[Closed] Cars People Actually Want.

Fiat 500

Get out.

Started well with the GTi.

Audi A4? They're all over the place.

If I could get a modern estate as good looking as a Triumph 2500S I'd be happy parking that outside the mews house.

Has anyone really ever wanted a Renault Megane?

If i is the Renaultsport version, then yes (although the latest one is a bit of a minger).

Gold R's seem to be pretty popular.

It's the same for everything though.

Does everyone live in the house they want or the one they can afford nearish to where they work?

Do people buy the bike they want or the one that does the job at the price they can afford?

Do people have their dream kitchen or the one they can afford from Ikea, Wickes, B&Q etc.

And on the car thing it depends on how you view cars. My 13 year old Renault Megane 1.9 turbo diesel still does everything I need it to. If you see a car (or anything) as a tool to do a job thats completely different to viewing it as a status symbol / extension of your personality / style icon and will change what your dream car is and what you're happy to have in your life.

There comes a point when you realise that an expensive car is just another bike you don't own.

I've got the car I want more or less. I'm not particularly bothered about the badge. I'm not a petrol head. It fit's loads of stuff in it and is pretty comfy on long drives. I wouldn't mind a brand new one but the type of car I have wouldn't change.

The 3 cars the OP listed wouldn't make it any where near my list.

Wanting is a funny thing. What would you feel like if you actually had it? What would people think of you when you vroom up outside their house in a Lambo?

If I were well off I'd probably still be in a Passat, but it would be newer and have all the extras. If I were better off still I might stretch to an E-Class or a BMW 5 series, but I doubt I'd go beyond that.

People really seem to want/covet Range Rovers for some reason

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Obviously...

Toyota IQ

Golf GTi - [b]nope[/b]
BMW Mini - [b]nope[/b]
Fiat 500 - [b]only the Abarth version.[/b]

Either a:

1) Lotus Exige

2) Caterham R500

3) A Radical track car and a lorry

4) An RS200 if I had serious money and a lorry.

mindmap3 - Member
Gold R's seem to be pretty popular.

Because everyone's getting them on lease deals for around £5 a month

Covet Range Rovers? Not this abomination....

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Not sure the OP meant "do you personally want" but more "cars that are universally liked".

e.g. the Range Rover isn't something less well off folk would drive. But many would drive a GTi (says the not-so-well-off GTi driver).

edit: I rather like that soft top rover. It's monumentally fugly. But I quite like it.

so i work for a major OEM. (not FIAT) Fiat 500 should defo be on the list. I hired one on holiday, and in every possible way you could measure it was awful. Shocking and unsaleable on some points - but that hasn't stoppped people buying them in droves. Most people really don't care about the stuff most managers seem to worry about. Its all about the looks and the image.

Ask people what they want and end up with some pastiche of ideas that no one buys. Do a crazy off the wall styling exercise and it sells - see nissan juke - i geniunely thought that the first one i saw had been in an accident until it got a bit closer and realised it was supposed ot be like that. It sells though. Same with this wierd cactus thing.

People really seem to want/covert Range Rovers for some reason

Have you ever been in one? My sister has one and every time I have to drive for more than an hour I wish I were in one rather than any other car I've been in. They are silly expensive, ridiculously large for parking etc. but really, really comfortable for long journeys.

OP - funny you mention the Fiat 500. I have always said that if I won the lottery, I'd get myself a bright red 500 Abarth. Admittedly not only that one car, but it would definitely be on the list.

Don't agree with the BMW Mini - especially any of the latest ones. Bleurgh.

Struggling to think of any others to be honest.....

Just for the record I don't want a Range Rover, but I see plenty of people in them who you maybe think are cutting corners elsewhere to afford one.

Yes I have been in a few before, and no I still don't want one.

A super reliable easy to maintain car. Easily customisable behaviour eg lock doors when moving or not. Options like this should be easily set by user not by dealer only software.

