Just got back from NYC, here are some of my observations from the auto show.



* Ford Fiesta - looks cool, interior is awesome, but the car is just too small for me. I'm 6'0" and when I'm in front the back seat has about the same legroom as a Camaro. There is also no center arm rest. That would be a deal breaker for me. Other than that it looks like a great small car.

* Chevy Cruze - interior is fantastic, I love the cloth on the dash that matches the inserts on the seats. I do think that I am falling into the Z284ever camp of thinking the exterior is too bland

* 2012 Ford Focus - This car looks amazing and will blow the Chevy Cruze, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corola out of the water. A lot more premium looking than anything on the market.

* Taurus SHO - This is a big car, but I love it. Interior and exterior look great. There is more luxury here than in many luxury cars. Good value if you want a $40,000 large sedan.

* F-150 Raptor - That is one mean looking truck

* Jeep Liberty "Sky Slider" roof is awesome. If you are in the back it is almost like riding in a convertible.

* All Dodge/Chrysler interior are bad. It is like they can't get out of the 90's. Both in materials and style, it is like they are not even trying.

* 2011 Hyundai Sonata - I thought this was going to be car that put Hyundai on par with GM/Ford/Honda/Nissan/Toyota, but it falls short. First the good, the engine choices are awesome. 35mpg out of the 200hp I4 has set the standard. and 274HP out of a 2.0L turbo that gets 34 just about makes the V6 obsolete. The bad, while the interior looks good in pictures, very CTS like, in person it feels/looks too cheap. I think the Malibu LTZ interior is better. Sonata does have a very high tech looks though. Exterior is ok, hybrid version looks terrible. Sonata hybrid has a huge cat fish mouth grill with this big black thing in the middle. Very ugly.

* Acura ZDX - huge on the out side, small on the inside. Trunk is tiny, back seat is small. I don't understand the point of this vehicle.

* Dodge Challenger, looks a lot bigger than the Camaro, and it is. But if you want a roomy back seat and 2 doors then this is the car for you. Interior felt about as roomy as my old Grand Prix coupe.

* Hennessey LS9 Camaro =

* Buick Regal GS = This is Buick's CTS.

* Toyota = Buick from the late 90's/early 00's

 

It was nice meeting you today! Thanks for stopping by.

 

I agree with the Sonata. The HVAC mode control button is especially tacky.

Also with the ZDX. Its back seat is awful. Your head is on the ceiling and its cramped.

At car shows I like to get in the back seat first with many cars. I'll get into that "road trip, head back and passed out position" to see how comfortable it is.

 

You coming to Camaro5 fest?

 

Funny you should say that, at this car show I sat in the back seats more than the front seats. This was the first time I really got to spend any time with the back seat of the new Camaro. To me the 5th gen feels about the same size as the 4th gen back seat. When I looked at the Challenger I didn't even sit in the front, I went right to the back

I'm loving the amount of sky lights and large sun roofs available in new cars. SRX has a nice large sunroof, but one of the best on the market is the Jeep Liberty. That retractable cloth roof is about the size of the entire front and back seats, it would be very fun Jeep to ride around in.

Camaros were very popular at the show. That new green really stands out. Very young kids really like the Camaro, while they won't be buying them, I think is is a great way to get them hooked on Chevy early.

 

I know some Camaro Team folks are going but I don't believe I'm scheduled to go. It's in the Adel/Valdosta, GA area, right?

I do know that I'm scheduled for the GM Nationals at Carlisle and perhaps the F-Body Gathering.

The Camaro5 Fest should be a nice event and well attended.

I take it you are going?

I give it some thought. It's a 3-4 hour ride from my home in Florida. I might come as a spectator if there's any parking for non-Camaros.

 

Been that way since '08. Wife and I almost traded our '06 back in when they came out, but we weren't big on some of the other changes.

I have to wonder how the material would hold up to the dry hot arizona weather. I fear after 6-7 years it would be leaky.

 

I will be down there, but I will have my other hat on so to say. I will be at GM nationals also.

 

Let's shoot for the Nationals. I fairly confident I'll be there.