Maybe not what you'd like to hear, but basically definitely cars from before around 1995. I personally like old Mercs, but there are also many other great makes around. Cheers!

I like small cars as I find them more funny. Right now I own a Toyota Hybrid Yaris. I replaced my Alfa Romeo MiTo TCT turbo for it... Both are very pleasant to drive but in a different way. MiTo was quite powerful and very nice on mountain roads and german unlimited highways but needed too much fuel according to my 'ecological fiber' (I never managed to go under 9l/100km and in the city during winter it was 12l...). Yaris is exactly the opposite but quite nervous in the city and very silent. Of course on the highway it's not the same but I drive 95% of the time in the city. Without paying attention it needs only 4-5.5l/100km and maintenance is really a bargain! 

Next one will probably be a... classic 3 doors automatic Mini Cooper but I'll wait a bit to see if an hybrid arrives. Also I'm not very optimistic as the dealer told me that the hybrid could come but only in the Countryman as there isn't enough space in the classic for the hybrid technology.

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My first car was a VW Golf mk3 1995 modell with 1,8liter, 90hp, and automatic transmission.

The dream car at the time was the Mk3 VR6, which was way to expensive at the time for me.

I live in the city, and have no use for a car, but last year when I turned 30 I bought myself one as a present. Was able to fulfill my dream for not too much money (I thought, had to buy a new engine).

Whenever I walk towards my car to drive, I am jumping inside like a little kid.

Firing up 2,8 liters with 174hp, manual transmission, with a curb weight of 1207kg ALWAYS puts a smile on my face. 

What an awesome thread! My first ever car was the original little MINI Cooper which I loved. My worst ever was a BMW 3 series as it cost me a fortune in servicing, repairs and depreciation. It was made on a Friday afternoon as everything went wrong with it. Since 2005, I've had MINI Coopers which I seriously can't fault. The first one, I drove 40,000 miles in the first year purely motorway driving. I was working at a radio station in Liverpool, so i'd drive back home on a Friday night and then i'd drive up to the Lake District every Wednesday. They are like driving a go kart and have a personality like a beautiful dog :)

Right now I have an Audi A3 Sport Sedan which does everything perfectly but without much soul. It has the B&O sound system in and is eco friendly. Its the petrol 1.4 cylinder on demand 7 speed S Tronic. £20 a year car tax and 52-55mpg!!!

I'm incredibkly eco aware more and more each year. I see how clogged the roads are and I still can't get my head around the fact that in 2015, we put a fuel in a car that then spits out cancerous pollution into the air that we then breathe in order to stay alive. For me, it's crazy. I've been a competing Natural Bodybuilder since I was 18/19 and I like to use my body for sport - I love surfing and I try to bike everywhere now which, my goodness really shapes the legs incredibly and cleans out the lungs etc.

I'm disgusted with Range Rovers and 4x4s as to me it shows zero consideration for pedestrians, cyclists and my gosh, the environment with the gas gushing engines.

There is a new smaller MINI being produced with Toyota as we speak. Called the MINI Minor, its based on the Rocketman concept. This will have the Toyota Hybrid engine in it. Still maybe 2 years away, but this is the MINI that i've been waiting for and really want. From now on, it's hybrid for me, just to make me feel a little happier in terms of the environment.

The MINI suits me because of its charm, personality, style and iconic design - thats important to me. When I have children, then i'd have an Audi A3 Sportback (and a MINI also :)

I've always had the upgraded speaker option. I think my favourite is the Harmon Kardon in the MINI's. It just seems to sound right! In my young days, 10 years ago, I was really into BLAUPUNKT for my car stereos. The one in my first MINI even had Dolby C and an electric aerial :) Boy, did it sound great :)

This is great! Thanks for everyone who has participated thus far.

I own a 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop (F56), my wife's car is a 2009 Toyota Prius. We've been strictly reliable Japanese car people until a few years ago when I had a little early mid life crisis and purchased a 2011 Audi TT (pre-owned). The MINI has replaced the Audi.

