to see it was different because the stature & lines are so much the same, but it is new. Didn't think these were on ground yet, must have been one of the first.

Brand new dark gray 2013 GMC Acadia at the gas station, family on board filling up. Looks GREAT in person, very, very well detailed and more modern than before. Cool updated ute now.

Look antique but better trimmed, but alas. Weird they designed an all new truck ready 4.3L based off the new V8's, but clearly a purpose. The interior is trucky but who knows. Also interesting the platform/frame is actually still shared with the GMT-900 currently, just with additional improvements to rigidity, etc. GM redesigns continue to be interesting, in odd ways.

Oh and yesterday a silver Subaru XV: And a non ST regular Focus in the really interesting yellow pearl color:

2013 Lincoln "Town Car" as badged at the gas station. MKT for livery service, first I've seen of a 2013, and badged both MKT on the back and Town Car on the sides. Also interesting for fleet was the choice of wheels from the pre-refresh Ford Flex lower end models but with Lincoln center caps.

I have never seen one of these. Interesting. 4.6L Ford Econonline V8 & all. But a mini version size wise, and seem focused on mobility equipment, ramps and such.

Cadillac is getting better with nicer looking base model wheels, etc., but the foglight factor remains weird. I understand some features being optional, even down to leatherette before leather. Everyone does that. But foglights and decent wheels should always be there, and not a black plastic blank. HID vs. regular headlights? Okay, even that works. But put the damn foglights in place. It's Cadillac. Otherwise, GREAT car. Had I not leased the Regal GS, I looked at a base ATS and love the package. Definitely a smaller, trimmer sedan, but exactly as intended. Even the 2.5L is a great car, more than most expect. Sign me up for the red leather any day. Gorgeous.

Happy quarterly life crisis. Mine has been going on for a few years now. Be prepared. Hope you had a great day.

Old Allante cruising along Saturday morning.

Those seemed to always come loose, and I'm not sure why. Last one I sold used was the same, and another we have on the lot is too, partially.

One of the newly rushed re-done 2013 Civics, on a truckload with other Acura's delivered to our store today. Interesting how the front and rear, the main parts new on the outside, were completely covered by plastic wrap but not really much else. Seemed intentional almost, and is abnormal for Honda to cover that much.

An older gen (I dislike these) oval Taurus but in SHO guise. The wheels and unique spoiler made them better, and this is a well kept example of the rare V8 oval beast. Later, a 2011 Volt parked in the front row of the local Toyota dealer's used car lot. Odd.