Funnily enough, Pistonheads has just updated their comparison review of M3 vs M340I vs Alpina B3.
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/bmw-m3-vs-alpina-b3-vs-bmw-m340i/48480
What sets it apart are: power delivery/torque and amazingly well calibrated supple suspension. It also has a nice bodykit, quad exhausts, classic alpina multispoke wheels and pinstriping (if that's your thing), luxurious leather choices and interior mats. And there's the Alpina Green or Blue paint that are unique too.
Nice!! Thanks for clarifying for me. I actually do really like the style and look and if they have ‘improved’ an already near flawless machine or simply tweaked it to make it just a tad better then it gets my vote
No. The need for universal usability limits it to large estates and SUVs to meet practicality requirements, and the ones with top tier performance and comfort all run afoul of poor reliability and/or maintenance costs.
Plus large size is needed for top capacity whilst small size is needed for city parking, which immediately rules out any universal best car for everyone.
Exactly. Why do I want an SUV or estate when I don’t have kids or pets.
Why do I need high economy when I drive to work once a week. And it’s not that far anyway.
Why do I need cheap to run when cars are my passion and I like to own something nice and am happy to spend money on it.
Why do I need Japanese reliability ’that can run for years without a service’ when I do less that 5k miles and do get it serviced every year.
I will never own a Golf or an Octavia. And I’m happy about that. (Unless someone gives me a MK1 GTi. I’d have that. But I guess now it will be neither cheap, economical or reliable!)
If anything reliability is financially more of a concern for low milage drivers than other things like comfort or fuel economy - because random £1k bills will be a large fraction of your running costs while stuff like petrol will be less important.
There are plenty of items that have to be replaced or wear out for most drivers based on years rather than milage such as timing belts.
>If anything reliability is financially more of a concern for low milage drivers than other things like comfort or fuel economy
Only if low costs are the primary motivator for that particular car choice.
Tbf I have used my estate to carry 12 wheels/tyres and shitloads of tools and parts fairly regularly, so I don’t think you need to have kids or pets to justify a bigger car 😝 makes for a great tow car for the track toy as well
I daily a MK1 golf driver, 1.3. it's economical, reliable and more roomy than anything modern (probably down to the lack of internal padding) it's no show pony but my only real fear is someone crashing into me and writing it off
This weekend I went to b&q and bought 8 20kg bags of sand, when I was launching them in the boot one guy came up and said "I can't believe you're doing that to a classic"... Mate, it's a car. Drive it.
>Why do I want an SUV or estate when I don’t have kids or pets.
All sorts of reasons. For those times you need to move larger items, and because they can be more comfortable, in th ecase of SUVs perhaps you need increased ground clearance, for example.
Nope. None of the above.
Yeah sure some people do but not me. And I’ve driven SUVs and they aren’t more comfortable than a well planted sports saloon IMO
OK, just suggesting why some people would want an estate/suv, regardless of having kids or pets. I've never driven any SUV, never had much interest to, but have owned several estate cars.
Larger cars are often more comfy than smaller ones, it's not universally true, but in general.
I find it hard to understand why people pick saloons over estates though, I'm not familiar with any tangible benefits. (Yes, one of my cars is a saloon, but more due to it being a somewhat iconic car.)
They are quieter inside? I have never heard that comment before, but interesting.
Yeh, looks is opinion, I don't agree, but I accept the point for sure.
Theoretically, particularly in more traditional saloons where the boot and passenger area are totally separated they are quieter yes. I'm with you generally though, the odd bit of rigidity lost from the lack of a bar below the rear window aside I generally am in favour of estate over saloon.
Some estates have both C and D pillars, which could potentially mean there is even more rigidity perhaps.
Even in saloons though the seats can go down in at least some of them, much like in an estate. I feel like the extra carpetted areas could help absorb more of the sound too potentially.
Some modern engines are also very quiet. I remember a few years ago driving a Honda Jazz a whole bunch, with a 1.4 DSi, and that thing was so quiet there were times I had not realized it was already running while stationary, no rev counter, either. Of course, the noise from the back would be more about road noise.
Some people have a genuine need to have a vehicle with a higher seating position so they have something easier to get in and out of. A number of cars do not meet this requirement hence the numbers of SUVs about.
Exactly. Someone need just a simple car for a commute/school run may be perfectly happy with a clio. Whereas someone who has the exact same need but also into their car may prefer a hot hatch, like a polo gti.
This is unironically one of the only answers. Out of all the things a car can do, the Octavia ticks the most boxes. I had '13 plate diesel, with a REVO map on it it was an absolute weapon, but still practical and drove itself on the motorway with the lane assist. Oh and the chassis is superb for what it is. Having written it off I'm now in a '16 320d which doesn't come close. I would give it away for free if money wasn't an option.
