Is there a car that no-one on PH hates?

[white_goodman]

Mission impossible? The petrolhead sacrilege thread was a very interesting read and it seems that not everyone likes Ferraris, Porsches, Astons and MX5s! Does such a car exist that everyone on PH likes it at least a little bit (or at least doesn't hate it)? Now, it obviously can't be an SUV/estate/convertible or a BMW/Audi or a diesel or French!

Here's a few suggestions (I've thought about them in terms of driven wheels):

FWD

I've avoided all the hot hatches and plumped for the humble mk1 Focus petrol (not the ST or RS though).



Practical, reliable, cheap to run, a decent steer, still looks great IMHO and available for shed money now. Does cheap shed motoring get any better? Surely even the most ardent FWD hater can't hate a 100bhp shopping hatch for what it is? Possibly the most classless car that Ford ever made (I know several wealthy people who have a mk1 Focus on the fleet) and successfully shrugged off the chavvy image of the Escort. I should have bought one instead of the mk4 Golf that I bought. Much better car!

4WD

Surely the RWD fanboys wouldn't object as much to something 4WD?

I was going to suggest the Audi Quattro



as there wasn't so much hate for Audis in the 1980s but I know of at least one person that doesn't like them, so maybe



or



Never read a bad word about the ST205 Celica GT4 on here, although the standard wheels (3-spokers?) were pretty hideous.

RWD

mk2 MR2 Turbo?



NSX?



Classics

Range Rover Classic?



Interceptor?



MkII Jag?



Aston Vantage?



Any other suggestions, as to a car that no-one would hate?

[white_goodman]

Strawman said:

I'll nominate the Lotus Carlton, 170mph no ABS and five seats.

Good suggestion!

[white_goodman]

MarshPhantom said:

NSX looks very dated.

Newer shape then?

[white_goodman]

stormy22 said:

I really do not like the focus! So dull and common. Never liked MR2's either...never owned or driven one, so cannot be specific, just don't like the look of them.

What about the '05-09 Mustang, or even the 2010 or 2011 5.0 Mustang, anyone dislike those? I LOVE THEM!

Dull and common seems a bit harsh. The mk1 Focus was about as good and exciting as small, cheap hatches got at the time (even compared to more expensive competition like the Golf and A3) and certainly didn't look like anything else on the market either, although the styling may not be everyone's cup of tea. If we were talking about the mk2 and 3 Focus, then they are distinctly dull and average, so I would certainly agree with you. I genuinely can't think of another FWD that no-one could hate. Perhaps the current UK best-seller?



I like the new-age Mustangs too but some would say that they are a poor facsimile of the real thing.



So maybe that or the GM equivalent would be a good shout?



Is it bad that I prefer the new to the classic Challenger?



V8 muscle cars too noisy though?

[white_goodman]

Thanks, some great suggestions. I think the reason why we haven't really come to a consensus is because some people (myself included) are assuming that other people won't like a certain car because of xyz. There are several cars that have been mentioned that people haven't actually said they dislike but think others may dislike because it lacks class/is too brash etc etc. A car that is universally liked is actually probably more likely to be something humble like a Fiesta, which is totally fit for purpose rather than something exotic i.e. some people prefer Ferraris to Lamborghinis and vice versa. Of the cars mentioned in the OP, the only ones that people have actually said that they dislike are the MR2, NSX and Focus.

How about some cheap 1970s Italian rubbish?!

[white_goodman]

T1berious said:

I don't think I've heard (well, read) any hate for the F355? generally seems regarded as the last truly beautiful Ferrari. Could be wrong mind.

I like the 355 but I drove one once (on track) and it wasn't as amazing as I thought it might be. Although I'm pretty indifferent about the looks of the 360 Modena in general, for some reason the Challenge Stradale is my favourite modern Ferrari.

[white_goodman]

Surely no-one can hate a hand-built Bentley.

Continental R?



or Arnage (Red Label obviously)!

[white_goodman]

talksthetorque said:

I remember contracting at a place where the company owner was in the factory meeting where he was telling the staff "There would be no pay rise this year and possibly some redundancies due to the poor economy"

His secretary came up and whispered in his ear, and he went out to the car park to take delivery of one of these.

A) If there's anyone on here from that factory, I bet they hate them.
B) when he said due to the poor economy........

Haha, yes, I can see that not going down too well. Were any of the staff PHers though? You could also say that he was supporting the British economy by buying a Bentley!

[white_goodman]

Hrimfaxi said:

Don't think that I have read any negativity towards the Legacy... Possible contender?

If you mean this handsome beast, then yes



probably not this one though!



It was always a shame that the Spec B lacked the air scoop of other fast Subarus though (I know it was for the turbo and the Spec B isn't turbocharged). I fully expect to see comments like bland/ugly, cheap interior, high CO2s/fuel consumption and 4WD is unecessary and crap from the BMW massive though!

[white_goodman]

// thread? (although personally I prefer the roadster)



...or is it?

[white_goodman]

RichB said:

Like the Merc, don't like the Ferrari though. To hate a car is silly though.

Really? What's not to like?

[white_goodman]

fausTVR said:

I haven't had time to read all the posts, but this?



I've never heard a disparaging word.

Sorry. What is that?