Thread: Went to the dallas auto show yesterday!

1st off, I would like to say the auto show isn't what it used to be. Less and less car companies are showing up. Nissan was there surprisingly but they had a unknowledgeable staff. Infiniti and BMW did not even show. A dealership represented porsche with no example of the Cayman. A couple of ferrari's, lambos and maserz'. N not much else. Concepts were pretty much zilch. Ford didnt even have there 2011 Mustang. I mean everyone has serious fallen off.
I had to give respect to 2 major players in the game right now at the auto show.

Hyundai/kia.
Hyundai repped with the EQUUS and 2011 Sonata. After all the trash talking on other forums on the new sonata. I went in and saw a beautifully crafted high quality well built car with features up the Ying Yang. The cars engine at the moment may not compete with $35k cars but at 25k. Every feature and aspect of build quality reflects cars in the 35k to 40k range. I'm excited to see the spec sheet on the 4cyl turbo coming in the fall with the 2011 Sonata.
The sonata had one feature I felt should have been A MUST in the gencoupe 6at since the gen is the sport coupe and not sonata. A leather boot manual-style shifter in the automatic. It was so gorgeous in that cockpit and I have to say the materials in the sonata were of slightly higher quality than genny. So I hope 2011 is bringing in some minor updates to the genny a la sonata.
The EQUUS is an incredible vehicle. At its pricepoint it will be a threat on high end cars. People are so underestimating this car. Elantra touring needs an interior and exterior re-work. Its looking to cheesy next to the Genesis coupe Sedan and sonata. Hyundai was looking so sharp but I do have criticisms on 3 vehicles. The Veracruz, santa fe, and tuscon and the conjoining kia imitations. These were the only SUV's that had top heavy instability warnings. Everyone else has worked out those kinks and hyundai is lagging behind. My wife was liking the hyundai veracruz and was considering getting her one next year but, when I saw the govt warning safety sticker. I recanted my thought.I knoe every company always has a model of criticism. Though I do think these vehicles are of high quality. Design changes must be made to make the vehicles safer.
2.GM.
Gotta say. I'm that guy who has tried to find something to like about GM but haven't been able to since 1993. I learned to race in my uncles 87 monte carlo SS. So when I bought my 1st car I bought an 87 buick grand national. I loved that car. When GM went 98% FWD in 92. Somehow they also thought it was a good idea to go extremely sh1tbox interiors, complete fail transmissions, cheap paints, super low tech lagging years behind the comp, and the crappiest boat suspensions that wreaked of non performance. This trend began in the late 70's on a few models but by 92 it was pretty much the whole fleet in GM.
Well I gotta say cadillac and buick tied in incredible style build quality and value. GMC terrain was high quality at a low price and chevy is trending forward as well. There are still changes id like to see from GM but progress is fast and changes are plenty.
Of all the cars I was impressed with the camaro still could not do it for me.

Let me ride back a few months for a moment.a few months ago. I took test drives of 4 cars. Camaro V6 & 1SS, nissan 370z, genesis coupe.
When I test drove these cars I fell in love with the Z first, the gen 2nd, and did not fall in love with the camaro at all. I wound up in a G37 because I figured I can keep my 2+2 layout that I was used to (06 G35) get the 370z engine and I have best of both worlds. Turned out. In doing that I miss both the Z and genesis coupe. But in that cycle I also drove the camaro. Though its power and handling was impressive for its massive 2 tons. I really couldn't get into it. The 04-06 GTO still felt better though the camaro looks better. The 1SS has the crappiest interior and @ 40k with a couple of features I want it turned me completely off. So I striked em off my list. Well yesterday. I saw the 2SS and @SS transformers edition. The 2 SS had a cleaner look with a proper leather interior, the stripes and wheel packages. But at $42+k. I think a infinti or bimmer would be a better enthusiast car. Even the V8 camaro seems like anything over 35k is too much. Wreaks Cheap!!
Then I saw my other baby. The Z. Just lookin so sleek and beautiful in black I loved the car. Some bimmer snob jumped in the car while I was in there to tell me the Z is cheap lookin. N I told em this car would run circles around your beloved 335I. I told him downgrade to a 1 and maybe u might be sayin something but the wheelbase, overhang, and weight of the 335 won't compete. He asked for stats n I spit em out like wildfire. He just had a blank look of stupidity on his face. Lol.
So finally... ias I was leaving I went back to the hyundai section to say bye to genny and I wwent back in the car. Re looked through the features. Sat in it thinking for about 10 minutes. Thought about all the test drives I took since last year. Remembered every experience I had. Thought about "was 40k on my G37s worth it". Thought about every aspect of car buying today.
From a realists perspective... the genesis coupe is the way to go. Me I'm a car flake. Trade cars lately every couple of years. I like performance. I dump money into cars and lose money in depreciation and modding everywhere. Now that I know I can't do this anymore. Me and my wife are planning on having a child. We are buying a house at the end of the year.
I can tell u this.
As nice as my G is. A lot of the features I don't even use. So there's 250 unnecessary pounds of bragging rights. (Who cares) and as nice as bmw 135I or 3 series are. They lack lsd and proper brakes. And at 50k. You might as well buy a genny. A lot of snobs are going to tell you there car is better. But I guarantee you there's a thin line of better from all competitors to the genny. The bimmer is more luxurious. But both are refined. The gen engine is more refined than my G. Handling is too close and my G is only slightly faster.
The Z is another animal and u buy bit for different reasons but you won't get the same dollar for dollar value as a Gen.

In the end. Genesis coupe 3.8 grand touring and 3.8 track win.

PS. Audi is the new luxury powerhouse. That car company wreaks quality BMW and mercedes can't compare. Bimmer is yesterdays news. If u r going to be a car snob??? U might as well get with the hot sh1t. Go audi. The bmw of now! Lol

Sorry if this is long and typos are prevalent. But just wanted to share the auto show overview.