I'm surprised there isn't a thread about this already in MINI Talk, but the Chicago Auto Show was awesome this year. So far, my favorite non-MINI car is the Saturn Sky. I'll be posting more pics when I get off work this evening. Did anyone else here go? Did anyone watch it on WGN?

If anyone recorded the WGN broadcast Saturday night, my wife and I were there and would really like a copy. If you've got a copy, please PM me!

 

You may be interested in this (if you haven't seen it):
2005 Chicago Auto Show Review & Gallery

(The pics were taken at the press preview last Wednesday.)

 

I was there last Wednesday and Thursday.

I'm still working on a full write up of the show and getting my pics up. I'm slow because I'm actually a car loving accountant and it's tax season.

I'm scrolling through those pics to see if I'm in any of them

Great pics btw.

 

Oh yeah, seen those. I was actually thinking about not going, having been to the Indianapolis and St. Louis shows, before I saw your gallery. (Then I stopped letting my wife try and talk me out of this one.)

I'm thinking about the black tie pre-show next year though. Making our way through the crowds was rough, and I felt snubbed by Ferrari Maserati's "invitation only" policy. I didn't even really look at Smart, having seen my fair share in Germany I felt no need. Like I said before, I'm very impressed by the Saturn Sky, and in turn by it's cousin the Pontiac Solstice. But I'm just a big fan of open top roadsters. I was pleasantly surprised that Superformance and Noble had a booth, they had some of the best looking cars there. I'd have to say that the most surprising thing was how much I learned about child safety seats.

 

I was at the Amsterdam AutoRAI Auto show last weekend. And Mini had a very poor showing. One small booth with four cars (Mini One, Mini Cooper, Cooper Convertible and JCW S (that was locked) and only one attendant/sales person. No where near the showing in the US car shows. Ferrari had a much bigger showing than Mini. Although the Mini is not as prevelant in the Netherlands because of costs, I thought it would have shown better.

The JCW did have the JCW wheels, brakes, seats, CF dash and obviously the tuning kit. But no strutbrace, suspension or exterior carbon fiber parts. And again it was locked, so I couldn't try out the seats. I have been really trying to try out the seats, but the dealership in Alkmaar and Amsterdam do not have the seats either.

 

Actually, that sounds just like what I saw of MINI at the Indianapolis and St. Louis shows, sans the MINI One. THey still had bigger crowds that most other cars, but MINI didn't put much into those shows either.

 

I'm going to the Chicago Auto Show today. The one car I'm personally excited to see is the Ferrari F430 ...

 

I personally think the Ferrari F430 is the most beautiful modern car made. It is very close to an Aston Martin AMV8 in my book. Those are the two most beautiful cars in my book.

 

The Chicago Auto Show was fantastic!! I really enjoyed it.

- By far, the Ferrari F430 was the most beautiful car there in my opinion.

- The International CXT is probably the stupidest thing I have ever seen in my life

- I am actually quite impressed with the Hummer H3, I think it looks great. They did a great job reducing it's size to about that of an Envoy, and improving the mileage, etc.

- The Vision CLS was absolutely stunning!!

- I am also impressed with how they've updated the look of the new M-Class

- I really liked the Audi A6 sedan and wagon in person

- I am very disappointed with the makeover of the A4 sedan and wagon. I had liked the new grill, but the rear end looks cheap.

- I sat in an MCS Auto to get a feel for the shifter pedals. I really like that you can control them from behind, and not only using those small nubs up front.


That's it ... There's definitely some exciting cars out there

 

MMM.. Ferrari F430 the ultimate car!... A fantasy.... Maybe if I got $10 mill from publishers clearinghouse....

MINI... A car that I dream about and realistically can have one day!

 

I was there last Friday. It's a good show. I highly recommend you see the economy cars BEFORE you go to the luxury cars. I saw the luxury cars first and everything afterwards didn't impress me. hehehe.

well, the SKI was pretty cool. It was much larger than expected. They really need to make the bumper so that you can remove that SATURN emblem and not make it look like someone removed something from the bumper. they made the bumper flat in the area where the rectangular emblem goes. The SATURN image does more harm than good at this moment.

 

I'm seriously considering HIN in June . . .
That should be a far more exciting show.

Anyone going?

 

I'll go if I can find some car lovers to go with me.