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

[NoobMan DS]

Thanks for the explanations.

I've just updated the OP:

UPDATE: (February 14, 2014) To put things into perspective, please indicate the country you're suggesting the people's car for, (it's not completely up to your imaginations from now on) but imagine that the auto-related rules stated apply to that country. The "no racetracks" condition still apply - imagine that the country has no racetracks. Oh, and public transport will be let available.

Well...yes, still no price limit or fuel efficiency limit, but hopefully this makes things a little bit better. Let people still ponder the issues in relation to such factors more by themselves, if they're aware of those.

 

[KM964]

2014 Volvo S80 T6 AWD

1.) The car must have second row seats. Check
2.) The car must at least have four seats. Check
3.) The car can't be something that is or was limited to certain units produced. Check
4.) The car can be something from the present or the past. (if the car was actually discontinued, you may imagine or assume that the manufacturer is still producing it today) Check
5.) The car's motor must produce a power output of around 325bhp or less. 300hp, check
6.) The country's speed limit is 100mph. Would have an easy time reaching it
7.) The country has no racetracks. Nobody would track an S80

 

[niky]

I would track an S80. I've driven the S80 T6, and it's not a bad handler for such a big car. (Oh, I'm sure it'll understeer like a pig... but a very stable pig)

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Craziest thing I've ever tracked was either an Evoque or a Suburban. Though I understand many tracks in the US ban SUVs nowadays. Our local ones banned them on trackdays after a guy rolled his Pajero... with his kid in the passenger seat. (Yes... not a very smart move) We get special dispensation.

 

[KM964]

I would track an S80. I've driven the S80 T6, and it's not a bad handler for such a big car. (Oh, I'm sure it'll understeer like a pig... but a very stable pig)

lol, looks like I stand corrected.

I'm actually considering getting an '08 T6, so hearing that it handles good is a plus.

 

[White & Nerdy]

The Duster still works if truck fuel economy is allowed (yes, this is for the U.S.). If you want something more modern, uh... what's another 4-seat FR or FAWD coupe that's cheap and efficient? Does the Subaru BR-Z have back seats?

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

The Duster still works if truck fuel economy is allowed (yes, this is for the U.S.). If you want something more modern, uh... what's another 4-seat FR or FAWD coupe that's cheap and efficient?

Mustang and Camaro are two that come off the top of my head, but their backseats are laughable. You'd be more comfortable strapped to the roof.

Does the Subaru BR-Z have back seats?

Not to my knowledge.

 

[White & Nerdy]

I would have to say Nissan 300ZX 2+2 then.

Interesting challenge, really. If a country were to mandate one car for everyone's personal use, it would quite literally have to be everything. Family car, cargo hauler, commuter car, and possibly even sports car (100mph speed limit yeaaaaaaaah).

Remember, even in East Germany you could apparently rent sports cars. A couple people apparently used them to escape by removing the windsheilds and racing underneath the border barricades before the astonished guards could shoot at them.

 

[Slash]

Mustang and Camaro are two that come off the top of my head, but their backseats are laughable. You'd be more comfortable strapped to the roof.

That depends on the model. I find some models to be more roomy than others. The MII, ironically enough, has plenty of back seat room.

 

[NoobMan DS]

Does the Subaru BR-Z have back seats?

It does, but the second row seating area is just really cramped. Once the kids grow up, they will have their legs squashed by the front seats.

Of course, the family can still buy another BRZ for the kids to drive in the future

 

[Wolfe]

An entire country of BRZs is one I could live in.

But anything 2WD with low ground clearance would make some driveways inaccessible around here, particularly at this time of year. An AWD car with a higher, not-so-sporty suspension at least has a chance, without terribly compromising fuel economy or handling for everybody else.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

There's a very good reason the original Beetle sold so well basically everywhere - cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to fix, cheap to repair, yet provided enough seats for a family and wasn't overly taxing to drive. In theory a modern-day people's car would have similar characteristics.

Thinking about it like this, I keep coming back to the Aygo/C1/107. We don't get them here, but I think for most European countries (and the bigger north american cities), they'd be ideal. Cheap everything, and from what I've read, at least not a complete bore behind the wheel.

I still like the 318d Touring idea more, though...