In case you hadn't heard already the GM Auto Show in Motion returns to the Pomona Fairplex this week. It runs today through Sunday. I've read some other ASIM posts that they have the new Grand Prix GXP (5.3 liter V8) available to drive. I read mixed reviews of the DOD (Displacement-on-Demand) technology used for the engine. Also too bad it's still FWD. If this is available, then most likely the V8 Impala and Monte Carlo would also make an appearance.

Lon

 

Monte SS (supercharged 3.8) but IIRC no Impala besides display model.

Do yourself a favor, dont bother waiting to drive the Corvette.

 

What? …and miss the opportunity of being escorted off of the property again?

 

In the last few weeks I went to ASIM in Inglewood & Anaheim. I'm getting kinda bored with these short coned off courses, you need more room especially for the performance cars, thats what made El Toro a great spot, in the Vette you could go full throttle in 1st & 2nd gear! but I guess that's their plan is to get you interested enough to get you to go to the dealerships.
Plus they know a free lunch & T-shirt will get me every time.

Ford is now doing it's version of ASIM now too, I'm going on Sept 1...

http://www.fordinnovationdrive.com

 

Space was not the problem, it was intentional.

Mike, I dont think you'd get real far. Seemed like they were ready to pull the plug as soon as you had tried anything.

 

Yeah the little bitch in the passenger seat of the Z06 I drove waited until we were back in the staging area to yank the e-brake and proceed to throw me out. Hey he should have known when I turned the traction control off and hung the *** out in the first turn that the fat ***** in the drivers seat was unstable.

I can only imagine how bad it must be now.

 

The strange part is I just received a invite to a Chevy test at El Toro Sept 9-11.
The flier shows a vette and mentions "Feel the rush on the quarter-mile run"

www.thedrivecenter.com

 

Forgot about that, where is that little button?

 

You must have had a picky co-pilot that day. When I drove the Vette at Hollywood Park, the GM passenger was telling me to hammer the thing.

When I used the brakes, he'd say "Off the brakes and gas it!".

I just wish you could get more than one pass. The first lap get's you used the course layout. On lap 2, you'd be able to really hang it out.

 

My Inglewood co-pilot hardly said a word but we did go 2 laps, but that was on Friday around noon and not crowded at all.


www.thedrivecenter.com = Link not valid



Edit: Now it works, needed a / on the end.

http://www.thedrivecenter.com/

 

I didn't get my usual invite

 

They saw you'd be busy thie weekend. No biggie, just register online.

Lon

 

Center console, between the shifter and the glove box…

 

Too bad thats a Thur.

When we babied the vette on Sun morn, when we got to that area only one person was in front of us in line.

 

True with the open house we more than likely would not have made it to the event.

 

Have things changed since we sold our house? Don't the realtors want you out of the house during the open house?

Lon

 

Donna and I have shown the house to pretty much every real estate agent/client that has wanted to view the house. I think we were right around 20 people with two bids before this weekend's open house

 

I got the same invite. I'm looking forward to testing the Cobalt SS and the Colorado.
I think I'll go Saturday at 9am, how about you?

 

Saturday at 9am is when I signed up for, I'll keep an eye out for you guys.

 

yeah i'll be there too. lets park all the 3rd gens in the same line

 

I'm registered for 9:00 AM at the El Toro event too.

Lon

 

I just checked the registration again, and Saturday at 9am is already yellow (limited availability). I just made it in. Everything else is green. Its gonna be packed!

See you there!

 

Kevin, are you going to go Saturday morning and make Nojoqui too? Or is this on a different weekend than the 27th?

 

It is Saturday, September 10th (the day after my birthday). August 26th-28th is Saturn, Hummer, Saab. September 23rd-25th is Buick, Pontiac, GMC. They just posted the date for that one. I guess I need to sign up for that one to try the Solstice. Bah! Talk about misleading advertising. They clearly SHOW a picture of the Solstice when you click on the link. Yet the Pontiac vehicle gallery only lists the G6 GT, G6 GTP Sedan & Coupe, GTO, Vibe GT and Torrent. i'm glad I looked. It saves me the trouble of registering.

Lon

 

The last thing I heard is that the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky ran into some preproduction problems that set them back 6-8 months. G.M. probably intended to have the Solstice there when they did the pics, but have since found the problems. I've heard that some of the engineers are really taking heat inside G.M. because of the delays.

