Effortlessly cool cars...

[white_goodman]

Remember the Top Gear "cool" wall? I don't know if they still do it and I'm not really sure if I get what "cool" is but what cars would be on your cool wall? I've owned a few cars that I thought were quite "cool": 205 GTi, Corrado VR6 and a white E30 325i Convertible. I've owned other cars which I really like such as an MX5 and an Impreza WRX (great cars) but I accept that these are marmite cars that not everyone will get. I don't think that a car has to be good to be "cool" and some of the fashion cars such as MINI, Citroen DS3, Fiat 500, Audi TT are perhaps trying too hard to be "cool". They might be great products but there is a danger that one day they may become deeply uncool. Look what happened to new Beetle. I have experience of these and they are well built, more practical than a MINI/Fiat 500 and no worse to drive than the Golf on which it's based but it was only cool for all of 5 minutes. Likewise the Chrysler PT Cruiser/300C. I tried to make a top 10 of cars that I think are efortlessly cool in a timeless way (cool without trying too hard) but couldn't as there were too many, so I have catagorised them instead.

Small cars
Peugeot 205
VW Golf mk1 hatch/cabrio
original Fiat 500
Abarth 500
Fiat Panda 100HP
Rover Mini Cooper
Suzuki Swift Sport
Renault Clio V6

Family cars
Alfa Romeo 159
Citroen DS
Citroen CX
Citroen XM
classic Saab 900
Jaguar MkII
Lancia Delta Integrale
BMW 2002

Sports cars
classic Alfa Romeo Spider
Audi Quattro
BMW CSL
BMW M635CSi
Citroen SM
Volkswagen Corrado
new Volkswagen Scirrocco (although they now do it in diesel!)?
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar XJS Convertible
1970s 911
1960s Mustang
any Maserati
Aston Martin DB5
1960s Mercedes SL
1960s Mercedes SE convertible? (Like the one in The Hangover!)

Off-roaders
Subaru Forester Turbo (old-model)
Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG
Land Rover Defender
Range Rover Classic
original Land Rover Discovery? (not when they were new but now a battered old Discovery seems quite cool)

Am I wide of the mark on "cool"? Maybe I have it all wrong but what cars would feature on your "cool" wall.

Edited by white_goodman on Friday 15th July 19:45

Edited by white_goodman on Friday 15th July 21:47

Edited by white_goodman on Sunday 17th July 12:37

[carlingofblack]

All Porsche except 924 and Boxter....

[miniman]

To my mind, it has to be at least a decade old to be "cool".

[marcosgt]

NOTHING with an AMG badge on it can ever be considered "Effortlessly" cool...

M.

[AndyHSPL]

I have to agree with the early discovery. Especially if it's a black 3 door with a few dings and scrapes...

I may be bias though

[white_goodman]

marcosgt said:

NOTHING with an AMG badge on it can ever be considered "Effortlessly" cool...

M.

I agree that old cars are generally cooler. I know what you mean about AMG perhaps trying a bit too hard but I would make an exceprion to that rule for the G-Wagon. The diesel option is perhaps too sensible and there is something unsubtle and unapologetic about the combination of a huge, boxy G-Wagon and an AMG V8 which is quite cool.

[98elise]

Delorean

My brother owns one, and it's cause a stir whe ever it goes. If he parks it anywhere he tends to come back to a crowd.

[miniman]

[AndyBrew]

I don't think I'll ever fall out of love with these Rovers, ever!

[PaulFontaine]

I had a yellow Defender 90 in the US and it was so rare it got preferential valet placement up front (which in the US is the true test of coolness) over ferraris, porsches etc.

The Range Rover was pretty much invisible despite costing a great deal more. in the US the list would be radically different and some of the choices would be laughable but I think universally (or at least anywhere on earth) you can expect hypercars to always be cool the snarling Carrera GT, the Mc SLR, the reventon, et al. and then it becomes complicated especially when it comes to sub 100k car. I remember the 6 series droptop getting favored vantage at a popular Hollywood nightclub when it first came out now that same guy would have trouble getting into that lot. I think all vintage american muscle and euro retro cars will always be cool Muira, Shelby fast back, daytonas, 300SLs etc

[mfmman]

Just love the coolness of these



Have no real idea about them, don't know if this is the best example of the model or anything. Not knowing just increases the coolness

[white_goodman]

miniman said:

I agree with all of those especially the Saab 99. Not sure about the Citroen van or Volvo 240 though! I've always fancied a Citroen 2CV van. Not sure if it's "cool" or just me being weird. Personally, I would champion a Volvo 850 (old-shape V70) T5 Estate over the 240!

[Auburn852]

Mk1 Toyota MR2. White. T-Bars.



With original pepper pot wheels, though, not these chav spec ones.

[EarlOfHazard]

[twazzock]

Auburn852 said:

Mk1 Toyota MR2. White. T-Bars.



With original pepper pot wheels, though, not these chav spec ones.

Howzabout this one then?

[jack01825]

relatively cool like this


but when there like this-

there simply the best and coolest thing ever made.

[Arun_D]

Saw one of these SLs yesterday and thought it was cool as cool could be.

[Liquid Knight]

[miniman]

Liquid Knight said:

Go on...

I think I might agree, but convince me...

[RDMcG]

Morgan +8
Citroen SM
Mini 1275 Cooper
E Type
Mini Moke
Jeep CJ 5
Alvis TE 21 drophead