Hands up who prefers a traditional saloon?

[superhans88]

Anyone who read Clarkson's review of the Audi Q3 in the Sunday Times will know that he certainly does! He does have a point though, with all these 'lifestyle' cars on the market such as the Q3 et al, isn't it refreshing to own a car that does what it says on the tin, and does all things well? I'm very happy with my Mk2 Focus saloon and feel that it's probably a better all rounder than any number of 30 grand psuedo-SUV's that seem to be very popular at the moment.

[carmadgaz]

More of an estate man myself (though I love a soft top) but (although there should be a choice) I agree there are too many niche cars these days

[jbi]

I love saloons.

My first car was a saloon and I am also half american, which may go some way to explaining it.

I have owned:

7 Saloons (4 RWD 3 FWD)
1 Hatchback
3 SUV's

The hatchback was the worst by far... never again

[Randy Winkman]

I love the idea of saloons, but don't think I'll ever own one. What do you do when you want to buy a tree, or some timber? Or take stuff to the dump?

[martin84]

Randy Winkman said:

I love the idea of saloons, but don't think I'll ever own one. What do you do when you want to buy a tree, or some timber? Or take stuff to the dump?

You'd be amazed what you can actually fit in a saloon with a bit of creativity.

[fatboy69]

Hate hatchbacks. Orrible things.

[williamp]

5 saloons
1 two door saloon
1 convertable
1 coupe
3 hatchbacks (is the 944 a hatchback or a coupe??)
1 estate

[McClure]

I prefer estates, because saloons always have the whiff of company car about them. But yeah, give me a normal estate over a "lifestyle SUV" any day.

[Pesty]

fatboy69 said:

Hate hatchbacks. Orrible things.

really?

[sjg]

I just don't understand saloons. For the same footprint and size you could usually have a much more useful estate with no downsides. Can't imagine owning anything that isn't a hatchback or estate.

Saloons always look a bit middle management to me. Of the usual company car fodder (3-series, A4, etc) I'd always take the estate version any day.

[Codswallop]

Two thirds of all the cars I have owned have have been saloons (that would be 2 out of 3 then ). I must say that to my eyes at least, saloons look better proportioned on the whole then hatches.

[fatboy69]

Pesty said:

fatboy69 said:

Hate hatchbacks. Orrible things.

really?

Ok. I forgot about that lovely car. I should have quantified my crap posting - hate hatchbacks now. Had a couple of Ford Capri's back in the day (& a Metro & a Laguna although those were truly crap cars!!!) so a general 'I hate hatchbacks' posting was crap on my behalf.

[carl_w]

I also prefer a saloon, or a coupe. Hatchbacks are for people who don't have enough cars

Advantages of a saloon: less noise/better refinement due to load space not being shared with the passenger cabin, more appealing shape (IMHO)

[Fire99]

I like things a little more focussed (excuse the pun) than some of these SUV esque things.. I do miss my Jeep Cherokee, because of its rugged charm and you could genuinely bounce the thing around the rough stuff.

But something like a VXR8, Monaro, Jag S-Type R, appeal too for their fairly direct attack at the Saloon.

[Pesty]

I like some saloons, I like some hatch backs and i like some estates

I'm an equal oportunites car buyer.

[MondeoMan1981]

Must admit I do like a saloon.

I've owned a 306 sedan - far better handling than the hatch and a Mazda 6 saloon - the rear doors and boot line just look "right" whereas the hatch looks like it was designed in a rush with plastic bits at the end of the door.

[superhans88]

Id like to know just how big a difference in handing and refinement there is when comparing a hatch/estate with the equivalent saloon? Any engineering explanations or insight would be welcome. Also, as far as image is concerned, I would be perfectly happy for my Mk2 Focus saloon to be viewed as 'middle management'! haha. In fact, my uni pals think it makes me look like a failed business man...

[Caruso]

There are some saloon cars I would love to own e.g. a W126 500. But for every one it's only because there isn't an estate version. Coupes are a different matter.

[Triumph Man]

I prefer saloons, I've never actually owned a hatchback or estate.

[carl_w]

Caruso said:

But for every one it's only because there isn't an estate version. Coupes are a different matter.

Yes, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned them. I've owned "saloon like" coupes with separate boots (Cerbera, E46 and E92 3-series, 206CC, CLK), and "hatchback like" coupes (Z4MC). I was referring to the former when I made the comment.