Interview with the Austen Authors, pt 3: Pimp My Barouche

For the final question asked of the Austen Authors whimsy was in order! And some fun visuals were added in to boost the imagery. With their Austenesque novels in mind, they were asked:  

If one of your characters lived in modern times, what model car would they drive and why?




All of my books are contemporary-set novels, so I can tell you that many of them drive Honda Civics. (Why? Because I like them and have owned three of them myself! Very easy to handle...) In According to Jane, though, I wanted to use a car popular in the 1980s, so I chose my favorite of the era, which is also the one I drove in high school: an Oldsmobile. Some of you might remember that being the car that Sam and Ellie spent some time in during the novel (at a turning-point scene, LOL).  ~ Marilyn Brant, According to Jane

Beats me, I don't know cars. But I figure that they're mostly driving Land Rovers around their country houses.  ~ Diana Birchall, Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma

In my updated P&P, The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice, Calder (the character based on Darcy) drove a high-end Audi. He enjoyed the luxurious comfort but didn’t want anything flashy or attention grabbing.
In the Audi he could fly under everyone’s radar.  ~ Abigail Reynolds, Pemberley Medley

Of all my own characters, I would have to choose Admiral Patrick McGillvary and his muscle car. It's a midnight blue Camaro with gold pin striping. The car looks wonderfully original, but the admiral would have buttery leather seats--no Naugahyde for him--hand rubbed wood dash, and maybe one of those silly gas pedals that look like a foot, except instead of stainless steel it's platinum. Patrick likes quality, he just doesn't want to look like he's bragging.  ~ Susan Kaye, For You Alone

My Darcy is a man who appreciates power, prestige, reliability, and quality but is not fond of overt ostentation or flashiness, so he would drive a 2012 Jaguar XF painted grey or black. Lizzy has learned to accept comfort and wealth, but she is also practical and a mother, so she would have a roomy Suburban with plenty of room for the ever-expanding Darcy family.  ~ Sharon Lathan, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy

In my imagination, I have Frederick Wentworth working on a vintage Shelby GT 500 Mustang. He does all the work himself, but Anne Elliot-Wentworth hands him the wrenches. They have matching overalls.  ~ Mary Simonsen, A Wife for Mr. Darcy

Cars feature regularly in The Importance of Being Emma, my modern version of Emma. I’ve had Knightley driving a sleepy Emma home in a large comfortable Mercedes, for example. And Elton makes his move when driving her home in his pretentious little sports car. Whatever car Henry Woodhouse gets into, he fiddles constantly with the heater/air conditioning.  ~ Juliet Archer, Persuade Me

Jane Bennet Bingley would drive a Prius or a Volt or another eco-friendly car.  ~ Carolyn Eberhart, A Darcy Christmas

This question is a problem for me, since all my characters live in modern times. Darcy usually has a Mercedes, but at some point he's getting a Tesla. Elizabeth has either her mom's old Volvo wagon, or a used pick-up truck. Bingley always has a big SUV.  ~ Heather Lynn Rigaud, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star

I see Colonel Fitzwilliam driving an army jeep, bouncing, swearing and smoking his pipe.  ~ Karen Wasylowski, Darcy and Fitzwilliam

I would think if my character Tom Butler from Mr. Darcy’s Secret were to be transported to the present, he would drive something practical like either a Land or Range Rover as he is a landscape gardener. He’d be the type who wouldn’t mind the back being filled with gardening tool, dogs and mud!  ~ Jane Odiwe, Lydia Bennet’s Story

One of my favorite characters in Pemberley Manor, Trevor Handley, would definitely be a red Cadillac convertible driver - probably around 1976, with a white leather interior. I'm picturing him taking Caroline Bingley for a spin to show her that all is forgiven. ~ Kathryn L. Nelson, Pemberley Manor

If you are talking about my take on Austen’s creations, then I will say that Elizabeth Bennet drives a Honda CR-V. But if I may use an original character, then John Buford rolls around South Louisiana in a Mustang convertible.  ~ Jack Caldwell, Pemberley Ranch

Frederick Wentworth would be a Navy pilot. As such, for his own pleasure, he would fly the Beechcraft Super King Air 350i, which is competitive with light jets. The aircraft's cabin has controllers in the passenger seat armrests that dim the LED lights, darken the windows, and control an iPod dock and a high-definition video monitor. The cabin also includes USB ports, AC electrical receptacles, and fold-out tables for each passenger in the eight seats fitted. He could whisk Anne off to a romantic location at a moment's notice. On land, Wentworth would require a car with a bit of "zip" in its tank. He would choose the Ferrari Enzo: 217 mph, 0-60 in 3.4 secs. F140 Aluminum V12 Engine with 660 hp, base price is $670,000. With only 399 ever produced, the price goes up every time someone crashes. Like Tom Cruise, Wentworth would feel the "need for speed.” As I envision Captain Wentworth as a man of large stature, the Ferrari would allow him easier access to the car.  ~ Regina Jeffers, Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion

Robert Darcy would drive a Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler is rugged and resilient but doesn't take itself too seriously. Flexible and adaptable, the Wrangler's ability to cut across uneven terrain is just right for Robert who prefers the road less taken.  ~ Monica Fairview, The Other Mr. Darcy

Mr. Bennet would own a dented minivan. That's what guys who have big families do - own dented minivans.  ~ Marsha Altman, The Darcys and The Bingleys

Fanny Price Bertram would drive a minivan because they are practical, affordable, and especially good for carpooling.  ~ Cindy Jones, My Jane Austen Summer

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Big thanks to Sharon Lathan for rounding up the Austen Authors and organizing these fantastic interviews.  You can check out parts 1 & 2 here:

Part 1: Emma-style (matchmaker, matchmaker, bring me a match...) | Part 2: Faves

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