Superbird281
Registered User
Here are my better late than never impressions in no particular order.
Parking at the MTCC for the day costs $37. There are cheaper alternatives nearby if you don't mind walking a block or two outside after leaving your coats in the car.
Here are the trends in the car industry, and they're all pretty depressing:
There are not a lot of cars made anymore. The automakers and government regulators want you to buy an SUV. Ford makes only 1 car, the Mustang. GM makes only the Corvette and two Cadillac models, the CT4 and CT5. What happened to Eldorados, Sevilles, and Fleetwood Broughams? Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth (who?) makes only the Charger EV. Even Maybach now makes an SUV model.
There aren't even a lot of minivans made anymore. The only ones at the show were the Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica. The Pacifica is actually the only vehicle left with the Chrysler brand.
Engines are getting tiny. Like, cars don't come standard with 6 or 8 cylinder engines much. Mostly it's wimpy turbocharged 4 cylinders. Even the Mercedes AMG C43 is a 2.0L.
Prices are getting seriously stupid. There are some cars that are a good value for the money though. Subarus, for example. And the 2.3L turbo Mustang is $44k and gets you 315 hp.
$115k gets you either a Ford F350 Diesel, or a Ram 1500 with some option package names after a Greek letter.
A Cadillac Escalade V-Series is $228k. No I'm not joking. And Cadillac resale values drop like a rock, they sure don't escalate. It's the supercharged 6.2L V8 that makes it expensive. It's the ultimate Russian mafia car. I'd rather get the CT5 V-Series Blackwing for half the money.
A BMW M4 is $168k. Cool sounding colour though: Frozen Isle of Man Green. 10 years ago it was half that much. All BMW prices have gone looney tunes. Meh, they can keep their plastic water pumps and plastic oil pans. Their exhibit was cool, but mostly SUVs and EVs. And you can get a BMW umbrella for $75.
If you like chunky plastic and have fond memories of playing with Lego, get yourself a Toyota 4Runner.
If you like cars that look like kitchen appliances, get a Hyundai Santa Fe.
Approach Buicks with caution. Half of them are made in China. You can recognize them by the letter L at the start of the VIN.
I really like the redesigned Mercedes AMG GT. Can't figure out how the hatch area cargo straps are supposed to work though.
The new Charger looks OK. Nice interior actually. $100k for an EV is kind of nuts since 5 years ago you got a Hellcat for the same amount.
The Corvette has evolved into a real supercar. There are three trim levels: Stingray, Z06, and now ZR1. I really think the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet was the design inspiration for it. Sitting in the Corvette really feels like a jet fighter cockpit. Feel just a bit cramped though if you're over 6 feet tall or over 200 pounds. They have different seat options, and the top end sport seat is too narrow for my fat hips.
The Nissan Armada is huge on the outside and a little cramped on the inside. Sort of an inverse of Doctor Who's TARDIS. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is huge inside and outside, like a short school bus.
I think Tesla had a display there but I probably ignored it.
The 4 wheel drive off-road test drive looked very popular and fun. Long lineup though.
Oh, and Honda/Acura can fuggoff for not even attending the show. Neither did Jaguar/Land Rover but who cares about them anymore.
Parking at the MTCC for the day costs $37. There are cheaper alternatives nearby if you don't mind walking a block or two outside after leaving your coats in the car.
Here are the trends in the car industry, and they're all pretty depressing:
There are not a lot of cars made anymore. The automakers and government regulators want you to buy an SUV. Ford makes only 1 car, the Mustang. GM makes only the Corvette and two Cadillac models, the CT4 and CT5. What happened to Eldorados, Sevilles, and Fleetwood Broughams? Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth (who?) makes only the Charger EV. Even Maybach now makes an SUV model.
There aren't even a lot of minivans made anymore. The only ones at the show were the Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica. The Pacifica is actually the only vehicle left with the Chrysler brand.
Engines are getting tiny. Like, cars don't come standard with 6 or 8 cylinder engines much. Mostly it's wimpy turbocharged 4 cylinders. Even the Mercedes AMG C43 is a 2.0L.
Prices are getting seriously stupid. There are some cars that are a good value for the money though. Subarus, for example. And the 2.3L turbo Mustang is $44k and gets you 315 hp.
$115k gets you either a Ford F350 Diesel, or a Ram 1500 with some option package names after a Greek letter.
A Cadillac Escalade V-Series is $228k. No I'm not joking. And Cadillac resale values drop like a rock, they sure don't escalate. It's the supercharged 6.2L V8 that makes it expensive. It's the ultimate Russian mafia car. I'd rather get the CT5 V-Series Blackwing for half the money.
A BMW M4 is $168k. Cool sounding colour though: Frozen Isle of Man Green. 10 years ago it was half that much. All BMW prices have gone looney tunes. Meh, they can keep their plastic water pumps and plastic oil pans. Their exhibit was cool, but mostly SUVs and EVs. And you can get a BMW umbrella for $75.
If you like chunky plastic and have fond memories of playing with Lego, get yourself a Toyota 4Runner.
If you like cars that look like kitchen appliances, get a Hyundai Santa Fe.
Approach Buicks with caution. Half of them are made in China. You can recognize them by the letter L at the start of the VIN.
I really like the redesigned Mercedes AMG GT. Can't figure out how the hatch area cargo straps are supposed to work though.
The new Charger looks OK. Nice interior actually. $100k for an EV is kind of nuts since 5 years ago you got a Hellcat for the same amount.
The Corvette has evolved into a real supercar. There are three trim levels: Stingray, Z06, and now ZR1. I really think the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet was the design inspiration for it. Sitting in the Corvette really feels like a jet fighter cockpit. Feel just a bit cramped though if you're over 6 feet tall or over 200 pounds. They have different seat options, and the top end sport seat is too narrow for my fat hips.
The Nissan Armada is huge on the outside and a little cramped on the inside. Sort of an inverse of Doctor Who's TARDIS. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is huge inside and outside, like a short school bus.
I think Tesla had a display there but I probably ignored it.
The 4 wheel drive off-road test drive looked very popular and fun. Long lineup though.
Oh, and Honda/Acura can fuggoff for not even attending the show. Neither did Jaguar/Land Rover but who cares about them anymore.