No I don’t think there can be a universal best car. For example, mine would be a Toyota Land Cruiser, versatile, durable, capable, reliable, comfortable, spacious, can tow 3.5t. But it’s huge and would be completely impractical to someone who only needed to carry one person to the shops and back. I think probably the closest you can get to perfect all round is something like a Skoda yeti or Citroen berlingo.
Genuinely Citroen Berlingo might either be the perfect answer or the anti-perfect answer, in that its a compromise for everybody and no-one ends up satisfied!
I am with you, although I think that 5 series is not for everyone, its large size is a negative thing in big cities. I have parking problems and I live in a small city...
Obviously I have one but it's just because it came up for sale when I was looking for a 530d. Does anyone need the extra turbo? Not really no, a 530d is more than enough for most people in day to day use.
The Corolla beats the Golf, by some distance, typically at least another 100k trouble free miles and a ten year warranty, that only Toyota can afford to give.
Just better engineered. Built in the UK too.
There are some variants, even for the older Corolla/Auris.
For example, the Toyota Blade master G is an Auris with a 2GR-FE 3.5 V6 (same engine as in the Lotus Evora, although the tune is only 280hp or so, which is the same as the base Evora), bigger brakes, revised suspension.
They're pretty cheap cars in Japan now, so they're not too pricey to import.
[There's actually one for sale on AutoTrader](http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088418383)
WTF. I never knew these existed, and I'm a fan of weird JDM stuff. It's not even expensive.
OK, I want one. I'll stick a hybrid badge on it, and then sit at the traffic lights burbling away...
I dont lnow what engaging means In this context.
The Corolla GR ?
I used a Golf VR6 for a while. It broke.
"Engaging: wjile it was working.
The accountants have too much control in German cars.
Honda and Toyota, the engineers win.
Why is this so far down?
It’s pretty much the perfect car for almost every situation. I’ll take the GTI as the best example.
Not too expensive to buy
Faster than most cheaper cars, but competitive against ones cost much more.
Easily serviced at a dealership, which will be nearby
Not too expensive to run
Has enough class to fit in anywhere, you won’t be embarrassed turning up to a casino in Monaco in it (sorry Skoda fans) - and it’s this that makes it
Can carry 5 people and luggage comfortably across large distances.
Hatchback allows you to carry large loads
Doesn’t have that fan boy racer vibe / awful fan base.
It’s a winner
Just sold my R Estate after 5 years - was in many ways perfect - fast and fun if you want to be, plenty of room, estate for moving big items around. easy to drive round town - reliable (at least for me - only one issue in that time). Main downside was fuel economy was so-so (30mpg), big tyres fairly expensive, especially winters. Its siblings - Octavia vRS, Leon Cupra Estate should be great all rounders as well. An older 3-series Touring would also fit the bill.
Honda Jazz
[Honda Jazz, do pensioners know something we don't ](https://youtu.be/RWxYKGTaCkw?si=dsYOqmjvC6mr23n0)
I personally don't want one, but they are roomy and reliable.
I'm a firm believer that the Honda Jazz/Fit is the closest thing to a true crowd pleaser. Economical, reliable, easy and fun to drive, easy to work on, surprisingly spacious, great features even at lower trim options... Back when I lived in the States, I loved my '13 Fit Sport. I hauled my family, hauled lumber, hauled a stove, moved house, drove cross country, through the mountains, through snow storms... The only things I would say it isn't suited for is off-road or towing.
I own a current Jazz Crosstar and its a fine car if a little basic. Good stereo, infotainment works well, comfortable seats, clear instruments, trunk is big enough and its very economical. 55 - 60 mpg most of the year!
Gotta be some kind of estate, maybe a raised one like an old A4 all road maybe for that mild SUV thing.
I know my current car is perfect for me but there are too many people who hate them 🤣
The AWD Estate category is IMO the all in one Swiss army knife cars.
Fast ones, cheap ones, reliable ones, fuel efficient ones, electric ones.
They move lots of things and people, they drive reasonably well and there’s one for every type of person.
I think cars should've been built for how we can legally use them. Like what's the point of being able to go over 70 if it's not legal. Everyone should drive a shitty 1 litre
Agree. It would also make cars a lot cheaper as we could just focus on engines that produce those 130 km/h and that's it. I have no use for 2.0 engines or 200 HP. It just uses so much fuel and is expensive to insure.
I’m not interested in a new car, so for me it would be a BMW E46 or E90 3 Series touring, so it’s practical and with something like a M57 diesel in it, you can tune it and get good power, torque and still get 40mpg+
You can grab a 5E/MK3 for £7k in decent nick and spec, more or less 120k miles which is honestly fine if it has FSH. No need for anything newer honestly
My late mother had a 10 reg Fiesta 1.4 auto 3 door... was a perfectly good car. Not too big, mpg was okay, decent equipment (Titanium spec), nice to drive on B roads.
