Random DC Auto Show Impressions

[CSpec]

I went to the DC auto show last night. The weather wasn't great and it was a Tuesday night, so it was pretty empty. Here are some random thoughts:

• The CTS-V interior is lame. The center stack has one big piece of plastic covering the whole thing, which felt cheap. Also the rear legroom was pathetic; there was more room in the Elantra and Golf. Also a serious lack of headroom.
  
• The Cruze is pretty good. It looks better in real life than in photos.
  
• The Camaro is too big.
  
• The Buick Verona is meh. It was spinning on a stand so I didn't see the interior, but the styling leaves something to be desired.
  
• I sat in an Aveo hatchback. I liked the little instrument pod actually, as well as the styling. I think it compares favorably to the Fiesta in terms of quality and features, and destroys the Fiesta in looks (especially the Fiesta sedan, which is terrible).
  
• I don't like the shiny white Volt interior. I think that will look stupid in a couple of years. The plastic wasn't fantastic either. It's also hard to get excited about the Volt since we've been seeing pictures of it for years!
  
• The refreshed Chrysler interiors are incredibly bland and boring. The materials are better, but I don't see how the 300 can last a full product cycle in its current state.
  
• I liked Ford. The Focus is quite good I think. They had a Fiesta sedan in an absolutely revolting metallic purple color; who on earth would get that?
  
• The Fiat 500 is stupid. I don't like cars that are designed as fashion statements. I also don't understand why they built a brand new factory to assemble a model that's already 4 years old. I asked the rep if it was made in Mexico. He didn't like that question.
  
• The Scion tC is AWFUL. One of my least favorite redesigns ever.
  
• Toyota had a ton of floor space at the show, and they didn't have anything I wanted to check out. So. Boring.
  
• The new Civic looks OK; we'll see what it looks like with normal wheels and suspension height. Honda is amazingly good at making cars that stay at the top of their class for years.
  
• I love the Bentley Mulsanne. Such an elegant design. I would definitely take it over the Rolls Royce Ghost, which it was sitting next to.
  
• The Hyundai Equus is disappointing. The design of the interior looks like a Lexus, but the materials are seriously subpar. The door pulls for example are made of cheap cheap plastic. What gives? It was attracting a lot of attention, though.
  
• The new Elantra is a looker. I don't really like the design of the center stack, but there's a lot of space in that car.
  
• The new Jag XJ isn't all that attractive, but it has a nice interior. It looks like a beached whale.
  
• The new Saab 9-5 is very roomy inside. I liked it overall. I had some small niggles with the center stack (notice a trend here?), but overall a good car. Watch it flop.
  
• The 9-4X looked good from the outside but it was locked.
  
• I think the Z4 is one of the best looking cars on sale today. The new 6er isn't quite as good.
  
• The new Mini 4door is weird.
  
• The new Jetta is ZZzzzzz. I've already seen a lot of them on the road; don't really get it.
  

I think that's all. I probably forgot some stuff. I didn't take any pictures.

[vonVeezelsnider]

I really like the new 9-5 as well, wouldn't mind owning one. I especially like the digital speedometer in the center of the analog one that mimics the artificial horizon of an aircraft... I'm a plane geek and I really thought that was cool.

This auto show cycle and the next one will be big for me since I'm going to be deciding on the car I'm going to buy myself as a graduation present in a couple years... So far I'm impressed with the Regal, Terrain and Cruze RS but I'm wanting to see the Verano, new Malibu, and 200 Convertible in person, wouldn't mind having a Hardtop Limited model.

[regfootball]

Love your comments. I saw today where Hyundai now may import additional Elantras from Korea because the demand is off the charts. Putting space in a small car will do that as well as eye catching design and good mpg at a great price.

Your Aveo / Sonic comments were intriguing. Was the Sonic interior as nice inside, although smaller, than the Cruze or was it just a step below?

[CSpec]

Your Aveo / Sonic comments were intriguing. Was the Sonic interior as nice inside, although smaller, than the Cruze or was it just a step below?

Ah right, Sonic. It actually wasn't in the same area as the Cruze--it was on a different level for some reason. So I couldn't compare them back to back. I want to say the Sonic was slightly worse.

[regfootball]

As long as it was better than a cobalt (which won't take much).