DETROIT -- Slick roads and pinched pocketbooks didn’t keep auto aficionados away from the North American International Auto Show on Sunday, the second day the show was open to the public.
Car enthusiasts young and old ogled, photographed and handled automobiles displayed on the floor of Cobo Center. Some hunted for their next family car; many cruised the floor for their dream wheels.
“Nothing would have kept me away today,” said Keith Simmons, 47, who drove an hour from Toledo in the rain to attend. With camcorder in hand, he recorded his fantasy cars from all angles, like a sporty BMW and the Rolls-Royce Phantom convertible, a concept car with dramatic suicide doors.
“These are everyone’s dream cars and for those that can afford them,” he said. “I can’t afford them.”
Show organizers said turnout Saturday was down from last year: 90,530, compared to 95,000.
“I think potentially the economy might have a little bit to do with it, but we’re not off by much at all,” said Bob Thibodeau Jr., senior co-chairman of this year’s show. He remained optimistic about the weekend’s total attendance.
Jim and Dianne Amrich of Grand Blanc braved the wet and rainy interstate for more than an hour to attend the show, their first time back in about five years.
The couple is in the market for a new sedan, and was eying some of the Lexus and BMW models.
“It’s great. You can see every car here, and you don’t have to go from car lot to car lot,” said Dianne Amrich.
They couldn’t help to stop and join the huddle around the pumpkin-colored Camaro, Chevrolet’s new concept heralding the return of the line in 2009.
Max Huang, 7, of Troy similarly let his imagination guide him as he went from car to car, testing the comfort of each driver’s seat and examining every cup holder and compartment.
“Ooh, yeah!” he squealed as he ran to the next car.
source: The Detroit News
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