The Chicago Auto Show opened on Friday, so I checked it out with a friend Saturday afternoon.

After too many trips with people who couldn’t last through the entire show (even the tiny Atlanta one) I’ve gone alone the past couple years. I’d head down there after work on a less crowded weeknight and stay until they closed–a good 4 hours to enjoy the cars. However, my friend was as into the show as I was and we ended up spending 6 hours at the Auto Show on Saturday! We got there around 4 and again didn’t leave until kicked out.

I think I’ve now got a new front-runner for my next car–provided Alfa Romeo doesn’t return to the U.S. by the time my Jetta’s paid off.

The new Volvo S40 looks amazing, inside and out! The new model has a 218 HP engine available, which means it should be pretty fast, too! I plan to go take one for a test drive when they hit the dealers next month.

However, if for some reason uBid goes public or I win the lottery, I want the Maserati Quattroporte. I don’t know what it is about Italian designed cars…