automotive show and great cars
I am a huge fan of the Chicago Auto Show and have been going to see it every year since around 1993. Granted, I am a car fan in general, and look forward to new releases and new model designs each year. I am not really a gear-head but the style and usability of cars has always interested me from a consumer perspective and the Chicago Auto Show has the full collection of every car available that you can buy in Chicago. This year in 2008 it is the 100th auto show in Chicago and that is a great milestone that no other Auto Show has reached. (not even Detroit!)
chicago auto show, concept car, mazdaIf you aren’t as much into cars as entertainment but are really looking for a new car to replace your current one, this is an opportunity to go to the Chicago Auto Show and poke around, sit in them and not be bothered by sales people. There are no car salesmen there and no one bugs you to buy anything. (there are spokespeople though that can answer questions if you have any, but they can’t sell you anything. All the cars have price stickers on the windows to list how much each one costs)
The Auto Show is just a lot of cars set out for you to look over, sit in and compare. There are usually very nice glossy brochures provided by the manufacturers with more detailed information about the cars that you can take home, and sometimes if cars really are popular they give away posters of them. (camaros, mustangs and corvettes) They will also have some interactive displays with cut away sections of the cars and trucks that show how the engine, suspension and frame works. The Chicago Auto Show is really more about car education and entertainment than selling anything. Sometimes it is also fun to go sit in fancy cars you could never afford (like Lexus, BMW, Infiniti, Jaguar and Mercedes) just to see how the other half lives.
If you plan to drive to the Auto Show, go early. Parking lots fill up quickly and by noon you have to walk a mile or more from the parking lots (by soldier field or under I-55 off 90-94 south) and your feet are tired by the time you get to the opening of the show. Going early when the show opens for the day also guarantees you the opportunity to sit in cars without standing in line to wait. The number of people increases all day so the earlier you get there, the better your experience will be. If you get there at 4 pm on Saturday you will be in a mass crowd of several thousand people, unable to see anything, walk around or sit in any cars. The crowds are huge.
Walking around the Chicago Auto show can be exhausting if you don’t prepare for it. The show takes up both sides of the huge main hall at the New McCormick Place on the west side of Lake Shore Drive and just North of I-55. I recommend wearing minimal coats and clothing because you have to carry it all throughout the show. I also recommend wearing gym shoes or the most comfortable shoes you own. You will get your daily exercise from this event if you really go see all the car brands like I do. There is a food court restaurant up on a platform that looks out over the whol show and there are food and drink vendors all around the exterior of the show. They do allow you to eat and drink while looking at the cars but it is kind of frowned upon. It is best to eat and then look. But then again you probably won’t be interested in Auto Show food unless you have been there for 3 or 4 hours like I do sometimes and forgot to eat breakfast. Expect pretzels, lemonade and Fudge, not your balanced diet kind of food.
Some of the big attractions and new cars at this year’s Chicago Auto Show are:
* The Dodge Challenger Retro Concept that has been ok’d for Production and Sale in the US. * New concept cars for 2008 from Audi, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Hummer, Jeep, Mitsubishi and Nissan. * The new Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 with 600 hp and the new Cadillac CTS-V. * Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler look like they have the same spot in the convention hall they use for letting you drive or ride in the cars on a closed all terrain course inside the building. This is pretty cool.
The show is open from 10 am to 10 pm from Friday February 8, 2008 through Sunday February 17, 2008. (Sunday closes at 8pm) The official address is McCormick Place, Lake Shore Drive at 23rd Street. The tickets are $10.00 each, kids under 6 years old are free, tickets for Kids from 6-12 yrs are $5 and tickets for senior citizens over 62 are $5. You can score free tickets to the auto show through local Chicago Area Chevrolet dealers if you go test drive a car and ask for them. You should at least make it *seem* like you are interested in a car they sell if you do this.
- If you are looking at cars to possibly purchase now, within 6 months or a few years, I recommend looking at all the brands and taking home brochures from all the possible cars. This way you have something to remember about this experience. Maybe even take along a camcorder, digital camera or small notepad to take notes on features the cars offer and which you liked best, were most comfortable and priced the best.
Below see the Chicago Auto Show Map of the convention center and where you can find all the car brands:
0 comments:
Post a Comment