Classic Vs New: Driving The Opposites

18 August 2016 Redazione Lifestyle, Roberto Marrone

Everyone is able to compare two similar cars by category, capacity, performance and price, however, the result would only be subjective, influenced by personal tastes, ideas or impressions, not necessarily truthful. So test driving an extremely modern car, I made a combination with a similar model of more than fifty years before. They have in common the fact of representing a sports car, both in appearance and performance. The displacements may also be different, as also the type of engine, but with an equivalent power output figure. What cars are these? That’s the point of this article – I will not say that because it is not important, the feelings are meant to be put in comparison here. I’m gonna refer to the classic model using the letter “A”, while the modern one is called “B” (for the first, the “A” I’ll describe step by step the feelings inside the brackets). Are you ready?
The first thing getting on board, or should I say getting down into the “B” is the amount of buttons, it looks like a video game, and in part it is, a myriad of settings for gearbox and suspension, on everything! The steering wheel, which is also full of commands, almost tries to confound me, but it’s comfortable (A – analog instrumentation, classic lever, large diameter steering wheel with wooden rim). The ignition key has not to be put anywhere, just keep it in your pocket, but first we find the perfect setting with the multiple regulation of the seat (the small key has to be inserted and turned gently, I can only move the seat forward or backward and as a matter of fact, I have to adapt myself). To start you have to push the brake and press start, one thousand lights come to life while silence and multi-tools “warn you” that the engine is already running, it looks like a slot-machine (push start, after the mechanical pump filled carburettors, watch out to do everything properly not to have to wait for the bus, then in a few gasp, a roar reassures you and fills your ears, also with a heavy smell of petrol coming inside the cockpit). Select the setting and the desired driving mode, sports or comfort, the rectangular screen of the sat navigation allows you to set the destination and have a myriad of other information (rev in order to warm it gradually, take a look if all the instruments work and mark correctly what they should).
You wear your belt you reach comfortably (look for the belt, you know it’s best to put it, even if it is uncomfortable and it just passes across your stomach). Button on the automatic gearbox and paddles behind the steering wheel, you choose what you prefer and select Drive, your left foot is asleep on the brake pedal, as you take it off, the car starts to move (press the clutch fully and insert the first gear trying to move without errors). If you do a reversing maneuver the rear camera shows you how much space you have available (if you have to go back, not even your small mirrors can help you and sometimes you just have to do some contortion or open the door for a better view). The power steering enables you to move without any effort (the lack of power steering forces you to do some maneuvering more). Out from the garage with parking sensors that warn if you’re too close to obstacles – you start thinking of being treated like an idiot, but it is an aid (nobody warns you, you have to rely on your experience for overall dimensions, and not having a mirror on your right hand side you made it, congratulations!). You’re on the road, press the throttle and the car responds smooth and relaxing at your every command (leave the garage, push on the gas, first then second gear and a quick look in the mirror hoping for no oil or smoke). The way is clear and you easily gain speed, then the classic Panda, forcing you to slow sharply (you find the Panda too, it’s green, the most feared one, driven by an old man with a hat, you try to honk the horn and you realize that it does not work, maybe you should overtake him, but then the vision of your mechanic magically appears to you… and so you brake). You proceed relaxed at reduced pace in absolute silence, sat navigator tells you streets and lanes, speed limits and other data also appear on the windscreen (third gear is too much, you have to downshift in second trying not to scratch, the engine revs are high now). The driver of the Panda has come to his standard destination (the town’s bar) and coast with no indicators, but you are so comfortable and you speed away (when the Panda stops, you angrily throws second gear and when you just engaged third, a corner materialized in a much more dangerous way that it seemed, you almost lose it, but it went well, you look in the mirror and you’re all sweaty). It’s hot but the air conditioner allows for a cool and relaxed driving (the heat is all over the place, even with the small window open nothing gets better, indeed fuel vapor is coming in, and you have to do some contortion to open the right window too). You are about to enter a tunnel, so you turn on the lights, even the interior is filled with lights of all kind, it seems to be in a nightclub, xenon headlights give you a perfect vision (you turn on the lights, then you see that their work isn’t very good, better to slow down a little). Finally a beautiful stretch of open road and you can unleash the horses, finally a good slice of happiness (accelerate, pull the gears, second, third and finally you feel a proper sound coming in above 4,000/4,500 rpm, the engine screams and satisfies you). You get to the bar where you usually stop for a coffee, right indicator, just a touch, then you slowly pull over to avoid the small bump to damage the front bumper of the car which is very low from the ground (arrow to the right, moving the knee so the lever can be used, slow down not to damage and park). Pressing Stop, after putting the gearbox to “P” and the car goes to sleep, you get out (turn off by turning the key and extract it from the dash, then you go out). The coffee they serve is the same both for a fresh and rested driver and both for one a little overheated – maybe the second one would also ask for a glass of cold water.
Then both will return to the car, the “B” driver will open it with remote control, the “A” driver uses the key, timing is similar, but “A” will focus on having a look under it, looking for some oil leaks. Here it must be said that “B” will never do this, because it’s all faired and sealed on the bottom of his car. Another engine start, for “B” is just a copy of the previous time, with “A” with some apprehension for any vapor or something else, but today everything is ok – here we go again. In a moment “B” is traveling easily (he has already started sweating) and the road is busy: time to slowdown, just before ending in some boring city traffic. There is no concern for “B”, all temperatures are under control, the wait and progress are not strenuous (He starts watching worried the water temperature, will the fan start now? He sees the heat getting out of the vents’ bonnet, trying to convince himself that everything will be fine, but you know the risks). The queue has become rather long, we have to wait (he starts thinking to pull over and turn off the engine, but maybe soon we’ll leave). Happily being able to resume at normal pace (tension is in the air but finally the traffic lights turns green). No problems at all, the car travels as smooth as before (he finally sees that the temperatures begin to go on more human values, although some smoky breaths indicate that perhaps the carburetion is not perfect). Close to home now and he receives a phone call to which he answers quietly hands-free (he receives the call on the phone, difficult to hear the tune, and then he’s still driving). Destination reached, entering the garage, some maneuvering facilitated by the on-board cameras and in an instant the “B” driver is on the sofa (he just has a hard maneuver, he must be careful if he does not want to do some damage, once parked, time to open the hood for a little check, will the fan start right again? A little wait and then the well-earned chance to go home).
The trip is finished, the road was the same – certainly “A” also has consumed more petrol and he’s now having a shower, while “B” is already on the sofa reading the newspaper. So what are the conclusions? The logic would say – why the hell? A car guy does not know any precise logic and maybe he’s even a bit masochistic. Everything is up to the individual and to the love he feels for his car. And then the solution is easy then, buy them both. Yeah, but I did not said which ones!

Words by Roberto Marrone