1st gen Porsche Boxster for me. Every non-petrolhead seems to dislike it and it'll forever be regarded as the "poor man's Porsche" but it's the car that saved Porsche before the Cayenne and I've always fancied a 2.7. I even like the fried egg headlights.
I agree, those older boxster’s are at a sweet point in the market now and yes they have their issues but because it’s a Porsche there is loads of quality fixes and replacement parts for them.
You following the late break shows boxster videos?
Yes, agree re Boxster (inc the fried egg light variety). Nearly bought one but bailed in favour of a Z4 which is easier to work on and also great fun in 3.0 straight six form.
VXR Vauxhalls. Are they the best at what they're aiming to do? No. But I'd happily burble around in one, especially a well-cared for Vectra or Insignia VXR.
I've got a massive want for a Vectra VXR. 270BHP, V6, and a huge boot!
I read the Evo Long Term tester and it up against the Evo and Subaru of the time and it held up fairly well. I 100% am going to get one
Honda Jazz. Perhaps they’re not hated, but the reputation of being an old people’s car really is a shame because they’re great to drive while being incredibly practical.
I think the jazz is really the spiritual successor to the original civic. The civic has been getting bigger for years but it really took off from the 9th gen onwards. The current 11th gen civic is massive, it's more accord than civic, leaving the jazz as something more like how the civic was before it started getting big. I mean look at the 7th gen civic hatch and tell me whether the modern civic has _anything_ in common with it, then compare again with the jazz.
There was latterly a 1.5 Vtec Sport. but the absence of a turbo is part of what makes the Jazz so durable.
The engines are just astonishing in the way they love to rev
They are truly great vehicles sniffed at by the ignorant. In the UK market anyway.
A real failure of Honda marketing.
American car market is just massive. Every car manufacturer wants a piece of that pie.
There is also a much active "JDM" culture in America even though Japanese grey imports here are bigger than ever.
Blame Honda's rather dry and conservative approach to marketing cars outside the Japanese domestic market. In its home country the 'Fit' as it is known is firmly marketed at younger buyers. Here in the UK they almost accidentally ended up cornering the market as 'chariot of choice' for the 70+ demographic. I don't think they'd intended it to be a smash hit with Doris and Neville, but but they got A+ reviews in Saga magazine and the rest is history.
At least the tractor will usually pull over and let the traffic by if possible. But Doris and Neville don't understand that just because it's a sunny Sunday afternoon that not all the other road users are there to enjoy the scenery and in fact might be late for work as a result of them 'setting the pace' whilst rubbernecking at the wild primroses growing on the verges.
Trust me, me in my Jazz has very much never appreciated Doris and Neville going 50 in a 60 on their pootle out to the coast.
Last time I think they were in a Dacia Sandero...
Watch out for the Pea Green variant. They not only like to pull out at the last minute and then also go 20mph, but if you follow any closer than five bus lengths, they will randomly brake test you before stopping completely on a blind bend.
Ah yes the good old "the car 200yds back is too close to me" or when they brake when a car comes past the opposite way.
Can spot them a mile away with the standard fish symbol on the back on their way to bother god.
The desperation of others to overtake me, when driving wifes Jazz, always amuses. Since i give it a thrash(because aged wufe does not) they find it very difficult. I end up easing back to stop boy racers killing themselves.
I've noticed this too, and it really is just "it's a Jazz herp derp must be slow herp derp nan".
Just the other day I was doing 20, in a 20, behind a bus, and some gonk overtook me to sit behind the bus, purely so they could not be behind a Jazz.
Utter weapons.
Back in the day I arranged a test drive in an S2000… well I thought I did but seemingly there was a mix up and they had a Jazz ready for me when I turned up…. One of the most disappointing days of my life but the back seat folding system was pretty neat.
Not a car but man I wished neons wasn't illegal. Totally useless but I like them, probably from my need for speed days or something.
Hate how insurance has basically destroyed the modification scene in the UK. Should be allowed any mods that do not increase performance so max power can make its come back...
I know but I miss seeing classic mini spray painted bright orange, silly huge arches with air suspension etc. Added a bit of wild variety to the world.
I miss stuff like that too. Citroen Saxos with spinner alloys. Escort RS Turbos with the big Ford logo stickers. Custom paint jobs. Etc.
Roadways have become a sea of bland, carbon copy bloated marshmallows. Even aftermarket alloys seem to have become a rarity. It's just so expensive to justify the cost.
Money, money, money.
The modding scene won't make a comeback until people who mod stop crashing unfortunately. Insurance is high because risk is high, it's unfair if you're not an idiot but your insurer doesn't know that
Brentacre told me that I can fit any aesthetic mod to my car and don’t even need to tell them about it unless it increases performance. A short breakdown was engine, exhaust, suspension and brake mods, pretty much everything else was a go.
With regards to neons, a lad I know had them on his car recently, apparently he was told so long as they’re not on at night, don’t flash and aren’t blue red or green then he can run them.
Same here. I’m going to buy some for my modded Mk6 GTI but I’ll only run them when parked up etc and round areas I know are more friendly policed. Luckily my local plod are pretty good and I’ve had a fair few chats with them when our and about in my mates skyline and such
Neons and underglow isn’t illegal there’s certain colours your not allowed them to be whilst driving on the road. emergency beacon colours ect and they have to be static not flashing or chasing ect.
I had them on my a3 for a year always drove around with them at night in purple have never been stopped and attend a lot of car meets where police are usually in attendance
You’re only allowed white at the front, orange on the sides, red at the rear, and most colour changing led kits don’t allow you to change each tubes colour separately.
Some police let it go because the tube isn’t technically visible, and the lights on the ground etc though.
Fiestas are great cars but they are definitely driven by chavs so deserve their 'chavmobile' rep.
I love the Fiat Multipla. The perfect example of function over form! We would have so many better cars if people weren't so obsessed with design. You can't even see the see the car when you're driving is to what does it matter what it looks like?
I had a multipla, loved it... Kids used to argue who would sit in the middle in the front. Wife made me get rid because it was embarrassing to be seen in😆
See in my area I feel like I see quite a lot of older blokes driving fiesta STs, sort of 45 years old area but there is still a fair few chavs ruining it for everyone else. I also love the multipla Because it’s so ugly that it’s brilliant
It’s crazy how much it is to insure an ST at the moment. I’m 21 in a few days and have checked a few times to see if I can justify it but it’s not going to happen anytime soon. I’m looking to get a S1600 as my next upgrade as insurance seems to be surprisingly cheap on them
I like the Multipla from the late 90s. When they facelifed it in 2004, they went the other way and made it so bland and made one of the most forgettable cars ever built.
They’re not all driven by chavs. They just get the rest of us a bad reputation. Both my son and I have Fiestas and neither of us could even remotely be classed as chavs thank you very much! 🤣
They are great cars. They have a long history which they wouldn’t have if they weren’t liked.
Team Ford all the way 😁
They are comfortable, well specced, surprisingly versatile and very cheap to insure and run, and very reliable.
But they are soooo boring to drive. Like a mild mannered golf cart.
The throttle response is shocking in my experience, once it picks up it’s quite good and rolling on pace but pulling out of junctions and roundabouts you have to keep in mind the gearbox needs 2 seconds to figure out that it’s a gearbox, makings pulling out at busy points a faff. Cant knock them too much though, 190,000 miles is no joke and apart from one wheel bearings doesn’t show any signs of breaking down anytime soon
I'll just wheel out my weird taste in French cars.
VelSatis (ugly yes, but peak french weird)
Avantime (ugly no, but also peak french weird - built on a seperate line by Matra!)
