What’s Your Favourite Car?
January 2, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
There is nothing more humorous than passing a highly modified turbocharged car in a Volvo. The V8-engined S80 is one of those cars that for some reason has been neglected. The noise from that engine alone is reason enough to buy the car, but mix that in with the unprecedented safety, all-wheel-drive and a gorgeous interior and you do have to wonder why anyone is buying Mercedes-Benz’s E-class.
Then, there was the Peugeot 207 GTI, the car that made me regret buying my own car. How many Focus XR5s do you see around? How many Astra VXRs do you see around? Meanwhile you have this 207 GTI, which can out-handle, out-manoeuvre and completely demolish the both of them around town, and it’s cheaper!
Peugeot is another of those brands that is struggling to attract new buyers, because of its quirkiness. The important lesson to take away here is if you’re after a new car, there is no reason to not give these cars a go, the popular consensus that European cars will fall apart in five years time is simply no longer true (besides, you shouldn’t keep your car for five years).
The HSV R8 is another car worthy of a mention. While previous generation HSVs have lacked style and good looks, the current LS3 model R8 (and GTS) not only look twice their price but also deliver an exceptional package.
Don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t buy one to go for a mountain-drive but if you want a reborn modern Australian muscle car, this is it. Even bettter, the current tight economic times mean there are now massive discounts from dealerships.
The entire Aston Martin range is absolutely worth mentioning. From having the first Australian drive in the DBS in the UK (and in Australia) to falling in love with the Vantage, the Aston Martin range has been reborn.
No longer can you even consider associating Aston Martins with old English men, seriously, have you watched Entourage? No? Get on to it. The Vantage is the modern successful metro-sexual man’s supercar and for under $300k, it really is a bargain.
Some others that have become favourites in the CarAdvice office. The Nissan GT-R, Audi S5, BMW M3, BMW 135i, BMW 335i, Fiat 500, Ford Mondeo XR5, Ford XR6 Turbo, FPV F6 310 Ute, HSV W427, Hyundai i30, Jaguar XF SV8, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera & Spyder, Range Rover Sport Supercharged, Lotus Exige S and the mighty Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR.
But let’s pause for a second to discuss some of the cars which I remember for all the wrong reasons.
I agree with Cameron.
Wheelnut, what does your friend being president of the Ferrari Club in Adelaide have to do with you liking Italian cars? I suppose I should be glad that you at least like Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
I just don’t see how a Maserati couldn’t do anything for you. I mean, you don’t have to like the Quattroporte but not even the GranTurismo S? I don’t see how that’s scientifically possible.
Ford Falcon
One eyed supporter Cameron……………..how ?
Throw the T word on this site the fury flies ,whats wrong with that ? Its all for fun anyway !
If you would have read my post about the cars I like on this thread you can see I am hardly 1 eyed! But hey we are all allowed our own opinions on this site,arent we :- ) ………..
Alex – I could say that its not scientifically possible for you to like the GrantTurismo or the 300C or any of the other hideous… oops I mean different looking cars that you seem to like…. Science has nothing to do with it it all comes down to opinion.
I became friends with the President of the Ferrari club because I like Ferrais – it’s that simple. I mean if i didn’t like Fezzas I wouldn’t have gone the the Ferrari Drive Day/Car Show which was open to owners and fans of everything red.. where I happened to meet him now would I?
Cameron If BM and I were as one eyed as you like to believe.. wouldn’t the list of our favourite cars been made up of nothing but our preferred make of car?
A truly one eyed fan believes that there is nothing better than the cars from his/her beloved marque and refuses to accept the fact that there are other car manufacturers in the world.. as to do so could upset the status quo in their own little world..
Cameron – So what if we write as though we are authorities on everything?
The fact you seem to think that we are; kind of contradicts your point that we are one eyed car fans..
Because as I said one eyed car fans refuse to acceopt that there are other car manufacturers in the world – they know nothing about anything else to do with cars accept that which relates to there chosen make
Therefore; in order to be involved they constantly take the discussion off topic.. not to mention the fact that should someone say something negative about said brand they launch into a tirade of personal insults and attacks.. as it just can’t be true that the cars made by “X” are inferior or unreliable etc.
