Frunkified

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In the interest of fairness I must write about the following…

The new C8 Corvette is, of course, the first mid-engine Vette. As such, the space in front of the passenger compartment is a trunk of sorts, or a frunk as it’s been dubbed. NHTSA has received complaints that the frunk lid can just open on its own while driving.

The number of complaints received so far is only in single digits, I believe, but I think Chevrolet/GM need to be proactive. Still, maybe my wonderful wife will wait on that C8 convertible.

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This Hemmings article is titled, “Mid-life Crisis Motoring: What sporty car would you pick at $5K, $10K, $20K, or $40K?” Of course, the idea is similar to Frugal Friday in this blog and, no doubt, to dozens of other features across the Internet.

Is my obsession with cars–more specifically, with buying cars–a mid-life crisis? I think I am actually way past mid-life and I have almost always been interested in cars far more than the typical American male. Still, I remember when I bought my first Corvette 16 years ago (!) one of my clients asked me if I was having a mid-life crisis.

One of the $5,000 cars is very familiar to readers of this blog:

 

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From Hemmings:

 

“The Reatta has always been a polarizing car, seemingly out of step for Buick in the late 1980s as a racy-looking, sports-tuned two-seater that was sold alongside the traditionally styled Riviera luxury coupe. But this front-wheel-drive GT had a different mission than its larger, four-seat sibling, being intended to draw in younger, more technologically savvy buyers. Not many visited Buick showrooms though, and fewer than 22,000 Reatta coupes and convertibles were sold between 1988 and 1991. At least this Arctic White ’89’s tried-and-true mechanicals, including the 3800 V-6 and four-speed automatic, are durable and easy to repair, and its sleek body still turns heads. [emphasis mine]”

 

Perhaps the Reatta would have been more successful if Buick had positioned it as the replacement for the performance-oriented Regal Grand National and put a turbocharger on the V-6, at least as an option. Perhaps the car was just too odd for its market.

From the same article a picture of one of the $20,000 cars, a 1990-96 Nissan 300ZX (represented by a 1994 model):

 

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The last sentence of the write-up about this car reads, “In the future, this one will undoubtedly appreciate.” Most people who follow the car market would agree and think that Japanese cars will increase in value.

How much one pays is usually at least as important as what one buys, unless your last name is Bezos, Gates or Buffett, I guess. I will never succumb to the SUV/pickup truck paradigm and will always want to own and to drive an interesting car as long as I’m able. Without a nine- or ten-figure net worth, though, acquisition cost will always matter.

Keep Driving!

 

#Frunkified

#C8Corvette

#MidLifeCrisisMotoring

#BuickReatta

#Nissan300ZX

#somanycarsjustonelife

#disaffectedmusings

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Published by rulesoflogic

Empiricism over ideology!

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14 thoughts on “Frunkified”

  2. I have had a pickup for at least 3/4 of my driving life (46 years and counting). Growing up in a rural area, I would guess that over half, probably closer to 3/4, of the population owned a truck. I still to this day have trucks and can’t see a situation where I wouldn’t have one. Now over the years I’ll admit they have gotten more “opulent”, more creature comforts, but still used as a truck. Once I finish the 01 diesel I recently dumped a ton of money into, I’ll get rid of my 2017 3500 Dodge(I don’t care what FCA renamed it, it’s a Dodge to me) as I don’t need 2 trucks. I just like having one, and am one of the few these days that use it as intended. Besides, it’s kinda difficult to tow my race car and work trailers ( 7500 lbs and 15.000 lbs respectively) with a car.

    One thing that does make me shake my head is people who will rent a truck at Big Orange, or similar stores, to haul things so they don’t scratch the bed in the truck they own. Why did you bother to buy a truck? So people will think you are a “rugged outdoors type”? Not likely to happen. As they say out in the Western plains; “All hat, no cattle”.

    Today, I went to my first car show since February. There was a Cars and Coffee type show on the town square for charity. Took my 1960 Lark and spent 3 hours answering questions about it, as only folks my age or older knew what it is.I actually got a small trophy, 2nd place in Peoples choice (winner was a beautiful 1968 Impala SS 427). People bought tickets, for a dollar each that went to the charity (Breast cancer research), to put in a bucket for the cars they wanted to vote for If they have one next month as they plan, and if I’m in town, I might take one of my Shelby Dodges to it. And spend the same amount of time answering questions.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey, DDM…DSFDF.

      Glad you could get to a car show. Either I haven’t been paying attention or you haven’t mentioned your Lark. As you and everyone else who reads this blog knows I am a fan of defunct American makes like Studebaker. I would love to show a picture of your Lark in the blog.

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  3. DDMcG, I haven’t heard the name Lark in forever and a day. I’m sure you had a lark telling people about your Lark. If I was there I would have been very appreciative that you brought your much forgotten car. Thanks for stirring up the memories.

    You should elaborate about your race car for those of us who appreciate the need to have one. My son-in-law frequently takes his daily driver Solstice out to Willcox with his Solstice club friends and has a fun time lapping the track at a good rate of speed.

    A truck is for hauling things, why else do you buy one? The original intent of the 48 truck project was to be the parts chaser for the roadster project in the back of the garage.

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    1. My father had a tow truck—the first vehicle I ever drove with a manual transmission—that he was reluctant to use for fear it would break down and he would need to buy another one. The body/paint guy whom my father had known for years and who did work on customers of my father would rail that my father was pissing away money that would have let him buy 2 or 3 trucks.

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  4. rulesoflogic, Buick missed the mark not adding more performance enhancements or options to the Reatta. Their sales would have been much better. The Grand National was an anomaly for them as it was added in an effort to get the make at least one car in the GM collection of factory hot rods at the time to compete with the Olds 442 and the Pontiac GTOs.. Buick has always been too conservative. The only way to make a splash in the car business is to be bold. Example, John Z and the GTO.

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  5. At this point, we are beyond midlife crisis unless we live until 120.
    The missus is about to pull the trigger on a Volvo C70 convertible. She just could not live without one, but despite having a garage, did not want a soft top. A midlife epiphany in her case.
    Re the $5/10/20K cars, I say why not, with the caveat that you may spend 1X-3X ultimately fixing/maintaining it. But to get the car you burn for, while buying a Toyota/Honda/Hyundai as a daily driver is fine in my opinion. Today I learned a dear friend died. Life is short; live it wisely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Very sorry to read about your friend. Carpe Diem!

      I have learned, the hard way, that buying a used car will always require significant expenses for maintenance unless one doesn’t care about optimal performance.

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  6. I think the desire is lifelong but it’s around midlife that, for most, circumstances get to where one is able to acquire/keep such a toy. My Grand Prix falls into the low end category. Purchased in 2017, total including taxes and license was $4300 CDN. It’s got some scars, it’s a 20-footer for sure, but gets some attention at cruise night.

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