Chicago Auto Show

It's been a while since I posted. I hope to be a little more consistent, but you know what they say about the best laid plans...

Last week the Chicago Automobile Trade Associations 2012 Chicago Auto Show began at McCormick Place in Chicago. I'm lucky enough to get in on Media Day and get some great pictures. Over the years several of my images from the show have been used in weekly, monthly publications and several books.

One of the initial items that drew me to the Chicago Auto Show several years ago were the concept cars. I think everyone has a couple that they really like. I'm no exception. The climate at the show seems to be changing. The number of manufactures showing concepts seems to be shrinking. In the heyday 10 years ago, I remember one manufacture having multiple concept cars on display in any one show. I think the total number of concepts by all manufactures combined this year lists out at around 8 on the Chicago Auto Shows website.

Lexus was probably the most noticeable display this year with the turntable showing of its concept the LF-LC, frontlined by a row of LF-A customs. I was also impressed by Mercedes-Benz display, the Ford Shelby cobra GT500 and the Chevrolet concept. Blatantly missing were displays by Maybach and Rolls Royce / Bentley. Really kind of missed seeing the high end autos.


2012 Chicago Auto Show - Images by Alan Look

Never thought this would be true

When I was in high school pumping fuel at the corner station I used to drool over the Mercedes Benz sedans that would come in. I still do. Many would have badges of courage on the front grille showing how many miles they had survived. Many were in the hundreds of thousands of miles and most were still in very good shape.

My dad pretty much always drove Chevy's or Pontiac's, usually new and kept them for four or five years. I remember a stray Fiat that he bought on a repo deal and a Ford LTD, but mostly GM's. The first car with my name on it was a 1st edition Monte Carlo, after that I've pretty much been a Ford Truck man, with the exception of one really bad Buick. It was a very comfortable car, but I couldn't keep a transaxle in it. I think it kicked about 3 of them out in the 14 months I owned it.

I also spent some time in a few different garage settings were I got to drive a lot of different models from all sorts of foreign and domestic makers. I still migrated back to Fords. I couldn't tell you how many different models or the years, but it's been a good portion of them. Everything from Pinto's to the large Sedans to pickups and even an 8 ton dualie with that split shift 5 speed. I just like the Fords.

Well, my current F150 is a 2003. Beautiful truck with about 50,000 miiles on it. Yes, 8 and a half years old and only that many miles. It gets massaged and treated pretty well. It's pulled a trailer full of scout camp gear that had to weigh 4 ton total, and it hauls everything to and from the house for repairs and such. So even though it's pampered it also works.

I generally try to trade every 10 years or so. That and some of the newer feature and option offerings have had me online looking (I'm not brave enough to go to the lots, my resistance isn't that strong). The build your own utilities on the manufacture's websites aren't perfect, but they can get you close enough for comparisons. This is where I'm really getting surprised.

The one option I'd really like to have is heated leather seats. I'm out a lot in the winter at ball games and I'd just like the comfort of driving home with a little extra warmth. To get that on a Ford F150, it seems from those calculators that you have to get to the Lariat package. I also like the 4x4 option because it gets me to those games and home again when the weather turns ugly. Add to those a set of nice wheels, a rear slider, the package with the electric locks and the fob unlock and you end up with a sticker somewhere in the $45,000 range. That scares me a bit even though I know I'll have it for 10 years.

Moving on, I decided to check on the Mercedes Benz site. No pickups available. Not sure if they just aren't offered in the states or that they don't make them. I know they make step vans and larger trucks, but no pickups. But, I like the Mercedes product so I looked at the SUV's, then checked on the BMW's SUV selection too. Equipped as closely to the F150 as I could get them and guess what... The price was almost the same! So, I guess I have a couple years to decide if I'm still gonna be a Ford Man.

What would you do?

Hey, as a bonus to this blog entry, how about taking a look at some of the oldies running around Central Illinois. These were all seen at the 2011 McLean County Antique Automobile Association show at the David Davis Mansion a couple weekends ago.

2011 McLean County Antique Automobile Association car show - Images by Alan Look

Football and Volleyball start in a couple weeks. Stay tuned.