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- old-guy64
Yesterday, I broke my cardinal rule for the Greater Kansas City International Car Show. I went...on Saturday.
The Annual Show tends to start on the second Wednesday of March and run thru the following Sunday.
The KC car show rocks for me, because you can not only get in almost all of the cars and get a feel for them while they are sitting on the floor.
The best part for me is that several manufacturers have cars available for short test drives.
I tend to go on the second day of the show (Thursday) because everything is all set up, but the crowds are thin, and most stuff is little or no waiting.
Moving on; I had the opportunity to drive several cars yesterday.
1. Scion FR-S--The only one they brought had a manual transmission, and you had to be 21 or older to drive it.
In the FR-S there is only one model, and including the $850 stereo option, there is only about $2500 worth of options that can be ordered for the car.
That does not take into account the extended comprehensive warranties that are available. So, "Fully Optioned" you will stay WELL under $30k. In point of fact, I priced one online. I didn't add the $1000 worth of urethane film, the $850 stereo option, but did spring for the $400 rear spoiler, and came in under $27K.
That said, it is the highest priced Scion, it's base price is about $8k above the next most costly Scion.
Is it Fun to Drive? Heck Yes! For a car with ONLY 200 HP, it was quick, the handling was pretty responsive. The sport seats were big enough for me, and I'm 6ft, and over 300lb. I drove the car first, and the first thing in the morning. I found the gearbox to be a tiny bit "notchy". I expect if I had gone back later in the day, after the car had warmed up that would not have been the case. The clutch was easy to modulate. The normally aspirated Boxer engine has a very nice growl. And if you tromp it, the throttle response will not disappoint.
This car is fun enough, that even though I live in a place where when winter comes a RWD car is somewhat impractical, I can honestly make the excuse that when the weather turns to crap, I can drive my Excursion.
Hell, Even with the snows we got, you can count on your fingers the times I HAD TO use the truck.
2. Scion TC--I probably should have driven it first. It wasn't a "dog". But it had nothing on the FR-S. Good handling, economical, not ugly. It was no powerhouse, but it was no slouch either. It also actually had room for people to sit in the back...though they'd like it more than the back seat of the FR-S--it wouldn't be by much.
3. The new Ford Fusion--This car was a pleasant surprise. The last generation Fusion was a decent car. The only fault I could find was that I absolutely HATED the look of the instruments. I hated it so much that I couldn't bear the thought of having to look at them every day.
The new Fusion has a beautiful panel with a MFD on either side of the speedometer. I believe it won't be long before multi-function displays will be de rigeur in most cars. The car I drove was a standard model, not one of the Eco-boost models or a hybrid. It was very taut. Handled well, but it was no backroad burner. Good power, handled road imperfections well, had comfy heated seats, and a better than average stereo.
I also optioned one of these out online today. It's within a few hundred dollars of the FR-S.
It will NEVER be the fun commuter the FR-S is likely to be. But for 45 minutes into the city, and 45 minutes back to the 'burbs...The Fusion would be a VERY good choice.
4. Dodge Dart--I was prepared to HATE this car. It's small, and by the numbers couldn't possibly live up to the hype. Add to that I've not had good luck with Mopars in the past.
The car I drove was a 2.0L NA with 180 HP/148lb/ft torque. It was no rocket, but it aquitted itself quite well. Power was better than adequate. It didn't have that "small car feel" to the suspension. Nice handling, soaked up road imperfections without being wallowy. Didn't bring me back to the fold of Mopar lovers, but I was starting to see the change in direction that Fiat was bringing in.
5. The MoPar people had a pretty good strategy. In order to drive one of the two SRT cars (Charger Bumble bee, 300SRT), you had to drive something else first.
Yep. I drove that Dart so that I could get my hands on the 300SRT.
The 300 looks like something my dad would drive if he were still alive. It's big, comfy, well-appointed (leather, huge screen for Nav, and radio, etc). It is also motivated by a 6.4L Hemi, that returns 14/20 MPG.
I thought the paddle shifters were a bit much...until I got to a place where I could tromp on it. HOLY CRAP!! This thing had a stoopid amount of power.
I once rode in a 1970 383 Magnum Challenger. It was so fast that I nearly soiled myself. The 300 had THAT kind of power. NO seriously...this is a luxury car that ENCOURAGES hooliganism.
