The New England International Auto Show

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54) 01/17/2015 at 18:23 • Filed to: auto show

21

100

No, not Detroit – Boston, home of baked beans, the Red Sox, Cheers, and the American Revolution. The big news from NEIAS is – well, nothing really. All the good stuff is in Detroit right now. But unlike Detroit, Boston is close to me, so my girlfriend and I decided to go check it out anyway. Here are my random thoughts and ramblings from around the show.

Upon walking in, the first thing I noticed was that the layout was identical to last year. Honda on the right, Toyota on the left, Scion over there, Ford over there… At least I didn't have to learn my way around the place again.

I took a seat in the Civic Si coupe, and much to my surprise, my head was touching the roof, even with the seat adjusted as low as it could go. It was the same in the CR-Z, which I sat in just out of curiosity. I'm six feet tall, which isn't tiny, but certainly not out of the ordinary in the US. How is it that 25 years ago Honda could build a tiny CRX Si that I fit into perfectly comfortably, even with a sunroof, but today I can't fit into their much larger low slung cars without banging my head? It's really too bad. I like the Si coupe. I do fit in the sedan just fine, but that just looks so ordinary.

Over at Chevrolet, I giggled at the Daewoo Matiz – I mean, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I'd never seen one before, probably because nobody ever buys them. I sat inside anyway. I couldn't get over the gauge cluster. It's not integrated into the dashboard at all, but looks like a modern sport bike cluster tacked onto the top of the steering column. Back seat legroom was barely better than my BRZ (admittedly, it was better on height and access, being a four door), but the storage area was even smaller. I also took a peek inside the slightly larger Sonic, with the same motorcycle style gauge cluster, and a bit more room in the back seat and rear hatch area. But the overall quality was nowhere near that of the Ford Fiesta. There is a top of the line Sonic RS which seems like it ought to be able to compete with the Fiesta ST, but they are worlds apart. Cheap Korean engineering and a mere 138hp doesn't hold a candle to the FiST. Chevy/Daewoo, you have a long way to go.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

My girlfriend spotted the Chevy Colorado king cab, and became very interested in it. SUVs are becoming so carlike and so expensive that she's started considering a smaller king cab truck instead, and the Colorado seriously caught her eye. For around $25,000, she could get herself a decently equipped one. But the one thing we couldn't figure out about any of the Chevy trucks was why they all have a huge piece of plastic hanging low below the front bumper. If you so much as look at a dirt road, that plastic is going to break off. Approach angle? What's that?

I went to look at a more interesting Chevy – the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Unfortunately it was locked, but I could at least appreciate the completely track focused nature of the car. Conceptually, I can imagine 305 width tires on all four corners of the car, but actually seeing those gigantic slabs of rubber on the front of the car was something else entirely. They just seemed to go on forever. And the Camaro is just so massive compared to the track cars I'm used to seeing. This thing's a beast. Though not as much as the C7 Corvette Z06. The one on display was a convertible. It was up on a turntable, so I couldn't get a close look at it. I saw more of it in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , so go watch that if you want to see the Z06 – and Leno getting pulled over.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Across the aisle from the Camaros was Ford with some Mustangs. This was my first time seeing the new Mustang in person, and I think it's a great looking car. It's very strange to see a four cylinder engine under the hood of a Mustang and not immediately think it's crap (exception: SVO), but I've read and heard great reviews of the Ecoboost model. I sat inside, and rather liked it. It was comfortable, the controls were in the right places, and the back seat, while not huge, was certainly more roomy than my BRZ's. My girlfriend's kids could probably fit back there for at least another year or two. I'm curious enough about the Ecoboost Mustang to want to drive one sometime.

I sat in a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! again. It was down to this or my BRZ, and in the end I chose the BRZ. I wanted to sit in the FiST again to see if I'd regret my decision. I didn't. The FiST is a great car, don't get me wrong. But it's so much taller than the low slung BRZ. I have to reach way down to find the shifter, which is right there next to my hand in the BRZ. It gives away its roots as an economy car. It's a very well tuned one, but it's not the same as a car built to be a sports car from the ground up. That said, if I needed any more everyday practicality than I do now, like usable back seats or hatchback utility, the Fiesta ST would be my top choice.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Over at Subaru, there was the usual selection of beigemobiles, though a WRX STi did take center stage – in World Rally Blue, of course. I absolutely hated the vague rubbery shifter of the last generation WRX. They fixed that in the current version. It's not quite as crisp as my BRZ, but very close.

