Who remembers riding in the backseat of a car yelling that every
time we saw a car we liked? Don’t
act like it was just me lol. Today
I attended the 30thAnniversary of the Atlanta International Auto Show
produced by the Metro Atlanta Automobile Dealers Association (MAADA). The show runs from 14 – 18 March 2012.
Excitement coursed thru my veins as I entered Georgia World
Congress Center C Building to see what automakers were going to tempt me with this year. Last year when I went I had 2 car payments coming to an end so I knew I was going just to look without purchasing in mind. This year I faced the no car payment /start a new car payment conundrum. The pressure mounted as I passed by Toyota, GM, Kia, and VW stations setup registering people to take test drives in their vehicles.
time we saw a car we liked? Don’t
act like it was just me lol. Today
I attended the 30thAnniversary of the Atlanta International Auto Show
produced by the Metro Atlanta Automobile Dealers Association (MAADA). The show runs from 14 – 18 March 2012.
Excitement coursed thru my veins as I entered Georgia World
Congress Center C Building to see what automakers were going to tempt me with this year. Last year when I went I had 2 car payments coming to an end so I knew I was going just to look without purchasing in mind. This year I faced the no car payment /start a new car payment conundrum. The pressure mounted as I passed by Toyota, GM, Kia, and VW stations setup registering people to take test drives in their vehicles.
I spent a considerable amount of time at my favorite automaker Audi.
I spoke with Rick Case Audi at last years show and was they invited
me to blog/test drive of one of the first Audi A7’s to arrive on a car lot in
America. This year I spoke with Mr. Jeremy McLean, of Jim Ellis Audi of America, who explained this year’s Audi line. Audi brought out their big
guns to include R8 Spider, S8, S7 and S6. Yes they brought the A4,
A5 and an A8 with Audi Connect but the S models had everyone’s attention. What is the difference between the S and A models you ask? The S model
is marketed towards those who are not concerned about gas prices and want
luxuries and accouterments galore. There is also about 20K more in price over each A model. I asked about the rumored convertible S7 but it is still just that, a rumor. Jeremy dropped a major jewel about Audi’s future. Audi is coming out with diesel versions of their major cars very soon. With gas
prices in flux this is a smart move for Audi. I would like to thank Mr. McLean for spending time explaining the future of Audi to me. Please get in touch with him if/when you are in the market for an Audi at jeremym@jimellis.com .
I spoke with Rick Case Audi at last years show and was they invited
me to blog/test drive of one of the first Audi A7’s to arrive on a car lot in
America. This year I spoke with Mr. Jeremy McLean, of Jim Ellis Audi of America, who explained this year’s Audi line. Audi brought out their big
guns to include R8 Spider, S8, S7 and S6. Yes they brought the A4,
A5 and an A8 with Audi Connect but the S models had everyone’s attention. What is the difference between the S and A models you ask? The S model
is marketed towards those who are not concerned about gas prices and want
luxuries and accouterments galore. There is also about 20K more in price over each A model. I asked about the rumored convertible S7 but it is still just that, a rumor. Jeremy dropped a major jewel about Audi’s future. Audi is coming out with diesel versions of their major cars very soon. With gas
prices in flux this is a smart move for Audi. I would like to thank Mr. McLean for spending time explaining the future of Audi to me. Please get in touch with him if/when you are in the market for an Audi at jeremym@jimellis.com .
Next I met Heather, spokesperson for Acura. She caught me peeking at the Acura ZDX, their new crossover. I really like the ZDX, it has a certain intrigue to it. It is a vehicle with a fun comfortable cockpit.
The back seat is functional for average height persons and has cargo
space that gets the job done. The price is something I would have to think about as this may force some to look at other crossovers first. Heather
and I had a heart to heart about Acura. I told Heather Acura’s don’t get the
respect they should due to the way they are marketed. No one says sexy or innovative when the name Acura is mentioned. They don’t have a person who pitches them whom we clamor for. Yes they now have Jerry Seinfeld along with the Soup Nazi but it is for a car, the NSX, which won’t be on the market for a couple of more years. I would love to be on marketing team. The first thing I would tell them is push the ZDX as much as possible, stop aiming just for the niche market … they would have to hire me to tell them the rest of my ideas. Kudos to Acura for hiring Heather, from SoCal, to be their spokesperson; she is very knowledgeable, engaging, professional and had all every person hanging on her every word.
The back seat is functional for average height persons and has cargo
space that gets the job done. The price is something I would have to think about as this may force some to look at other crossovers first. Heather
and I had a heart to heart about Acura. I told Heather Acura’s don’t get the
respect they should due to the way they are marketed. No one says sexy or innovative when the name Acura is mentioned. They don’t have a person who pitches them whom we clamor for. Yes they now have Jerry Seinfeld along with the Soup Nazi but it is for a car, the NSX, which won’t be on the market for a couple of more years. I would love to be on marketing team. The first thing I would tell them is push the ZDX as much as possible, stop aiming just for the niche market … they would have to hire me to tell them the rest of my ideas. Kudos to Acura for hiring Heather, from SoCal, to be their spokesperson; she is very knowledgeable, engaging, professional and had all every person hanging on her every word.
My next engagement was not as pleasant as the first 2. I went to
look at BMW and its offerings. I was a little disappointed BMW didn’t bring their A game to me. They had a 2008 convertible on display and a 128i convertible. They did have the new 600 series BMW which is very very nice. They also had their Advanced Hybrid 5 series vehicle. I asked the spokesperson what the Advanced Hybrid was about but did not come away feeling confident she or I knew what it was. They also had a “10 to 8”aka a 750I on display with the Olympic emblem on it. Overall BMW disappointed me with their display.
look at BMW and its offerings. I was a little disappointed BMW didn’t bring their A game to me. They had a 2008 convertible on display and a 128i convertible. They did have the new 600 series BMW which is very very nice. They also had their Advanced Hybrid 5 series vehicle. I asked the spokesperson what the Advanced Hybrid was about but did not come away feeling confident she or I knew what it was. They also had a “10 to 8”aka a 750I on display with the Olympic emblem on it. Overall BMW disappointed me with their display.
The crowd favorites were Audi and its S model offerings, Hyundai with its Equus and Genesis models making the crowd swoon and Kia, Hyundai’s
brother (?), bringing every version of the Optima they have and their concept vehicle the GT. Honorable mention goes to the Toyota/Subaru collaboration the Subaru BRZ sports car. Infiniti quietly showed out with its line. The convertible Infiniti G37 is a must see.
brother (?), bringing every version of the Optima they have and their concept vehicle the GT. Honorable mention goes to the Toyota/Subaru collaboration the Subaru BRZ sports car. Infiniti quietly showed out with its line. The convertible Infiniti G37 is a must see.
Overall the show is a must attend but I felt a little let down because Porsche and Mercedes were not in attendance. I was looking forward to seeing what they have to offer. I am going back and taking my daughter who believes she can coax me into buying her a vehicle shown at the show as her first car.
Stay tuned for that blog. I would like to thank the sponsors of the 30th Anniversary of Atlanta International Auto Show the Atlantic Journal Constitution, Comcast and WSB TV 2 Atlanta along with the producer MAADA. Thank you for reading my blog and please feel free to leave comments.
Stay tuned for that blog. I would like to thank the sponsors of the 30th Anniversary of Atlanta International Auto Show the Atlantic Journal Constitution, Comcast and WSB TV 2 Atlanta along with the producer MAADA. Thank you for reading my blog and please feel free to leave comments.
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