The Annual Show tends to start on the second Wednesday of March and run thru the following Sunday.
The KC car show rocks for me, because you can not only get in almost all of the cars and get a feel for them while they are sitting on the floor.
The best part for me is that several manufacturers have cars available for short test drives.
I tend to go on the second day of the show (Thursday) because everything is all set up, but the crowds are thin, and most stuff is little or no waiting.
Moving on; I had the opportunity to drive several cars yesterday.
1. Scion FR-S--The only one they brought had a manual transmission, and you had to be 21 or older to drive it.
In the FR-S there is only one model, and including the $850 stereo option, there is only about $2500 worth of options that can be ordered for the car.
That does not take into account the extended comprehensive warranties that are available. So, "Fully Optioned" you will stay WELL under $30k. In point of fact, I priced one online. I didn't add the $1000 worth of urethane film, the $850 stereo option, but did spring for the $400 rear spoiler, and came in under $27K.
That said, it is the highest priced Scion, it's base price is about $8k above the next most costly Scion.
Is it Fun to Drive? Heck Yes! For a car with ONLY 200 HP, it was quick, the handling was pretty responsive. The sport seats were big enough for me, and I'm 6ft, and over 300lb. I drove the car first, and the first thing in the morning. I found the gearbox to be a tiny bit "notchy". I expect if I had gone back later in the day, after the car had warmed up that would not have been the case. The clutch was easy to modulate. The normally aspirated Boxer engine has a very nice growl. And if you tromp it, the throttle response will not disappoint.
This car is fun enough, that even though I live in a place where when winter comes a RWD car is somewhat impractical, I can honestly make the excuse that when the weather turns to crap, I can drive my Excursion.
Hell, Even with the snows we got, you can count on your fingers the times I HAD TO use the truck.
2. Scion TC--I probably should have driven it first. It wasn't a "dog". But it had nothing on the FR-S. Good handling, economical, not ugly. It was no powerhouse, but it was no slouch either. It also actually had room for people to sit in the back...though they'd like it more than the back seat of the FR-S--it wouldn't be by much.
3. The new Ford Fusion--This car was a pleasant surprise. The last generation Fusion was a decent car. The only fault I could find was that I absolutely HATED the look of the instruments. I hated it so much that I couldn't bear the thought of having to look at them every day.
The new Fusion has a beautiful panel with a MFD on either side of the speedometer. I believe it won't be long before multi-function displays will be de rigeur in most cars. The car I drove was a standard model, not one of the Eco-boost models or a hybrid. It was very taut. Handled well, but it was no backroad burner. Good power, handled road imperfections well, had comfy heated seats, and a better than average stereo.
I also optioned one of these out online today. It's within a few hundred dollars of the FR-S.
It will NEVER be the fun commuter the FR-S is likely to be. But for 45 minutes into the city, and 45 minutes back to the 'burbs...The Fusion would be a VERY good choice.
4. Dodge Dart--I was prepared to HATE this car. It's small, and by the numbers couldn't possibly live up to the hype. Add to that I've not had good luck with Mopars in the past.
The car I drove was a 2.0L NA with 180 HP/148lb/ft torque. It was no rocket, but it aquitted itself quite well. Power was better than adequate. It didn't have that "small car feel" to the suspension. Nice handling, soaked up road imperfections without being wallowy. Didn't bring me back to the fold of Mopar lovers, but I was starting to see the change in direction that Fiat was bringing in.
5. The MoPar people had a pretty good strategy. In order to drive one of the two SRT cars (Charger Bumble bee, 300SRT), you had to drive something else first.
Yep. I drove that Dart so that I could get my hands on the 300SRT.
The 300 looks like something my dad would drive if he were still alive. It's big, comfy, well-appointed (leather, huge screen for Nav, and radio, etc). It is also motivated by a 6.4L Hemi, that returns 14/20 MPG.
I thought the paddle shifters were a bit much...until I got to a place where I could tromp on it. HOLY CRAP!! This thing had a stoopid amount of power.
I once rode in a 1970 383 Magnum Challenger. It was so fast that I nearly soiled myself. The 300 had THAT kind of power. NO seriously...this is a luxury car that ENCOURAGES hooliganism.