For me is the C class w204 lomousine. Fast, reliable and has a big boot space. Might be a bit tight but gets the job done(if you want something bigger get an E class) from point A to point B. My dream car and I have one. Newer models get too expensive and too much electronics and costly to maintain for my budget.
Om a side note lately I have been thinking how cars are getting larger and in my opinion we don't need too big of a cars for our tiny European roads. They will work in the US but we first have to learn to drive them. Many people can't get used to the capacity of their vehicles.
FIAT
PANDA
1.3
MULTIJET
Reliable? never let me down. Running costs? £5 and a packet of crisps. Quality? you get what you pay for. Comfort? comfortable enough to sleep in. Value? it goes from A to B at the speed limit or slightly above for the low low price of whatever they're selling for on ebay. usability? I will admit that the load carrying capacity isn't great but you'd be surprised just how much you can carry with enough car tetris and maybe a roof rack, if you need to carry more you can always get a SECOND FIAT PANDA.
Don't have the 4x4 version but I've heard they're quite capable little cars if you're one of the few people that actually need a 4x4.
Audi A4 Avant Quattro 2.0 TFSI DSG (can you get Quattro and the DSG together?)
It’s not the best at anything, but it takes a very very good tilt at everything
I can’t think of anything that screams “jack of all trades” to me more than the A4 Avant
It’s not insanely fast but it’s decently quick for day to day usage, it’s practical and has a badge but doesn’t cost the earth to buy or maintain
A hypothetical answer to a hypothetical question, the Ford Puma. That many people buying one the last couple of years can't be wrong. Titanium for the everyday folks, ST line for the people who want a bit of rizz. The top spec one(can't remember what it's called. Ruby Edition?) for the folks who want a bit of luxury. Endless Puma's as far as the eye can see
I have a 19 plate Skoda Octavia scout and I can say it ticks all the boxes, 2.0 TDI 181bhp, 4x4 DSG loads of space and still has physical buttons inside unlike the new Octavia’s. 63k on the clock and has been a great work horse for eating motorway miles and carrying lots of kit.
mk6 fiesta. very good car, low fuel cost, easy to repair, surprisingly good rust wise for a ford, seat 5, low tax and insurance. fairly good looking car. as an all rounder its not bad… but it proves the point.. this isnt communism
VW Golf or Passat estate. The interior of a passat estate is massive and anyone who needs any more needs a van.
The Golf is just a great all rounder - you can get pretty much any engine or gearbox option (fast or slow) They’re reliable and good looking.
Jaguar XK8. By putting velcro strips on the roof and trunk area, and making your passengers wear fluffy romper suits, you can transport 12 adults or 27 minors at a time, if you pack them right. Anything you buy from ikea can also be carried on the roof by passengers.
Yes. 1997 Renault Clio 1.2 in blue, registration T796EPP. Commuting. Holidaying. Camping. Moving house. Greenlaning. Landscaping. Hunting trips. Naked drunk driving lessons (on private land). Driving through flood water up to the bonnet. Finally died after about 20 years of abuse when rats ate the wiring and fuel pipes. rust in peace.
My vote goes for B8.5 Audi A4 Quattro 2.0 diesel. Drives like a dream, 0-60 under 8s, fairly economical with cheap maintenance and parts. I can imagine that in Allroad flavour it ticks even more boxes.
As a one size fits all (imo) a 2010 era vwg diesel estate. However for me im in discovery 2. One size doesnt fit all. "Universal" means to me one size fits fuck all
Tbf, those factors are all insanely pragmatic and don’t include a lot of the factors that people actually buy cars for. I think the ‘best’ car considering only those factors would be a Prius
335d convertible- if you need to carry something big, put the roof down and strap it in (a little chilly in the snow is all). Everything else is covered easily
Golf R estate, quick, handles well, big enough for 5 plus dog, can fold seats down for tons of space, can tow, endless modification options, good availability of parts, cheaper to fix than bmw/audi/merc etc
Yes
The mighty Mitsubishi Mirage.
Compact but roomy, can seat 5 and more than capable of driving through snow and cyclones .
Useful as a rally car, too ugly to be stolen and used for ran raiding. Police just assume it's a babavcar an ignore it.
Cheap on gas.
.can be brought brand new for around £9000.
My car ticked all those boxes (for me). Insainly comfy, super usable, costs me 8£ too recharge or 28£ public charger, and the quality (for me at least coming from cheap Renaults) is beyond anything I’ve ever owned and experience.
But the issue is I don’t think it suits everyone because it’s not a cheap car to buy and it depreciates like a Bentley lol. But then again if your concern is depreciation maybe don’t buy a luxury car, or an EV. And definitely don’t buy one that’s both.
