Portland Auto Show

I am not really into cars, but my sisters are. They have always wanted to go to the Portland Auto Show, and when one was able to get free tickets through work, she went for it. As she got three tickets, but one person could not attend, and I was already going to be in the area for the March and Rally for Justice and Equality, I ended up going too.

So these are the observations of someone who does not know a lot about cars but was nonetheless at the car show.

If you want to see a lot of cars at once, this is the way to go. There are multiple auto makers featured, with multiple car lines, and anything that is not on display can still be shown.

Obviously it is a place to get realistic expectations about price, but some dealers also offer specials, like $500 off on purchases within the next three months. If you aren't ready to purchase it's not a big incentive, but if you are, that more than covers the cost of your admission.

In some cases there are some very expensive cars that may get a little extra guarding, but generally you can look, touch, and even slip inside. (There were also options for test drives.)

One immediate advantage I saw to this is checking accessibility. Maybe the driver can be comfortable in a variety of cars, but having an aging parent has made me more aware of how some models are much easier to get in and out of than others, based on height and depth and how the door opens. If that's going to be an issue for you, this is an incredible option for testing it out.

You can also take a look under the hood.

I felt like Volkswagen made the best use of technology, having seating (welcome in a show of that size) with panels where you could choose and customize a model, and an interesting setup for exploring color options.

Toyota showed the most local spirit, with models decorated for local teams, including the Blazers, Hops, Ducks, and Beavers.

I really appreciated the excellent organization. The guides had clear maps that were reinforced by prominent signage, making our navigation easy.

There were also fun activities for those too  young to drive. On the more extreme end, kids could bike down a ramp and take a leap onto a giant bouncy pad, and even smaller children had a course they could ride with a little less leaping.

I know I am not the target audience, but they do a good job with what they do.

http://portlandautoshow.com/