Delhi

•19w

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

•19w

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 ₹2.46 Crore

BMW

M2 Coupe

from ₹1.24 Crore

•19w•

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

•1d

I am currently using a 2024 Kia Seltos Diesel AT GT Line. My family is not feeling good on highway ride as its interior is completely black. Also, its suspension is hard. I am planning to change the car to a 7-seater that offers ride comfort and has enough space. In the past 2 years, I have driven 34,000 km on my Seltos. Should I continue with a diesel car or change? My budget is around Rs. 30 lakh. Please help me in finding a suitable car.

•21h

Given your needs, you should consider the Kia Sorento HTE diesel. Since your running is significant and you do highway trips, a diesel still makes sense for you. The Sorento's 2.2-litre diesel is refined and is very well-suited to highway duties and it has a brown interior upholstery which your family should appreciate. The Sorento is also a 7-seater car that offers a comfortable ride. Being a Kia owner, you'll also have a sense of familiarity to your Seltos. The only catch is its cost which is around Rs. 34 lakh (on-road). So you may need to stretch your budget a bit but the Sorento diesel fits your requirements perfectly.

Kia Seltos

Kia Sorento

•1d

Hi, I want to buy a car within Rs 30 lakh that has space for five. I’ll use it mainly for a 30 km daily commute in Bengaluru traffic. I’m scared of EVs. I currently drive a Volkswagen Ameo 1.5 DSG and have loved it for ten years. My dilemma is that I want features like those on the Mahindra XUV 7XO, such as the automatic gearbox and the advanced suspension, but I can’t handle a vehicle that big. I’m also worried about E20 fuel. I’m a fan of Volkswagen and thought I’d go for the Taigun, but the lack of ADAS disappointed me. I compare power and torque curves, and I’m nervous that a new car will disappoint me compared with what I drive now. Which car would you recommend?

•1d

Given your experience with the Volkswagen Ameo 1.5 DSG and your preference for strong performance, good driving dynamics and a comfortable ride, the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT would be our recommendation. Its 163hp, 280Nm turbo-petrol engine offers strong performance, while the six-speed DCT provides quick shifts. The Duster's biggest strengths are its excellent ride comfort, high-speed stability and engaging handling. It should also be more manageable in Bengaluru traffic than a larger SUV such as the XUV 7XO.The Nissan Tekton T280 DCT is worth considering too. It shares the same engine and gearbox, but has a more contemporary cabin and a slightly different character. It feels more premium inside and offers good practicality, while the Duster has the edge in ride comfort and overall driving dynamics.Neither will match the fuel efficiency of your Ameo diesel, and both are turbo-petrol SUVs, so running costs will be higher.

Please suggest a car under Rs. 11-12 lakh considering 2000-2500 km of monthly running.

•18h

Since your monthly running is fairly high, a CNG or diesel vehicle could significantly reduce your running costs. If most of your driving is within the city, consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG. It gets a dual-cylinder tank setup that preserves much of the boot space while offering excellent fuel efficiency. Alternatively, consider the Tata Nexon iCNG or Mahindra XUV 3XO ZNG if you want better performance and are willing to sacrifice some fuel efficiency.If most of your driving is on the highway, then you should go with diesel. Consider the Kia Sonet or Hyundai Venue diesel. Both use refined powertrains that offer good fuel efficiency and strong highway performance.

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Popular discussions right now

•1d

I’m a first-time car buyer and I’m confused between the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Delta (Rs 12.7 lakh on-road), the Brezza VXi automatic (Rs 11.4 lakh) and the Brezza ZXi manual (Rs 11.5 lakh). I’m not sure how much of my driving will be in the city and how much on the highway. If I choose the automatic, I’ll miss out on many features that come with the Brezza ZXi and the Grand Vitara Delta. Is it okay to give up those features and choose the VXi automatic?

•1d

It is a tricky choice, but we would lean towards the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi automatic. In today's increasingly congested traffic conditions, the convenience of an automatic transmission is something you will appreciate every day. The additional features on the Brezza ZXi manual or Grand Vitara Delta may seem attractive initially, but over the years, the ease of driving an automatic is likely to matter more.The Brezza VXi AT is not poorly equipped either. It gets a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, six airbags, ESP and hill-hold assist. You will miss out on features such as cruise control, a rear parking camera and a sunroof, but some convenience features can be added later through accessories.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

•3d

What are Mahindra’s plans for an ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO? Specifically, does Mahindra plan to launch any ICE SUVs in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket?

•2d

Mahindra has not yet confirmed an all-new ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket. However, there are some interesting developments on its future product roadmap. The company has outlined plans for 10 new ICE models by 2031, including nine new nameplates, with several expected to use its upcoming NU_IQ platform. The Vision X and Vision SXT concepts are among the products to watch, although their final positioning and specifications are yet to be revealed. A more immediate development is the possibility of a strong-hybrid version of the XUV 7XO, which Mahindra is evaluating and could introduce around 2027. This would potentially sit above the current petrol and diesel variants, offering better fuel efficiency and a more sophisticated powertrain. Mahindra is also working on a coupe-styled hybrid SUV, internally codenamed W623, which could arrive around 2028, although its positioning is not yet clear.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•2d

I want to buy a compact SUV (petrol, automatic) under a budget of Rs. 12-13 lakh. Help me decide between Brezza, Venue, Kylaq, XUV 3XO and Amaze (since it is a compact Sedan) considering that the mileage within city should not be less than 13-14kpl.

•19h

Between your picks, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5-litre automatic is your best bet since city fuel efficiency is your main priority. The Hyundai Venue, Skoda Kylaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO all use turbo-petrol engines, which aren't particularly known for their fuel efficiency in the city. That said, achieving your target of 13-14kpl in city driving with any of these cars will require a very sedate driving style.The Brezza also comes with a smooth-shifting 6-speed torque converter automatic, which makes driving in the city very easy. One drawback is that, its interior won't feel as modern as the Hyundai Venue. The Honda Amaze is another good choice, but being a compact sedan, it won't feel as spacious as the Brezza.

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