This does not exist!

Funny, I was just thinking about something similar the other day. For me it would be something not too flash like a Jaguar XE.

I like cars

If I was really loaded I'd have:

I'd have a big estate with a massive engine as a daily driver- Like an RS6 Avant
A sensible sports / GT - think 911 or GTR rather than Ferrari or Lambo
A track day toy - like an Atom / possibly a Nomad if I could find some appropriate off-road bits to play too.

But I'm not loaded so I own the 29er Hardtail of the car world - a hot hatch

Easily customisable behaviour eg lock doors when moving or not.

I've had several cars that you can do this dating back to a 2003 Citroen C3

Cars have become commodities - white goods and as such have had their souls sucked out of them. Even your super hot hatches and exotic super and hyper cars are sterile - fast and efficient, but so what, and only serve to make their drivers look like complete and utter pricks - absolutely nobody looks good in them. As such I've completely lost interest in cars. If money were no object I'd be going for a more classic/older car with a few modern tweaks to make it more reliable and update the brakes and suspension etc. Not as 'good' as a modern car but at least it would be interesting and exciting to drive and a bit more unique. Something you'd look forward to getting in and want to take the long route to wherever it is you're going.

I'd have a big estate with a massive engine as a daily driver- Like an RS6 Avant
[s]A sensible sports / GT - think 911 or GTR rather than Ferrari or Lambo
[/s]A track day toy - like an Atom / possibly a Nomad if I could find some appropriate off-road bits to play too.

Pretty much this.

I'd say a mid range Audi would be in the list somewhere.

I've got an A4 and love its ability to look good but blend in to the crowd when driving. I've had a GTi and a couple of other Golfs and agree they fit in anywhere as well, the R seems to be a master of that, I just wish it didn't have 4 tailpipes!

As for cars people like to own a middle of the range 3/5 series and C/E class would fit in with that list as well based on driving around the okay areas by me.

I think you're confusing 'interest' with nostalgia there wobbliscott. Or possibly road noise.

I remember when I was a kid and my dad was looking for a new (to him) car, I said "why don't you get a Porsche?", He said, "Nah, you can't fit a ladder rack on".

I have the same interest in cars today. Loads of people would say they want a super fast sports car, but the novelty would wear off quickly I reckon when they're struggling to fit the shopping in, or one of the kids pukes up in the back!!

Do a crazy off the wall styling exercise and it sells

I was going to buy a Honda Civic simply because it was different inside (and an otherwise decent car of course). The Focus I tried, despite being supposedly great handling, was just so dull. Only reason I didn't was because the ones at the dealer at that time were a bit too expensive.

mindmap3 - Member
Gold R's seem to be pretty popular.

Mostly driven round here by shaven headed thug/drug dealing types, according to my police contacts.

OK, 3 cars to cover every eventuality:
Bowler EXR S (for looking like a complete tool)
Completely restored (and updated) Triumph 2500S estate
Fiat 124 Abarth hardtop

That should do it.

Have you ever been in one? My sister has one and every time I have to drive for more than an hour I wish I were in one rather than any other car I've been in. They are silly expensive, ridiculously large for parking etc. but really, really comfortable for long journeys.

I smiled to myself when I was told the MPG of one.

No wonder they sound so nice starting up - that noise probably cost more than a nice lunch out*.

*This may not technically be completely factually correct.

Different cars for different things

Some big Merc for motorway driving (do they do 4x4?) or yes even a Range Rover.

A fast Caterham for fun.

An electric BMW 3 series for commuting. (one out in 2018)

A GT (prob Ferrari of some sort) for long trip nice journeys ie through Scotland/Alps etc.

Edit: and a van for biking.

Spend half my week in Surrey - where parking your Range Rover and your Audi outside your house - however small the house is - is compulsory.

The other half I spend in rural East Sussex where people care rather less about what cars they have and park them outside rather bigger houses.

