Berlau, December 1999
Mechanic Mike, Stuntman Johannes Hermann and actor Phillip Stein (Frank Batimus) meet in a garage in an industrial area.
MM: Hey Phillip, seems Frank is as popular as ever, you got a lot of cars to check out, and the manufactors are willing to see their cars driven by you on screen.
PS: What an honor! I really liked the Primus but I can see that the producers want some variety. Mike, can you drive them outside and give me an update what we have here?
JH: I have already driven them all, together with Mike, we can tell you quite a lot about them, but your opinion counts the most, as usual.
Mike lined up the vehicles one by one, starting with a white one.
JH: The first one is a Kiyume Fujin by @machalel . I was a bit disappointed about brake balance, and Mike told me he heard some valve float when doing the test maneuvers. Chassis stiffnes also isn´t great, resulting in poor crash test results. Bended cars look great on screen, but I would provide my crew a safer one. Handling is mediocre.
PS: Yep, looks don´t excite me although there are worse cars. Just looks too youthful for a chief inspector. In addition, now that I sit in it, it isnt that comfortable. Next please.
Sadly, the Kiyume is out.
MM: Hey, what about a Yamazaki Premio by @S_U_C_C_U_L_E_N_T ? A very convenient handling despite similar agility to the Kiyume. It´s quite alright to service, and it has no major flaw considering reliability. Lean on gas, too. Not the most comfortable, its on the one hand a sport suspension installed, and it doesnt have that fancy trim level. The SR should be affordable fun in a sedan. Sadly, it´s not slow by any means but a league below the others. Still fast enough to get most baddies, but not a rocket.
PS: Looks are cliché Ariyan, but I must admit its sharp and clean. I like it. A premium interior would have been desirable for me, but on the other hand, it`s below 20k and the relatively modest upkeep is very realistic for a car bought by the state.
The Yamazaki might become Franks car.
PS: THIS looks muscular. Damn, it announces its class, but doesnt exaggerate by doing this. That one has style. Plus, the vibrant purple reminds me of the Swanson I had in season 3? Is that also one? I see some parallels.
JH: No, this is a Fowler Buckshot by @ludvig. It´s quite rare here in Hetvesia. Pure Gasmean power, very early redline, but pulls like a bull. It is one of the more premium comfort muscle sedans, however, not as comfortable as I had expected, but for a Gasmean, excellent reliability. Not that much more comfort than the modest Yamazaki, but the V8 has of course thirst. A daring choice, but it could work.
The Fowler might become Franks car.
JH: This one, a Brampton Tagore Sport by @conan is more nimble than the Fowler and Yamazaki, even more comfortable and still not unreliable. Safety is on Fowler level, so you can crash it without any fear. This is a very capable car in my opinion.
MM: It´s expensive. Both in purchase and upkeep. But I have to agree that it is a good car. What´s your opinion, Phillip?
PS: While I like the front, the rear design just isnt for me, sadly. If I had to choose between the Yamazaki and this, it would be a tough descision, but I would take the Yamazaki. How much is this here more expensive?
MM: A painful $10k. So that´s out then?
The Brampton is sadly not further considered. For this price, with a design quality like the Yamazaki, it would have made it, but it doesn´t look like a car of the 30.000 Hetvesische Mark league. It is even more expensive than the Fowler that gives some exclusive luxury vibes.
PS: Oh, the IP Surzum by @knugcab is a wagon! Never had this before. While I generally like the styling, it lacks emotion. I mean, the Yamazaki also is a very modest design, which is typical for average cars from Ariya, but carries more identity than this.
MM: Same price as the Fowler. Drives well and is rather reliable. Comfort is also great, much better than the Fowler. But it´s not as sturdy and stylish. Servicing all this advanced engineering is a nightmare too. I hate to say this because it means being harsh to a good car, but when Phillip said that the design isn´t exciting, I knew it was the Fowler then for this price. Although I want to see this car in another prominent role in the series, because we rarely featured wagons and it is a good car!
Despite it´s high quality, the IP won´t be considered as Franks car, but is granted a prominent episode starring
JH: Now a two-door, another welcomened exception from sedans. Finally a domestic Hetvesian mobile, an Eroberung UR270 by @azkaalfafa. It´s absurdly cheap for how much fun it is! Excellent handling, but the reliability suffers a bit. But again, this is 2800 more than a Yamazaki, but drives circles around it.
PS: Typical Hetvesian design, modest but muscular, nowhere as expressive as the fowler, more serious than the IP or Brampton. But this causes me severe back pain. It´s rock hard and for the price and this performance, the interior trim isn´t to great, another misery of domestic cars. But this car will get anyone in a chase. I wonder if another car makes it, if we can use these impound lot storyline again to get it to me for an episode undercover?
The Eroberung might become Franks car.
