Paata's Totally Sweet Manqana!

This post goes out to Dad... you'll know who's writing it. Give it time...

[manqana = car]
Our host dad, Paata, rolls in a totally bitchin' 1983 Renault Alliance. I kid you not. This is the car I learned how to drive stick in, and also used to impress Carissa on our first date (for the males in the audience, nothing impresses a woman like a man who opens the car door for her. Especially when she can't open it from the inside). Although, Paata does rock the automatic door locks and power windows, which takes this renault to an entirely new level of coolness I had not even imagined was possible with a Renault. After all, you are rolling in an expensive foreign car. Just not the normal kind.

It's a bit trippy to head out to the car and see this silver Renault... 4 door, plus the sunroof. And yes, dad,some renaults did have then OEM. It does leak, just like the one in your alliance... There is a lip spoiler, though, which adds substantially to the lines of the car.

You'd be proud to know what kinds of conditions this thing can drive in, every day. We've forded 6 inch streams. We've taken 8 inch deep potholes at 40 mph. We've swerved towards 80 pound dogs (intentionally). We've cut off buses that have Soviet breaks that were last serviced in 1967. We've put 6 people into it, plus picnic supplies. We've driven over 4 miles of gravel/rock/mud roads. And laughed. Renault built a TOUGH car here.

Although, Dad, if mom hasn't gotten rid of the alliance, paata could probably borrow the clutch/tranny combo without too much hurt. There's a substantial grind when he switches gears - any idea? I think the clutch is going out, but it could be the synchros in the tranny failing as well.

Technically, the car is a Renault 9, but its an alliance. Don't be fooled by the badging. It's an alliance. It lives, dad, proudly lives on in Georgia. I hope Mom hasn't gotten the Alliance yet...


The drivers here are, umm, brave. Or lacking in judgement of both distance, speed, and time. Or just brave. However you want to put it... Posts about your cars would be appreciated.... I showed Paata the Miata, and he laughed a bit at my girly car. Let's see what he laughs at in the comments...