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What Car Should You Be Driving?

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Here’s the thing. We’re car enthusiasts. We pick and choose our cars on emotional whims, and spend aching hours obsessing over the cars we desperately want to own. Often, the cars we choose are neither cheap nor practical, and many of us will admit our fleets are not always in the best mechanical shape. That raises a question: What car should you be driving, instead of whatever impractical/unreliable/suboptimal machine is sitting in your driveway?

I’ll openly admit I’m guilty of some folly in this regard. I drive an Audi TT – a drop-top roadster, of course – in one of the rainiest cities in Australia. I live deep in the inner city, so I barely ever actually drive the thing, and its ride height is so low that it’s getting beat up every time I go over a speed bump. Of course, it’s my dream car, so I hold on to it for dear life.

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

Basically, I should be driving something else. And I know exactly what that car is. See, on the day I bought the worst car I’ve ever owned, I had actually test-driven something else. It was a first-generation Honda HR-V. This vehicle ticked a lot of boxes for me. It was all-wheel-drive, with a good ride height, so I could totally blast it around on the beach in the summer. Plus, it had a manual transmission. Ultimately, though, it felt cheap and a bit janky, so I passed it over for that hateful BMW.

Images Honda Hr V 1998 1
That sleek three-door design? That tidy little rear spoiler?
Honda Hr V 1998 Photos 2
We could have been very happy together. Even if you had dashboard that felt like a Power Wheels toy.

Now that I’m living in the city, I realize this Honda would have been perfect for me. It had a nice high driving position, and absolutely wouldn’t fuss over any of the bumps, grates, or kerb ramps that plague the city. With no turbo, it would have been a touch better on gas than the Audi, plus it ran on regular instead of premium. It also had tons of cargo space, and was so cheap, I could hardly make it worse even if I drank four liters of Mountain Dew and spewed all over the interior. I could have found parts for it all over the world. Plus, it was still manual, so it’d satiate that part of my enthusiast brain.

This would have been an altogether better car for the kinds of driving I do these days—infrequent, on clogged city roads. Plus, its just-barely-off-roadable ability would have served me well on the occasional jaunt to the out-of-doors. Still, I love my Audi, and I’m not complaining. I just realize that there was a better, cheaper option for me.

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I love you! Some might say you’re not the logical choice, but you’re the one I really want.

Now, since this is Autopian Asks, I throw this over to you. What should you be driving, instead of the brown diesel Cadillac coupe you’re so addicted to?

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Jack Trade
Jack Trade
1 month ago

Honestly, nothing. I live in the city, have for most of my adult life. Plenty of public transit, stores, etc. are available to me.

I could save a big chunk of money by abandoning vehicle ownership and probably live objectively quite comfortably. But subjectively, never as fully.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
1 month ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

What’s wrong with a bicycle?

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
30 days ago
Reply to  Cheap Bastard

Nothing at all, they’re just not my thing. I’d rather walk/take public transit to things reasonably close by and then drive elsewhere just b/c I love it.

Kevin Rhodes
Kevin Rhodes
30 days ago
Reply to  Cheap Bastard

Where I live, half the year it is roughly as hot as the surface of the sun while being as humid as a shower stall, if not actually raining cats, dogs, pigs, and cows, and the whole year the place is infested with distracted drivers, cryptkeepers who should have hung up the keys decades ago, methheads, and brodozers. So taking a bicycle on any of the main roads is basically a suicide mission. People literally get run over on a weekly basis here.

I still bicycle for exercise and fun, but I stay well off the roads that go anywhere useful.

Kevin Rhodes
Kevin Rhodes
30 days ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

Piff, I live in deep suburbia and I would be better off financially ditching cars and just paying for Uber and renting for trips. But that would be roughly as much fun as a root canal, so I own five cars.

World24
World24
1 month ago

Honestly, some sort of small coupe or a “3 door” hatchback
I don’t have a single need for anything more than 2 seats. A tC, a CRZ, an Eclipse, etc.

