Muscle Car

The Muscle Car (also known as the Jalopy, the name of the original vehicle) is a vehicle used by Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance in Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

Overview
The Muscle Car is an invaluable vehicle in the resistance arsenal. It is used to transport Resistance members from outpost to outpost. The Muscle Car has only one single passenger seat. Like the Buggy, the Muscle Car is equipped with a turbo boost, however the Muscle Car's boost is not as fast as the Buggy's boost was, making it much more controllable. It is wider and harder to flip, which is a time gain. When making sharp turns, the Muscle Car tends to skid. This happens especially on grass or dirt.

Use
The Muscle Car can be used to run over Zombies and break through barricades. While riding in it, Alyx helps Gordon by using her gun to shoot down any enemies. She also seems to take aim more and make more accurate shots.

Unlike the Half-Life 2 chapters featuring the Buggy, there aren't many long jumps that need to be made but it can be helpful to use the turbo boost to try and stay ahead of the Hunter-Chopper, win the race to White Forest against Dog, or during the final battle to get ahead of Striders or ram Hunters (though they often jump out of the way).

Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance retrieve the Muscle Car from an abandoned and recently raided Resistance outpost overlooking a bridge, on the edge of the Victory Mine area. They find the Muscle Car, seemingly intact, on the far side of the bridge which is not directly accessible. Gordon makes his way through the Zombie-infested outpost to retrieve it. The Muscle Car is used until Gordon and Alyx make it to the White Forest Resistance base, picking up a radar module from a still occupied Resistance outpost along the way. At White Forest, Mirt makes several changes to it before Gordon uses it against the Combine while defending Magnusson's rocket.

Behind the scenes
As seen in the Gameplay Demos 3, 4 and 5 released in 2006 , the Episode Two car was a Volkswagen Beetle, also stripped-down-and-rebuilt, but in a lesser condition. Its name was the "Jalopy".

Trivia
The Muscle car is one of the most difficult parts of Half-Life as to get the Little Rocket Man Achievement the player must drive slowly and carefully to keep the Garden Gnome in the car, while under constant fire from the Hunter-Chopper. This part has become a big challenge for Half Life players to accomplish. A common tactic used by players is to shoot the Gnome a distance using the Gravity Gun, then drive up to it and repeat the process. This method is mostly used during the initial stages of the car drive where the road twists and turns frequently. During the section with the Hunter Chopper players sit in their car during the Hunter Choppers firing sequence, and get out while it recharges.

List of appearances

 * Half-Life 2: Episode Two