Cool cars for cool dads
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Becoming a father is a magical moment in a man’s life, which usually adds a wealth of joy, new responsibility and stress to their lives. As soon as your offspring can walk the chances are that you will need to ferry them around to many places in pursuit of many things.
If for example, your son or daughter takes up football, horse riding, scouts or girl guides (or all of them) then you will need to drive them around everywhere. As of course, none of these activities will be near where you actually live.
Which, of course, raises the question – what is the ultimate Dad car to ferry your kids around to the hundreds of activities they do?
You could pick a humdrum SUV, or even worse an MPV. But this would likely result in you traumatising your kids once they get old enough to refuse to travel with you.
There is no reason, though, why you should pick a rubbish car. I mean, why not be a cool Dad who drives an exciting car that covers the family commitments that your kids would actually want to be seen in.
These are our picks for what we think are the ultimate cars for cool Dads everywhere.
Audi A6 Allroad BiTDI
Our first pick for Dad cars might have you scratching your head a bit. But the A6 Allroad BiTDI is a definitive performance estate that can mix it in the muddy stuff as well.
Under that bonnet sits a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine producing 309bhp and 650Nm of torque. All of this considerable might goes to all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox – and yes it’s got Audi’s famous quattro system as well.
The 0-62mph run takes only 5.6 seconds, making the Allroad a lifted super diesel hot hatch of sorts, and all of that planet reversing torque makes overtaking anything a breeze. Add to this the subtle looks of the thing, and it really is a sleeper estate that can do it all.
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Whoever said that family transportation should be ordinary and boring hasn’t come across the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
Packing a 707hp 6.2-litre V8 under that mean looking bonnet, the Charger Hellcat has the pace to match its evil looks. Try 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds, 50 to 70mph in 2.3 seconds, a downright outrageous quarter mile time of 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 204mph.
It’s also got four doors and a big boot, making it practical. Also, when picking up the kids from anywhere, they will always be ready hearing your burbling V8 approach from about a mile away.
Porsche 911 Turbo S Convertible
Picking a car that will please your kids and yourself is a tough ask as a Dad, but with a Porsche 911 Turbo S Convertible, it’s a no-brainer.
Roof-down thrills, which the kids are going to love, pace and power in abundance, which you’re going to love, and it’s an all-wheel-drive turbocharged 911 – what’s not to like?
The 3.8-litre flat-six turbo motor produces 572bhp giving this drop-top 911 a 0-62mph time of 3.0 seconds dead. Top speed of 205mph, although there is no confirmation if you can drive this fast with the roof down.
McLaren F1
Of all the McLaren F1 owners with families, Rowan Atkinson is perhaps the most famous. Upon selling it for some $12 million (£8m) in 2015, Atkinson mentioned that his F1 was in fact used to ferry his children around for holidays.
So as long as you have two children, and assuming your wife doesn’t want to go, the three-seater F1 could well be the ultimate family hauler. To get you safely on your holidays, the F1 is not exactly slow with a 6.0-litre BMW sourced V12 engine. Producing 627bhp, it catapults the F1 to 62mph in 3.2 seconds before hitting a top speed of 240mph. Now all you need is the £8-£10 million in cash to buy one.
Volvo V90 T8
You may think a Volvo is a reasonably dull choice for an ultimate Dad car list, but when it comes to the V90 T8, you couldn’t be more wrong.
Boasting two powerplants, a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 312bhp driving the front wheels, and a rear-axle mounted 86bhp electric driving the rear wheels – yes, it’s a 401bhp Volvo.
The rest of the not very dull facts continue with the blisteringly quick pace of the thing, as it will do 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds going onto a top speed of 155mph. It will also do a claimed pure-electric range of 28 miles giving it top eco credentials being compliant with all low-emission zones. And as a Volvo, it’ll be the safest car you ever own earning you a top Dad score for thinking of the safety of the family.
Ecto-1
Yes, the Ecto-1 is an oddity of a choice. But what children wouldn’t think their Dad is cool for driving around in a Ghostbusters emblazoned 1959 Cadillac.
Starting life as an ambulance conversion from US company Miller-Meteor, the Ecto-1 has the largest tailfins of any production car ever built. It also boasted a 6.3-litre V8 good for 320hp. Which seems like a lot until you factor in the weight: which is around three tonnes. At nearly 20-feet long, the Ecto-1 may not be ideal for the school run, but your kids will love you for it.
If you pick this car for daily family duties though, you may want to clear out the Proton Packs stored in the rear rack, as you know, they could be a bit dangerous for the kids and all.
Brabus S65 Rocket 900
For the Dad who finds the standard Mercedes-AMG S65 a little too feeble, the Brabus S65 Rocket 900 is the answer to your problems.
With a nuclear-weapons-grade biturbo, 6.3-litre V12 engine squeezed into its nose, the Rocket 900 lives up to its name with 900hp on tap. Obviously, it’s not slow seeing off the 0-62mph run in 3.7 seconds with 0-124mph possible in 9.1 seconds. Top speed is also very swift with Brabus stating that it exceeds 217mph.
In a two-mile stretch of tarmac, the Rocket 900 can reach 211mph – so make sure your children’s school is far enough away for you to slow down. Just don’t look at the fuel gauge, whatever you do.
