Many major cities in the United States and elsewhere hold auto shows annually. I've attended the Chicago International Auto Show each February for several years. Minneapolis and Milwaukee both have similar events. In my case, either of these locations are a shorter drive, but Chicago is by far the best, and is in fact the largest such show in North America. Held at McCormick Place near the lake front a few blocks south of Soldier Field, 2008 marks the 100th annual auto show held in this city.

While many car clubs put on shows to display either specific makes of vehicles or vintage examples, productions such as the Chicago International Auto Show are put together with the general public in mind. Whether one is contemplating a new car purchase or simply enjoys looking at a vast array of the industry's latest offerings, shows such as the one in Chicago are quite worthwhile.

Every car sold in the United States is on display in indoor comfort. Sales reps from each manufacturer are on hand to answer questions in a relaxed setting absent of the often-pushy salespeople encountered at dealership lots. With the exception of very expensive exotic cars priced over $100,000, show goers are free to sit in the vehicles to get a feel of a particular car's interior features. In the bigger shows such as Chicago, Detroit, New York, or Los Angeles, one will also get sneak peeks of future models and prototypes. Companies specializing in auto-cleaning materials, customizing, and camper van conversions are also present.

The only thing participants can't do is take cars for a test drive. However, one will not find a better setting to see more than 200 different models up close and in person. Viewing photos of new models on the Internet or in magazines is quite easy, but there's no substitute for the opportunity to look at the real thing. Certainly, potential buyers have already done research, but sales literature is readily available at each manufacturer's station.

In major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, parking can be on the expensive side. Once you get inside with a $10.00 ticket, the food can also be pricey. It takes anywhere from three to four hours to walk through the entire display. One could expect to spend roughly $30.00 for the afternoon, but this is a bargain compared to driving all over the city and suburbs to visit each dealership.

I won't be in the market for quite some time. I just bought a 2007 Volkswagen Passat last May. But as an automotive enthusiast, I won't miss events such as the Chicago Auto Show. For my money and time, there's no better way to stay abreast of the industry than to see every make and model sold here under one roof.

Learn more about this author, Patrick Sills.
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