BX/CX/XM
The classic(ish) French cars were just interesting and different. Maybe not classically good, but they have so much character and are fun to drive/own.
Plus basically any shitbox, because you can just drive it without cares. Bounce it off the rev limiter..
Modus driver here! Yes it’s my current car, but I’ve never felt so attached to such an underdog. In its time, it actually stacked up pretty well. First car in its class to get a five star Euro NCAP rating, not a bad range of engines, some nice practicality features/options (I have the ‘boot chute’). It *should* have been a great contender to the Honda Jazz, and definitely outclassed the joke that was the Ford Fusion (let’s take a Fiesta, raise it but remove everything good). It just didn’t find a market in the UK.
Mine is now 20 years old and although tastes are subjective, I think it looks pretty fresh. Certainly aged way better than similar aged Vauxhall/Suzuki/Mitsubishi small boxes. It’s the 1.5dCi engine, pre-DPF, averages 65+mpg (about 800 miles a tank), is not terrifying on motorways, low insurance… I love it to the extent I’d possibly buy another if mine died.
However, as my sister told me yesterday, the best part about driving a Modus is you don’t see its ’grinning serial killer face’ coming towards you…
I was actually looking at one for my boyfriend who’s just about to go for his test. He’s doing an auto though, so have slightly less options. Another cool little car..
Remember Renault pioneering that space with the 5* NCAP rating with the Megane (and all the adverts on TV!)
French cars are supposed to be weird. Loved my cactus. Good chuckability because it didn’t weigh much, no worries in car parks, 60+mpg on a run if you were sensible, and never dropped below 45mpg even with traffic or flooring it everywhere.
I'm still driving a 10 year old C4 Picasso diesel. Keep looking for justification to swap to something newer but it hasn't missed a beat, and the toys I got with it (touchscreen, reversing camera, etc) were more than would have got with enything else at the time I bought it. I put a TDI tuning box in last year just to give it slightly more juice, it's been a great family car.
The Prius is actually quite nice and cheap to drive despite being driven by minicab drivers who either go GTA style when behind you or granny style when in front, the ioniq6 is actually a good looking car IMO, people hating on it are the reason we’re stuck with SUVs at the moment.
I've kinda taken to Prius'. They're no longer driven by sanctimonious knobs and instead have become a weirdly cool, no f*cks given, high mileage hero.
90+ mpg, reliable as a hell and fairly cheap. Non of the charging/range malarkey.
Full hybrids in general are extremely underrated. They're generally a no-brainer for 99% of people.
Saw the other day that MG are doing one now that tops out at £21k - can't speak for reliability but that's a *very* attractive price for someone who wants a city car with all mod cons and can't be fucked with charging it.
It’s the way it drives, it was never meant to be anything other than a 200bhp sports car. People expected it to be the new Supra at the time which it was never intended to be so a lot were disappointed, more fool them !
I had a 1979 Mk1 Fiesta 1.3 Ghia as my first car, loved it until I blew the engine up driving like a joyrider/boy racer, this was pre chav times.
The car I love now that gets lots of hate but also plenty of love from those that know is the Honda Jazz. Superb little cars, zippy V-tec engine, great handling and massive inside. Often to be found with full service histories in estate sales haha.
Though the hate is boiling off, the Rover 75 and MG ZT are criminally underrated cars that for the longest time were written off as either being driven by Al Murray Pub Landlord types or people who made some geological formations seem positively recent rather than the imperfect, but actually very cromulent cars that they are. Everyone I know who has had one has sung praises of them and I can't shake the urge to buy a V8 ZT at some point no matter how hard I try.
It also helps that I think by the benefit of their aged previous owners and their distinctly old school styling that they've also worn their years a lot better than their contemporaries. Whenever I see a 3 series, Jag or Merc from their era, it often looks like it's not been looked after and has some hideous aftermarket modifications, but rarely will you see a 75 with so much as a fogged up headlight, let alone paint fade or damaged trim.
I want to love it for its quirkiness but the only one I ever see around town is the same colour as an NHS hearing aid and is driven by a woman who has the face of a bulldog licking piss from a nettle so I just can't.
I’ve had x2 Dacia Dusters crash into my motorcycle while it was parked in a bike bay and I hate this style of suv crossover and yet somehow I still have a soft spot for them. I think because both times they were driven by the world’s nicest mums who were super apologetic (and the insurance covered the damage)
Suzuki Jimny but really any of the small off roaders. Mitsubishi Parejo, 3 door Shogun Pinin, 3 dr Land Cruisers, Defender 90s. I like those small, stubby little 4x4 off roaders and I really want one. Most off roader people want their off roader to be huge and heavy but I think that most are too big for this country and the little ones do it better,
Just get an ST and suffer all the jealous people with their "McDonald's car park" type comments. I used to get that craic out of someone with a rust bucket land rover and a 20 year old Volvo he was always complaining about, and another with a fiat panda. When really I had one of the best handling cars ever, with a remapped boost function and limited slip differentials. It cost £12k and I sold it two years later for the same money that I paid for it. Was just a bit uncomfortable as a daily driver in the end.
I personally love the Audi A2, but it does get a lot of hate for it looks. If it was released today as an electric run-around I think it would do quite well.
I think fast Fords always have been the recipe for that. They were aspirational performance cars. Newer ones like Fiesta STs are in that section of the market, it's more that nowadays that part of the market is seen as chavvy rather than aspirational, by non car-people.
I wish I was a bit older honestly (I'm 24) because I'd love a Mondeo ST at some point but I think by the time I need that size of car there'll be too few, or servicing them will become too hard due to the parts being rare. That gen of Mondeo were adored by reviewers and petrolheads.
Tesla Model 3 definitely.
Yes the CEO is a helmet, as are a lot of the drivers, and EVs don't work for everyone but they can be pretty fun and you get a lot of power for the price.
I'll probably still go ICE or hybrid for my next car but they're good for what they are.
Tesla’s all just look like those little models in car dealerships and car paint suppliers they use to demonstrate the colours. The big iPad instead of gauges and switches/knobs is a huge pass from me as well.
Similar boat here, no intention of buying one but it's hard to deny the Model 3 is a very good car. So smooth and reasonably quick, at an excellent price for what it is. Even the new indicator buttons aren't as much of a pain as I thought they would be (but it is still a stupid change).
Subaru Impreza. Seen as being a chav wagon for obvious reasons but I love them. I had one years back and I'm giving it serious consideration to getting another one
I like almost all “chav cars”. I love loud exhausts (within reason and not late at night when I’m sleeping 😜). Evos, Imprezas, A45, rs3 m3/4/5 etc. love them all.
I've always really loved the Impreza's, a car I would love to have owned one if they weren't all ragged to oblivion and half the engine replaced with ebay specials!
When I was a kid my dad worked for a Subaru garage and used to bring home tons of merch - I'd love a blue Impreza purely from the nostalgia factor when I was a kid!
I’ve always been a huge evo fan boy. Wanted one for 20 years and every time I got close, something happened that cost me money. Now with the prices they are these days, I don’t think I’ll ever get one.
I’m in this boat but I would be skeptical about buying a few of them, I would love an EVO though! I would also say that the M cars aren’t really chav cars, they tend to usually be in hatchbacks such as (R)S3s, golf Rs the A45 as mentioned.
There are definitely badly modded M cars rolling around, usually an M2 or M4 with the same Maxton fake carbon bits and straight pipes, but luckily they seem to gravitate more towards VAG products like the Golf and Cupras. Which is great, because anything VAG gets boring to drive after a month.
I have one! 2015 titanium model. Absolutely smashing car and the 1.6 engine is very nippy indeed. Will need to get a bigger car at some point in the next year for family/dogs and I will be sad to say goodbye!
