When Dick Sherman ran the first Greater Rochester Auto Show 34 years ago, months after the opening of the Riverside Convention Center, Buick Regals and Chevy Monte Carlos were the cars that turnd heads and formed lines.

"Today, you can barely find a sedan on this floor. They even hid the Mustang behind a wall," Sherman said as he stood in the middle of some of the 250 new vehicles on display at the convention center this weekend.

To make room for the Mustang, and a few other classic "muscle car" models (from the 20th century,) show staff moved a few of the dozens of SUV's and trucks waiting to meet the thousands who'll roll through the event's doors.

"Tall cars, that's what everyone is buying today. Two out of three cars sold are trucks or SUVs," said Brad McAreavy of the Rochester Auto Dealers Association. "And with gas prices the way they are, people can get what they want."

Instead of going from dealer to dealer, new car buyers often wait for the auto show to comparison shop without the mileage. Sales staff is also replaced by product specialists who answer questions without the big pitch. It helps many finalize their test drive list, since no test drives are offered at the event. 

While the event often draws families who'll be able to let yonger people take their turn at a drive simulating video game, others will choose to simply sit in the seat of a car they have no intention, or even chance, of owning. Exotic sports cars from Lamborghini, Prosche, Mercedes and BMW can create swarms of curiosity, though no one's allowed behind the wheel of an authentic model with a pricetag over six-figures.

"The kids want to see these kind of cars," Sherman said. "$86,000, its yours. We can't afford them. We want to dream about them. It's what you want to do here."