Will Meghan become a legend in 2031?

What exactly is appreciated by the soul of lovers of retro cars?

Surely you have heard that the new cars drive beautifully, powerful and safe, but soulless ... This is exclusively nostalgia for the (old, good) times, which no longer exist, did the creators of that time really know how to create a car, that is, the driver grew to the soul for more humane way? Perhaps the "insensitivity" of modern cars is related to electronics, which deprives the driver of his original perception and control over technology? Hundreds of questions, at least the same number of answers. The path to revelation led Katra and me to our native Coast, and then to the Jury.

During a romantic trip, we shot a video in which we learned what Katra does not have. Heated seats with memory function, airbags and curtains, power sunroof, stabilization system, leather seats ...

The message reads: Anyone who thinks that we need to bring back the good old days does not believe in a bright future. Ambiguous? Perhaps this is true, because from the Gorenj region you can easily get to the sea without this equipment costing tens of thousands and at the same time get even more pleasure than driving, for example, a Latitude limousine.

But if you ask us if we are ready to be transported daily with a dangerous bucket without air conditioning, comfortable seats and a noisy engine, the answer is no.

But not everyone is as spoiled as we are (and the remaining 97 percent of Slovenian drivers). Jan Mlinar from Shirov and his brother have about 50 Renault Fours. The number fluctuates, because from time to time some (or several at once) are sold, and then new ones are brought under the barn.

The boys have discovered business opportunities in old Reno as they renovate and sell it, especially abroad: to England, the Netherlands, France, Italy. They are most appreciated in Germany, where the prices for the perfectly preserved ones are comparable to the price of the new Megane in the photographs.

Megane with 1,6-liter petrol in his nose, he compared himself to his older sister, and when we invited Jan to drive, he was not at all excited: “I don't like new cars because you can't hear the engine in them, and you don't feel what is happening under the wheels. Everything is soft, like warm lard. And they break more or are harder to maintain. " He drives only Katra or several of them; also to France if necessary.

Can a 20 year old car be used every day? Yes. Are the cars better today? So. Will Meghan be as legendary as Katra in two decades? No.

We wrote about Renault 4:

• The R 4 TL Special is the only Katra model currently available for purchase. Delivery time: 40 days.
• After 7.500 kilometers, we measured an average fuel consumption of 8,3 liters per 100 kilometers, which is half a liter less than in the first stage of the supertest three years ago.
• And a little joy: the wipers automatically return to their original position when the driver turns them off.
• It is a manoeuvrable and safe vehicle that can be driven through corners without worrying about safety.
• The lateral tilt is caused by fear - Renault 4 has a very good position on the road for its class of cars.

(Auto magazine 9/1977, Martin Csesen)

Face to face

Matyaj Tomajic

A little less than 15 years ago, when I was cleaning school benches, the Katrca was considered a perfectly decent machine for a student's pocket. Today I dare not tell my classmates, who are the same age as this Katra, that they are for the write-off. Then why is something wrong with Katra?

With a consumption of about five liters and a basic set of tools, we were hoping for the end of the world. What it lacks today in comparison to a modern car is completely irrelevant, the fact is that this is one of the best Renaults of all time. I miss her and the like.

Alyosha Mrak

I'm not ashamed to admit, in fact, I'm very proud that my first car was a Renault 4 - and that 850 cubic foot TL with an S as a Special. It was an ideal student car, which I inherited from a caring father (he left the hands better than from the factory) and his older brother (who at that time already honestly “beat” him in Ljubljana).

The memories are mostly wonderful: I have never had such an unpretentious car in maintenance and, most likely, I will never see it again. Driving I remember most of all the cold and abnormal fogging of the windows.

Despite the poor ventilation, it was always windy and not very pleasant in winter, but on the other hand, there had to be a fork with a holder in front of the passenger so that moisture could be removed regularly. In winter, ice is also (and especially!) From the inside!

However, a stuck villa in an open box seemed as obvious to me as we would talk about air conditioning or ABS in a new carriage today. The hitchhikers never complained, although I took a detour so they could see the tarmac right through the side windows due to the slope. I'm not sure I made a (good) impression on them.

In the end, with a heavy heart (and calloused hands, because the plow completely covered him with snow) put him in the bin. Anyway, this was my first car and it was really good, so I loved it. Including disadvantages! You just shouldn't have crashed because it fell apart immediately.

Matevž Gribar, photo: Ales Pavletić, AM archive