Which generations of car do you struggle to choose between?
Discussion
My "real-world" dream car for a few years now has been a Mercedes-Benz SL but I have never been able to pick conclusively which one I want. An R129 is possibly peak Mercedes-Benz engineering/quality and maybe the last of the old school Mercedes and a bonafide classic. Ideally I'd want an SL500 on AMG monoblocks but a straight six SL320 would also do very nicely (funnily enough it's the early R129s that I prefer the look of) or do I want the R230? They're a bit better value now that nice R129s are increasing in value, they do look so much more modern and are very good-looking cars in my opinion plus you have the convenience of the hardtop but supposedly quality took a bit of a dive and they're a lot more complex, so potentially more expensive to repair. But an SL55 AMG I still desire very much and even an SL350 looks quite appealing for the money ie close to the 500 on performance but without the tricksy suspension, so supposedly more reliable. Neither is on the cards for a while but I still can't decide!
A few others that I have deliberated on over the years.
E46 M3 vs. E92 M3 - if we're talking the regular E46/E90 then the E46 no question and the E46 M3 coupe is possibly one of the most perfect-looking cars ever and the S54 straight six has real pedigree but the prospect of that high-revving V8 in the E92 is still very alluring.
E39 M5 vs. E60 M5 - again the regular car, the E39 no question and the E39 M5 is probably the one you want but again the 5 litre V10 in the E60 M5 has always been a draw for me.
mk1 Focus RS vs. mk2 Focus RS - mk1 Focus over a mk2 any day of the week and the mk1 Focus RS is possibly one of the best-looking hot hatchbacks ever but the mk2 RS is probably the better car.
mk4 Golf R32 vs. mk5 Golf R32 - The mk4 is probably the one that I would get for how it looks but the mk5 is probably the better all-round car to live with, especially with the DSG transmission but the looks are a little underwhelming,
mk1 Golf GTi vs. mk2 Golf GTi - I love the looks of the mk1 GTi more but one of those or a 3 door "big bumper" mk2 16v on BBS alloys would be a really tough choice.
"Classic" Impreza Turbo/WRX vs. "New-age" Impreza WRX - I had a "new age" Impreza WRX and it was a fantastic car and probably faster, stiffer and safer than the "classic" but it just doesn't look as good does it and Colin McRae and Richard Burns didn't win the WRC in the "new-age" Impreza.
Mitsubishi Evo IV/V/VI vs. Evo VII/VIII/IX - the boxy IV/V/VI are probably more iconic but the later cars are probably even better and are better-looking too IMHO.
L322 vs L405 Range Rover - the L322 has become a bit of a design icon and probably the definitive Range Rover for the younger generation but I expect the L405 would be better in every way to live with.
So which are the car generations that you really struggle to choose between?
A few others that I have deliberated on over the years.
E46 M3 vs. E92 M3 - if we're talking the regular E46/E90 then the E46 no question and the E46 M3 coupe is possibly one of the most perfect-looking cars ever and the S54 straight six has real pedigree but the prospect of that high-revving V8 in the E92 is still very alluring.
E39 M5 vs. E60 M5 - again the regular car, the E39 no question and the E39 M5 is probably the one you want but again the 5 litre V10 in the E60 M5 has always been a draw for me.
mk1 Focus RS vs. mk2 Focus RS - mk1 Focus over a mk2 any day of the week and the mk1 Focus RS is possibly one of the best-looking hot hatchbacks ever but the mk2 RS is probably the better car.
mk4 Golf R32 vs. mk5 Golf R32 - The mk4 is probably the one that I would get for how it looks but the mk5 is probably the better all-round car to live with, especially with the DSG transmission but the looks are a little underwhelming,
mk1 Golf GTi vs. mk2 Golf GTi - I love the looks of the mk1 GTi more but one of those or a 3 door "big bumper" mk2 16v on BBS alloys would be a really tough choice.
"Classic" Impreza Turbo/WRX vs. "New-age" Impreza WRX - I had a "new age" Impreza WRX and it was a fantastic car and probably faster, stiffer and safer than the "classic" but it just doesn't look as good does it and Colin McRae and Richard Burns didn't win the WRC in the "new-age" Impreza.
Mitsubishi Evo IV/V/VI vs. Evo VII/VIII/IX - the boxy IV/V/VI are probably more iconic but the later cars are probably even better and are better-looking too IMHO.
L322 vs L405 Range Rover - the L322 has become a bit of a design icon and probably the definitive Range Rover for the younger generation but I expect the L405 would be better in every way to live with.
So which are the car generations that you really struggle to choose between?
Edited by white_goodman on Friday 9th October 16:44
Deranged Rover said:
FD or FE Vauxhall VX4/90 is the only one I can think of.
Had to look that one up aka the Victor? Like most of these things, the older car often looks better but the newer car would be the better one to live with?I would probably say the same of the mk1 vs. the mk2 Ford Granada.
