Don Vito Corleone
Elite
I went to the Minneapolis Auto Show yesterday, partly because I am toying with the idea of buying a new car this year. Before anyone asks, I did take a lot of pictures, but they are not comprehensive and are basically much poorer versions of pics you have seen in magazines and online, so it hardly seems worth uploading and posting them.
The show did not include any Ferraris or Lamborghinis, or anything more exotic than those marques (e.g., Pagani, Koenigsegg). The costliest car there was the Porsche Carrera GT, in yellow - that thing has such presence that I literally started to sweat as I got close to it! Ford had also brought a GT and the GR-1 prototype (both gorgeous IMO).
Here are some random thoughts in no particular order (keep in mind I haven't taken a test drive in a few years, so some may be dated by your personal standards):
- I think Subaru may be the only Japanese carmaker with real character (though they obviously have not cornered the market on making excellent cars). They have made tremendous strides in interior quality - they're like a Japanese VW in that regard. I really, really like a lot of their cars. I wish they had Sirus as an option, though.
- I like several of the Mazdas, but their interiors, which photograph well, are surprisingly chintzy IRL. The Mazdasport6 looks great, though initial reviews say it is prone to excessive understeer.
- The C6 Corvette looks better IRL than in print, and has real presence. The interior is not bad at all for a GM car.
- The Cadillac CTS-V looks decent from the outside, but has a startlingly crappy interior, and the shifter has a long, ropy feel.
- The Mustang is a really, really nice package. The interior is surprisingly nice IMO, considering its performance resume and price.
- The Scion tC really is an impressive car for the money. If these had existed maybe 6 years ago I probably would have bought one.
- The new Boxster looks sensational. I like rear quarters a lot better than the old one.
- The Lotus Elise is really, really small and low to the ground. It's hard to imagine a better weekend fun car, but it's worthless for anything else.
- The interior of the Maserati Gran Sport is even more hideous IRL than in pictures. Just painful. The Quattroporte looks a little unwieldy IRL as well.
- iDrive is annoying enough that it WOULD deter me from buying a car equipped with it.
- The Mercedes CLS is the most striking new sedan I can recall in several years. What a gorgeous car. There was a pack of what appeared to be Russian mafiosi crowded around it, admiring it. Rowr!
- The Acura RL is certainly a tremendous car, but it is even more boring-looking IRL than in pictures. Blah . . .
- The Lexus GS is, IMO, less attractive than the old car.
- The new Audis (equipped with the giant schnoz) look better than I initially thought.
- I really, really want a 911!!!
The show did not include any Ferraris or Lamborghinis, or anything more exotic than those marques (e.g., Pagani, Koenigsegg). The costliest car there was the Porsche Carrera GT, in yellow - that thing has such presence that I literally started to sweat as I got close to it! Ford had also brought a GT and the GR-1 prototype (both gorgeous IMO).
Here are some random thoughts in no particular order (keep in mind I haven't taken a test drive in a few years, so some may be dated by your personal standards):
- I think Subaru may be the only Japanese carmaker with real character (though they obviously have not cornered the market on making excellent cars). They have made tremendous strides in interior quality - they're like a Japanese VW in that regard. I really, really like a lot of their cars. I wish they had Sirus as an option, though.
- I like several of the Mazdas, but their interiors, which photograph well, are surprisingly chintzy IRL. The Mazdasport6 looks great, though initial reviews say it is prone to excessive understeer.
- The C6 Corvette looks better IRL than in print, and has real presence. The interior is not bad at all for a GM car.
- The Cadillac CTS-V looks decent from the outside, but has a startlingly crappy interior, and the shifter has a long, ropy feel.
- The Mustang is a really, really nice package. The interior is surprisingly nice IMO, considering its performance resume and price.
- The Scion tC really is an impressive car for the money. If these had existed maybe 6 years ago I probably would have bought one.
- The new Boxster looks sensational. I like rear quarters a lot better than the old one.
- The Lotus Elise is really, really small and low to the ground. It's hard to imagine a better weekend fun car, but it's worthless for anything else.
- The interior of the Maserati Gran Sport is even more hideous IRL than in pictures. Just painful. The Quattroporte looks a little unwieldy IRL as well.
- iDrive is annoying enough that it WOULD deter me from buying a car equipped with it.
- The Mercedes CLS is the most striking new sedan I can recall in several years. What a gorgeous car. There was a pack of what appeared to be Russian mafiosi crowded around it, admiring it. Rowr!
- The Acura RL is certainly a tremendous car, but it is even more boring-looking IRL than in pictures. Blah . . .
- The Lexus GS is, IMO, less attractive than the old car.
- The new Audis (equipped with the giant schnoz) look better than I initially thought.
- I really, really want a 911!!!