Speaking of BRZs, there wasn't one. It was the only model in Subaru's lineup that wasn't there. Over at Scion, they did have an FR-S or two. Scion only has a few models, so to fill the space they need to have at least one of everything. But even then, they stuck the FR-S into a back corner. Are Subaru and Scion embarrassed about these cars? It seems it, from the way they weren't displayed well, or at all in Subaru's case.

Mazda – zoom zoom, and such. There was nothing earth shattering here. I'd had a glimmer of hope that they might show the ND MX-5, but alas all they had was a pair of NCs. One of them was a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , red, of course. I've had three red NA 1.6 liter Miatas, and it amazes me just how little this car has changed in the past 25 years. Sure, it's gotten a little bigger. The trunk is a little bit larger, and the spare tire no longer takes up half of it. But I got in the car, and with the exception of slightly different controls on the center console (I miss the button that raises the pop-up headlights), I felt immediately at home. A Miata is a Miata is a Miata. Even if they don't call it a Miata anymore. It's a simple car, and simplicity appeals to me.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Compare that to the stereo controls on the Mazda5. It's an ocean of buttons, all alike, and impossible to operate without taking your eyes off the road and reading every single button to find the one you want. Whoever designed this needs to go take some lessons from the MX-5.

I walked behind a Mazda6 with the trunk open, and had to go back and look again. That trunk is huge! It's deeper than a Crown Vic's, and fairly tall, too. The 6 is not a small car, but it doesn't look big enough to have a trunk that size. I think Mazda has figured out a way to either use TARDIS technology or a bag of holding to make the trunk bigger on the inside than on the outside.

The Audi R8 is always pretty. Enough said.

The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is… weird.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I thought Lexus was supposed to be a boring brand. Orange is anything but a boring color. This is the same color as the Mustang Ecoboost on display. It's the last color I'd expect to find on a Lexus, even an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

We looked at Jeeps. I had nasty flashbacks when I saw the Compass, but it does look better in dark grey than !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . They had a Cherokee. It didn't spontaneously combust while I was there.

Given my girlfriend's interest in the Chevy Colorado, as we passed by Toyota's display on our way out I brought her to a Tacoma king cab. We looked it over, and she fell in lust with it. Though it has similar dimensions to the Colorado, everything just looked and felt better made, higher quality, more solid. Instead of a piece of low hanging plastic in front just asking to get broken off, it had a functional skid plate. The tie downs in the bed were better. The seats were a little more comfortable. I think we just found her next vehicle.

All in all, it was fun going and looking at cars, but aside from a few new models that are already available on showroom floors, it really wasn't much different than last year. We saw everything we wanted to see in a few short hours, including a break for lunch. I think that unless I'm actively looking for a new car, and I want to see a whole bunch at the same time without traveling to a bunch of different dealers, I'll likely skip this show in the future. There just wasn't enough new, exciting stuff there to draw me in on a yearly basis. I suppose that's the curse of it being just days after NAIAS. All the cool stuff is still in Detroit.

(Photo credit: me. I apologize for the poor quality. Apparently my camera doesn't like the strange mix of natural and artificial light the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center has.)

V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8 > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 18:39

1

I think I saw more LamborghinI's today there than I've seen out in the wild.

Justin Hughes > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8 01/17/2015 at 18:49

0

Lambos, Rolls Royces... Yeah. I couldn't get through the crowds to get any decent pictures, unfortunately.

desertdog5051 > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 18:54

5

If Mazda would just take that stupid looking, smiling face grille off of its cars...

Justin Hughes > desertdog5051 01/17/2015 at 19:05

3

They are, actually. I'm no fan of the anime face myself.

desertdog5051 > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 19:16

1

That is good news. I really like their cars but I could not justify driving something that looked like that.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 19:21

2

We're those the production materials for the inherit of the i3? I also set the lap record at the Ford Racing Simulator

OPPOsaurus WRX > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 19:28

2

How the F does a Miata cost more that a 6? all the Lexuses look like they punched in the headlight

Gated Manual > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 19:41

0

Nice writeup. Yea i was there yesterday, it was pedestrian... Nothing really new except the new new Lincoln MKX. I have some pics too. I was thinking of doing a separate post if you don't mind.

