Category: Drive Time

If you want to see everything I hate about modern cars all in one model, then watch this video about the 2025 Alfetta from Alfa Romeo.

Is it beautiful?  Oh hell, yes.  Yes, its hybrid engine is blisteringly fast and powerful:  400-500hp (!!!???) that very few people on the planet can handle anyway  Yes, it has all the scoops and wings and stuff that are absolutely necessary on, say, a Le Mans sports car or F1 car;  but on a regular road car?  Not so much.

And yes, it has all the AI (!!!!) -driven features for “infotainment” that all the cool kids seem to want these days.  (When did cars become all about entertainment — as though driving a super-quick sports car is not entertainment enough?  And who needs the “info” part of that equation when whatever they put out as “new” is generally speaking about two years behind the technology to be found on your smartphone?)

And remember:  I fucking love love LOVE Alfa Romeo cars, so I’m hardly an unbiased audience here.

My problem, as with so much in today’s world, is that I prefer simpler things when the trend is increasingly towards the evermore-complex.  And absolutely every “feature” mentioned in the video sets my teeth on edge.

Of course, with all that complexity comes price.  The Alfetta’s going to cost over $140k, which means that it’s going to be unaffordable to just about anyone who’s not also looking at a second-hand Ferrari or Lambo, or a new Maserati GT.  Honestly?  (and this is the first time I’ve ever said this) I think the Chevy Corvette is a better deal, at just over half the price and pretty much the same performance, but without — at the moment — all the silly electronic geegaws.

Pass.  With the utmost regret.

In this article (thankee Reader MG), the author talks about the styling similarities between the Ferrari 212/225 Barchetta and the early Ford Thunderbird, and how the two cars were linked.  Here are the side-by-side pics:

Honestly, apart from the obvious ones (embedded exhaust pipes, spoked wheels and round tail lights), I think they’re about as different as can be imagined.  The T-bird is part of that era’s American obsession with chrome and fins (part of the jet/space thing) and has not a single aspiration towards airflow and streamlining, while the Barchetta is all flowing lines and grace, with minimal chrome fittings.

And let it be known that I don’t actually dislike the T-bird’s shape — in fact, I think it’s excellent and so much better than their later iterations of the model.  But I don’t see the cars as stylistically comparable.  (Of relative performance, of course, we will not speak.)

I will admit to being not much of an automotive-styling cognoscentus, so if you think I’ve missed something, feel free to enlighten me.

After the last two chapters in this series (Part 1 and Part 2) I can already hear the rumblings:

“Okay Kim, enough blathering on about overpriced old cars that will massively deplete your lottery winnings, and end up spending more time in the shop than in your garage.  What four cars would you pick if you could only buy a 2024/25 model?”

Actually, it’s not a difficult question.  Here they are, with a few words of explanation for each, and to make life simpler I’m not going to go into the luxury/supercar category because very few of them actually get me going.  Each of these are cars that just about anyone could buy with just a small lottery win, or even a large performance bonus.

Acura Integra Type S

It’s the adult version of the Honda Civic R;  same 300+hp engine, stick shift (!!!!) but with a little more luxury and a more comfortable ride.  And Honda reliability.  What’s not to like?

Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

Everyone’s favorite sports car.  This one is for New Wife, who still misses her old MGB GT dreadfully.  Also note the stick shift (!!!!) which means I wouldn’t mind driving it too… and having this means I wouldn’t be tempted into a Porsche Boxster or Cayman ($$$$).  Less than half the price (and running costs) of a Porker, and pretty much the same amount of fun.  Perfect.

Mercedes GLA 250 AWD

Call this my “guns ‘n groceries” car.  Basically, it’s a classier version of a VW Golf (interior dimensions are amazingly similar), but it’s a Merc.  Sadly, it’s not available with a stick shift [boo hiss]  but I can slum it, I guess.  New Wife would be driving it more than I would, anyway

Toyota Tacoma TRD
New Wife has absolutely forbidden me to get a truck, any truck, ever.  But I bet she wouldn’t mind me having one to fetch mulch for her rose garden at that new mansion instead of smelling up her Merc.  Also, from my perspective, it’s pretty much a Hi-Lux, FFS, and it has a stick shift (!!!!).  And if the things are good enough for a Somali warlord…

…feel free to guess where I’m going with this line of thought.

Putting together this last list was more fun than I thought it would be.  As any fule kno, I frigging hate modern cars with a passion, but given all my preconditions (stick shift etc.), I think the above may well be the best of the bunch.  (I love the fact that of all of them, the Acura is the only one that does not come with an automatic option.)

Feel free, as always, to take issue with me in Comments.

See last Saturday’s post for the background, if this is the first time you’re seeing this series.

My choices for the Euro section is a little different this time, because in addition to wanting to flee the modern electro-digital foolishness, I’m also tending towards smaller cars that are fun to drive, but not necessarily high-performance cars.  So you won’t see the Dino 246 (my perennial favorite) or similar in today’s selection.  Here they are:

1956 Porsche 356C

1971 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF

1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider

And here’s my go-to choice, one that, unlike the Alfa, will always start reliably:

1964 Mercedes 230 SL

I am quite curious to know that if I ever did populate my garage with the above four beauties, which one would become my favorite over time.

And next week — have the smelling-salts handy — I’m going to list my modern choices.