I went yesterday. I took half a day off and my 6 year old son and I went and looked at all the new for 2012 cars that the dealers had to offer.
I have to say that this was the first time I have ever been to a new car show of this type and it was very enlightening. There is nothing like being able to jump from one mfgr to another so quickly to really get a good comparison between cars. Another interesting thing was having my 6 year old with me. He had a blast. IT also takes a bit of the pomp and circumstance out of the sales pitch from the shinny happy people that represent the manufacturers. My son would give an honest opinion of the cars when ever asked.
The funniest moment was we were looking at the Audi’s and he was climbing out of the back of one of there SUV's and the sales person comes up and asks him what he thought. Without hesitation he tells the sales man he does not like it and then proceeds to say that it is because it is very difficult for him to get in due to it not having a "step" (AKA running board) for him to get in and out of the car. I was smiling ear to ear and the sales person did not know what to say. I actually let My son in to every car he wanted to get in to and he was very interested in the ease of access in to and out of the rear seats as well as foot room. In fact I was in an Audi convertible and he said to push the seat back to see if he had foot room (he did not) Anyway, Like I said it is a great exercise if you are thinking of getting a new car (even it if is in say 1-3 years) to go to one of these. I had some surprising discovery’s.
AUDI: I was very disappointed in what Audi had to offer. For such pricey cars they felt cold when you sat in them. The seats were not comfortable. I just did not feel like I belonged in the car. The ergonomics of the cars just seemed wrong for me. This I think is a car that just appeals to people that like a completely different driving experience than I do.
NISSAN: They have a HUGE suv appropriately named the ARMADA. I had never heard of it before. It is equivalent in size the an expedition. Aside from the blinged 20" chrome wheels I was truly surprised just how much I liked this vehicle. Front and rear seats fit well. The interior was not cheap but was also not over the top. Very comfortable to sit in. I liked it. The Maxima: BIG BIG BIG!!! And a nice car as well. Again it felt good when you sit in it. Ergonomically it was correct. I always thought that these were more of a midsized car but this thing seemed much larger.
MAZDA: I was really excited to finally get a look at their line up and. .. . .. I was disappointed. Every car I got into felt cheep. I mean really cheap (as in poor quality). Sitting in the cars with the belt on and the seat properly adjusted to the peddles I could reach everything but the feeling of cheapness was so in your face. I felt like I would break things just by touching them. The doors made a horrible hollow aluminum tinny sound when you closed them (like dropping an empty soda can). The thinness of the doors and sides of the cars was disturbing. It was the only car in the show that I actually thought to my self "what would happen in an accident" as I watched my 6 year old try out the various seats in there minivan. Sorry Mazda, I really wanted to heap piles of praise on your cars but I was just not feeling it. Something is missing. All the hype of the Zoom Zoom adds and the success of the Miata made me expect more. These cars really reminded me of my 1987 escort wagon. May be the driving experience overcomes this feeling but in a world where first impressions are very important Mazda really needs improve things.
MINI: As some will remember I have bashed them (or should i say there drivers) in the past here on GRM. First opinion is. "Hay these are not as small as I thought". My son and I tried every model they had (there were 6 I think) and you know what (and this is a bit embarrassing to admit) I liked them. I really liked them. Quality, fit and finish was spot on. They are a really well engineered car. My son could easily get in and out of them. Heck, I could easily get in and out of the back. There was even foot room in the back for a full sized adult!!!!! If these things drive half as good as they present them self’s I know I could easily be persuaded to have one of these in my driveway.
TOYOTA: Nothing to see here but well Toyota's. I liked their cars. There is nothing spectacular to say about them. Just good quality vehicles. I liked the Tundra 4 door cab. Again with the seat in a proper driving position and a belt on you can easily reach everything. The cab felt more spacious than I expected. Nothing to get really excited about but I have to say there is absolutely nothing bad about these cars and trucks.
MERCEDES: One word. CHEEP. As the sales person was talking about the hand hune wood trim I am running my had down it thinking why does it feel like plastic? The leather seats feel like cardboard. I tried to get them in a position that I liked with respect to the controls and maintaining comfort and I just could not do it. I do like the aggressive look of these cars but just not for me. (Hint: Anyone looking to get a S class should go look at what HYUNDAI as to offer)
BMW: There were large crowds around the BMW offerings. As German cars went I liked what BMW has to offer the best (I did not get over to the Porsche display) The 3 series I sat in was perfect. It is a bigger car than what I remember as compared to the 3 series of the 90’s. The M5 is a spectacular machine. BMW has got it right with this car and just keeps improving on it. There is nothing I can add here that has not already been said. As I closed the door and just sat there a surreal feeling of peace and power washes over you. I quietly added this car to my wish list. Opening the door returns me to the harsh reality that it is not my car and I am at a car show. The M5 has just the correct amount of exclusivity that really makes it a special car.
HYUNDAI: Good cars.. . . . Hell they are great cars!!! This was my first time in a Genesis and call me impressed!!!! Then there is the EQUUS. This car is downright amassing!!! Hyundai is going to kick some serious market place shares you know what with this vehicle. Looks, style, fit and feel. They nailed it! The back seat is like the best “man cave” ever created. While the front is probably one of the best laded out cockpits I have ever been in. It reeks of quality and over the top luxury but it is not insulting to the senses. This is what MB should be making. It did not help that it was sitting next to the MB cars either. I cannot describe the thought that has gone in to this car, and at about 60K!!!! No really!!!!! You are getting so much more car for 60K than just about any other luxury car on the market today. I WANT ONE!!!
