Which cars are classy these days?

Which cars are classy these days?

Author
Discussion

tomic

Original Poster:

720 posts

144 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Some years ago you might have looked at a Mercedes E Class Estate or a Range Rover and thought it was a classy looking motor and the owner was probably a person of taste. The fact the car was a bit battered would even add an element of class to it. An E Class coupe or Cabriolet from the early 90's definitely had class about it.

These days I would look at a Range Rover and think the owner lives in a Pools Winners type house in Essex or Cheshire. Mercs are often bought by the same type of people and they usually disintegrate before they can look battered.

Saab had a decent ownership profile some years ago, but they were really GM based for 20 odd years before they went under. Audi used to be a quirky alternative to BMW, but then they devised this advert in the 90's to highlight that fact and all the BMW company car drivers migrated. They're now possibly the least classy cars of all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJa3d17Ktko

Even Golfs, which were known as classless at one point, have a chav appeal nowadays. Most people I know who would have bought a Golf some years ago would be in some sort of People Carrier/Small 4x4 now.

I kind of think an XC90 or Discovery may be a bit classy these days, but that's about it - Any thoughts?



Edited by tomic on Friday 24th February 01:05

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Classic cars.

Hell27

1,564 posts

190 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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I think Jag XJ-R's circa 2003 - 2008 tick all the right boxes. Especially in black.


Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Hell27 said:
I think Jag XJ-R's circa 2003 - 2008 tick all the right boxes. Especially in black.

Are these 4 or 5 seater?

Meridius

1,608 posts

151 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Yeah it must be classic cars these days. I never look at any new cars and think they're classy or sophisticated really, the closest I can think would be what? a non S-Line A6 Avant? new Volvo V / S90? Everything else all look a bit "Ive got a backlit LED kitchen".

Id probably disagree about the VW Golf though, besides the R, the Golf GTI might be the least chavvy hot hatchback on the market. Still, that doesnt mean the Golfs classy, just that the rest are really tacky. laugh

Edited by Meridius on Friday 24th February 00:43

sebhaque

6,402 posts

180 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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I must admit that my C63 sat on the drive looks rather ostentatious even when compared to the two Cadillac STS' and mid-90s XJ8 next door. The next neighbour has a newish XJR which looks incredibly elegant, even in silver. I've never seen a poorly-driven XJ, whereas I've actually disregarded other C63 drivers for the stunts they've pulled on the roads (yes, I know we have fast cars, there's no need to prove it to another driver by undertaking cars on the hard shoulder and then honking when you pull up next to me). I think that Rolls-Royce cars have been slightly tarnished with people "blinging" them just to say they own a Roller - whereas the larger Bentleys have mostly gone unnoticed - so in my opinion a Mulsanne is that much more classy than a Phantom.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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I would discount all SUVs. Range Rover 'brand' has been diluted massively by the Evoque and Sport. Great for the shareholders, but not for the image.

Struggling to think of any new car.. perhaps the Maserati Ghibli Saloon? Oh, and must be petrol and in the right colour. I think it's a really classy car and a traditional 4dr Saloon that isn't boring.

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Pisht, stopped caring about classy a few years ago. Now it's all about whatever car can get the poor person out of lane 3 the quickest.

Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Audi A4 or A6 allroad? Cashed up chavs get a Q5 or 7.

Any large french car. Even a 10 year old Citroen C6 is still classy.

ChemicalChaos

10,360 posts

159 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Jag XJ (with small wheels)
The new Volvo S/V/XC90 range

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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ChemicalChaos said:
Jag XJ (with small wheels)
The new Volvo S/V/XC90 range
All Astons.

exelero

1,890 posts

88 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Welshbeef said:
Are these 4 or 5 seater?
I think 5 and yes those Jags are classy.

Anyway MX5?

RBH58

969 posts

134 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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You can take the classiest cars and make them trash if you've got more money than taste. No Rolls Royce should ever been seen with 25 profile tyres.

Edited by RBH58 on Friday 24th February 03:25

Jaydh89x

3 posts

85 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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I've always loved the 530 and 535 msport models, even more now they are nowhere near as common, that's my old mans and it's an absolute pleasure to drive put a lot of new cars I've driven to shame!

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Mercedes 420 SL



E24 M635CSi



Aston Martin V8 Vantage



I'm struggling to think of anything made this century that's classy. The Maserati Quattroporte is probably rare enough and undesirable enough among the footballing classes, but to me they just look a bit clunky in design.

How about something like the Volvo V90? All the classic "get out of my way, I'm driving a Volvo" owners seem to have moved to German brands, and all the wannabe SUV drivers have - well - moved on to SUVs. Estate cars even more than ever have a faint whiff of old money, or at least thoughtful money.

CraigyMc

16,316 posts

235 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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BMW-era Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

(too expensive for chavs to get their mitts on, unlike the older ones).

Obviously it's possible to make anything crass; I'm sure there are pink and purple ones specced with footballer-scrotum leatherette interiors, but that aside, the normal ones are pretty classy.

wildcat45

8,056 posts

188 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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It's often down to how the car is specd.

For example, near me there is a pretty old Range Rover L322 with an expensive private plate that has been on various Range Rovers since I've lived here, 35 years.

Anyway, this Range Rover is green, clear Windows so you can see inside and it sits on small wheels. From memory, it doesn't even have sat Nav.

To me,that's a classy car. You could roll up to Buckingham Palace in it to pick up your night hood and it would fit in despite the fact that it's probably 13 years old.

Controversially, I'd include the present RR Sport in the classy category. But it would need to be low spec, in a modest dark colour with clear glass and small wheels.

I'd put the Discovery 4 in a similar colour in the classy category.

Someone above mentioned the Citroen C6. That's a good call. I'd also nominate something like the Vel Satis. Again, there's one near me. It's quirky, and you just know the owner has put some thought into their car. You don't buy one because you can't afford anything better.

What do people think about the Land Cruiser? The big ones don't tend to be flash, they are more big capable cars that don't project a bling image.

I'd discount Rolls and Bentley these days. Rolls are a bit in your face. Bentley, a bit too footballer. Aston still has it I think.

I agree that the new generation 90-series Volvos have a certain classy appeal to them.




GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Zad said:
I'm struggling to think of anything made this century that's classy. The Maserati Quattroporte is probably rare enough and undesirable enough among the footballing classes, but to me they just look a bit clunky in design.

How about something like the Volvo V90? All the classic "get out of my way, I'm driving a Volvo" owners seem to have moved to German brands, and all the wannabe SUV drivers have - well - moved on to SUVs. Estate cars even more than ever have a faint whiff of old money, or at least thoughtful money.


Maybe?

spookly

4,011 posts

94 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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I don't disagree with all you've said, but it could also be that we've all got older, and more grumpy and judgemental biggrin

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Please see the "coolest 4 door saloon" thread for the answer to your question.