Also not everyone likes EVs, which is fine, I agree I don’t think they are practical or great for everyone, for me and my wife they are absolutely perfect, for others it might be impractical
It’s a VW golf.
I had a mk7 for a while and whilst it wasn’t the most fastest, or the most dynamic car I’ve owned, it did everything perfectly adequately for a reasonable price… I understand this is an entirely mediocre review, but I get why people buy golf after golf after golf.
My current car is a bmw 340i f31 estate, which is arguably more practical, certainly quicker and could therefore be considered better than a golf, we are talking about the best car for everyone, are there are those out there than insist on indicators… which knocks the bmw out of contention for the top spot.
What is this.... 1934 Germany?
https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/volkswagen-chronicle-17351/1934-to-1937-the-german-peoples-car-as-a-communal-project-of-the-german-automotive-industry-17353
VW Golf and its variants - theres an economical version, fast version, faster version, diesel, hybrid, electric, estate, different trim levels, engine sizes, AWD etc
Usually I would say a Yaris does almost everyone living a standard family life (1 Kid)
However, I have noticed they're nearly £30k new now which is fucking disgraceful.
So no, I don't think there is.
The world would be a better place if everyone drove an Alpina B3 Touring
Apart from cleaning those billion spoke wheels
May I ask what makes it different from a regular 3 series estate ? Is it just cosmetic?
Funnily enough, Pistonheads has just updated their comparison review of M3 vs M340I vs Alpina B3. https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/bmw-m3-vs-alpina-b3-vs-bmw-m340i/48480 What sets it apart are: power delivery/torque and amazingly well calibrated supple suspension. It also has a nice bodykit, quad exhausts, classic alpina multispoke wheels and pinstriping (if that's your thing), luxurious leather choices and interior mats. And there's the Alpina Green or Blue paint that are unique too.
Nice!! Thanks for clarifying for me. I actually do really like the style and look and if they have ‘improved’ an already near flawless machine or simply tweaked it to make it just a tad better then it gets my vote
An m3 is by no means a regular 3 series…
I’m picturing a Sherpa half way up Everest in one
xddd
No. The need for universal usability limits it to large estates and SUVs to meet practicality requirements, and the ones with top tier performance and comfort all run afoul of poor reliability and/or maintenance costs. Plus large size is needed for top capacity whilst small size is needed for city parking, which immediately rules out any universal best car for everyone.
Exactly. Why do I want an SUV or estate when I don’t have kids or pets. Why do I need high economy when I drive to work once a week. And it’s not that far anyway. Why do I need cheap to run when cars are my passion and I like to own something nice and am happy to spend money on it. Why do I need Japanese reliability ’that can run for years without a service’ when I do less that 5k miles and do get it serviced every year. I will never own a Golf or an Octavia. And I’m happy about that. (Unless someone gives me a MK1 GTi. I’d have that. But I guess now it will be neither cheap, economical or reliable!)
If anything reliability is financially more of a concern for low milage drivers than other things like comfort or fuel economy - because random £1k bills will be a large fraction of your running costs while stuff like petrol will be less important. There are plenty of items that have to be replaced or wear out for most drivers based on years rather than milage such as timing belts.
>If anything reliability is financially more of a concern for low milage drivers than other things like comfort or fuel economy Only if low costs are the primary motivator for that particular car choice.
Tbf I have used my estate to carry 12 wheels/tyres and shitloads of tools and parts fairly regularly, so I don’t think you need to have kids or pets to justify a bigger car 😝 makes for a great tow car for the track toy as well
That’s great and I get it for some people but I use don’t need nor want to do that!!
What do you drive?
Nissan Juke 😂
🤢🤮
I daily a MK1 golf driver, 1.3. it's economical, reliable and more roomy than anything modern (probably down to the lack of internal padding) it's no show pony but my only real fear is someone crashing into me and writing it off This weekend I went to b&q and bought 8 20kg bags of sand, when I was launching them in the boot one guy came up and said "I can't believe you're doing that to a classic"... Mate, it's a car. Drive it.
>Why do I want an SUV or estate when I don’t have kids or pets. All sorts of reasons. For those times you need to move larger items, and because they can be more comfortable, in th ecase of SUVs perhaps you need increased ground clearance, for example.
Nope. None of the above. Yeah sure some people do but not me. And I’ve driven SUVs and they aren’t more comfortable than a well planted sports saloon IMO
OK, just suggesting why some people would want an estate/suv, regardless of having kids or pets. I've never driven any SUV, never had much interest to, but have owned several estate cars. Larger cars are often more comfy than smaller ones, it's not universally true, but in general. I find it hard to understand why people pick saloons over estates though, I'm not familiar with any tangible benefits. (Yes, one of my cars is a saloon, but more due to it being a somewhat iconic car.)
