LA Autoshow comments...
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 241
From: California
One of the ways that auto companies are cutting back on costs during the recession is to cut back or eliminate some auto show displays.....but I can't imagine them skipping the L.A. show.
We'll see if they have any displays at the Detroit or Washington D.C. shows coming up. Porsche skipped Detroit last year, and Suzuki and Isuzu both skipped D.C. Isuzu, of course, is now gone.
BTW.....I had a few questions for you above, in post #8.
We'll see if they have any displays at the Detroit or Washington D.C. shows coming up. Porsche skipped Detroit last year, and Suzuki and Isuzu both skipped D.C. Isuzu, of course, is now gone.
BTW.....I had a few questions for you above, in post #8.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
Fizzboy - Nice writeup and very similar observations to my experience recently at SF auto show the day after Thanksgiving. Nissan and Infinity were there.
MKT (or whatever that forgettable alphabet soup name is, because I'll bet the general car buying public will surely forget the name) looked like it was straight out of a dated Robocop movie.
I'm wondering what the SJ show will be like in January, which is smaller.
MKT (or whatever that forgettable alphabet soup name is, because I'll bet the general car buying public will surely forget the name) looked like it was straight out of a dated Robocop movie.
I'm wondering what the SJ show will be like in January, which is smaller.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,223
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Were they at the S.F. show you attended recently?
MKT (or whatever that forgettable alphabet soup name is, because I'll bet the general car buying public will surely forget the name) looked like it was straight out of a dated Robocop movie.
Last edited by mmarshall; Dec 11, 2009 at 02:29 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
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From: tech capital
Hard to say, but there's probably a better chance of Nissan/Infiniti showing up at S.J.......they won't have to spend the kind of money they would have for a big L.A. display.
Were they at the S.F. show you attended recently?
We'll see. I've got an MKT review coming up, by request of an ex-coworker of mine. Though it was not a CL request, I'll post it and share my views, too. I want to see if it is as poorly-done as Fizzboy says it is.....he certainly is not impressed.
Were they at the S.F. show you attended recently?
We'll see. I've got an MKT review coming up, by request of an ex-coworker of mine. Though it was not a CL request, I'll post it and share my views, too. I want to see if it is as poorly-done as Fizzboy says it is.....he certainly is not impressed.
Yes Fizzboy's impression was a subjective impression of the styling. He viewed it as an "anteater" front-end and I viewed it as a rerun of a so-so Robocop movie.
Most people at show just viewed it as a garish, oversized, bloated SUV and didn't look very closely after the first glance.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,493
Likes: 251
From: Illinois
Speaking of the MKT, I was surprised to see that the old Navigator outsold it in November. It doesn't appear to be selling too well for a new model, I think it was 600 or so for the month.
Last year, at the Chicago show which runs in Feb, several mfgrs passed on it due to the economic conditions. A big deal was made of it in the press. I also noticed there weren't as many elaborate displays as in the past. It will be interesting to see what the 2010 show is like.
Last year, at the Chicago show which runs in Feb, several mfgrs passed on it due to the economic conditions. A big deal was made of it in the press. I also noticed there weren't as many elaborate displays as in the past. It will be interesting to see what the 2010 show is like.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,982
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From: California
You guys are welcome. Thanks for the nice comments. Much if these topics are subjective, so I know I am going out on a limb sometimes.
What was cool this year was my older brother and his wife joined me and my parents. So this was the first time in 13 years we have gone as a family. It was pretty cool, but I was buuuuusy running my mouth explaining everything to everyone.