The best / most fun car I've every owned is a tie between the TT and the MINI. The TT has the looks and speed, but there's just something about the MINI which puts a different kind of smile on my face. Before the two German cars, I've always owned Japanese, as mentioned above. I don't think I could ever go back. The Audi quattro system was amazing, but when we moved to California from the Midwest of the US, I had to make a change at the time due to the gas prices. I had never tried a MINI before, and a coworker who was active in the MINI user's community told me I HAD to test drive one. It was love at first drive. And the technology knocked the socks off the old tech of the TT.

I plan on driving the MINI until the wheels fall off. But the new TT (not yet in the US), is soooo attractive. 

Here in the US, there's this sentiment that German Cars are more trouble than they're worth, especially when they're out of warranty. That may be true, but so far in the 3+ years I've owned German cars, they have been ZERO trouble and 100 fun. 

I mentioned in the other thread that I wish the US had the tastes in cars that the EU has. For example, the BMW 1 series 3-door hatchback, Audi A1 / S1... MINI is the only attractive 3-door hatchback option. All the other hot hatches like the Ford Fiesta / Focus aren't very good looking in my opinion. And there's just something about american cars which puts me off. Ugh. If i had my way, the A1/S1 would be the car I'd be driving if it was available.

The thought of a MINI hybrid is very nice. Even nicer is the rumor that MINI is contemplating putting the Superleggera concept into production. Yum Yum!

Hi Sal, 

you said "Here in the US, there's this sentiment that German Cars are more trouble than they're worth, especially when they're out of warranty. That may be true, but so far in the 3+ years I've owned German cars, they have been ZERO trouble and 100 fun. " 

the German car manufacturers are perceived in Europe as having good engineering and they have a very good relationship with the press. The big German motoring organisation ADAG was uncovered fixing its "Germans favourite car" contest by making up votes . And the VW ad budget is way above other companies , which helps . BMW has a problem with the floorpan on 5 series breaking where the drivers seat bolts into it . By they're having none of it when customers ask. 

Back to VW , the big banks who underwrite their resale in Europe have told them they are junk status as they are overproducing too many models and put them into junk status for being inefficient in their range structure. But they appear to be trying to ride it out until another euro maker withers.

anyway , I drive an Alfaromeo Giulietta I bought new in 2011.

Simonbeo wrote:

...Back to VW , the big banks who underwrite their resale in Europe have told them they are junk status as they are overproducing too many models....

At least here in Germany, a basic Golf 7 costs 16.975€ and can go up to almost 30.000€ without extra options. If the Golf price kept pace with inflation, it should not cost more than 10.368€, according to an article in

I have a 2013 Prius for work - quiet, comfortable, good fuel consumption around town and lots of useful toys. My wife has an old Toyota Aygo as she commutes into town and the small town car is ideal. We also have a Toyota Camry estate - this replaced a previous Camry estate which we bought new in 1993. This is the dogs' car! When the last one needed a new fuel tank due to corrosion, the price was more than the car was worth! We bought the present one on eBay as the Camry is no longer available and it had been such a great car. This one lacks a couple of the toys of the first as it is actually 2 years older but is still superb! It can take 4 basset hounds fairly easily!

I have two other cars - a Triumph GT6 convertible, which is a 1972 model but was essentially built for me in 1999 and was shown as the Classic Car Show that year. And finally, I have a 1971 Morris Traveller which will be my daughter's when she passes her test!!

To claim "being incredibly eco aware" and want a new car because of less CO2 somehow sounds childish!

New production car creates 25 tonnes of CO2. With 100 gr/km you need to drive your car at least 250.000 Km to reach the same! 

Nobody should talk about ecology as long as they just talk about but not act with the responsibility. 

You want to save the world? Than stop consuming!!! 

I drive RRS, Mercedes GL and BMW 640 Convertible! Not that eco friendly by the way! I'll post the pictures on Tuesday when I'm home again.