The Cars We Love

We asked Carparison staff to name their all-time favourite cars

Forget flowers and romance. This Valentines Day we’re celebrating the cars we love the most.

If you haven’t got attached to a car at least once in your life, are you even human?

Whether it’s your first car, a car you grew up in, or even the elusive car of your dreams, we know there’s a warm little spark in your heart for a special set of wheels.

We’d be lying if we said we didn’t have one too.

That’s why, this Valentines Day, we’ve hounded Carparison staff into waxing poetical all about their favourite cars.

Safe to say, we got some interesting responses back.

From rally cars to classic cars, from quirky EVs to Barbie’s motor of choice, our answers are a mixed bag.

Just like our staff.

Simon's pick: BMW M3

The BMW M3. The epitome of pure power.

It’s the original high-performance saloon, and it’s still considered by many to be the best. According to Simon, it has all the creature comforts needed to be a good car, while keeping that little roughness around the edges that a muscle car needs. 

The BMW M3 really is the perfect car if you need something sensible and family-friendly, but you’re not quite ready to relinquish the excitement and power. 

And with its distinctive styling and M-touches everywhere, there’s no mistaking this for any other car.

Just the way we like it.

Sarah’s choice: Mazda MX-5 MK2

Is it a practical choice? Absolutely not.

But it was the car that taught Sarah that a car didn’t just need to get you from A to B: driving could be something you did just for fun.

Yes, she lived on a farm peppered with potholes. Yes, her favourite weekend activity is paddleboarding – you try strapping one of those to a convertible.

But all the niggly bits aside, the Mazda MX-5 stands up as one of the greatest small roadsters to ever hit our streets.

Solidly built and good fun to drive, if you’re looking for personality over practicality, nearly nothing will beat the MX-5.

And though she’s had to change to something a little more practical since (think, a bit more boot space, seats in the back, roof over head) one day the joys of the Mazda MX-5 will be hers again.

Tom's pick: Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1

Third up, an absolute fan favourite, both in our office and in the UK - the Volkswagen Golf was one of the best-selling cars in the UK last year and is set to be just as popular this year.

But we're not talking about any old garden variety Golf. 

Tom's gone for the classic Golf GTI Mk1. It's a classic that kickstarted the public love for hot hatches, even if yes, technically Renault got there first with the 5 Gordini.

But even your Great-Aunt Bessie has heard of a Golf GTI.

With its go-faster stripes, 106bhp 1.6-litre engine, four-speed manual gearbox topped by the iconic golf ball gear-knob, and a lowered chassis, the GTI was defined by its grip, agility, and exhilarating driving experience.

If you can get your hands on one, it's still great fun to drive.

Lauren's choice(s): Barbie's VW Beetle and the Suzuki Jimny

We’ve got two very serious answers from an absolute gem.

The first comes direct from Lauren’s childhood; she grew up obsessed with Barbie’s pink VW Beetle, and for a young girl, we can see that it would be the absolute iconic car of your childhood dreams.

Her second pick is an under-appreciated 2000’s staple, the Suzuki Jimny. 

While the gearbox can be a nightmare for a new driver, just one look takes us back to a long-gone hol in 2010, cruising around a Caribbean island in the soft-top version.

Ideally, Lauren would want it in white – stickers optional. 

Andy's choice: Subaru Impreza 22B

It’s a well-known secret at Carparison HQ that our Andy is something of a rally-racer. So, we were really excited to learn more about our favourite Van-Man’s dream car.

And he hasn’t disappointed us.

The Subaru Impreza 22B, Limited edition is exactly what we would have picked for him.

It was first produced in 1998 to celebrate Subaru's 40th anniversary and third consecutive WRC constructors' title. Only 424 of them were ever made: talk about a rare performance gem.

For Andy it is the Iconic Rally Car of the late 90’s and he’s always dreamed of owning one.

Beth's choice: Honda e

She has only seen several in real life, and has never actually been in one.

For that matter, she doesn't know much about it other than it looks cool, and you can turn the screens into an aquarium (you can even feed the virtual fish).

But give her enough time, and Beth will chat for Britain about how much she loves the Honda e.

It's not everyone’s first choice, it's probably not in most people’s top ten choices, but there’s no denying it has a certain charm.

From the ‘70s Civic-inspired styling to the lounge-style interior to the 137-mile range, the Honda e is divisive, cute, and packed with technology. It’s truly the full package.

Too bad they stopped making them in 2024.

Jamie’s choice: 1983 Audi Quattro 

Further proving he’s a man of quality taste, Jamie settled on the 1983 Audi Quattro for his choice. In red, obviously.

If you’ve seen cult classic TV show Ashes to Ashes then you know exactly which car we mean. And if you haven’t – have you been living under a rock?

Asking for a friend.

But the Quattro is the ultimate 80’s four-wheeled performance car. It was one of the first to feature turbo-charging, back when that was still a novelty, and its famous five cylinder engine was nothing to sniff at either.  

Anyway, do yourself a favour and (re)watch Ashes to Ashes and admire Jamie’s truly stupendous taste in cars.

Ryan's choice: Austin Powers's Jaguar E-Type 

We love an E-Type Jag; the aesthetic design, high performance and competitive (for its time) pricing made it a true icon.

And it gets quite a bit of the parodic Brit treatment in the Austin Powers franchise. The 1967 Jaguar E-Type convertible is transformed on screen.

Because, really, what screams Great Britain more than a Union Jack paint job on a classic sports car? James Bond would never drive it.

And that’s the point.

It’s so obvious, it’s cringe. It’s so knowingly ironic it’s come back around as cool. And you couldn’t drive it with an ounce of self-consciousness.

If you’re looking to make a statement, this particular E-Type would 100% do the trick.

Chloe’s choice – Triumph GT6 MkIII

Buckle yourselves in – this one is a tale of woe.

Affectionately referred to as the ‘poor-man’s E-Type’, the GT6 helped cement Triumph’s reputation for turning out sports cars that would one day achieve classic status.

And Chloe grew up with one languishing in the garage of her childhood home.

While her Dad pottered around with lawnmowers and power tools, she and her sisters would play in his sedentary GT6.

And a childhood spent sitting in the driver’s seat, with dreams of one day being behind the wheel for real (complete with sunglasses, leather driving gloves and the wind in her hair) left her unprepared for betrayal.

Her Dad started work to restore his magenta Triumph GT6, but sold it when she was away for her first year of university.

And as with all lost loves, you never get over the one that got away.

Maca’s choice: VW Golf R 

Rounding off our list is a second VW Golf entry.

Is it possible that the boys in Pricing spend too much time together? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just a sign that great minds think alike.

But where Tom went old-school, Maca has gone for a Golf with a modern twist. The VW Golf R takes top tier place in Maca’s eyes, but he’s specified it absolutely has to be in purple, his favourite colour. 

It’s a colourful choice from a man who only eats beige food – but our Maca has always been so much more than he eats. 

From vintage sports cars, to 2000’s soft-tops, these are the cars our staff love most. What’s your favourite?