Mercedes-Benz
Earlier this week I asked our readers to tell me all about their favorite types of cars. We all have our favorite brands, favorite models, favorite engines, etc., but I wanted to get even broader with the question. Whether your answer was an entire class or category, or something more specific like “I love German hatchbacks that are less than 178 inches long,” I was ready to hear it.
My example was a pretty big split: I think my favorite types of cars are city cars and hypercars. In fact, that was affirmed by my visit to the New York Auto Show this week. My favorite vehicles at the show were either small cars like the new Kia EV3, and absurd performance cars like the two Koenigsegg Regeras on display. Your answers ran the gamut of vehicle types, and some of you did get ultra-specific, which I appreciate. Without further ado, these are my favorite answers our readers submitted:
Trucks
Dodge
I really enjoy my truck. It makes a great family car. With young kids it is just fantastic. We go places they wouldn’t normally go, we haul all the stuff, and more. It is a built in play pen when I’m out working in the garage. And gets better milage than my wife’s crossover.
I bought a Maverick Hybrid during the pandemic, just because I could get it at MSRP when getting any vehicle at a reasonable price was nearly impossible. I figured I would flip it if I didn’t like it. Turns out it’s a great vehicle. Good gas mileage. Just enough hauling for my weekend warrior lifestyle. Decent ride height to see over the New England snow banks. And it’s a good size for parking in cities and importantly in my older garage. I definitely love it and think Ford knocked it out of the park.
Submitted by: Cameron Palm, Lar Mul
I think the U.S. would be better off if hundreds of thousands fewer people bought brand new full-size trucks, but I do understand the appeal and the genuine need for some people, especially when it comes to smaller pickups.
Small roadsters
Fiat
Small, open-top roadsters are the closest thing to motorcycles while maintaining an exoskeleton. They make every day better.
6′ 1″, 300 lbs. Love a tiny car. If i could get a new VW Polo in the states, you bet your sweet bippy I’d snag it. Cramming into my NA Miata is the automotive equivalent of Fat Guy in a Little Coat from Tommy Boy and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Submitted by: potbellyjoe, Haricot_Rouge
While I don’t miss it, I did enjoy dailying an NA Miata for a year.
Hot hatchbacks
Renault
I love hot hatches. Reasonably efficient, fun to drive with enough utility. In an era of idiotic excess it’s really the last stand for cars that are both fun and rational.
I mean, I’ll always be partial to the muscle car- it’s in my DNA (thanks, Dad!). But I think hot hatches are the best all-rounder. Small, quick, fun, practical, economical, affordable (maybe not anymore).
Hot hatch until I die. (A good wagon will also suffice). I’ve had a built Mazda3, a Focus ST, an R55 Clubman JCW, an A3 TDI S-Line, a WRX Hatchback, and an e91 BMW. Economical, practical, and a hoot to drive at sane speeds. I’ve owned plenty of other fun cars (Miata, Integra, e36 M3, e46 M3, e39 M5, Alfa GTV, etc) but every one has felt like a compromise in terms of utility. Sure, we could take the M3 for our weekend getaway, but how do I bring my surfboard or bike? Never an issue with a hot hatch.
Submitted by: Biff Magnitude, Arnold Rimmer, SantaCruzin
If you don’t like hot hatchbacks, there’s something wrong.
Big, comfy, fast sedans
Mercedes-Benz
Big comfy, fast, rwd sedans. AWD is also acceptable but it’s a tier down, but I just love a good sized four door with a good bit of go. M5, S series AMG, ct5-v’s, g8’s what have you
V8 RWD large sedan. Nothing is like taking a cross country trip in one of them with the engine spinning at a low speed, silence inside, excellent seat comfort, and nice materials on the inside you see and touch. LS430 is at the top of the heap for long term ownership. For disposable car, it is Mercedes Benz W222 (NOT a 4Matic).
Submitted by: JaredOfLondon, Tex
Bonus points for sedans with V12 engines.
Minivans
Toyota
Minivan. Fight me.
