If you’re car shopping, your city’s auto show can be an amazing resource. After all, where else are you going to find a selection of makes and models from just about every manufacturer who sells cars in the United States, on display and unlocked–all under one roof? Over the years, I’ve disqualified several otherwise-promising vehicles after car shopping at an auto show and discovering that some small design quirk rendered them unsuitable–it would have taken a lot of time and fuel to accomplish the same thing by visiting dealerships.
Big shows like the annual North American International Auto Show here in Detroit tend to make all the news, but your regional auto show can be just as valuable. Plus, it’s a ton of fun!
We’ve put together a full list of U.S. auto shows here. Once you find the one closest to you, here are some tips to make the most of your time on the show floor.
- Make a list of models you definitely want to see: You may think you’ll see it all, but once you get to the show you’ll probably be blown away by the variety–and sheer number–of cars and trucks on display. It’s easy to get caught up in the fun and find the day getting away from you. If you have a list of cars you want to inspect, you can go through them first, and then spend the rest of the afternoon in the back seat of that Bentley.
- Ask questions: In the past, car-show models were just pretty faces. Now, they tend to be college-educated men and women with extensive training surrounding the vehicles they represent. They’re there to help, and you should avail yourself of their knowledge; many manufacturers now arm their product representatives with iPads, brochures and booklets loaded with every possible vehicle specification just to help you get your questions answered.
- Evaluate everything . . . in a hurry: Unless you’re scoping out the latest Lamborghini, chances are the vehicle in which you’re interested will be unlocked, open and ready for inspection, so go for it. Sit in the seats, front and back. Adjust things. Pop the trunk (or increasingly, hatch). Depending upon the arrangement, the car may even be supplied with electric power so you can inspect the gauges, stereo and switchgear. Test everything to make sure the model fits you and your family. But also be cognizant that there are thousands of folks at the show, many of whom may be waiting to do the same thing to the car you’ve co-opted. Be thorough but courteous.
- Collect information: Sure, you have the Internet at your fingertips, but for gathering brochures, specifications and full-color details about your top picks, nothing beats roaming an auto show for an afternoon. Most manufacturers are happy to provide you with a full-line catalogue, so take advantage of the opportunity. One pitfall: Some may ask for your contact information so a dealer can follow up–if it’s in exchange for vehicle information, ask yourself if that’s a company with which you want to do business.
- Have a great time: Make a day of it! If you’re single, bring a date. If you have a family, bring the whole crew–children are often delighted to find they can clamber around the new cars, push buttons and slam doors. Even folks who aren’t traditional "car people" usually enjoy the glitz, glamour and shiny sheet metal at car shows. Plus, you never know who you might influence: I have vivid memories of attending the Atlanta auto show as a kid, and I count it as one of the key early experiences that led to a lifelong affair with the automobile.
Sure, we’re a bit biased (and spoiled) here in Detroit when it comes to car shows. But we’re willing to bet you’ll have a blast at your local auto show too, and you’ll find it’s a car-shopper’s paradise.
See our full list of U.S. auto shows here.
