The GREAT Debate: Everyone Wants SUVs. WHICH Cars Still Excite You, And WHY?

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting on a trading floor listening to the squawk box and it was clear "Stay away from Lehman. It's going down!"

That year, the macroeconomic environment changed. Although I don't think it's safe to say, forever.

As the marketers entered a severe downturn, auto manufacturers were hit. Hard. This is mostly because of their product mix being so heavily tilted towards gas guzzling sport-utility vehicles and gas prices were skyrocketing. The few buyers out there ran towards cars like the Toyota Prius and MINI Cooper.

It's hard to believe looking at what buyers want today, though. That's because SUVs are the king of the road and on showroom floors. No one wants a sedan anymore. You essentially have big daddy SUVs/trucks, sports cars and hybrids/EVs.

As a result, there's been all-new niches created to extend the life of sedans (e.g., the four-door coupe).

And at every auto show Agent 001 and I discuss the state of cars versus SUVs. Essentially, 001 thinks they're dead. I like to think that sedans will continue to exist. So, here we are.

What say you, Spies?

WHICH cars on the market today still excite YOU, and WHY?

SanJoseDriver - 4/10/2018 11:38:24 PM

-8 Boost

Everything will continue to trend towards SUVs. Autonomous cars will make space and comfort more relevant than performance. Eventually we will get to self-driving autonomous boxes, which I admit is not very exciting or sexy in my mind.

Agent009 - 4/11/2018 10:58:09 AM

+9 Boost

They can take performance from my cold dead hands

valhallakey - 4/11/2018 12:09:48 AM

0 Boost

BMW M240i, harkens back to the heyday of BMWs as the ultimate driving machine. Alfa Giulia TI return of the sexy Italian to the US. Ford Focus RS... who doesn't need this to get groceries in? Ford Mustang Bullet, nicely understated muscle car. BMW M760iL, for those days when you want the fastest couch around. Tesla Model S P100d, just to blow away your neighbors gas guzzling Hemi Challenger.

iamdabest1 - 4/11/2018 12:25:23 AM

+2 Boost

all the fun ones excite me . alfa romeo 4c, bmw m2, wrx sti , mazda miata , mercedes amg anything , caddy ats-v , cayman / boxster gts , audi RS lineup . hellcat/ demon , viper, vette .

vdiv - 4/11/2018 12:34:49 AM

-7 Boost

The answer is on the picture, 3 years, 52k miles and counting, the Tesla smile is now permanently etched on my mug. :)

TheSteve - 4/11/2018 4:37:24 AM

+1 Boost

Porsche Turbo, Turbo S, or Carrera 4S. Why? It's a 911, and has AWD... and I'd love a toy. I already have a the perfect (for me) "all arounder" SUV.

TomM - 4/11/2018 6:28:51 AM

+1 Boost

Actually - I do not want an SUV - I would much prefer a Mini-van - which with FWD will get there in most snowy conditions that others will drive in (And I learned to drive in Snow in the Chicago area - in a rear wheel drive Chevy - which helps). THe Minivan is far more versatile - has more interior space - and simply is designed better for carrying lots of people too. I am too old to care about the "stigma" of driving a Mini-van.

EVs are not at all an option for me because of lack of infrastructure so far. I have driven company cars that were hybrids - and they are transportation appliances - nothing more - they are not fun to drive (Especially with a CVT). THey may be better this generation - the Malibu was better than the Last Generation Fusion - but if I did not have another car - I would really really be pissed having to drive one all the time.

At my size - a large car is the obvious choice - and I await My Maybach V-12. My Favorite was a Mercedes 450SEl 6.9 - which at ITS time - blew away everything else sold. However - given a choice - I think I would be 40 years younger and have a Portofino (YES - AAWW - it can ONLY go 199MPH - that is enough for me). A Ferrari was the last "car" that I aspired to - likely the thing that will still be on my list when I die.

MDarringer - 4/11/2018 8:45:31 AM

+2 Boost

Mr. One-Percenter has spoken.

mre30 - 4/12/2018 5:17:31 PM

+1 Boost

Tom M - can you share your facebook ID with us?

You seem to max the demographic meter here at Autospies! We'd all love to see your garage!

MDarringer - 4/11/2018 8:13:44 AM

+1 Boost

V8 Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, and Charger
Stingray
Ghibli
Continental
Stinger
LC
and of course the new Griffith

Tons of exciting cars are out there.

t_bone - 4/11/2018 10:15:00 AM

-2 Boost

People that have SUV's think that everyone wants to be just like them.

MDarringer - 4/11/2018 9:06:09 PM

+1 Boost

Indeed and then they go on incessantly about their MPG records even when it does not relate to the post.

focal - 4/11/2018 11:17:44 AM

+1 Boost

F30 M3 6MT
G70 2.0T sport 6MT

A sedan that still lets your row your own gears.

qwertyfla1 - 4/11/2018 2:11:03 PM

+1 Boost

E30 M3 for me please. All these years later and I still love the lines of this beast but I'd like one with Ford or GM V8 for more fun and reliability. Newer gen cars leave me cold and don't have the soul of vintage rides.

I seriously thought about a Tesla Model S but that was only so I could leap frog Toronto traffic and use the stupid HOV lanes which would save me huge commuting time...

PUGPROUD - 4/11/2018 2:25:51 PM

0 Boost

C36s, 8series coming, C8 midengine coming , Gt500 coming, ZL1, Demon, GT3RS, 720S, and anything else with 500+ hp.

Agent001 - 4/12/2018 12:12:34 AM

+1 Boost

Mercedes S63 Convertible, E400 Convertible, Lexus LC, 911 Targa, New Audi RS5. They all interest me, but I will only ever own one if I can steal one after depreciation. And they would only be second cars. Don't think I'll ever buy a car as my number one go-to vehicle.

001