那些年，我們一起迷過(guò)的平民跑車(chē)

立即出發(fā)

????最近兩款新跑車(chē)斯巴魯（Subaru）BRZ和Scion FR-S（上圖）的面世，讓所有車(chē)迷都稍感心跳加速。這兩款車(chē)實(shí)質(zhì)上一模一樣，它們都是由斯巴魯和豐田（Toyota）的子公司Scion聯(lián)合研發(fā)的，采用的全新后驅(qū)底盤(pán)以及發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)來(lái)自斯巴魯，設(shè)計(jì)和其他部分則由豐田（Toyota）完成。兩公司強(qiáng)強(qiáng)聯(lián)合的成果就好比當(dāng)年綠箭口香糖曾打出的廣告：“快樂(lè)加倍，樂(lè)趣加倍”。

????這兩款新車(chē)的問(wèn)世具有重要意義：低價(jià)跑車(chē)近年來(lái)一直呈供應(yīng)不足的狀態(tài)。這類(lèi)車(chē)以年輕人為目標(biāo)市場(chǎng)，但年輕人手頭并不寬裕，跑車(chē)的保險(xiǎn)成本又很高，而且跑車(chē)的上架時(shí)間很短，容易迅速過(guò)氣。跑車(chē)不僅帶來(lái)駕駛樂(lè)趣，也是時(shí)尚的代名詞，因此它們往往上市18個(gè)月后就閑置在銷(xiāo)售展廳里無(wú)人問(wèn)津了。即便是經(jīng)久不衰的馬自達(dá)MX-5 Miata跑車(chē)（今年已邁入第23個(gè)年頭），如今也已成為市場(chǎng)上的稀有品種，2011年的銷(xiāo)量?jī)H為5,672輛。

????以下謹(jǐn)為大家介紹幾款在汽車(chē)史上占有一席之地的平價(jià)跑車(chē)，紀(jì)念它們遠(yuǎn)去，同時(shí)也慶祝平價(jià)跑車(chē)在2012年的復(fù)興。

Starting on a dime

????The hearts of auto enthusiasts everywhere beat a little faster recently with the introduction of two new sports cars: the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S (above). The two autos are essentially identical because they were developed jointly by the two companies. The all-new, rear-drive chassis is from Subaru, as is the engine; Toyota did the design and extra bits for the motor. As they used to say in the old Doublemint chewing gum commercials: Double your pleasure, double your fun.

????The appearance of the two is notable: Affordable sports cars have been in short supply in recent years. The target market of young men isn't exactly flush with cash, insurance costs weigh heavily, and sports cars have a short shelf life. As much about fashion as they are about driving, they tend to wilt in showrooms after 18 months. Even the durable Mazda MX-5 Miata, starting its 23rd year on the market, has become a specialty item -- 2011 sales totaled 5,672 cars.

????Herewith, some reasons to lament the eclipse of the affordable sports car and to applaud its renaissance in 2012.

MG-B

????這一輛是我的私人藏品。在我得到第一份工作后不到幾個(gè)小時(shí)，我就拿出相當(dāng)于三分之一薪水的錢(qián)買(mǎi)了一輛1965年的MG-B跑車(chē)。不過(guò)當(dāng)時(shí)我還不知道，維修這輛車(chē)的錢(qián)還會(huì)再花掉我三分之一的薪水。這輛MG-B安裝的是手搖式車(chē)窗，它的帆布軟頂需要通過(guò)一個(gè)可拆卸式的支架才能安裝起來(lái)，一旦天降暴雨便令人抓狂。它從靜止加速到60公里需要11秒多的時(shí)間，可見(jiàn)加速并不犀利，不過(guò)操控感還是令人滿意的，而且它多少讓我與名爵（MG）這個(gè)后來(lái)很快走向消亡的英國(guó)經(jīng)典品牌建立了一點(diǎn)聯(lián)系。

MG-B

????This one is personal: Within hours after getting my first job, I agreed to lay out about a third of my take-home salary on a 1965 MG-B. Little did I know that repairs would soon lay claim to another third. The B came with roll-up windows but the canvas top still had to be assembled over a removable frame, which was no fun in a downpour. With a zero-to-60 mph time of more than 11 seconds, the B was no speed demon, but it handled sweetly and allowed me to make a connection -- however distantly -- to the great -- and soon to disappear -- British motoring marques.