Anyone remember the Laserdisc? This 1970s pioneer of digital media proved to be the pinnacle of home entertainment, letting you hear and see things your VCR could only imagine in its fuzzy analog dreams. These pricey digitized discs commanded enough universal respect to sustain life support, but then came these new drink coaster-sized things called DVDs, which were basically the same thing except smaller and half-priced. Apparently, these tweaks did the trick. DVDs may have less artful packaging, lamer sound, and less convenient controls, but here in 2005, Laserdiscs are lucky to find use as frisbees.
Draw the parallels for the Toyota Celica, one of the original import sports coupes from the class of 1971. Now in peak form, its life is being taken by the Scion tC - a car that has Celica blueprints written all over its cheaper, more practical shell. The Celica's bragging rights of being faster, more exciting, and more original will only amount to decoration on the eulogy it receives this summer. For now, let's just enjoy what we have while we still have it. Here's to 35 years of memories.
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