Become An Auto Pro Before The Chicago Auto Show With These Tips
Photo by Robert Mathius
When heading to the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, the pleasure may be daunting to those who do not consider themselves an auto pro. It's a good idea to come prepared, as there will be a barrage of acronyms flying everywhere at the show. To keep up, and maybe even impress some of the pros, here is a crash course of helpful tips to give the impression you are versed in the auto world.
HP: This is the acronym for horsepower. What exactly is horsepower? It's simply how much "oomph" the vehicle has to propel the driver through traffic. How much is enough? It depends on how big the car is. Smaller cars need less, but larger and heavier cars need more power to propel them quickly. The eco-friendly Smart ForTwo car has 70 horsepower, which is not much to impress with. The popular Hyundai Tucson has 164 horsepower, which is pretty average for a family-friendly production car. The speedy Subaru WRX has 268 horsepower, which is more than average for a small car. The hyper-quick Dodge Viper sports a whopping 645 horsepower. Horsepower is relative, so look at the windows of your favorite ride and impress your friends by showing them how much HP it has.
MPG: Another relative term is MPG, which is short for miles per gallon. This tells owners how many miles one gallon of gas can propel them. Larger cars, and those with more powerful engines, have lower MPG ratings while smaller cars tend to have higher ratings. The Toyota Prius at the Chicago Auto Show sports 54 MPGs, which is one of the most efficient vehicles available. On the low end is the Lincoln Navigator, which has only 17 MPGs because the heavy SUV needs more power to carry up to seven passengers, has a large body and lots of luxurious extras. It's also important to recognize that city MPG differs from highway MPG. City refers to the miles per gallon one can expect in stop-and-go traffic, which is typically lower than the MPGs that someone gets driving on the highway and not having to stop.
MSRP: This is quite an important acronym — it essentially means how much money the manufacturer is asking for the car one is interested in. MSRP is short for manufacturer's suggested retail price. However, this "sticker" price is typically a bit higher than what a car will sell for. To know what you should offer for any car that catches your eye at the Chicago Auto Show, check out Kelly Blue Book and True Car.
Photo by Robert Mathius
Still want to know more? Anyone needing to further brush up on their info can do so at the interactive displays at the Chicago Auto Show. Below the main floor are several displays from Kia, Subaru and Mazda which allow anyone 18 years or older get behind the wheel of their favorite vehicle.
While in the car, drivers can experience each car first-hand with a friendly face in the passenger seat. Listen to their elevator speech and stop them when you don't understand. They aren't there to sell you the car; they want you to learn about all the new and exciting features that their model has. Simply listening and asking questions will help anymore become an auto show pro before even heading upstairs. It is free to test drive any available car downstairs. Make sure to bring your drivers license. Before getting behind the wheel, you will also have to pass a sanitary breathalyzer test.
Robert Mathius is a Chicago suburb native who currently lives in Tinley Park. He has a passion for the automotive industry in addition to journalism and works to blend his two passions in his writing. Additional automotive reporting by Robert can be found on Examiner.com.
