PistonHeads readers reveal their dream garage

PistonHeads is Britain’s leading online community website for car-lovers, and is a sister title to Autocar.

PistonHeads’ one million members are invited to create their own virtual garage as part of their profile, comprising their current cars, previously owned cars and the ultimate, ‘money-no-object’ car they most aspire to own. We’ve analysed all the garages to discover the most popular cars that make up the users’ favourite cars.

Analysis of 200,000+ cars selected by over 40,000 PistonHeads members reveals that, while the top three choices are modern supercars, the rest of the top 25 is dominated by iconic classics – find out which cars feature in our gallery. We start at 25, and work our way up to 1 - the most popular single car on PistonHeads.

25: Jaguar XKSS

If the XKR is the everyman Jaguar sports car, the XKSS is only for the extreme elite. Just 25 were meant to be made, which was eventually 16 because of a factory fire. Jaguar has recently built the remaining nine as continuation, priced at £1m apiece...

24: Jaguar XKR

It’s easy to see the appeal of the XKR package: supercharged V8 punch, sumptuous luxury and trademark Jag dynamics made for a great GT. Apparently it’s good enough for David Brown’s £600,000 Speedback, as well. But for a fraction of the price, a used XKR of either generation looks like a fabulous way to waft around.

23: Vauxhall VX220

Yes, the VX220 borrowed heavily from the Lotus Elise, but where better to start building a mid-engined sports car? By offering its own look, a tempting price and the potent 200hp Turbo, Vauxhall creating a compelling alternative. It remains more affordable as a secondhand buy, too.

22: TVR Tuscan S

It took a while, but the last Tuscans were the very best. By combining the Tuscan’s wild looks (and equally savage engine), with a chassis tune that less terrifying than early cars, TVR created an instant classic. The thinking man’s Sagaris, even if that might not be saying a lot!

21: Ferrari Testarossa

The definitive 80s supercar? The Testarossa has to be up there, in contention with the Lamborghini Countach. That flat-12, its incredible width and those slats ensure the Testarossa has lost none of its impact 30 years later. Good luck with the manual gearbox, and attempting to park it.

20: Range Rover Sport

Once upon a time it was believed that the Sport would always live in the shadow of the ‘full fat’ Range Rover. Sorted handling, strong powertrains and sharp styling ensured that it didn’t. Both first and second generation cars have proved popular with a wide variety of buyers. Get a V8 if you can... 

19: BMW Z4

The first generation BMW Z4 garnered a following that its replacement struggled to match. Why? Bold styling that is aging well, some lovely straight sixes and traditional hot rod appeal are just the start! The bonkers 3.2-litre M variants, both the Coupe and Roadster, look like being proper classics very soon.

18: Toyota Supra

While interest has reawakened in the Supra with a replacement due next year, for us it’s always been an icon. The legendarily tough and tunable ‘2JZ’ straight-six engine, motorsport success (with the Castrol livery) and, yes, the Fast & Furious starring role saw to that. Bring on the remake!

17: BMW M3

The BMW M3 has been the definitive small sports saloon for more than 30 years now. With four, six or eight cylinders, it always offered a stunning powertrain with finely honed dynamics. Through E30, E36, E46, E90 and F80 (pictured) generations, it’s always been amongst the class of the field. An automotive legend. 

16: Bowler Wildcat

What do you do when a regular V8 Land Rover is too sedate? Get a Bowler, of course! Effectively a rally raid car that can be used on the road, the Wildcat is the angry, ferocious, slightly mad antithesis to the school run SUV. You won’t see another at the supermarket...

15: Peugeot 205 GTI

Still to many the definitive hot hatch, the 205 GTI brings together pert good looks with lusty performance and deft handling. Whether 1.6 or 1.9, the GTI is a joy. With many having succumbed to the youthful exuberance of their drivers, good GTIs can now command anything up to £40,000.

14: Ferrari 250

What more needs to be said about the Ferrari 250?  While the GTO is the most famous – and the most valuable – all variants combine inimitable 60s Ferrari style with that stunning Colombo V12. A highpoint in Ferrari history, and a classic that will remain desirable forever more.

