Introduction
As car enthusiasts, we know all too well that there is no single answer to the “What’s your dream car?” question. I’ve been asked that question multiple times by both enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts, and every time I either have to just pick the current car I’m thinking about, or dive into a 45-minute conversation about why I can’t choose just 1 car.
In fact, I don’t even know if I could definitively say what my top 10 dream cars would be. Even getting as granular as picking a dream car from each brand still might not work for me, because I can definitely think of brands where there are multiple cars I want to own.
That being said, I think designing a dream garage is a slightly more manageable task, because here you’re not necessarily choosing the cars that you love. You are choosing cars that will each serve a specific purpose in your garage.
I must confess that I initially got my inspiration for this idea from @emilygracewrx on TikTok, they uploaded a video showing their dream 6 car garage, and it got me thinking – what would mine be? But I wanted to formalize things a bit.
As I said above, the question of dream cars can be made more manageable if each car is assigned a purpose. So, without further ado, here is what I think the ideal 6 car garage of an enthusiast should have:
- Daily Driver: Everyone needs a daily driver. This car needs to be reliable, practical and comfortable, but also fun when you want it to be.
- Winter Car / Hauler: This is the car that can handle snow and also haul larger items.
- Track Car: This is a pure drivers car that can only be fully enjoyed on a track.
- Luxury Cruiser / Date Night Car: This is your comfortable cruiser for the weekends and the car you’d use to take that special someone out to dinner.
- Show Car: This is the car that you’d enter into a car show, or perhaps would get you invited to a car show.
- Wild Card: Finally, we have the wild card. This can be anything you want; it’s your chance to add some of your personal flair to the garage.
And all of this being said, I still had to rewrite this article 4 times, and I’m still not 100% satisfied with my choices. This truly is one of the hardest questions to answer as an enthusiast. So if you have a car enthusiast in your life and want to watch them struggle, ask them what cars they would fill this garage with.
Daily Driver
Audi RS3
- Unique
- Looks good
- Great driving experience
- Practical
Honourable Mention: Acura Integra Type S
- Reliable
- Practical
- Great driving dynamics and inputs
- Looks good
The Daily Driver is arguably the most important car in this garage because it’s the one you’ll be driving the most, which is why it has stricter criteria than the other categories (check out my article and video about daily drivers!).
First and foremost, this car needs to be relatively reliable. What I mean by that is that you shouldn’t have to worry about whether it’s going to start-up everyday, because you’ll need it to. So, something like a 900hp built drag car would not be a good daily.
Next, we need it to be practical. It’ll need to be able to handle any weather, winter included. Although we have a dedicated winter car, sometimes you can be out in the daily and get caught in the snow.
For practicality it should also be able to relatively comfortably carry four adults, I say relatively because it’s fine if they’re a bit squished in there but something like a coupe might not be the best choice.
Finally, it needs to be able to both be comfortable and exciting. When I’m driving home from work, all I want to do is relax and be comfortable – the daily needs to be able to offer you a relaxing and comfortable driving experience.
However, it still needs to be able to be exciting and engaging when you find yourself on a clear stretch of highway or backroad. So it needs to be able to live this dual life very well.
The criteria leaves us mostly with sports sedans or wagons that are either all wheel or front wheel drive. Which is good because there are a ton of amazing options in this segment (check out my article about drivetrains!).
Of all the cars that come to mind when I consider the criteria, the RS3 is the winner for me. It offers tons of performance, decently good looks, a wonderful interior and an interesting uniqueness factor.
Let’s start off with that uniqueness factor, this car is one of the few that come with a 5-cylinder motor. Furthermore, this 5 cylinder sounds incredible – it’s like a baby V10 that kind of sounds like the R8.
Additionally, you don’t see a ton of these around – at least I don’t which also by definition makes them unique to me. Finally, there’s the “if you know, you know” component. To most people the RS3 doesn’t look that different from any other Audi sedan, but enthusiasts will recognize it for what it is, and I really like that.