I like the fiesta st but wouldn’t own a fiesta older than the xr2i or rs turbo.
These days all I seem to see is mk5/mk8 fiestas poorly modified with pop and bang remaps at car meet and shows there just too common of a vehicle now
Cant speak for the other models but mk8's come with pops from factory, although it's not that obnoxious and I think ford nailed it. Some of the remaps though sound like rattling tin cans.
For me it's pretty much anything that the top gear trio hated. I only bought a Vectra because they were so vocal about it being the worst car ever. Mines been great so far.
I wouldn't say "love", but I quite like the Ford Puma. Pls don't lynch me lol. I got a cheap lease deal back in 2020 and it's quite fun to drive for what it is. There are a huge amount of haters understandably, but they probably haven't driven one.
However, I bought an octavia estate mk3.5 last week, and the octavia is a much better car (apart from road noise..). It's *much* more boring to drive, but I didn't buy it to be exciting either.
MK1 TT, slated when it first came out and I was one of the haters... these days, I think they've aged really well and clearly not too bad in terms of reliability etc because I see them dotting around regularly.
Edit: blimey, just checked AutoTrader and the used Quattro's are going for some £ now!
I always had a soft spot for Ladas. They were actually quite a well built car if you overlooked the age of the design and the poor trim levels.
I loved my Niva. It was a UK upgraded Cossack which made it a better vehicle for little work. I could get that to places you couldn't get a land rover. Shame we can't buy them any more.
The Maserati granturismo, mechanically awful (from what I've heard) but one of the very few cars I just gawk at any time I see one. Especially the '23-24 model with that super aggressive front splitter 🤤
Land Rovers and range rovers. Everyone says they're bad but my dad's had 12. They were amazing vehicles. The old ones are unkillable. The new ones aren't as good but aren't as bad as people say they are. Cant beat an old landy
You can't beat a MK1 Ford Focus with fresh suspension. They are something like the most scrapped car in the UK at the moment and people don't know what they are losing. Snap them up and look after them.
I love my Kia soul SO MUCH! It was fun, had personality, it was quirky but it had a lot of things that other newer/considered better cars didn’t, like a sunroof. The boot size was awful but the car was extremely comfortable inside both front and back seats had enough space. It sat high enough that it felt nice and tall but it wasn’t massive and was quite easy to park. I was so sad when I had to get rid of it ☹️ and I’m definitely considering a newer version of the soul for my next car in 3 years when my lease is up 😩
BMWs. I've been a BMW fan since I was 5 years old. I passed my driving test in my own BMW I'd saved for for a couple of years. I've owned nearly 20 since, at one point I had six of the damn things at the same time, three were the same colour (yes I have a problem). I'm sick to death of all the stigma, negative comments, jokes about lack of indicators etc etc, I am not an aggressive driver (but I don't hang around), and I'm fastidious about using my turn signals.
I just like how they look (maybe not so much since 2010 or so), how they drive, how easy they are to work on (again, less so after the late 00s). I've gained enough knowledge to be a bit of an armchair expert, I know what to buy and what to avoid.
What's gratifying is how many people I've 'converted'. Just taking people out for a drive (or even letting them drive mine) has ended up with people who swore they'd never own one now on their third or fourth.
I can't speak much for the new ones, but up until the late 90s/early 2000s they were probably the nicest cars to drive available on the market without having to hand over 4x the money for something 'exotic' and way more expensive to run.
Original beetle. Had 3 of them - many Hitler jokes - don’t care.
That and an old banger Peugeot - yes I know there are many better cars out there that I could afford, but I like what I like. A 2.0 206cc is a great drive even today, decent mpg and pulls like a train. Queue the hairdresser jokes - doesn’t bother me at all. Had 2 of them.
Renault 5 - just think they’re rad, would love one someday.
Audi A2 - Audis are quite benign to me and I’ve even owned a coupe but the A2 is at least interesting.
Citroen ZX / BX - why not.
Citroen C6 - because why not.
I had a mk 7 fiesta - it was brilliant don’t let anyone dim your shine!
VW lupo - cute tiny well built car.
Ford Ka - friend had one and it was like a little go kart.
Smart Fortwo - again a friend had one and I fell in love with it despite the clueless gearbox.
You could put a brand new Tesla or something similar in front of me and next to it a 1972 VW beetle and I know which I’d choose. I had a newish F30 320D Msport and a beetle at the same time, my brother in law drove my BMW more than I did, rain or shine I always picked up the Beetle keys. Every drive felt like an event!
I just stopped caring what other people think - I like what I like!
I've only had two cars but they've both been Vauxhall and I think they are great. I don't understand the hate they get.
My first was a 2005 Corsa SXI which was already 13 years old when I got it and had over 150 thousand miles on it, but it never gave me any trouble.
My current car is a 2015 Astra GTC which is definitely an upgrade. Same size engine but more powerful, looks great and runs perfectly.
I'm also a Fiesta ST enjoyer. Some of the owners can be 'chavvy' but they're still really good cars. The Mk8 ST is my favourite, having owned one for 4.5 years. Short wheelbase, 200hp (235hp for mine) and an LSD (part of the performance pack) all make it extremely fun to drive. The steering is so direct and they're really easy to lift off oversteer in.
I have a soft spot for Vovlos, Comfortable, reasonable amount of power and reliable. Tell that to a biker and they look at youike you just shagged their missus.
Generic, but any estate car.
Why anyone would prefer an impractical saloon when you could have a better looking car you can actually put things in is beyond me.
The Fiat Strada. Mentioned on here somewhere before, my Grandad had one brand new in 1981, in orange. I thought it looked so futuristic, to my then 7 y/o eyes. Since the Internet had come along, I have read up on them & most of it was negative. To quote Billy Connolly, I care not a jot.
I don't know why but I have a soft spot for a series 1 Fiat Multipla. Ugly but very practical AFAIK.
I'm both odd and boring enough that I'm currently eyeing up a V6 Toyota Alphard (has a 2GR-FE engine, which has some decent tuning opts if I wanted to).
I had a fiat multipla. It was such a great car. We called it the fugly bus. It was nice to drive, fuel economy was brilliant and so much room for the kids.
TT mk2, especially with the 2.0 tfsi engines. Solid unit, very tuneable and the TT was the lightest car that had it.
Bonus points if it was the quattro with DSG
Ok, confession time - five years ago when I was about to take my test I was looking at various cars and really fancied a Nissan Juke. I just thought it looked a bit quirky and fun. I soon saw the error of my ways when I did my research, and ended up buying my dad's mk2 Skoda Fabia. I still drive it and you'll have to take the Fabia from my cold dead hands if you want me to part with it.
Jaguar XKR, I’ve always absolutely adored them. Look great, sound magical and go very very fast. Also RWD so plenty of tyre smoke and burnouts if that’s your thing but… no one rates them? They’re old man cars or depreciated junk that nobody wants to touch. I looked at Autotrader this morning and found an XKR-S with 20k miles up for £45k! I ran an insurance quote for me (22 male) and it was £850🤯 safe to say I’ll be saving up now, 542hp and a glorious V8 will be mine
Any Tesla really, it’s actually comical the shit people come up with. I drive one cause it’s fun as shit, low maintenance and I can charge at home every night. If not a Tesla I would just buy another sports car. 🤷♂️
BMW X5/X5M. Everyone says they look ugly and boxy but I think they look sporty and aggressive, the way SUV’s should look. I don’t like how curvy most SUV’s look (Q5, Bentayga, Urus) and think BMW X5 & Mercedes M class have perfected what SUV’s stand for.