Lamborghini LM002
If ever there was a car to silence the SUV haters, the LM002 is it. Weighing in at nearly three tonnes, with a 450bhp V12 engine, a trio of self-locking differentials for off-road use and styling that looks like a child designed it in Minecraft.
Famous owners include Mike Tyson, Pablo Escobar, Sly Stallone and even Colonel Gaddafi. But what makes a square-edged uber-SUV with more thirst than a blue whale an excellent choice for a Dad? Only 300 hundred were built for starters, making it rare. Also, it’s possibly the most insane Lambo ever created from a company that does insanity very well. It can go on or off-road and has plenty of space, and its life story is full of enough celebrity culture, military intervention and financial ruin to warrant its own book.
Also, we think that turning up for the school run in an LM002 would make you the ultimate Dad, don’t you agree?
Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Touring
A slightly calmer version of the bonkers Jaguar XE SV Project 8, the Touring variant includes four seats, and the removal of the enormous rear wing found on the standard car. The 592bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine remains, with 0-60mph taking only 3.3 seconds. Due to the reduction in downforce caused by the rear wing swap, top speed is limited to 186mph.
All of this speed though falls to the wayside when looking at the Project 8 Touring. As shorn of its rear wing, it looks, well, just like a standard XE saloon from a distance. Get closer though, and you will notice the extreme aero bodywork, and lashings of carbon fibre hinting at its power and mass lunacy.
Of course, then there is the noise it makes, which can only be described like a group of very angry T-Rex dinosaurs having an argument. A growling, bellowing soundtrack accompanied by a whooshing supercharger which is possibly one of the most magnificent factory exhaust sounds ever.
Renault Espace F1
A result of Renault teaming up with the Williams Formula 1 team in the early 1990s, the Espace F1 was an extreme people carrier. Built on a carbon fibre chassis, part of which was borrowed from the 1993 Williams FW14 F1 car. The body shell was a carbon reinforced replica of the Espace’s body shell, with a far wider track, various vents and essential spoilers.
Power came from a 3.5-litre 40-valve V10 engine, again borrowed from the FW14 F1 car, producing around 800bhp. It was capable of revving to over 13,000rpm sending its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed semi-automatic sequential gearbox.
The mashing of the right pedal resulted in 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds, 120mph in only 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 194mph. It also had four seats, making it family friendly. With the drawback being the race suits and crash helmets required to travel anywhere.
DeLorean DMC-12
From its stainless steel body and gullwing doors, the DeLorean DMC-12 surely has to be one of the best choices for a Dad.
Why? Can you seriously see one of your kids turning down a lift in the car from Back To The Future? No, neither can we. OK, so it might have a wheezing Renault sourced V6 engine producing barely enough horsepower to get up to 88mph, but for what it lacks in pace it makes it up with a presence unrivalled by any other car. As everywhere you go, people will point and say “that’s a DeLorean,” usually followed by the question “have you had it up to 88mph?”
BMW 550d Touring
Diesel may have had a hard time of late, but the 550d Touring laughs in the face of such criticism. As it boasts a 3.0-litre straight-six motor with four turbochargers, producing 394hp.
That’s right, four turbochargers; the same number as the Bugatti Chiron. All of this forced induction gives the 550d a very un-diesel like amount of pace too, with a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, it is quicker than the previous generation F10 M5. Top speed is limited to 155mph, with sleeper looks as standard.
Add to this the diesel frugality, and the 550d is one of the most stealthy looking Dad-wagon’s you can buy.
Nissan GT-R
The GT-R may be a hardcore choice for family transport, but there is no doubting its ability. It has four seats, a big boot and enough acceleration to keep the kids (and Dad) amused for days.
Power comes from a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing a Godzilla like 592bhp. It also has launch control, automatically setting the car up for the best possible launch every single time seeing off the 0-62mph dash in 2.8 seconds. It will also have legendary Nissan reliability, and your kids can tell their friends you drive ‘Godzilla.’
It also has an infotainment system that looks like a video game, and according to some, drives like a video game car sticking to the road like nothing else with handling that is best described as utterly capable.
Ford Mustang Bullitt
The Ford Mustang Bullitt was built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary Steve McQueen movie of the same name.
Outside, it features a de-badged front grille, dark highland green paint and black five-spoke alloy wheels – just like the original movie car. Under the bonnet sits a 5.0-litre V8 engine producing 459bhp. It also has enough pace to lose any potential Dodge Charger driving pursuers on the school run, completing the 0-62mph sprint in 4.6 seconds and hitting a top speed of 163mph.
Driving a Bullitt Mustang will not only make you a cool Dad, it will also give you a great excuse break out the turtleneck jumper and tweed jacket – while of course showing your kids the original Bullitt film with all of its car chase glory.
Aston Martin Rapide S
If you were to stretch a DB9 coupe and add extra doors, the result would be this; the Aston Martin Rapide S.
It is a stunning five-metre long slab of metal that would enrich the school run as much it would Casino Square in Monte Carlo. Up front is a creamy smooth V12 engine pushing out 558bhp. All of this power reaches the rear wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox that is equally super-smooth as that V12 engine.
At the back above the thumping exhaust, you will find a large boot that if you fold the rear seats down, you could even do a run to the local tip, or you could have your butler do it for you.
The coolest thing about the Rapide S though – the bragging rights. As your kids will be able to say “my Dad drives a car like James Bond,” which is undoubtedly worth the £150k asking price.