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December 08, 2008

New England Auto Show - 2008 Edition

Yesterday, several of us made it out to the New England Auto Show, which, in context of the global crapconomic poo-out and "big-3 pleading to stay alive," was a funny choice of activity.  But I have been idly (or actively) mulling getting a new car (if, as my wife asks, a meteor were to strike my Protege5 in the driveway).

Overall, it was a decent affair.  The new(ish) Boston Convention Center is a massive, sprawling thing...the becarpeted main exhibit hall was a clean and bright change from the Bay Side Exposition Center's flea-infested abandoned bowling alley je ne sais quoi.  Company displays were, as reported, definitely toned down...gone were the angle rotating pedestals of never-to-be-produced 8,000HP concept vehicles...the only glitz I recall see (besides the cordonned-off Bently and Ferrari stalls) was a Ford robot (?) and an upturned GMC chassis.  The sales people were hovering as usual...but they were easilly sent on their way with a distracted glance at the next display.

What were my take-aways?

• Dashboard dashboards dashboards.  Companies seem need to focus more attention on the dashboard...where one rests one's eyes 98% of the time you interact with your car.  All but the highest end Volvos and Audis had this wrong wrong wrong...and we outdone by things like the Nissan Versa and Hyundais.  The "nubby hard black plastic" lobby must be powerful...barely beating out the "sharp unfinished edges" lobby.
  
• I was thouroughly underwhelmed by the Scion Xb
• I was thouroughly underwhelmed by the Audi A3 and A4 (including the Avant)...something about the interiors of these cars seemed so...puffy.  Like all the interior panels with 1/2" too...puffy.  Very cramped.
• If I had no materialistic self-image yearnings, I would absolutely buy a $17,000 Nissan Versa over an Audi A4.
• The new Nissan Maxima has a fantastic interior, but looks a bit like the 25-lb potato that was recently unearthed.
• I really really want to like Hyundais...they are inexpensive, well-made, efficient, solid cars...that are so unbearably boring.
• I, apparently, missed gawking at Stephen Tyler as he had a lunch of, I presume, $6 nachos.
• $67,000 for a Chevy Tahoe "Flex Fuel" mess is stupid.
• The Chevy Cobalt SS may be fast, but it is embarassing.
• The new Mazda6 is big and "flabby" (via Chris), and gets distressing mediocre gas mileage.
  

The car I was most impressed with was the VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen.  I came for the diesel, but stayed for the panoramic sun-roof!

Clampants | December 8, 2008 11:48 AM