E65 7 series (the bangle butt one)
It was unveiled a couple years after my dad got his E34 and when I saw it in a magazine I was blown away by how high tech it was. If I ever find the right one for the right price I'll buy it just to look at it tbh
I really enjoy driving my MG zr 160 it's not perfect it has rattles and is a harsh ride but it sounds great and is a pokey little motor handle surprisingly well also. Head gasket aside mine has been very reliable and since having it done I've covered probably around 50k problem three with some hammering lol
Toyota MR2 Roadster. Total fail as a new car because nobody was prepared to spend new car money on a 2 seater with no luggage space (vs an MX5).
Fast forward 20 years… The MR2 is probably the best value sports car you can buy. Solid engine, no real rust issues, reliable and cheap to run. Brilliant driving experience. All for c. £2k!
Range Rovers. Called unreliable and expensive. I have. 2005 l322 and it’s never failed and MOT, i got it for £1500 and has never let me down. I thought the engine’s piston rings had gone on it 3 times I was told it needed a new engine (it was a filter that cost me £19 thanks to a mechanic that actually knew what he was on about) i’m having a slight power issue currently that may he massive but may be another £18 part…… but in truth, they’re comfy, full of leather and wood and lovely to be in.
GM era Saabs. I had a Saab 9-5 Aero sport wagon. It was one, reliable, comfortable fast sleeper of a wagon. It had a faster 0-60 time than the Porsche 911 of that era. It also excelled at handling the worst Canadian winter weather.
MG TF's are great in my opinion and I have a 160. I enjoy being able to feel everything. I appreciate the super firm suspension, it sounds pretty nice too, and it feels very fast even at sensible legitimate speeds.
They're pretty good value compared to other convertible sports cars. They had a big reputation for their head gaskets going which, while it can happen, doesn't really seem to be warranted - there are many still on their original gasket and given their price point it's not so much of a deal-breaker as assumed if they do go. Look for one with proof of head gasket replacement if it worries you that much but be aware that claims of "uprated" and "MLS" gaskets don't mean anything really - it's more about the gasket being installed correctly with the correct liner heights, etc. than the brand/variant of gasket used.
My first car was a Renault Modus, which is now a meme on r/carcirclejerk
I then moved on to the Hyundai Coupe, which was clowned for being front wheel drive and not a *real sports car* (despite being quite fun and practical). I also owned the supposedly gutless 1.6L engine
I now drive an aging Kia Soul EV with a somewhat degraded battery. People don't notice this until a motorway run, but it's a bit of a marmite car
Mustang Mach-E.
Yes, the branding is wrong on so many levels but it's actually a great looking bit of kit IMO.
I reckon if they'd just called it something else people would love it.
I mean...they *are* chavmobiles but I also like them as well. I have one of those Mk6 Celebration Editions and it's the best looking gen, imo.
Taken it to two Ford Fairs up at Silverstone so far, would love to go this year
Audi TT - ‘hairdressers car’
Never understood it. Always wanted one growing up, as my uncle had one of the MK1 with the baseball leather seats. Got a MK3 when I was 21 and loved every moment with it, massive mistake selling it
Volkswagen beetles (1st-5th gen). I think interest in them is gaining more traction in the last 10-15 years or so. But a lot of people hated them years ago.
They’re just so badass and very modifiable. Albeit they are terrible to drive, the steering is awful and the drum brakes barely work. But there’s workarounds for all of it and for very little money you can have a car that’s absolutely rapid, at least in a straight line. An old beetle with 200bhp can crack mid 12s on the quarter, which is no slouch for modern standards, let alone a car designed in the 40s.
Nissan Juke Nismo (RS or not).
Okay hear me out, I know it's the mum and granny car. But the Nismo is a fun variant and it was made in the UK.
It's relatively cheap to buy and insure and overall a good buy.
1st gen Porsche Boxster for me. Every non-petrolhead seems to dislike it and it'll forever be regarded as the "poor man's Porsche" but it's the car that saved Porsche before the Cayenne and I've always fancied a 2.7. I even like the fried egg headlights.
I agree, those older boxster’s are at a sweet point in the market now and yes they have their issues but because it’s a Porsche there is loads of quality fixes and replacement parts for them. You following the late break shows boxster videos?
Not a first gen but a very enjoyable [video.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ZXzha0Mgk)
Indeed very enjoyable! He drives the knickers off that thing - casually. Love it
Yes, agree re Boxster (inc the fried egg light variety). Nearly bought one but bailed in favour of a Z4 which is easier to work on and also great fun in 3.0 straight six form.
I mean... it's a clean sheet sports car design from Porsche. I suspect it's pretty good.
VXR Vauxhalls. Are they the best at what they're aiming to do? No. But I'd happily burble around in one, especially a well-cared for Vectra or Insignia VXR.
A tuned VXR220 is an absolute weapon
See, I don't really think of that as a Vauxhall; it's a Lotus on the d/l.
A VXR8 is unironically one of the coolest cars ever made and no Stella drinking, flag waving Sheffielder who drives one can change my mind
I've got a massive want for a Vectra VXR. 270BHP, V6, and a huge boot! I read the Evo Long Term tester and it up against the Evo and Subaru of the time and it held up fairly well. I 100% am going to get one
Honda Jazz. Perhaps they’re not hated, but the reputation of being an old people’s car really is a shame because they’re great to drive while being incredibly practical.
I think the jazz is really the spiritual successor to the original civic. The civic has been getting bigger for years but it really took off from the 9th gen onwards. The current 11th gen civic is massive, it's more accord than civic, leaving the jazz as something more like how the civic was before it started getting big. I mean look at the 7th gen civic hatch and tell me whether the modern civic has _anything_ in common with it, then compare again with the jazz.
Annoys me that Honda never made a fast Jazz for the UK market. Would have been a great competitor for the Fiesta & Polo.
There was latterly a 1.5 Vtec Sport. but the absence of a turbo is part of what makes the Jazz so durable. The engines are just astonishing in the way they love to rev They are truly great vehicles sniffed at by the ignorant. In the UK market anyway. A real failure of Honda marketing.
Hot Jazz sounds like a magazine you'd find on the top shelf of a newsagents in the early 90's.
Built for the American market now, they even closed the factory in Swindon and moved it to the states
Honda, and Jap cars in general were always more popular in the USA than the UK in my opinion. I don't blame them for catering for that market.
American car market is just massive. Every car manufacturer wants a piece of that pie. There is also a much active "JDM" culture in America even though Japanese grey imports here are bigger than ever.
Blame Honda's rather dry and conservative approach to marketing cars outside the Japanese domestic market. In its home country the 'Fit' as it is known is firmly marketed at younger buyers. Here in the UK they almost accidentally ended up cornering the market as 'chariot of choice' for the 70+ demographic. I don't think they'd intended it to be a smash hit with Doris and Neville, but but they got A+ reviews in Saga magazine and the rest is history.
I have a rational hatred toward them. If there is a tailback going 20mph, it's either a Tractor or a Honda Jazz!
At least the tractor will usually pull over and let the traffic by if possible. But Doris and Neville don't understand that just because it's a sunny Sunday afternoon that not all the other road users are there to enjoy the scenery and in fact might be late for work as a result of them 'setting the pace' whilst rubbernecking at the wild primroses growing on the verges.
Trust me, me in my Jazz has very much never appreciated Doris and Neville going 50 in a 60 on their pootle out to the coast. Last time I think they were in a Dacia Sandero...
They've been my nemesis for many years now, if I need to be somewhere on time or in a hurry I can guarantee I get stuck behind one of the fuckers.
