What Would be Your Ideal "People's Car"? (See OP for Rules and Restrictions)

[Cano]

Interesting. I've seen them on drag strips but never on a track with, you know, turns and stuff.

Seen 4 at the same time, two normal ones, two SRT8s, albeit all of them from the past generation. Pretty decent, specially, obviously, the SRT cars.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I think @niky's on to something with the Fit. That generation is still appealing to me in an everyday sort of way.

Other cars that I think would qualify:

Yes, technically, it's a four-seater, though not for adults in any way.

Proof that cheap little cars can be fun.

BMW 318d SE Touring - four seats, RWD, tons of space, quality construction, and 60+ mpg (though likely closer to the low 50's in the real world). Oh how I wish BMW would bring some of their smaller diesels here...

 

[Mark II Blit]

I'm sorry for going with an obvious answer, but a Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Comfortline is all the personal transportation you'll need. You get plenty of power, a quality interior with an ergonomic layout, and it supposedly also handles quite well. On top of that, you get the trademark high reliability with low depreciation you expect from a Golf. I'm not a fan of the Golf, but you have to respect how it is consistently ahead of the game.

If I had to pick something a bit different, the Peugeot 308 1.6 THP Active is quite a lovely car, too. It offers many Golf qualities in a more appealing design package. However, I don't know how well the THP engines hold up, and the touch screen infotainment center replacing the traditional knobs and buttons on the dashboard could prove annoying in the end.

 

[niky]

I love the Mazda2, but the rear seat is just too small. Still, lovely little car.

BMW just a bit too expensive to be a people's car. But then, so is the 300C.

They do. And as hilarious as it might sound, they don't do half bad considering what they are and their girth.

Interesting. I've seen them on drag strips but never on a track with, you know, turns and stuff.

E-Class underpinnings, good power. The ride on early ones was choppy, supposedly, but the current generation car is pretty sweet and has good stability and not too much understeer. Even with "just" the V6, they can hustle. I wouldn't be afraid to bang a few curbs in one.

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

BMW just a bit too expensive to be a people's car. But then, so is the 300C.

True. Meets all the requirements though! But then again this '62 Rolls sort of meets the requirement (the numbers produced rule may be a bit hard to clear) and it costs $385,000!!! I'll put in another (more sensible) car later.

 

[NoobMan DS]

Are we talking about what we would imagine everyone driving or what we would like everyone to be driving?

The latter's more like it, but sensibility is encouraged, and consequently, thoughts or concern for the citizens' common needs and interests as a whole. That's why some of the rules are there. I don't want to see someone suggesting a track-oriented, lightweight sports roadster with little emphasis on comfort or practicality, like a Caterham 7, just because he or she is gonna be content and happy to drive it all the time, but most of the other citizens are not. But I still want to allow adventurous thinking as a motoring enthusiast, through the 100mph speed limit rule, (allowing people to contemplate on whether one car is more satisfying over another in the process of reaching 100 mph, if he or she likes) and the 325bhp power limit, which is not too little but also not too much.


...hmm...maybe I should have included some more characteristics of the country, for the sake of more sensibility when choosing the car...


But...anyway, for the time being, it's all good. As I said, other characteristics of the country are up to your imagination. If the country imagined can afford it, sure, everyone can drive a classic Rolls-Royce. If that's seriously your ideal people's car, go ahead and post it here. (....really?)

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

1.0L 3cyl Ecoboost Fiesta

I didn't know these were in the US!

 

[MoLiEG]

Corolla 2014!!! :tup:

 

[Slash]

1980-1986 Ford Bronco

Engines/Horsepower/Torque

4.9L 300ci Inline 6 - 120hp/280 lb-ft (varies based on EFI or carb, EFI produced 170/300)
5.0L 302ci "Windsor" - V8 200hp/285 lb-ft
5.8L 351ci "M" V8 - 138hp/263 lb-ft
5.8L 351ci "Windsor" V8 - 210hp/315 lb-ft


Transmissions

Four 4 Speed Manuals
One 3 Speed Auto
One 4 Speed Auto

 

[Grayfox]

Toyota Ruckus/Scion xB.
A youths car.

