5 cars everyone should own once

Not every inclusion on this automotive bucket list will break the bank or grant you access to a supercar owners club, but they all possess a magic ingredient that’s lacking in other cars. Have you owned any of these once-in-a-lifetime motors?  

Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool petrolhead or have merely a passing interest in four wheels, there’s probably a car or two you’ve always wanted to put on your driveway. 

Often, though, when it comes to exotic poster cars, it can be a case of ‘never meet your heroes.’ From underwhelming performance to egregious economics, many cult cars never quite live up to their legendary billings.

That’s why we’ve sifted through the motoring annals (new and old) to find five autos that are every bit as good as the hype suggests – sometimes, even better. So, buckle up and take notes, these are the cars everyone should own – or at least drive – once.  

Alfa Romeo GTV6

It might seem cliché to include an Alfa Romeo on a motoring bucket list, but there are several good reasons why the Italian marque often features in such countdowns.  

If nothing else, owning an Alfa helps you to appreciate how reliable other cars really are. Joking aside, while the brand has since made marked strides towards improved build quality, its infamous reputation for mechanical fragility was well earned with models like the GTV6.  

So why have we included it? That’s simple: this Alfa’s allure lies in its epic Busso V6 engine. Touted by many journalists as the most sonorous and characterful powerplant ever, we reckon if aliens landed on earth tomorrow this is the engine mankind would use to explain the appeal of internal combustion.  

First introduced in the late 1970s – shown here in 2.5-litre guise – the Busso was so universally adored, Alfa continued to use it in models as late as 2006. Oh, and what about the rest of the car? Well, with just 160 bhp and 60 mph arriving in 8.5 seconds from a standstill, the raw numbers won’t blow your socks off. But the sense of involvement you’ll get from rowing those gears and watching the revs rise and fall, means you’re unlikely to care.

Range Rover

Although first doesn’t always mean best, in the case of the Range Rover, it certainly does. From the moment Land Rover’s lavish spin-off brand premiered in 1970 it kick started an entirely new genre of off-roader. However, despite almost every manufacturer taking a crack at the title over the last 50 years, the full-sized Rangie still reigns supreme.  

Don’t believe us? Try naming another 4x4 with the same combination of incredible off-road ability, top-drawer luxury accoutrements, and sheer kerb appeal. We’ll wait.   

Now in its 5th generation (L460), the Range Rover is so much more than just a status symbol. As the brand’s flagship the latest model boasts new technologies such as active interior noise cancellation and all-wheel steering. There’s even an all-electric version due imminently. Crucially though, all versions can still tango when the terrain takes a turn for the worse.

Tesla Model S Plaid

Whether you think you love or loathe EVs, you should at least drive one before cementing your opinion. And if you’re going to try an electric car, why not try one of the best? 

Offering an entirely different sort of thrill to the charming but flawed Alfa, if the Plaid’s 1020 bhp of mind-warping acceleration doesn’t stun you, no car will. Just like other electric cars, the Plaid’s lack of combustion engine also means you reap all the benefits of a serene and relaxing powertrain. It would seem driving a Tesla is not only great for the environment, but your stress levels too.  

With practicality and performance in equal measure, piloting a Model S is an experience everyone should sample. Just as your mother used to say when you reluctantly pushed your veggies around your plate with a fork, ‘How do you know you don’t like it, until you try it?’

Toyota GR Yaris

Proving you don’t need to part with your life savings to own a true automotive legend, Toyota’s devilish Yaris marks a resolute return to form for the brand’s motorsport division. With its boxy, wide stance and standard all-wheel-drive, the GR Yaris rekindles one of Toyota’s brightest old flames: the 1990’s Celica GT-Four.  

While the latter rally-bred hero was an undeniably fabulous car, it had plenty of contemporary competition – Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Evo, and Ford Escort RS Cosworth included. The Yaris, on the other hand, is in a class of its own. Thanks to a peppy turbocharged 3-cylinder and a starting price of around £30,000, there’s nothing on the market that can match it for such lightweight yet immensely grippy thrills.  

There’s even a manual gearbox adding to the sense of theatre. Whether you’re a fan of the World Rally Championship or not, the GR is a definite try before you die! 

Mercedes S-Class

Not all noteworthy moments behind the wheel involve wrestling a machine on the ragged edge of adhesion, the Mercedes S-Class proves the very antithesis can be equally enjoyable.  

Think of the pinnacle of luxury and it’ll probably be a Rolls-Royce that first rolls off your tongue. However, for a far smaller outlay Mercedes offers a less conspicuous but equally accomplished luxury limousine.  

With its own special brand of understated affluence, the S-Class has long pioneered future technologies that have since trickled down into common or garden models. ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), reliable ABS (anti-lock braking systems) and radar guided cruise control all owe their existence to Merc’s apex luxo-barge. 

The latest model picks up the innovation where the last left off. E-Active Body Control can raise the vehicle’s suspension by three inches when it detects a T-bone situation – lessening the impact on the occupants. While Pre-Safe Sound® emits an anticipatory tone in the event of an accident to mitigate potential hearing damage. 

It’s revolutionary, sure, but in the most beautifully unobtrusive way possible. And for that, it earns a place in our bucket list garage.  

Have you been tempted by any of these automotive home runs? Let us know which you aspire to one day own.

Hero image credit: Toyota