Whereas a real car enthusiast knows about a wide range of things to do with the Auto industry – it doesn’t necessarily have to be that extensive or detailled etc.. that they are a virtual walking encyclopedia
However; they do their research and they know that there is more than one car manufacturer in the world their specifications features and performance etc or what cars are direct rivals to other selected cars..
Gee loosen up as is over top fully some stuff read….. crikey!
I sorta agree with Cameron and Alex
Had to reply as password was TOYOTA…….so for all you cyclops one eyed tinkerbells with no soul; this ones for you!
Doesnt new Fiesta make Yaris look ancient on looks department! One up for the new svelte Ford! T…TOSSERS.
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Whats wrong with one eyed car enthusists,Isn’t that were most racing series around the world get the supporters from.Car enthusists who don’t have a favorite make is like a football fan who don’t have a favorite team but instead go for the ref.
Well bloody said Phil!
That’s exactly it Phil – Sure I personally prefer Holdens but I am willing and able to accept that there are other cars which [in certain ways] are better than some of the cars Holden make/sell – the FG XR6/ FPV F6 and XR-5 Focus for example.. and I commend them for it.
I also accept that you can’t realistically logically or scientifically compare a Holden to a BMW.. However; its okay to use them as a benchmark [everyone does it] as they are the innovators of the Auto Industry
To be fair Wheelnut, I don’t think the 300C is beautiful, I think it’s well designed and handsome, especially if you look at it’s predecessors. And considering the number of people who think the GranTurismo is a magnificent looking car (not me but some actually think it looks better than a DB9 or a Vantage) outnumbers the ones that don’t by quite a lot, I think you’re the one with no eye for design, especially considering many of the cars on your list. I think saying the GranTurismo is hideous is really taking things too far, it’s one of the best looking cars on sale.
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What a load of tripe crock. Being a car enthiasist does not mean one out and out tugs at forelocks of one car maker. For example………..i30 goes to top of its heap, Fiesta goes to top of its heap and just because they are unreal doesnt make the Sonata high on my list or Falcon that significant a jump above others even though it is step in right direction. 99% on here are stuck in rut of supporting one car maker out and out so before one points finger at Toyota…………….look around at yourself.
Yep Alex.
I meant the 300C is hideous – I’ve seen more aerodynamic fridges.. although I do like the look of the Dodge Magnum
The Maserati however; is “different” but its nowhere near as good looking as an Aston Martin – your Rangie is better looking
Better Looking than a Maserati that is not an Aston Martin
Car enthusists who go to the races and pay there money to support there favarite make are true car enthusists in my opinon,those don’t have a fav car and just look at the lines and designs of cars should,reaily go to art school instead
Car enthusiasts who go to races expect to see a splattering of cars competing as Red and Blue is not a “broad” spectrum of cars is it and are thus pretenders and wannabes! The real test is when it was before Red versus Blue and those were good days as simply put it attracts a better field of cars and drivers “worldwide”…..yet what have we got instead is a farce and yet is taken overseas and eliminates a wider field and captive audience.
Its only short narrow minded wannabes who counter argue that. Who wouldnt want to see a bigger spread of cars in ARTC and JAMES HARDIE………….I do! Yes I would support Ford………..but Iam a “REALIST” as some of there cars are poor lines and ugly and not best in class. I suggest some others on here go back to Romper Room and do fingerpainting and try to work out lines……LMAO
typo…….meant ATCC as in Aust Touring Car Championship
ge hee spels unrreal and gret that onne
I do like Wheelnuts car list hey to be blunt. DB9 is stunning hey!
I don’t know about the art based minority of Car Enthuists,but the majority of CE’s have a favorite make, every major racing series would probobly colapse if people were not allowed to support a make.And i suppose Mark skaife because he supports holden is a wannabe,along with Dick Johnson(Ford) and Michael Schumacher(Ferrari).I reckon art based CA are the wannabes.
CE’s not CA’s
NM – I ‘d like to see more manufacturers in the Australian Touing Car Championship – known as the V8 Supercars.
Contrary to popular belief [of those who prefer a couple of Japanese manufacturers] All manufacturers are able to compete provided they meet the current rules regulations and criteria set down by AVESCO.