 

[GranTurismo916]

1980-1986 Ford Bronco

Engines/Horsepower/Torque

4.9L 300ci Inline 6 - 120hp/280 lb-ft (varies based on EFI or carb, EFI produced 170/300)
5.0L 302ci "Windsor" - V8 200hp/285 lb-ft
5.8L 351ci "M" V8 - 138hp/263 lb-ft
5.8L 351ci "Windsor" V8 - 210hp/315 lb-ft


Transmissions

Four 4 Speed Manuals
One 3 Speed Auto
One 4 Speed Auto

2.) The car must at least have four seats

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

2.) The car must at least have four seats

It has four seats.

 

[GranTurismo916]

It has four seats.

Really? EDIT: Are those seats in the bed?

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

Really? EDIT: Are those seats in the bed?

Yes. Some Bronco's had a removable thing on the back but I don't know if that one does.

 

[GranTurismo916]

Yes. Some Bronco's had a removable thing on the back but I don't know if that one does.

Ah, reminds me of the Subaru BRAT.

 

[Slash]

2.) The car must at least have four seats

It has 6 depending if you got a front bench or not.

Really? EDIT: Are those seats in the bed?

Yes. I've ridden in one in the back with the cap off. Really fun. They all had 2 sets of seats, and the cap is removable. The center on the back of the cab has no wall.

 

[Sage Ages]

Chevrolet Chevelle/Malibu/El Camino - 230-250ci Inline 6 (obviously not pictured)

 

[Badasp5.0]

BD Subaru Legacy 94-99

 

[Slash]

2.) The car must at least have four seats

I should have posted this earlier when I was thinking about it but forgot.

Here's a better picture of the seat setup.

 

[JMoney]

Ford E-350's, or some other panel van. They have plenty of seats and storage space, and their engines aren't that bad either.

 

[BKGlover]

One car, or one nameplate with different options? Doesn't matter much for mine, but the Elky above, .

My choice, a car 30 years ahead of the curve that is still going strong.

The AMC Eagle, the Wagon in this case.

258ci Inline 6 with 110 HP
3-speed Auto or 5-speed Manual
Showed the way for todays Crossovers, and helped end the Pacer.
Doesn't look horrible either, and if we go with the nameplate the entire Eagle lineup fits the bill.

 

[Slash]

Get the one with the deisel

Or at least the sport edition with full time 4WD.

 

[BKGlover]

That's the thing, these ALL had full time 4WD!

Apparently, there were a grand total of seven diesel cars made. Ever.

 

[NoobMan DS]

One car, or one nameplate with different options?

Well, I prefer that posters specify the car in particular, along with the variant/trim.


Hmm...it's a strange feeling that I made this thread without even actually coming up with my own ideal "people's car". I still can't decide. So far, from what I've seen, my favorites are, in no particular order:

Subaru Legacy L AWD Wagon 30th Anniversary Edition (BK) - Badasp5.0
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline MkVII - Mark II Blit
2014 Subaru Forester XT - GT5Redsucker23
Honda Fit (first-generation) - niky
Subaru Legacy Outback (2003-2009) - MedigoFlame

 

[GranTurismo916]

Subaru Legacy Wagon (BD) - Badasp5.0
2014 Subaru Forester XT - GT5Redsucker23
Subaru Legacy Outback (2003-2009) - MedigoFlame

EDIT: I skimmed the rules the first time and want to change my car to:

2006-2007 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon (GD/GG)

 

[Sixflags48]

The Volvo v50. This car has the looks, the space, and the safety to make it quite a nice car for the higher-middle class family. Being an estate car, there is also plenty of room for a camping trip, or that big grocery run.

 

[Danoff]

The setup would create a shipping disaster for said country. How do you get your mail? How do you send packages? How do companies send goods across country? How does your gas station get more gas?

So with all of that, it would have to be the most capable vehicle for hauling large quantities of anything that fits the description. Something like this could pull a trailer that might actually allow for the economy to not crawl to a stop:

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

But..but... 385-400hp. Or am I thinking of a different one?

 

[Danoff]

But..but... 385-400hp. Or am I thinking of a different one?

It looked to me like you could get it with less. Also, the OP was a bit wishy washy on what the limit on horsepower was.

 

[Sixflags48]

Truck

Good choice for where I live, but what about small British, Spanish or Italian towns as such?