L.A. Car Porn

If you are looking for porn in Southern California, you go to the Valley. If you are looking for car porn in Southern California, you go to Los Angeles. And nowhere is there more car porn in Los Angeles than at the annual Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. I went there on a relatively quiet Day Before Thanksgiving, and saw some interesting sights.

My all-around favorite car is the new BMW 135i. It's small and lightweight, with a big engine. You do the math.








The Mini Cooper interior has more plastic knobs than a ghetto blaster. In such a tiny car, why did the designers insist on a speedometer the size of a dinner plate?





For sheer open-air fun at a low price, the Pontiac Solstice is tough to beat, as long as you don't mind sitting at floor level.





My favorite American car is the Cadillac CTS, Motor Trend's 2008 Car of the Year. With a 3.6 liter engine and 306 horsepower, a six-speed manual transmission, and tight dimensions, this is no sofa on wheels.


The best-looking American car at the show was the new Chevy Camaro, scheduled to go on sale in 2009. Look out, Mustang!




The models came in a variety of colors, including blonde.




However, some used models with high mileage were also on display.

Green was a big theme this year, as many companies release hybrid passenger cars and even SUVs, all of which attain pretty impressive gas mileage.

Speaking of green, the exhibit for the Smart Car, which is about the size and weight of a golf cart, was mobbed. Can you say, four dollar per gallon gasoline?



At the other end of the spectrum, the Hummer exhibit looked like a bunch of sad, lonely dinosaurs who are destined to become extinct.




Another way to get good gas mileage without sacrificing driving fun is to purchase a "pocket rocket" such as the new Subaru Imprezza WRX STi. 21 year-old guys will eat this up.

Ferrari always treats auto shows as museums, placing its cars at a distance behind velvet ropes. Keepa you hands off!

Finally, no Southern California car show would be complete without a bright red Porsche. This 911 Turbo Cabriolet, sitting pretty in the large, crowded Porsche exhibit, costs well over $100,000.

At this year's Greater Los Angeles Auto Show during Thanksgiving week, there was truly something for everyone's taste.