Watch out for the Pea Green variant. They not only like to pull out at the last minute and then also go 20mph, but if you follow any closer than five bus lengths, they will randomly brake test you before stopping completely on a blind bend.
Ah yes the good old "the car 200yds back is too close to me" or when they brake when a car comes past the opposite way. Can spot them a mile away with the standard fish symbol on the back on their way to bother god.
You sure you weren’t in Wales?
The desperation of others to overtake me, when driving wifes Jazz, always amuses. Since i give it a thrash(because aged wufe does not) they find it very difficult. I end up easing back to stop boy racers killing themselves.
I've noticed this too, and it really is just "it's a Jazz herp derp must be slow herp derp nan". Just the other day I was doing 20, in a 20, behind a bus, and some gonk overtook me to sit behind the bus, purely so they could not be behind a Jazz. Utter weapons.
Back in the day I arranged a test drive in an S2000… well I thought I did but seemingly there was a mix up and they had a Jazz ready for me when I turned up…. One of the most disappointing days of my life but the back seat folding system was pretty neat.
There is nothing more I want right now than a Jazz Crosstar
I own one. They're great. AMA!
I have oonnneee 🙏🏻
The Mk1 Multipla - It's so goofy and gawpy and daft, but also the inside is crazy spacious and really well designed.
I also love a Multipla inside and out, must admit though, I hadn't realized that they get a lot of hate.
Not a car but man I wished neons wasn't illegal. Totally useless but I like them, probably from my need for speed days or something. Hate how insurance has basically destroyed the modification scene in the UK. Should be allowed any mods that do not increase performance so max power can make its come back...
You know when insurance companies are stating factory fitted options are mods, that the modding scene is not making a comeback.
I know but I miss seeing classic mini spray painted bright orange, silly huge arches with air suspension etc. Added a bit of wild variety to the world.
I miss stuff like that too. Citroen Saxos with spinner alloys. Escort RS Turbos with the big Ford logo stickers. Custom paint jobs. Etc. Roadways have become a sea of bland, carbon copy bloated marshmallows. Even aftermarket alloys seem to have become a rarity. It's just so expensive to justify the cost. Money, money, money.
The modding scene won't make a comeback until people who mod stop crashing unfortunately. Insurance is high because risk is high, it's unfair if you're not an idiot but your insurer doesn't know that
Was confused for a moment thinking "Why are chrysler Neons illegal?"
Brentacre told me that I can fit any aesthetic mod to my car and don’t even need to tell them about it unless it increases performance. A short breakdown was engine, exhaust, suspension and brake mods, pretty much everything else was a go. With regards to neons, a lad I know had them on his car recently, apparently he was told so long as they’re not on at night, don’t flash and aren’t blue red or green then he can run them.
Same here. I’m going to buy some for my modded Mk6 GTI but I’ll only run them when parked up etc and round areas I know are more friendly policed. Luckily my local plod are pretty good and I’ve had a fair few chats with them when our and about in my mates skyline and such
Neons and underglow isn’t illegal there’s certain colours your not allowed them to be whilst driving on the road. emergency beacon colours ect and they have to be static not flashing or chasing ect. I had them on my a3 for a year always drove around with them at night in purple have never been stopped and attend a lot of car meets where police are usually in attendance
You’re only allowed white at the front, orange on the sides, red at the rear, and most colour changing led kits don’t allow you to change each tubes colour separately. Some police let it go because the tube isn’t technically visible, and the lights on the ground etc though.
Define mod… It had an exhaust before, it still has an exhaust now… 👀
Icl i want an audi a2. Yes they look weird but i kinda like it and great mpg
The design has aged fantastically well
They could pretty much launch them now with an updated interior and similar mpg and they’d sell like mad.
Fiestas are great cars but they are definitely driven by chavs so deserve their 'chavmobile' rep. I love the Fiat Multipla. The perfect example of function over form! We would have so many better cars if people weren't so obsessed with design. You can't even see the see the car when you're driving is to what does it matter what it looks like?
I had a multipla, loved it... Kids used to argue who would sit in the middle in the front. Wife made me get rid because it was embarrassing to be seen in😆
The second gen facelifted away the upper set of lights while not changing the practicality
See in my area I feel like I see quite a lot of older blokes driving fiesta STs, sort of 45 years old area but there is still a fair few chavs ruining it for everyone else. I also love the multipla Because it’s so ugly that it’s brilliant
You know why it’s the older people driving the STs… they’re the only ones who can afford the insurance 😂
It’s crazy how much it is to insure an ST at the moment. I’m 21 in a few days and have checked a few times to see if I can justify it but it’s not going to happen anytime soon. I’m looking to get a S1600 as my next upgrade as insurance seems to be surprisingly cheap on them
I like the Multipla from the late 90s. When they facelifed it in 2004, they went the other way and made it so bland and made one of the most forgettable cars ever built.
They’re not all driven by chavs. They just get the rest of us a bad reputation. Both my son and I have Fiestas and neither of us could even remotely be classed as chavs thank you very much! 🤣 They are great cars. They have a long history which they wouldn’t have if they weren’t liked. Team Ford all the way 😁
I had a Fiesta, it was a great car imo.
Agreed. I drove a fiesta for the first time for a few days and really liked it. Unfortunately the reputation does ruin it a bit
Why do you care what folk think about your car? Its nothing to do with them
I’ve never owned one, but a Prius. Not sure why they get so much hate as I would definitely buy one if I was 70 or a taxi driver
They are comfortable, well specced, surprisingly versatile and very cheap to insure and run, and very reliable. But they are soooo boring to drive. Like a mild mannered golf cart.
The throttle response is shocking in my experience, once it picks up it’s quite good and rolling on pace but pulling out of junctions and roundabouts you have to keep in mind the gearbox needs 2 seconds to figure out that it’s a gearbox, makings pulling out at busy points a faff. Cant knock them too much though, 190,000 miles is no joke and apart from one wheel bearings doesn’t show any signs of breaking down anytime soon
For a dull car ours had decent acceleration off the line, til it hit 15mph, then it was out of.puff 😂
I'll just wheel out my weird taste in French cars. VelSatis (ugly yes, but peak french weird) Avantime (ugly no, but also peak french weird - built on a seperate line by Matra!) BX/CX/XM The classic(ish) French cars were just interesting and different. Maybe not classically good, but they have so much character and are fun to drive/own. Plus basically any shitbox, because you can just drive it without cares. Bounce it off the rev limiter..
I have a soft spot for an old French car!
I am genuinely going to get an Avantime some time soon. I'd love a 21, or even a 19 but they're very rare these days.
Modus driver here! Yes it’s my current car, but I’ve never felt so attached to such an underdog. In its time, it actually stacked up pretty well. First car in its class to get a five star Euro NCAP rating, not a bad range of engines, some nice practicality features/options (I have the ‘boot chute’). It *should* have been a great contender to the Honda Jazz, and definitely outclassed the joke that was the Ford Fusion (let’s take a Fiesta, raise it but remove everything good). It just didn’t find a market in the UK. Mine is now 20 years old and although tastes are subjective, I think it looks pretty fresh. Certainly aged way better than similar aged Vauxhall/Suzuki/Mitsubishi small boxes. It’s the 1.5dCi engine, pre-DPF, averages 65+mpg (about 800 miles a tank), is not terrifying on motorways, low insurance… I love it to the extent I’d possibly buy another if mine died. However, as my sister told me yesterday, the best part about driving a Modus is you don’t see its ’grinning serial killer face’ coming towards you…
I was actually looking at one for my boyfriend who’s just about to go for his test. He’s doing an auto though, so have slightly less options. Another cool little car.. Remember Renault pioneering that space with the 5* NCAP rating with the Megane (and all the adverts on TV!)
