A Car Shopping Guide to the Los Angeles Auto Show
There is no better place to shop for a car than an auto show.
Every nameplate from every brand is available for you to touch, sit inside and, in some cases, test drive without a sales person leaning over shoulder or telling you he’ll be right back after he talks to his manager.
Don’t misunderstand me, the goal of the Los Angeles Auto Show remains to move metal, but it does it with more honey and fewer sticks. Perhaps that’s why nearly a million people will visit the show during the public days that run until Nov. 29.
During the media days, carmakers debuted 50 vehicles during 26 press conferences. The media, myself included, get excited over the latest and greatest models shown for the first time ever. We evaluate and judge and interview executives hoping to break some news about a vehicle four or five years in the making. We live in the minutia of the business, while consumers have much better things to worry about.
Worse yet, from a consumer standpoint, most of those vehicles we write about, won’t be available for months, if ever. They still do important things for the brand and the industry. Often, these are the cars, crossovers and SUVs that redefine a brand or even a company. The Infiniti QX30 is important, just like the Volvo Concept 26 interior, but in both instances, no one can buy those on Saturday.
The real meat and potatoes at any auto show are the vehicles for sale now. Complete available lineups fill the LA Auto Show with more than 800 vehicles on display. For anyone looking to buy a car, this is the biggest showroom in Southern California with more brands under one roof than anywhere else.
Better yet, many of the carmakers offer all types of interactive displays that can teach you a thing or two about a vehicle’s new technology, powertrains or just get your kids really tired. Touch screens, video games and hashtags abound at the LA show inspiring attendees and providing them with multiple ways to promote vehicles on Facebook, Instagram or some other social media platform. Go to the Ford display and kids can make crayon engravings while adults plan for their next Escape.
While many features are similar from brand to brand, rarely are they identical. Many of these displays help define those differences. Understanding this and finding the things you are most comfortable can make the difference between a great purchase and a frustrating one.
There’s also the chance that your time at the auto show can mean a cash incentive at the dealership later, as some brands offer auto show discounts, knocking a few hundred dollars off the final price of a car if you connect with them at the show. Don’t be afraid to ask, no one likes to leave money on the hood.
So here are some of our tips to get the most for your money at the LA Auto Show as a car shopper.
1. Do your research.
Before you step onto the downtown convention center floor, have an idea of what kind of vehicle you want to buy. Do you want basic transportation or something more stylish? Do you need a family hauler with three rows? Or do you want a hot hatch with all the newest technology. If you understand what you want, it will be easier to focus on more vehicles like that. Define the things you must have such as hands free phone operation and a spare tire, and the things you can live without such as a sun roof or 14-way adjustable driver’s seat.
2. Know your prices.
While researching, also check prices. Understand what you’ll get and how much it will cost. One of the best aspects of an auto show is that almost every car comes with its window sticker right next to the vehicle. But if you only want to spend $20,000 and think that Audi Q3 is perfect, it might be time to look at the used market instead.
3. Know your competition.
If there’s only one car you really want, like the Ford Focus ST, and that’s the only car you will buy, going to the auto show to compare is really only going to the auto show for confirmation. That’s fine and lots of people do that. But, if instead, you’re open to other alternatives, it would be worthwhile to know about the VW GTI, Honda Civic Si or, even the Subaru WRX. Then check them all out.
4. Try it on for size.
Don’t just sit in a car at the show and surround yourself in that new car smell. Really try a vehicle on. Adjust the driver’s seat for the perfect driving position. Hold the steering wheel as if you are on the road. Is it comfortable? Can you adjust it so it is? Do you like the gauges? How does the shifter feel in your hand?
Imagine yourself living in this vehicle. Does it fit your needs? Is there a place for your phone? Are there enough USB outlets? Do you need to attach car seats for kids? Think through all of the different scenarios you experience in your current car and how this vehicle might improve your daily life.
5. Kick the tires.
Once you get out of the driver’s seat, try to experience the vehicle for all of the other people who will be passengers. Sit in the second row, or, even, the third row. Look for all of the ways the interior can be configured. Does the second row fold down? If it does, how easy is it to fold down. Many carmakers say their vehicles have fold-flat second rows but when you fold them down, it’s not entirely flat. Will that create a problem.
6. Emergencies are not the norm.
Be realistic on how you’re going to use your car. Many customers think of the worst scenario possible and then ask themselves, “Will my car handle this?” If that were really the case in Southern California, everyone would drive around in Land Cruisers, just in case there’s a big earthquake and they need to drive over deserted rubble. That’s not likely going to happen, and, even if it did, you might have much bigger problems beside your Chevy Cruise unable to cross the now five-mile-wide-and-deep San Andreas Fault. Being realistic can save you thousands of dollars.
7. Take a test drive.
The LA Auto Show offers dozens of cars for test driving. From Acura to Volkswagen, some of the most popular vehicles sold can be test driven at the auto show. This will certainly give you the chance to see how vehicles feels on the road. Click here to see how the test drives work.
Some tips here include: Leave the radio off at the beginning of the drive. List for road noise and other sounds coming into the cabin. See how easy it is to talk to someone in the second row. Then try out the stereo and see if it sounds as if Taylor Swift is in the seat next to you. If it does, as her to step out, and test drive her own car. I’m sure she can just shake it off.
8. The frugal email address.
When I discussed this story with a few auto executives, one said he would create a new email address just for the auto show. He has a point.
ScottattheAutoShow@yahoo.com just might work well to trade with carmakers at the show who demand email addresses for loot. There are shirts and hats and bags and all sorts of goodies that carmakers entice shoppers with just to get a person’s email address. Later, if you don’t want to see a flood of emails on your personal account, having a new address just for the occasion might come in handy. Just remember to check it if there’s some information you’re hoping to receive.
9. Remember the current model.
When you see the all-new 2016 Honda Civic coupe, remember that there’s the outgoing 2015 Civic that may have a number of incentives on it. The same goes with the 2017 Ford Escape or 2017 Hyundai Elantra. There are 2016 models of these cars and crossovers that are on dealer lots right now. As carmakers turnover one generation of vehicle for the next, there are often deep discounts to be found. Of course, these cars may not come with the newest bells and whistles, but that’s for you to decide if you need them.
10. Enjoy the show.
Sure there are a lot of vehicles out of all of our price range at any auto show, the LA Auto Show included. I can’t afford the new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport or the Range Rover Evoque convertible, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate them.
Cars remain an important part of our lives. Even as that cultural touchpoint shifts, its fascinating to follow. Nowadays fuel efficiency may trump horsepower for some consumers, but there’s a festival atmosphere at any auto show that celebrates more than just cars.
