Mitsubishi i (2007 - 2011)
iCar
Makes me smile every time I get in it!
OK so it's small, it gets affected by cross winds, it drinks petrol when you use a lead boot on that turbo to thrash any BMW up to 40 mph, it doesn't go around corners like a mini, insurance is ridiculous, it's radio is r****** - BUT!!!
Its a joy to drive and park around town. I get 42 mph overall over the 15,000 miles I've done and that includes showing upstarts in Mercs and BM's whose king of the traffic light GP. It was expensive but as a chronic astmatic I appreciate the hypo-allergenic upholstery and air conditioning
It is the ONLY automatic with the £35 road tax. It carries 4 adults out to dinner in far more comfort than a comparable town car e.g. Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10. I'm over 6 foot and long legged, I could do with a couple more inches of room but it's not a real problem.
One thing above all others though is that this car really makes me smile all the time, it's fun with a capital F. Over the last 50 years I've owned or driven over 300 cars, motorcycles and commercials and I can count on one hand those that I've truly regreted the demise of, the "i" is right up there.
When folks try to take the p+++ as they do I ask them what they drive and if money was no object what would they exchange their present vehicle for - then I tell them to ask me the same and I say - only an identical i-car - except for that radio of course. On that last point I have a Pure Highway DAB set, not ideal but better than the origianal which was improved a lot by Mitsubishi replacing a 'crystal'.