On the practicality front it’s got no problems. We have 4 doors and an incredible AWD system that should handle any weather condition with ease. If we follow the definition of reliability that I laid out above, which is that the daily should reliably start up everyday, I’d say the RS3 also checks that off.
Many reviewers praise the RS3 for its ability to be a rowdy sports car when you want it to be, and a comfortable daily driver when you need it to be – which is exactly what we want in a daily.
Now this brings us to perhaps the most important piece – performance. This car is no slouch, it boasts a sub 4 second 0 – 100 km/h (0 – 60 mph) time which is blisteringly fast, let alone for a daily. And if this doesn’t sound like enough for you, the 5-cylinder turbo also has the potential to make more power too. Finally, given the cars size and weight, it can offer some great driving dynamics.
My honourable mention is the Acura Integra Type S, which to be clear I think would be an excellent daily driver as well. It has an amazing manual transmission and great driving dynamics – so much so that some reviewers claim they forgot the car was front wheel drive because of how well it handled.
Winter Car / Family Hauler
Audi RS6
- Unique
- Great AWD System
- Sounds amazing
- Great Interior
- Wagon
Honourable Mention: Dodge Durango SRT
- Both look good
- Plenty of interior space
- Plenty of power
- Sound great
- Great AWD systems
Now I don’t know where you live, but I live in Canada and we have Winter, so I’ll need something to drive in the Winter. If you don’t experience Winter where you live, then you can replace this category with a family hauler or some type of larger vehicle for carrying lots of things.
In all honesty, the RS6 isn’t the best hauler in terms of cargo space, but then again, this my dream garage so I can make a bad choice. To be fair though, it is an amazing winter car and an easily fit 4 adults which does check all the boxes.
If I was a truck guy then you’d probably see a large 1- or 1.5-ton truck listed here. While I do think that there are some very nice trucks out there, I would much rather have the RS6 sitting in my garage.
Once again, the uniqueness factor makes an appearance, the RS6 isn’t something seen very often (at least not around where I live), and most people won’t be able to recognize it for what it is. I love that only the enthusiasts will be able to truly realize what it is and what it’s capable of.
Continuing, we arrive at what may be one of the best things about the RS6 – its looks. This thing just looks so aggressive and menacing, as if it’s daring you to look away from it. Now we see many modern cars trying to copy this styling, but Audi has been doing this way for over a decade.
It’s powered by a twin turbo V8 which provides plenty of power. It also gives you that signature Audi feeling of brutal, limitless and effortless power from the engine. This coupled with Audi’s Quattro AWD gives you one hell of a winter car.
It also sounds amazing, I mean it’s pretty hard for a twin turbo V8 to not sound amazing, but Audi does a really good job with their exhausts. And finally, it’s a wagon! What’s there not to love about a wagon?
My honourable mention here is the Dodge Durango SRT. I’m a big fan of this monstrous SUV, it actually has its own article on my blog where I call it “beautifully American” – and I stand by that. The Durango is unapologetically big and loud, and I love that.
You get a V8 that makes the RS6s’ look small, and that’s no easy feat, with a decent AWD system in one meaning looking SUV. It’s got plenty of interior room, and if I’m not mistaken it’s a 3 row SUV.
It was a tight debate between these two for me, but I think the RS6 looks better and is better suited to my personal wants.
Track Car
Dodge Viper ACR
- True drivers car
- Unique
- Road Presence
- V10 sounds great
Honourable Mentions: Aston Martin Valkyrie, Aventador SVJ
- Road Presence
- Unique
- Sound amazing
I think that it takes a significant amount of skill to drive around a track properly and quickly, considerably more so than spirited driving. The difficulty of this increases exponentially with faster and more capable cars as well. It would be easier to push a 100-horsepower car, like a Honda Fit, to its limits on the track than it would be with an extremely capable supercar.