I want, as my next car, a modern automatic (DSG or similar) estate with 4x4 and a large boot/seats down, that is nice to be in for long drives, but NOT an SUV. And I'm struggling to find it at the mo.

I want, as my next car, a modern automatic (DSG or similar) estate with 4x4 and a large boot/seats down, that is nice to be in for long drives, but NOT an SUV. And I'm struggling to find it at the mo.

I have had test drives in 2 of these this week 🙂

Yesterday, an A6 Avant quattro, today a Skoda Superb estate 4x4.

Just waiting for the dealers to get back with prices now, having sent them both CarWow finance quotes...

I almost forgot the Prius.
Didn't all the celebs go mad for them a while back for so called eco-credentials.

Not sure why there isn't much love for RR.

People I know that have them say they are great. About the comfiest place you can be. High up so you can see, and relatively safe ie 4x4 and built like bricks.

I think Golf's will always have universal appeal, they've lost some of it in recent years by diluting it with their own sub-brands, but it gave the greater market share if anything. It was always one of those cars they topped sales charts when you stripped anyway the fleet buyers - the car people bought with their own money.

There are other cars that seem to appeal to certain sectors, which usually means they alienate people outside of it.

A1's are the new 500, which was the new Mini which was the new Beetle.

LR Evoke.

Audi A5, BMW 3/4 series.

Volvo V70 for me, please. Or better yet, its new successor, the V90.

I like things that do what they say on the tin, and with a bit of grace. An estate is always essential in my mind, as a car is nothing without efficient carrying capacity.

Car like a tardis, I hate my car for general driving but for getting copious amounts of crap shifted and five adults transported in comfort it's brill. So for me something like a mazda mx5 on the outside but a volvo estate on the inside

Edit - the added benefit of a blue flashing light would be cool but I would forgoe time travel for the option of instant transportation to destination of choice 🙂

About the comfiest place you can be. High up so you can see, and relatively safe ie 4x4 and built like bricks.

Yep, big on the inside and small on the outside. Can be fugly, I don't have to look at it...

[b]ianc[/b] on the list. Not sure I am ready to have an Audi...

LR Evoke.

Can't understand the popularity of these to be honest.

Sister in law has one. Its a reverse tardis, less boot space than my Leon. Not particularly sporty, handles like a van.

Nice enough to sit in and plenty of toys but then what new car doesn't have gadgets these days?

An absolute triumph of style and marketing over substance

My wife pretty much has the car she's want if price etc. wasn't a consideration (she has a diesel SLK). I have a car I like (a Mazda CX-7) but if price & practicality weren't issues I'd definitely have something else.

One of my colleagues just bought an Evoke and I really struggle to see why. It has no boot space and his is also really slow.

Aren't Evokes the ****s current choice of car?

Ms tomhoward went on a supercar driving experience day last weekend.

She [i]actually[/i] wants a(in rough order)

Lamborghini aventador
Lamborghini gallardo balboni spyder
Ferrari 458 italia spyder
McLaren MP4 12c
Porsche 997 turbo cabriolet
Audi R8 V10 spider
BMW i8

She currently drives a 206 cc....

*puts in overtime request*

Cars have become commodities - white goods and as such have had their souls sucked out of them. Even your super hot hatches and exotic super and hyper cars are sterile - fast and efficient, but so what, and only serve to make their drivers look like complete and utter pricks - absolutely nobody looks good in them. As such I've completely lost interest in cars. If money were no object I'd be going for a more classic/older car with a few modern tweaks to make it more reliable and update the brakes and suspension etc. Not as 'good' as a modern car but at least it would be interesting and exciting to drive and a bit more unique. Something you'd look forward to getting in and want to take the long route to wherever it is you're going.

I think you're confusing 'interest' with nostalgia there wobbliscott. Or possibly road noise.

But yes, I do pop down the shops for the paper and come back a couple of hours later, having been to Brighton, just because...

Aren't Evokes the ****s current choice of car?

