Greetings, Autopians! It’s your weekend-boy here! One of my favorite car-related hobbies is simply looking for interesting cars, better known as car spotting. There is no better place for that than the great streets of New York City, specifically Manhattan. I recently found an excellent representation of a random car sighting in the city that never sleeps.
Last weekend, I was walking around the picturesque neighborhood of the West Village and came across the two machines you see in the photo above. If you don’t know anything about cars, the vehicle on the left is a Land Rover Discovery 2. The vehicle on the right is a Jaguar S-Type. The Disco is a 2003 and the Jag a 2005. Theoretically, you could have bought the same spec Discovery in 2004 as a 2004 model, and the Jag in 04 as a 2005 model. This would have been my ultimate two-car solution if I had been car shopping in 2004. Instead, I was a mere infant eating Gerber Puffs and watching Sesame Street.
Why, you may ask, is this the perfect two-car solution? Perhaps we should first talk about what a two-car solution is, for those who may be unfamiliar with the term.
A two-car solution is simply that: having two cars that perfectly balance one another. It can be a Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro as the family hauler, partnered by a 911 GT3 RS in the garage patiently awaiting a drive. There’s even an entire Instagram page dedicated to this concept; it’s among my favorite pages. (Followers can send in their two-car submissions. There are a lot of good ones, check them out.)
Color
Anyway, why would these two be my ultimate two-car solution? Well, take a look at the colors for starters. The Disco is painted in my all-time favorite Land Rover color: Icelandic Blue. It’s estimated that only about 200 were made in this color. It’s extremely rare, which is a shame, as I would for sure trade my Disco for one. The Jaguar is painted in the infamous, British Racing Green. I love green cars. In fact, I wrote an article about my favorites on St. Patrick’s Day. I mentioned British Racing Green, of course, giving a brief history of it. Two uncommon colors that complement each other so well. In a sea of white, gray, and black, having sky-blue and deep-green colored cars is just so elegant. I would sit on my apartment balcony sipping my tea, as I stared down and admired these two beauties.
Functionality
A giant 4WD SUV and a sleek 4-door sports sedan. You could use your Discovery to travel out to the Hamptons and take it on the sand, where it will for sure glide over. Be sure to hose it down afterward, those rear-cross chassis frames tend to rot! The Jaguar can be used to pick up an investor client in upper Manhattan and drive them down to a restaurant where you’ll spend $200 each on a steak. Both vehicles serve different, elegant purposes to live the ultimate, wealthy New Yorker experience.
British Cars In Manhattan
Owning two British cars in the city does not have to be difficult. Luckily Jaguar Land Rover of Manhattan is centrally located on the corner of 11th Ave and W 54th Street. When one breaks, you can simply drive the other! It’s bound to happen. Look at the fluid stains underneath the Disco. Ouch.
Tell me, Autopians. Do you have your own two-car solution sitting in your driveway? I’m curious as to what you have. Share with me! I won’t judge, unless it’s a Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain…
F-250 King Ranch for all my towing and dream future towing needs (still don’t own a mini-ex or skid steer as much as I’d like one). Then a 911 or a Panamera 4sport turismo.
My 1962 Porsche 356 and then a 1990+ VW Transporter for the rest. “Only” have the first one..
Already have the ideal working-man’s 2-car solution (ie, no expensive cars or exotics)… Toyota Sienna and Mazda Miata. No explanation needed.
A carnival with AWD (not made yet i know) and the Nissan Z would be a good combo. Your’s is the reliable version though. Great job getting those and living the dream!
Ok, I’m lucky enough that I aready have half of my ideal two-car garage. So in addition to the Renault 4 I daily drive, I’d want a bigger old Renault to do road trips, haul stuff and whatnot. I would say an Espace MK1, if only I hadn’t actually owned one – my first car, no less – and I know exactly what kind of a nightmare it can become. So I’d likely go with a station wagon, not a minivan, and I’d look for something with an older, more reliable engine (I’m firmly #TeamIronBlock), so as much as I like the 21 Nevada, I don’t think I’d want to have to deal with a flimsy aluminum block again. Maybe a late Renault 12 C, or an early Renault 18 TL or TS. Something with minimal electronics to fry and easy to work around the engine bay.