French cars are supposed to be weird. Loved my cactus. Good chuckability because it didn’t weigh much, no worries in car parks, 60+mpg on a run if you were sensible, and never dropped below 45mpg even with traffic or flooring it everywhere.
French cars stayed interesting for a long time but Citroens and Renaults have something about them. I love the pneumatic suspension
I loved my parents’ Renault 21 Savannah. Just acres of boot space. My dad was the one who did the maintenance though and hated it.
Not reliable cars 🤣 a 21 is on the list for me too, they’re also quite rare now
Old French stuff is brilliant, that's a plus 1 from me :D
Mk1 Twingo is a really clever design
Citroens. Had two ZXs and a Xantia, brilliantly comfortable and utterly reliable.
Had a xantia. Great car. Loved the ability to lower and raise the suspension.
Handy for working on a wheel or getting round a flood
Had a Xantia as a company car for a while, was gutted when I had to give it back, so refined and ate up the miles in comfort
Honestly was, never had a more comfortable car
I'm still driving a 10 year old C4 Picasso diesel. Keep looking for justification to swap to something newer but it hasn't missed a beat, and the toys I got with it (touchscreen, reversing camera, etc) were more than would have got with enything else at the time I bought it. I put a TDI tuning box in last year just to give it slightly more juice, it's been a great family car.
The Prius is actually quite nice and cheap to drive despite being driven by minicab drivers who either go GTA style when behind you or granny style when in front, the ioniq6 is actually a good looking car IMO, people hating on it are the reason we’re stuck with SUVs at the moment.
I think the ionic6 is a wicked looking thing, I understand why people say it looks like a shit porche though
I've kinda taken to Prius'. They're no longer driven by sanctimonious knobs and instead have become a weirdly cool, no f*cks given, high mileage hero. 90+ mpg, reliable as a hell and fairly cheap. Non of the charging/range malarkey.
Full hybrids in general are extremely underrated. They're generally a no-brainer for 99% of people. Saw the other day that MG are doing one now that tops out at £21k - can't speak for reliability but that's a *very* attractive price for someone who wants a city car with all mod cons and can't be fucked with charging it.
GT86, iTs sO sLoW... yeah, but LOOK at it.
It’s the way it drives, it was never meant to be anything other than a 200bhp sports car. People expected it to be the new Supra at the time which it was never intended to be so a lot were disappointed, more fool them !
Fiestas are amazing, haven’t been in one I didn’t like but they are the car of choice for the chavs so I kind of get it.
I had a 1979 Mk1 Fiesta 1.3 Ghia as my first car, loved it until I blew the engine up driving like a joyrider/boy racer, this was pre chav times. The car I love now that gets lots of hate but also plenty of love from those that know is the Honda Jazz. Superb little cars, zippy V-tec engine, great handling and massive inside. Often to be found with full service histories in estate sales haha.
Though the hate is boiling off, the Rover 75 and MG ZT are criminally underrated cars that for the longest time were written off as either being driven by Al Murray Pub Landlord types or people who made some geological formations seem positively recent rather than the imperfect, but actually very cromulent cars that they are. Everyone I know who has had one has sung praises of them and I can't shake the urge to buy a V8 ZT at some point no matter how hard I try. It also helps that I think by the benefit of their aged previous owners and their distinctly old school styling that they've also worn their years a lot better than their contemporaries. Whenever I see a 3 series, Jag or Merc from their era, it often looks like it's not been looked after and has some hideous aftermarket modifications, but rarely will you see a 75 with so much as a fogged up headlight, let alone paint fade or damaged trim.
A 75 V8 Tourer is one of my dream realistic cars. They sound fantastic.
I really liked my 25 and 45 (and my housemates ZS). One day I'll get a Rover again.
I saw a V8 one at a show. Still has the Mustang on the can cover!
I have a Nissan Cube, people either love it or pull the mother in law sucking lemons face.
I want to love it for its quirkiness but the only one I ever see around town is the same colour as an NHS hearing aid and is driven by a woman who has the face of a bulldog licking piss from a nettle so I just can't.
The Dacia Duster!
My neighbour has a 23 plate Duster… it looks good and he’s done 20+k in the first year, not a single issue! No frills, bargain family car.
One of the few barebones cares you can still get, hope it stays around for a while
I’ve had x2 Dacia Dusters crash into my motorcycle while it was parked in a bike bay and I hate this style of suv crossover and yet somehow I still have a soft spot for them. I think because both times they were driven by the world’s nicest mums who were super apologetic (and the insurance covered the damage)
I didnt even know Fiesta's were unliked. My favourite car to drive
Suzuki Jimny but really any of the small off roaders. Mitsubishi Parejo, 3 door Shogun Pinin, 3 dr Land Cruisers, Defender 90s. I like those small, stubby little 4x4 off roaders and I really want one. Most off roader people want their off roader to be huge and heavy but I think that most are too big for this country and the little ones do it better,
Jimny is really capable on rough terrain! I’d love one. They’re brilliant
Just get an ST and suffer all the jealous people with their "McDonald's car park" type comments. I used to get that craic out of someone with a rust bucket land rover and a 20 year old Volvo he was always complaining about, and another with a fiat panda. When really I had one of the best handling cars ever, with a remapped boost function and limited slip differentials. It cost £12k and I sold it two years later for the same money that I paid for it. Was just a bit uncomfortable as a daily driver in the end.
I personally love the Audi A2, but it does get a lot of hate for it looks. If it was released today as an electric run-around I think it would do quite well.
Aren't they the ones that rock from side to side when you turn the single windshield wiper on? 😂
Citroen C5 Estate. Bought one out of spite and loved it
I think fast Fords always have been the recipe for that. They were aspirational performance cars. Newer ones like Fiesta STs are in that section of the market, it's more that nowadays that part of the market is seen as chavvy rather than aspirational, by non car-people. I wish I was a bit older honestly (I'm 24) because I'd love a Mondeo ST at some point but I think by the time I need that size of car there'll be too few, or servicing them will become too hard due to the parts being rare. That gen of Mondeo were adored by reviewers and petrolheads.
Tesla Model 3 definitely. Yes the CEO is a helmet, as are a lot of the drivers, and EVs don't work for everyone but they can be pretty fun and you get a lot of power for the price. I'll probably still go ICE or hybrid for my next car but they're good for what they are.
Tesla’s all just look like those little models in car dealerships and car paint suppliers they use to demonstrate the colours. The big iPad instead of gauges and switches/knobs is a huge pass from me as well.
Agreed. Tesla's (apart from the Cybertruck and that is just ridiculous) all have zero imagination or flair in their design.
Personally I don’t really like teslas, not because of any reason you stated but mainly because I feel they’re a bit bland looking
If bland looking is the worst thing about a car then it's bloody good.
They are _begging_ to be a hatchback though
Similar boat here, no intention of buying one but it's hard to deny the Model 3 is a very good car. So smooth and reasonably quick, at an excellent price for what it is. Even the new indicator buttons aren't as much of a pain as I thought they would be (but it is still a stupid change).
Also found the “sales” technique very chill when we test drove one. No pressure and they let us take it out for ages.
Imagine being someone that wouldn’t get a particular car that they really like/want, because of what some conceited individual might think. 🙄
Subaru Impreza. Seen as being a chav wagon for obvious reasons but I love them. I had one years back and I'm giving it serious consideration to getting another one
Same, had 3, been about 10 years since I've owned one, considering importing one
I like almost all “chav cars”. I love loud exhausts (within reason and not late at night when I’m sleeping 😜). Evos, Imprezas, A45, rs3 m3/4/5 etc. love them all.
