ROUND 3 - FINALE
December 8, 2004
Today’s the day where the girls, accompanied by Amika’s mother Maria, get to test drive the 8 cars that were shortlisted from their session reading car magazines with the help of Maria, who had experience with car journalism. There was only one thing that troubles them…
(Driveway, Osbourne’s House)
Svetlana: Are you sure you want to push through the testing with the snow we are having right now?
Amika: Oohh like that stops these cars from going anywhere, There’s a reason why these cars got AWD.
Svetlana: Not all of them……
Maria: What’s important is that these cars are fitted with winter tyres. Without those, even the best offroaders can get stuck.
Svetlana: She has a point, Amika……
Amika: You do hold a fair point……
(Undisclosed car dealership in Edinburgh)
The trio arrived at the dealership without any problems. With the 8 cars within sight, Amika and Svetlana were excited to finally see the cars in the flesh, like they were kids window shopping at the toyshop.
They tested the Loubet Abricot and Hinode Cinqueta first, two of the cheapest cars of the shortlisted cars.
Amika: Say ‘Lana, do you wanna drive the Hinode?
Svetlana: Can’t say no to that, gotcha.
Amika: I will go follow you from behind with the Abricot.
Svetlana: Mmmkay.
Maria: You two stay safe and don’t cause any troubles now okay?
Amika: Sure thing ma.
Svetlana: Will do.
(Hinode Cinqueta and Loubet Abricot Entrada)
@S_U_C_C_U_L_E_N_T and @Maxbombe / @vouge
(Svetlana’s POV)
Svetlana: For what it is, it drives alright. There’s benefits to being this slow in conditions like these.
Svetlana: Though I fear there’s no hiding how slow it is in normal conditions, like literally as I think this, I can feel Amika from behind me……
(Amika’s POV)
Amika: Sure enough, I have gotten used to how this car drives, and mainly due to how light I can press the clutch pedal is, I think it is easy enough to drive that I can teach Lana how to drive manual with this. I am kind of surprised that this can drive rather fine with only the front wheels being driven.
Amika and Svetlana arrive back at the car dealership with no fuss. Amika steps out of the car and Svetlana steps out as well.
Amika: How did you find the Hinode?
Svetlana: Yeah it’s quite easy to drive on the limit, which I would assume is the opposite for you in the Abricot being front wheel driven only…
Amika: Not that bad to be honest…
Svetlana: Ehhh?
Amika: Despite being manual, I find it as easy to drive as an automatic, though that’s just my perspective on it. I reckon I can teach you how to drive manual with this one, the clutch pedal’s light as a feather.
Svetlana: That’s convincing enough, do you wanna try out the other cars first?
Amika: Definitely.
Maria steps out from the dealership lobby and approaches the two girls.
Maria: Y’know what? I am bored kinda just doing nothing at the lobby, mind if I ride shotgun with you girls?
Amika: Ehhh sure why not, come with us ma!
Maria: * Points at the Airacruiser * Let’s do the Airacruiser then.
Amika: I just got out of driving the Abricot, may as well drive the only other manual car in the group.
The trio got in the Airacruiser and headed out.
(Arlington Airacruiser Synq 2.3)
Amika: The clutch’s harder to depress than the one’s on the Abricot, gear changes are a bit notchy, but none of them detracts from the driving dynamics this car’s got to give, the traction’s superb and the ground clearance is probably more than enough to clear a bit of deep snow.
Maria: Speaking like a true car journalist Amika!
Amika: Strangely enough, the car’s a bit harsher to ride than the Abricot….
Svetlana: Now you mention it, yeah the car is a tad harder riding than when I was driving the Cinqueta.
Amika: Not that bad, its a bit of a nitpick to be honest, this is a decently well performing package, though it may be a bit of a handful to teach Lana stick shift with this one.
Svetlana: Hmmm….
Maria: It will take time but not impossible.
The trio arrived back at the dealership.Once parked they got out of the Airacruiser.
Maria: So what’d you think?
Amika: Definitely a step up from the Abricot and the Cinqueta.
Svetlana: But is it good enough against the other cars?
Amika: Well, I am eyeing the CE-X right now, so we can try out the Recanna and see how well it fares.
Maria: Getting into the mood now, aye?
Amika: And I got you to blame….
Svetlana: Like mother and daughter….
The trio got in the Recanna and proceeded as usual.
(Recanna CE-2.0X)
Amika: Definitely way more stable to drive compared to the Airacruiser, though traction traded off for such stability, something that doesn’t make it any worse, just a matter of adjusting to it. The ride’s definitely a bit better than the Airacruiser.
Svetlana: My butt can say yes to that.
Maria: One thing, I can say this car drives really briskly, you think Amika?
Amika: Definitely the fastest so far…
The trio arrived back at the dealership.
Svetlana: I am taking a liking to the Recanna.
Amika: For 100 British Sterling (GBP) less than the Airacruiser, it offers a lot of car.
Maria: Do you wanna try out the Pianz SportTour next?
Amika: I am down.
Svetlana: Me too!
The trio got in the the Pianz SportTour and headed out.
(Homura Pianz SportTour)
Amika: This is rather slow……
Svetlana: Not as slow as the box that I drove earlier……
Amika: But you know what?
Maria: What’s the word…… Comfy isn’t?
Amika: You beat me to it, the Pianz literally glides over all the bumps that we felt driving around in other cars. The Pianz is really stable to drive as well, far more stable than any other car that I have driven or possibly more. Traction is ample, but I fear that I might get stuck in deep snow, not that I would ever wanna do that. I might probably forgive how slow this thing is with how much this car gives in other aspects.
