SF International Auto Show, Nov 2006

[moribundman]

Last week I went to see the Bay Area's largest international auto show. I'll show a bunch of pictures in groups. Click the thumbnails for larger, but not huge, versions. Feel free to comment anywhere.

A few words: 800 cars were on display -- the 2007 VW scIROco concept I was dying to see wasn't there.

I sat in probably 50 cars or so. Generally I'm disappointed -- especially the interior design and materials of anything below luxury class generally suck, with only a few affordable exceptions.

Let's get to the cars:

At the entrance, the Tesla electric sports car was waiting:






GM had a very large section with nice and soft carpeting. And some of their cars looked pretty -- at least on the outside:

 

[moribundman]

There were some interesting older Chrysler products. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the bike was a Chrysler concept, at least it was near a Chrysler Imperial concept. The bike's headlights consist of a bunch of LED between the front wheels.

 

[moribundman]

The exotic sport cars were in their own room, but for some reason Aston Martin was banished and overlooked by many in a dark corner right along proud foster parent Ford.

 

[moribundman]

As I mentioned VW didn't find it necessary to show their new Scirocco off. Well, at least they had the King Kong of all Fast mascots:



Next to VW, Honda showed off among other things their natural gas vehicles. I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of a Civic, so I just shot the natural gas home gas station that you'll need in your garage if you drive a natural gas Honda:

 

[moribundman]

I came across this atrocity. Faced with this colorful menace, even the wannabe gangsta kids were uncomfortably fiddling with their britches:

 

[moribundman]

In a corner I found a variety of Zap cars, which were of course electric vehicles:

 

[moribundman]

Along the way towards the exotic sports cars, I noticed a red and a green T-Rex:

 

[huffmuds9320]

Nice pics thanks for posting it up. I went to the auto show too, Tuesday 21st. I didn't know that Telsa was an electric until I read the stuff. I was trying to look for the Ferrari in the exotics but couldn't find it. This year seemed to have fewer cars on display, never really got to see every since bit of the car show. I liked the VW GTI, the rear seat has fairly good leg room. The motorcycle I've seen that many times not sure if its the exactly same one. Its supposed to be a Viper engine on a motorcycle something like that.

 

[moribundman]

In this section, only Jaguar allowed people to get near the cars or to sit in them. The other cars were all off limits. The Jaguar wagon,which was only around $40,000 (How did it get in that section?) had actually a really nice interior.

I'd like a Maserati. I'm not really picky either. The blue one would be just right, but any other will do. Even the Lotus Elise is a keeper.

 

[Johnny]

mori, thanks for the pics. I liked the 62 409. Sweet

 

[moribundman]

Some of the other more expensive vehicles were in their own sections.





If anybody wants to see the Maybach, I'll post a picture. Didn't shoot any Audi, mostly because I find the interior design of the A3 and A4 weak and ugly in comparison to my '96 A4.

GM had by the way a lineup of ethanol cars and a big E85 banner, but informational material was lacking. Everyone was checking out the dyno that GM showed off. Some dude in a white lab coat was rambling on and on about how fuel efficient new GM engines were. Then he cranked up the engine on the dyno and wasted a few gallons of gas while producing an infernal racket.

So, what cars did I like besides the Maserati and Aston Martin? In the affordable range, I Iiked the Elise (56 grand isn't bad for a mini-Batmobile!), the Miata, the little Jag wagon and the MB SLK. Of the frugal cars, I liked the Golf and the Outback. And that's it. I'm waiting for the new Scirocco...

 

[Pablo]

No Japanese model girl pictures?

 

[moribundman]

Oh no, not another Japanophile! That makes at least three of us.

 

[Pablo]

I've been a fan of all Asian Nubility since I was a youth.