DC AutoShow Report (w/ crappy pics)

[GTaudiophile]

So I went with a friend to the DC Auto Show last night. The intention was to go when no one would be there and because of the frigid weather and SOTU speech indeed no one was!

A few comments/observations:

General:
-The theme of the year, more so than in years past, was to get people to give their private data via iPad while using "free" USB sticks, Jeep rides, $50 cash cards, etc. as bait. I swear every booth babe was carrying an iPad.

Corvette:
-Yeah, it looks better in person and better than the outgoing model but overall my impression was meh.
-My friend who is 6'6" could not sit in the car. He simply couldn't fit with the seat all the way back. He was totally shocked.
-I don't get the combination of MT transmission AND steering wheel paddles? How does that work exactly? The paddles say "rev matching" on them.
-Considering a Corvette convertible? Be sure to cross-shop with the much better Jaguar F-Type (base model).
-In typical cheap POS American car fashion, the rear wheel-hump vents are totally cosmetic and non-functional. I can hear Clarkson laughing already!

Viper:
-Now we're talking! A real man's car.
-The Viper makes the Vette look like a complete sissy car.
-My 6'6" friend could actually sit in it somewhat comfortably.
-Impressive carbon fiber body work.
-V10 awesomeness:

Scion FR-S:
-Between the Vette, Viper, and the FR-S my tall friend found the Scion the most comfortable of the three.
-Such a nice and simple, back-to-the-basics car.
-Decent stock audio.
-Back seats useless (no surprise).
-PLEASE just give us like 50 more hp!

Ford Fiesta ST vs. Focus ST:
-Sat in them both, back to back.
-MSRP sticker was $26K and $31K, respectively.
-Fiesta was downright uncomfortable.
-Fiesta interior quality was very very low. Embarrassingly bad.
-Fiesta back seat intolerable.
-By contrast, the Focus interior quality materials was better by a leap.
-Focus was comfortable, both front and back seat (latter at least tolerable).
-Would personally never ever consider a Fiesta purchase.

Mazda3 (Sedan, Loaded):
-Huge improvement in regards to interior fit and finish over outgoing model.
-I thought my 2005 had better interior than the outgoing model but the new model surpasses the 2005 I owned.
-Impressive list of features when loaded: HUD, etc.
-Pretty decent stock Bose audio.
-MSRP sticker was $31K. Same price as the Focus ST. Would take the MZ3 over the Ford any day of the week!
-Where is the 6MT option on the Grand Touring?
-Where is the SkyActivD version???
-Sedan vs. Hatch? Undecided. I could live with either I think. But at least the new sedan is tolerable vs. the outgoing model.
-Miata still offers the best in regards to smilerice ratio. FR-S/BRZ a close second IMO but still not quite Miata level.
-Would love to walk into a Mazda dealer and buy a loaded 2015 MZ3 Grand Touring 6MT with SkyActivD engine AND a 2015 Miata Grand Touring on the same day. I'd walk out pretty happy.

VW Golf MKVII:
-LOL! VW had this labeled as a 2015 Concept. Why call it that? It's been available everywhere else in the world for the past two years! A concept???

Mercedes CLA350:
-MSRP Sticker of $31K??? Did I read that correctly? Same price as loaded MZ3???
-Impressed overall at that price!
-That said, it's definitely the cheap Mercedes. You can tell. No sunroof?
-The back seat is claustrophobically bad. A place you do NOT want to be.

Audi A3 with S-Line Pkg:
-Wow.
-My new favorite Audi.
-Considering it costs about $10K more than a loaded MZ3 it's not a bad value.
-VW what?
-Similar in size to the original A4 of the mid-90s.
-Please bring over the 6MT option.
-Please bring over the 2.0TDI engine!

BMW 228i
-Bigger than I thought it would be.
-Bigger than the outgoing 1-series.
-Bigger than the A3 it seems.
-It's no lightweight e30!
-Can't say I came away feeling all that impressed with it.
-Same with M3/M4: Big cars now. But I might take the M3 over the M4. At least use that space for 2 extra doors. And I think I prefer the sedan's proportions.
-BMW booth in general was a snooze fest. They brought their "C" game. What was with being buried all the way behind Volvo way back in the corner?

