Cincinnati Auto Show (New T-bird, others...) (archive)

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I have a 2000 Z3 2.3 daily driver, which I now worship. Maybe I'm easily impressed, but here's how an ordinary Joe like me felt about the new cars I saw.

I saw the new Thunderbird at Cinci Auto show, and spoke with the rep showing the car. He said it is still officially a concept, but the tooling is being created, so it's a done deal, and they should be selling in Spring 2001 starting at $35k. Capacity for 25,000 a year, but won't be limited production, and would like to find production ability moved up to 50,000 if needed. 250 horsepower, and the leather seats looked very thick and supportive. Hardtop comes as part of car, not an option. Porthole window size exact same spec as 1957? He said the year, but I forgot.

My opinion on the X-5:
I sat in the BMW X-5, and from interior alone, it's not worth 10k+ more than the Lexus sport vehicle (easy to do side by side comparisons at auto shows). However, I wouldn't kick it out of bed if money wasn't a factor.

New Toyota MR2:
It's okay, but looks like a kit car to me. Interior is not impressive. Headlights very odd and too big for car. Clear windscreen behind seats only about 2 inches high. Is that going to actually help anything? At the low price, it will sell anyway.

Acura CL will debut in about a month:
225 Horsepower, or 260 Hp with the Type S. The Type S was shown, and it was very luxurious inside (sat in it). The wood was like a black ash/burlwood. I've never seen black wood like that, but it was nice. Unknown price, but you just don't see enough attention to interior now a days (every Mercedes interior was uncomfortable, CLK, SLK, SL500...).

I know the Honda S2000 has been out and has caused some controversy on the board, but seeing the red one at the show, I'd buy one for the lines of the car. It's nice. Living 4 miles from work, I don't get a chance to race much (although I did elude the police yesterday and avoided a ticket by ducking into a lot with many bushes, but I had a head start as he was trying to merge into heavy traffic to get me), so if the price was under MSRP, it would be an option. I'd admire it if I saw it in someone else's driveway.

I sat in anther car that has been out, the Audi TT Quattro. I got in at the same time another guy got in the passenger side. His head touched the roof, and I had to ask how tall he was. He was 6' 2". However, at a mere 5' 7", I was in my element and would buy one of these if I had the bucks.

That's it. I saw more, but nothing else that I think would interest the sports car crowd.

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