I get it. We had red 1982 Toyota Starlet. It looked like a prototype to your Micra. It was bought during the days of the OPEC oil embargo, back when Nissan was still Datsun. It had good fuel economy, at least relative to other cars sold in the US at the time.
In 1985, we moved from the temperate climes of upstate New York to Las Vegas, Nevada. We bought another car with air conditioning before moving here for my wife and the soon to be arriving kids, but I, as the husband and dad, drove the Starlet for the next 19 years through the Mojave Desert summers without AC. It became a badge of honor.
Nobody, except our Toyota mechanic, ever heard of that model and we saw maybe one other over the years. It never rusted out, as cars don't do that here. It just wore out, being parked out in the elements all those years (the other car got to be parked in the garage), and parts were becoming impossible to find. It was a bittersweet farewell.
I drive a vehicle now with AC, but often, when driving alone, I drive around town with it off and the windows down, even in 110⁰F (43⁰C) or more, just for old-time sake.
I get it. We had red 1982 Toyota Starlet. It looked like a prototype to your Micra. It was bought during the days of the OPEC oil embargo, back when Nissan was still Datsun. It had good fuel economy, at least relative to other cars sold in the US at the time.
In 1985, we moved from the temperate climes of upstate New York to Las Vegas, Nevada. We bought another car with air conditioning before moving here for my wife and the soon to be arriving kids, but I, as the husband and dad, drove the Starlet for the next 19 years through the Mojave Desert summers without AC. It became a badge of honor.
Nobody, except our Toyota mechanic, ever heard of that model and we saw maybe one other over the years. It never rusted out, as cars don't do that here. It just wore out, being parked out in the elements all those years (the other car got to be parked in the garage), and parts were becoming impossible to find. It was a bittersweet farewell.
I drive a vehicle now with AC, but often, when driving alone, I drive around town with it off and the windows down, even in 110⁰F (43⁰C) or more, just for old-time sake.
Down the road... Mark
Beautifully put, Mark, thanks for that!
In Canada they don't even sell them any more!
Very sad times indeed