CLA vs. A3 vs. 228? The Audi wins for me...before the test drive at least.

Misc.
-No exotics? No, Lotus doesn't count.
-Most expensive vehicles were the Sprinter/AirStream campers.
-Why doesn't Porsche ever come out for this?
-Note to all vendors: the more cars you have hooked up with power, turned on, and permit Bluetooth pairing for audio, the more fun we have!
-What's with needing a key/ignition for BT device pairing? Poo on Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes for this!
-Lexus IS350 joystick mouse: such an odd device.

 

[foghorn67]

Wow, talk about justifying Corvette hate. Chevy hits a home run, and you nitpick. The Jaguar you are comparing it to has plenty more faults.
For the sadly uninformed, the paddles turn the rev matching off and on. If you don't know what rev matching is, please don't compare cars and give advice, ever.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Wow, talk about justifying Corvette hate. Chevy hits a home run, and you nitpick. The Jaguar you are comparing it to has plenty more faults.
For the sadly uninformed, the paddles turn the rev matching off and on. If you don't know what rev matching is, please don't compare cars and give advice, ever.

I know what rev-matching is, esp. as an MT driver! I just had never seen it presented as such.

 

[Kelvrick]

I was going to start bashing on how you could actually say the mazda3 provided more smiles than the BRZ, then I realized you merely included miata thoughts under your Mazda3 section.

I drove the fiesta st and focus st at a mazda driving event and would consider a fiesta. Unlike the mazdaspeed 3 and focus st, the fiesta still had a good amount of fun factor while maintaining gas mileage. I thought the interior was fine, but I guess I was more focused on the cones.

 

[foghorn67]

Also, the rear vent is functional. A little bit of a primer for air movement. Moving heat out of a car includes more than air intake, you must create pressure. An exit in the right proportion prevents the intake from becoming a windsock.

 

[phucheneh]

I was gonna say, they must be getting awfully elaborate with their fake vents. The 'standard' fake vent is one ugly little molded piece. That's a real vent that would have to have a separate cover behind it...leading me to believe that that's actually a duct that goes somewhere.

It's definitely not a 'vent,' though. Passing air is being pulled down into it, probably in an effort to cool the rear brakes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

-Lexus IS350 joystick mouse: such an odd device.

Have you ever used it? It actually works quite well.

I dislike Audis, poor reliability and meh looks = deal killer for me. The only Audi I find even remotely interesting is the R8 but if I were going to buy one of those I'd probably start looking at pre-owned Lamborghinis instead.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Vette > Viper

 

[foghorn67]

Have you ever used it? It actually works quite well.

I dislike Audis, poor reliability and meh looks = deal killer for me. The only Audi I find even remotely interesting is the R8 but if I were going to buy one of those I'd probably start looking at pre-owned Lamborghinis instead.

The new Lexus interior's are on par with Audi's. Really nice. The controls for the main infotainment systems on both makes are remarkably similar. Not sure what he is complaining about.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Have you ever used it? It actually works quite well.

I dislike Audis, poor reliability and meh looks = deal killer for me. The only Audi I find even remotely interesting is the R8 but if I were going to buy one of those I'd probably start looking at pre-owned Lamborghinis instead.

Of course I used it.

How do you think I formed my opinion?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Of course I used it.

How do you think I formed my opinion?

Well, you didn't state much in the way of an opinion actually. You just said that it was odd. I have used it a number of times and found it very easy and intuitive to navigate through the menus with. It is probably one of the best interfaces out there actually. One of the best I've used anyway.

 

[pauldun170]

So I went with a friend to the DC Auto Show last night. The intention was to go when no one would be there and because of the frigid weather and SOTU speech indeed no one was!

A few comments/observations:

General:
-The theme of the year, more so than in years past, was to get people to give their private data via iPad while using "free" USB sticks, Jeep rides, $50 cash cards, etc. as bait. I swear every booth babe was carrying an iPad.

