Sometimes I wonder about getting a new, smaller car.
I love my Tesla, and would never go back to a petrol car, but even though it’s a sedan and not one of these enormous outlandish SUVs, it’s still bigger than I need, and I hanker after something more compact. It’s funny that when I bought my model S a few years ago, Teslas were so rare on the road that people used to stare as I went by, and young boys would point me out in excitement. Not so now, with the model 3 so ubiquitous. I suspect the resale value has probably slumped as well, considering Elon keeps dropping the price on the new ones. So, in reality I’d be mad to get rid of the only luxury car I’ve ever had, or are ever likely to have, come to that.
When I think of compact cars, I think of those cars made all over the world after the Second World War, a different one in each country but with the same ambition: to bring the freedom of driving to the people. I’m thinking the VW beetle in Germany:
The Mini in the UK:
The Fiat Bambina in Italy:
and the Citroen 2CV in France
Of course, the Mini and the VW Beetle both made successful comebacks in recent years when the sentimental BabyBoomers starting making and spending serious money.
But what about the French and the Italian equivalents? You never see modern versions of them around the place. Have they gone the way of the Lada?