- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
- 33
- 81
So today I went to the DC Auto Show.
Here are some of my impressions:
TOP LEVEL / DOMESTIC BRANDS (+Mazda, Volvo, Saab)
Cadillac CTS-V: Not bad at all. Seemed to draw quite the crowd. Interior fit and finish was pretty good, though the shiny black interior trim left tons of fingerprints. Overall, I agree that the car is one heck of a value at $60K.
Corvette ZR1: It was there but could not sit in it. A lot of people wanted to. Again, it drew quite a crowd. A lot of excited people. The clear plastic engine cover is pretty stupid and gimmicky though.
Chevy Camaro: Pretty good looking car. Two pre-production models were there. Could not sit in them. I certainly prefer it to the Dodge Challenger. But I certainly prefer the 2010 Mustang Shelby Cobra over both of them. Talk about a mean looking car.
Chevy Cruze: Could not sit in it, but I would say it's a hot little number!
Ford: Props for giving out free 2010 Mustang GT Hot Wheels! 2010 Ford Shelby Cobra.
Mazda: The new MZ3 is a disaster...even in person. I was a previous-gen sedan owner, but if I bought a current-gen, it would be a hatch. Simply looks better. Both look like ass from the back...and front. I felt interior quality has diminished somewhat. All of the variants I sat in had completely gray/black interiors. I miss the days of the blue/red cloth interiors of the original model. They were just completely boring on the inside. Fit and finish is about the same. Overall, I would say the MZ3 has taken a step backwards. I still like the MZ6 and LOVE the Miata.
Overall Impression of Domestics: I felt like they were on the whole making progress. My opinions were more positive than negative. I feel the domestics might even be doing more on the Green/Eco front than others. But I am sure that was their intent to convey, especially in DC.
BOTTOM LEVEL / FOREIGN BRANDS (Including Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge)
Fisker: The Karma was there, as well as a two-door convertible version. Both gorgeous! I was able to get inside the ropes and sit in the Karma. Way cool! Even better, I spent about 20 minutes talking to Paul Boskovitch who is the Manager of Engineering of Powertrain and Electrical (the heart and soul of the car). The man has a storied career working for GM and other companies, responsible for a lot of the hybrid technology we are familiar with today. I didn't know this but most of the hybrid tech was developed over a decade ago by GM and Ford but they more or less gave it to the Japanese without filing for patents and such. The Japenese ran with the technology, filed their own patents, and now GM & Ford are licensing a lot of the technology from Toyota...technology GM & Ford developed. Doh!
To top things off, I shook hands with and had about a 5 minute conversation with Henrik Fisker himself. He is the man who penned the Z8, Aston DB9, AMV8, and many more.
Tesla: Was there. Getting in and out of that little car is a challenge...the same as an Elise.
Toyota/Scion/Lexus/Nissan/Honda/Acura: Pretty much breezed through their areas. Saw the GT-R last year. I was disappointed that the 370Z was not there??? Otherwise, zzZZZzzzzZZZzzzzzZZZ.
Edit: The new Prius looks MUCH better than the outgoing model!
Hyundai: Pretty much the same as the above, Genesis included. A luxury car competitor it is not. Perhaps high-end Honda/Toyota, yes.
Subaru: Still like Subarus! If I had purchased any car today, it would have most likely been a Subaru WRX Premium. It has everything I need in a car and more.
Mercedes/VW: Didn't really stop there either.
BMW: The new 7 still looks like ass but the new iDrive system is a HUGE improvement over the original version! Still wish I could afford a 135. I hope the 335d is a success. The new Z4 is kinda meh to me.
Audi: I saved the best for last. Inside and out, Audis are still my favorite. S4/S5/A8/R8...I love them all! The new R8 V10 is more bad ass than ever. Note to Chevy: this how you're suppose to apply a clear engine cover!
Porsche: Not there this year! Sign of the times.
Here are some of my impressions:
TOP LEVEL / DOMESTIC BRANDS (+Mazda, Volvo, Saab)
Cadillac CTS-V: Not bad at all. Seemed to draw quite the crowd. Interior fit and finish was pretty good, though the shiny black interior trim left tons of fingerprints. Overall, I agree that the car is one heck of a value at $60K.
Corvette ZR1: It was there but could not sit in it. A lot of people wanted to. Again, it drew quite a crowd. A lot of excited people. The clear plastic engine cover is pretty stupid and gimmicky though.
Chevy Camaro: Pretty good looking car. Two pre-production models were there. Could not sit in them. I certainly prefer it to the Dodge Challenger. But I certainly prefer the 2010 Mustang Shelby Cobra over both of them. Talk about a mean looking car.
Chevy Cruze: Could not sit in it, but I would say it's a hot little number!
Ford: Props for giving out free 2010 Mustang GT Hot Wheels! 2010 Ford Shelby Cobra.
Mazda: The new MZ3 is a disaster...even in person. I was a previous-gen sedan owner, but if I bought a current-gen, it would be a hatch. Simply looks better. Both look like ass from the back...and front. I felt interior quality has diminished somewhat. All of the variants I sat in had completely gray/black interiors. I miss the days of the blue/red cloth interiors of the original model. They were just completely boring on the inside. Fit and finish is about the same. Overall, I would say the MZ3 has taken a step backwards. I still like the MZ6 and LOVE the Miata.
Overall Impression of Domestics: I felt like they were on the whole making progress. My opinions were more positive than negative. I feel the domestics might even be doing more on the Green/Eco front than others. But I am sure that was their intent to convey, especially in DC.
BOTTOM LEVEL / FOREIGN BRANDS (Including Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge)
Fisker: The Karma was there, as well as a two-door convertible version. Both gorgeous! I was able to get inside the ropes and sit in the Karma. Way cool! Even better, I spent about 20 minutes talking to Paul Boskovitch who is the Manager of Engineering of Powertrain and Electrical (the heart and soul of the car). The man has a storied career working for GM and other companies, responsible for a lot of the hybrid technology we are familiar with today. I didn't know this but most of the hybrid tech was developed over a decade ago by GM and Ford but they more or less gave it to the Japanese without filing for patents and such. The Japenese ran with the technology, filed their own patents, and now GM & Ford are licensing a lot of the technology from Toyota...technology GM & Ford developed. Doh!
To top things off, I shook hands with and had about a 5 minute conversation with Henrik Fisker himself. He is the man who penned the Z8, Aston DB9, AMV8, and many more.
Tesla: Was there. Getting in and out of that little car is a challenge...the same as an Elise.
Toyota/Scion/Lexus/Nissan/Honda/Acura: Pretty much breezed through their areas. Saw the GT-R last year. I was disappointed that the 370Z was not there??? Otherwise, zzZZZzzzzZZZzzzzzZZZ.
Edit: The new Prius looks MUCH better than the outgoing model!
Hyundai: Pretty much the same as the above, Genesis included. A luxury car competitor it is not. Perhaps high-end Honda/Toyota, yes.
Subaru: Still like Subarus! If I had purchased any car today, it would have most likely been a Subaru WRX Premium. It has everything I need in a car and more.
Mercedes/VW: Didn't really stop there either.
BMW: The new 7 still looks like ass but the new iDrive system is a HUGE improvement over the original version! Still wish I could afford a 135. I hope the 335d is a success. The new Z4 is kinda meh to me.
Audi: I saved the best for last. Inside and out, Audis are still my favorite. S4/S5/A8/R8...I love them all! The new R8 V10 is more bad ass than ever. Note to Chevy: this how you're suppose to apply a clear engine cover!
Porsche: Not there this year! Sign of the times.
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