I was just at the Philly Auto Show. It runs today through next weekend. Pretty good this year, but a tad smaller than last year.Several of the manufacturers were offering test drives/rides at the show.
Jeep had the best one with an indoor obstacle course designed toshow off it's offroading capabilities. They did the driving but it was still fun. Toyota had the worst test drive, with a 5mph test drive around a windy little course. You drive, but you're stuck with a salesman in the passenger seat bending your ear throughout.
The other makes, GMC,Subie, among others offered off site test drives.
The hot swag item was tote bags. Lotsa nice ones, especially Jeep. Cadillac won the hottest models (while I was there).
Chevy did not have the C7 on display, and no new Viper but there were plenty of antique/classic cars on display from some local museums.
The new McLaren was there (only $333,000).
I finally got to sit in a FRS. Nice. Can't wait to ride in one.
IPhilly is not as impressive as the Detroit show, but there's still plenty to see. Worth the trip.
Philly Auto Show
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bigbadberry3
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Re: Philly Auto Show
Hope you had a good time but
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Bubba1
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Re: Philly Auto Show
Sorry. I decided against bringing the camera as the Philly show doesn't normally feature anything you guys haven't seen before. I figured you guys would yawn if I posted a pic of a GT-R or Leaf.
Re: Philly Auto Show
Anything interesting from Hyundai or Kia? They usally have really elaborate displays.
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MinisterofDOOM
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Re: Philly Auto Show
The show in Salt Lake this weekend was pathetic. There were no concepts and NO EXOTICS. No Ferraris, no Masers, no Lamborghinis. There were some Fisker Karmas (nice looking cars in person).
GM had the best showing by far, with a ZL1, ZR1, A couple ATSs and some CTS-Vs. But no C7.
Dodge's booth was centered around Darts, which is pretty sad.
Scion had an iQ, which seems like a genuinely well-executed take on the tinycar formula, though the dash is OUTSTANDINGLY terrible and has a sort of cap-piece over the center stack that looks like a Pep Boys part that was designed for an entirely different car.
Buick showed off the Encore in a glass stand and had the doors locked as though it was something fancy (meanwhile I could sit in the A8L a few feet over). What an ugly little misshapen turd it is.
Infiniti had a booth full of pansy-a** V6 AWD versions of things.
Lincoln had ONE MKZ on hand. It's not quite as ugly in person. Very bland, though (especially compared to the Fusion).
Generally pretty fail-tastic as far as new cars go. Test drives were being pushed hardcore this year, but only for boremobiles. Every booth I went to, I had people asking me if I wanted to drive some FWD family car. Malibu, Dart, Camry. If it's not more exciting than the car I arrived in, I'm not particularly inclined to test drive it.
There were a few neat classics. There was A GORGEOUS white Cord 810 (so clean!). Also a red Kaiser Darrin (with neat pocket doors).
GM had the best showing by far, with a ZL1, ZR1, A couple ATSs and some CTS-Vs. But no C7.
Dodge's booth was centered around Darts, which is pretty sad.
Scion had an iQ, which seems like a genuinely well-executed take on the tinycar formula, though the dash is OUTSTANDINGLY terrible and has a sort of cap-piece over the center stack that looks like a Pep Boys part that was designed for an entirely different car.
Buick showed off the Encore in a glass stand and had the doors locked as though it was something fancy (meanwhile I could sit in the A8L a few feet over). What an ugly little misshapen turd it is.
Infiniti had a booth full of pansy-a** V6 AWD versions of things.
Lincoln had ONE MKZ on hand. It's not quite as ugly in person. Very bland, though (especially compared to the Fusion).
Generally pretty fail-tastic as far as new cars go. Test drives were being pushed hardcore this year, but only for boremobiles. Every booth I went to, I had people asking me if I wanted to drive some FWD family car. Malibu, Dart, Camry. If it's not more exciting than the car I arrived in, I'm not particularly inclined to test drive it.
There were a few neat classics. There was A GORGEOUS white Cord 810 (so clean!). Also a red Kaiser Darrin (with neat pocket doors).
Re: Philly Auto Show
I've only had the privilege of seeing the Cord 810 in person once in South Dakota. It may be one of the best designs of the last century.
The Encore looks awful but I suspect they'll sell a bunch of them anyway.
I want this trend to end.
The Encore looks awful but I suspect they'll sell a bunch of them anyway.
I want this trend to end.
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Bubba1
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Re: Philly Auto Show
FWIW, I sat in a Cord 810 a few decades ago, but never got a chance to drive it. 
Still on my must drive list. Also Bill Miller III, the managing director at Carlisle Fairgrounds has one of those Kaiser Darrin's (pocket doors), he had it out the day I arrived for NICOFest last year. Pretty sleek looking car when you consider its age.
I didn't see anything interesting from Kia, but I did sit in a Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Not bad, but it felt cheap. Though more solid feeling than the Fiats.
the Philly show tends to get the previous year's concept cars, but there was pretty much zip for that this year. The Simeone Foundation (local philly museum that specializes in preserved sports/race cars, had a few nice cars from their collection on display.
I agree about the Scion IQ. Ugly dash, but I was surprised how roomy it was from the driver's seat given it's size. It's probably one of the better micro car choices out there.
There were 2 Fiskers on display. I sat in one. Bigger/wider than I thought it would be. There's a dealer about 5 miles from my house. I've thought about taking one out for a test drive.
The Lincoln display was unimpressive. It was beside the Audi area which was more happening. If Lincoln is going after younger buyers, you wouldn;t know it at this show, as their area staffed by 60+ yr old guy salesman from a local dealer instead of hot chicks. The Pontiac looking split grill Fusion...er MKwhatever it is, is still ugly, but not as bad as it looks in pictures.
The Caddy area was busy as pretty much every car was open, very cute spokesmodels. The wagons are pretty nice. ATS felt nice too.
I also sat in the big Jag's. Very comfortable front seats, but that i-drive looking knob that pops up to become a shifter looked gimmicky to me. I can imagine it sparking when some dummy spills his Starbucks carmel latte on it.
Still on my must drive list. Also Bill Miller III, the managing director at Carlisle Fairgrounds has one of those Kaiser Darrin's (pocket doors), he had it out the day I arrived for NICOFest last year. Pretty sleek looking car when you consider its age.I didn't see anything interesting from Kia, but I did sit in a Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Not bad, but it felt cheap. Though more solid feeling than the Fiats.
the Philly show tends to get the previous year's concept cars, but there was pretty much zip for that this year. The Simeone Foundation (local philly museum that specializes in preserved sports/race cars, had a few nice cars from their collection on display.
I agree about the Scion IQ. Ugly dash, but I was surprised how roomy it was from the driver's seat given it's size. It's probably one of the better micro car choices out there.
There were 2 Fiskers on display. I sat in one. Bigger/wider than I thought it would be. There's a dealer about 5 miles from my house. I've thought about taking one out for a test drive.
The Lincoln display was unimpressive. It was beside the Audi area which was more happening. If Lincoln is going after younger buyers, you wouldn;t know it at this show, as their area staffed by 60+ yr old guy salesman from a local dealer instead of hot chicks. The Pontiac looking split grill Fusion...er MKwhatever it is, is still ugly, but not as bad as it looks in pictures.
The Caddy area was busy as pretty much every car was open, very cute spokesmodels. The wagons are pretty nice. ATS felt nice too.
I also sat in the big Jag's. Very comfortable front seats, but that i-drive looking knob that pops up to become a shifter looked gimmicky to me. I can imagine it sparking when some dummy spills his Starbucks carmel latte on it.