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For years I’ve wanted to head to the Detroit Auto Show which happens annually in January. I’m generally invited every year by gracious car manufacturers, but unfortunately the timing never seems to work out on my end. Someday I’ll hopefully get there to check out the latest and greatest in the auto industry.
This year I had the best of both worlds. I discovered that I didn’t have to travel far to get to a fabulous auto show. Who knew the New England International Auto Show was happening just a few minutes from my home?!
When I was invited to attend the New England International Auto Show by SheBuysCars [2] as a guest of Chevrolet [3] I was beyond excited. I love how they refer to this show on the website as “Sneak Peeks for Auto Geeks”. I’m not sure I qualify as an auto geek, but I do love checking out the newest imported and domestic vehicles. I’ve been reviewing [4]various [5] cars [6]on my site for a few years- so maybe that does place me in the “auto geek” category?
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[8]The day did not disappoint. It kicked off with a Design and Urban Mobility panel discussion. Of course I couldn’t help myself and had to ask the panel to name a few of their favorite sustainability initiatives. Wade Bryant, Manager, GM Advanced Design Studio & Design Senior Consultant on the Urban Active Solutions was all over my question. He spoke about how Chevy is in the forefront when it comes to sustainability. Check out some of their initiatives here [9]. He also spoke about how there’s always room for improvement and it remains a work in progress.
After the panel came the reveal of the Chevrolet Trax. This is Chevy’s cross between an SUV and a compact car. This smaller car can seat up to five. One of my favorite features is the ability to fold the front passenger seat flat. This would allow for storage of long items such as skis or a surfboard, up to eight feet long. Not bad for a small vehicle.
We were then taken on an exclusive tour of the auto show led by James Bell, the Head of Consumer Affairs for General Motors. Mr. Bell knew his stuff and gave us the low down on many of the vehicles at the auto show.
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Women and Cars
My favorite panel happened after lunch. A few dynamic women spoke about Women in Automotive: How We’re Changing the World. They spoke about how on the consumer side more and more women are making the car deals. On the business side they are seeing more women rising to the top within the car industry. Pretty impressive.
For those of you who haven’t heard of SheBuysCars, [2] it’s a pretty amazing organization. SheBuysCars is a web community for women who buy, care for, and live their lives in and around their cars. The brainchild of TravelingMom.com [11] founder Kim Orlando and editor and journalist Scotty Reiss, SheBuysCars is created for the 80 percent of women who influence car purchase decisions. Their mission is to empower women as owners and buyers of cars.
3 Tips for Buying a New Car
When it’s time to invest in a new car here are three quick tips to help you through the process:
- Test drive the car. I can’t emphasize this enough. Have your entire family pile in the car and make sure everyone fits. Especially if your car has a third row. Many of those third rows are a tight squeeze. Make sure the car is comfortable. Think about how much time we spend in a car!
- Do your homework. There is very little that remains a secret when it comes to car purchases. Once you find a car you’re interested in spend some time researching the available features and the value of the car. Look at reviews and be sure to check out safety records, Head over to She Buys Cars [2] for great advice.
- Check out the repair costs BEFORE purchasing the car. Head to the dealer or a local repair shop and ask for comparisons on what repairs will cost on a few vehicles you’re interested in.
The day ended with a group photo of the fabulous Boston Parent Bloggers [12]. I also had a chance to catch up with my friend and fellow YoGetter [13], Alison from Green With Renvy.
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Overall the day was a complete success.
Just curious- did you walk into the dealership and make the deal on your car?
P.S. If you liked this post you might enjoy our Groovy Green Livin Newsletter [15]. Receive new posts and special opportunities delivered right to your inbox! Sign up HERE [15].
Disclosure: Chevrolet and SheBuysCars provided me with complimentary access to the New England International Auto Show and compensation for this post. As always, all opinions are my very own.