Your first two examples wouldn't be a struggle for me - I'd take the E9x and E6x over the earlier versions even if we were only talking cooking models. The E46 looks nice but is a high maintenance rust bucket, and the E39 looks fairly dull and is a high maintenance rust bucket, so in both cases I'd go for the newer versions every time.
They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
gotoPzero said:
The 911 / Boxsters of the 2003-2005 change over periods.
The 997 and 987 look better / drive better than the 996 / 986 but there is just something that makes me prefer the older ones.
But push come to shove I think its hard to pick - especially at the higher end of the range.
I actually prefer the look of the 986 over the 987 Boxster (more distinctive), although I'm sure that the 987 is the much better car. Hated the 996 when it first came out but actually when I see an unadorned 996 Carrera these days, it looks pretty "clean", compact and kind of perfect really.The 997 and 987 look better / drive better than the 996 / 986 but there is just something that makes me prefer the older ones.
But push come to shove I think its hard to pick - especially at the higher end of the range.
bodhi said:
Your first two examples wouldn't be a struggle for me - I'd take the E9x and E6x over the earlier versions even if we were only talking cooking models. The E46 looks nice but is a high maintenance rust bucket, and the E39 looks fairly dull and is a high maintenance rust bucket, so in both cases I'd go for the newer versions every time.
They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
You're flowing a bit against popular opinion there but I get your point on the rust issues. Were the E9x 3/E6x really that much better though? E6x felt a bit cheap in comparison to the E39, only looked good on the big wheels and BMW were experimenting with runflat tyres at the time so less well resolved dynamically/in terms of comfort? Those E9x/E6x M engines were pretty fragile too, as was the SMG in the V10 M5? Part of me adores the E60 M5 for the insane engine but in some ways it makes it a worse M5 and not as well-rounded as the E39 M5?They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
white_goodman said:
I actually prefer the look of the 986 over the 987 Boxster (more distinctive), although I'm sure that the 987 is the much better car. Hated the 996 when it first came out but actually when I see an unadorned 996 Carrera these days, it looks pretty "clean", compact and kind of perfect really.
Yep early 986 for me - we've had a basic silver 2.7 that we picked up cheaply over a decade ago and I can't bring myself to sell it. A 987 would be much more grown up to live with I'm sure but the 986 is really starting to look good. Only thing that I struggle with being quite tall is the driving position, I do fit but need to twist my knee to use the clutch which eventually gets a bit uncomfortable. Not sure if later cars have more space? white_goodman said:
bodhi said:
Your first two examples wouldn't be a struggle for me - I'd take the E9x and E6x over the earlier versions even if we were only talking cooking models. The E46 looks nice but is a high maintenance rust bucket, and the E39 looks fairly dull and is a high maintenance rust bucket, so in both cases I'd go for the newer versions every time.
They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
You're flowing a bit against popular opinion there but I get your point on the rust issues. Were the E9x 3/E6x really that much better though? E6x felt a bit cheap in comparison to the E39, only looked good on the big wheels and BMW were experimenting with runflat tyres at the time so less well resolved dynamically/in terms of comfort? Those E9x/E6x M engines were pretty fragile too, as was the SMG in the V10 M5? Part of me adores the E60 M5 for the insane engine but in some ways it makes it a worse M5 and not as well-rounded as the E39 M5?They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
I prefer the 996 to the 997 but think I prefer the 987 to the 986. Can t say why.
Think I d go R109 for SL s. I don t think the R230 would get a look in.
While doing some car and classic day dreaming, I’ve noticed that Ferrari 512M’s go for quite a lot more than 512TR’s. Can’t fathom that one. I’d have the TR in a heartbeat.
Gad-Westy said:
white_goodman said:
bodhi said:
Your first two examples wouldn't be a struggle for me - I'd take the E9x and E6x over the earlier versions even if we were only talking cooking models. The E46 looks nice but is a high maintenance rust bucket, and the E39 looks fairly dull and is a high maintenance rust bucket, so in both cases I'd go for the newer versions every time.
They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
You're flowing a bit against popular opinion there but I get your point on the rust issues. Were the E9x 3/E6x really that much better though? E6x felt a bit cheap in comparison to the E39, only looked good on the big wheels and BMW were experimenting with runflat tyres at the time so less well resolved dynamically/in terms of comfort? Those E9x/E6x M engines were pretty fragile too, as was the SMG in the V10 M5? Part of me adores the E60 M5 for the insane engine but in some ways it makes it a worse M5 and not as well-rounded as the E39 M5?They're still relatively high maintenance but at least they sorted the rust protection and generally dull looks of the E39 out.
I prefer the 996 to the 997 but think I prefer the 987 to the 986. Can t say why.
Think I d go R109 for SL s. I don t think the R230 would get a look in.
While doing some car and classic day dreaming, I ve noticed that Ferrari 512M s go for quite a lot more than 512TR s. Can t fathom that one. I d have the TR in a heartbeat.
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