[Closed] A 'what car' thread with a difference...

Let's nail this puppy to the floor!

Indeed.

When i think of sharp design, but without being too "flashy" i think of some models of Alfa Romeo, and Maserati, cars like that.....then i read "reputation for quality" and that stops the Alfa!

I personally tend to think of Porsche as being "drivers cars" that are quality but not flashy. Whereas something like a yellow Ferrari or Khan Range Rover definitely comes in the "not lacking in self confidence" category.

You've not really said what type of car or price range though?

Previously Saab - now Volvo and possibly Mercedes.

TVR has a legendary rep for quality...

TVR has a legendary rep for quality…

Fair point, he didn’t specify what kind of reputation

Good shout on the Saab.

Phaeton?

You’ve not really said what type of car or price range though?

Doesn't matter. Porsche is a shout

Just to make things trickier, something 'not obvious3 will win bonus points

Previously Saab

Yeah, that would have been perfect

I'd tend to agree on Mercedes for the more consumer end and Porsche for sports cars.

Fair point, he didn’t specify what kind of reputation

Fair point, I didn't 🙂

A reputation for good quality

Here's the thing, we've totally loved the idea of sharp design which must be like totally italian, and then like really really reliable which must be german, so the brand you're looking for is Alfa-Benz.  Or Mercedes-Romeo.  We looove Mercedes-Romeo.

What about Jaguar?

I can't speak for the quality but "style not flashy" to me is Aston Martin. Indeed I'd go further than say Clooney and I'd invoke Audrey Hepburn.

When i think of sharp design, but without being too “flashy” i think of some models of Alfa Romeo, and Maserati

Brands that scream flashy to me see.

1st) Volvo, the new ones look great, but no flash, they look at least very well made and it's a brand remarkably unstained by the years they spent as a Ford sub-brand.

2st) Mercedes, were the thinking man's flash motor in the 80s, made crap cars in the 90s (relative to their cost) 2000s were a bit wishy washy - but aside from a few ugos their current range is good, they are still a proper 'quality' brand too, they hold parts for decades longer than most of their competitors.

3rd) VW or Skoda depending on what model, despite so many people crying about 'perceived quality' they do actually make a well made product and you see a lot more 20 year old VWs on the road than you will any other brand thanks to a mix of high sales and robustness.

4th) Porsche, okay, stretching the 'not flash' thing very far now, BUT relative to their cost / niche bracket they're very understated (aside from the ugly ones with stickers and massive spoilers, but at least they're designed to actually do something).

What you you mean by 'reputation for quality'?  Are you looking for actual quality (i.e. mechanical reliability), or perception of quality (i,.e. soft touch dashboards, a thud when you close the door etc) ?

For the former,  https://www.reliabilityindex.com/top-100 is a good place to start, although it also takes into account the repair cost.

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thepurist Subscriber

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Here’s the thing, we’ve totally loved the idea of sharp design which must be like totally italian, and then like really really reliable which must be german, so the brand you’re looking for is Alfa-Benz.  Or Mercedes-Romeo.  We looove Mercedes-Romeo.

Excellent! Currently watching S3 of W1A and you've nailed it.

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The fact is, yes exactly. Brilliant.

of the currently available cars, I reckon these will fit the bill

Audi A7
VW Arteon
Lexus LS

Subtle big barges without being ostentatious

Jaguar XF or XJ

Not  an XE which wants to be a BMW  3 series so much it's forgotten to be a Jag.

Very strong. Yes.

If by quality you mean reliability as opposed to shiny interior I’d say Honda. The ones we’ve had simply refused to die.

Wolf in sheep's clothing ...and one for a burn-up at the lights

Skoda Superb 4x4 Estate..280

0-60...5.3 secs.

Subaru? Think they may fall down on the design front though!

The BRZ looks ok mind (to me anyway....)

of the currently available cars, I reckon these will fit the bill

Audi A7
VW Arteon
Lexus LS

Subtle big barges without being ostentatious

See, taste is a funny thing isn't it!

Admittedly there's not right or wrong answer, but when I see those cars.

A7 - arrogant arsehole motor, the S and RS verions are even worse. Owners previous cars include: BWM 6 series in the 2000s, before that a ML Mercedes.

VW Arteon, Rep mobile, 'keeper' (because it's a company car) wears a bright white shirt that's too tight and showing a belly botton from the gaping between the buttons, massive tie, blingy (but relatively cheap) watch - it's got 19" wheels and it's that BRIGHT goldie yellow colour, but it's the lowest power diesel version for the sake of BIK so it gets hammered everywhere - previous cars include the Passat CC (of course) a BMW 116d or 318d (model badge removed and replaced with a shady 'M' Badge) and back in the 'dark days' an Insignia.

Lexus... nope, I've got nothing, I Googled it to see what it looked like, but I forgot the second I closed the page. Probably got nice seats and a too bright dashboard. Owner cringes at the idea, but will dare to utter the phrase "Japanese Mercedes" when he's had 4 pints in the Golf Club (before driving it home) or to his Wife whilst she's pretending to listen to him during 'Chelsea'.

