‘What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?’ Blimey, if I had a pound ‘n' all that… Put it this way: had I made my numerous inquisitors pay their dues, the heels on my brogues would be considerably thicker by now.
As a road tester for the world's oldest motoring publication, this question trails me like a bout of noxious ‘thunder from down under’ in a crowded room. In fact, all through a life spent goofing about in fancy metal, first as a mechanic and then as a salesman of Britain’s and Italy’s finest, it’s the first thing folk tend to ask. So what is the answer?
Considering the problems perplexing mankind right now - everything from the how to domesticate Kim Jong-un to finding out where that flighty-old Higgs Boson is hiding - this one should be easy, right?
Heck no. Such is the enormous pot of fabulous cars to pick from and the sea of grey that defines what makes something the best, I have stuttered and stumbled like Albert E. Arkwright – you know, the Open All Hours chap – trying to answer it.
So, fed up with the embarrassment of always replying ‘I d-d-d-dunno’ and the thrill of a challenge, I was determined to come up with a riposte. And you know what? By c-c-c-crikey I think I have.
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Best car driven or owned
Best car I've ever owned was an Alpina e46 B3S coupe, that ticked a lot of boxes, fast when you wanted but with well designed suspension that soaked up the bumps and helped you maintain your line whatever the road threw at you. The inline 6 was sonorous and the switchtronic auto paired nicely. The Alpina could be all things at all times, a car as capable of a fast cross country dash or relaxed weekend cruise. In it you could cover hundreds of miles in comfort, it was even reasonably practical with 4 seats and a decent sized boot. OK it wasn't cheap to buy but it was so accomplished in so many areas that it made a very attractive proposition. To be honest, if I hadn't started to need a larger car and 4wd for winter trips I'd probably still have it or the current version now.
Please Alpina, make the new B3S xdrive touring in rhd!
Best car...? Got to be the
Cars that astonish you
So - Citroen AX GT - How can a car possibly be as lively and excitable
as this?
Ford Focus Mk1 - How can a regular car possibly go round corners like this?
Subaru Impreza - Wow