Romero

For the hearse in GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Chinatown Wars, see Hearse.
Vehicle
Romero
A "Romero" in its original appearance in GTA 2.
A "Romero" in its original appearance in GTA 2.
A "Romero" in its original appearance in GTA 2.
Appearance(s) GTA 2
GTA Vice City
GTA San Andreas
GTA IV
GTA V
Vehicle type Civilian car
Body style 2-door sedan (GTA 2)
2-door hearse (GTA:VC — GTA IV)
Capacity 4 (GTA 2 — GTA:VC)
2 (GTA:SA — GTA V)
Manufacturer Albany (HD Universe)
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The Romero is a two-door car that first appeared in Grand Theft Auto 2. The name was then applied to a hearse in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV.

Description

GTA 2

An early Ray Larabie design of the Romero in GTA 2.
A Romero, in the form of a two-door coupe, in-game in GTA 2 (Sprite only, without lights).

In its original appearance in GTA 2, the Romero assumes the design of a two-door hardtop coupe, distinguished by its bubble-like windscreens and triangular windows in the rear. The Romero name is likely a play on Alfa Romeo, with its design taking after 1950s Alfa Romeo designs (see the 1955 Alfa Romeo BAT 9 concept car). Ray Larabie's concept art of the car exhibits a more original design.

Despite its somewhat sporty appearance, the GTA 2 rendition's controls are delayed, resulting in sluggish cornering, and its acceleration and top speed may be regarded as below average. When crushed, the Romero will award the player armor when in the Downtown District, or Molotov cocktails in the Industrial District.

GTA Vice City — GTA V

"Funeral director's vehicle. Possibly used as a cover."
- Official Vice City Bureau of Investigation file description, GTA Vice City.[1]


Name

A Romero's Hearse in GTA Vice City (Rear quarter view).

GTA Vice City featured a hearse named Romero's Hearse and in GTA San Andreas and GTA IV, this was shortened to Romero.

The Romero name was probably reused for hearses in reference to George A. Romero, the director of the Dawn of the Dead series of zombie movies. Within GTA Vice City, the car name is also associated with the Funeraria Romero funeral parlor, which features two Romero's Hearse parked out front during "Two Bit Hit".

Due to the recurrence of hearses since GTA Vice City, the differently named Hearse in GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Chinatown Wars may be confused with the Romero hearse.

Design

In GTA Vice City, Romero's Hearse resembles an 1980s Buick Superior Hearse (in turn based on a 1977–1984 Buick Electra). In GTA San Andreas, it resembles a late '70s Cadillac hearse, sporting a wider range of colors for the roof and body (although generally maintain dark tones). Renditions in GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas may also come with a coffin at the back (appearing with one of two or three different designs).

A minor particularity of the Romero's Hearse in GTA Vice City is its ability to carry four occupants (two in front and two at the back) like a four-door car; however, the back passengers are both "seated" in the middle of the rear compartment in front of the front of any coffin (although there are no rear seats), effectively merging their bodies together as they ride along in the car. Renditions of the hearse after GTA Vice City are only capable of holding two occupants. This is most evident during "Two Bit Hit", when the fleeing Haitian ganglord rides at the back of the car.

The GTA IV rendition of the Romero is a modified version of the Washington sedan, and as such, bears the Albany brand. However, the vehicle lacks a coffin, aside one mission ("Undertaker"). In GTA V, the Romero is identical to its GTA IV rendition.

Performance

The Romero's Hearse in GTA Vice City is a car capable of high speeds, but suffers from poor steering due to its weight and long wheelbase. Performance of the Romero in GTA San Andreas is even worse, as the car is only capable of mediocre top speeds, and features weak brakes. The GTA IV Romero retains the adequate handling of the Washington, but has inferior acceleration and top speed due to the added weight of the wagon body.

All renditions of the hearse are only capable of carrying two occupants, despite featuring two back doors in most cases. The GTA Vice City rendition is an exception, being capable of holding four occupants.