Svetlana: Despite having rather bare bones interior, I can say that the comfort is second-to-none.
Maria nods her head in agreement.
Amika: Alright let’s head back to the dealership, we still have 3 more cars to evaluate.
Amika drives the Recanna back to the dealership
Amika: Alright we are back. Say mom, what cars do we have left to test?
Maria: What’s left are the Hiyunzari Agate, the Macht Teuton, the Litchfield Wagoon.
Svetlana: Let’s go on the Agate.
Amika: Fine by me.
The trio gets out of the Recanna and into the Agate, then headed off on to their usual route.
(Hiyunzari Agate G)
Amika: While it isn’t the fastest, its still has decent speed and a very stable platform to boot, not as stable as the Pianz, but definitely up there and comfort aint bad either, not that too far off the Pianz. Traction on the snow’s alright and that’s pretty much it.
Maria: Your summarization is getting better the further we go on with testing.
Svetlana: I always liked that nerdy side of her
Maria giggles from the backseat.
Amika: What?
Svetlana: Nothing, just drive.
The trio arrived at the dealership, no fuss as usual
Maria: Alright, its the Wagoon and Macht left….
Amika: I am going for the Wagoon.
The trio switched over to the Wagoon and headed out.
(Litchfield Wagoon VP6)
Amika: I can definitely feel the weighty girth of this thing moving about, driving normally is fine for sure but definitely to take note when going over the limit. Its definitely the fastest car, beating out the car Recanna in acceleration. The suspension definitely feels soft and tall, which would be akin to offroad, and traction is definitely superb.
Svetlana: The seats feel nice to sit on, they are very comfy and despite you driving like a lunatic, the seats absorb most of the movement.
Amika: Hey, its not driving like a lunatic, its called finding the limits!
Maria: I guess you could put it that way…
Amika: Shut it.
The trio arrived at the dealership, with only one more car to test, the Macht Teuton
Maria: One last car to go…. At this point either one of you ladies may already have reached a verdict.
Svetlana: Possibly….
Amika: Alright, let’s hop in the Macht Teuton.
The trio switched over to the Macht Teuton and headed out for the final time.
(Macht Teuton S52i Touring)
Amika: Oh wow, forget what I said about the Pianz being the most comfortable, the Teuton feels like a magic carpet ride, definitely the best when it comes to comfort.
Svetlana: Mmmmmmmm my butt likes the seats so much, my butt and the seats literally become one with each other.
Amika: Driving is stable enough and traction on the snow is on par with the Pianz, if not better.
Svetlana: Definitely faster as well.
Amika: But I fear there might be something that might make me reconsider, more when we come back to the dealership and discuss things.
The trio comes back to the dealership parking lot.
Maria: That concludes the test drive session.
Amika: I am definitely beat.
Svetlana: That’s one of us……
Maria: Anyways, let’s get down to business, here’s the price list of the cars for reference.
Maria gives the pricelist of the dealership to Amika for Svetlana and her to share
Maria: Okay, Amika, you’re going to be the primary user for the car, any thoughts?
Amika: So I think we can exclude the cheapest and most expensive cars out of this one. The Abricot and Cinqueta are pretty cheap, but the Pianz and CE-X hold better value for money. The Macht Teuton and the Wagoon are definitely up there in the market, but for a lot less, I can get cars that can do most if not almost the same capabilities those two have.
Svetlana: So that would narrow it down to the Airacruiser, the CE-X, the Agate, and the Pianz. Immediately I can deduce that the Airacruiser is the odd one out.
Amika: And she would be right, while the Airacruiser is definitely an upgrade compared to the Abricot and Cinqueta, the Airacruiser is no match with the likes of the Agate, CE-X and the Pianz.
Maria: So that’s the CE-X, the Agate, and the Pianz left.
Amika: It pains for me to see it go, but the Agate is out for me, the price point it is what compared to the CE-X and the Pianz is just not giving it any favours.
Maria: Fair point……
Svetlana: So it comes down to the Pianz and the CE-X.
Amika: Mmmmmmm, Lana what do you think?
Svetlana: I think the Pianz is easy riding for me.
Maria: Its pretty cheap overall, to buy and maintain.
Amika: Sigh
Amika: Despite lackluster performance, I will admit its pretty comfortable to ride, and its pretty stable to drive so even a novice like Lana can drive it with ease.
Maria: So…… What’s it gonna be?
Amika: I am starting to warm up to the Pianz, so be it…
Maria: So its the Pianz it is.
Svetlana: ура! (Hurrah!)
Amika: Its been a journey, but its just the beginning.
Maria: I am going to deal with the paperworks from here. Amika, I am proud of you, you’ve grown a lot and seeing you right now, I can’t be more happier. Svetlana, I know you’ve been such a big help for my daughter, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. Thank you so much and please take care of yourselves.
Amika: sniff Thanks mom……
Svetlana: Are you cold or is someone happy to be with me.
Amika embraces Svetlana with a heavy hug.
Slight tears can be seen on Amika’s cheeks.
Amika: Thank you, Svetlana my beloved…
Svetlana: Anything for the ones I love, Amika.
END
TOP 8 WINNERS:
1st @donutsnail
2nd @Urke101
3rd @Portalkat42
4th @HybridTronny / @GetWrekt01
5th @Atomic / @Fantic2000
6th @Texaslav
7th @Maxbombe / @vouge
8th @S_U_C_C_U_L_E_N_T
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
Thanks for sticking with me, even if the wait was really long.
I really like to apologize for that, and hopefully the next time I host a challenge, it will be more streamlined and therefore a faster turnout will be achieved.
Most importantly, I hope you enjoyed this long-format CSR round!