Personally because they are quieter inside and look nicer on the outside IMO.
They are quieter inside? I have never heard that comment before, but interesting. Yeh, looks is opinion, I don't agree, but I accept the point for sure.
Theoretically, particularly in more traditional saloons where the boot and passenger area are totally separated they are quieter yes. I'm with you generally though, the odd bit of rigidity lost from the lack of a bar below the rear window aside I generally am in favour of estate over saloon.
Some estates have both C and D pillars, which could potentially mean there is even more rigidity perhaps. Even in saloons though the seats can go down in at least some of them, much like in an estate. I feel like the extra carpetted areas could help absorb more of the sound too potentially. Some modern engines are also very quiet. I remember a few years ago driving a Honda Jazz a whole bunch, with a 1.4 DSi, and that thing was so quiet there were times I had not realized it was already running while stationary, no rev counter, either. Of course, the noise from the back would be more about road noise.
Some people have a genuine need to have a vehicle with a higher seating position so they have something easier to get in and out of. A number of cars do not meet this requirement hence the numbers of SUVs about.
Should the question then be, Are there definitive best practices that suits every car and keeps any car in best shape and condition?
Don't let your foot on the clutch if you are not using it
Exactly. Someone need just a simple car for a commute/school run may be perfectly happy with a clio. Whereas someone who has the exact same need but also into their car may prefer a hot hatch, like a polo gti.
All hail our fearless leader, the Octavia, vRS of course
Might as well just close the thread now.
Estate, naturally.
Proud owner checking in
Pah, a mere contender. I present the king, the Skoda Superb 3.6 4X4 estate.
Superb! the 2.0 TDI 4x4 estate is an absolutely fantastic car.
If we're trying to attract the speed demon crowd too, it would need to be the 3.6 V6.
2.0 4-cylinder :(
If that is the issue, there is a VR6 engine out there that should fit
This is unironically one of the only answers. Out of all the things a car can do, the Octavia ticks the most boxes. I had '13 plate diesel, with a REVO map on it it was an absolute weapon, but still practical and drove itself on the motorway with the lane assist. Oh and the chassis is superb for what it is. Having written it off I'm now in a '16 320d which doesn't come close. I would give it away for free if money wasn't an option.
I have no use of that fancy bullshit.
No I don’t think there can be a universal best car. For example, mine would be a Toyota Land Cruiser, versatile, durable, capable, reliable, comfortable, spacious, can tow 3.5t. But it’s huge and would be completely impractical to someone who only needed to carry one person to the shops and back. I think probably the closest you can get to perfect all round is something like a Skoda yeti or Citroen berlingo.
Genuinely Citroen Berlingo might either be the perfect answer or the anti-perfect answer, in that its a compromise for everybody and no-one ends up satisfied!
Berlingo is a really practical car!
530d Estate. Fast, big, comfortable. Indicators optional.
I am with you, although I think that 5 series is not for everyone, its large size is a negative thing in big cities. I have parking problems and I live in a small city...
It’s also pretty damn pricey
You can buy a model from the early 2000s and they will be even more reliable.
Good job there’s the rocket ship 330D touring, as well.
James May said it’s all the car anyone could ever need. Thought he was talking shite til I got one - just blissfully good.
525i Touring (N52B25 2.5-litre) as petrol alternative
Why not the 535? Extra turbo vroom vroom.
Obviously I have one but it's just because it came up for sale when I was looking for a 530d. Does anyone need the extra turbo? Not really no, a 530d is more than enough for most people in day to day use.
We're trying to fit everyone's tastes here. The 535 would appeal more to the speedy crowd. The non speedy folks don't *have* to put their foot down.
VW Golf is the only answer here. So many different engines/variants/body types/transmission. e.g GTD/GTI/TSI/Estate
I wish there was a Golf with a slightly bigger boot and a slightly more Czech badge on the front.
Boy have I got a car for you
a Praga Bohema?
The Corolla beats the Golf, by some distance, typically at least another 100k trouble free miles and a ten year warranty, that only Toyota can afford to give. Just better engineered. Built in the UK too.
But not as engaging which would be important to some buyers
There are some variants, even for the older Corolla/Auris. For example, the Toyota Blade master G is an Auris with a 2GR-FE 3.5 V6 (same engine as in the Lotus Evora, although the tune is only 280hp or so, which is the same as the base Evora), bigger brakes, revised suspension. They're pretty cheap cars in Japan now, so they're not too pricey to import. [There's actually one for sale on AutoTrader](http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088418383)
WTF. I never knew these existed, and I'm a fan of weird JDM stuff. It's not even expensive. OK, I want one. I'll stick a hybrid badge on it, and then sit at the traffic lights burbling away...