Availability and prominent appearances

While the original Romero in GTA 2 is commonly found in the Downtown and Industrial Districts of Anywhere City, the vehicle in hearse form is not normally driven on the streets, and are more commonly seen parked or in specific missions.

In GTA Vice City, Romero's Hearse is only available in the mission "Two Bit Hit" but it can be spawned through cheats. In GTA San Andreas, one of Carl Johnson's possible girlfriends, Katie Zhan, owns a white Romero, and will give Carl the keys to it if Carl gains her approval. The Hearse is also featured in two missions in GTA Liberty City Stories, namely "The Morgue Party Candidate" and "Morgue Party Resurrection", both for Donald Love.

The Romero in GTA IV is only featured in the mission "Undertaker".

Customization in GTA San Andreas

The Romero in GTA San Andreas can be modified at a TransFender, but is only offered a bare minimum of modification options:

Italicized pricing denotes prices at the Las Venturas TransFender, which charges 20% more except Colors.

  • Colors
    • Car Color 1 (primary body color): $150
    • Car Color 2 (roof color): $150
  • Nitro
    • 2x Nitrous: $200 ($240)
    • 5x Nitrous: $500 ($600)
    • 10x Nitrous: $1,000 ($1,200)

  • Wheels
    • Import: $820 ($984)
    • Atomic: $770 ($924)
    • Ahab: $1,000 ($1,200)
    • Virtual: $620 ($744)
    • Access: $1,140 ($1,368)
    • Off Road Wheel: $1,000 ($1,200)
    • Mega: $1,030 ($1,236)
    • Grove: $1,230 ($1,476)
    • Twist: $1,200 ($1,440)
    • Wires: $1,560 ($1,872)

  • Car Stereo
    • Bass Boost: $100 ($120)
  • Hydraulics: $1,500 ($1,800)

Trivia

  • The Romero Hearse in GTA Vice City can be spawned by inputting cheats.
PS2: D-Pad DownR2D-Pad DownR1L2D-Pad LeftR1L1D-Pad LeftD-Pad Right
PC: thelastride
Xbox: D-Pad DownBlackD-Pad DownRight TriggerWhiteD-Pad LeftRight TriggerLeft TriggerD-Pad LeftD-Pad Right
  • The Romero in GTA San Andreas can be spawned by inputting cheats.
PC: wheresthefuneral
  • The vehicle can be sold in GTA IV for $2,200 at S&M Auto Sales following completion of Stevie's Car Thefts.
  • Despite its only regular GTA IV appearance being in the mission "Undertaker", more Romeros will spawn in traffic if the player retains that Romero and drives it around the city, particularly in Westdyke.
  • The Romero in GTA IV, just like the Washington, its base, features the "door ajar" chime which can be heard with the door open and volume turned up.
  • In GTA San Andreas, the Romero is the least durable vehicle in the game.
  • While the car appears to have four doors, only two can be seated, except for in GTA Vice City, where four people can fit.
  • The tailgate in the GTA Vice City version features an unusual hinge; the door is attached at the bottom near the bumper and it opens inward toward the coffin area.

Locations

GTA 2

The Romero in GTA 2 is commonly spawned in traffic the Downtown and Industrial Districts of Anywhere City. It can also be found parked in the following areas:

  • Southwest of the Fruitbat, Downtown car shop.
  • At an elevated parking lot north of the Zaibatsu headquarters in Omnitron, Downtown
  • Near the Zarelli dock at the northeast corner of the Downtown District.
  • At a parking lot two blocks west from the church in Tedium, Industrial.
GTA Vice City
GTA San Andreas
GTA IV
  • It can only be obtained once: right after "Undertaker" mission completion, in Steinway or Colony Island. If obtained, the Romero can rarely spawn when driving one.
GTA V


See also

  • Hearse, GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Chinatown Wars equivalents.

Reference

  1. Vice City Crime Tree. Rockstar Games. official GTA Vice City website