Corvette:
-Yeah, it looks better in person and better than the outgoing model but overall my impression was meh.
-My friend who is 6'6" could not sit in the car. He simply couldn't fit with the seat all the way back. He was totally shocked.
-I don't get the combination of MT transmission AND steering wheel paddles? How does that work exactly? The paddles say "rev matching" on them.
-Considering a Corvette convertible? Be sure to cross-shop with the much better Jaguar F-Type (base model).
-In typical cheap POS American car fashion, the rear wheel-hump vents are totally cosmetic and non-functional. I can hear Clarkson laughing already!

Aerodynamics:
 Notice: The base Corvette Stingray has a three piece lower front air dam. The Z51 option only uses the two outer pieces and does not use the center section.

With race-proven aerodynamics, every square inch of the 2014 Corvette Stingray exterior is designed for performance and improved high-speed stability. All five air vents are highly functional and contribute to cooling or reduced lift.

All models have a new grille/radiator arrangement and hood vents. Venting air out of the hood reduces total front-end lift for improved steering response at high speeds. The front fender side coves also help vent underhood air pressure to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Models with the automatic transmission or Z51 Performance Package feature a functional vent on driver’s left side directing air over a heat exchanger for the transmission fluid and a similar arrangement on the passenger side that directs air over a heat exchanger for the electronic limited slip differential (ELSD) cooler.

Airflow through the differential and transmission heat exchangers exits through the aircraft-inspired taillamp vents and lower-rear fascia air outlets.

The Z51 Performance Package also includes brake-cooling ducts, a unique rear spoiler and additional air deflectors for enhanced track capability.

 

[KentState]

Aerodynamics:
 Notice: The base Corvette Stingray has a three piece lower front air dam. The Z51 option only uses the two outer pieces and does not use the center section.

With race-proven aerodynamics, every square inch of the 2014 Corvette Stingray exterior is designed for performance and improved high-speed stability. All five air vents are highly functional and contribute to cooling or reduced lift.

All models have a new grille/radiator arrangement and hood vents. Venting air out of the hood reduces total front-end lift for improved steering response at high speeds. The front fender side coves also help vent underhood air pressure to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Models with the automatic transmission or Z51 Performance Package feature a functional vent on driver’s left side directing air over a heat exchanger for the transmission fluid and a similar arrangement on the passenger side that directs air over a heat exchanger for the electronic limited slip differential (ELSD) cooler.

Airflow through the differential and transmission heat exchangers exits through the aircraft-inspired taillamp vents and lower-rear fascia air outlets.

The Z51 Performance Package also includes brake-cooling ducts, a unique rear spoiler and additional air deflectors for enhanced track capability.

In this case, I think fake = I don't understand.

 

[foghorn67]

In this case, I think fake = I don't understand.

He never responds to facts.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Models with the automatic transmission or Z51 Performance Package feature a functional vent on driver’s left side directing air over a heat exchanger for the transmission fluid and a similar arrangement on the passenger side that directs air over a heat exchanger for the electronic limited slip differential (ELSD) cooler.

The car I sat in was MT! Meaning the vent in that car was indeed purely cosmetic.

 

[foghorn67]

The car I sat in was MT! Meaning the vent in that car was indeed purely cosmetic.

It wasn't a Z51?

 

[Midwayman]

The new Lexus interior's are on par with Audi's. Really nice. The controls for the main infotainment systems on both makes are remarkably similar. Not sure what he is complaining about.

Any less bland this time around? You could totally tell their toyota herritage last time I looked at them.

 

[foghorn67]

Any less bland this time around? You could totally tell their toyota herritage last time I looked at them.

The new GS and IS carry the new interiors. I like them, much improved.

 

[pauldun170]

The car I sat in was MT! Meaning the vent in that car was indeed purely cosmetic.

Models with the automatic transmission or
Z51 Performance Package feature a functional vent on driver’s left side directing air over a heat exchanger for the transmission fluid and a similar arrangement on the passenger side that directs air over a heat exchanger for the electronic limited slip differential (ELSD) cooler.