Just want to point out that the Renault 4 + Renault 12 break combo may be a bit too freudian, since that’s literaly the two-car garage I grew up with. So maybe the 18 is a better idea in terms of avoiding my late father’s constant presence in my subconscious.
I actually just achieved my current dream ‘two car garage’! I have a 2005 Suzuki Jimny & a 2009 Porsche Cayenne (Diesel).
It’s a weird combo but hear me out: I live on a tiny, remote Scottish island so I need a small and capable 4×4 for the small, winding roads which the jimmy is perfect for. I also wanted a larger, more comfortable vehicle for big long road trips to Europe and that could tow heavy trailers, do the odd off-road track and still handle our atrocious rural roads and weather.
I think in the future I’d like to swap the jimmy for an old Fiat Panda 4×4 but until then, I want for nothing!
I fuck with you buddy!
That’s so cool! I like you, Calum. You have good taste and good comments
what greg said, we’re in a threeway now, apologies.
> A two-car solution is simply that: having two cars that perfectly balance one another.
A jag and a disco are a zero-car solution. They’ll be inoperative much of the time.
I’d go with a Lexus SC 430 for pretty, fun, and reliable + a Mercedes wagon of some kind for practicality.
But hopefully they won’t be inoperative at the same time…
Our current solution:
Ford EcoSport. Small, easy entry/exit, enough space to carry stuff.
Mini Cooper S Convertible. Smaller, horrible entry/exit, crazy fun factor.
Honestly people diss them, but I am an EcoSport fan. Neat little crossovers. When I worked at Ford, we never saw them in, a good sign!
90 Jaguar XJ6 and 76 MG Midget. And when they’re both broken I drive an F250.
Keeping it semi-realistic, one is a TLX Type S and the other a mid-90’s Landcruiser.
Keep my Mazda Roadster, add a Mitsubishi Jeep.
I have mine. 2019 Ford Raptor SuperCab in performance blue with blue interior package and all options except the sunroof–and a 2018 BMW M4 Competition convertible in black with black leather.
congratulations! Nice choices.
Hypothetically a Pontiac Vibe and a Ford Probe
Do you favor cars that end in -be?
Maybe like a lot of others, I can dream but in real life, do the best I can depending on the time and expense, so now it’s a 2015 Fusion Platinum PHEV for commuting (bringing in mpg of 60-75), then a 2007 X3. Fusion is great for around town, but without a spare not the choice for long distance travel. The X3 is aging and need to be replaced.
Dreaming for the life now lived? A Pacifica Hybrid PHEV, and a 370Z convertible.
Dreaming for higher financial legroom at the moment? A BMW 6 series convertible and a fully loaded Lighting EV.
Dreaming with no limits? A Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse convertible and a Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner.
All this can change in an instant when I see the next best thing, to me.
The answer is always Miata + minivan.
Unless it’s Corvette + Honda Fit. With the budget it would take to buy that Disco and Jag I’d be looking for a C5 along with the manual Fit I already own.
If I’m only allowed to have two and have to stay reasonable, I’d probably take a new Pacifica PHEV Hybrid and a 2003-2009 Porsche Boxster.
Otherwise it’s something like a Bentayga and a 911.
I have the perfect end of life combo (I’m 76) which is my 2019 Cadillac CT6 3.0 litre twin turbo which is obscenly fast as well as luxurious. For just pottering around my 2004 Chevy Silverado 1500 works just fine.
Now I would like to add that I also have Virgil, a 1932 Chevrolet Confederate in 98% original condition other than the paint. It’s function is to be a thing of beauty and personality in a gum drop society. We go for rides when he and I feel like it.
Which body on the ’32 Chevy?
Nice combo, I could see myself in the same situation and not far behind you!
I currently own a 2000 Corvette coupe and a 2010 Honda Civic Si that I bought with one mile on it. I have no idea what I could ever replace the Honda with.
I’m pretty happy with my current two car solution. Lexus LS430 for daily comfort and solid reliability and my Spitfire for keeping my hands dirty.