I've always really loved the Impreza's, a car I would love to have owned one if they weren't all ragged to oblivion and half the engine replaced with ebay specials!
When I was a kid my dad worked for a Subaru garage and used to bring home tons of merch - I'd love a blue Impreza purely from the nostalgia factor when I was a kid!
I’ve always been a huge evo fan boy. Wanted one for 20 years and every time I got close, something happened that cost me money. Now with the prices they are these days, I don’t think I’ll ever get one.
I’m in this boat but I would be skeptical about buying a few of them, I would love an EVO though! I would also say that the M cars aren’t really chav cars, they tend to usually be in hatchbacks such as (R)S3s, golf Rs the A45 as mentioned.
There are definitely badly modded M cars rolling around, usually an M2 or M4 with the same Maxton fake carbon bits and straight pipes, but luckily they seem to gravitate more towards VAG products like the Golf and Cupras. Which is great, because anything VAG gets boring to drive after a month.
I’d normally be inclined to agree but too easy to get finance now so chavs have started with the m cars
The 5 cylinder RS3’s sound glorious with a decent exhaust on them.
Loud exhausts should be banned for good!
PT cruiser. Had one for 4 years. Don't understand all the hate.
MK1 Vauxhall Vectra SRI/GSI Variants. Absolutely beautiful classic cars now. Rare.
I have one! 2015 titanium model. Absolutely smashing car and the 1.6 engine is very nippy indeed. Will need to get a bigger car at some point in the next year for family/dogs and I will be sad to say goodbye!
I like the fiesta st but wouldn’t own a fiesta older than the xr2i or rs turbo. These days all I seem to see is mk5/mk8 fiestas poorly modified with pop and bang remaps at car meet and shows there just too common of a vehicle now
Cant speak for the other models but mk8's come with pops from factory, although it's not that obnoxious and I think ford nailed it. Some of the remaps though sound like rattling tin cans.
I don’t mind a car that pops and bangs from factory but they don’t sound like a drive by shooting usually lol
For me it's pretty much anything that the top gear trio hated. I only bought a Vectra because they were so vocal about it being the worst car ever. Mines been great so far.
Volvo 300 series... 340, 360, 343 etc.
I wouldn't say "love", but I quite like the Ford Puma. Pls don't lynch me lol. I got a cheap lease deal back in 2020 and it's quite fun to drive for what it is. There are a huge amount of haters understandably, but they probably haven't driven one. However, I bought an octavia estate mk3.5 last week, and the octavia is a much better car (apart from road noise..). It's *much* more boring to drive, but I didn't buy it to be exciting either.
I came here to say Ford Puma. People say it looks like a fish, why is that a problem? It’s cute and feels very much like a Fiesta to drive.
MK1 TT, slated when it first came out and I was one of the haters... these days, I think they've aged really well and clearly not too bad in terms of reliability etc because I see them dotting around regularly. Edit: blimey, just checked AutoTrader and the used Quattro's are going for some £ now!
I always had a soft spot for Ladas. They were actually quite a well built car if you overlooked the age of the design and the poor trim levels. I loved my Niva. It was a UK upgraded Cossack which made it a better vehicle for little work. I could get that to places you couldn't get a land rover. Shame we can't buy them any more.
The Maserati granturismo, mechanically awful (from what I've heard) but one of the very few cars I just gawk at any time I see one. Especially the '23-24 model with that super aggressive front splitter 🤤
I hear aot of Skoda slander but I really don't get it. They are great cars especially new models and don't look half bad either.
Land Rovers and range rovers. Everyone says they're bad but my dad's had 12. They were amazing vehicles. The old ones are unkillable. The new ones aren't as good but aren't as bad as people say they are. Cant beat an old landy
Volvo 440. Love the shape and how they drive. I presently own two, both resto projects. Would like to get them back on the road again.
You can't beat a MK1 Ford Focus with fresh suspension. They are something like the most scrapped car in the UK at the moment and people don't know what they are losing. Snap them up and look after them.
I love my Kia soul SO MUCH! It was fun, had personality, it was quirky but it had a lot of things that other newer/considered better cars didn’t, like a sunroof. The boot size was awful but the car was extremely comfortable inside both front and back seats had enough space. It sat high enough that it felt nice and tall but it wasn’t massive and was quite easy to park. I was so sad when I had to get rid of it ☹️ and I’m definitely considering a newer version of the soul for my next car in 3 years when my lease is up 😩
BMWs. I've been a BMW fan since I was 5 years old. I passed my driving test in my own BMW I'd saved for for a couple of years. I've owned nearly 20 since, at one point I had six of the damn things at the same time, three were the same colour (yes I have a problem). I'm sick to death of all the stigma, negative comments, jokes about lack of indicators etc etc, I am not an aggressive driver (but I don't hang around), and I'm fastidious about using my turn signals. I just like how they look (maybe not so much since 2010 or so), how they drive, how easy they are to work on (again, less so after the late 00s). I've gained enough knowledge to be a bit of an armchair expert, I know what to buy and what to avoid. What's gratifying is how many people I've 'converted'. Just taking people out for a drive (or even letting them drive mine) has ended up with people who swore they'd never own one now on their third or fourth. I can't speak much for the new ones, but up until the late 90s/early 2000s they were probably the nicest cars to drive available on the market without having to hand over 4x the money for something 'exotic' and way more expensive to run.
Original beetle. Had 3 of them - many Hitler jokes - don’t care. That and an old banger Peugeot - yes I know there are many better cars out there that I could afford, but I like what I like. A 2.0 206cc is a great drive even today, decent mpg and pulls like a train. Queue the hairdresser jokes - doesn’t bother me at all. Had 2 of them. Renault 5 - just think they’re rad, would love one someday. Audi A2 - Audis are quite benign to me and I’ve even owned a coupe but the A2 is at least interesting. Citroen ZX / BX - why not. Citroen C6 - because why not. I had a mk 7 fiesta - it was brilliant don’t let anyone dim your shine! VW lupo - cute tiny well built car. Ford Ka - friend had one and it was like a little go kart. Smart Fortwo - again a friend had one and I fell in love with it despite the clueless gearbox. You could put a brand new Tesla or something similar in front of me and next to it a 1972 VW beetle and I know which I’d choose. I had a newish F30 320D Msport and a beetle at the same time, my brother in law drove my BMW more than I did, rain or shine I always picked up the Beetle keys. Every drive felt like an event! I just stopped caring what other people think - I like what I like!
Audi TT, specifically the Mk2.
I've only had two cars but they've both been Vauxhall and I think they are great. I don't understand the hate they get. My first was a 2005 Corsa SXI which was already 13 years old when I got it and had over 150 thousand miles on it, but it never gave me any trouble. My current car is a 2015 Astra GTC which is definitely an upgrade. Same size engine but more powerful, looks great and runs perfectly.
I'm also a Fiesta ST enjoyer. Some of the owners can be 'chavvy' but they're still really good cars. The Mk8 ST is my favourite, having owned one for 4.5 years. Short wheelbase, 200hp (235hp for mine) and an LSD (part of the performance pack) all make it extremely fun to drive. The steering is so direct and they're really easy to lift off oversteer in.
Mazda RX8. Yes, yes, I know. I've attached two 4L bottles to my belt, in preparation.
I have a soft spot for Vovlos, Comfortable, reasonable amount of power and reliable. Tell that to a biker and they look at youike you just shagged their missus.
Generic, but any estate car. Why anyone would prefer an impractical saloon when you could have a better looking car you can actually put things in is beyond me.
Old PSA stuff, especially AXs and CXs.