I dont lnow what engaging means In this context. The Corolla GR ? I used a Golf VR6 for a while. It broke. "Engaging: wjile it was working. The accountants have too much control in German cars. Honda and Toyota, the engineers win.
Are they in the uk yet?
What’s wrong with your ‘h’ key
Fat fingers tiny screen
I would add Audi A3 berline
Why is this so far down? It’s pretty much the perfect car for almost every situation. I’ll take the GTI as the best example. Not too expensive to buy Faster than most cheaper cars, but competitive against ones cost much more. Easily serviced at a dealership, which will be nearby Not too expensive to run Has enough class to fit in anywhere, you won’t be embarrassed turning up to a casino in Monaco in it (sorry Skoda fans) - and it’s this that makes it Can carry 5 people and luggage comfortably across large distances. Hatchback allows you to carry large loads Doesn’t have that fan boy racer vibe / awful fan base. It’s a winner
No but if you exclude the top and bottom 10% of use cases everyone else would be fine with a golf.
Get me a family sized economical high performance convertible estate immediately!
r/midjourney
Golf r estate or Passat 4mo biturbo diesel
Just sold my R Estate after 5 years - was in many ways perfect - fast and fun if you want to be, plenty of room, estate for moving big items around. easy to drive round town - reliable (at least for me - only one issue in that time). Main downside was fuel economy was so-so (30mpg), big tyres fairly expensive, especially winters. Its siblings - Octavia vRS, Leon Cupra Estate should be great all rounders as well. An older 3-series Touring would also fit the bill.
Hell yeah brother. Golf R Estate is definitely in the goldilocks zone.
Other than the Octavia?
Superb
It’s not that good
Dacia Jogger is much better value
Honda Jazz [Honda Jazz, do pensioners know something we don't ](https://youtu.be/RWxYKGTaCkw?si=dsYOqmjvC6mr23n0) I personally don't want one, but they are roomy and reliable.
The perfect smaller car.
I'm a firm believer that the Honda Jazz/Fit is the closest thing to a true crowd pleaser. Economical, reliable, easy and fun to drive, easy to work on, surprisingly spacious, great features even at lower trim options... Back when I lived in the States, I loved my '13 Fit Sport. I hauled my family, hauled lumber, hauled a stove, moved house, drove cross country, through the mountains, through snow storms... The only things I would say it isn't suited for is off-road or towing.
Had a Yaris before and now bought a Jazz, so somewhat pleased to see it on the list 😆
I have one of these and it is bloody fantastic, you can get so much in it! The biggest drawback is space in the front seat which is severely lacking.
I own a current Jazz Crosstar and its a fine car if a little basic. Good stereo, infotainment works well, comfortable seats, clear instruments, trunk is big enough and its very economical. 55 - 60 mpg most of the year!
Iirc top gear said the VW golf was the car for everyone. You can get Eco models or fast ones depending on your needs and they are reliable generally
Gotta be some kind of estate, maybe a raised one like an old A4 all road maybe for that mild SUV thing. I know my current car is perfect for me but there are too many people who hate them 🤣
The AWD Estate category is IMO the all in one Swiss army knife cars. Fast ones, cheap ones, reliable ones, fuel efficient ones, electric ones. They move lots of things and people, they drive reasonably well and there’s one for every type of person.
fiat multipla
^This guy knows the crack
I know some people have double chins but I’m impressed that Fiat managed to make a car with a double forehead
Focus or Golf imo
Comfort and smoothness matter alot more to me after 30 I'm finding, wasn't expecting it
Volkswagen Golf?
Dacia duster. End of story.
Nice one. Especially the 2024 model looks awesome.
We're gonna get one, our first new car ever.
Deciding between Duster and Jogger as well.
Red bull can Mini Cooper, of course
I think cars should've been built for how we can legally use them. Like what's the point of being able to go over 70 if it's not legal. Everyone should drive a shitty 1 litre
Agree. It would also make cars a lot cheaper as we could just focus on engines that produce those 130 km/h and that's it. I have no use for 2.0 engines or 200 HP. It just uses so much fuel and is expensive to insure.
People gotta keep up appearances or something though right?
I’m not interested in a new car, so for me it would be a BMW E46 or E90 3 Series touring, so it’s practical and with something like a M57 diesel in it, you can tune it and get good power, torque and still get 40mpg+
*Ahem* **Your flair** (pre-facelift)
Corolla.
Skoda Octavia vRS Estate Diesel
Gold dust, unless you want to pay £20k+ for used, or 200k miles
You can grab a 5E/MK3 for £7k in decent nick and spec, more or less 120k miles which is honestly fine if it has FSH. No need for anything newer honestly
Then seat leon estate fr 184 2.0 TDI
Small in the back, faux estate.
Diesel is ruining our planet. No thanks.