JEEP: Jeep had a track set up that you could get a ride around in with their various vehicles. Having had a CJ7 years back and Grand Wagoner’s that either caught on fire, randomly shed parts whenever they felt like (1980’s jeep goodness). I was not expecting much. My son and I piled in the back of a wrangler and I was surprised at the amount of foot room I had. Even with the 6’2 test driver in front of me. Ride quality was definitely still Jeep but it was a new refined Jeep. Not the rough and tumble jar you fillings out Jeep. There other big thing is fit and finish. Jeep has come a long way. The bottom line is I liked the Jeep!
GM: The only GM products I really looked at was the new Camaro. There was a transformer edition yellow Camaro on display. I was told it is one of only 1500 made and just about all have been spoken for. I was told to get the vin number of this car as it would be going to a local dealer after the show. The very nice GM sales man played into my story to my son that it really was Bumble Bee. The sales man informed my son that because of all the people around he had to stay as a car but at night when everyone was gone he transformed and would look after all the other cars. My son was absolutely transfixed by this revelation. He was really apprehensive about getting in to bumble bee. I did not push things and we went at looked at other vehicles but towards the end of our time at the show he asked to go back to see bumble bee. We did and I think he had a great time with bumble bee. He was in the back and I think he actually felt very “safe” knowing that Bumble Bee was here to look after him. Sadly to say I don’t think I would buy one. I just did not like the retro style of the interior. It made me remember that I did not like the interior of my 68 RS either. Access to the back of the car was horrible. I tried getting in there and it was just not going to happen. Seating position could not be set up where I could drive the car comfortable and still work the secondary controls. Fit finish and quality were very good . I think that I was expecting more was the problem. I walked away asking myself “is that all there is”. I must say that the Camaro seems to be value for money. Even the SS version is way less than 40K. I have not driven one but I can see this possibly being a tremendous value if you are looking at performance versus dollars spent. They would not let us into the Corvette ZR1 so I can only say that it still looks like a Corvette. I don’t like the clear plastic window on the hood. It is just wrong. For a car that is often associated with aging men that are compensating for something it is like looking at someone dressed in an $5,000 suite and then you realize there fly is open. I am sure it has eye budging, kidney popping performance but all the giddy excitement of that goes away when you then look and notice the window on the hood. Why GM why?
DODGE: I have to admit I have loved to hate dodges over the years. Being from the Ford and Chevy camps over the years we always looked at the dodge guys as “the other guys” Kind of the ugly cousin that comes to the party that everyone one talks about behind their back and smiles and is nice to when introduced. Well the ugly cousin has grown up! She is not only very attractive but has attitude, wit and yes even brains to back up the curves. You know the one that is very attractive and has just that little bit if edginess that makes you stop and take one last look as you leave the party? That is what Dodge now has. Dodge is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the new car market. I was pleasantly surprised with what they have to offer. The first was a Black Edition Charger. Black on Black (leather interior) with black 6 spoke wheels. Yes this is a big car but Dodge has really put some thought in to comfort yet it is not gaudy. The car has a feeling of quality yet is not saying you paid to much. The back seat is very comfortable. 4 doors adds to the functionality of the car. It is the Camaro for a grown up with two kids. The Black edition had a 300hp v6 that get reasonable millage as well. When in the car it does not feel as big as it is (again this is a big car) I really liked this car. Add some tint to the rear windows and you will look like a LEO cursing down the highway. Dodge trucks have done nothing but get better. What can I say. The interiors are a step up in feel from the ford’s but don’t have that feeling of trying to be to much as the GM trucks. As a side note here because GM has the Cadillac they have the capability to make a great interior it is just that they cannot put it in a GM as it would undermine the Cadillac brand. The Avenger. This is the only car that really pissed me off. First off I am 5’11 about 225lbs due to the seat position in this car you have to kind of fall in to it. However the low roof line means that it hits me square in the head just above the temple and in turn jarred my neck and head really good. I actually dragged a sales person over to see if the seat was raised up or if I was just an idiot. But no it is just how this thing is. With my but half on the seat the roof line at the top of the window squarely meets my head just above my ears. I was so mad about this that I was seeing the red mist while I sat in it. I literally hit my head so hard that I was a little off for a couple minutes so any other evaluation on my part would be tainted by the urge I to break things in the car while composed myself.
FORD: Ford has taken a styling direction that I am on the fence about. I like the Taurus. It was a very popular car meaning I did not get much time in it but first impressions were I liked it. Comfortable upscale quality built and refined are what come to mind. Back seat room looked limited considering its size but I did not actually get in to try it out. The F series of trucks just keep evolving. The styling is starting to bother me but I think that value for money it is still the benchmark in the light truck market. The new explorer just makes me want to run away. I think somewhere deep in the design studios of ford they melded a cylon Warrior with Hello Kitty. Just a bad idea. Otherwise it is a nice car. Or is it a truck? Again I think it is confused. The Expedition is a very nice vehicle. I have some bias as I actually have one of these. Although it is a previous generation this vehicle makes no apologies for making a big, bad, I am here statement. It is comfortable and seams functional. There is no point discussing passenger room. There is tons!!! I would get one. Again, as with the F series of vehicles, you realize that it is not the most expensive in the field but instead it has that utilitarian feel that is what has made ford so successful. I wish I had more time to look at the other ford offerings but at was at this point that my son wanted to go see bumble bee.
This was my first time at this show. I liked it. There were obviously many more cars and manufacturers at the show than I touched on. Jags, Lexus had an LFH on display, there were Lamborghini's in abundance. There really is something for everyone there. Going on a weekday afternoon meant that crows were nonexistent, the sales staff had time to talk to you and there is none of the pressure you find when you go to a dealership. It was fun in a relaxed atmosphere where even my 6 year old son was welcome. Everyone should take the time and do this.
