East Bay Times

Favorite car? New is fine, Vintage is better always

- By James Raia

Not too far into the future, 300 million cars will be registered in the United States. More than 30 current manufactur­ers have lineups currently available; plenty of other carmakers are defunct and either revered or best forgotten but with models still driven.

The staggering number of vehicles on the road and hoarded in garages and warehouses further dilutes an often-asked question: “If money were no object, what car would you buy?”

There’s no right answer, but vintage simplicity is far more appealing than impress-the-neighbors bling. A 1954 Kaiser-Darrin, 1967 Mercedes Benz 250 SL Convertibl­e or a 1991 Nissan Figaro? Yes. Any new Tesla, Hummer or tanked-sized family SUV? No.

A $15,000 Chevy Spark and its 40 miles per gallon has plenty to offer. A $150,000 BMW 8-Series does a lot right, too. And it would likely require more servicing than the Spark.

Selecting a favorite 2022 vehicle is an automotive enthusiast’s dream. One buyer’s treasure for his or her family may be a solo buyer’s dread.

But the list for a potential new favorite is varied: Here are three new offerings, two debuting this year 2022, that could easily be favorites:

• Hyundai Santa Cruz — Introduced for 2022 as the manufactur­er’s first pickup truck, the Santa Cruz addresses a niche market. It’s a pickup truck for buyers who don’t want a truck—or at least as previously defined.

Available last June as this year’s model, the four-door, front-engine, the all-wheel-drive truck is marketed as an Adventure Sport Vehicle.

Like the Honda Ridgeline and Ford Maverick, the Santa Cruz has a unibody chassis design, not the ladder frame featured on most pickup trucks. The back seats are comfortabl­e only for children or petite adults.

The standard Santa Cruz engine is a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder setup with 191 horsepower, 181 lb.-ft. of torque and an eight-speed automatic transmissi­on. It’s based on its sibling, the Tucson crossover sport utility vehicle.

The Santa Cruz packs a lot into its unique dimensions. It has a 118.3-inch wheelbase, it’s slightly longer than 16

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 ?? ?? 1954 Kaiser-Darrin at the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel. Photo by James Raia.
1954 Kaiser-Darrin at the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel. Photo by James Raia.

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