By snoadmin
It’s like being a kid in a candy store. There are aisles and aisles of goodies, with only a few other people around. It’s 9:30 a.m. and the Orange County Auto Show isn’t open to the public for another 150 minutes. It’s me and a convention center full of shiny new cars. It’s the best day to be a reporter.
Last weekend’s O.C. Auto Show in Anaheim featured 2008 models, customized cars and concept cars.
The highlight of the show was most likely Toyota’s “Off-road, on-site” test drive. People lined up to drive the FJ Cruise, Tundra and Tacoma over man-made mounds of dirt, a few bridges and even a small ramp that acted more like a see-saw. The Tundra tackled all the obstacles nicely, but it was nerve-wracking at times being in such a large vehicle. The FJ Cruiser handled much better. It took the turns better, felt more stable at the awkward angles the mounds of dirt created and even handled the steep incline with more ease.
The rest of the cars couldn’t be taken for a test drive, but they were mostly available to try on. Only the Aston Martins, Ferraris and Lamborghinis were out of reach (and only by inches).
Personally, I found the 2008 Jaguar XKR to be a perfect fit. With 420 horsepower and 413 lbs/ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm, it seemed to have the right specifications. Unfortunately the $97,675 didn’t agree with my wallet. This car almost made me give up my journalistic ambitions to go to law school. But principle and dedication to delivering the news won out – this time.
I didn’t linger around the Lexus display or the Infiniti one because, as with other Jaguar models, I’m just not ready to admit liking such a luxurious vehicle.
Instead, I found my way over to the Scion area, where the music was pumping and lights were flashing. Sadly, the grandiose display couldn’t compensate for the redesigned models. The xB has had it corners rounded, but it’s still an awkward, boxy shape. The tC looks the same as before, but for the price tag on the window (under $18,000), it’s rather stunning.
After touring the cars designed and priced for college students, I made my way to the Volkswagen display. It featured the second-generation Toureg (which first showed up in “The Bourne Ultimatum”), along with a number of hatchbacks. The VW models are all similar to last year’s, with the exception of the Toureg, but even that had no real visible differences.
The same could be said for the Mini Coopers, but those are Minis. They don’t need constant makeovers and updates because they’ve been designed to be fun and zippy. Minis handle corners amazingly, but if you aren’t in the car for the thrill of the ride, a Mini isn’t for you. As a passenger the ride is bouncy and at times uncomfortable, but the driver (at least any one who really bought the Mini for the driving experience) won’t notice the bumpy ride.
After gawking over the 2008 Mini Cooper S with the John Cooper Works package, I turned around and bumped into a Mercedes that literally made me jump. It was the Mercedes R350 – a heinously designed contraption that looks like an awkward minivan. If you’re going to buy a Mercedes for your family car, go for a sedan or the SUVs. This half-and-half stuff isn’t working. It’s the first Mercedes I’ve ever seen that’s nearly induced vomit.
The worst concept at the show had to be Jeep’s Hurricane. It was a strange two-seater with over-sized tires and no storage space. I’m not quite sure where this Jeep is meant to go because you can’t take it camping (unless you go alone and fill the passenger seat with your gear) and it would look just ridiculous driving around town.
What really surprised me were the GMs and the progress they’ve made with hybrids, their Active Fuel Management technology and electronic cars. The Chevy Volt, hopefully being released in 2009 or 2010, runs almost entirely on electricity, but can drive up to 640 miles between gasoline fill-ups. It can only drive for 40 miles between electrical charges.
If you’re really into the high-priced luxury cars, the O.C. Auto Show might not be for you seeing as there were only a few Aston Martins, Ferraris and Lamborghinis. There were no Rolls Royce models on the main floor. But if you’re realistically shopping for a new car and don’t have an unlimited credit card, the Auto Show is a great place to get ideas and price ranges.
The only thing that would have made the experience truly perfect would have been to test drive my beloved Jaguar XKR. Maybe some other time.
