Mayurbhanj

•12w

Subject: Seeking the Ultimate "Forever" Car for a Purist Garage Dear Autocar Team, I am a hardcore automotive purist looking to make a very special milestone purchase. I want to buy a car solely for the absolute joy of driving - a mechanical machine that will put a smile on my face decades from now. My goal is to find a definitive enthusiast car that possesses the reliability, emotional character, and timelessness to be a lifelong companion in my garage. I want to buy this car brand new and never sell it; it will stand as a symbol of my hard work and achievements so far. To give you a picture of my current garage, my daily drivers are a Mahindra BE6 and a Toyota Innova Hycross. My absolute maximum budget is Rs. 3 Crores. The shortlists currently on my radar are the BMW M2 manual, the Land Rover Defender 90, and the base Porsche 911 Carrera. I am also entirely willing to wait until 2027 if there is an upcoming launch that stands out as an absolute keeper with future-classic potential. Given these choices, which route would you recommend for a true "forever" car? Looking forward to your expert guidance and recommendation. Best regards, Brijesh Devareddy Chennai

•12w

Go for the Porsche 911 Carrera, because nothing else on your list blends pure driving feel with decades-long heritage and timelessness the way a 911 does. It is the rare sports car you can enjoy driving hard, keep stock, and still use as a daily driver. The flat-six, the steering, and that rear-engined balance make even a slow drive feel special, and it will still look and feel “right” when everything else has dated. This Porsche car fits within Rs 3 crores, leaving room for a few choice options. Plus, Porsche will support this iconic sports car well beyond this generation's life cycle.

The M2 manual does sound like more bang for your buck, but it won’t age into a forever icon the way a 911 will, and though the manual is involving, in the long run, it's more trouble than it's worth. The Defender 90 is a lovable Land Rover car, but it is a heavy off-road toy, not the car you’ll reach for when you want that last 5 percent of driver joy. If you can fit it into your forever-car budget alongside the 911, there's nothing like it.

Explore cars mentioned

Porsche

911

from ₹2.67 Crore

BMW

M2 Coupe

from ₹1.35 Crore

•12w•

Thanks a ton for cementing my belief. This felt like the question you used to ask "what would you do with the last liter of fuel?" . As much as it hurts today to part with that much money I guess it'll be money well spent years from now.

More posts on similar cars

•11h

I’m a working professional looking for a comfortable car with ample legroom, with a budget of Rs 8-12 lakh. My daily commute is around 55km, with occasional long trips with family. Should I consider an EV, petrol or diesel, and which segment would best suit my requirements? I’m looking for a decent-looking car with a little bit of performance and a softer suspension setup. My existing car is a Chevrolet Cruze, so I would also like something that feels comfortable and sufficiently powerful compared with my current car.

•6h

Coming from a Cruze, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the closest fit to the character you are looking for within Rs 8-12 lakh. It has a strong 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 200Nm, a spacious cabin with excellent rear legroom, good ground clearance and one of the better ride qualities in this segment. The suspension is slightly firm rather than genuinely soft, but it deals with bad roads very well.With 55km of daily running, diesel does make lot of sense as long as you do regular highway running. An EV is worth considering only if home charging is available, but at this budget it would mean compromising on the performance and space you seem to value.The Maruti Suzuki Fronx is another option if low running costs, easy ownership and attractive styling are priorities. But it doesn't feel as premium as the 3XO.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

•5h

I hope it has every feature

•13h

I am planning to buy a car in the Rs 12-14 lakh price range. My usage will be around 70% in the city and 30% on the highway, with family comfort also being an important consideration. I am currently considering the Skoda Kylaq, Kia Sonet (petrol 7DCT HTK(O)) and Kia Seltos (base or second-base variant). Please suggest which of these would be the best pick for my usage, or recommend any other car that may suit my requirements better. Also, is it worth waiting for the new-generation Sonet?

•6h

For your 70 percent city and 30 percent highway usage, the Skoda Kylaq is the best fit of the cars you have shortlisted. Its 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic is smoother in city traffic than the Sonet's DCT, while also giving you stronger performance for highway trips. It also has a good balance of ride comfort, cabin space and driving dynamics.The Kia Seltos is the better choice if family space and a more premium cabin are your priorities, but at your budget you will be looking at the lower variants. The Sonet HTK(O) 1.0 DCT is feature-rich, but the DCT is not our first choice for predominantly city use. The Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO are also worth considering, but the Kylaq offers a particularly good combination of refinement, performance and highway ability.As for the Kia New Sonet, it is expected in 2027 and will move to the K1 platform, with improved rear-seat space and potentially more features. However, Kia has not given a precise launch date, so waiting only makes sense if you are not in a hurry.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am confused between the Elevate and the Creta. I understand that the Creta is the more established one, but with Honda, the value it brings is amazing, while the price of the Creta is a bit higher than the value it offers. I am mostly a city driver, with around 95% of my driving in the city and occasional highway trips, covering around 10,000km per year. Can you help me get some perspective?

