質問: 1. What is the difference between the 2 sentences above? 2. Can I rewrite the second one as 彼は新しい車をほしがっていそうだ。Is it redundant?
回答: 彼は新しい車をほしがっている can mean 1. He wants a new car (= ...車が欲しいと思っている) 2. He is showing his desire for a new car 彼は新しい車**が**ほしそうだ means "He looks desirous of a new car". 彼は新しい車をほしがっていそうだ is usually taken as something like "I assume he is now begging a new car".