Did you go to the Auto Show?
I’m not much of a car guy so I wasn’t crushed when I didn’t make it to the auto show this year. I didn’t hear too many good things about this year’s show though. Almost everyone i spoke with told me that pasts years shows were better than this year. In fact, I heard an NPR bit about how many of the asian auto manufacturers are moving their big displays and announcements to the Los Angeles Auto Show, not necessarily because Cobo or Detroit is a bad venue but because they can do it on more friendly turf (rather than next door to the massive GM Headquarters).
Did you go? How was it compared to last year and years past?
I had a great time at the auto show this year — so many cars it was almost overwhelming. Being somewhat tall I wish manufacturers would make cars easier to fit into, but there are cars for just about everyone there. It’s hard to pick out the most interesting display, Chevy was pitching their Volt concept, Ford had the Airstream with a 360 degree TV, and one of the foreign manufacturers (don’t remember which) had some kind of sheet of ice under their trucks and SUVs…
it seemed like once the previews and such were done so was the interest. but with all the buy-outs, lay offs and auto industry stuff going on around these parts i can understand why a lot of the general public (many of which can somehow be tied to the auto industry) may not have been too keen on seeing million dollar displays for vehicles they probabably won’t be able to afford this year.
i think it was Mercedes that had the ice under their vehicles…
the auto show feels the same every year, the only thing that’s different is different cars and that’s usually enough to bring people back…
i went this year on a monday night and that was great because barely anyone was there and we sat in any car that we wanted…
a couple years ago i went and was genuinely in the market for a new car but then got so frustrated with the ocean of ten year old kids sitting behind the wheel of every car in the place that i gave up. instead of letting kids in cheaper (or free) they should reverse it and make it cost more for anyone without a drivers license so the actual driving public could check stuff out. maybe just one day like that?
I didn’t have a chance to attend because I couldn’t justify paying $12 for the half hour of free time I had. I did however walk to the show from the Joe Louis Arena parking lot, and the view of the city, as one exits the lot, is stunning. Perhaps I am seeing things through biased eyes, but I do hope tourists swallowed any negativity they may have had about Detroit this weekend. The amount of people still pouring in on Sunday night was incredible. The brilliance and glitter of the cars was stunning. I have never been to an auto show, and had nothing to compare it to. It was great to see the number of families and son and father pairs at the show.