What was cool this year was my older brother and his wife joined me and my parents. So this was the first time in 13 years we have gone as a family. It was pretty cool, but I was buuuuusy running my mouth explaining everything to everyone.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 241
From: California
Here's a shot of my dad getting his jollies in a Corvette. My mom and I are standing off to the side like...."uh... okay, we'll let you have your moment of glory." hehe Notice my mom's arm is in a sling. She had rotator cuff surgery three weeks ago, but still wanted to check out the cars.
il reserve my comments about the show to first ask:
who saw the completely jacked up 2GS in Kentia hall (white one) with the Bentley front end and LS460 tail lights? that was probably the worst assembled car i've ever seen in my entire life.
pics will follow.
who saw the completely jacked up 2GS in Kentia hall (white one) with the Bentley front end and LS460 tail lights? that was probably the worst assembled car i've ever seen in my entire life.
pics will follow.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 392
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From: CA
IMHO, I was pretty disappointed by the Equus. I thought it would be more luxurious and refined. Rather, it struck me as a more upscale Genesis. I don't think people will buy it over a LS460 unless they keep the price as close to $50K as possible.
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First off, had a nice time with the family. But when leaving, something didn't feel right. Had to stop for a second and think about it. Then it hit me. No Nissan or Infiniti! What is up with that!? One of the biggest markets and shows in the US and one of the larger automakers can't send a few cars and people over? Just about everyone else was there except them. I think that was a very poor move on Nissans part.
Anyway, here are some other general thoughts and reviews:
1) New Sienna is absolutely stunning. It's everything a minivan should be and is styled pefectly. Could easily be wearing a Lexus badge. Toyota keeps proving it's in touch with current market trends.
2) New GX is a dud. Boxy, blah, not cohesive, and not luxurious.
3) New 4Runner is so-so. I know they returned to their truck roots, but it just looks too much like a boxy toy.
4) New Prius is such a value for the package! Very imrpessed with this car and would consider it in the future. The plug-in version sounds even more amazing. Glad to see Toyota out in the lead and creating the market.
5) Facelifted LS hybrid didn't look as bad in person. New RX is sleek, clean, and modern. New HS looked slabbed-sided but has impressive numbers.
6) BMW X6 looks just as bad in person as in pictures. New 7 has drooping taillights and is overal uninteresting.
7) Acura is a sad sad situation. Just about all of their products are ruined with the beak. New ZDX looks like it got rear-ended by a steam roller or appears as if it's a turd flying in the sky. Facelifted MDX looks worse with the new grille and cheap silver lower intake. 2009 model is cleaner. RL appeared like a mistake. TL looks just as bad in person. TSX has some nasty overstyled door handles and teeny tiny wheels. RDX's facelift looks cheap with the silver foglight surrounds and beak grille. Another step backward. Left the display very sad for what was once a good company.
8) Honda- pretty much see #7. Accord Crosstour is a rolling turd. Dash has craters and holes. Civic is looking long in the tooth. CRV is weak and overly feminine. Also walked away sad from their display.
9) New CTS coupe is so-so. Needs a slight trunk and not a bobtail. CTS interior is glitzy with chrome and cheeze details. GM still trying to inflict bad taste on America.
10) New Hyundai Tuscon rocked! Very modern, sporty, and comfortable. Should sell well.
11) New Hyundai Sonata is a winner. Sporty lines, clean and modern dash, and great value.
12) Actually liked the cockpit of the Genesis Coupe. Pretty modern and high-tech.
13) New GMC Terrain was cool. Had a mini Hummer look to it (boxy with low roof). Interior is an improvement, but still has some cheesy GM details. Ditto with the Equinox, which ripped the ML's body.
14) Didn't care for the new Caddy SRX. Too angular, choppy, and had a horrid dash and gauges. Everything looked sectioned, tacked-on, and not integrated.
15) New Buick Lacrosse was a very nice surprise. Looks better in person, with a sleek body, no exterior gimmicks, and proper proportions. Only drawback again was the dash. Looked tacked-on, not integrated, and old-fashioned.
16) New Lincoln MKT was an insult to the auto industry. Overblown, overstyle, overweight, ant-eater nose with a nostril grille, rear end resembles a 1949 Buick rump ***, and dash and gauges are step toward the 70's. Supremely dissapointed.
17) Mazda 3. Has to have one of the worst front ends going today. The happy smile reduces the car to a ride at Disneyland. Whever passed it should be fired and slapped silly. Also, give the car a trunk. Looks like they ran out of sheetmetal and forced it to be a wannabe hatchback.