Usernametaken
Usernametaken
1 month ago

I need something to get me where I’m going

Champagne Carolla

Peter Andruskiewicz
Peter Andruskiewicz
1 month ago
Reply to  Usernametaken

If you need a car that will get you there, take Karen (nee Kitty)’s advice and get a white. Chrysler. LeBaron

Peter Andruskiewicz
Peter Andruskiewicz
1 month ago
Reply to  Usernametaken

If you want a car that will get you there, take Karen (nee Kitty)’s advice and get a white. Chrysler. Lebaron

Jb996
Jb996
30 days ago

You want a car with a cupholder armrest?

Too bad about the MG though.

Last edited 30 days ago by Jb996
4jim
4jim
1 month ago

I should be driving some plug-in hybrid manual transmission thing that would fit 2 people and 3 dogs in a pinch.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
1 month ago
Reply to  4jim

If only such a thing existed!

The Stig's Misanthropic Cousin
The Stig's Misanthropic Cousin
1 month ago

I should be driving an F150 Raptor R. Obviously, 720 horsepower and 37-inch tires are a need and not a want.

Arrest-me Red
Arrest-me Red
1 month ago

What ever I like, no need to please people

Rust Buckets
Rust Buckets
29 days ago
Reply to  Arrest-me Red

This isn’t about pleasing people. The title question should read(and this was well covered in the actual article), “What car could you be driving that would best fit your objective needs, even if it is not as nice or as fun as you’d like?”

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
1 month ago

A Subaru BRAT/Brumby with a manual.

Hey, four posts today, already. Did the local coke and crank dealer have a sale or something?

Last edited 1 month ago by Canopysaurus
Gee See
Gee See
1 month ago
Reply to  Canopysaurus
Jatkat
Jatkat
1 month ago

Pshhhh, just own 6 cars like I do. No need to compromise!

Gee See
Gee See
1 month ago
Reply to  Jatkat

My insurance company has a collectible car policy that allows one to drive their collectible 4 days a month. I aim to get 7 collectibles just to say haha.

Alexk98
Alexk98
1 month ago

As someone who is single with no kids, it’s certainly not the GX470 I have right now, but it’s just so excellent. I’ll likely replace it with something more appropriate that’ll scratch the enthusiast itch. Toss up between a rougher ND1 Miata, 500 Abarth, Toyota Crown, or maybe a Toyota Sera. If this list seems unfocused and chaotic, welcome to my Facebook Marketplace algorithm, it knows me well.

Brandon Forbes
Brandon Forbes
1 month ago
Reply to  Alexk98

Toyota Crown!!! Of course the others are excellent choices as well, and I am a bit biased, but I know the best place in the country to get a crown!

ExAutoJourno
ExAutoJourno
1 month ago
Reply to  Brandon Forbes

Only if it’s a Toyopet Crown Deluxe.

Freelivin2713
Freelivin2713
1 month ago

I’d go the other way since I’m driving the car I should be driving in this sense- an Econobox…when I SHOULD be driving either a truck; since I’ve never had my own truck (only had a company truck that I could commute in) and love trucks…
OR, I should be driving my dream car= 69 Dodge Super Bee

Timbales
Timbales
1 month ago

I really wish there was a modern version of the 03-08 Toyota Matrix. One with all the modern creature comforts like heated seats and Android Auto, and modern safety features, but retaining the plastic backed, fold flat seating with ties tracks and cargo volume. Throw in all-wheel drive and I’d be a happy camper.

Gee See
Gee See
1 month ago
Reply to  Timbales

I think the closest is probably Corolla Cross?

Timbales
Timbales
28 days ago
Reply to  Gee See

it somehow looks more homely and dated than the 03 Matrix.

lastwraith
lastwraith
1 month ago
Reply to  Timbales

The Vibe/Matrix had so many smart little features designed in – I DD a Vibe so I’m obviously biased.
I feel like the Honda Element, Fit, Ridgeline (especially the recent one), and to a lesser degree the Ford Maverick are a few other vehicles where they really tried to maximize the space with some clever packaging, seat permutations, storage bins, etc.

