In its unstoppable quest for pistonhead patronage, TTAC is boldly going where all our competition has gone before: the North American International Auto Show (a.k.a. The Detroit Auto Show). And when I say TTAC, I don't mean me. I need to hold down the fort here in my garret, editing the info as it flies off the show floor. And I don't mean Justin. Our diurnal podcaster will be in the Middle East, for reasons that I've forgotten but probably having something to do with a falafal and a Sabra (and I don't mean the defunct Israeli carmaker whose product is pictured here). I'm sending my four best operatives– writers being the operative word. Frank Williams, Sajeev Mehta, William C. Monthgomery and Adrian Imonti will be asking the tough questions that those pantywaist professional journos always seems to forget after they've been stuffed like a fatted French duck bound for a foie gras factory. I sincerely hope we'll be able to inject a measure of animus into the annual automotive lovefest. If not, it won't be for lack of trying. If you could give your pistonhead pals a heads-up as and when, we'd all be most appreciative. And a special shout-out to Sajeev's travel agent Mum for booking the tickets. We'll do our best to make you proud Mrs. M, guaranteed.
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We should have a TTAC meet. I imagine it would involve many baseball bats and an unfortunate pontiac aztec bystander. A handful of people from themazdaforum.com are thinking about heading to the show as a group. I’ve never been to a ‘big name’ car show before.
I have to take issue with the Volvo safety remarks.
It’s long been said that Volvo has been trading on safety, but I bet that the majority of Volvo owners aren’t buying them for the “safety” as in “full of airbags”, but more because they feel solidly built.
I think that’s an important distinction that you guys have never seem to make.
I’ve been to the NAIAS more than enough times.
Once I even had a press pass thanks to the journalism course I was taking at the time. I had dreams of becoming automotive journalist, maybe even good enough for the legendary Car and Driver!
Wow… Were my dreams dashed.
I got to see first had the unveiling of the Malibu… Not the current, or even the last gen, but the suppository on wheels that was the 1997 model.
I must say, the NAIAS gives new meaning to the term “Dazzle them with bullshit.”
Your crew will be corupted by the Audi PR staff in 30 seconds flat.
I attended the NYIAS Press days in 2005 and was shocked at how the media ate up all the PR info-fluff. I swore off auto journalism after the first day. Thank goodness TTAC arrived, making everything better again.
Mom must be so proud! First there was the TTAC Buick press junket and now she’s been blogged!
RF when we last spoke you totally questioned the point of going to the auto show. Why the change of heart?
Samir Syed :
RF when we last spoke you totally questioned the point of going to the auto show. Why the change of heart?
No change of heart. I’m not going.
Seriously, now that we’re a blog, we have to do what bloggers do. Only better. And different.
I haven’t been to the Detroit auto show since 1975, when the AMC Pacer was unveiled. Two years later, I bought a used 1975 Pacer (to my chagrin).
I’m going in 2008 with my wife, then we are going to drive to Nashville (to visit the Lane Microcar Museum, natch – what did you think? Music?!) and then we’re going to drive to Montgomery, Alabama.
Yep, at age 50, this car nut is finally going to see the inside of a car factory. We’re taking my wife’s Hyundai Sonata “home” for the journey (and getting away from snow for four days).
I’ve tried for 15 years to get into a Detroit mfr auto plant with no luck. (Partly because they keep closing them!)
I’ll look for TTAC hats and a group of four guys who look shell-shocked, and say hi when I see you guys.
Sajeev: I attended the NYIAS Press days in 2005 and was shocked at how the media ate up all the PR info-fluff. I swore off auto journalism after the first day. Thank goodness TTAC arrived, making everything better again.
Damn right. The automotive media is awash with cheerleading syncophants, more than happy to let manufacturer PR departments write their copy in exchange for exotic (or not) junkets, all you can eat buffets, and the opportunity to drive everything on the road. The ones that write for major newspaper conglomerates must be the worst, with never a bad thing to say about a car, no matter how dreadful. (Check that – they always find a couple minor faults in a cynical attempt to appear a little bit objective).
It’s downright sickening, sometimes. Thanks, RF, for staying true to your mission. I know you suffer for it terms of access to test vehicles, but keep it up.
Marmite? I thought that stuff was banned in the U.S..