13: Alfa Romeo SZ

Affectionately known as ‘Il Mostro’ – the monster – due to its bold appearance, the Alfa SZ hid beneath its incredible exterior a chassis of rare brilliance. Combine that with Alfa’s gorgeous 3.0-litre V6 and extreme rarity and it’s easy to see why prices continue to rise...

12: Aston Martin V12 Vantage

The recipe for the V12 Vantage was a simple one; take the beautiful design and small, light package offered by the standard car and add a 510hp V12. What resulted was one of the most engaging drivers’ cars of the 21st century -  and it’s available with a manual transmission. 

11: TVR T350

If you’re after one of the purest driving experiences out there then look no further than TVR. With no traction control, electronic stability programmes, anti-lock brakes or airbags the T350 is about as pure as they come. Completing the 0-60 spring in just 4.4 seconds, the T350 offers supercar performance on a budget and old-school analogue motoring in a digital age. 

10: Ferrari 250 GTO

Arguably the most famous and celebrated of all of Enzo Ferrari’s creations. In its day, the 250 found glory winning the FIA GT championship in 1962, ‘63 and ‘64. Today its rarity and desirability makes it equally as successful amongst collectors, the 250 GTO holding the title of world’s most expensive car, having sold at auction for over $52m.

9: Aston Martin Vanquish

The Vanquish embodies everything Aston Martin stands for; power, beauty and soul. 575hp takes care of the former, the combination of classic curves and aggressive stance bring the beauty and its V12 exhaust note ensures there’s always plenty of soul. 

8: Jaguar XJ220

Originally envisaged with a V12 and all-wheel drive, the recession of 1990 meant the XJ220 left the production line with a 550hp V6 and rear-wheel drive. Still, this was enough for a 217mph top speed and the Guiness record for world’s fastest production car. 

7: Dodge Viper

They say there’s no replacement for displacement and no car goes further to prove this than the 8.0-litre V10 engined Dodge Viper. Shocking the automotive world when it appeared on the scene in 1992, it continued to turn heads - if not profits - until its demise in 2017. Still, the Viper remains one of the ultimate expressions of US performance muscle. 

6: Lancia Stratos

The Lancia Stratos is a rally icon, winning the World Rally Championship in 1974, ‘75 and ‘76. With a mid-mounted V6 borrowed from the Ferrari Dino, the Stratos boasted almost 200hp in a car weighing less than 950kg. The inherent balance and agility afforded by its design wasn’t just perfect for the rally stage, though - the Stratos remaining as exciting to drive on road as it is to see off it. 

5: TVR Tuscan

Keeping up to 385hp in check without the aid of  traction control, electronic stability or ABS is a test of skill for any driver, but the reward is equal to the challenge. The satisfaction of guiding the sonorous 4.0-litre inline-six down a winding British B-road, and arriving on the other side with every sense heightened, is a rare pleasure indeed. 

4: Ferrari 288 GTO

The introduction of Group B regulations didn’t just have an impact on rally cars. With over 400hp the 288 GTO was Ferrari’s homologated competition car, ready to take the fight to the Porsche 959. Today it remains as special as it was then representing the link between Ferrari’s road cars and its racing heritage. 

3: Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti set the hypercar benchmark at new heights with its incredible Veyron, starting an automotive arms race which continues to this day. Nonetheless, the Veyron’s performance has stood the test of time, with its 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 putting out over 1,000hp and 922lb ft of torque, its place in the hypercar hall of fame is secure. PICTURE: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

2: Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Aston’s venerable V8 Vantage has been key to the brand’s success over much of the past decade. Whether you opt for the older, cheaper 4.3 litre variant, which offers great value for money, or the facelifted 420hp 4.7-litre model which packs even more of a punch, the elegant styling and classic proportions are bound to age well. 

1: Pagani Zonda

And the most popular car on PistonHeads is... the Zonda. Horacio Pagani’s pioneering use of carbon fibre not only influenced the direction of Lamborghini during the late 80s and early 90s, but led to the creation of a groundbreaking supercar of his own.  Many variants of the Zonda have been produced over the years, some with as much as 800hp, but one thing remains common throughout them all,  a Mercedes-AMG V12 is always at its core. 

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