...and relatively safe ie 4x4 and built like bricks.

Look like and have aerodynamic properties of a brick too.

M4 should be but I cannot fit a detacheable towbar on it and I do a lot of miles.. so a 430d would do ...420d Msport the very least with Harman Kardon. Metallic black please.

BMW i8 for me I think. Beyond that hard just to look past function.

BMW i8 for me I think. Beyond that hard just to look past function.

If I had the money, I would quite like a Toyota GT-86, and I'm not afraid to admit it. Brisk but fun to drive, sounds good to me.

No, he ain't.
I've recently bought a 40 year old Alfa Romeo as an everyday runabout

But yes, I do pop down the shops for the paper and come back a couple of hours later, having been to Brighton, just because...

which one ?

I took a Guilietta sprint speciale out the other day for a test drive - looked good with all the body kit and went OK if pushed (small petrol engine) but no real steering feel which was dissappointing - apparently because it is electronic steering now.

Got back in my GT and appeciated the turn-in on the steering and the way it rails round a corner (although not as good as my previous 156) and realised that I need a newer GT instead - the extra 'feedback' just makes driving at normal speeds much more involving.

suburbanreuben - Member

I've recently bought a 40 year old Alfa Romeo as an everyday runabout

Please post a pic (not because I don't believe you, just love old Alfas, my dream lottery garage would be mainly old Alfas)

And drinks like a fish.

If you can afford to buy a RR the fuel cost isn't really of any consequence

Best ones I've owned, in no particular order:

500 Abarth, Golf V GTi, 156 TS, 309GTi

Would need something nice to persuade me out of my current van though

Ford Mustang for me. And a petrol station of my own 😉

Has anyone really ever wanted a Renault Megane?

Not the best pic, but yes. And the "shaking that ass" version that followed. admittedly that was probably both in the sense that they were affordable but a bit cool.

Like buying an MX-5, no one buys one because they want an MX-5, they wanted a Lotus Elise, or a Aston Vantage, but an MX-5 is in budget.

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I drive a C-max, I'd like a rangerover (luxury, lots of space and a 3.5t towing capacity).

If you can afford to buy a RR the fuel cost isn't really of any consequence

Like buying an MX-5, no one buys one because they want an MX-5, they wanted a Lotus Elise, or a Aston Vantage, but an MX-5 is in budget.

wrong there I think. I had one because you could have fun with it at 40-60mph in country lanes. I think the Elise is ugly and the vantage would need to be driven faster to be fun. Loved it.

no one buys one because they want an MX-5

wrong x2

MX-5s are cool.

They're everything the quintessential Brit 2 seaters tried to be, but they were done by a company that made stuff that didn't fall apart when it rained.

They were definitely not any good at going round roundabouts sideways.

I'll admit they're not absurd fast. But so what.

I miss my old Cherokee, so my next car will be a Grand Cherokee.

I want a car that drives itself whist I look out the window go online etc. If I can plug it in at home even better.

which one ?

I took a Guilietta sprint speciale out the other day for a test drive - looked good with all the body kit and went OK if pushed (small petrol engine) but no real steering feel which was dissappointing - apparently because it is electronic steering now.

Got back in my GT and appeciated the turn-in on the steering and the way it rails round a corner (although not as good as my previous 156) and realised that I need a newer GT instead - the extra 'feedback' just makes driving at normal speeds much more involving.