If you share my opinion, then you obviously understand why this category exists – we need a car that we can push on the track. One so good that we will likely find our own limits as drivers before we find the limit of the car’s capabilities.
This is why I’ve chosen none other than the Dodge Viper ACR for my track car. I actually want to start this section off by saying this was easily the hardest one to settle on, in fact as I am writing this, I’m still not sure if I should’ve gone with the Viper or one of the honourable mentions (listed below).
But continuing on, the Viper is a true drivers car that will probably force you to find your limit as a driver before you find its limits. It comes with extremely limited driver aids, and the ones that are present are extremely toned down as to not interfere with the driving experience.
Several reviewers and experienced drivers have repeatedly said that the Viper feels like a car that wants to kill you – it really doesn’t do anything to save or help you. Which again, makes it a true driver’s car. I’m sure if you’re reading this article, you don’t me to explain to you that the Viper is a fast car, so I won’t.
Sticking with the recurring theme, the Viper also brings in a uniqueness factor. Once again, people who know what it’s capable of will respect it and those who don’t will still know that it’s a damn fast car just by looking at it. I really consider it to be America’s supercar, at least in the pre C8 Corvette era.
For a while (it might still) it held the title of having the largest engine in a production vehicle which is wild, and of course the 8.4L V10 in it is also wild. Everyone was happy to make fun of American cars for being big and slow around the track, but silence would always fall whenever the Viper came up in conversation.
Once again, the decision maker for me here really is the uniqueness factor and the legacy of what this car was. I love the fact that it forced the rest of the world to take American cars seriously on the track, and perhaps what I love more is the respect it commands.
Now I have 2 honourable mentions, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ (which I’ve written an article and made a video about) and the Aston Martin Valkyrie. I’d say both of these cars can command a strong amount of respect and each have incredible road presence in their own regard. However, I don’t feel the same pull towards them as I do with the Viper.
Maybe it’s because I grew up watching the Viper become a respected car, or perhaps the Viper really does command more respect than they do. But that being said, the Valkyrie almost took the top spot in this category for me, and I’m still not sure if it should.
Luxury Cruiser
Bentley Continental GT
- Great Interior
- Amazing Looking Exterior
- Luxury
- Road Presence
- Performance
Honourable Mentions: BMW M5, Mercedes S63 Coupe
- Performance
- Great Interiors
- Road Presence
- Luxury
I think this is a great category to speak about after the track car. Why? Because no one who isn’t a car enthusiast (or is sane) would want to drive a track car off of the track. They’re too loud, too low, have no storage space and lack basic creature comforts. That’s why we need a luxury cruiser, something that’s still a great car, but is also comfortable.
This is your date night car, it’s the car you take to meet your girlfriends’ parents or the one you take on those longer drives. For me, this has to be the Bentley Continental GT. Believe it or not this is the only category that I was immediately sure of.
Right now there is no other car on the market that speaks to me the way the Bentley does. It looks incredible, it still has that big body Rolls Royce look to it but without all those sharp angles. It also has curves like an S Class but still manages to look menacing. It just has a presence that is both elegant and aggressive, which I think no other luxury car can match.
Pretty much any car you’d choose to fill this category would have a good-looking interior, but this Bentley is really nice. I think the only company that has comparable interiors to Bentley is Rolls Royce, and that is an extremely elite level of luxury to be in.
Of course, no one buys a Bentley for its driving dynamics, but it does deliver effortless power. Somewhat similar to Audi, the car has a way of delivering power that makes it feel like the engine isn’t trying and has plenty more to give, regardless of where you are in the RPM range. Without a doubt, this is the car I’d want to take my girlfriend out on date night in.
My two honourable mentions here are the BMW M5 and Mercedes S63 Coupe. Both are nice cars that I think would check off all the boxes, but they just can’t compare to the Bentley.
