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I dropped $6 on the auto show at the Jim Graham building tonight. Due to the smaller venue, there were fewer manufacturers than usual. Nissan, Mercedes, Jaguar, Acura, BMW and Porsche were notable in their absence. Thank heaven there was no shortage of GM pickups, GM SUVs and GM minivans. 2 Buick SUVs and a Buick minivan that they want you to think is an SUV. What is the world coming to?

Here are my impressions, in no particular order:

Dark colored leather interiors are in style. I guess they won't show dirt.

The most expensive cars don't have shifter knobs.

Everybody is painting interior trim in that titanium color that we'll all despise in about 2 years. Despite the titanium paint, I thought the Mazda 3 had the best dashboard of any car in the show.

Glossy fake wood trim is still on the increase. Lincoln went all out and mixed glossy fake wood trim and titanium painted plastic trim.

Lincoln has another pickup offering. More chrome on the grill, and a real pickup bed. Maybe it has a chance.

Chevy SSR is enormously stupid.

Chevy Bel Aire concept has possibilities. They need to redesign the front end to make it look like a Chevy.

Dodge Charger is just as ugly in person as in the magazines.

New Jetta has an impressive trunk. Too bad it looks like a cross between a Neon and an old Taurus.

Infiniti M45 is one bad .....

Infiniti G35 coupe has a sticker on the underside of the trunklid which explains how to load your golf clubs. In theory, it will hold 2 smallish golf bags.

A friend commented that given the price of a certain Volvo sport sedan, why wouldn't you just buy a BMW?

I sat in an STi.

I thought the Hummer H3 was pretty cool.

There was a Viper. There was a Dodge pickup with a Viper motor. There was a "PT Coupe", which I hope is only a concept car. (Remember the Volkswagen Fastback?)

Toyotas... everywhere. But no Celicas. Oh, that's right. Sorry.

I must have a Ford GT. But I'll be patient and wait for the rebates

If you don't get your new Mustang with the "Interior Upgrade Package" (aluminum dash facing and 125 color instrument display), you'll know you don't have it every time you get in the car.

Mazda had the largest brochure (width x height). The Scion brochure is the thickest. Half accessories catalog and half unmitigated gibberish.

Art

I think the new Jetta rear end kinda looks like a Corolla.



Sounds better than expected

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www.ncvw.org
1993 VW Corrado VR6 - DSP15 (RIP)
1986 MB 190E 2.3L 16v - STX (SOLD)
1997 BMW M3 3.2L - BS for now

I was thinking some sortof bastard cross between Corolla and Camry. The Toyota of German sedans it is.

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'99 Mk IV Jetta VR6 now claimed by the better half.

'90 Miata A-package, Floats like a butterfly and buzzes like a BEE with loudspeakers.