Justin Hughes > Gated Manual 01/17/2015 at 20:54

0

By all means, go right ahead! I'll throw a link to yours into mine once you post it.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 23:09

4

I have a 13 Civic sedan... am 5 11 and have the same issue! If I had a sunroof I would hit the roof. The seating position is horrible!

ranwhenparked > desertdog5051 01/17/2015 at 23:48

6

The 2 is the only model that still looks like that. The 3 and 6 have been totally redesigned in their post-derp face design language (and are actually some of the best looking cars in their classes, with classic long hood/short deck proportions) and the 2 is about to be replaced in the near future, but was never as extreme to begin with.

Johnnyazz > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 23:52

1

"and the American Revolution.."

you do know Washington's first battle under the declaration of independence was in Manhattan right?

TheHondaBro > Justin Hughes 01/17/2015 at 23:57

1

Did someone steal the knob?

darthd > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 00:01

0

My parents have one. It's not bad. Anything important can be done from the wheel. When I drive it I just press one button: The aux one.

thomasmac > TheHondaBro 01/18/2015 at 00:04

11

Its my understanding that manufacturers have caught onto people swiping these knobs and now pull them off before public display.

RelentlessSlacker > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 00:10

2

I like it. I just did the San Jose auto show, which isn't a big or important show at all, just a pretty regular spread of cars. A lot of my impressions jibe with yours (e.g. Colorado crew cab, Mustang, Fiesta ST...to which I'll add, every shift would have me banging my elbow into the center console. Fantastic car. Instant deal breaker, that).

The i3 was kinda a revelation to me in the sense that sitting inside it made me understand why it looks so dorky outside. It's an awesome and unique cabin, with great visibility and good space and functional but unique design. It gained a few points in my book from the interior space alone.

One thing my friends and I noted was how terrible Jaguar build quality is. Flimsy feeling switches, uneven panel gaps everywhere, body panels not fully painted?? On $70k+ cars? Wow. Shockingly bad. And the hilarious thing was that our favorite surprise of the show was...the Honda Oddyssey! It's huge inside, and comfy, and has a super-wide movie screen and a frickin' VACUUM CLEANER built into it. The seating is one-touch and so easy, power liftgate and doors, etc. Even the removable center console. "I need to start a family so I can get one of these!"

So yeah, take it from us. The star of the auto show is the Honda Oddyssey :P

RelentlessSlacker > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 01/18/2015 at 00:12

2

This has been an issue with Civics since the 7th gen IMO. Truly funky seating position in all seats, coupe or sedan, for anyone taller than about 5'10". I cannot get comfortable in any of these cars.

The current Accord though. The current Accord is really nice. One of the nicest cars at the $25k price point at the auto show, really.

Erzhik Tem > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 00:16

0

Safe to say Detroit show is way better than Boston? Never been to Boston's show, even though its only 10 minutes from my home. Love NAIAS though. Any concepts or cool cars at Boston?

WhyWagonIfNotWagonFast > TheHondaBro 01/18/2015 at 00:16

3

Someone was afraid of radioactivity.

Justin Hughes > Johnnyazz 01/18/2015 at 00:19

9

True, but the shot heard round the world happened a few miles down the street from me.

Justin Hughes > darthd 01/18/2015 at 00:20

0

True, steering wheel controls help. And the AUX setting is the best.

Justin Hughes > Erzhik Tem 01/18/2015 at 00:24

0

Nope, nothing new. There were some exotics, but no show or concept cars. They're all in Detroit.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 00:48

2

Nice write up Justin!

Justin Hughes > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 01/18/2015 at 00:51

0

Thanks!

deekster_caddy > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 00:52

5

I looked for you but didn't see you there. Also looking for myself to appear randomly in your pictures, but no go there either.

You are spot on about not having a reason to go here unless in the market for a new car at the time. There were no concept cars, not even a full lineup from many manufacturers. The one Porsche I wanted to check out was missing (Panamera). No 2016 Volt, VW did bring their e-golf though, and gets mega points for having the most interactive display:

(Moving a picture on mobile Kinja SUCKS! Pretend pic of my kid spray painting a car is here)

I am a little taller than you at 6'4". I don't fit in basically anything from Mazda or Subaru. No wonder I like Buick so much, I fit in all their cars!