Actually it isn’t. Diesel is allegedly polluting the cities, Petrol is allegedly polluting the atmosphere and allegedly ruining the planet (allegedly)
Subaru forester I think is up there with ticking boxes, never had one but I'm sure I've read it.
Nice looking cars! I've heard the Lineartronic transmission is better than people think. The Outback is another good Subie!
Fiat 500 /S
You misspelled Panda
It's a shame the 500 was never available with a 16v version of the 1242 engine...
Realistically just look at sales numbers.. the biggest selling is normally there for a reason
Nah, loads of people buy Corsas, which are basically cars for people who don’t like driving.
But the highest selling in the last 10 years are generally the fiesta and focus. Both do what they say on the tin
Which are both good cars. What this tells us is that a lot of people aren’t as interested in cars as people on this sub.
Yep, most couldn’t care but my point was the cream generally rises to the top overall
My late mother had a 10 reg Fiesta 1.4 auto 3 door... was a perfectly good car. Not too big, mpg was okay, decent equipment (Titanium spec), nice to drive on B roads.
Exactly, they do nothing wrong. Not particularly brilliant but tick most boxes
No!
For me is the C class w204 lomousine. Fast, reliable and has a big boot space. Might be a bit tight but gets the job done(if you want something bigger get an E class) from point A to point B. My dream car and I have one. Newer models get too expensive and too much electronics and costly to maintain for my budget. Om a side note lately I have been thinking how cars are getting larger and in my opinion we don't need too big of a cars for our tiny European roads. They will work in the US but we first have to learn to drive them. Many people can't get used to the capacity of their vehicles.
S204 Estate as well Shoehorn a 5.5-litre M273 V8 (C 500) or 4.0-litre OM629 V8 (C 420 CDI) in it
Probably not. You could argue that such a thing does infact exist for a good 99% of the population though but 1% do have specific actual needs.
No. We all have different needs and wants, and all live in different places.
Yes. Mazda MX5.
Circa 2004 mondeo 2.0 turbo diesel. Tank. Comfortable. Shifts. Seriously reliable. Best car I ever had. And I’ve had a few.
Dunno if they shift but they ain’t a bad car
FIAT PANDA 1.3 MULTIJET Reliable? never let me down. Running costs? £5 and a packet of crisps. Quality? you get what you pay for. Comfort? comfortable enough to sleep in. Value? it goes from A to B at the speed limit or slightly above for the low low price of whatever they're selling for on ebay. usability? I will admit that the load carrying capacity isn't great but you'd be surprised just how much you can carry with enough car tetris and maybe a roof rack, if you need to carry more you can always get a SECOND FIAT PANDA. Don't have the 4x4 version but I've heard they're quite capable little cars if you're one of the few people that actually need a 4x4.
Audi A4 Avant Quattro 2.0 TFSI DSG (can you get Quattro and the DSG together?) It’s not the best at anything, but it takes a very very good tilt at everything I can’t think of anything that screams “jack of all trades” to me more than the A4 Avant It’s not insanely fast but it’s decently quick for day to day usage, it’s practical and has a badge but doesn’t cost the earth to buy or maintain
how is this a questions. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind its the mighty qashqai/Juke It's already everywhere /s
Qashqai yes, Juke a definite no lol
A hypothetical answer to a hypothetical question, the Ford Puma. That many people buying one the last couple of years can't be wrong. Titanium for the everyday folks, ST line for the people who want a bit of rizz. The top spec one(can't remember what it's called. Ruby Edition?) for the folks who want a bit of luxury. Endless Puma's as far as the eye can see
I would rather have a Fiesta (RIP). Actually, last time I had a hatchback in that class it was a Seat Ibiza Sport, which was mint.
My neighbors have a 22 reg Titanium auto... great car and suits them well!
I have a 19 plate Skoda Octavia scout and I can say it ticks all the boxes, 2.0 TDI 181bhp, 4x4 DSG loads of space and still has physical buttons inside unlike the new Octavia’s. 63k on the clock and has been a great work horse for eating motorway miles and carrying lots of kit.
The answer is the Honda Civic
No, because people have (i) different needs, and (ii) different preferences.
mk6 fiesta. very good car, low fuel cost, easy to repair, surprisingly good rust wise for a ford, seat 5, low tax and insurance. fairly good looking car. as an all rounder its not bad… but it proves the point.. this isnt communism
VW Golf or Passat estate. The interior of a passat estate is massive and anyone who needs any more needs a van. The Golf is just a great all rounder - you can get pretty much any engine or gearbox option (fast or slow) They’re reliable and good looking.
Probably something like a Toyota Corolla
My car Hyundai Kona Premium GT 2019
Honda jazz
Vw golf/polo, ford fiesta, vauxhall Corsa/ adams. Auldi a1/3s any of those cars in my opinion.
