2008 Auto Show

2008 Auto Show- Conclusions

BMW Part 1: CS Concept Car, ///M3 Coupé, ///M3 Convertible, ///M3 Race Car
BMW/New Yorker Party: Cartoons, Gifts, BMW Hydrogen
BMW Part 2: 1 Series coupé, Convertible, 6 Series, X6, Advanced Diesel
Other Marques: Mercedes, Porsche, Pontiac Solstice, Saleen, Dodge Zeo, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Dodge Challenger and a few others
Conclusions: Faces, BMW got the message, Heritage, Convertible Hard Top Trunk Space - the Final Frontier


	BMW Returns to it's identifiable "face". Why does this matter? Aside from the fact that it's a darn attractive face- I mean, c'mon... Apparently "retro" is no longer a dirty word. I respect BMW for taking risks, and I respect them even more for changing their tack when they see they headed into the wrong winds of change.	The "face" is critical not just to identify the marque, but this year there were no droopy "eyes" for headlights. (See 2007 NY Auto Show)
Porsche "face":	Solstice imitation, sincere flattery:	Some faces you can not imitate, Lamborghini:
Respect your elders. And when you have elders like this, even more reason:	Mercedes clearly does, and it works for them.	Porsche clearly does, and it works for them too:
But the lessons of the elders are for STYLING and not for PERFORMANCE. We do want to see alternative fuels and better safety. On the other hand, I find it very hard to believe that car buyers want so much technology that they can't start the car and drive it without reading a manual. As much as one of the BMW reps told me that other marques have followed suit with iDrive-like knob additions to their consoles, I just don't buy it.	Anytime you have to say "you get used to it" about is just not a good thing. It's like saying that a car "looks better in person" or you "have to see it from the right angle". So BMW has learned a LOT and come a LONG WAY, especially in terms of treating it's customers with some respect, but they still have few denial issues to face.	Like convertible hard tops and trunk space. Again, I say to BMW: Convertible owners will accept a fairly ugly roof provided that it is a hard top and gives us decent trunk space. We will always have the top down anyway, unless it's raining. If it's raining, we're not looking at the car, we're in it, and we're grateful for the hard top that doesn't leak etc. like our rag tops. But we need that trunk space.
BMW, you can do it, you did it on the 2007 335i convertible hardtop (top down) Looks like the back seats fold down as well.	So what's with the dinky trunk space for the 2008 ///M3 convertible hard top?	Remember, convertible owners think this is a reasonable interior: So trunk is about SPACE. Quit hiding the pics of the convertible tops up. We can handle it, and they aren't that bad.

My personal conclusions from the BMW presence at this year's Auto Show?
1- It's worth it to go to the BMW display at the Auto Show this year
2- It's worth it to participate in the owner events.

**Remember the Members Express for the Auto Show, it really helped last year!**

BMW Part 1: CS Concept Car, ///M3 Coupé, ///M3 Convertible, ///M3 Race Car
BMW/New Yorker Party: Cartoons, Gifts, BMW Hydrogen
BMW Part 2: 1 Series coupé, Convertible, 6 Series, X6, Advanced Diesel
Other Marques: Mercedes, Porsche, Pontiac Solstice, Saleen, Dodge Zeo, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Dodge Challenger and a few others
Conclusions: Faces, BMW got the message, Heritage, Convertible Hard Top Trunk Space - the Final Frontier