Asked the booth lady at VW why there werw no VW wagons at the show, she said the new Golf wagon coming later this year would be renamed Jetta for US and the size of the "old Passat Wagon". Ummm, either she meant the B5 wagons or she was wrong, but I fit in the Passat, I don't fit in the Jetta/Golf that well.

Overall my kids had fun for a while pretending to drive everything, and we got bored pretty quickly because we aren't currently car shopping. Nice to see what's out there though.

Gated Manual > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 01:22

2

Congrats. This got FP'd.

factsonly1 > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 01:24

4

i have to say this article was REALLY uninteresting. You did a good job of showing how boring the show was.

Justin Hughes > factsonly1 01/18/2015 at 01:27

4

I'd rather be writing OMG FORD GT!!! NSX!!! GT350R!!! But no, this is what we get in Boston.

Ben Burkhardt > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 01:34

0

About the Honda comments, newer Hondas obviously have more standard safety features like airbags. Those bags take up headroom and other space. Etc. Etc.

I've seen way too many Chevy Sparks here in California. The EV is popular. But EVs here in general are not uncommon. Tesla Model S shooting brakes are common where I live in Orange County.

Ben Burkhardt > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 01:37

0

this post reminds me of the differences between the Los Angeles Auto Show and Anaheim/Orange County Auto Show. The LA show, like the Detroit one, actually reveals new products. The Anaheim one is more for the Orange County region, or people who don't want to drive to LA from OC. So Cal traffic is Hell. Not Hellcat.

KAG25 > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 01:50

0

Your camera lens is dirty. Went to the Utah Auto Show yesterday on the first day and wonder do the companies take off the knobs and shifters or do they get stolen? They are always gone.

Plompy Lfeata > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 02:24

1

I simply dont believe a mazda 6 has a deeper trunk than a crown vic, having owned a gran marquis, i shoved so much stuff into that trunk. more firewood than you could burn in a night,plus camp chairs, plus tents, plus 5ths, plus 3 60L packs... If it is that big, i know what car im looking for on the used market. Plus its so beautiful in black.

Plompy Lfeata > desertdog5051 01/18/2015 at 02:27

0

the 6 was redesigned like 2 years (or 3?) model years ago now... I believe it was first one to get rid of the smiley face, although the CX5 was early as well. the Miata and the 2 are the only ones with a smiley face. and to be honest, those are the two cars where it makes the most sense.

Plompy Lfeata > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 02:30

5

im confused, is someone out there teaching people that the american revolution didnt start at lexington and concord?

Rocket Doc > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 02:41

0

You are the rare person who is impressed by the Mazda6's trunk. Despite the car being the same width and all of 2 in shorter than the overweight hulk it replaced, the SAE trunk volume (which is oriented to carrying luggage/boxes and admittedly doesn't count the complete envelope) decreased by almost 2 ft^3. The trunk is actually smaller than the considerably smaller 2003-2008 sedan, several current compact sedans (the Mazda3 is not one of them), and all the mass-market mid-size competitors. It's the best looking and best-driving, but not the best one to pick for transporting multiple bodies or similarly challenging cargo.

superthingy > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 02:47

0

Admittedly, I want the Tacoma to be amazing. I owned a 2013 because I thought it was great but quickly despised it. It was like being inside a Corolla... a budget Corolla. I genuinely like the resale the brand has along with reliability. However, I despise the crappy plastic feel of all the Toyota plastic surfaces. Plus, they cost the same as year end, yet high end clearance American models. Please review; http://jalopnik.com/this-is-whats-…

tatababasco > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 03:46

1

I was there Friday. Check^

jdb > RelentlessSlacker 01/18/2015 at 04:01

0

I really wanted an odyssey, they are nice, but couldn't justify the cost of the damn things. Found a killer deal on 07 frontier crew cab longbed loaded with only 27k miles when scanning the craigslist for crap, so got that instead.

LongbowMk2 > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/18/2015 at 05:59

0

the miata has an entirely unique chassis and drivetrain. It's impressive that they keep such a low volume car as cheap as they do. Then again starting the 6 at under 20k is mind boggling in its own right. I think it's the cheapest midsized car.

