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Guide To The Miami International Auto Show

The Miami International Auto Show comes to South Florida and will dazzle one and all with its luxurious, antique and new domestic cars from all manufacturers. It is one of five major auto shows in the United States and has been in Miami Beach since 1971. The event will attract many people and there is plenty of parking and food on site and nearby to enjoy the event comfortably. The opening hours for the show will vary as it covers two weekends and one work week (November 8th through November 17th). As always when in Miami Beach, it is great to arrive on a day with descent weather and stay around after the Auto Show to walk and dine on Lincoln Road and see the lights turn on at twilight. Here's what to expect.
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(Source: Blue Martini)

Miami International Auto Show

Miami Beach Convention Center
1901 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-7311
www.sfliautoshow.com

Friday, November 8th: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Tickets for the Auto Show are $12 for adults and $6 for kids, ages 6-12 (kids under 5 enter free). The Camp Jeep event will be opened but the Ride & Drive won't open until Saturday. Popular attractions in addition to exhibits are Million Dollar Alley – only the most expensive, beautiful, state-of-the-art cars in this area, Topless in Miami – convertibles and Havana Classics and antique models of cars from the 1950s. Off-site parking is the best option with the 17th Street garage across the street within walking distance of the Convention Center. There is another lot within walking distance (Lot P29) and it is next to the 17th Street garage.

Saturday, Sunday & Monday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The doors open at 11 a.m. and don't close until 11 p.m. The Ride & Drive event should be the first stop as cars can be test driven by patrons attending the event. Companies like Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Scion, VW and Toyota will have cars available to drive. The Ride & Drive event will only be open during the opening and closing weekend and will surely have a long line as soon as the doors are opened. Patrons must present a valid driver's license and, depending on the vehicle, be at least between 18 and 21 years old to drive the cars. The Camp Jeep attraction features drivers who show patrons the performance of a Jeep vehicle over different terrains (rocky trails, log crossings) and inclines. It allows patrons to have an interactive experience with the car outside merely walking around from exhibit to exhibit.

Tuesday through Friday: 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The entire Auto Show may not be able to be seen in one day with the great attractions and amount of people attending, so during the week, patrons can make a second trip and check out the rest. Exhibitors such as McLaren Automotive, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lotus and Ferrari will be on hand and patrons can have their picture taken sitting in these luxurious cars dreaming for a brief while of driving the performance automobiles. Together with the Havana Classics area, the Auto Show also has an area called "Memory Lane" with additional antique cars from the 50s, 60s and 70s popular in the U.S. The Smart Car company will also have an exhibit to show off its recyclable car (85% recycled parts). The doors open at 2 p.m. during the week and will probably peak after work hours.

Saturday, November 16 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, November 17 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The final days of the Auto Show make the Ride & Drive event available to patrons once more. Patrons can drive Mazdas, Kias and Toyotas as they replace Hyundai, Scion and VW who will only offer cars to drive on opening weekend. Patrons who are interested in buying a car can't do so at the Auto Show but will be given information on nearby dealerships that have the cars in stock so they can contact them for more details. On Saturday, the show will close again at 11 p.m., but Sunday it will end at 9 p.m. so anyone who hasn't gone should be aware of this to avoid arriving late.

Eric L Labrador is a freelance writer covering all things Miami. His work can be found on Examiner.com.

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