Please see below


Z51 Performance Package


Z51 1LT

The 1LT is the Stingray for Corvette purists who want the lightest car available and includes these unexpected features:

• Three seat color options
• Two 8-inch HD color displays
• 8-way power seats with leather surfaces
• Power tilt and telescoping steering column
• Keyless Access with Push-Button Start
• 7-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching and launch control
• Rear vision camera
• Full-power convertible top with remote operation
• Carbon-fiber hood
• Aluminum frame structure
• Driver Mode Selector
• 9-speaker Bose® audio system with 3-month trial subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio†

Z51 Performance Package
The Z51 Performance Package (available on 1LT, 2LT or 3LT), elevates Corvette Stingray to its top performance level. This package includes:

• larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels
• dry sump oil system
• Electronic Limited Slip Differential
• larger front brakes (13.6 inch vs. 12.6 inch) with black calipers
• specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars
• differential and transmission cooling
• unique Aero Package that reduces lift for high-speed stability
• Michelin® Pilot® Super Sport® ZP summer-only tires(DISCLOSURE) that are aggressively tuned to provide outstanding handling, grip and road-holding capability
• available Magnetic Selective Ride Control and Performance Traction Management
• HD Cooling
• Slotted Brake Rotors
• Performance Gear Ratios

MSRP from$58,800* Build & Price

• Search Inventory
• Request a Quote
• Calculate Monthly Payments
• Compare Models Side by Side

Z51 2LT

The 2LT trim level is popularly equipped with comfort and convenience features and includes color-keyed console and door armrests. The Stingray 2LT includes everything above plus:

• Console and door panels in interior color
• Lumbar/wing adjust
• Heated/vented seats
• Seat emblems
• Bose® premium audio
• Universal Home Remote
• Auto-dimming mirrors
• Memory Package
• Color Head-Up Display
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio† with one-year subscription
• Enhanced Theft-Deterrent Package
• Luggage shade/cargo net

Z51 Performance Package
The Z51 Performance Package (available on 1LT, 2LT or 3LT), elevates Corvette Stingray to its top performance level. This package includes:

• larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels
• dry sump oil system
• Electronic Limited Slip Differential
• larger front brakes (13.6 inch vs. 12.6 inch) with black calipers
• specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars
• differential and transmission cooling
• unique Aero Package that reduces lift for high-speed stability
• Michelin® Pilot® Super Sport® ZP summer-only tires(DISCLOSURE) that are aggressively tuned to provide outstanding handling, grip and road-holding capability
• available Magnetic Selective Ride Control and Performance Traction Management
• HD Cooling
• Slotted Brake Rotors
• Performance Gear Ratios

MSRP from$63,010* Build & Price

• Search Inventory
• Request a Quote
• Calculate Monthly Payments
• Compare Models Side by Side

Z51 3LT

The 3LT trim level provides the ultimate sport experience and luxury, featuring a leather-wrapped color-keyed interior. The Stingray 3LT includes everything above plus:

• Custom Leather-wrapped interior
• Nappa leather seating surfaces
• Navigation (optional on 1LT/2LT)
• Instrument panel in interior color

Z51 Performance Package
The Z51 Performance Package (available on 1LT, 2LT or 3LT), elevates Corvette Stingray to its top performance level. This package includes:

• larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels
• dry sump oil system
• Electronic Limited Slip Differential
• larger front brakes (13.6 inch vs. 12.6 inch) with black calipers
• specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars
• differential and transmission cooling
• unique Aero Package that reduces lift for high-speed stability
• Michelin® Pilot® Super Sport® ZP summer-only tires(DISCLOSURE) that are aggressively tuned to provide outstanding handling, grip and road-holding capability
• available Magnetic Selective Ride Control and Performance Traction Management
• HD Cooling
• Slotted Brake Rotors
• Performance Gear Ratios

 

[pauldun170]

Why the sting ray has paddles with the manual
http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/news...has-manual-shifter-and-steering-wheel-paddles

 

[Spec412]

I like the stingray but don't kick its rear side window