Brede > RelentlessSlacker 01/18/2015 at 06:24

0

You are very right about the Honda Oddyssey. I'm very much a truck guy, and I love big trucks and big SUVs, but if the criteria for buying a vehicle is roominess and practicality and family friendliness, a minivan is much better than an SUV.

Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles > deekster_caddy 01/18/2015 at 07:01

1

It's funny you mention Buick, my dad (6'1") was too tall for a mid 90s Regal with a sunroof.

Don't know why I remembered that, it just stuck with me as a defining characteristic of that car.

Daniel Fleck > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 07:32

2

I'd be interested to know the price difference between the Spark and the Fiesta you sat in. The ST is obviously a different class than a base Spark. The Sonic I agree sucks and is the Fiesta's competition. The Spark is to me in the class with the iQ and the Smart car and offers an actual usable back seat. I mean you probably had more headroom in the Spark than you did in the Si.

The Spark is quite nice for what it is. It won't be winning any races with an 83 hp engine, but for a city car, it offers quite a bit of usability at a utilitarian price. The simplicity I think can also be a benefit as I won't feel bad when I buy one used and start ripping apart pieces to improve them.

Also, on a side note I saw a Spark yesterday on the highway with a tow hitch... WTF? I'm guessing the tow rating of the Spark is approximately negative whatever the tow mounting weighs.

Fuel_of_Satan > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 07:55

0

From my experience in Forza 2 you have written about the best car in the world here: The Chevy Spark absolutely dominated 3-4 race classes. At least I started calling it "The fastest fucking thing in the world" when I tried to keep up with it.

TrackRatMk1 > deekster_caddy 01/18/2015 at 08:06

5

I'm a product specialist working the VW booth in Boston... The Jetta Sportwagen is becoming the Golf Sportwagen, on the brand new MQB chassis. It's to be released early this year (first quarter ETA) and it will be larger in cargo capacity than the previous JSW.

If you fit in the 2015 Golf or GTI you'll def fit in the new Sportwagen

Sergio526 > thomasmac 01/18/2015 at 08:06

0

I don't get why they don't just super-glue them down or manufacture show-only components for these display cars. If they need to break the thing off with a special tool in order to replace it, that doesn't seem that crazy for a small handful of cars. I feel you definitely lose the overall look when such key components are missing.

deekster_caddy > Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles 01/18/2015 at 08:08

0

Interesting, I had a '94 Regal for many years and it was a good fit.

deekster_caddy > TrackRatMk1 01/18/2015 at 08:10

0

I find the Jetta and Golf cramped. I fit, but our Passat (2008) is actually confortable.

Jon > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 08:12

0

First of all, you're comparing a TRD offroad package Tacoma to the Colorado. The plastic in the front is an air dam for better drag coefficient and highway fuel economy.

Also, what are you talking about when you say nicely equipped Colorado crew cab for $25k? The stripper model starts at just over 25 not including destination. And that's RWD. If you want a 4x4, you're looking at 30-35k.

Justin Hughes > Ben Burkhardt 01/18/2015 at 08:21

1

Yes, that's why the new Hondas are bigger and heavier. But all I need is another inch or two of headroom. They couldn't have curved the roof a bit differently to allow more people to fit? They got the sedan right.

NicTesla > Gated Manual 01/18/2015 at 08:22

1

It was like walking through a Mall Parking Lot only the cars were clean and you get to pay $15.00 a head for the privilege. We are in the market for a $25,000ish non CUV. At the Honda stand and asked to see an Accord Sport and they didn't bring one. At the Toyota booth we asked for the Camry SE and they didn't have one. Focus ST..nope, Outback Premium...nope, Altima SV...nope...nope...nope. The plan seems to bring the promotional lease payment bait and the profit master top of the line model. I was surprised by the Camry XSE. However (I can't believe I'm saying this) a CAMRY was too "bling" with red seat stitching and big chrome wheels for me.

JimmyZZZZZZZ > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 08:22

0

Thes best thing about these "local" shows is that if you're not a car geek (and even if you are), you can a) "try on" a bunch of vehicles for fit and finish ("compare and contrast"), without b) having to run the gauntlet of sales "pros" at multiple stealerships. It's way easier to narrow down your choices when they're all in one place and to focus on one or two once you're done (like your girlfriend). It's well worth the price of admission, even if it's more "boring" than Detroit or L.A.