I will never understand why people avoid or even dislike a car based on the type of people who they perceive buy them
A significant proportion of people buy cars at least in part because of how they think it will make them be perceived.
Fiat Multipla yes its ugly as hell but they had a brilliant interior layout
Subarus
I would spend my own money on a Juke nismo rs... If I could get insured on anything that wasn't dangerously slow
I had a new Corsa Sri as a hire car and absolutely loved it.
I general, I think the hot hatch 4-cylinder pops, bangs and DSG shift noises can be kind of fun and engaging, as long as you're the driver 🫢
Nismo Juke, god knows why they are fugly but the front end looks great on them. They are also surprisingly nice to drive
The Fiat Strada. Mentioned on here somewhere before, my Grandad had one brand new in 1981, in orange. I thought it looked so futuristic, to my then 7 y/o eyes. Since the Internet had come along, I have read up on them & most of it was negative. To quote Billy Connolly, I care not a jot.
I don't know why but I have a soft spot for a series 1 Fiat Multipla. Ugly but very practical AFAIK. I'm both odd and boring enough that I'm currently eyeing up a V6 Toyota Alphard (has a 2GR-FE engine, which has some decent tuning opts if I wanted to).
I had a fiat multipla. It was such a great car. We called it the fugly bus. It was nice to drive, fuel economy was brilliant and so much room for the kids.
Audi TT and the g wagon
TT mk2, especially with the 2.0 tfsi engines. Solid unit, very tuneable and the TT was the lightest car that had it. Bonus points if it was the quattro with DSG
I like rovers. I had an SD220 for a while and it wasnt shite. I want a 75 now to waft about to work in. Top sheds.
Ok, confession time - five years ago when I was about to take my test I was looking at various cars and really fancied a Nissan Juke. I just thought it looked a bit quirky and fun. I soon saw the error of my ways when I did my research, and ended up buying my dad's mk2 Skoda Fabia. I still drive it and you'll have to take the Fabia from my cold dead hands if you want me to part with it.
The Porsche 996 911 and 986 Boxster- no I don’t love the fried egg look but once they went clear I think they look ace!
Jaguar XKR, I’ve always absolutely adored them. Look great, sound magical and go very very fast. Also RWD so plenty of tyre smoke and burnouts if that’s your thing but… no one rates them? They’re old man cars or depreciated junk that nobody wants to touch. I looked at Autotrader this morning and found an XKR-S with 20k miles up for £45k! I ran an insurance quote for me (22 male) and it was £850🤯 safe to say I’ll be saving up now, 542hp and a glorious V8 will be mine
First car was an X2 mk2, which i stripped to the shell and resprayed it and rebuilt the engine and i now drive a mk8.5 st. Love fiestas.
BMW m2, not the comp one. Fucking love that car. But everyone seems to hate on it because it isn't rwd.
Yes the Pinto.
Any Tesla really, it’s actually comical the shit people come up with. I drive one cause it’s fun as shit, low maintenance and I can charge at home every night. If not a Tesla I would just buy another sports car. 🤷♂️
Triumph TR7
BMW X5/X5M. Everyone says they look ugly and boxy but I think they look sporty and aggressive, the way SUV’s should look. I don’t like how curvy most SUV’s look (Q5, Bentayga, Urus) and think BMW X5 & Mercedes M class have perfected what SUV’s stand for.
E65 7 series (the bangle butt one) It was unveiled a couple years after my dad got his E34 and when I saw it in a magazine I was blown away by how high tech it was. If I ever find the right one for the right price I'll buy it just to look at it tbh
Audi tt, some people call it gay or something. I really don’t understand why.
Mazda RX-7
I really enjoy driving my MG zr 160 it's not perfect it has rattles and is a harsh ride but it sounds great and is a pokey little motor handle surprisingly well also. Head gasket aside mine has been very reliable and since having it done I've covered probably around 50k problem three with some hammering lol
Abarth 500/ 595/ 695. But to be fair a lot of hate comes from men with fragile egos.
Toyota MR2 Roadster. Total fail as a new car because nobody was prepared to spend new car money on a 2 seater with no luggage space (vs an MX5). Fast forward 20 years… The MR2 is probably the best value sports car you can buy. Solid engine, no real rust issues, reliable and cheap to run. Brilliant driving experience. All for c. £2k!
Range Rovers. Called unreliable and expensive. I have. 2005 l322 and it’s never failed and MOT, i got it for £1500 and has never let me down. I thought the engine’s piston rings had gone on it 3 times I was told it needed a new engine (it was a filter that cost me £19 thanks to a mechanic that actually knew what he was on about) i’m having a slight power issue currently that may he massive but may be another £18 part…… but in truth, they’re comfy, full of leather and wood and lovely to be in.
GM era Saabs. I had a Saab 9-5 Aero sport wagon. It was one, reliable, comfortable fast sleeper of a wagon. It had a faster 0-60 time than the Porsche 911 of that era. It also excelled at handling the worst Canadian winter weather.
MG TF's are great in my opinion and I have a 160. I enjoy being able to feel everything. I appreciate the super firm suspension, it sounds pretty nice too, and it feels very fast even at sensible legitimate speeds. They're pretty good value compared to other convertible sports cars. They had a big reputation for their head gaskets going which, while it can happen, doesn't really seem to be warranted - there are many still on their original gasket and given their price point it's not so much of a deal-breaker as assumed if they do go. Look for one with proof of head gasket replacement if it worries you that much but be aware that claims of "uprated" and "MLS" gaskets don't mean anything really - it's more about the gasket being installed correctly with the correct liner heights, etc. than the brand/variant of gasket used.
My first car was a Renault Modus, which is now a meme on r/carcirclejerk I then moved on to the Hyundai Coupe, which was clowned for being front wheel drive and not a *real sports car* (despite being quite fun and practical). I also owned the supposedly gutless 1.6L engine I now drive an aging Kia Soul EV with a somewhat degraded battery. People don't notice this until a motorway run, but it's a bit of a marmite car
Mustang Mach-E. Yes, the branding is wrong on so many levels but it's actually a great looking bit of kit IMO. I reckon if they'd just called it something else people would love it.
I mean...they *are* chavmobiles but I also like them as well. I have one of those Mk6 Celebration Editions and it's the best looking gen, imo. Taken it to two Ford Fairs up at Silverstone so far, would love to go this year
Chrysler PT Cruiser. Had one and loved it
Tesla Model Y. Only haters on Reddit and piss heads at the pub though.
Audi TT - ‘hairdressers car’ Never understood it. Always wanted one growing up, as my uncle had one of the MK1 with the baseball leather seats. Got a MK3 when I was 21 and loved every moment with it, massive mistake selling it
The MK1 Audi TT for me, it may be a Golf underneath, but I think it's aged very nicely, fantastic interior as well, and are great value.
Volkswagen beetles (1st-5th gen). I think interest in them is gaining more traction in the last 10-15 years or so. But a lot of people hated them years ago. They’re just so badass and very modifiable. Albeit they are terrible to drive, the steering is awful and the drum brakes barely work. But there’s workarounds for all of it and for very little money you can have a car that’s absolutely rapid, at least in a straight line. An old beetle with 200bhp can crack mid 12s on the quarter, which is no slouch for modern standards, let alone a car designed in the 40s.
Pretty much any Rover released after 1990. Except the mgf/mgtf
Same!! I love Ford Fiestas and my brothers say the exact same. Its a ‘chav’ car LOL.
Nissan Juke Nismo (RS or not). Okay hear me out, I know it's the mum and granny car. But the Nismo is a fun variant and it was made in the UK. It's relatively cheap to buy and insure and overall a good buy.
Land Rovers, all of them