Delaware Auto Show fun for all ages

At the 2016 Delaware Auto Show, even the youngest car enthusiasts had a chance to sit behind the wheel of a brand-new BMW or Porsche and dream about driving it home.

As parents snapped pictures of their kids climbing up into giant pick-up trucks and sports cars, the more serious buyers circled the latest models and analyzed their pricing and fuel efficiencies.

Overall 25 manufacturers exhibited around 140 vehicle models at the 10th annual show at Wilmington’s Chase Center on the Riverfront. The show continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Paul Bauerschmidt of Newark was on the hunt for his next car. A father to a 14-year-old son, he said he was finally ready to purchase a more exciting ride.

“I’m leaving my minivan years and transitioning into something that will be fun to drive,” he said.

Bauerschmidt had his eye on a Lexus 300, but said it was a little too expensive for him. He felt that the Honda Civic that was on display was a better deal.

“Reasonably priced but fun to drive,” he said of his reasoning.

Faith Leaning was not in the market for a new car. The 16-year-old does not have her license yet - she’ll complete her driver’s education class this fall - but said that she was still having a blast window-shopping with her best friend Nigel McIntosh, who is also 16.

“We were sitting in the Dodge Charger earlier and had the music blasting and I think someone remotely shut it off because we were being too loud,” she said with a smile.

The three-day auto show will continue Sunday with the same round up of cars and an appearance from Miss Delaware 2016 Amanda Debus and Jungle John. The Delaware Children’s Museum is featuring a fun zone where children get to ride toy cars around a mini-race track.

Shanita Watson of Wilmington brought along her sister and cousin, as well as some of her nieces, to look at the cars.

“We’ve been taking pictures in front of cars all day, just enjoying ourselves and having a ball,” she said. “Dreaming and having fun, that’s the best thing to do.”

Watson wasn’t looking to buy a car, but said that she was in love with a bright orange Dodge Charger at the show. However, the most impressive ride of all, she said, was the DeLorean time machine, a replica of the iconic ride from the “Back to the Future” movie series.

“That was the coolest car of all,” she said.

David Wilson and his 12-year-old grandson, Ben Allgeier, also spent time eyeing up the reproduction on Saturday. Despite the fact that “Back to the Future” came out decades before Allgeier was born, he said he’s seen all of the movies and recognized the DeLorean instantly.

The pair spent the day walking around the exhibition, going from car to car and sitting in the front seats. Allgeier always sat in the driver’s seat, while his grandfather rode shotgun. Their goal was to sit in all of the cars by the end of the day.

“I’ve done about 20 so far,” Allgeier said.

“I don’t buy cars that often, but this really is the next big thing,” Wilson, 69, said. “You don’t have to go around to all the different dealers, you’ve got them all here. It’s really a nice way to compare cars.”