THE BEST CAR EVER

Every motoring journalist ever has been asked the same question on more than one occasion. “What’s the coolest/nicest/fastest car you’ve ever driven?” When I was still fairly new to this motoring journalism business, it was a pretty straightforward and simple question to answer.

Now, a few years later, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to answer as I’ve been rather fortunate to get behind the wheel of some of the coolest/nicest/fastest cars on the market today. The problem is that there are so many damn good cars out on the roads these days.

Yes, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is ridiculously fast and causes mild heart palpitations every time I look at it but when it came to driving, I felt cramped and a little too snug. Also it is almost impossible to enter and exit the vehicle in a dignified manner. Let’s throw in the fact that if you gas it around a corner, the back end will step out and a very expensive crash will ensue.

The Ford Focus RS is everything that the hooligan in me could ever want. It’s loud, brash and in your face. With its wing on the back, Milo tin exhausts and lurid green paint, the RS is the Hulk of the car world. It strolls in and then trashes everything with all the subtlety of teargas.

Range Rover’s Supercharged Sport was something of a technological marvel. It’s brimming with all the latest gadgets and gizmos yet can traverse the most rugged terrain. The Sport also has the strange ability to make you feel like you’re at home on your favourite leather armchair while driving. But, in the time that it has taken you to read this, it will have used about half a tank of fuel.

I’ll be honest, I’m a RenaultSport addict. Driving the RenaultSport Mégane Cup was heavenly and a bit of a personal thing as I had incredibly high expectations of it. The handling and suspension is out this world and it looks great, especially in yellow. I would buy one of these in a heartbeat if I could, and then be royally screwed when it came to resale. I get annoyed every time I see one for this very reason.

The point I’m getting at though, is that every dream car has a downside. Be it a cramped interior or an exorbitant fuel consumption figure, there is no such thing as the perfect car. But, what if you could combine elements of all the above cars to create an ultimate car?  I’d have the handling of a RenaultSport, the Miss World looks of the SLS, with the grin-inducing factor of the Ford Focus RS.

Fortunately, there is a car that captures all of the above requirements. It’s an absolute dream to drive, is reasonably quick, looks fantastic, is comfortable and can be driven with ease. Its engine note is addictive and intoxicating.  It is, in one word: perfection. The Aston Martin Vantage is the best car ever for many. Or it would be, if it didn’t cost over R1 million.