2011 Cleveland Auto Show

[annissamazing]

We attended the 2011 Cleveland Auto Show today. I always look forward to the auto show and we had a great time. There was some disappointment. Lamborghini, Maserati, and Porsche were no-shows and Volvo failed to bring my one true love, the C30. However, I was surprised and thrilled to see Fiat stuck in the back corner with other Chrysler products.

Back in April 2009, I posted this. Looks like that will become a reality next week when a dealership in Cleveland will start offering test drives. We're expecting Justin's mother to come visit during Spring Break so I think Justin and I are going to make an appointment for a test drive. I am ridiculously excited about this.

We're also going to compare it to the Mazda 2, a cute little 4 door hatch back that recently came out. Everything is comparable, but the 2 has four doors while the 500 has only two. We also need to do a little more research on the Mazda. Fiat offers 3 years free maintenance with the 500, which might make it a more affordable vehicle.

We also saw a $60,000 Hyundai Equus. It seems to me that if you have $60,000 to spend on a car, you're more likely to spend it on a Porsche, BMW, or Audi. Who spends that kind of money on a Hyundai? I think they're missing their audience. Also, "Equus?" Who decided that was a good name for a car?

Comments

Very quick comment...

[redknightalex.livejournal.com]

Equus is Latin for horse and, historically, has a prestigious lienage in Anicent Roman history. If you were an equestrian, one step below the Senate class, you were wealthy enough to own a horse and could use said horse in combat (which was rather important to a Roman male with ambitious leanings). Being an equestrian is much like being of the upper middle class today; wealthy but not quite there yet. Does that make sense as to why they named it an Equus? (I do agree about the money point. I'd definitely go for an Audi if I had that kind of money).

ETA: Equus is also the nominative singular form of the word. Sorry...had to look that one up. :)

Re: Very quick comment...

[annissamazing]

Yes, I knew what equus meant. :) I still think it's a silly name for a car because of its association with the play of the same name.

Re: Very quick comment...

[redknightalex.livejournal.com]

Ah, see I don't know the play, just my Roman history. :D

Re: Very quick comment...

[annissamazing]

:D

You've probably already looked it up, but the play is about a psychiatrist treating a boy who has an obsession with and sexual attraction to horses.

Re: Very quick comment...

[redknightalex.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind, I will completely disregard the entirety of that second paragraph and life in blissful ignorance of said film.

*deletes from brain* What were you saying?

Re: Very quick comment...

[garillama.livejournal.com]

Did she mention that Daniel Radcliffe played the boy? If his goal was to completely differentiate himself from the Potter franchise, he sure did it right ;-)

I'll be nice and not link to promo shots, but I will say that they're readily google-able and pretty yummy.

Re: Very quick comment...

[redknightalex.livejournal.com]

Oh my good god, is that the play with all the controversy with him being naked.....

Oh bloody hell, now I can't unsee this film. Delete! Delete! It's not working! I suppose I must at least resign myself to looking it up in wikipedia....OMG, it is that play!

Re: Very quick comment...

[garillama.livejournal.com]

And, like Annissa and I, now you'll never be able to look at that car the same way, either ;-)

Re: Very quick comment...

[annissamazing]

This thread is making me laugh like crazy! Great way to wake up. Thanks you two!

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

Fiat has always had a terrible reputation in Europe. It's the kind of car you bought if you couldn't afford anything better - well, until Yugo came onto the market *g*

[annissamazing]

Wow! I knew Fiat wasn't highly regarded, but the way the presenters on Top Gear go on about the 500, I thought it was one of those great, reliable, little cars. I even read a head-to-head comparison between the 500 and the MINI Cooper where the Fiat came out as the winner (barely).

Looks like I need to do more research. Yay! :D

Yugo, ouch!

[redknightalex.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's rather the idea I got from watching films and visiting. If I see the car everywhere I go, then I can't imagine it's a good one (ie cheap and easy).

[annissamazing]

See, I always thought seeing a car everywhere meant it's a workhorse. I always saw used cars as the cheap and easy ones. Why spend $15K on a sucky new car when you can spend $2K on a proven, reliable car?

[flydye8.livejournal.com]

I just recently attended the Detroit Auto Show with my hubby who really wanted to go (Myself I am not really into cars except cameros)

It was neat to see all the nice looking cars but i found myself wondering who were they catering to most of the cars were way more expensive, and totally out of my budget.

But I went and fained interest except when we saw the cameros
it was nice to spend time with the hubby without the kiddos.

*snicker* equus

[crystal moore (from livejournal.com)]

i'm with you on the name annissa. you would think someone on the project would have googled the name and gone "uh, guys? i don't think this is a good idea." sure, a lot of people might not know the play. but enough do. and even more do after Daniel Radcliffe did it. and those that know the play are sure to let those that don't in on the joke.

Re: *snicker* equus

[annissamazing]

Justin and I keep laughing about "Equus" starring Sideshow Mel.