The best thing about driving an old British car is you’re never sure if you’re going to get where you’re going so every day is a little adventure.
I blew no.3 piston in half on the way home from work a couple of years back and did consider going EV conversion but then it wouldn’t have smelt right!
I currently have the perfect for me two car solution. An EV converted Karmann Ghia and 5 year old Rav4. The KG is what I take to work and around most of the week. On the KG when something needs repaired, somewhat often, or when I decide to change, upgrade, modify something, which is quite often, I take the Rav4 which is an appliance. The KG is emotional and the R4 is practical. A perfect cake and eating it too solution.
At one time I had two TR3s. I thought that was a perfect solution because I guessed I could always keep one running. Wrong. Figured out that it only worked when I added a Ducati. That was in the early 80’s with a late 70s Ducati. The Ducs were not as reliable and much more labor intensive than the modern ones so was not the perfect solution. A TR3 is still my favorite sports car and that Ducati is still the best looking and sounding bike I ever owned. Don’t think my back or wrists could take it any more though. All emotion and absolutely nothing practical about the three, god that was fun!
Back in 04, it would be BMW X5 + e46M3. Much more reliable. Now with EV it will be a bit more complicated. I prefer same make solution as you can share parts / diagnostic tools since it is OBD2 era.
Sorry can’t do two cars. Unless bikes are another category then MAYBE I can work with it. I’m going to take a 75 chevy crew cab, one ton, single rear wheels, 4×4, 6v52t detroit with a road ranger tranny, gold/bronze/brown over white two tone. A mark one spitfire, tube chassis, bridge ported 13b n/a, 6 speed, 787b livery. Ivory BMW R1200C. Yellow yamaha DT400. The wife’s would probably be the newest escalade and 57 T-bird.
Edit: my bad, i thought we were talking about dream garages, not actual ones. Actual ones are 366 thousand mile rhd cherokee, (required for work,) rusted out 07 chrysler t&c. Green r1200c.
My name is Rob Spiteri and I am a masochist…
First step is to admit it is an issue (I won’t say it is a problem, a problem is only when you hate dealing with it)
I’m not saying it’s a problem. Perhaps it’s his kink, and I’m totally okay with that.
Wink wink
but look at the COLORS
Why would anyone look for even one British Car?
Yeah, they are like chips, you can’t have just one!
Agree. They’re like a box of Girl Scout Cookies. You open it for 1-2 but the next thing you know there’s an empty box next to you and sharp pains shooting up your stomach!
Every British car I have owned has been more reliable then the most reliable of the German cars I have owned. That list includes various original Minis, Rovers, Range Rovers, X5, UR Quattro, E30, Mercedes 190E, a Jag, MGs, Triumphs, a Discovery etc. The only rental car to break down on me was a Passat. My ideal 2 car garage though would be both, a 911 and a Mk 1 Discovery with a stick. Tomorrow it may be a Land Cruiser and a Miata though and Monday is too far away.
I’m pretty happy with our range: We have a Pacifica Hybrid PHEV and a Fiat 500c Abarth cabrio, so we cover most bases other than off-roading or towing.
Towing being the reason we didn’t get the hybrid, but I wanted one so badly. Got the AWD Tow equipped version. Love the Abarth Cab!
It is a wonderful van. We can go months of city driving without using any gasoline at all, load it up with sheets of plywood for a home improvement project, fill it to the roof with luggage and then drive across the country in comfort without any range anxiety. The recalls have been annoying, but it seems like everyone is having teething issues with battery tech. The Abarth always brings a smile to my face, and is a totally different driving experience. It’s been very reliable so far, which is a nice surprise.
Indeed that is a nice surprise. 🙂
You got lucky. My aunt bought a Pacifica new in 2016. It’s been nothing but problems. She loves it, but it doesn’t love her. It seems to be a lot of these FCA models are either a strong hit or a rough miss. I’m glad you enjoy your Pacifica, they’re great vans!
Uh first year anything I expect to suck.
I think I have actually the best solution for me:
Volvo 940 sw turbo 1996
Honda civic SI 1987
… and a vw jetta gti 1990 to restore (and also a fiat panda 1993)