Too many cars use their space poorly. For example, the Corolla Hatchback slopes so much in the back for visual effect, the hatch is much less useful than it could be. And not getting a spare in some trim levels seems ridiculous.

Last edited 1 month ago by lastwraith
Spikedlemon
Spikedlemon
1 month ago

Honda Element.

Go back a decade, and smarten up.

Last edited 1 month ago by Spikedlemon
StevenR
StevenR
1 month ago

I drive maybe 5 miles a week to grab lunch or run an errand. I do that in a 30 year old Ram that gets maybe 12mpg. I should drive the cheapest most economical shitbox that exists. David’s recently sold Leaf would have been almost perfect for me.

LMCorvairFan
LMCorvairFan
1 month ago

Money no object, a Lucid Air.

Keith Ouellette
Keith Ouellette
1 month ago

A V60. Bought the Tiguan and it does everything I need but it’s only utilitarian. Only 13 payments left and rates are way too high to dive in now

RataTejas
RataTejas
1 month ago

As a S60 Recharge owner, I endorse this message.

T-wrecks
T-wrecks
1 month ago

I have a truck because I need to do truck things often. But, I wish I had a more economical vehicle to drive back and forth to work. Something like Suzuki Kizashi, there is something about those little things that I love.

Scott Ross
Scott Ross
1 month ago

Because of work and an older home… A pickup truck. I just drive a buick verano instead

Icouldntfindaclevername
Icouldntfindaclevername
1 month ago

I should be driving a NEW car, but instead, I’m using that money to put a kid through college 🙂

Angrycat Meowmeow
Angrycat Meowmeow
1 month ago

I should be driving an Accord 2.0T 6 speed. I went to test drive one and would probably have bought it, but when I got there it was not a 2.0T. The salesman said “oh, it’s in another lot”. We went to the other lot, and he showed me another 1.5L. I left.

lastwraith
lastwraith
1 month ago

Your princess is in another castle Mario.

ExAutoJourno
ExAutoJourno
1 month ago

What I should be driving on my town’s 17th-Century streets, roads and lanes, is an OG Mini. Despite fears that all the SUV/CUV drivers would skoosh me like a bug, it’s the right choice. Plus, since parking spots are small and rare (at least in tourist season), the 10-foot length would be a big help.

Given enough money and the unlikely chance of finding one that hasn’t been hooned to uselessness, I’d love a Mitsubishi Dangan ZZ-4. Or a Fiat Abarth Zagato.

Realistically, I have a hankering for a ’58 Chevy two-door coupe that occasionally wobbles through town. I’d have to get it before one more winter reduces it to a pile of rust flakes.

Brandon Forbes
Brandon Forbes
1 month ago
Reply to  ExAutoJourno

I need a classic Mini. I’m in a Miata now so not much bigger, but classic Minis are just special.

Jonee Eisen
Jonee Eisen
1 month ago

Now that you reminded me of the first generation Honda HR-V, that’s most definitely the car I should be driving. What a charming little machine.

JurassicComanche25
JurassicComanche25
1 month ago

Well, my commute is suburban & rural. Average 20mi each way; also haul my motorcycle a bit and mostly 55 roads.

I feel like i should be driving either a maverick hybrid, or an S-Cargo. Instead im looking at N cars.

Musicman27
Musicman27
1 month ago

I bought a Civic because it was really really cheap and I needed to get a first car at some point. Now I realized a 6 Ft person and a ’98 Civic coupe don’t mix. If I could, I’d take a manual 1st-gen CR-V or Element anyday. Ideally I would get a new Elantra Blue Hybrid though.

Last edited 1 month ago by Musicman27
Myk El
Myk El
1 month ago

I should be driving a plug-in hybrid Honda Element. I’m told this vehicle doesn’t actually exit. BUT IT SHOULD!

Michael Beranek
Michael Beranek
1 month ago

Well, if the universe wasn’t all messed up, I’d be driving a full-on S Class, or at least a 7 series.
Hell, I’d settle for an LS.

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