It’s an honest vehicle that excels at the task assigned to it. It’s not fast, it’s not sexy, but it comfortable, can haul a number of humans and their gear, tends to be decent on gas when compared to other three row people haulers and is easy to get people in and out of.
It’s just a good, well designed package that does exactly what’s on the tin and does it well.
If you have more than 3 kids (or even if you only have three kids but they’re all in car seats), there’s nothing more practical than a minivan. We have a Toyota Sienna and I have looked at (and test-driven) several 3-row SUVs. Every one of them would mean sacrificing practicality in some way or another. Those sacrifices might be acceptable for the sake of something slightly sportier or quicker, but with young children there’s no question in my mind which is the more sensible choice. Up to two kids, I would advocate for a station wagon.
Submitted by: AdamBarts, 987.1
Minivans are the best.
Wagons
Daniel Golson/Jalopnik
Wagons. Low enough to feel the road, practical enough to haul bags of mulch.
Give me a full size RWD V8 wagon any day of the week.I really miss those comfortable machines that we all took for granted many years ago.
Supercar/Hypercar are my favorite cars to read/watch about.
The standard Sport Sedan/Wagon RWD or AWD are my favorite to actually live with. The power of the super sport versions really isn’t useful in the real world in my area plus those engines are just thirster and I just prefer the ease vs coupes and handling vs SUVs.
Submitted by: Corey Smith, Bruno, Cluck
A lot of people said wagons (I only included maybe a third of them here), but I was still expecting far more! Wagons rule.
Homologation specials
Ford
Homologation specials. Modern racing rules don’t demand these which I think is a big miss, but the days when automakers were required to make several hundred to several thousand production versions of their race cars that were actually mechanically similar spawned some crazy and amazing road cars. It’s no longer required, but occasionally we get some modern interpretations like the GR Yaris which are also great.
Submitted by: Connor Paull
Yes yes yes. And there are still some new homologation cars out there!
Sporty family sedans
Nissan
I love family sedans turned into sports sedans with big engines (but not so hard they become uncomfortable) the most. Accord V6 6 speed sedan, Sentra SE-R, Chevy SS sedan, etc.
Small sports sedans. 4 doors because I like to be the driver when we (friends/family) go anywhere but no wagons ‘cuz I just never had any lifestyle activities that required the extra cargo space. Went from Mercury Tracer LTS > Ford Contour SE > original Mazda 6 > Subaru Legacy LGT > another Mazda 6. I don’t have one now, though. : (
Upper trim level mid-sized sedans. Stuff like the Honda Accord 2.0T, Mazda 6 Turbo, and the upper-trim Ford Fusions. Something with a bit of power, decent interior space, and good handling. I currently have a 2018 Mazda 6 Signature, and it’s a nearly perfect for me. Fast enough and handles well enough that I’m not desperate for a dedicated enthusiast car, and practical/economical enough that I’m not too concerned about gas prices.
Submitted by: cintocrunch1, WeryPert1, MrMcGeeIn3D
It makes me happy that there are still at least a couple current offerings in this segment.
Grand-touring coupes
Lexus
Coupes. Specifically Luxury GT coupes. Nothing better than you and the lady friend hitting the road for a nice fun comfortable cruise in a nice looking coupe.
I love a sporty GT car – the ones that are ALMOST a luxury coupe, and almost a sports car but caught in the middle.
Plenty of fun on a great twisty road without being a boat, but not designed to set lap records (which tends to put unsightly aero and harsh suspension that makes long mileage miserable).
Enough NVH (vs a more raw sports car) to make touring a genuine option without losing athleticism.
Supportive seats for twisty roads but comfortable enough for all day drives.
Fast enough to be fun but doesn’t need to do 200mph being a road car.
Aston DBS, Lexus LC500, Corvettes, 911 GTS, F-Type kind of stuff.
Submitted by: RC350F, Nathaniel Kuhn
I’m with y’all on this, grand tourers are the best.
