PART 2A - RETRO (MADE UNTIL 1989)
Here, I could of course be progressive, and break the old stereotypes, and make the hairdresser with a midlife crisis a car-expert. But the problem then would be that she probably would be sure what to buy by then. Or I could nail some stereotypes even further and make her have a conversation over Messenger with her brother Robert, who is more into cars. Maybe the stereotype I would nail the most would be that middle aged white males like the host of QFC35 can’t be progressive in their storywriting. I guess that I can but that I just don’t bother so…aaaaanyway, after giving Robert some advice to try to keep things short and not too complicated, which it otherwise easily ends up with when he tries to discuss the subject of automobiles, she went out on some popular car advertising site on the web, whatever it might be called in Hetvesia. Oh, this story is crap and you want action? Well, let’s go then.
ANKE: I guess I could do a search for all convertibles nearby. But the problem is that it may end up like sort of a mess. How about first doing a search on everything under $15000, and then…ah. I can filter it on “1989 and older” on the model year. How easy is it to live with a very old car like that?
ROBERT: Depends on what you’re getting I would say. Some of them are better than others. It might of course have a drawback that they can be troublesome due to age, but on the other hand the mechanics are genearlly simpler and cheaper to repair too. If you can find parts, there is. Another good thing is that cars of this age probably will only rise in value. But well, you get an older car that usually have drawbacks when it comes to safety, performance, handling…but maybe that’s not as big as a dealbreaker for something that’s just a nice weather ride for shorter trips in the summer.
ANKE: I see. Yeah, I can sort them, show cheapest first…how cheap can I go? Oh hey, look at this! Only $4635 and it is a 1987 MARA ZORA 1.3S KABRIOLET @AndiD
ANKE: WHAT? I didn’t even know that Mara made convertibles. And it literally looks like a Mara with its roof chopped off. Not really what I dreamed about being seen in, but…
ROBERT: That’s more or less what it is too. It’s not all that bad. The simple technology makes it more or less unbreakable, and it is cheap not only to buy but also to service and fill up the tank on. On the other hand, if you want something even remotely exciting, you will have to pay more. It is almost as slow as an early 70s IP Icarus diesel, and has the driving experience of turning around a wooden spoon in a pot of porridge. Also, it is of course neither really comfortable or safe. But for someone that only requires affordable open top motoring, sure…
ANKE: OK, taking notice. Let’s see, $6600 will get me a 1987 ROAMER BEACH 1600 CABRIO @Mausil
ANKE: Maybe more the type of car I was looking for, but I really don’t feel for the look of this. Sort of reminds me of a toad. Should I be ashamed to say that I almost likes the looks of the Mara better then?
ROBERT: Nah, they aren’t very impressive. Slightly faster and more fun to drive than a Mara, sure, but while still being cheap to run, service and buy, it is not as impressive there as the Mara, and the slight bump in performance is not really worth it in my opinion. If you want cheap, go very cheap.
ANKE: Raising my budget to $8376 will get me a 1962 HAMFA SCHMETTERLING @Ch_Flash
ANKE: Wow, it is a looker, but at the same time it looks like some old school race car, which I don’t know if I really was looking for. Also, isn’t it suspiciously cheap?
ROBERT: Maybe. But it mainly has looks in its favour. It wasn’t very fast or sporty even for its era, is known to suffer from terrible breakdowns, which at least were cheap to repair. It also was a struggle to drive, unsafe and lacking in comfort. It also wants its share of fuel, but sure, it is maybe not a bad future investment. Which probably is a better usage case than having it just for fun rides in the summer.
ANKE: I guess my intuition was kind of right then. Now, for $9000, I can have a 1980 KNIGHTWICK PUMA @mart1n2005
ANKE: Wow, this is a stylish car. Chic, sporty without being too extreme, doesn’t feel outdated despite being 40 years old. I like it, I can see myself driving around in this, but is it any good?
ROBERT: A rather average car overall. Doesn’t really have any overly strong sides. It is OK, I guess. But the V8 likes fuel and it is not the most exciting car to drive, without being that overly comfortable either. Safety is a bit on the low side too, but that’s an age related thing I would say.
**ANKE:**Uhm, OK… I’ll think it over a second time, then. Now, for $11900, I can have a 1988 EMW FLUNDER 150 @HermannMatern
ANKE: Generally stylish but I can yet feel like if something is slightly off, mainly the front end styling feels a bit sad and maybe has, I don’t know… A bit too much empty space, especially on the height? I can’t explain it better. I guess I liked the Knightwick better, anyhow. But being more expensive, is this one any better?
ROBERT: Wouldn’t say so. Cheaper to fill up, sure, but more expensive to service instead. More comfortable without being extremely good there, but not as easy to drive, and not very fun either. Wouldn’t call it bad but…there are better choices. The Knightwick included, I would say.
ANKE: Right. For $13166 there is a 1970 CONDOR WHIPTAIL GT @Fantic2000
ANKE: I can’t call it ugly but I don’t want a big boat like this…
ROBERT: For multiple reasons I would say. It will be a struggle to drive, and not very exciting either despite being rather fast for 1970. It gulps horrible amounts of fuel, will be expensive to service, and the comfort is rather meh. To top it all off, despite its size it is terribly unsafe even for 1970.
ANKE: Eats into the budget a lot too. Now, most expensive of them all is a 1988 HEXEN GT1700 @Arianne777
ANKE: Eh. The wood? Is this built in a shed? Not the most exciting design overall either.
ROBERT: There is more than the purchase price that has a chance to make you ruined. A 32 year old car with this low reliability and high service costs is not a brilliant combo there. Other than that, it is not really bad, but the comfort is on the low side, and the safety not the best one either, but again, for its age it’s rather good I guess. But I would think twice since it can be a costly affair.
ANKE: OK. Well, I will take some time and think those cars over then, before I look at the somewhat newer ones…
CARS GOING FURTHER:
Ultimately, Anke decides that classic car ownership is nothing for her, and chooses to not consider any of the pre 1990 cars she found.
