Present-Day Vehicles

A variety of cars are listed below for possible PC acquisition. Each one has a brief description, along with the Pep/Toughness ratings in parentheses after the name. At the end of each description is the wealth level appropriate for ownership. Instead of a wealth rating, some just say "restricted." That means that private citizens don't own these, except under the most extraordinary of circumstances. It should be noted that beginning characters only have a chance of owning a car if they're from the 1990s juncture. Earlier junctures obviously haven't invented them yet, and in 2056 personal vehicles are as rare as impartial government.

Demio (8/12)

A small "City" car. It's maximum speed is nothing to boast about, but it handles well, and is small enough to get out of many jams. There are a lot of similar little cars in urban areas everywhere. (Working Stiff)

1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Sport Utility Vehicle (9/15)

If you live on a farm, or in Alaska, or if you're going through the Australian outback: then you might have an excuse for owning one of these. If you're a forest ranger, a desert geologist, or an ethnographer who's leaving civilized areas to research the herbal medicines of obscure South American tribes: then owning a sport ute is understandable, maybe. But as it happens, most people who could really use one of these lumbering, filth-spewing, environmental rape kits are making do with old, seasoned pickup trucks. The people driving sport utes are overwhelmingly soccer moms, and the closest most come to "off roading" is going over the potholes in front of Williams-Sonoma. To be fair though, they are pretty durable. (Working Stiff)

BMW 328i Convertible (12/13)

Running a quarter mile in fifteen seconds, this is really the car of choice for a midlife crisis. Just make sure your hairpiece is stuck on tight when you put the top down. On the other hand, if you really are cool, you can try and find a paint job that will match your H&K P7 pistol. Then you'll have the double dose of "fine German craftsmanship." (Rich)

Humvee (10/17)

Originally dubbed the "High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle," it's a surprise that this burly, blocky thing was built by the U.S. military and not by the Buro. They were recently okayed for civilian use and will set you back a good deal. However, that money does get you a tough vehicle with a fair amount of off-road cred. The Hummer (as the civilian version is known) sits sixteen inches off the ground and has 170 horses under the hood. Be warned though: The costs don't end at the car lot. This bad boy only gets ten miles to the gallon. (Rich)

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (10/14)

Here's the sports car for thousandaires. Once you get your black Trans Am, all you need is a blonde girlfriend and a Van Halen CD. Happy trails, my friend. (Working Stiff)

Twentieth Century Bikes

Peppy, but fragile, motorcycles are open, which means you can be attacked while riding one. If they can catch you.

1986 Vintage Harley-Davidson Sturgis (11/10)

Harley-Davidson makes big, low, powerful bikes designed to be ridden from one end of a big country to the other: year in and year out. A roadster like this weighs more than a racer: much, much more: and with a top speed of only 110 mph, the racer will bury it on a short stretch. On the other hand, no one cruises the highway on a racing bike for a host of very good reasons, the primary one being that, after an hour, a racing bike is about as comfortable as a nice cozy crucifixion. (Working Stiff)

1996 Yamaha Thunderace motorcycle (13/9)

The '96 Thunderace is a top of the line racing motorcycle. It can get up to 170 mph: faster if you shave your legs and your head. Not for amateurs, and not for the timid. (Rich)

1996 Honda Rebel motorcycle (9/7)

This bike was built to its cost, and within those limits it's well built. It's not going any faster than 80 mph unless you're driving it down a steep mountain with a powerful tailwind, but it's a reliable and nimble cycle. However, it is small. If anyone bigger than 5'10" gets on a Rebel, he's going to have to deal with his elbows hitting his knees. (Poor)

M1A1 Main Battle Tank (9/25)

This tank saw a lot of action in the Gulf War, once they fixed some problems with the sand filters on the jet intakes. You read that right. The M1A1 Abrams actually uses a jet engine. Couple that with blazer reflective armor, a Really Big Gun and enough computing power to run twenty networked games of "Quake" simultaneously, and you've got the nastiest ground assault vehicle of the twentieth century. The gun still requires a gunner and loader, but does damage 28. It has heavy front armor worth +5 Toughness.