2011 CIAS Impressions

[Mike The Canadian]

Well folks, as I do every year I went to the metro convention center in downtown Toronto to check out the CIAS.

I'm sorry I have no pics this year, as I wanted to save time and to be honest I've never looked at pictures after taking them; so this will be soley text based:

Firstly, the disappointment:

No test drive program from GM this year as in last year; last year I got to test drive a Lacrosse CXS, GREAT experience! Although I don't blame GM here, it was just fun.

Negatives:

-The old Aveo was there, why oh why GM would you do this when the Sonic is right next to it?

-The Orlando looked and felt cheap...I guess that's because it is, but still.

-Anything Scion, these things looked cheap, felt cheap and were simply not worth the money.

-The "New" Corolla...wow....

-The "New" Civic

-Regal, sorry but for the price I'd take the Lacrosse, maybe I'm just old-school like that

-Chrysler Seb....I mean 200

Positives:

-The Sonic, great for its perceived price-point

-The Cruze was wonderful inside and out, the trunk really impressed me and my buddy (Corolla owner) was very impressed with the rear seat room for the size of car

-The new Accent

-The new Elantra looked great

-Verano looked great

-Charger, lookes great, roomy and nice engine

-Ditto the 300, looks very upscale!

Sorry if this was very brief, just felt I'd summarize a couple of things and what I thought; if anyone wants specifics into why feel free to ask.

One thing I really liked from GM was they had a room upstairs; if you present your GM keys, its your ticket into the room and you get free beverages, coffee as well as tags to put on your keys. You register it online and if you lose your keys they can be returned to you or GM gives you a new set (There's gotta be a catch here, your telling me GM will give me a new ignition cylinder, keys etc etc if I lose my keys and no one returns them?).

Either way, it was nice that they made us feel special.

They also gave me a card to go my local dealership and its a ticket to test drive a cruze ls (ls only I think?) as well as a 25 dollar gas card!

Great stuff!

[Drew Dowdell]

The switchblade keys are now all serial numbered. The "cut" for your key is stored in a database on the GM mothership somewhere. Any dealership should be able to replace your key from just the VIN.

[SAmadei]

The switchblade keys are now all serial numbered. The "cut" for your key is stored in a database on the GM mothership somewhere. Any dealership should be able to replace your key from just the VIN.

Hopefully there is a bit more security in place there than that. I realise its always been somewhat like this, but it still makes me more likely to change the tumblers around...

[Drew Dowdell]

Hopefully there is a bit more security in place there than that. I realise its always been somewhat like this, but it still makes me more likely to change the tumblers around...

You have to show proof of ownership and sign some papers

[Mike The Canadian]

The switchblade keys are now all serial numbered. The "cut" for your key is stored in a database on the GM mothership somewhere. Any dealership should be able to replace your key from just the VIN.

A cool, I had no idea; although I don't have anything anywhere near that new; its good to note and know as I'll be in the market sooner than later.