- May 25, 2004
- 5,664
- 2
- 76
We were lucky enough to have back to back auto shows here in raleigh this week... Last weekend's had better lighting, but a smaller venue with very few cars to sit it. The auto expo was a rather large venue, filling two large conference centers at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.
Thoughts:
I spent some quality interior snuggle time with:
IS-F-Probably my favorite feeling car of the show. I know it is (comparatively) underpowered and overpriced, but it fit me like a glove. Two things really stuck out at me: The seats have these fantastic rib-bolsters that seem to cradle your whole back and suck you deeply into the seat. secondly, the paddles were very stiff, and i can see how, despite it really being an autobox, you could get a reassuring feeling of driving a truly paddle shifted car. Gauge illumination was very cool also.
G37-pleasant interior, very very stiff seats. BMW-like. Not much of a fan.
CTS-V- i just about wet myself when i saw people getting in and out of the V. i made a bee-line for it and sat there for about 5 mintues, luckily no one else was in line. It felt similar to the IS-F from cabin room standpoint, very tight, but not constricting. just snug. Shifter was great, clutch feel was great...i would drive the piss out of this thing.
G35S-similar to the G37, though a bit more plush.
2009 WRX Hatch- i know i'm a total subaru fanboy, but i really did love the WRX. Deep, well bolstered seats, smooth clutch, simple (if a bit spartan) interior. Good shifter action, though a bit tall and i would definitely Opt for the Short shift kit.
G8 GXP-Purpose minded. spartan interior, though not cheap looking. just simple. Shifter action (unsurprisingly) very similar to the V. Seats didn't have much bolstering as i recall.
2010 Miata-Tiny, but solid. short clutch throw, short shift throws.
2010 Mazda 6-the most pedestrian car i sat in, and it showed. Seats were rather bad...the back pad actually felt like it lifted you away from the bolsters, and it was rather stiff. I did note though that looking forward, over the wheel and gauges, visibilty is very good and they both were very clean and refined.
Hyundai Genesis 3.6-roomy. plush. not my style. but i can see why it is significant...it's a whole lotta car for the money.
Lotus Elise SC- ha. my first time in a lotus, but exactly what i expected. a few gauges, three pedals, a wheel, a seat, and a shifter. and yes, your ass really does feel like it's nearly touching the ground.
M35-another infiniti, but sporting better seats and a slightly warmer interior.
Saturn Sky Redline-solid. biggest annoyance was the shifter stalk was SO short that if you gripped it pistol style, you would jam your fingers against the surround going into 1,3, and 5.
2008/9 Challenger R/T-parts bin. felt like i would slide all around on the seats.
cars i wasn't able to sit in:
Solstice Coupe-great looking little car. it was locked.
ZR1- The token crowd pleaser. Gorgeous and almost overwhelming in person.
2010 Mustang GT-Didn't like the color at all, but styling is fantastic.
2008(?) GT500KR-sitting off in the corner of the Ford booth... not all that interesting. I didn't like the wheels at all...they looked very cheap.
Chevy Camaro-Huge. that's what i remember the most. Maybe because it was bright yellow...i think it would look much nicer in a darker color. and i'm sure it didn't help that it was sporting 21" wheels.
All in all, it was pretty neat, but the lighting sucked. I got invited by a Lexus rep to a promo track day event they are throwing in the summer with Benz and BMW. should be fun if it pans out. his exact words are as follows: "....so you can get out of the IS-F and hop right into an M3..." hmm....i'm game. enjoy the pictures, pardon the (iso) noise.
http://picasaweb.google.com/td...toExpo?feat=directlink
Thoughts:
I spent some quality interior snuggle time with:
IS-F-Probably my favorite feeling car of the show. I know it is (comparatively) underpowered and overpriced, but it fit me like a glove. Two things really stuck out at me: The seats have these fantastic rib-bolsters that seem to cradle your whole back and suck you deeply into the seat. secondly, the paddles were very stiff, and i can see how, despite it really being an autobox, you could get a reassuring feeling of driving a truly paddle shifted car. Gauge illumination was very cool also.
G37-pleasant interior, very very stiff seats. BMW-like. Not much of a fan.
CTS-V- i just about wet myself when i saw people getting in and out of the V. i made a bee-line for it and sat there for about 5 mintues, luckily no one else was in line. It felt similar to the IS-F from cabin room standpoint, very tight, but not constricting. just snug. Shifter was great, clutch feel was great...i would drive the piss out of this thing.
G35S-similar to the G37, though a bit more plush.
2009 WRX Hatch- i know i'm a total subaru fanboy, but i really did love the WRX. Deep, well bolstered seats, smooth clutch, simple (if a bit spartan) interior. Good shifter action, though a bit tall and i would definitely Opt for the Short shift kit.
G8 GXP-Purpose minded. spartan interior, though not cheap looking. just simple. Shifter action (unsurprisingly) very similar to the V. Seats didn't have much bolstering as i recall.
2010 Miata-Tiny, but solid. short clutch throw, short shift throws.
2010 Mazda 6-the most pedestrian car i sat in, and it showed. Seats were rather bad...the back pad actually felt like it lifted you away from the bolsters, and it was rather stiff. I did note though that looking forward, over the wheel and gauges, visibilty is very good and they both were very clean and refined.
Hyundai Genesis 3.6-roomy. plush. not my style. but i can see why it is significant...it's a whole lotta car for the money.
Lotus Elise SC- ha. my first time in a lotus, but exactly what i expected. a few gauges, three pedals, a wheel, a seat, and a shifter. and yes, your ass really does feel like it's nearly touching the ground.
M35-another infiniti, but sporting better seats and a slightly warmer interior.
Saturn Sky Redline-solid. biggest annoyance was the shifter stalk was SO short that if you gripped it pistol style, you would jam your fingers against the surround going into 1,3, and 5.
2008/9 Challenger R/T-parts bin. felt like i would slide all around on the seats.
cars i wasn't able to sit in:
Solstice Coupe-great looking little car. it was locked.
ZR1- The token crowd pleaser. Gorgeous and almost overwhelming in person.
2010 Mustang GT-Didn't like the color at all, but styling is fantastic.
2008(?) GT500KR-sitting off in the corner of the Ford booth... not all that interesting. I didn't like the wheels at all...they looked very cheap.
Chevy Camaro-Huge. that's what i remember the most. Maybe because it was bright yellow...i think it would look much nicer in a darker color. and i'm sure it didn't help that it was sporting 21" wheels.
All in all, it was pretty neat, but the lighting sucked. I got invited by a Lexus rep to a promo track day event they are throwing in the summer with Benz and BMW. should be fun if it pans out. his exact words are as follows: "....so you can get out of the IS-F and hop right into an M3..." hmm....i'm game. enjoy the pictures, pardon the (iso) noise.
http://picasaweb.google.com/td...toExpo?feat=directlink
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