New Auto Show last weekend, zzzzzzzz.....

If you like 'Murican, they brought all the hotrod versions. Dodge, Ford, Chevy. If you like a more foreign palate, hope you like boring sedans and SUV's. Other than the 500 Abarth, nothing special. No Mazdaspeed anything, no Genesis Coupe, no 370Z, Toyota had pretty much nothing unless you count the new Corolla, so much disappoint. No WRX or STI.

I heard the Cincy version was better, I know for next year at least. At least I got to sit in the Abarth, and I like the interior. funky gauge reminds me of the 2006 xB I just sold & got used to, the shifter was in a good spot (if a little long in the throw). And I found 6 local 2013's for $20k.

I've given up on the St Louis Auto Show. Sounds similar except with less hotrods.

So, Jerry, when are you headed to the Fiat dealer, should I show up at the same time and see if they'll give a group discount? Still not sure thats what I'm buying, but those prices are tempting.

Yeah, the Cincy show sounds like it was a lot better. They even had a 2015 Mustang, but it was behind ropes. Looks good in person, but I like the more aggressive look of the current model.

Dayton did have a locked-up 2015 Mustang. I forgot VW had no GTI either, but did have some funky racy Beetle that was kinda cool.

And @eastsidemav if I hadn't just bought the Subaru I'd be calling King's Fiat today about that white one. Now I'm thinking run this beast ragged a bit for a year or two first...maybe?

the auto show in indy had a good variety from each maker, i enjoy going if i have the time to but i dont usually fit my schedule around it

brand spanking new cars just dont do it for me

Cincy did not have a GTI either. I think VW is trying to make people forget about them until the Mk7 shows up for the 2015 model year. The 2014 GTI is only available in white, gray, or black, and only as a 4 door.

I may be headed up your direction next weekend. The Ford dealer in Miamisburg is the closest place that has a Focus ST without Recaros. I think the closest Fiesta ST equipped the same way is in Lexington.

I may be in the same boat as you. The Fit is in that period where it doesn't depreciate anywhere near as fast as I'm paying it off, so it doesn't really cost much to keep it around vs trading it in. Going to the rally (and seeing all the cars there) and driving Chris's 2 got me thinking more about performance cars again. WRT the Abarth, did you happen to see their turning radius? A normal 500 can pull a u-turn in about 30.5 feet, while an Abarth takes 37.5 or so feet...

edizzle89, I had the same attitude about new cars, but I think my various "projects" have worn me out. What I want is a fun, powerful-ish car that is reliable, and can be dropped off at the dealer for warranty work if something goes wrong. I'm getting tired of laying on the garage floor under my "fun" cars, instead of driving them.

Oh yeah, MINI was there with a new 2014 model. Not so fond of the exterior changes, the hood is too rounded for me, but the interior was a major improvement. If they are widely available before I buy anything, I may lease one of them.

Dayton didn't even have any MINI's. Seriously the show was a snoozefest.

Aren't these smaller shows (ie: not NYC/Detroit/Chicago/L.A.) just put on by the local dealers?

I went to the Dayton show about 15 years ago. I wasn't impressed enough to ever go back. NAIAS or bust.

In reply to cghstang:

I'm not sure, but looked like it. I'd never been to any before, only recently been in the market for a new car. I was certainly hoping for more.

sounds like the AC boat show I went to.. 6(SIX)sailboats and 4 halls worth of powerboats.

cghstang wrote: Aren't these smaller shows (ie: not NYC/Detroit/Chicago/L.A.) just put on by the local dealers? I went to the Dayton show about 15 years ago. I wasn't impressed enough to ever go back. NAIAS or bust.

Yep, you get spoiled by going to the big ones, the ones listed above. I have tried a couple of the smaller shows and they just aren't worth it.

I went to the Cleveland show for the last two years. They both sucked, but I got free tickets, so...

NAIAS is pretty cool. LA and Chicago are pretty cool, too. Never been to the New York show.

I think the local shows are more about doing comparison shopping without dealing with salesweasels rather than seeing neat new concepts. At least thats the way I treat them. For that purpose, the Cincy show was just fine. Only a few cars missing that I now have to hunt down on dealer lots.

My hometown (San Diego) Auto Show has been lame for the last decade. It was just like going to a normal dealership showroom. No concepts, no hot-rod factory vehicles, just bleh. Great if you are shopping for a regular car and not wanting to deal with salesman and running all over town.

This year I decided to make the trip to the Los Angeles Auto Show. Bigger, better, and a ton of great vehicles. Concepts in almost every manufacturer section, racing games (iRacing) in the Kia section, full 4D game rig in the Ford section, and an exotic and custom hall to die for. I plan on making the trip every other year or when a big reveal is supposed to happen.

After spending about two hours being completely bored with the Detroit show, I walked through the Honda booth, puked in my mouth a little bit, and asked one of the chicks working the booth if there was an Accord Sport with the manual to sit in. She said no. I left. I doubt I'll go to the show next year. I don't even bother with Toledo's "dealer show."