Justin Hughes > KAG25 01/18/2015 at 08:23

0

Yes, they remove them intentionally so they don't get stolen. I need to upgrade my camera gear if I'm going to keep doing this sort of thing.

Justin Hughes > Plompy Lfeata 01/18/2015 at 08:25

1

The trunk of the 6 isn't as tall as the Crown Vic, but it's very long. I want to look up the numbers to see how total volume compares. It's got to be close.

Justin Hughes > Plompy Lfeata 01/18/2015 at 08:26

14

Probably a New York Yankees fan.

blerglemon > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 08:26

1

Wiping your phone's lens usually helps with taking clearer pictures

Justin Hughes > Rocket Doc 01/18/2015 at 08:30

0

I haven't looked at the numbers, but I also haven't looked closely at many cars in its class. I just know I was surprised at the size of it compared to how it looked on the outside. The same goes for the 2002 Focus my girlfriend just got.

Justin Hughes > superthingy 01/18/2015 at 08:32

0

Thanks - I'll check that out. Would the Colorado be any better?

Justin Hughes > tatababasco 01/18/2015 at 08:34

1

Those look familiar! Thanks for sharing.

Justin Hughes > Jon 01/18/2015 at 08:40

0

Yes, the TRD Tacoma was much better equipped, including a bunch of standalone options. And you're right about the price. Same goes for the Tacoma. Even the base 4x4 with an automatic is over $30k.

Justin Hughes > JimmyZZZZZZZ 01/18/2015 at 08:42

0

I agree! That's why if I'm shopping for a new car it's well worth going. Or to gather material to ramble about in a Jalopnik article.

Scott Swenson > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 09:06

1

Given GM's inability to make anything outside of Cadillac that has a quality interior, I suspect not. Who the hell do they have designing these things, someone from Mattel? For 20 years I've cross-shopped GM-Ford-Dodge (errr, RAM) for trucks and every time, the GM hasn't even been in the running because their interiors are stuck somewhere about the same time Nightranger was constantly on the radio. I can't comment on the size segment you're looking at, but since the Ranger is gone, unfortunately you are pretty much looking at the Toyota or Frontier. In truck-heavy Maine, once you filter out the majority (full-sized), I see more Nissans than Toyotas, if that means anything. Interestingly enough, I still see more Rangers and Dakotas than either of the two Japanese trucks, and they haven't made either in years.

FCA. Please, can we have a word?
DAKOTA.
Please.
Ecodiesel.
PLEASE.

AJ > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 09:27

1

I just visited the Utah International Auto Expo this weekend, and was very interested to see how the same show differs around the country. (Here's my writeup, if interesting: http://dailyderbi.com/utah-internati… )

Some differences from what you mentioned:

- Our Subaru area had a BRZ in near-prime placement. Our Scion area had 2 FR-S in very prime placement
- We did not have a Z06 Stingray, but we did have the topless and hardtop versions of the base car.
- We had an R8, but it was the droptop version, so yours was much prettier
- We had a BMW i3, but also had the i8

I'm guessing most of these differences are simply due to the fact that most of the display cars are sourced by the local dealerships, so they bring whatever is in stock.

Justin Hughes > AJ 01/18/2015 at 09:50

0

Nice write up! Thanks for sharing. We also had a Camaro ZL1 and Challenger Hellcat.

I suspect that New England Subaru dealers, who have built their reputation on selling exclusively all wheel drive, all weather capable vehicles, have no idea what to do with the BRZ. I got the last 2014 World Rally Blue car in New England last March, which tells me they didn't order many. Not that you'd know that from attending an 86 Owners of New England meet, where mine has been one of five WRB BRZs parked in a row.

Plompy Lfeata > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 09:56

0

same, ill make a point to check one out in person too. see, no one covering the detroit show thought to tell me about the cavernous depths of the 6's trunk

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > TrackRatMk1 01/18/2015 at 10:00

0

What do you know about the coming higher-HP TDIs? I've read they could be well over 200hp.

Dake > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:07

0

Your experience sounds similar to mine. Intellectually I can understand why it's logistically impossible for the newest cars from automakers to be at every regional Autoshow - laws of physics and all that - but it doesn't make it any less disappointing, especially when some of the models aren't THAT new.

