2007 Chicago Auto Show Reloaded
As promised, I visited the Chicago Auto Show a second time on Saturday. I planned to take a lot of photos using the Canon 50mm f/1.4 but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time for that and I only got to use the 10-22mm all over again. At least this time I managed to cover everything else that had remained uncovered. Everything, that is, which was of interest to me. By the time I left, at around 4pm, the crowd had become irrepressible. Here’s the gallery, but please observe the same 2 points I have previously made: don’t expect art and use the photos as long as you don’t remove the copyright notice.
2007 Chicago Auto Show Reloaded Gallery
Now I should say a few words about the Auto Show. I got the chance to see everything there was to see. A friend of mine was disappointed because he claimed the Detroit Auto Show has a lot more concepts and future vehicles on display. That might be true. There were indeed models that were missing from the Chicago Show. For example, Ferrari and Aston Martin. Maybe they were there but I didn’t see them and I’m pretty sure I would have.
The manufacturer that impressed me the most, show-wise, was Dodge, together with Chrysler. They had the biggest floor. But the best thing was that they held continuous live demos of their SUVs and especially their performance SRT line. People lined up in a huge queue, waiting to be given a 6-minute ride in one of these vehicles. For example, the SUVs climbed a very steep incline, stopped in the middle, reached the top, then descended on the other side and stopped again in the middle, demonstrating the powerful climbing abilities and excellent brakes. They would also move over “rough terrain” and other hazards. The best demo however was by the SRT line. All SRT vehicles (except Neon) seemed to be represented. There was a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, a Chrysler 300C SRT8, a Dodge Charger SRT8 and a Dodge Magnum SRT8. I liked the acceleration-and-brake demo. They would accelerate down a narrow corridor with a wall at the end, and then brake powerfully, seemingly at the last moment. Of course, they would stop every time with a few feet to spare. I’m sure the passengers had the time of their lives. I remember one particular woman who was sitting on the passenger seat of a Charger and her face was a mask of fright as the Charger approached its maximum acceleration. She probably thought it wouldn’t stop in time.
Apart from this, I should mention the Golf GTI and the Mazdaspeed3. Even though these models have been around for some time, I hadn’t been inside one yet. I have a certain interest in these 2 models and I really needed to check them out. I was pleasantly surprised with the GTI. The quality of the interior is very good. I loved everything from the door trim to the dashboard, to the dials, to the excellent wheel, to the shifter. It’s fairly roomy inside, belying its small exterior. The Mazdaspeed3 is almost as good as the GTI on the inside. It seems slightly roomier and of course, it’s a lot more powerful. I do prefer the GTI’s interior but overall the Mazdaspeed3 is only around $1000 more over the GTI so I would choose that over the VW.
Here ends my Chicago Auto Show experience. It’s been interesting but also tiring. I’ve been thinking a lot about cars lately so I think I need a break from that. I hope you have enjoyed the photos I’ve posted and see you at next year’s show!
