Imagine if you were visited by the Speedmonkey Fairy, floating down like Tinkerbell, to rest on your lap. If you didn't swat her away she would have a proposal to put to you. She would say:
"I can gift you a car. Any car. Brand new or fully restored classic. You can have the car as soon as I flick my wand.
But there are conditions. You will own the car forever. It will never rust or fall apart but you'll need to service it, and put fuel in it, and tax it. Also, you will never be able to sell it, nor buy or drive any other car.
If I gift you your dream car. What would it be?"
And then you've got to choose. Stay as you are with finance payments and depreciation, or take the Speedmonkey Fairy's gift. What would you choose?
Me? I'd have to consider what I might need from a car for for the rest of my life. I have a family, a wife and ten year old son, who one day will be a strapping teenager. And three dogs. And when it snows you can only get a four or front wheel drive car out of the drive. And I like to build stuff myself so am often to be found loading the car after a trip to the DIY store.
What, with all those considerations would I choose? I'll tell you later. For now here are some responses from Twitter:
@p2james - Audi S8 - reliable, fast 4 doors, fast
@Dogknob1 - Range Rover CSK (restored obviously)
@james_dickson - Bristol Brigand. All the car I'd ever need
@Petrolhead159 - Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. Pretty quick, has space, handles all weather, cool, sounds great
@Hassle_cba - first Audi RS6
@DAVETILLYER - Reliable and practical yet capable of making you smile. Rerrari FF or Range Rover
@Rizo86 - Ferrari F40
@StopwatchSuite - Series II Land Rover
@latewheels - without doubt, Aston Martin V12 Vantage
@willp1987 - VW Mk1 Golf GTi, easy choice for me
@WaynesWorldAuto - it would have to be the Bentley Mulsanne
@AudiSportnet - RS6 Avant - Go anywhere, do anything. I'd have had an Aston or Lambo, but I have a dog
@ScuderiaStroud Ferrari F430 Scuderia
@SamSheehan_ - Ferrari F150. Not even finished yet but it's the closest I'll get to an F1 car
@fluffyskg - Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography. It's got to be suitable for all occasions
@RussellGrover10 - happy with my Porsche Boxster
@KenRothery - Audi A8
@Philxj4l - Jeep Cherokee 4L. Thirsty, but what a big lovely lump under the bonnet
@F1Jp044 - Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 - the rawest, purest drivers car in the world - It is perfection in motion
@Inspec71 - Mercedes-Benz G Wagen G350. No question
@JPS_Dante - Lancia Stratos HF
@AlfistiGT - Alfa Romeo 8C. If the Fairy can guarantee it will never go wrong
@cotswoldracer - Alfa Romeo 155 2.0 TwinSpark
@iliketothinkso - Land Rover
@Kellywharris - Porsche 991 Turbo S
@jimmysideburns - my Cortina but with a radio and 5 speed gearbox
@theMaxPrince - BMW E36 M3. 4 door, 6 speed, 300bhp, classic looks, great mpg
@RyanJShaw94 - BMW 330
@james_wright200 - Audi RS6 Avant. Practical, fast, sounds awesome
@Driving4Pleasure - Range Rover Overfinch with ultimate spec
@jonbkay - Aston Martin V12 Vantage. I've just bought one - it's a definite keeper
@MotorsGuru - Audi RS6 Avant. It would hard to get tired of the new RS6
@lessismoremike 1946 Ford F100, boxed rails, 460ci, V8 auto, Pro street frame, Mars Red
@GarryGT6 - Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Black Edition
@H1JJY - BMW M5 Touring
@RobGT2 - Subaru Legacy Diesel estate
@elnino3108 - Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Black Edition
@simonypvs - Audi RS2 in Nogaro Blue would do me for ever. Lusted after one for years
@jasonplato (Yes, Jason Plato) - original McLaren F1 in titanium grey
@ChrisFalk623 - BMW E30 M3
@quattrojames - Audi RS6. The only car you'd ever need
@TitchTV - Alfa Romeo SZ (ES30) Il Monstro! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
@paulrenaultF1 - Aston Martin DBS
@benbasten - BMW M1. The Giugiaro designed one
@cars_portsmouth - Jaguar E-type
@GraysAutoPrec - Rolls Royce Phantom in silver would suffice
@BTCCDanWelch - Ferrari F40
@LeahRebeccaUK - Jaguar XFR-S. Practical lunacy and when I'm 80 I'll still be able to get in it
@TBOStratford - BMW E34 M5. Fun, fast, big enough for the family
David Blue on Facebook - AMC Eagle SX4 Sportback
@SillySinStorm - BMW E46 M3 GTR V8
@Aaronh97 - Citroen SM in bronze
@ValveBounce - Bugatti T57 Atlantic
@Primary FS - BMW E34 M5 Touring 3.8 LHD
@TashaFrench1969 - Audi RS4 Avant
@SianWeather (Yes, Sian Lloyd) - Ferrari California
@SallyL88 - Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
@LordRantsalot - Porsche 911 Turbo
@AidenT_RD - Lamborghini Miura
@motopixie - Audi R8 of course
@Wile7Design - Aston Martin Vantage. Mid-eighties, red with magnolia hide
@Tess_42 - Aston Martin of any type
@Hayley K85 - 1969 Corvette Stingray. 1969
That's quite a varied selection, with notably few supercars. The question forced people to consider what they would want and need for the next few decades.
My choice would be the new for 2013 Audi RS6 because it has it all - 560bhp, 0-60 in 3.9 seconds - and room for the dogs and family. But then, just as I uttered the words, I'd change my mind and sod the consequences.
"Porsche 991 Carrera 4S, please."
What would be your dream car?
