Dec. 20--Some car-loving Tribune staffers have ditched car owership in favor of car-sharing services; some of us drive older model Subaru Foresters, Honda Civics, Toyota Prii; some drive newer Nissan Altimas, Volkswagen CCs, and Subaru Outbacks. But we all dream big when it comes to cars, ranging from Porsche to Ferrari to Batmobiles to Subaru. And a Matchbox car or two.
On our fourth day of Tribune Autos dream car wish list, Autos Editor Robert Duffer supercharges with some electrified dreams.
What is your dream car?
Tesla Model S P85+: Nothing matches the total package of gorgeous design, cutting-edge electronics, masterful performance, full-size luxury and eco-chic coolness of the Model S. Few match the price tag either.
What is your realistic dream car?
2015 Subaru Outback, same as what Meg Theno drives (her wish list is below).
What is your real car?
2006 Subaru Forester. I miss my 2002 Honda Odyssey, which is the best car I've ever owned.
What toy car would you want?
Alfa Romeo 4C: The sound, the looks, the go-kart-like thrills. It was the most fun car of the year; I'd play with it for as long as I could get in and out of it.
On the third day of Listmaskuh we get a more practical dream car wish list from Meg Theno, senior photo editor for Web and multimedia.
What is your dream car?
Volkswagen Passat Alltrack
Beautifully engineered, ready for anywhere, with, I'm guessing, based on my past VW experiences, great little luxuries everywhere you look. Will have to win the lottery by the time it gets to the States.
What is your realistic dream car?
The one I just got, a 2015 Subaru Outback(also known as the Swiss Army knife of cars)
A reliable, power-infused but safe little six-cylinder tank with all-wheel drive that can take me anywhere I want to go -- fast. It doesn't have all the luxury items of an Audi or BMW, but it has a lot of everything else.
What toy car would you want?
MG Midget convertible
Fun in the sun and a great tool for learning how to drive with a manual transmission.
On the second day, Tribune staff photographer Michael Tercha envisioned a less practical, Prius-free wish list.
What is your dream car?
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in gray, thank you very much. I wouldn't be able to handle the power (see "real car" below) but I can't think of a better vehicle to crash into a highway guard rail!
What is your realistic dream car?
2015 Audi Allroad
The Allroad is a beautiful wagon with a first-rate interior...just gorgeous. Have you seen the thing where you wave your hand in front off the door handle and it folds in the mirrors? So wonderfully unnecessary.
What is your real car?
2007 Toyota Prius
It has hubcaps and the navigation system is from 2007...don't be jealous.
What toy car would you want?
1966 to 1968 Porsche 912
I might have missed my window for this car. The "poor man's" 911 has gained value in recent years and is now more like the "upper-middle-class-I-know-that-you-know-this-is-actually-better-than-a-vintage-911-but-now-I'm-confused-because-the-cost-is-nearly-the-same-so-I-might-have-gotten-hosed-on-this-deal-damn-I-should-have-just-bought-a-911" 911.
For the first day of Listmaskuh, sports editor Joe Knowles shared his appreciation for cars without roofs. As a 40-year Joe knows.
What is your dream car?
Jaguar F-Type convertible
Hard to beat its looks. Had a couple of MGBs when I was younger, so I am familiar with the "reliability" of British cars. Hoping they've improved things since the days there were two six-volt batteries behind the seats and you had to keep an extra clutch cable in the glove box. I'd ask for an Aston Martin DB9, but that just seems too decadent, even for a dream.
What is your realistic dream car?
Infiniti Q60 convertible
Not as flashy as the Jag, certainly, but probably a lot less likely to leave you stranded and waiting for a tow truck. It's not a powerhouse in terms of performance, but it would handle all my driving needs nicely. And it's a convertible, so it's automatically awesome.
What is your real car?
2009 Nissan Altima coupe
Yes, it's like the lesser version of the Infiniti coupe. This body style never caught on and has since been discontinued, which is fine with me. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting an Altima sedan. This version is much easier to find in the airport parking lot. Not terribly exciting, but extremely reliable.
What toy car would you want?
Audi TT
I'd really want a fully restored '60s-era American-made convertible, but if we are talking about cars currently in production, I guess I'd choose the little Audi roadster. Does that qualify as a toy? It's a two-seater and you probably can't even fit a hockey stick or a bag of clubs in the boot, so I'd say yes, it's a toy.
