First off, "fantasy shopping" can be a terrible idea. You go to an automotive retailer – preferably one with high-end vehicles – take a look at their inventory and dream in broad daylight over it. You’re doing this knowing damn well that you may ever afford to buy that vehicle.
Tweet All Photos by Randy Stern There was a time when two of the ultimate names in the British automotive industry was a single entity. It was an interesting case of co-development where two very different and distinctive motorcars were fused into one body, one driveline, and one form of vehicular execution. Even with the …
Tweet All Photos by Randy Stern When I finally got my driver's license in April of 1980, I thought I was given a license to conquer the world. Then again, I was 16 and had wild dreams of the future. Thirty-eight years later, some of those dreams have been fulfilled. Others…not so much. Let's just …
TweetV&R is trying to forge some traditions. Vehicle of The Year, Speculators, auto shows…the works! There is one that I always find fun to do and solace when it is posted. If you read the title right, it is time for My Favorite Vehicles of the Year. Unlike the strict rules of VOTY, this encompasses …
TweetAll Photos by Randy Stern So, you want to be in a Pride Parade… There are a few rules to follow. One, be yourself. Two, if cannot be yourself, then try not to embarrass yourself. And, three, never regret what you did in front of thousands of people – including a possible television audience. I …
Tweet "Something old, something borrowed, something blue…wait, where's 'something new?'" All photos by Randy Stern Marriage is the prize above all. Gee, that sounds political, does it not? It is somewhat related to a few things that occurred during and after the Twin Cities Auto Show. The week of the show had the State Capitol …
Tweet This…for starters. Photo by Randy Stern Yeah, I made a big deal about my so-called "accomplishment." I drove two BMWs – big deal! Blah, blah, blah…. It may not seem like a big deal to you. You are used to other auto writers jumping into expensive machinery to drive them around for an evaluation …
No, I was not there this year.
If you read my Twitter, you'd probably wondered if I were to show up at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Unfortunately, the stars did not align properly. Yet, I was asked by fellow journalists, media relations people and other industry support people whether I would make the trek to the Motor City for this very important exhibition of the automobile. Not this year. I will someday.
Because of the speed of information available online and the ability to see video and images from the show readily, I was able to ascertain the big debuts and the most curious appearances at Cobo Hall. This helped in my coverage last year from my home in the Twin Cities.
Of course, there's nothing like being there. You get to see and touch these new products ahead of consumer sale. You get to see whether you'd feel comfortable behind the wheel of one. That’s why we go to auto shows, right?
Without further ado, here are my picks from NAIAS…