2000-2024: The one car of the last 25 years we at Drive would actually buy
The last quarter century of automotive history have seen a bevy of appealing models come to market, but which ones would the Drive team buy with their own cash?
The automotive landscape is vastly different now than where it was 25 years ago, with dual-cab utes and SUVs reigning supreme over hatchbacks and large sedans.
There has been so much model activity since 2000, not all of them good, but there have been a few standout models that have piqued the interest of the Drive team.
These are the cars from the last 25 years that the Drive team would actually buy and own.
Audi C6 RS6 – Bailey Mackin, Publishing Manager
The C6 RS6 is just so good. I just think it's got performance, it's got style, it's got practicality because its a wagon, and it's NOT an SUV.
And it has a freaking Lamborghini engine in it!
Isn't this the ultimate all-rounder? I just need to find $200,000...
Ferrari 456M GT – Ben Zachariah, Journalist
An impossible question to answer, given the sheer volume of fantastic cars we've seen come and go over the past 25 years. There's a handful of models from each car manufacturer over that period I'd love to own, but if it's got to be one, then it's got to do everything.
The Porsche 996 911 GT3 would be amazing, but on wet or lazy days, it wouldn't fit the bill. The Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series is another special car, but misses out because there's no manual gearbox to play with.
The original Audi R8 V8 manual is an absolute jack-of-all-trades, as is the BMW E39 M5, but there's one car that pips them both – and just sneaks in under the 25-year rule: The Ferrari 456M GT.
One of few front-engined V12 cars to come with a six-speed manual, the 456 has a subtle yet stunning design, can fill the role of a supercar when you want it to, can perform as a long-distance GT, or can be used to pop down to Woolies in. I can only imagine the joy of owning a 456 would far outlast the thrill of owning a racing car with number plates, or some crazy exotic hypercar that's too low or wide to park anywhere.
Kia Sportage – Isabella Kendall, Digital Publishing Specialist
I'd get back into another Kia Sportage.
I had a Kia Sportage as my first car and it was fantastic, reliable and practical.
And if that was an old one, I can only imagine how good the new one would be.
Lotus Elise with a Honda K-swap – Tung Nguyen, News Editor
Weird choice, I know, but I am a car modder at heart and the Lotus Elise platform is so appealing to be because of how much of a blank canvas it can be.
Imagine the K20 engine out of a Honda Civic Type R, sending drive to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual.
Now pair that with wider wheels, stickier rubber, and the roof down and you have a recipe for motoring nirvana.
And yes, a louder exhaust would be a given.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio – Alex Misoyannis, Deputy News Editor
If only there was a wagon version of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, because I suspect a few of my colleagues might've picked one of these.
Combine the body of the most attractive four-door car on sale with a ripper Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6, an epic exhaust note, a nicer interior in the latest models, and sedan practicality for an excellent daily driver.
Buy one new to access the full three-year/100,000km warranty – and my nearest Alfa Romeo dealer is only seven kilometres away. Sign me up.
Audi RS6 – Jordan Hickey, Journalist
It's a cliché, but if there's one car I'll always default to when someone asks 'what would you actually own?', it's the Audi RS6.
After I win the lotto, of course. A big 565-litre boot at one end with a twin-turbocharged 463kW/850Nm 4.0-litre V8 at the other end. It's the ultimate daily driver, and I'm glad cars like this still exist.
Porsche 992 GTS Targa – James Ward, Director of Content
To me, the Targa can do it all, brilliant on a sunny day, shielding when it rains, looks amazing, sounds amazing, and turns head with the fancy roof folding mechanism.
Let's face it, I'm an old man now, so a 911 totally fits my vibe.
Porsche 911 GT3 – Tom Fraser, Journalist
Money no object, I’d be putting my name down for a Porsche 911 GT3 in a heartbeat. Nothing offers the raw experience of a racecar built for the road quite like a GT3 and I’ve been lucky enough to drive a few examples over the years.
To a lesser, more affordable extent, I’d love to own a Honda Civic Type R. It’s one of the best-driving cars under $100,000 and everything from the looks, the interior, and the technology appeals to me.
It’s clear that I’m still an enthusiast at heart with these two choices, perhaps 10 years into the future I’ll be eyeing off a Kia Carnival with envy.
Toyota Century – Kez Casey, Production Editor
This one stretches the dates a little, being introduced in 1997, but with production until 2017 the second-generation Toyota Century's blend of imposing, upright styling, and silky-smooth V12 engine is a brilliant mix.
It's neither fast, nor particularly high-tech, and that's okay. Tradition, comfort, and luxury matter here.
Anything built from 2005 onwards with the more civilised six-speed automatic, wool interior, and guard-mounted mirrors could find a happy home in my garage. All the more so in navy blue.
