Choosing a good car can be quite a challenge. Luxury cars such as a Porsche, Ferrari, or a higher-end BMW are really nice to have, and might be nice for pulling up to big parties and red-carpet events, but they’re too expensive to drive on a daily basis. Between insurance costs, BMW service fees at various mileage milestones, and the stress of parking an expensive car at the shopping mall (you just know some rebellious teenagers will scratch the paintwork for laughs), it’s understandable that many people opt for an extra “daily driver”. Here’s a few of our favourites.
Mazda 6
The Mazda 6 is a mid-size sedan that is fun to drive, good looking, and economical to run. It manages to feel sporty and comfortable at the same time. The feature list is nice, with comfortable seats, air conditioning, and a tilting, telescopic steering wheel on the base models. The more expensive models have a multi-information display, leather upholstery, and a dual-zone climate control system too.
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 series offers the best of both worlds. You get to own a high quality vehicle with all of the prestige of the BMW name, but see more affordable insurance and BMW service costs, as well as good fuel economy and practical design. The BMW 3 series handles well, boasts good performance, and offers a nice smooth ride. It’s spacious and sleek, and feels like an even higher-end car than it is. It may not be ideal for very long journeys, but as a daily driver it’s a brilliant option.
FIAT 500
FIAT’s new 500 model is a compact, cute and affordable vehicle that is reminiscent in many ways of the Mini. The Fiat 500 comes in a range of bright and exciting colours, and aims to be an attractive retro-looking vehicle that is a pleasure to drive. The vehicle boasts good fuel economy, and has plenty of oomph for its small size. This is a great vehicle for people that want something fun, practical, but a little different.
Renault Megane RS
The Renault Megane RS is an affordable, practical, but attractive car. It lacks the charm of the Fiat 500, but it has its own special style. It’s opted for a sleeker, more modern look, although it still comes in a range of vibrant colours. As with most of the daily drivers, this car offers good value for money, with decent fuel economy, and handling that makes it perfect for day to day commutes. You wouldn’t set any records with this on the track, but unless you spend a lot of time on Autobahns, why would you care about that? If you’re looking for something that looks awesome, handles well, and won’t hurt your wallet, this is a good choice.
The market for daily drivers is growing every year, with more and more companies opting to produce cars at the wallet-friendly end of the spectrum. What kind of daily driver you opt for – compact or sporty, retro or modern, is up to you; but you can celebrate the amount of choice that is available now.
This guest post was written and contributed by Amy Fowler for Main Dealer Discount, who offer discounted BMV servicing. Find out more about cars here.
Photos by stradablog, jburns00, der.dominik, and YackNonch.
