Press days 2012 in retrospect

Best weather ever: Sunny on Monday and Tuesday, with mild temperatures and no snow or ice.

Celebrity watch: Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, wearing a light-brown suit, descended from the Buick Encore stage with assorted staff.  Did the mayor know it’s said that not too long ago GM execs were admonished not to wear brown suits? This was, of course, before “casual Fridays” of more recent decades.

There were wireless hassles on the show floor and at sites with their own wireless access.  Cobo service disappeared sometime during Honda’s Tuesday morning Accord coupe concept intro.

Missing in 2012:  fFowers in the display area women’s restrooms.

Not missing: Exaggerated heels and platforms on pumps worn by many models and a surprising number of guests. A tiny woman at the Chrysler display may have had the highest: six-inches and teetering.

Great comment from a gentleman at the stand of the Falcon F7 exotic: “We’ve moved up from the projects.” In 2011 Falcon was stuffed in a dark space at the back of the show.  This year the Michigan company was in the middle and behind the Hyundai stand. The suggested cost of a custom Falcon F7 is hardly “projects”  — between $195,000 and $245,000.

Stand that walks the talk: Coda backed its display with fresh wood, offered Absopure water from a jug, invited guests to type in their environmental goals and explained the range of an electric Coda on a panel.

Lovely lights: The expanding/contracting light globes at the Lincoln stand were intriguing.

Vehicles worth a long look: Edsel Ford Speedsters at the Lincoln stand, the great paint job of the Veloster show car at the Hyundai stand and the eye-popping Lexus LF-LC concept with the facing L’s grille.

Best seats: Audi’s molded chairs for its presentation.