•5d

The Hyundai Creta is the more premium product with a richer feature list. Since your usage is mainly in the city, you are likely to appreciate the Creta's smoothness and refinement, as well as the additional features it offers. Sure, this Hyundai car might cost a bit more, but it is a proven product that commands strong brand equity, which is likely to translate to higher resale value. The Honda Elevate gives you most of what you need at a significantly lower cost, and Honda’s service network is strong enough to make ownership hassle-free. Go for the Elevate if you value its stronger engine performance, else for a refined drive experience, pick the Creta.

Hyundai Creta

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•6d

Help me choose the right car for my usage. Please be practical and challenge my assumptions. My situation: I am 31 and work as a software developer. I currently work from home in Balsane, Dhule, but I am moving to Mumbai around March. My wife and I are expecting a baby in February. My parents live in a village where local transport is poor. My Mumbai office is near Powai, but parking is difficult. I prefer a manual car. Usage: My current running is around 10,000 km per year, but it may increase. I travel between Mumbai and Balsane, which is around 400 km one way, around 5-7 times a year, along with Dhule/Sakri and local trips. I also drive around Mumbai on weekends. The AC is usually on, and on long trips, the car will have my wife, baby, and luggage. Budget: Rs. 6-9 lakh on-road. I am willing to spend more only if it is genuinely worth it. Shortlist: - Tiago XE Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart CNG - Brezza LXi turbo-petrol Please tell me: 1. Which one should I buy and why? 2. Petrol vs CNG for my usage? The CNG premium is around Rs. 1 lakh, and the nearby village pump may open around Diwali, but this is not guaranteed. 3. What real-world mileage can I expect with the AC on? 4. Please consider loan interest, fuel costs, maintenance, depreciation, and resale value. 5. Is the Brezza worth the extra money? 6. Give me one final choice and tell me what I should avoid.

•6d

The Brezza LXI Turbo is far superior to the Punch and Tiago as far as smoothness, performance, and cabin space are concerned. It is also backed by Maruti's widespread support network, and the ownership experience is likely to be fuss-free. The on-road cost of the Brezza LXI will fall within your Rs 9 lakh budget, and even though you might miss a few features, it still feels worth opting for. Alternatively, you could also consider the Maruti Dzire VXI MT for its large boot, comfy ride and strong fuel efficiency.

I currently drive a Hyundai i10 CNG, with daily running of around 6 km in Gurgaon city traffic and a monthly highway drive of around 200 km. I am now planning to upgrade my car, with an on-road budget of Rs. 12 lakh for a petrol sub-4-metre SUV, up to Rs. 14 lakh for a petrol midsize SUV, and Rs. 15 lakh for an EV. I live in a rented apartment on the second floor, so I am apprehensive about getting an EV. I prefer an EV, but installing a charger could be complicated due to the sanctioned load. My running could increase to nearly 800 km per month in the future. My key priorities are: - Good suspension and ride comfort, as I have a back problem - Decent fuel efficiency in heavy city traffic - Low to medium maintenance costs - Auto hold and ventilated seats would be good to have I sometimes consider buying a manual, but I mostly prefer an automatic. I am currently considering the Maruti Brezza, Baleno AMT, Fronx AMT/AT, Sonet iMT, Exter AMT, and even the upcoming Inster, VF3, and Bayon. I am open to other suggestions as well. Note: I had a bad driving experience with the Punch AMT, as it caused back fatigue.

•2d

Given your priorities of ride comfort, fuel efficiency and low maintenance, the Maruti Brezza automatic is the most sensible upgrade. It offers a comfortable ride, a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine and Maruti's strong service network, which keeps long-term ownership costs in check. The torque converter automatic is smooth in city traffic, and the Brezza's higher seating position will help with your back issues. The Sonet iMT is not the right choice here. While it is a good car, the iMT is not a true automatic and will not offer the same ease of use in Gurgaon traffic. The Baleno AMT and Exter AMT are also not ideal given your back issues and the fact that AMT gearboxes are not as smooth as torque converter automatics in stop-start conditions.On the EV front, your apprehension about charging is valid. Without a straightforward home charging solution, an EV will add unnecessary complexity to your ownership experience. The upcoming Bayon is interesting and if you can wait a few weeks you would have a better picture before making a decision. For now, the Brezza automatic strikes the best balance between comfort, efficiency and hassle-free ownership.

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