18) Ford Fiesta- wasn't impressed. Huge front overhang, botox headlights pulled up and back way too far, and dinky wheels. This car appeared no better than a Saturn Astra, which was a complete US failure. I don't see this hatch selling well- just like most hatches don't.
18) Ford Taurus looked HUGE. Too tall, too slab-sided, too long, and retro dash. Not a bad car, but it could be today's Crown Victoria.
19) Fusion facelift= blah. Can't believe this made car of the year. Plain styling, plain interior, and droopy rear taillights that melted next to a dumpster fire.
20) Toyota Venza was freakin awesome! Saw this last year but for some reason, didn't realize how sleek, clean, and modern it's design was. Visibilty looked limited in the rear though.
21) Chrysler had nothing worthy stopping at. Skip/fail.
22) New Camaro is a piece of junk. Bathtub syling, awful, cheap, concave interior detailing. One of the worst dash designs in the last twenty years.
23) New Chevy Cruze looked decent, but anything is better than the Cobalt. Hope this helps GM, but wish they'd ditch the silly corporate bar grille design. All their models would look far cleaner without this uneccessary scaffolding piece.
24) Audi- truly a design leader. A4, A5, and S5 combine sport, luxury, art, and restraint in the finest way. I'd say they are up there with Lexus in leadership.
25) New Kia Sorrento. This was probably one of the most improved vehicles. Loved the clean and gimmick-free body, modern dash, and good price. Kia and Hyundai are on a roll.
26) Hyundai Equus- What a cool limo! I had to laugh at the hood ornament, but the cockpit was modern, everything was plush with wood all over the joint, and I thought the whole package was outfitted nicely. Thumbs up.
Well, that's about it. Was very happy with the Toyota/Lexus/Hyundai/Kia products and walked away sad over Honda/Acura. Wasn't too surprised with the typical GM things, and disappointed that Nissan/Infiniti cheaped out of the show.
BTW, a Lexus employee signed me up for an upcoming Taste of Lexus. I mentioned to him they announced no more of those, but he said they are back with the GX debut. Now, aren't you glad you read all the way through? =)
Thanks for reading!
Anyway, here are some other general thoughts and reviews:
1) New Sienna is absolutely stunning. It's everything a minivan should be and is styled pefectly. Could easily be wearing a Lexus badge. Toyota keeps proving it's in touch with current market trends.
2) New GX is a dud. Boxy, blah, not cohesive, and not luxurious.
3) New 4Runner is so-so. I know they returned to their truck roots, but it just looks too much like a boxy toy.
4) New Prius is such a value for the package! Very imrpessed with this car and would consider it in the future. The plug-in version sounds even more amazing. Glad to see Toyota out in the lead and creating the market.
5) Facelifted LS hybrid didn't look as bad in person. New RX is sleek, clean, and modern. New HS looked slabbed-sided but has impressive numbers.
6) BMW X6 looks just as bad in person as in pictures. New 7 has drooping taillights and is overal uninteresting.
7) Acura is a sad sad situation. Just about all of their products are ruined with the beak. New ZDX looks like it got rear-ended by a steam roller or appears as if it's a turd flying in the sky. Facelifted MDX looks worse with the new grille and cheap silver lower intake. 2009 model is cleaner. RL appeared like a mistake. TL looks just as bad in person. TSX has some nasty overstyled door handles and teeny tiny wheels. RDX's facelift looks cheap with the silver foglight surrounds and beak grille. Another step backward. Left the display very sad for what was once a good company.
8) Honda- pretty much see #7. Accord Crosstour is a rolling turd. Dash has craters and holes. Civic is looking long in the tooth. CRV is weak and overly feminine. Also walked away sad from their display.
9) New CTS coupe is so-so. Needs a slight trunk and not a bobtail. CTS interior is glitzy with chrome and cheeze details. GM still trying to inflict bad taste on America.
10) New Hyundai Tuscon rocked! Very modern, sporty, and comfortable. Should sell well.
