Went to NYI auto show on Saturday, new Charger is sweet!

[dirtysocks]

Well, I managed to get off of work on Saturday, so my Girlfriend and I took an hour trip to the Auto show in New York City. She is actually really into cars as well. It was a pretty good time. $12 to see (and sit in some of) the new models from just about every car maker there is. I was actually suprised at how many cars you could actually sit in.

They had the SLR there, but it was on an inaccessable rotating platform, so I could not sit in it (not that I really expected to). I don't particularly like the way the SLR looks, and seeing it in person did not help much. I was instead able to sit in a new SL, REAL comfy. They had the E-class CDI there, too.

Mercedes had quite a large section of the floor, and I was surprised to see that the Benzes were seperate from the Chryslers and Dodges. I mean, Jaguar was right by Ford, Audi was right next to VW, but Mercedes had it's own section, far from Chrysler/Dodge. I thought maybe it was some kind of marketing strategy so they don't get associated with Chrysler and distinguish their luxury name from their common cars.

Contrarily, I personally was most impressed by the Chrysler/Dodge section. They had a convertible Crossfire, which I find much more appealing than the regular Crossfire (it looks real sweet with the top down). Also, they had the car that most impressed me out of all the new models (as far as pure looks are concerned), the new Dodge Charger SRT. Holy crap, that car is beautiful. I've seen pics, but they do not do it justice. The one they had on display was a gorgeous dark red, the epitome of the oft used term "candy apple." It was also rotating and on a platform, so unfortunately I could not get in it. I know some people say it just looks like a shortened Magnum, or that the front looks like a flattened Ram grille, but they probably have never seen one in person if they are saying this, because I think their opinion would change quickly.

The Charger will be at dealerships soon, available in a regular and a larger engined SRT version. Both engines are V8 hemis. Does anybody know about these engines? I am pretty sure they are the same ones that are available right now in the Magnum. It's probably too early to give a solid opinion on their reliability, but what is the general concensus on them? I remember reading somewhere that these new hemis shut off half the cylinders when they are not needed to save gas. Sounds like a good idea, but I worry about new technologies like that.

If anyone has general questions about the show or the new models and wants the opinion of a common spectator, instead of a car magazine, I spent quite a few hours there, so feel free to ask. The show continues until April 2, (or 3rd maybe?) and I recommend it to anyone in or near the city with 1/2 a day to kill.

One other thing that is worth mentioning is that Lotus was there with a few Elises on display, and the attendant for these cars actually had an accent, was from England, and knew a $*!@-load about the cars. It was refreshing to see this when almost all the other attendants answered moderately difficult questions with "you'll have to ask so-and-so about that" (and the so-and-so was usually a whole department, not just another person).

Thanks for your time.