1. BMW Z4
BMW has always been good at building spirited sportsters, and while some of the earlier-generation Z4s were a little odd-looking, the new Z4 had me 'ooh-ing' and 'aah-ing' from the moment it set foot in my driveway. Its styling is a massive improvement over its predecessor and I was constantly looking for excuses to photograph it.
Driving through town with the top down had onlookers salivating, and the Z4's compact dimensions mean it's a cinch to park, even without the help of the surround view cameras. There are only two seats though, so unless you're a single mom with only one child, or you and your hubby are newlyweds, the Z4 is a wee bit impractical, as all two-seaters would be. However, if it's only the two of you, the boot offers a decent amount of space for weekend getaway luggage. (Read our latest BMW Z4 launch report).
The off-white interior may not stay in pristine nick forever, but this is our dream car and we can spec it as we like, so the gorgeous pale leather seats will have to stay. Just be careful because darkly-coloured jeans may leave a bit of residue. We drove the 4-cylinder sDrive M20i Sport Line (R759 442) which offers a nice amount of shove from its two-litre turbocharged engine, without breaking the bank like the more expensive six-cylinder M40i (R1 036 699) does. This was one car I did not want to return!
2. Ford Mustang
Us ladies love muscle cars too, don't we? And the Mustang is a fine example of a sports car that is actually quite suited for daily use too. If you have concerns about fuel consumption, then the 2.3-litre EcoBoost version will be the better choice, and you'll still have everything Mustang to go with it, even if the engine's eager rasp is augmented to sound a bit more beefy. (Read our new Mustang driving impression that includes pricing, here.)
This red Mustang is the 5.0-litre V8 version, which is a hundred percent pure unadulterated pleasure. The only issue you'll have with this car is that you may not be able to keep your partner from driving it. And this is a car that you will want to drive, if you love driving. While the steering and the SYNC3 infotainment system are by no means perfect, this is still a helluva lot of car for its price. You can check out some Used Ford Mustangs on our sales site as well.
Previous iterations of the Mustang were not very big on safety, but the latest one does come with a whole host of driver assist systems such as emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. This means you can sit back and relax in traffic as the Mustang stops and goes, or if the mood takes you, you can drive in full manual mode and relish all of that power.
3. Volvo XC90
Move over, BMW X7! This is the seven (or six)-seater of your dreams, plus it is more affordable than its Bavarian counterpart, and it has Volvo's amazing self-driving abilities that are a standard feature. Say hello to Pilot Assist and goodbye to driver fatigue and frustration, because the XC90 will be doing most of the driving for you, if you like.
Equipped with a bevy of cameras, radar, and sensors, Volvo's Pilot Assist will brake, stop, steer around corners and accelerate when you need it to. Commuting becomes a super relaxing affair, and road rage is a thing of the past. No other driver will be able to ruffle your feathers once you're cocooned in this Swedish superwagon. The flagship T8 model even has a crystal shifter-knob to compliment your perfectly manicured fingers.
The new Volvo On Call system enables you to speak to an operator at a call centre who can send you driving directions or send help if you find yourself in a predicament. You'll also fall in love with Volvo's user friendly Sensus Connect infotainment system which operates like an iPad. Sensus Connect also understand natural speech rather well, if you are one for using voice control.
The XC90 was the 2016 South African Car of the Year, so opting for a used Volvo XC90 is a good idea if you can't quite stretch to over a million bucks for a new one. (For the latest pricing and more info, you can read our XC90 launch report here.)