11) New Hyundai Sonata is a winner. Sporty lines, clean and modern dash, and great value.
12) Actually liked the cockpit of the Genesis Coupe. Pretty modern and high-tech.
13) New GMC Terrain was cool. Had a mini Hummer look to it (boxy with low roof). Interior is an improvement, but still has some cheesy GM details. Ditto with the Equinox, which ripped the ML's body.
14) Didn't care for the new Caddy SRX. Too angular, choppy, and had a horrid dash and gauges. Everything looked sectioned, tacked-on, and not integrated.
15) New Buick Lacrosse was a very nice surprise. Looks better in person, with a sleek body, no exterior gimmicks, and proper proportions. Only drawback again was the dash. Looked tacked-on, not integrated, and old-fashioned.
16) New Lincoln MKT was an insult to the auto industry. Overblown, overstyle, overweight, ant-eater nose with a nostril grille, rear end resembles a 1949 Buick rump ***, and dash and gauges are step toward the 70's. Supremely dissapointed.
17) Mazda 3. Has to have one of the worst front ends going today. The happy smile reduces the car to a ride at Disneyland. Whever passed it should be fired and slapped silly. Also, give the car a trunk. Looks like they ran out of sheetmetal and forced it to be a wannabe hatchback.
18) Ford Fiesta- wasn't impressed. Huge front overhang, botox headlights pulled up and back way too far, and dinky wheels. This car appeared no better than a Saturn Astra, which was a complete US failure. I don't see this hatch selling well- just like most hatches don't.
18) Ford Taurus looked HUGE. Too tall, too slab-sided, too long, and retro dash. Not a bad car, but it could be today's Crown Victoria.
19) Fusion facelift= blah. Can't believe this made car of the year. Plain styling, plain interior, and droopy rear taillights that melted next to a dumpster fire.
20) Toyota Venza was freakin awesome! Saw this last year but for some reason, didn't realize how sleek, clean, and modern it's design was. Visibilty looked limited in the rear though.
21) Chrysler had nothing worthy stopping at. Skip/fail.
22) New Camaro is a piece of junk. Bathtub syling, awful, cheap, concave interior detailing. One of the worst dash designs in the last twenty years.
23) New Chevy Cruze looked decent, but anything is better than the Cobalt. Hope this helps GM, but wish they'd ditch the silly corporate bar grille design. All their models would look far cleaner without this uneccessary scaffolding piece.
24) Audi- truly a design leader. A4, A5, and S5 combine sport, luxury, art, and restraint in the finest way. I'd say they are up there with Lexus in leadership.
25) New Kia Sorrento. This was probably one of the most improved vehicles. Loved the clean and gimmick-free body, modern dash, and good price. Kia and Hyundai are on a roll.
26) Hyundai Equus- What a cool limo! I had to laugh at the hood ornament, but the cockpit was modern, everything was plush with wood all over the joint, and I thought the whole package was outfitted nicely. Thumbs up.
Well, that's about it. Was very happy with the Toyota/Lexus/Hyundai/Kia products and walked away sad over Honda/Acura. Wasn't too surprised with the typical GM things, and disappointed that Nissan/Infiniti cheaped out of the show.
BTW, a Lexus employee signed me up for an upcoming Taste of Lexus. I mentioned to him they announced no more of those, but he said they are back with the GX debut. Now, aren't you glad you read all the way through? =)
Thanks for reading!
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
It helps when you have family into the same thing! Glad you're able to share it too.
Here's a shot of my dad getting his jollies in a Corvette. My mom and I are standing off to the side like...."uh... okay, we'll let you have your moment of glory." hehe Notice my mom's arm is in a sling. She had rotator cuff surgery three weeks ago, but still wanted to check out the cars.
Here's a shot of my dad getting his jollies in a Corvette. My mom and I are standing off to the side like...."uh... okay, we'll let you have your moment of glory." hehe Notice my mom's arm is in a sling. She had rotator cuff surgery three weeks ago, but still wanted to check out the cars.