If the idea of car shows to you brings to mine a huge field with dozens or even hundreds of old and antique cars spread around you may decide that this simply is not something that you are interested in. But did you know that there are also car shows that the car manufacturers hold to show off the newest makes and models they are releasing to the general public?

Theses shows are spectacular with a few cars of each design that is being featured located strategically around the showroom. Most people are not able to actually drive the new car, but they can certainly get a good up close look at the car and see exactly how it will look when it is released on the market for everyone to purchase.

These events are sometimes open to the general public and other times they are limited to only those who are invited to the event. Typically, if the event is by invitation only the company sponsoring the event will invite a few news stations, as well as some of the car critics to come see what their newest car looks like. This can sometimes be a very exciting adventure, and there are times when they will give away tickets for admission so that others can attend as well.

These car shows tend to differ a bit from most car shows that you are used to, most car shows have vehicles of multiple models and makes all around the fair grounds, however at these car shows there is not as much diversity that you can see. Of course if you have any questions about the newest cars this makes the greatest place to be to ask about the new models. There are always plenty of staff people on hand that can answer your questions about the newest model for you without any problems.

If you are looking for these car shows, you generally have to work hard to find out exactly when they are located. Most car manufacturers do not readily announce the show to everyone. They do however still tell some of the major car lots that sell their vehicles and also let some of the new stations know when and where the show is. This allows everyone the opportunity to find out when they can attend if they are interested. It is important to realize that these car shows are vastly different from other car shows, there are not multiple old cars around, and there is also strict security at these events.

Many of these events also have dress codes of what is considered appropriate to wear. Ensure that you ask about all requirements before you travel to the event to ensure that you are fully prepared when you arrive. Depending on the location of the car show you may need to arrange for a hotel room, it is very important if you need to book a hotel room that you do this in advance rather than waiting until the day of the show to attempt at booking your room.

While there may not be tons of cars to see at these special car shows, they are often a great experience and it is an amazing treat being able to see all of the newest cars before they officially roll into the car lots for the public to see themselves. Being able to see these special cars in advance is a rare treat that many people enjoy. It is something that you can arrange if you know where to check ahead of time, but just showing up at the car show the day of the show will generally not help you get inside.

If you plan your trip ahead carefully, you can have a lot of fun. Of course taking some pictures of the car show can be a great way to remember the special car show that you have attended and makes a great souvenir that you can always treasure. Once you have successfully gotten into one car show you will likely find it is much easier to get into future car shows.

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Have you ever wondered exactly what the judge’s at car shows are looking at? Many people wonder and yet not everyone is always fully aware of what they are looking for. Of course there are different categories have different criteria about what is expected for each car. You are never going to please all of the judges, but if you know what they may be looking for, you can certainly help increase your chances of coming out well in the car show.

Clean cars, this is something that most people do not care about category for. The only time you should ever have a dirty car is if you just participated in a race as part of the car show. Otherwise, your car should be completely clean. This means inside and outside and no signs of dirt or debris anywhere. If you need to spend a few minutes after you arrive ensuring that it is clean and doing a bit of touch up work.

Scratches are something to avoid as well. Judges are not impressed by scratches and there is rarely ever a category or prize for most scratched car. Ensure that the scratches are dealt with appropriately before the car show. This will help improve your winning chances and the judges are much more likely to pay attention to how your car really looks, rather than their eyes wondering over to the scratches that you left in place.

Your tires are important as well. You may not realize it, but this says a lot about the way you maintain your car. They are looking for simply the best; judges are not going to appreciate seeing a year’s supply of mud caked up underneath the wheel well. They are impressed by immaculately clean cars, not those that need a through detail cleaning.

Some other areas to look at include paint, this may seem strange but the judges usually like to see something that is unique and creative. Just because your car was originally the same red color as the other 1 million cars that rolled off the assembly line, looking just like it does not mean it needs to stay red. Sometimes a new shade or even a completely different color can make a normal and boring car quite unique. If you have the personality for it a creative paint job can make your car especially memorable. After all, how many black, blue and red cars do you think the judges will see? How many do you think they will see that are lime green or even hot pink? Choose paint color carefully but look for something that is going to be memorable in a good way.

A final area to look at is the overall feeling of the car. You generally would not take a 1930’s Chevrolet and trick it out with rims, televisions and tons of other high tech goodies. However, at the same time, you should look for a few modern touches to make the car unique and enjoyable. Unless you are just trying to obtain the most unique award, try to keep your car styled around the same as it was originally just better if possible.

Ensuring that your car creates a memorable and positive impression on the judges is not always easy. After you participate in a few car shows, you should start to gain a good bit of ideas on what exactly the judges are looking for and ensure that you are fitting into their needs and wants. With some practice, you are sure to enjoy the sweet success of winning a few trophies or even a ribbon or two.

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Whether you lease a car to get into the latest models or have better purchasing
flexibility, getting a good deal is always bound to give you a lift. Use
these guidelines to help you spot one:

Check incentives: be on the look-out for factory –subsidized lease deals.
Car manufacturers realise that consumers who lease vehicles from them are
more likely to be repeat customers than those who simply purchase vehicles.
Through their leasing companies, they adjust the residual value and offer
low financing charge. Other auto-manufacturers are also starting to give
incentives on leasing, called leasing subventions. They offer these
subsidies to put slow-selling models on the street, saving you even more
money.

Set up a competitive: bidding environment to get the lowest price. If you
already have an idea in mind of the make, model and trim level of your
desired car, attempt to calculate your own lease payment before you go
shopping to avoid paying through the roof. Check online comparison tools or
use a lease calculator to check your lease payment based on purchase price.
This gives you greater negotiation leverage as you solicit quotes from
various leasing companies.

Make sure you know all the fees involved at the beginning of your lease:
you may have to pay fees for licenses, registration and title. Other fees
include acquisition fees, freight fees and local or state taxes. At
lease-end, you may have to pay a disposition fee and charges for extra
mileage and any excess wear. Be aware that some of these fees – like
acquisition and disposition fees – are negotiable.
Know your mileage needs: almost all leases limit the number of miles per
year by imposing typically 10 to 20 cents per excess mile over 15,000 miles
a year. If you are the kind of high-commuter who puts 40,000 miles a year
on his car, then you might end up running thousands of dollars in hefty
penalties at the end of your lease. Be smart and negotiate a higher-mileage
limit or pad you excess miles at the beginning of your lease to avoid
robber tax rates for excess miles.
Almost all leases limit the number of miles per year by imposing fees
typically 10 to 20 cents per mile over 15,000 miles per year. If you are
the kind of high-commuter who puts a lot miles on his car, then these costs
can add up quickly. Negotiate

Include GAP coverage: make sure your lease includes GAP coverage. This
covers you in the event of the vehicle getting wrecked, stolen or totalled.
Without GAP insurance, you leave yourself wide open to thousands of dollars
in leased obligations. Check if the GAP coverage is included so you don’t
pay it twice.

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