Taking a Little Trip...

[DLC]

As many of you are aware, SOA is introduing the new Legacy at the Detroit International Auto Salon this week. This will be a big upgrade from the 3G that we've seen around, in more ways than just the Turbo.

From friends in Japan who've driven it, i've heard that it's a very significant upgrade chassis-wise, and we're finally getting closer to parity with the Japanese models.

For this reason, SOA decided to invite some people from the online community to participate in the pre-public portion of the show to talk to some of the people involved, take pictures and what have you.

I've been invited, in no small part because of Legacy Central, to join in the festivities and see it first hand. It's not everyday that a corporation contacts you and asks to bring you to an event, and i was definitely taken by surprise at the offer.

I'll be back late this week with some pictures and some stories to tell, i hope

[ciper]

Wow, they actually notice this small bunch of fanatics?!

TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES

[ericS2the6]

wow thats great! you must be very excited!

thankfully im only 30 min from cobo tho

[vrg3]

Wow, they actually notice this small bunch of fanatics?!

Yeah, wow!

Awesome, Dave. Have a great time.

[legacy92ej22t]

Sweet! That is too cool Dave. Have a great time, take lots and lots of photos!

[Legacy777]

grab me a brochure

[georryan]

I wouldn't mind a brochure also. I'll pay for hte shipping.

[THAWA]

thats hella cool. Dave, bring an extra luggage and load up on brochures and other free items, I'd love some stuff

[entirelyturbo]

That's friggin awesome!!! I want to be recognized enough someday that I would be invited to a private unveiling... Consider yourself VERY privileged...

I too would pay for brochure shipping, as well as wanting to see LOTS of pics!

[vrg3]

Hey, see if you can use all your clout to convince SOA themselves to send us all brochures! :)

[evolutionmovement]

That's awesome, I miss going to the Detroit show! Last time I went they had McRae's double championship Impreza there.

Its a little known thing, but I believe you can join the Universal Life Church (free mail-order minister, I'm one) and order a press pass from them (was $5) to go on press day without the huge crowds. But then there's all those damned journalists...

Steve

[Tleg93]

That is just too cool. I've already decided that I'm going to own one. I just hope it's before they are couple years old. I can't wait to see the photos. As of right now I haven't seen any kind of photo of the vehicles so it will be a nice surprise to see them.

[vrg3]

You can request brochures from SOA online at http://www.need-desire.com/ now. Go to Menu->Legacy->Request Brochure. I just requested one.

[Legacy777]

been there, done that, hoping to get the brochure

here's some more info from msn
http://autoshow.msn.com/as/autoshow2004 ... toshow2004

[legacy92ej22t]

Well, I got my Brochure today. There's not at a lot of new info but there's a couple nice wagon shots. Both the sedan and wagon are pretty hot .
Looks like they're already releasing a GT Limited with perforated leather-trimmed upholstery, power front seats and a power moonroof (hopefully this one won't leak ).

[entirelyturbo]

Got mine too. Very cool pics and stats! I'm really thinkin hard about this car!

I must say I really commend SOA for carrying out a halfway-decent marketing campaign on the 05 Legacy. It definitely appeals more to the avid enthusiast, rather than the masses. The Legacy has always been a cult car that is appreciated by a small, but loyal group, and I think SOA finally realized that and made something worthwhile of it.

Now if only they could overhaul the rest of their advertising in the same way

[THAWA]

mine arrived aswell, car looks hot

[Legacy777]

I want my brochure

[THAWA]

where are the pictures? Where are the stories?

[DLC]

I have a lot of pics, but mostly what you've probably already seen. I'll put up some of the better ones tommorow, maybe

Stories? Not much to tell, had a great time with the other invitees and SOA people.

The worst part of the whole trip was my phone (tmobile sidekick POS) dying on me that morning, and finding that i couldn't make a long-distance call from any phones at Detroit Metro Airport. The $35 cab ride to the Hotel sucked, but at least the room was nice, as was the company.

I got separated from a couple of groups i was wandering with at the show, which is pretty easy given the size and fair amount of people.

Suprisingly i saw a few wall posters with the new Legacy sillouette, not to mention a billboard and the logo projected onto a building.

I could also arrange a brochure scan, if there was demand...

Here's a picture of the group, plus some of the SOA people:

[DLC]

Oh, one of the highlights of the show was the Mini display. They had a few out front, three inside with a super Cooper-fied one in the back, and one hung up on display, with the Stars and Stripes roof.

The display was relatively small, but there were games on one side, and on the other side were four stations where you could customize your own Mini postcard to print out and email to someone, with all of the customization options available on the real car. It also took your picture for the postcard, and you could pick from a selection of passengers. After this, it would send the picture to a set of displays that went along both sides of the exhibit, 12 feet or so above the floor, and met at a larger screen that would show recent examples of postcards.

They had a live DJ spinning records, with some very, very good beats.

The best part was when i mentioned to one of the staff that it was the best display in the whole place. She then asked me if i wouldn't mind answering a few questions about their presentation...who am i to say no to a beautiful French-Canadian girl! After 20 or so questions, i was rewarded with a Mini pin, and a smile on my face

[Legacy777]

Cool stuff Dave.

Glad you had a good time