 

I went the 'Ford Innovation Drive' at Pomona last Thursday. The Mustang GT test was on the drag strip, I ran pretty good but GM has nothing to worry about. The rest of the vehicles were a yawn except for the Ford GT on display which they fired up a few times. Greg Biffle came out to yak a bit with some Q & A.
Parting gifts were a T-shirt, cap, 2005 Mustang Hot Wheel and a couple nutrition bars.

Looking forward to the SS drive this Saturday.

Belmont Shore is having their big Car Show this Sunday.

 

and they always have some nice classics and custom rods out for this. It's usually worth seeing for those that have never been.

 

The vette is supposed to be at El Toro Nov 9-11

 

Are we meeting at the shop, or at the event?

 

Here's another, sign up to drive the GTO, Solstice and more..

http://www.thedrivecenter.com/bpg

I'm signed up for Saturday 9/24

 

Check the Pontiac Vehicle Gallery again. No Solstice.

Lon

 

Yeah the picture isn't in the gallery but it's flashed in the left side column. And they do state:

Come drive some of the hottest new cars, trucks and SUV's from Buick, Pontiac and GMC

Make the most of your time with a totally different test drive experience. From the quiet and comfort of the new Buick Lucerne to the refined engineering and capability of GMC’s truck line up to the performance and elegant styling of the new Pontiac Solstice, you’re sure to find a vehicle that moves you. With no salesperson in sight, you’re free to explore in a fun, no-pressure setting.


I think it would be very misleading if it's not there to drive. GM wouldn't do that would they?

 

Kevin

I'll see you guys at El Toro, I'm going with a friend from work.

 

I'll meet at the event.

Lon

 

Let me know what the vette test drive is like, I cant go until Sunday.

 

I'm going to bail on the event. Debra took me to dinner and the Fair to celebrate my birthday. Got back way late. Have fun.

Lon

 

So, was the vette there, and could you drive it or were you babysat?

 

Yes the Corvette was there, and you had a copilot with you. Same with the SSR truck. I drove the Colorado 2WD, the Cobalt SS, and the Trailblazer 4WD. The Cobalt has some nice power, but they converted it to an automatic so everyone could drive it. I wish it was rear wheel drive, then I wouldnt feel so lame about liking it. I think I'll stick with the Colorado. I picked the Trailblazer only because its line was short and I hadnt run the off-road truck course yet. Dad drove the Colorado 4WD and the Monte Carlo SS (Tony Stewart edition). Again, we wish the Monte Carlo and Impala SS were rear wheel drive with their 5.3L V8's, they would be much better cars. With them being FWD, the engine compartment is very cramped and it looks difficult to work. To change the battery, you have to remove a brace and the windsheild washer resevoir.

We didnt drive the Corvette as the line was about 30 mins long, and its only a Corvette.

Make sure you are there to see the Silverado 2WD spank a F150 4WD in the offroad test. Yes, that is right, a two-wheel drive beat a four-wheel drive! Also, right after that is the sedan test where an Impala V6 spanks a Toyota Camry in high speed manuvering.

 

Yeah the Vette was there (all automatic's )along with the babysitter. The performance course was pretty good, started out full throttle 1st & 2nd gear then slam the brake for the "ABS test", then a fairly fun windy road back to the staging area.

No 'one time only' or badge punching like ASIM, you could drive any car or truck as much as you want, just had to get back in line again.

The 5.3 V8 Impala SS ran pretty strong if you keep your foot in it and it got a little scary the way it wallowed at speed. Might not feel so bad if you drive it before the Vette though.

Food & drinks were available all day, and you get a black cap with Gold bowtie as the parting gift.

 

YES!!

 

i didin't see any of you guys there, but yeah that event was awesome. my camaro was parked in the front with all the vettes.

 

I do remember seeing a black RS parked in the front row near the enterance but didn't know who's it was.

Don & kevin were there too but I didn't see them either.

 

yup that was mine.

 

I went to the Pontiac drive at El Toro today. Lon, the Solstice was there to drive, it was a pretty fun little car to drive on their course but I wouldn’t feel very safe surrounded by SUV’s on the street in one. They were all convertibles and all manual shift.
Also drove the Grand Prix GXP, G6 GTP all autos, and the GTOs were all manuals with the sitter in the car. This course was better than ASIM, here you’re able to open it up to like 6k in 2nd gear in one stretch and then the usual windy road coming back to the start.

There was also slightly modified GTO used in the drifting demo.

 

thats awesome man. i am getting in to drifting actually.