Houston Auto Show heads up

[DaveC]

My wife and I went to the Houston Auto and Boat show yesterday and were surprised with the reduced size and missing auto manufacturer participation. The last time we went was some years ago, so maybe it’s been this way for a while. We previously used the auto show to climb in and out of each vehicle in our purchase scope to narrow down which ones to test drive.

This year we noticed the following manufacturers were missing -
(If they were there we didn’t see them and were looking for them)

Acura
Cadillac
Jeep
Ram
Dodge
Mercedes
Maserati
Porsche

GMC was there with a very lacking set up and no Canyon.
Buick was in the same square and had 3 or so cars.

Toyota had the new 2024 Tacoma, but it was locked so you couldn’t sit in it. ( It didn’t jump out to me as looking different than the current Tacoma, but I’m sure had I stared longed I would have seen it)

Im pretty sure this is the same show roaming the state as none of the other big city auto shows are on the same weekends.

I’m guessing they added the boat part due to lack of used floor space on the auto alone.

It’s an ok way to spend some spare time, but only partially fit our needs as some on the didn’t show up list are makes we wanted to look at. Now we will have to deal with the sales folks at those stealerships to check them out.

cost to get in - $20 a person, cost to park $20 (both plus tax)
The get in price felt about right, the parking not so much.

Chevrolet, Ford , Hyundai, Kia , Nissan , Subaru Toyota and Volkswagen were well represented.

[Mexico]

We're headed there tomorrow but not for the auto's.

[dbaio1]

I have not been in years but when I did auto and boat shows were not combined. That tells me enough right there.

[Bayouboy]

2024 Frontier > 2024 Tacoma

[DaveC]

2024 Frontier > 2024 Tacoma

Definitely liked to looks and feel of that one.
A real 3.8l V-6 pushing 310horsepower with a Fender speaker system that sounded pretty good.

It’s on test drive list when the time comes.

[WItoTX]

That sounds about right. It was already looking rough 3-4 years ago. Even back then, Porsche didn't show up with a GT3, and really there was very few performance line cars.

Which is odd, because the amount of money in Houston, one would expect to see more exotics.

[Quackerbox]

The only reason to venture over the car side now days is for the eye candy.

[Bayouboy]

Definitely liked to looks and feel of that one.
A real 3.8l V-6 pushing 310horsepower with a Fender speaker system that sounded pretty good.

It’s on test drive list when the time comes.

I have been driving a new 4x4 Tacoma rental around the refinery the last few weeks. Highly disappointed to say the least!

[zztex]

We're headed there tomorrow but not for the auto's.

You gonna upgrade?

[Mexico]

You gonna upgrade?

Haha... heck no but I'll probably need a handkerchief to contain my drooling 😋

[Cox1]

I have been driving a new 4x4 Tacoma rental around the refinery the last few weeks. Highly disappointed to say the least!

I assume you realize the 2024 Tacoma will be all new with a lot of the issues of previous models addressed. Of course no one but press has seen or driven one yet so we will see.

[CaptainDave]

My wife and I went to the Houston Auto and Boat show yesterday and were surprised with the reduced size and missing auto manufacturer participation. The last time we went was some years ago, so maybe it’s been this way for a while. We previously used the auto show to climb in and out of each vehicle in our purchase scope to narrow down which ones to test drive.

This year we noticed the following manufacturers were missing -
(If they were there we didn’t see them and were looking for them)

Acura
Cadillac
Jeep
Ram
Dodge
Mercedes
Maserati
Porsche

GMC was there with a very lacking set up and no Canyon.
Buick was in the same square and had 3 or so cars.

Toyota had the new 2024 Tacoma, but it was locked so you couldn’t sit in it. ( It didn’t jump out to me as looking different than the current Tacoma, but I’m sure had I stared longed I would have seen it)

Im pretty sure this is the same show roaming the state as none of the other big city auto shows are on the same weekends.

I’m guessing they added the boat part due to lack of used floor space on the auto alone.

It’s an ok way to spend some spare time, but only partially fit our needs as some on the didn’t show up list are makes we wanted to look at. Now we will have to deal with the sales folks at those stealerships to check them out.

cost to get in - $20 a person, cost to park $20 (both plus tax)
The get in price felt about right, the parking not so much.

Chevrolet, Ford , Hyundai, Kia , Nissan , Subaru Toyota and Volkswagen were well represented.

I believe your issue is actually the other way around. The Houston Boat show has been in January for as long as I can remember and is by far the largest boat show of the year in Houston area. The auto show used to be a completely different show and I'm not sure why both Teamed up to make one show other than trying to consolidate. With the amount of named auto brands that appear to be missing, I'd say, it sounds more like the Boat Show with a few autos added to use up the remaining floor space.

Regardless, your post is still a good heads up. It sounds like the show is not worth the effort for people wanting to primarily look at autos. The wife and I went to an auto show at NRG about 7-8 years ago and it was great. The idea of being able to closely examine multiple makes/models of vehicles without a salesman haggling was super nice.

[critter69]

I think he's saying the same thing as you, just in a differant way. That's the way I read it any way.