All Cars, All the Time

San Francisco Auto Show

For those of you in the Bay Area, the SF Auto Show is running now until November, 27. Although the SF show is nowhere near the prestige of the Los Angeles show, it does have a nice layout and is far superior to the San Jose Auto Show held in January.

My concern is that starting next year the Los Angeles show will begin migrating toward the same time slot. In fact, next year there will be two LA Auto shows: the 2006 model year’s public days will be January 6, 2006 – January 15,2006 and the 2007 model year’s public days will be December 1, 2006 – December 10, 2006. For the 2008 model year the show will move to November 16, 2007 to November 25, 2007. Aack! It’s going to be tough fitting in the usual Thanksgiving trips and a visit to Los Angeles.

SF’s press releases are touting the hybrids that will be at the show, but honestly there is nothing new in that segment at the show—I’m not even going to comment on Zap’s latest hype, the OBVIO! Also getting a push is a customized San Francisco 49ers Cadillac Escalade that will be given away during a “49ers Kick to Drive” promotion . The slade is of course based off the outgoing Escalade body style that was never anything to write home about. Sure, I’d love to win any car or truck but this thing wouldn’t be at the top of my list. The most significant models at the show in my mind will be the 2007 Tahoe and Yukon—real make or break models for General Motors.

There is a buy one, get one free deal for AAA members that will save you $8, but it is only good for November 21-23. As you might imagine, those are the least popular days and so that makes it the best time to go!