Ugggh Retro'ed Overload; Just Say No to More Sewing Machines on the Road P

I got free tickets to go the Columbus Auto Show. I knew not to expect what I saw at COBO as being an inside with 'AutoWeek' but I thought it would be better than what I experienced. I love the smell of a new car, as you know I just love cars, new, old, retro, mod, custom, racing etc.

Columbus Convention Center - Attention, you need more Signs about where Exactly the Car Show is. We went up and down and then asked an information guy that was in a kiosk! Way different than COBO and International Car Show, okay that will be the last comment on that. Some of the Vendors in the hall to the show were Columbus Dispatch, WeatherShield, UBER, McDonald House, Truck Offroading Co, Walk-In Baths, Factory 5 Racing Raffling Off Cobra Car and SnapOn aired AutoSmarts with His 57 Chevy Shown.

After taking the 'bait' with Columbus Dispatch, we made our way into the show. Hyundai had the first spot immediately after the entrance. Past Achievements were displayed in a brightly lit thick plexiglass display case for all to gander. A separate 'garage partition held their latest expansion into the luxury full-size market, the $50,000 plus EQUS. That winged emblem on the uber polished hood could be mistaken for Aston Martin. All by design, I am quite sure.

Retro'ed to death, please enough with the Retro, it has jumped the Shark. Camaro, Challenger, Charger, Ford Flex and I don't even want to think what is going to be retro next? Back when my dad was alive, we would pursue Hot Rod, Car and Driver, and Motor Trend. They had features what was in the pipeline, and it started small but after the PT Cruiser, Prowler, retro was being seen in the designs that were digitally penned. Mustang came first, then Camaro, Ford Flex, Challenger with the headlights and taillights all became very narrow. Yesterday at the sight of a Hyundai Genesis Coupe with the matte grey primer, I was like that is it the bell is buzzing from the timer!

Sewing machines all over the floor, from the halls to the door, big, small, mega tiny and luxury brands with hardly any back seat room at all. But, there was one that really stood out. The one that my divorce attorney was denied to be able to take out unless he was seriously going to buy it with no doubt.

The Dodge Charger HellCat with 707 Horse. You could not sit in it, or touch it, it was on a raised stage of course. Under the hood, what Satan would of dropped in, a 6.2 Liter Hemi with a Supercharger and heavily modified hood so the innocent public could acknowledge the driver who piloted the vehicle that had enough torque to back up his Shit Eating Grin!

You just won the lottery, you just had a relative kick, you want it today, sorry I overhead there was, at least, a 3 month delay.

Considering trucks have been the best-selling year and year, they have a substantial presence, sorry Leonardo, and the Jet-Set that preaches the Climate Gate fears. Dodge has made great strides in their Detroit Cummins Diesels with efficiency as well as towing. Ford had a special Edition Truck shown as well.

I had to get in the GMC Denali, I love the smell of leather, wood accents and all the lights from all the 'bells and whistles' as if you are at a rave and your tried Molly. The sticker price was a good start for your first house, but most are probably leased. You would think they are cheap where I reside. When it comes rush hour, they are seen as inching monoliths and sometimes even side by side.

Okay, let's get to the exotics, for there was a few. The set-up was courtesy of Paul Hinderer at the Toy Barn. Exotics that make your mouth water, your mind dance and if only if you can get that winning ticket if only a 1 in a 250 million chance. =P Ferrari, Maserati, New Benz, McClaren, Lambo, Bentley, Range Rover and what was the car that was under the instant tarp cover? The famed Buick Regal Grand National Drag Car with the driver being the non-other than the Toy Barn's Owner.

A couple of brands were not there, not that many could really care. BMW was not there, but Mini was shown. Jaguar was not there and neither was Porsche, but VW was there along with sister company AUDI of course. Brands like Lincoln had a Huge Stage, but I really don't know why they would attempt to make a crossover considering their target age?

A diesel truck by GMC was there, but it was grossly oustaged by a huge price $47,000 and sadly small with wearing the Z-71 Package that wore by Avalanche which sold well first out and was all the rage. There were 3 or 4 trucks that would take some steps and strong pull up to get to the seat.

Call me picky, when I can get in a car I like the dash and gauges or digital displays available to be seen easily and not blocking any view I choose. Mazda has elected to put the display right in the center, angled and completely in your way. Focus RS designers made a horrendous retro mistake, putting the 3 gauges that were on the hood of old muscle cars on the dash of the EcoBoost?

A couple of things when you go get a car. I made an attempt to get in the front seat of Camaro, acting like I was just not thinking. I am short dude at 5 foot 8 and if done too quick, knock your noggin and see little birdies tweeting =P. Always check how much room is in the back seat, give it a try with and see if you can move your passengers can be comfortable with the headroom and able to move their feet?

Acura NSX was on display. Actually it really looked like a AUDRA, the AUDI supercar had a baby with the Acura NSX and made it. Nothing really new here, radiator placement to cool to the engines on both sides ala '90 Ferrari Testarossa and the back end, crease in the back end. It was so bad I did not even take the picture. Same design on the front of all the other Acuras. I miss the old NSX-T look that really was different and designed by a legendary racecar driver. =(

When looking for the car that you want, look for the long term not about the hottest trend that the Automotive Marketing Consortium push to flaunt. There are many choices, many brands, don't make the wrong purchase that causes you to think down the road that you are in sinking quicksand. =)