A '76 GT Junior 1600. I really wanted a 1750 GTV just like me dear old mum's but a few months' search convinced me that my budget wasn't up to to it, even if I could find one that hadn't had a 2000 implant, or wasn't a South African import re-trimmed in buffalo hide. I must have seen about two dozen Bertones in all, dating from '66 to '77, and I was just losing enthusiasm when I found "the one" down in Dorset. 40k miles from new (2000 in the last five years), only "a little" rust but not in expensive places. It started first time and pulled like train, the little 1600 (original) engine feeling more pokey than some of the 2000s I'd driven.
Most importantly, it was first registered on my 13th birthday in 1976 - the year that girls were invented! It's currently being fettled- re-bushed and serviced, but I didn't take any pics first, but I can tell you it's an absolute blast to drive- perfect steering and handling, the best gearbox ever, and a beautiful exhaust growl.
I'm in love!
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Love the old Alfas.
Our current Italian play thing is a Panda 100hp, think that suits the OPs idea of a millionaires everyman car. They were cheap new and are a laugh to drive.

Had a Mk2 MX5, they are good cars, best with a bit of modifying to get the best. But with an unlimited budget, I think there are more focussed alternatives whether you're looking for a drivers car or an open top tourer. They do however bridge a lot of requirements quite well.

Can I keep the [s]banger [/s]car I have and use the money to cycle round Europe for a year?

I have a car which is pretty much ideal for me, but if I can save the pennies I'd love a porsche panamera. Loads of people hate them, but I think they're great.

Fail to see the appeal of a new car when you can pick up a few year old, well looked after BMW M3 (or similar) for the same price as some brand new Hyundi sh*tbox that'll loose half its value in depreciation over the first couple of years!

Old school 4x4 here, none of this suv rubbish, and it's pretty much the most perfect car I've ever owned.
We like close enough to the city centre that all the day to day stuff can be done on foot.
The car can swallow huge loads and 7 people, it's a camping base, it'll go anywhere, it's environmentally friendly, It puts a grin on my face every time I drive it, I'll never lose my licence with it, it's perfect for all weathers, it's never been boxed in and I can park it anywhere.

wrong there I think. I had one because you could have fun with it at 40-60mph in country lanes. I think the Elise is ugly and the vantage would need to be driven faster to be fun. Loved it.

So if you won the lottery you'd buy an MX-5?

It probably, in fact undoubtedly, is the best 2 seater sports car for <£20k, but the best 2 seater sports car full stop?

You'd not consider a Caterham, Spyker, Aston, or anything else above it? How about an E-type Jaguar?

Alfa 147 GTA, or the new version.

Those Evoqe convertibles are gopping. Just the definition of bell-endery. I've seen a few in the Cotswolds in testing and they are almost as bad to look at as the Saanyong Rodius MPV goppery.

In no particular order:

Citroen SM. (Want the car but not the hassle!) for cruising.
BMW M5 for everyday use.
Porsche 935 K3 for track days. 😈
Porsche 935/78 for Classic Le Mans
Hearse for bike/surf duties (seriously considering this). Failing that a Citroen CX Safari (see above!)
Renault 5 Turbo 2 for when the 935 is off the track.
Porsche 956/962 for more track days. 8)

What I do have: 325i touring which is a good all-rounder. Might fit the proper intake manifold next year so it becomes a 330i.
What I will get: 340i touring when the above motor dies in a few years time.

Edit: if I were to buy one car to do it all, it might be a new Nissan GTR. A corker!

None of the original three for me, not interested at all.

I'd have a Discovery over a RR. I'd like a 3 Series Touring, One of those big Volvo's with the pretend off road bits, errrr, a a Focus RS....

Money no object I'd have any Ferrari and feel no shame about it what so ever.

Porsche 935/78 for Classic Le Mans

I used to have a thing for big practical fast cars but since owning a fairly big fairly fast one it's got to be lightweight... I just went through so many brakes and suspension components and drivetrain parts (diff, CV joints). Plus lightweight naturally just works better. Just need to find funds and ski/bike racks now!

The 204ps 4 motion VW T6 kombi.. Surely the ideal stw ride...

I went on a Supercar rally in a convoy of McLarens, Ferraris and Lamborghinis recently, the experience left me cold.

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CynicAl and I went to a classic car rally down in the Borders a month or so ago and I came home lusting after a Bristol that was in the car park and an unrestored Lagonda.

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