So I have this weird obsession with Carismas, probably because I had one as my first car.
I think its an attractive car (well at least the Facelift), one of the cheapest cars you can buy used in Germany and it does get half-decent gas mileage, at least with the GDI engine.
I bought my current (and second) Carisma in 2019 and it has been pretty reliable for the past 50000km. Unfortunately it developed transmission issues which is why I've been on the lookout for a proper replacement.
About two weeks ago I found a listing for a Carisma Dynamics, a limited edition with a special Fondmetal body kit, rear spoiler, wing mirrors and 17 inch wheels instead of the usual 15 inch wheels. It wasn't exactly near me but I always wanted one, so I called the guy and two days later I drove there to take a look. It wasn't without issues but overall in good shape. I just had to buy this.
Here it is next to my current Carisma, which I still have to sell.
Next up, I'll have to deal with the yellowing headlights and the valve cover seals, as it is leaking oil into the spark plug shafts, but this should be an easy fix. Overall I'm very happy with this one. They seem to get increasingly rare to find and I would have regretted not owning one.