Not to be confused with the Toyopet
I’m close enough — geographically, anyway — to some of the tonier parts of town, so I recognize this carbon-burning life-form:
A pet car is what I call the second, or sometimes third, car of a typical family of the suburban overclass. It’s precious and tiny. It’s the pet of either the wife, who received it as a 40th birthday present, or the husband, who is desperately reliving his fantasy of youth by driving a luxury convertible that blows his scant hair around.
I’ve noticed that I tend to ignore his pet car, but I pay way too much attention to hers.
And apparently Porsche figures it can’t survive purely as a pet:
A Porsche is typically the second, third, or even sixth car in a household, a luxury trinket that is harder to justify in leaner times. With production targeted at 20,000 Panameras a year, Porsche is gunning for the house’s No. 1 spot, the place reserved for family transportation.
Provided, of course, the family can spring for a $90k (or more) primary mode of transport.
(Ever seen a Toyopet? They looked like this.)
Brett »
8 November 2009 · 8:43 am
I always called the “mid-life crisis-mobile” the car you bought so the wind could flow through your hair, just after you bought the hair for the wind to blow through…
fillyjonk »
8 November 2009 · 2:34 pm
And then there are the preppies, like people I knew growing up, who have a “pet car” that was one of the old British roadsters (MG or Triumph). The thing never actually ran, but it looked awfully nice sitting in the driveway.
Of course, China now owns MG and I’m not sure what became of Triumph. So maybe that breed of pet car has died out.
Another thing that I, as a life-long single, will never get to experience, anyway. One car is enough for me.
CGHill »
8 November 2009 · 2:52 pm
The last Triumph (a rebadged, British-built Honda Ballade, cousin to the Civic) appeared in 1984; BMW acquired the name when it bought the remains of the Rover Group, but has done nothing with it.
Mazda builds the MX-5 (Miata) for those who love old British roadsters but who hate finding oil puddles on their driveways.
fillyjonk »
8 November 2009 · 3:16 pm
You know, if I were looking for a toy car, I would seriously consider the Miata.
I have neither the money nor the lifestyle for one, though.