Some of you may be wondering why a Rolls Royce isn’t in my honourable mentions. And if I’m being honest, they just don’t speak to me that well and I think the Bentley is far ahead of them.
Show Car
1968 Dodge Charger (modified)
- One of my all time dream cars
- Airbag suspension, scat-pack swap, pro-charged, full carbon body
- Looks so good
Honourable Mention: 2006 Ford GT
- Timeless design
- Unique
Now we arrive at the show car, this is the car in your garage that any enthusiast would be able to appreciate, regardless of their own preferences. For example, a cleanly built Honda will be respected by a true enthusiast, even if they hate Honda’s. It’s also the car that will get you invited to car shows.
My choice here would have to be a 1968 Dodge Charger, but not just any Charger, this one will have quite a few things done to it. For starters, I’d want it to be on airbag suspension because I think older muscle cars look incredible when they are slammed. I’d also want to have it swapped with a Scat Pack motor, the 6.4L V8.
Someone out there is probably screaming why didn’t I go for the hellephant or demon swap, but I have a vision. This huge naturally aspirated V8 has plenty of potential, it’s essentially a blank slate that I can modify as I see fit. Something that couldn’t easily be said about a motor that comes from the factory with forced induction (check out my article about NA motors).
I’d intend to add a ProCharger to this V8, truly making it one of the most unique Chargers. And while we’re at it, why don’t we also throw on a full carbon body too? Now if this car doesn’t get you invited to a car show, then I don’t know what will.
As for how I arrived at this decision, the Fast & Furious movies heavily influenced me as a child and the older Chargers were idolized in those movies. So, by extension, I naturally too started to idolize them.
I had plenty of honourable mentions for this section, in fact I actually had trouble picking which car would get the honour of being the honourable mention. It was between the 1990 Honda NSX, Pagani Huayra, McLaren P1 and a 2006 Ford GT. As you can see, there was quite a spread but there are some common themes amongst them.
All of the cars have a certain air of uniqueness to them, of course in different ways. But for me the true honourable mention has to be the 2006 Ford GT. There are few cars that would truly excite me at a show, and a clean Ford GT is one of them.
The 2006 Ford GT is also easily one of the best-looking cars to ever come out of America. Furthermore, it’s also one of the few to truly challenge the Europeans – it very nearly won the top spot here.
Wild Card
Wide Body Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye
- Looks so good
- Always wanted one
Honourable Mention:
- R35 GTR
The wildcard car is for you to express yourself unrestrained, you can choose a car that perfectly reflects your taste without the restraint of it having to serve a purpose in your garage. In fact, the purpose it serves is to let you express yourself.
What may come as a surprise is that this was the hardest section for me to write. I’ve easily devoted the largest amount of time to it, and I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no right answer. Which is a bit cliché, but true nonetheless.
As I previously mentioned, the Fast & Furious movies are what originally got me interested in cars and have greatly influenced this choice. I would love to have a Dodge Challenger in my garage, specifically a wide body hell cat redeye.
I’ve always wanted a Challenger as far back as I can remember, so it definitely deserves a spot in my garage. Is it a particularly great car? Honestly, no not really. It handles like a boat because of how heavy it is, the interior space is fairly small for a car of its size and it struggles to put down its power.
But I still love it, and that’s what this category is all about. It doesn’t have to be any rational car, just a car for the love of the game. And to this day, I still want to own one.
There were so many different options that I went through for this section, there was the 1990 NSX, 1968 Charger, 2006 Ford GT, R34 GTR, and R35 GTR. As you can likely tell, many of these cars found their ways into other categories, and I’d say it’s well deserved because they’re great cars. The hardest choice was against the R35, I have similar feelings towards it as I do with the Challenger, but the Challenger won because I’ve wanted it for longer.
Conclusion
Well, that’s the end of my list! Maybe you liked it, maybe you hated it, but that’s the beauty of opinions. Please comment down below what you would’ve chosen for each category, I’d be very interested in seeing what other people would choose.