Front-engine manual sports cars
TVR
A front/mid-front engine rwd sports car with a manual transmission. I really don’t care the make/model/engine combo. They are all cool.
Submitted by: TheDuke
I was surprised more people didn’t say this specifically.
Big coupes
Rolls-Royce
Big coupes, any flavor. Be it a muscle car, personal luxury, land yacht, grand tourer, or exotic, if it’s got two doors and a medium to large size body, I’m in.
To me, they’re the ultimate way to indulge in the experience of driving.
Submitted by: Aldairion
I do adore a gigantic coupe.
Convertibles
Rolls-Royce
Lately, I’ve been an absolute sucker for convertibles. Even the ones that people claim are awful. Now I’m not saying all convertibles are good, but there’s something about them that keeps us coming back to them. For example, even if nobody likes the Murano CrossCabriolet, why is it that when lists like this come up, that car floats its way in? When people buy a supercar, why are we generally undecided over which version is (even subjectively) better? Why is Miata always the answer?
The convertible, even in Solara, Sebring, and Cascada form, is an expression of joy on wheels. God gave us sunlight and wind and He gave humanity those things to appreciate, which means all of a sudden, when you’re not closed off in a metal cocoon and compromising with just having the windows down, the trip becomes more memorable. In the spring, you get to enjoy a nice 60-degree breeze next to the lake (90 next to PCH if you’re in California). In the summer, you get warm air and a view of all the stars in the sky. Most cars were built for commuting, but in a convertible, no matter where you go, you’re taking a drive.
For the enthusiasts, you could be getting caked in dirt on trails or testing the limits of lateral grip on a track. We do that for fun. But for the average person, the convertible is the joy of driving, opened up for all people. Driving as a hobby is now available for everyone.
Submitted by: Drift of Air
I’ve never really been a convertible guy, but after six years living in LA that’s slowly starting to change.
Convertible SUVs
Mercedes-Benz
Square SUVs with a removable top. I know, that means Jeep. The Bronco is cool too. I like the GMC Hummer with that T top looking thing. There needs to be more convertibles in the world. I wish that Toyota/Lexus would give us something like this.
Submitted by: Papa Chris
I love how there have been convertible SUVs in every sort of size and price class.
All of them
Mercedes-Benz
Can I say all of them? Everything has something to offer. Hence my driveway. I’ve got a 987 Cayman S that’s my race car. It’s a brute that also makes a great dance partner. But then we’ve got a base 986 Boxster that’s a good representation of a modern convertible sports car that you can take for a mellow drive. Our Alfa Four Cheese is a fantastic super sedan that I thought I’d never own. Hopefully our Jetta Ute gets finished soon as that’ll be a blast. We can use more small trucks, so why not make your own? It’s funny that the main thing that gets used from our driveway is our mild Dajiban. I think because it’s boring to drive in Atlanta and you might as well leave the fun cars for getting outside of the urban slog. I’m also pining for a 944 (rwd 4 cylinder cars are definitely a great way to go), an old Jag XJ and probably a 1/2 dozen other cars. I’ll have to retire just to drive them all.
To own: Midsize wagons and liftback sedans. Wagon/liftback for obvious practicality reasons, and midsize to split the difference between comfort and driving experience.
To appreciate, I have several: ’70s muscle cars, especially performance trims with race car styling touches like rear lip and front chin spoilers and fender flares (think late ’70s Camaro Z/28).
OR ’70s personal luxury cars, especially those pretending at performance (think Cordoba Chargers/Magnum XEs)
OR ’80s wedge cars, but NOT the supercars (think Isuzu Impulse/Piazza, Nissan Z31, DeLorean, Citroen CX, Datsun/Nissan 200SX, VW Scirocco, etc.)
OR ’80s and ’90s touring car homologations (think Ford Sierra Cosworth, Mercedes-Benz 190E Cosworth, Alfa Romeo 155 GTA/V6 TI, etc.
Submitted by: Clay Horste, Frosteeman
I will accept “all of them” as an answer, because same.