Which as it stands says that essentially the cars must be based on large family sedans that are buil tin Australia are are RWD. The cars must use a Pushrod 5.0 Litre V8 which produces 620-700bhp.
If they can do that then I can’t wait to see them at Bathurst.. probably won’t be cheering for them though
NM – Contry to your opinion I to would like to see more manufacturers in V8 supercars not just Ford and Holden,thats why im a fan of the Bathurst 12hr.Wheelnut check bathurstmotorfestival.com.au/home.asp coming up in feb.Theres two R8 clubsports entered,along with new evoX’s and all the other performance cars average people can relate to,should be good.
135i. Awesome
I’ll be parochial and say a Jag XKR coupe for when I am having my mid-life crisis (i.e., no room for my kids in the back), and an XF-R for when I am the family man (when they finally come out). For weekend fun, I’ll take an EVO X thank you very much. Money is no object in this fantasy, right?
Favorite Car of all time:
Testarossa
Favorite cruiser:
Maserati Gran Turismo
Favorite track:
Caterham R500
Favorite daily drive:
Toyota Corolla (so i can trash it without a care in the world)
Onya Alborz for lambasting Toyota, a site sponsor, for their TRD effort. AWD TRD Aurion could have been a successful niche vehicle, or similar Corolla. And thumbs down to archauic execs not realising the power of the internet and restricitng their fleet vehicles to hard copy journalists.
I think you have just about got it right in your summary of 2008. I’d like to have seen some Porsche product mentioned, particularly the GT3 RS, but perhaps you didn’t review it personally.
And while turning cars over every 5 years or less is desireable, it’s not exactly affordable for all of us, which is a shame. We’ve bought two new cars in the last 5 years, but suspect the finances will go to competing interests in the coming years.
for me it would b for a over seas car the skyline as its brought back the heratige of the skyline with its bold looks and orsm power
and in aus the fg turbo range takes it out as it shows that 6.2lt means nothing when u hav a 4ltr tubro great job ford
Wheelnut, what year model is your Subaru Impreza?
I’m surprized you do not drive a Holden Commodore, Wheelnut! (Because you love Holden’s alot as we know……….so do I!)
It’s not the ugly 2002 year model Impreza I hope?
Any mods?
Duck – it is a 02 Subaru Impreza RS 2.5 Litre 4cyl Automatic Sedan – The Bug Eyed model.
Which I believe is better looking than virtually every model Impreza since then.. particularly the current one.
Modifications – apart from a $2k “Custom” Alpine In Car Entertainment System.. I have added a K&N Air Filter Cold Air Intake Bosch Perfromance Spark Plugs etc.. the engine now produces approximately 140-150Kw.
I am planing to upgrade the brakes to DBA premium cross drilled ventilated rotors with 4-pot calipers
Why a Subaru and not a Holden – when I was looking for a new car the Subie was the most affordable and economical car available with the features that I wanted and was most suitable to my needs.
Prior to that I owned a VL Berlina [which I made a few similar mods to[ It was an awesome car with its 6 cylinder engine and is one of the reasons I cant understand why Holden switched over to an outdated V6
No there is nothing wrong with that, I was just wondering.
I prefer the facelifted model than the bug-eyed (03-04 model) one to be honest and the one before the new generation.
Nice upgrades.
I have a V6 VT Acclaim Commodore Wagon with 253,000 kms on the ODO and even though the Ecotec engine was not as good as the in-line six like in the VL Commodore, the Ecotec engine is a very reliable engine, which other people will agree.
^^^^^Series 11 model to be precise!
Thats 2 not 11
Aside from the R8 Audi (Euro diesel powered), the Skoda Octavia RS CDI wagon ofcourse…especially the blue ones, with the go fast stripes and chrome roof racks…special!
Ooh I missed this. Favourite cars, well you gotta have two choices. One you have driven and one you dream for.
For me: -
Driven – would be an Audi A6 Avant – good solid car, economical, cheap to own. Closely followed by Fords Mondeo (a great workhorse).
Dream Car – Audi R8 with a diesel donk if poss.
Porsche 917K
Currently the best car in Oz is the Ford F6. Just faster than all the other aussies tin cans out there. But waitin on the new falcon GTHO which will be in the top 10 as best car in the world.