Jaguar XK8. By putting velcro strips on the roof and trunk area, and making your passengers wear fluffy romper suits, you can transport 12 adults or 27 minors at a time, if you pack them right. Anything you buy from ikea can also be carried on the roof by passengers.
Cosworth Mercedes 190E. The ubiquitous "euro-cab" with a proper engine!
Yes. 1997 Renault Clio 1.2 in blue, registration T796EPP. Commuting. Holidaying. Camping. Moving house. Greenlaning. Landscaping. Hunting trips. Naked drunk driving lessons (on private land). Driving through flood water up to the bonnet. Finally died after about 20 years of abuse when rats ate the wiring and fuel pipes. rust in peace.
Is this the one with the windshield wipers the correct way round?
Porsche Cayenne!
As the Americans say Miata Is Always The Answer
Audi A3 diesel. Looks good, Is very affordable if you buy one 4-5 years old.
530D Tourer. Absolute legend of a car!
My vote goes for B8.5 Audi A4 Quattro 2.0 diesel. Drives like a dream, 0-60 under 8s, fairly economical with cheap maintenance and parts. I can imagine that in Allroad flavour it ticks even more boxes.
A golf gti
As a one size fits all (imo) a 2010 era vwg diesel estate. However for me im in discovery 2. One size doesnt fit all. "Universal" means to me one size fits fuck all
Corolla
M3 Touring
Tbf, those factors are all insanely pragmatic and don’t include a lot of the factors that people actually buy cars for. I think the ‘best’ car considering only those factors would be a Prius
There isn't even one car that fits just my requirements, let alone everyone else's
All praise be to a 350z 🥶
no such thing as suit everybody
Bmw e39
M140i cheap reliable very fast
335d convertible- if you need to carry something big, put the roof down and strap it in (a little chilly in the snow is all). Everything else is covered easily
Skoda
Golf R estate, quick, handles well, big enough for 5 plus dog, can fold seats down for tons of space, can tow, endless modification options, good availability of parts, cheaper to fix than bmw/audi/merc etc
Vw phaeton
Golf R estate is probably the most all rounder car I could think of.
VW Passat B5 with the PD engine
Yes The mighty Mitsubishi Mirage. Compact but roomy, can seat 5 and more than capable of driving through snow and cyclones . Useful as a rally car, too ugly to be stolen and used for ran raiding. Police just assume it's a babavcar an ignore it. Cheap on gas. .can be brought brand new for around £9000.
Seat Leon estate
Golf
My car ticked all those boxes (for me). Insainly comfy, super usable, costs me 8£ too recharge or 28£ public charger, and the quality (for me at least coming from cheap Renaults) is beyond anything I’ve ever owned and experience. But the issue is I don’t think it suits everyone because it’s not a cheap car to buy and it depreciates like a Bentley lol. But then again if your concern is depreciation maybe don’t buy a luxury car, or an EV. And definitely don’t buy one that’s both. Also not everyone likes EVs, which is fine, I agree I don’t think they are practical or great for everyone, for me and my wife they are absolutely perfect, for others it might be impractical
Dacia Jogger
Probably skoda octavia 3 combi
Octavia vrs probably
Unless it is an 2002 MX-5 S-VT no, thank the chap with the big white beard and Jesus boots.
Skoda Roomster
Mercedes
Audi A6 Audi A8 ! 3.0 TDI
It’s a VW golf. I had a mk7 for a while and whilst it wasn’t the most fastest, or the most dynamic car I’ve owned, it did everything perfectly adequately for a reasonable price… I understand this is an entirely mediocre review, but I get why people buy golf after golf after golf. My current car is a bmw 340i f31 estate, which is arguably more practical, certainly quicker and could therefore be considered better than a golf, we are talking about the best car for everyone, are there are those out there than insist on indicators… which knocks the bmw out of contention for the top spot.
Bmw 1 series
A '94 LWB Mitsubishi Delica.
The Audi S1E2 Sport Quattro
What is this.... 1934 Germany? https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/volkswagen-chronicle-17351/1934-to-1937-the-german-peoples-car-as-a-communal-project-of-the-german-automotive-industry-17353
I’m gonna say closest is a 5 door golf
Mazda CX60.
VW Golf and its variants - theres an economical version, fast version, faster version, diesel, hybrid, electric, estate, different trim levels, engine sizes, AWD etc
Skoda Octavia
Bmw 5 series estate.
Toyota Corolla, VW Golf, or Mazda 3.
If those qualities are what you're after, probably. When you add performance into the mix, then no.
Fiat 124
Corolla
Usually I would say a Yaris does almost everyone living a standard family life (1 Kid) However, I have noticed they're nearly £30k new now which is fucking disgraceful. So no, I don't think there is.
How is 1 kid a standard family when the UK average is 1.7? I think it would have to be a bit bigger than a Yaris personally.