The new Karin Asterope appreciation thread

[947614B]

A successor thread to the original Asterope appraciation thread ,CSUdude because it's been inactive for some time.

 

Why? Hear me out.

 

When the Diamond Casino and Resort update first arrived, I didn't have enough for a penthouse. So for the time being, I would run errands from my Eclipse Penthouse. It's a high-end place with a high-end parking lot to match. Being a cheeky smartass, I decided I would go as far the opposite end of uber-exclusivity as possible when I visited. I sift through my garage for the perfect car. Issi Classic... Oracle... Raiden... Asterope.

 

At this point, the Asterope I picked from the street hasn't seen much time outside the garage, and it's been the first time in a while that I'm not driving it on impulse. As per usual, hammer down, swipe traffic a few times, and a few minutes later I'm suddenly beholden to the glimmering castle of sin with barely a dent, save for a scratch on the front bumper.

 

I'm constantly reminded by just how good the Asterope's performance is. Obviously, there are better cars and it's far from being a Thrax, but it's hard to ignore how well-tuned and balanced the handling is for what it is. It's grippy, it takes corners quickly, and when modded, its a proper sleeper. My fascination with the Asterope begins here. In freeroam, nobody notices you. It's absolute fun to do missions and races in an Asterope. Partly when you finish them well, and partly because, among the Zentornos and the Deluxos and the Oppressor Mk IIs, you're the guy with the Camry.

 

And that's where the ire begins for most people. It's a legitimately good, reliable car with plenty going for it that gets the job done. But people will immediately overlook it because of what a reminder it is. It's your parents', your uncle's, your aunt's, your cousin's car, the regrettably-resigned to chariot to prom in a driveway dotted with Uber Priuses, 5 Series, A4s, C-Klasses, Teslas, Escalades and Siennas. It's the mediocrity of the real world seeping into the superreality of Los Santos, as fodder for a world of flying motorcycles and VTOL jets and laser guns. Even compared to other naturally-spawning cars, such as the Minivan and the Asea, it's unremarkable. At least the Asea has that hilarious rear spoiler and stickerbomb body panels, and the Minivan can be upgraded at Benny's. Not to mention it's...well... a Minivan. Each and every car available from the street is rescued from ridicule by distinction. The Asterope is not afforded that luxury.

 

It doesn't help that it's based mainly on the XV40 Camry. Arguably, no car on the road today encapsulates the boredom of the modern car better than the XV40. Not even other Camrys, as far as recent Camrys go. The XV40 is the yogurt beneath the granola in the parfait of the midwestern discount used car lot, the inescapable hand-me-down for your move for college, the shuttle of the 9-to-5 corner office. There is an inevitability to the XV40 and, for some people, seeing an identical copy of it roll past them in a space that provides them a plethora of means to escape it makes it hard to not whip an RPG out of your crotch and take aim. You are free. You've escaped the silver late-2000s mid-sized Japanese sedan with a grey or tan interior and a stuffy smell that's impossible to rid of with all the Febreze you can buy in bulk, if only for a short while. 

 

But don't let the Camry put you off the Asterope. Don't let this often black, white or silver and sometimes taxicab agent of normalcy put you off a decent car, both in-game and in real life. Accept this reflection of everything you're afraid of consigning to and watch hilarity ensue as you're robbing a bank in, racing far more prestigious cars with, and ducking for cover from another player behind the sedan you had no choice but to accept from your parents because you all knew you just couldn't wait another year to save for tuition, but still runs perfectly and has plenty of affordable spare parts available for it. It starts, it stops, it turns, and once in a while it will make a noise that doesn't sound right, but it'll go away if you ignore it because that's how Toyota designs 'em. Your memory of it will be spotty after it's sold, but once you find something, everything else will start coming back. 

 

Rockstar's team of modelers understand that when they're choosing a reference point for a car, they're bringing with that the reputation, the brand, the memories of that particular car. Sometimes they'll make some interesting choices (the new Contender, the Rumpo, the Jester Classic, the Warrener, etc). The Asterope is one of those choices that fascinate and delight me. 

 

Cheers, to a very underappreciated car. Submit your Asteropes and your stories!

Edited August 1, 2019 by 947614B

[Mach1bud]

5 minutes ago, 947614B said:

A successor thread to the original Asterope appraciation thread ,CSUdude because it's been inactive for some time.

Doesn't matter how long it's been inactive. Bumping vehicle appreciation topics is allowed. Use his thread.