Event Reviews: 2009 New York International Auto Show

There are several types of car enthusiast. There are those that prefer a particular model, brand, or type of vehicle, and tend to visit shows that feature that particular element of vehicle culture. There are those that love anything and everything to do with cars. And, there are those that fall at every level in between, some tending to feature a particular part of the vehicular world. However, no matter what category of enthusiast that you fall into, you are sure to love the New York Auto Show. The show has a little bit of everything, and presents enough variety and interesting angles on vehicles that even those who may not be car junkies are sure to have a good time.

From the start, one can tell that the Auto Show for 2009 was going to be a good time. Hosted at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center at 655 W 34^th Street in New York City, the venue was nicely done and the surrounding area very well organized and prepared for the increased traffic flow and foot traffic. Outside of the venue, in front of the main entrance, Volvo had a demonstration to show their new, self-braking technology soon to be found in most of their production vehicles. Visitors had the chance to sit inside one of the vehicles, and accelerate towards a barrier, at which point the vehicle's system would take over and engage the brakes for you. It was an interesting experience sitting inside the car. And although it was definitely neat to feel the Volvo stop itself, you still get the sense that you would have a hard time trusting it out in the real world. It felt strange for the car to stop itself. Although the Volvo exhibit was definitely interesting, the real fun starts as soon as you walk through the convention center doors.

This year, whoever organized the Auto Show clearly wasn't fooling around. With a Lamborghini and Ferrari on display before you even purchase your ticket you can tell that there are some exciting things to come. The center was selling "guides" to the show for ten dollars, and for those who may be going to next years International Show, I highly recommend buying one. It's actually a fairly comprehensive book. It has advertisements for all of the new cars featured, a good walk around map of the show, and it makes a great souvenir after everything is said and done.

As said before, right in the entrance area there were some amazing cars to behold. A one-off Alfa Romeo shaped into a bat stole my attention, although the group I was with gravitated towards the newest Lamborghini and Ferrari on display. It's worth noting though that those two cars are primarily teasers, as neither of the hypercar manufacturers had an actual display on the showroom floor.

However, even though Ferrari and Lamborghini may not have been features, almost every other major manufacturer was. Each display was very well put together, the entire convention area was neatly organized and easy to navigate, and the experience was made even better by a much clearer and more detailed approach to putting everything together than last years show. No matter what your preference, each manufacturer had their best and brightest on display. Some, such as Ford, even went the extra mile with a car on display that literally split in half to show the inner workings as visitors watched. Porsche and BMW both had their motor sports division on display, with BMW featuring their new Z4 M Coupe. Nissan displayed the new GT-R and gave visitors a chance to sit inside the brand new 370Z. Audi showed off a few new "S" vehicles, and GM gave a preview of the GXP G8 (although it may now never reach production).

By far the most enjoyable part of the show was being able to sit inside some of the cars that were out on the floor. While most manufacturers had the cars costing over six figures marked off, most of the standard cars, and even some of the more expensive ones had their doors open so visitors could take a seat inside.

The top floor or main floor of the center featured primarily cars and sports vehicles. However, walking down to the second floor resulted in seeing a number of trucks and SUVs. Most of the manufacturers new utility vehicles were featured on the basement floor. Also on the second floor were some expertly restored classic vehicles, as well as some displays by companies that make a business out of modifying and altering vehicles. The second floor was also were some low production concept vehicles could be found.Just being at the auto show was a great experience, and it is highly recommended as a good day trip to anyone who has even the slightest interesting in cars or motoring. One small piece of advice though: a ferry or bus is indeed the easiest way to get into the city, and it usually works out to be cheaper, even if it may not seem so at first glance. No matter what aspect of the motoring world appeals to you, or even if you just happen to be a casual fan of cars, there really is no better way to spend a day than making a trip to the New York International Auto Show. Next year's show is sure to be just as exciting, and if the tickets are as reasonably priced as this years, it should definitely make the must-do list of your summer.