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????最近兩款新跑車斯巴魯（Subaru）BRZ和Scion FR-S（上圖）的面世，讓所有車迷都稍感心跳加速。這兩款車實質上一模一樣，它們都是由斯巴魯和豐田（Toyota）的子公司Scion聯合研發的，采用的全新后驅底盤以及發動機來自斯巴魯，設計和其他部分則由豐田（Toyota）完成。兩公司強強聯合的成果就好比當年綠箭口香糖曾打出的廣告：“快樂加倍，樂趣加倍”。

????這兩款新車的問世具有重要意義：低價跑車近年來一直呈供應不足的狀態。這類車以年輕人為目標市場，但年輕人手頭并不寬裕，跑車的保險成本又很高，而且跑車的上架時間很短，容易迅速過氣。跑車不僅帶來駕駛樂趣，也是時尚的代名詞，因此它們往往上市18個月后就閑置在銷售展廳里無人問津了。即便是經久不衰的馬自達MX-5 Miata跑車（今年已邁入第23個年頭），如今也已成為市場上的稀有品種，2011年的銷量僅為5,672輛。

????以下謹為大家介紹幾款在汽車史上占有一席之地的平價跑車，紀念它們遠去，同時也慶祝平價跑車在2012年的復興。

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小時，我就拿出相當于三分之一薪水的錢買了一輛1965年的MG-B跑車。不過當時我還不知道，維修這輛車的錢還會再花掉我三分之一的薪水。這輛MG-B安裝的是手搖式車窗，它的帆布軟頂需要通過一個可拆卸式的支架才能安裝起來，一旦天降暴雨便令人抓狂。它從靜止加速到60公里需要11秒多的時間，可見加速并不犀利，不過操控感還是令人滿意的，而且它多少讓我與名爵（MG）這個后來很快走向消亡的英國經典品牌建立了一點聯系。

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.