Today, I went to the local auto show. San Francisco, with just 825,000 residents, is not a large car market. As such, the show is sort of small-time. Despite what many locals would like to think, San Francisco is NOT on par with New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. (Seriously, there are people who think SF is the center of the universe.)
The first car to greet me was this, an Amphicar. It is a part of the local Academy of Art University car collection, which is always on display at the annual car show.
The largest hall is for the masses. Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, Fords, Chevys, and the Koreans.
Here is a look at the cavernous Honda Accord Crosstour.
Scion iQ/Aston Martin Cygnet.
These Nissan vans may be utilitarian, but the front end is UGLY.
Ford Mustang 5.0 V8.
Taken from the backseat of a Ford Raptor.
The caption should be the
Somewhere down there is the new Corvette's engine.
Subaru boxer engine and CVT transmission.
Here is that GEICO veterans bike. I don't get it. I feel like if I criticize it, I'll be seen as a traitor for not supporting our troops. So I'll be quiet.
The luxury cars are in a different salon.
Jaguar F-Type coupe, which commenter Augie digs. It is the most beautiful car there, by far. The back end is especially gorgeous. I thought this was British racing green, but I was corrected (by Derek Kreindler). So, what's the difference between regular green and BRG?
The Escalade needs to be axed. It does not fit in Cadillac's current lineup. It is a dinosaur-- old and big.
The electric Cadillac ELR is pretty attractive, at every angle.
The Maserati Ghibli was very underwhelming, visually. It does not have a tenth of the presence of its big brother, the Quattroporte.
The interior was okay. I personally think the 5-Series and A6 (the Ghibli's competitors) look much better both inside and out. The rear seat had virtually no legroom. I really wanted to like it, but it disappointed, big time.
There was a separate salon full of modified cars. Most are of the VIP variety. Here is a lowered Audi Allroad with the hastag "becausebags". So clever.
This is where I have a run-in with a cop. I decided to test drive a few cars. I've always wanted to drive a Smart Car. So I did. As soon as I pulled out of the convention center driveway, I came to a stop at a red light. I wasn't familiar with the car and the street so the car ended up stopped inside the crosswalk. A CHP officer pulled me over. I used my charm, good looks, and persuasion skills and got off with just a warning. I hadn't been pulled over since the 1990s, so I was quite distressed. I immediately drove the car back and called it the day.
