Sir Nuke

for those of you that are in the area....and MIGHT have heard the commercials on the radio....but didn't get the details....and ESPECIALLY for those of you that didn't hear the commercials....here are the details for the show.

Show Dates:
April 13-21, 2002

Show Hours:
Saturdays: 10:00 A.M. - 10:30 P.M.
Sundays: 10:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Mon thru Thurs: Noon - 9:30 P.M.
Friday: Noon - 10:30 P.M.

Location:
Reliant Center
8400 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77001
(713) 799-9500

Admission:
Adults - $8.00
Children 12 and under free
when accompanied by an adult
Tickets on sale at Reliant Center box office.
Box office opens 15 minutes prior to show opening
There are no advance sales of tickets.

Discount Coupons:
Available in April at participating Chevron stations and new car dealerships. Valid for $1 off one regular admission.

sunbyrne

Yep, I can't wait to go, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to sneak it in...

vkyolv

Thanks Nuke,


When is everyone going....I'm trying to close on a house so I may go Sat....While I still have time and money.

Sir Nuke

its looking like Craigrrrp and I are going to try and go on Sunday the 14th.

sunbyrne

I'd love to go on Sunday but we're hosting some friends from out of town, and I don't think they're going to want to go. But it looks like I can sneak out early next week Friday, so I might go then...

vkyolv

Well I did get approved for my home loan.........and on close on it Mon....so I may not be able to make it at all now.......

<weighing importance> Auto Show w/ mp5 buddies.....or.....A new home( my aftermarket life is coming to a screeching hault now) .....I'm just psyched cause now I will have a place to call my own.........WOOOOHOOOOO.

Thanks for letting me ramble.


And now that I am moving out of the inlaws place....MY life will be coming back too!!!!

sunbyrne

Congrats, vkyolv. Home ownership has its down sides, but on the whole it's way cool...

vkyolv

Yeah..like paying $1200 a month for the next 30 years

sunbyrne

nah, that's not the down side. First, you'd have to be forking out most of that for rent anyway, and second, most of that is tax deductible. The money thing is a wash.

No, the down side is that, unlike renting, you can't just call someone when something breaks and have them fix it for free. You gotta spend either your time or your money...

sunbyrne

Hey, for those of you going this weekend, I want a full report here so I know where to go first when I get there!

kc5zom

We are going Sunday. I'll see if I can find anything interesting. I was looking at the website and it looks like the selection will be kind of limited (in my opinion). The new 6 and the Z will be there. The awesome GT40 is what I'm going to look at. So if I were you I would stop by the Ford section first. I might have to "borrow" that car for a little while. Just going to be a bunch of concepts and previews you have already come across in other literature. I was trying to find out if the Mazdaspeed Protege will be there but I don't think it will be. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Mxyzptlk

Hey guys I'm going to be home in San Antonio on Wednesday night Thursday morning. I'm definately going to be at this sometime next weekend.

kc5zom

Ok. Went to the Autoshow today. The Mazdaspeed Protege was there. I recommend looking at the SVT Focus and then looking at the Mazdaspeed. I decided I would rather have the Focus (heated leather trimmed seats, better transmission, traction control, etc.) especially since it will probably be cheaper. The Solstice and Z were there. Both looked really good. BMW had a couple of 7 series, an M5, and 2 M3's. Porsche had the whole model line represented (including a GT2) but the doors were locked, windows up, and tops up. I think my favorite was the GT40 it looked awesome up close. The Saleen S7 was there again, this time in silver. Aston Martin had a couple of DB7's. They all looked good. BMW did not bother to bring the Mini. The factory rep. told me that there were not going to be any franchises in Texas, I just wanted to see their take on a British icon. The new Jaguar X-Type is great for 30k and the XJ8 Vanden Plas is the most comfortable car on the face of this earth. You just kind of mold into the seats. I did not like the M5 they had there. The leather inside is brown instead of tan or black (I Hate Brown Leather!) and the interior all seemed just a little too weird. I think the M3 was a more comfortable and sorted out vehicle. Hell, I guess thats about it. There were a lot of trucks and stuff there but I really don't like trucks. Look at the new Mazda 6. It looked pretty cool, a bigger version of the Protege basically.

Sir Nuke

I went to the show today as well, sunday, with my son joseph, and Craigrrrp, and his dad....it was a good show. There were a few cars missing that I would have loved to see....but alas...I guess you can't have everything.

In the Mazda stable...of course the Mazdaspeed was there...and the Mazda6. GUYS....guess what? the Mazda6 hatch COMES with Altenza style tails!!!! lol I couldn't believe it!! at least the one there had them on it. the standard 6 had red tails....the Mazdaspeed....well I was disappointed with the color...I was expecting a monochomatic deep orange paint....its NOT, its a pale orange with a pearl coat. nice enough...but it wouldn't be my first choice.

There were quite a few concepts that just made you drool....both cars and trucks. in the car department there was the Pontiac Solstice, quite a little package...and IF they make it to production....they won't be able to keep them in the dealerships....two seats....225 HP....bad to the bone performance....and all for 20K. If you even took the time to look at the Buick La Cross....you spent a while with your tongue on the floor....it was so beautiful....absolutely awe inspiring. it was equiped with voice recognition voice commands for opening the hood, the sliding hatch, and a few other features....The GT40 was very nice as well....but just an updated race car of the past......Ford had their TONKA Truck F-350 there....that dude was A TRUCKERS TRUCK....very impressive in everyway....then there was the Dodge M80....that little truck was awsome as well....it looks like a BIG toy....and IF it makes it to prodution it won't stay on the dealers lots either....with an estimated price tag of only 15K. It will certainly take the small truck market by storm.
The Saleen S7 was there as previously mentioned, and the Rep there told the guy next to us...for 100K DOWN, they would START to make one for you.
Porsche had a nice line up...but NOT a complete one....there was one car that was missing that I had hoped to see...the Cayenne, known as the fastest SUV on the market, this WILL get your soccer mom's to the game on time!! with a standard NA engine with 337 HP and 310 ft-lbs of torque and 0-60 in 6.4 seconds....then of course if you are REALLY in a hurry at times...there is the optional Turbo option which will give you 449 HP and 442 ft-lbs of torque with 0-60 in 5 seconds flat! Turn me loose in one of those to get the groceries!!!

all in all....a good day....one that dreams are made of. :{D

vkyolv

Thanks for the update Sir Nuke and kc5zom...

And it's a darn good thing I have an imagination...since I can't go