Hi All,

My dad is a car enthusiast and I enjoy cars, as well. I was considering taking him to the Detroit Auto Show in January as a Christmas gift. I can't find many reviews/comments from individuals who attended as members of the general public. Is this worth flying from Florida to do (cost of airfare/hotel & time)? If this is something really cool to do for someone who loves cars and we could find a whole day's worth of enjoyment out of it, I would seriously consider doing it. However, I wouldn't want to spend the money and it just be "meh". Thoughts?

Also, could we get away without having a car and just using the People Mover?

You already have some good advice in your other post. Of the shows sanctioned by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, Detroit is always the first of the calendar year and is one of the largest. The group currently sanctions four shows in North America: Detroit, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

Having attended the public shows in Detroit, Chicago and a couple other large cities, the shows are all pretty similar. The part that's different is the industry/press week because that's when new models are seen for the first time by anyone outside the presenting manufacturer.

As your other post also says, you can survive the immediate downtown area with no car, but to get from the airport to your hotel or anywhere else you want to visit, you'll need a car, taxi or ride share.

Another consideration is weather. It can average between 10º and 40ºF during the Detroit show. If you're in a downtown hotel, there are very few stores nearby to get winter gear if you don't have it.

The 2016 LA show is November 18-27. The 2017 Chicago show is February 11-20 and NYC show will be April 14-23.

The weather for the Chicago show would likely be similar to Detroit, but transportation within the city would be easier. It may be too late to plan something for this year's LA show, but perhaps next year. Flights to NYC are usually cheap, but hotels are usually higher.

>>You already have some good advice in your other post.>As your other post also says, . . .

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi..._Michigan.html

The Detroit show is spectacular with a lot of entertainment.

I was so disapointed when I moved to another city and went to the show. I had assumed that the same show went from metro area to metro area.

I posted in this forum because I got several mixed replies on trip advisor and thought I might get some other perspectives on here.

Oh - on a different website.

I agree w/ Keith -- but I've only been once and it was years ago so don't know if the show is still as big as it once was.

The auto shows here in California for instance are not as big or as special as Detroit.

And, be sure to visit the Detroit Institute of Art. Just fabulous.

Ben,

Ben,

Since your dad is a car buff, you HAVE to go to the Henry Ford Museum, in Dearborn, which is about 8 miles in a straight line from downtown Detroit, and maybe 12 miles by roads.

It has HUNDREDS of vintage and classic cars, not just Fords, but all makes. (Back decades ago when I was in high school I worked there during two summers.) I particularly remember a red 1903 Cadillac, a 1908 Thomas Flyer, and Jackie Kennedy's 1960 Lincoln Continental convertible. They also had a Bugatti from the 1930's, and countless other motor vehicles. Plus full-sized trains, tractors, motorcycles, farm equipment, steam engines, furniture, silver, violins, ceramics - too much to list (there is 14 acres under one roof).