Porsche.  A 911 in a colour such as grey is not flashy but is very high quality and nicely designed

Never owned one (although might do for the next car) but for me Volvo tick boxes for quality and design (both interior and exterior). It wasn't long ago you'd have thought "safe, boxy, boring" for Volvos but I think the current designs are much better looking and I like the flair the interiors have without being OTT/garish/quick to date.

Jaguar XF 🙂

It's threads like this that make me realise that cars suck. Just get one that works and doesn't cost too much and spend the difference on something important. Like a bike.

Expensive car..it has to be any Aston Martin. Lovely without being flash.

Mid range...Merc G Wagon.

Budget..Honda Civic.

Here’s the thing, we’ve totally loved the idea of sharp design which must be like totally italian, and then like really really reliable which must be german, so the brand you’re looking for is Alfa-Benz. Or Mercedes-Romeo. We looove Mercedes-Romeo.

Or Lamborghini, which is owned by Volkswagen/Audi.

But yes, the answer is Jaguar.

Morgan

Renault 5 turbo

Bac<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">kwards through a hedge isnt breaking down.</span>

I would've said Lexus, but it looks like they no longer do sharp design...

Current Volvos are trying to hard to appeal to the middle classes. Much preferred the old square ones.

I honestly can't think of anything that fits the criteria in the current market.

I work for large insurers and we had the Volvo sales people in with a talk on safety systems and if we could take into account for premiums. Was very impressed, the have a Mission Statement that "by 2020 no one will be killed or seriously hurt in a Volvo", that's quite a target to aim for, new XC 90 has something like 16 airbags including external ones for pedestrians.

Bristol

Bristol is a good, unusual shout...

Not sure about Morgan, would be worried about woodworm.

Mid range…Merc G Wagon.

I wouldn't mind being a quid behind you if "starts at £140k" is mid-range 😉

I work for large insurers and we had the Volvo sales people in with a talk on safety systems and if we could take into account for premiums. Was very impressed, the have a Mission Statement that “by 2020 no one will be killed or seriously hurt in a Volvo”, that’s quite a target to aim for, new XC 90 has something like 16 airbags including external ones for pedestrians.

Supposedly no one has been killed IN an XC90 and they do care a lot about pedestrian safety too, sadly they still weight up to 2.2 tonnes so in a serious accident with a smaller, lighter vehicle (aka most of them) they make a right mess of them.

The Skoda Roomster is nice .😀

A serious answer would be the new Jaguar I pace , I would get one anyway if I could afford it .

Tesla Model S. I have no idea if they are reliable ??

Mazda

Jaguar

Lexus

Maybe Caterham? Not sure on their reliability but the design is timeless.

Bristol has got to fall down on the sharp design front... They are ace don't get me wrong, but the Bullet looks a bit like an AC Cobra and TVR Chimera had a fling.

Lexus NX, the new UX and the CT. the ES and LS just look dull, but the LC is right on the edge of “too flash” unless you have it in grey or that dark red.

Or the NX

Was going to say Bristol.

Porsche.

I'll second the Mazda nomination; for the last 15 or so years their design has been different enough and their driving and owning attributes regarded well by those who tell us they know about this sort of shit.

Bristol is a good, unusual shout…

I saw an old one the other day. Nice cars.

Mercedes E-class (w213), very quite (allmost like S-Class), reliable and very well designed inside  and smooth on the outside. AMG specced ones have a bit sharper bumpers and flashier wheels ... still having one, over 100k and average mpg 64+ with 2.0cdi. In 2 years, had to change 1 auxilary battery, and brake pads.

Estates are mahoosive.

XC70 in Ocean Race trim.

BMW X6

Bristol is most certainly not a good shout. A brand who make appallingly put together, anachronistic cars for a shitload of cash, 'designed' to appeal to appeal to elitist pricks. Owned by an elitist, bigoted, self aggrandizing arsehole with delusions of grandeur.

Also, someone said reliable.

I saw an old one the other day. Nice cars.

That was probably a brand new one, it's just they all look old and shit.

Volvo is easily the winner here Imho. Unpretentious, well made, and the new ones are very good looking. No soured reputation or baggage.

<p>Do Mercedes still rust like no tomorrow after ~10 years? All the older ones I see have bubbly arches and look like sod all.</p><p></p><p></p>

*ahem*

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-Benz-sl350-2004-awesome-jaw-dropping-looks/123188260476

Mercs are getting better. It's the ones around the turn of the century that were utterly shocking for corrosion resistance.

Which is a shame, as the CL600s of that era are both wonderfully pretty and alarmingly attainable.

@bearnecessities - I didn't realise you were selling your car !

Nice subtle work with the chrome, you've got a rare gift.

😉

bearnecessities

*ahem*

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-Benz-sl350-2004-awesome-jaw-dropping-looks/123188260476

thousands have been [s]spent[/s] wasted on this car, to give it the appearance it has now

ftfy

designed’ to appeal to appeal to elitist pricks. Owned by an elitist, bigoted, self aggrandizing arsehole with delusions of grandeur.

Should be plenty of owners on here then...😉