I wouldn't go to the Houston Autoshow and expect to see the new GT-40 or NSX, but sometimes they don't even have the newER models. I suppose it's still better than nothing for people wanting to see mostly what they can go out and buy today, but I always come away just a little disappointed.

ridered777 > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:11

3

A fellow 86ONE member! Congrats on getting FP'd. I didn't make it down there for the show but heard about the meet.

Opticon > Daniel Fleck 01/18/2015 at 10:12

1

The Sonic is not a FiST competator (maybe in RS trim). The $15,000 base trim is available with a clutch pedal and a turbocharger. A $400 tune from Trifecta puts it at 200 ftlbs. My Sonic LT is also fitted with coilovers, stabilizer bars, and wide sticky rubber for a grand total still more than $5,000 under the FiST invoice. The Sonic 1.4T 6speed is a killer bargain for ACTUAL jalops (that don't mind some plastic in thier cheap economy cars).

vr6geek > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:17

0

I'm expecting the same experience at the Midlands International Auto Show in Omaha next weekend. I'll at least get to sit in the new Mustang and see some other upcoming cars, but I'm not expecting to see the new Miata, Golf R, or anything I'd actually be interested in buying. I've already test driven the GTI, Fiesta, and BRZ/FR-S, but it's always good to see those. They WILL have the Alfa Romeo 4C though, but we probably won't be allowed to sit in it. Some perks at the Midlands show are the private collection that will be on display, which includes some older Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches, and a raffle for a 2015 Camaro, which I'd promptly sell to pay off my student loans.

HydraulicDragon > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/18/2015 at 10:19

0

Chevy Spark wasn't in Forza 2

HydraulicDragon > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:20

1

If you get one, wait for the diesel.

RWD_Volvo > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:22

1

Chevy Spark . I'd never seen one before, probably because nobody ever buys them.

I've seen a couple in Worcester. I might have seen one in Framingham yesterday.

A couple weeks ago, I also saw an i3 on 495 south of the pike.

But speaking about headroom, even in my FiST, I can't fit in one with a sunroof and stock seats at 6'-0". Stock seats and slicktop? yes. Recaros and sun roof? yes.

6670charger > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:22

0

We may check out the Milwaukee Auto Show next month. My wife's car is due for replacement soon, possibly this year depending upon what we can afford. This show doesn't have all the concept cars either; mostly the pedestrian stuff, but that's what we're interested in. Not sure what she wants this time beyond something smaller than her Pacifica. The main things we're interested in is ease of access, and good outward visibility without use of gadgets to maneuver. We're thinking used this time, but it depends on pricing and payments.

PlauSocks > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:29

0

OP needed to clean his goddamn cameraphone lens of the hand cheese and pocket smudges/ everything is in Jeremy Clarkson Vaseline lighting

Justin Hughes > Plompy Lfeata 01/18/2015 at 10:41

1

I know, right? Forget the Ford GT and NSX - tell me about the Mazda6 trunk!!!

Justin Hughes > Dake 01/18/2015 at 10:42

1

I was kind of hoping to see the ND MX-5, since it's been revealed for a few months now. But I guess the dealers want to actually sell their current stock of NCs before building up anticipation and desire for the NDs.

Justin Hughes > ridered777 01/18/2015 at 10:44

1

Thanks! I figured the group deserved a shout out in the context of that comment. Hope to see you at a Devens autocross this year, now that I'm off the Prius tires!

Justin Hughes > vr6geek 01/18/2015 at 10:47

0

I'd expect similar, yes. No ND here, or Golf R, though they did have a black GTI that I sat in and liked. I'm jealous you'll get to see the 4C! No Alfa presence here - just a couple of Fiat 500s. One was an Abarth, so that's something.

Justin Hughes > RWD_Volvo 01/18/2015 at 10:52

1

Really? I fit fine in the Fiesta ST they had at the show, with a sunroof and standard seats. They didn't have one with the Recaros, but they did last year, and I recall fitting just fine into that one, too. But you may have a longer torso than me, or shorter arms that require a more upright seating position.

That brings up a point I forgot to make in the article. Having sat in both types of seats, if I was racing the car on a regular basis I'd definitely want the Recaros. But for a car that's 99% a daily driver, which is what I do, I actually think the standard seats are just fine, and actually easier to get in and out of. They have plenty of bolstering, just not the insane amount as the Recaros. I do like how the Recaros hold you in a lot better, but that also makes getting in and out more difficult. I can't believe I'm saying this, and I'll probably catch a lot of flak for it because Someone On The Internet Is Wrong (TM), but I've changed my mind from my original "Recaros or nothing" stance.

