What attributes would your perfect car have?
Discussion
Just thought it would be interesting to see how like-minded or not we all are. What are the most important attributes in a car for you and which car most closely matches them in your opinion?
If it was just for me, I would like something quick, compact and exploitable on the road (something like a GTR would be too big, too fast and too effective I think to enjoy at legal speeds on British roads). I would also like RWD, playful handling and a fairly large, multi-cylinder, NA engine and a manual gearbox. It would also have to be a little bit unusual and distinctive. I always thought a 911 would fit the bill nicely but I've gone off Porsches a bit of late and actually find them a bit bland. Although perhaps flawed in some respects, I find the BMW Z4M Coupe more appealing, as it ticks all the boxes and promises similarly German build quality and reliability with an epic engine in a more distinctive package. I could conceivably afford one in my lifetime too, which is a bonus.
Money no object - the Lexus LFA is where it's at for me at the moment!
Unfortunately (or fortunately), as a family man I need more practicality than that. My perfect car in this respect would have a large boot, good safety rating, comfortable seats and ride and feel safe, substantial and surefooted, yet still be quick enough to be interesting and good to drive, yet stealthy. I also like 4WD but probably don't need it! A new Audi S4 Avant would tick all the boxes nicely (not an RS4 strangely enough as my neigbour has one and it's far too loud for a "stealthy" estate car IMHO). I find the premium that you have to pay for an Audi a bit of an imposition, so I'll go for a just as cool Subaru Legacy Spec B Estate with a manual gearbox for that grown up Impreza vibe.
What attributes would you look for in your perfect car and which car old or new do you think matches them most closely?
If it was just for me, I would like something quick, compact and exploitable on the road (something like a GTR would be too big, too fast and too effective I think to enjoy at legal speeds on British roads). I would also like RWD, playful handling and a fairly large, multi-cylinder, NA engine and a manual gearbox. It would also have to be a little bit unusual and distinctive. I always thought a 911 would fit the bill nicely but I've gone off Porsches a bit of late and actually find them a bit bland. Although perhaps flawed in some respects, I find the BMW Z4M Coupe more appealing, as it ticks all the boxes and promises similarly German build quality and reliability with an epic engine in a more distinctive package. I could conceivably afford one in my lifetime too, which is a bonus.
Money no object - the Lexus LFA is where it's at for me at the moment!
Unfortunately (or fortunately), as a family man I need more practicality than that. My perfect car in this respect would have a large boot, good safety rating, comfortable seats and ride and feel safe, substantial and surefooted, yet still be quick enough to be interesting and good to drive, yet stealthy. I also like 4WD but probably don't need it! A new Audi S4 Avant would tick all the boxes nicely (not an RS4 strangely enough as my neigbour has one and it's far too loud for a "stealthy" estate car IMHO). I find the premium that you have to pay for an Audi a bit of an imposition, so I'll go for a just as cool Subaru Legacy Spec B Estate with a manual gearbox for that grown up Impreza vibe.
What attributes would you look for in your perfect car and which car old or new do you think matches them most closely?
- 4 wheels
- 4 seats
- 4 doors, maybe a hatchback at a push
- 4 cup holders
- AWESOME seats
- Manual gearbox that you could put into auto mode and which has proper flappy paddles as well
- Lots of cylinders and N/A
- Tarmac-ripping torque
- Nice, but not intrusive, exhaust note. Unless I wanted it to be intrusive (flick of the switch changeability)
- A steering wheel which is not too big, not too small, and which doesn't have too many poncy buttons and switches on it
- Flowing styling, with a hint of 'don't f
k with me'ness- Adaptable ride characteristics - comfy when the family are on board, taught when they're not
- Handling like a car half its size / weight - sharp turn in, controlled body roll, grip when wanted but with the ability to have perfectly controllable, inch-perfect power slides when I feel like being a child
- A feeling of well engineered solidity and safety
- Revolving number plates
- Brakes that will rip your face off if needed
- A clock that goes 'tick'
- An unusual, but subtle, colour - maybe a deep metallic red with something like metal flakes in it
- Auto-pilot
- A life-time 'get out of jail free' card in the glovebox
Basically an awesome 4 seater GT car in the traditional sense, where you could point it at the other side of a continent and just drive. About the closest I've got so far is a Porsche Panamera (maybe a Maserati).
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