One
unique tradition in the Automotive Industry is the auto show. Most industries have trade shows that are
open to the public and try to sell product in a large area. However, auto shows happen all year long and
take place in cities across the world. This
weekend I visited the Knoxville Auto Show and even though it was not a
blockbuster international show like Detroit and Geneva, it was a great
experience. If you are in the market for
a new car or will be in the market for a new or used car in the next couple of
years you owe it to yourself to visit a local auto show soon. There is almost no other space where a buyer
can compare models from most manufacturers back to back. Keep in mind if you do
attend a show that some of the cars on the floor are ridiculously optioned. For example at the Ram booth sat a $50,000
1500 that was two wheel drive with a single cab right next to a $50,000 2500
with a Cummins Diesel crew cab. If you
are buying a single cab truck for that much I don’t know what your priorities
in life are, but you need to change them.
I will
mention the entire Volkswagen Group missed the Knoxville show as well as
Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. After
those disappointments my other let downs were pretty surprising to me. The first let down was everything built by
the Fiat/Chrysler Group. I can forgive a
Jeep Patriot for having bad buttons and switches because it isn’t a very
expensive vehicle and it is near the end of its life. The Dodge Charger and Challenger should have
better equipment on the inside. Their
class competitors have all jumped a level beyond with soft touch materials. I was also heartbroken by the Fiat 500
Abarth. I really wanted to love that
car. It has an amazing exhaust note and
a fun package. Unfortunately, sitting in
a fully loaded $28000 sticker priced clown car I just couldn’t justify that
kind of purchase. The 500L was a nice
surprise though. For a small car it
feels huge on the inside with a great backseat.
The final car on my bad list was the Hyundai Genesis R-spec sedan. I was thrilled to see it in the flesh because
it is a relatively rare car. I wish a
400 plus horsepower engine was enough but for that asking price I cannot deal
with cheap plastics that I felt were going to break off. Not when the similarly priced Mercedes are
near perfect from the driver’s seat. On
a side note both the Hyundai and Mercedes had beautifully integrated ash
trays. I guess it is ok to smoke in your
car if you’re rich. The Mercedes E Class
cigarette holder is better made than probably anything I have ever owned in my
own car.
So
enough hating, let me talk about what I liked from the show. If I was buying a vehicle this month there
are only a handful of dealerships I would be walking on to. That list consists of Ford, General Motors,
Mazda, and Lexus. Don’t get me wrong
there are nice cars here and there for every company. I honestly loved a car like the Mercedes E
Class that gets 45mpg that makes Prius buyers look almost silly. I know Lexus isn’t building the prettiest
cars right now. They are making some
interesting cars finally. Lexus came to
the Knoxville show to sell cars there is no doubt. The brought the big guns of the LFA which isn’t
even on sale anymore. What I took away
from every Lexus was remarkable quality.
Getting in a Lexus and shutting the door is like sitting in first class
on an air plane. My ears felt the
pressure change with a woomph sound.
When that door is shut you are not just sitting in a car you a
physically removed from the world around you.
The information center from Lexus was the best looking of any brand and very
easy to learn and use in my opinion. I
was in a $36,000 ES and was confused that it wasn’t a $50,000 car based on
other price tags from around the show.
Well done Lexus, I used to think you were boring and now I am a fan. Or
maybe I am getting old?
I may
have a soft spot for Ford since they did have the brand new 2015 Mustang on
hand and the new F-150. I can tell Ford
feels confident in these vehicles because they weren’t roped off away from the public. Both were on the floor within spitting
distance of their respective competitors.
I may or may not have done some inappropriate touching to the beautiful
Mustang rear end. I was also highly
impressed with the Fiesta ST. How great
is this package? Fun to drive, great price
tag, better than respectable gas mileage and it’s a usable everyday driver. I have a fear one will be in my garage before
it is all said and done.
Hard to
argue against buying any Mazda right now.
Well priced with great gas mileage and their cars can be used to carry
people and things from one place to another.
Pretty simple concept but some car makers do not understand it. I am
looking at you Smart. General Motors has
trimmed the fat for the past decade and the results are delicious. With Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn now
defunct General Motors is a real hit from top to bottom. Everyone is talking about how Cadillac is
not just trying to catch the Germans but actually surpassing them and I will
have to agree I was green with envy standing next to their lineup. SUV and crossover offering from GM were also
top spots for me. Lots of room and
loaded with options and smart packaging and features will make a lot of
families happy.
If you
do not have time to visit an auto show on your own then please take my advice
check these local dealerships and let me know what you think. If you are visiting an auto show soon or have
visited one then please let me know what you liked and what cars you’re looking
to buy. Either way have fun and I will
see you at the show hopefully.
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| It is so naughty |
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| Lexus came to sell cars |