Corinthian Leatherface > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 10:53

1

Spot on write up: everything was exactly the same as last year. Taking a day off from work to attend Day 1 was less satisfying than usual. Some new models will hopefully spice things for up next year but the only forthcoming car that I can think of that excites me is the new Miata, and I'll probably have already sat in one by then since I work next door to Tulley in Nashua. But yeah, your last paragraph nailed it.

Justin Hughes > 6670charger 01/18/2015 at 10:54

0

It'll be hard to find something with good outward visibility without gadgets these days, but at least the gadgets are available.

Justin Hughes > PlauSocks 01/18/2015 at 10:55

0

Yes, I did. Sorry about that.

OPPOsaurus WRX > HydraulicDragon 01/18/2015 at 10:57

3

I wouldn't know. Also think u replied to the wrong person

55_mercury > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 11:39

1

I'm surprised the show wasn't simply full of nuttin' but volvos, BMWs, Saabs, and other vehicles that massholes enjoy driving in large quantities.

RWD_Volvo > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 11:50

0

Yeah, I'm all torso. When the Audi TT first came out, I sat in one and couldn't see out, the top of the side windows were below my eyes.

With the FiST, I'm in the sunroof with the standard seats, no chance of fitting in with a helmet on. In an accident, I'd be smashing the glass with my skull :(

the7thearlofgrey > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 11:50

2

on the way to the show check out some of our finest most intelligent citizens

appliance5000 > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 11:59

1

By "international" do they really intend to show cars from foreign countries? Awesome!!!!

superthingy > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 12:50

1

American cars are getting better with their crappy plastics but have not seen the Colorado in person. However, at least the Colorado interior appears (in pictures) much more modern which interests me. Though admittedly, I have not seen any interior shots of the 2016 Taco. I apparently have high standards that are hard to please so take my opinions with a grain of salt.

VirgilMungo > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 12:51

1

my work truck is the previous generation Chevy Colorado- it's main failings were the cheap plastic interior, huge turning radius, and that air dam under the bumper. I knew it would gradually get torn off, so pulled it off preemptively. It's probably useful on the highway, as trucks get so much air under them that they float, but not for the bad mountain roads where I work. Otherwise, it's stood up to a lot of abuse.

zeos386sx > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 12:53

0

Wait, wait, wait... There's a new England now?

Justin Hughes > zeos386sx 01/18/2015 at 13:06

0

Yup. New France has long since been absorbed by Canada. But New Scotland remains as a province (Nova Scotia).

TrackRatMk1 > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom 01/18/2015 at 13:28

0

Wish I could confirm but no official info on that yet!

The revised TDIs for 2015 get a 10hp bump to 150, and it does feel a bit stronger under acceleration. They also get a couple other improvements like faster warmup time, and an extra mpg or two across certain models.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 13:32

1

this is pretty similar to what we get in philly. No concepts, a few super cars, no hyper cars, not even full lineups of automakers.

Maybe I'll make a write up after the show in early February

StalePhish > desertdog5051 01/18/2015 at 13:39

0

I kind of like it. It's like :D

StalePhish > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8 01/18/2015 at 13:40

0

Too bad they were mostly white. I don't think white does them justice very well.

StalePhish > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/18/2015 at 13:40

0

I wanted to jump into the simulators too but the line was an hour long. No thanks!

StalePhish > Rocket Doc 01/18/2015 at 13:44

0

I haven't looked into the trunk of many cars in its class to compare, but my wife has a Mazda6 and it is more than adequate.

ProjectWHaT > Justin Hughes 01/18/2015 at 13:46

1

Hey I just got back from there. My photos of it will be up soon on my Flickr. https://flic.kr/ps/2HbxNQ

StalePhish > KAG25 01/18/2015 at 13:47

0

Yeah, the photos were certainly a bit dirty looking. The light level was kind of low, but even my point-and-shoot, freehand, no flash photos came out pretty well. Most of the shift knobs were taken, and most (but not all!) or the horns were disabled.

OPPOsaurus WRX > StalePhish 01/18/2015 at 13:58

0

Yea it was only like an 8 minute wait for me