Go for new wheels, stay for the fun
Tomotive showcase ends Feb. 23.
Since the Dayton Auto Show opened Feb. 20, enthusiasts have been flocking to the Dayton Convention Center to kick the tires, drool over the latest models and picture themselves behind the wheel of a new car, truck, crossover, electric, hybrid or HarleyDavidson motorcycle.
“This is still the best place to shop for a vehicle; there is no question about it,” said Dan Zinni, executive vice president and CFO of the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association. “You can walk from one place to another in a couple of minutes and shop, look at all the makes and models that you have in your mind, that you’re looking to purchase or lease in the next year. It’s still the easiest thing.”
People are able to get in most of the vehicles, he pointed out.
“It’s not like you are standing 15-deep to sit down in the new (Ford) F-150; you’ll be able to see how comfortable they are and how everything fits and feels with your body type,” Zinni said.
People have also been enjoying the opportunity to win something worth upwards of $10,000, plus possibly gas gift cards, free car washes and a 55-inch Samsung TV.
The Miami Va l ley C hevy Dealers are offering a two-year lease, valued at between $9,000 and $10,000, on a 2020 Chevy Equinox LT SUV to some lucky attendee, and there is still time to enter at the show. Ten finalists will attend a drawing in the Chevrolet display at 3 p.m. on Feb. 23.
Show-goers may want to spend some time chatting with volunteers from Drive Electric Dayton in the lobby to learn more about electric vehicles.
Also in the lobby are personnel from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to talk about the enhanced license or identification card that complies with new federal security regulations going into effect in October. Other show highlights are: ■ Special e ntertainment attractions Feb. 22-23 for kids, including animals from Wild Hearts African Farm Mobile Teaching Zoo; visits from all four Cincinnati Reds mascots from 1 to 3 p.m. both days; and balloon and face-painting artists on Feb. 22
■ Flying Ace Express Car Wash, with eight locations in the greater Dayton area, has come aboard to support the show. They will
randomly hand out free car wash vouchers during the show, plus attendees who complete the post-show survey can enter to win a year’s worth of free car washes.
■ Photo scavenging hunt. Nine photos of certain aspects of show vehicles (make and model) must be identified for entry to win a Samsung 55-inch Ultra HD TV.
■ Selfie contest – posting a selfie with one’s favorite vehicle and the hashtag #DaytonAutoShow for the chance to win a gas gift card.
MSRPs of vehicles at the show range from the $17,000s to more than $100k, said Dayton Auto Show Manager Kelly Danison, with plenty of vehicles starting in the lower part of that range.
“Our auto show gives you a wide range of everything.
You’re going to see the new vehicles that have all the bells and whistles but you can also lower that trim level and find a vehicle that fits within your price point,” she said. “You’re going to be able to find something that fits into your category.”
The people of the OADA and Dayton Area Auto Dealers Association love what they do, Zinni said.
“Everything changes constantly – the manufacturers and the dealers are seeing new products, we’ve seen technology take off like you can’t imagine over the last decade,” he said. “The show is for educating consumers, and there are no highpressure sales. It’s so consumers can see what they like best.”
The 2020 Dayton Auto Show’s presenting sponsors are the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun.