James (JDM) and I are planning to go to the Washington Auto Show on next Sat. (the 28th) Anyone want to join us? We have no set time yet, so if you want to go post a good time for you and we'll plan something.

According to the website, MINI will be exhibiting.

http://www.washingtonautoshow.com/(the site crashes my version of Mozilla)

 

I'd love to go... let me check my schedule, etc...

Does this conflict with the Mango Mike's thing? Perhaps we can figure it out to do both?

 

I'm going but probably on the 24th or 25th (govies get in half price!). What's going on at Mango Mikes?

 

See my post in the 'pre-announcement' thread below!

Mango Mike's will likely be on the 29th, so it won't have any bearing on the 28th!

I'll be going sometime. Saturday would work for me!

-Paul!

 

So Edge and paul! what time do you want to meet up?

 

Erm, ask Edge? Doesn't matter to me, but Edge isn't much of an early riser, so I guess whatever time he can haul his **** out of bed and get there would work!

Oh, and not to let anyone down, but I took a whirlwind tour of the show on Tuesday (didn't even see the second floor!), and while MINI is indeed there, there is no Traveler concept to be found.

There's plenty of other interesting looking vehicles there though, so I'm still looking forward to a full tour!

-Paul!

 

I'm in... what time were you guys hoping for? Early morning will be hard for me, true... but something like 11 or 12 would be good... but later or earlier is possible too. What were you guys hoping for?

Paul, you don't live too far away from me - do you want to carpool or are you metro-ing? I was thinking that carpooling would save us some money on parking fees.

 

Edge, I was going to metro in, but I can just as well head over to your place!

And I'm fine with 11 or 12. The show is open 'til 9, so that will still be more than enough time.

-Paul!

 

Edge! no worries about early morning - that is not my thing either!!! I'm good with 11 or 12, james and I were planning on metroing in to not have to deal with parking. So shouldw e say 11:30 then, meet at the ticket area (Paul is there only one ticket buying place?)

 

On your whirlwind stop did you notice if the Camaro concept car was there?

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong because it's been a few years, but the DC auto show is more of a "come to one venue and see all the cars that you would have to travel all over town to see at the dealerships" type show...rarely a concept vehicle like at Detroit or NY...it's more of an "all make and model showroom" under one roof with an occasional race car thrown in for spice!

 

Thats always been true. Its a road show that moves to Baltimore Convention center a couple of weeks later! I'm pretty sure ...

 

Sorry, dIdn't notice.

As to the other comments, the DC show was in the past just a 'dealership' show, but they were making noise about it this year about it being a 'real' car show. From my quick tour, I really couldn't tell if it was true or not... didn't really seem like it though.

Oh, and I remember passing by two ticket areas: one a bit down the hall from the entrance that's by the metro stop, and one on the opposite side of the building. I don't know if there's more. I would suggest either meeting by the ticket area closest to the metro, or meeting at the entrance to Hall A (that's the (only) entrance to the lower show floor).

-Paul!

 

From the insert in the Post it looks to me like all they have different than the normal dealer stuff is the Dodge Challenger concept car and a bunch of boring hybrid concepts. I was all set to go, but it doesn't look that exciting.

 

We may come too! Will know more tomorrow.

 

Let's make it easier. We can meet outside entrance HallA.

So 11:30 outside Entrance Hall A.

 

Kattiya and I are going to try and be there also!

Edge - ya wanna carpool or convoy?

 

I think the show is fairly similar to past years. But it's also the same as pretty much every other car show I have ever been to...since I have not been to Detroit or any of the other real biggies.

There was a really cool Volvo 3CC concept which looked very interesting. And some of the new models like the Honda Fit which has not been intro'd yet and was locked so that you couldn't get a very good look inside. I forgot to look for the Yaris at the Toyota section but if it was there it didn't jump out at me. There was also a new Saturn concept that looked very upscale for them. VW had a couple of GTIs. It was nice and empty today. I suspect it will be very crowded tomorrow.

The really annoying thing is the way the show is located over two floors without any sort of sensible flow to get from one floor to the other.

MINI had at least 6 or 7 cars on display, but no Traveler concept. It was nice to see a SB/S in the flesh since I had to order mine without actually seeing the color on a car. It was less greenish than I expected but looked pretty good even though it has the checkmate package and graphics. They have a good mix of all the models.

I always like to see all of the cars under one roof and have a chance to play with all the buttons. The new Lexus IS is pretty sweet. I think I would have bought one if not for the MINI.

 

Sounds good, Scav... maybe take one car to save on parking (just split the cost). Paul might be joining us, I tried to call him tonight but he must have been busy. Left a VM. He'll need directions to get here, etc.

All... I am SERIOUSLY contemplating wearing my "I drive a MINI. What are you compensating for?" shirt to the auto show. I wonder what kinds of reactions I'll get? Should be fun... especially if I hang out around the Hummer area. I figure I'll go with my "MINI posse" for protection... I can see it now...

"We're right behind you Edge... that's right, BEHIND you!"

 

Yeh, stick with the posse, if you go out on your own, we can't protect you! I can hear it now, "I'm hit, I'm hit!".....



Yeh, we can carpool in! Bring the camera..

 

I'm going in my motoring file shirt (only mini related shirt sans DCMM)

 

Also as an FYI if you haven't been down to that part of town lately the site of the old convention center has been turned into a giant open air parking lot. They charge a flat $10 during the week. I would imagine it is a little less on the weekends. So if you can't find a spot on the street there is a ton of space available there.

 

Heh, sorry! I was at a comedy/music show waaaay up in Boonsboro, MD (aka 'The Sticks' ) (Oh, and I think I found a new area for a MINI run up there. All kinds of fun roads getting to the palce!). I realized that I got a phone call at 1 AM, and figured that you wouldn't appreciate a call then!

Since Scavenger is already going with you, I'll just take the metro and meet you there!

-Paul!

Edit - Just realized that Boonsboro is is entwined in the Backroads & Battlefields run! Darn, and I thought I found some 'new' roads! Ah well, still fun to drive!

 

I managed to go to the auto show on Sat, 28th. I ended up going with a friend who is also a car nut.

To those who said that the DC auto show is just a bunch of dealer stock under one roof, that is SO NOT TRUE THIS YEAR.

I spent about 5.5 hours there and managed to see a good deal of stuff that you would have never seen there before.

For example, the Dodge Challenger concept was there, as was the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX concepts. There was a large "tuner" section that included DUB and other tuners. The new Porsche Cayman was there as well as the new VW GTI, the Honda Fit, the new, not quite released GM full-size SUVs, the XLR V, new Corvette Z06 (and not on a pedestal, you could sit in it!). No Camaro concept, though (my next car!).

Essentially, a lot of stuff unveiled at Detroit and/or LA ended up on display in DC. That was the real shocker.

The show used to happen during the holidays, but it was moved to coincide with Congress being in town. This is to give the manufacturers, and others who depend on the car industry, an opportunity to court Congress and show off what's happening, what they want to happen, and to hear what gov't wants to happen. The manufacturers now have a reason to strut their best stuff. The show can now be considered an important part of how transportation and energy law is shaped in the years to come. I'd almost equate the clout of the DC show with that of New York, but not quite on par with Detroit or Geneva.

But there's always next year!