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Top 11: McTaggart’s List Of Euro-Only Rides That Caught His Eye While On Vacation


Top 11: McTaggart’s List Of Euro-Only Rides That Caught His Eye While On Vacation

I’m sitting in a hotel in Dublin, Ireland, wrapping up the few weeks of touring that I’ve done. There will be more to the actual road trip story, fear not, but for now, let’s take a look at some of the rides that have caught my eye since I landed in Glasgow. All three countries (Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland) are set up the same way: right-hand drive, left-lane travel, narrow-ass roads with the exception of the M-roads, which are akin to U.S. highways. Both gasoline and diesel fuel are expensive and city traffic and parking suck out loud…there’s no words I can use for the absolute lack of parking. I understand why Smart is able to sell vehicles now. Anyways, here’s the list of what I would pick up if I had to go Euro-only…and I’ll preface this list by saying that obvious answers, like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc. aren’t on the list simply because I didn’t want to be Captain Obvious. Cool? Ok…here we go.

11: Renault Laguna “X74 body”

laguna

One of the more numerous vehicles I saw, the Laguna is the perfect car choice if your desire is to blend into the surroundings. This five-door hatchback isn’t too impressive in the powertrain department (either a 207hp V6 or a 174hp diesel four) but what you do get is a car the size of a Chevy Malibu that fits into 90% of wherever you want to park, can fit a good-sized LCD TV under the hatch (I saw that trick) and can be picked up for a song. One of these in a used car lot outside of Killarney, Ireland was sitting at €1700, looking mildly used.

10: Ford Mondeo Estate

mondeo estate

An honest-to-God useable station wagon…if there is something that should still exist in the US market, this is easily the one I’d love to see. Estates are still a big deal out here, with plenty of the big-hitter names rolling around the area. The Ford Fusion is a decent car, and really, other than the RHD conversion and the lack of a battering ram for a rear bumper, this is a Fusion wagon. Works for me.

9: Chrysler 300C Touring Estate

300C estate

It’s a Dodge Magnum, but without the Magnum’s cheap-ass interior. Yes. This wins…especially if making a trip to Germany is in your future. They came with the 5.7, the 6.1, and got a 3.0 diesel V6, so take your pick.

8: Isuzu D-MAX

isuzu-d-max

Small, diesel-powered truck. This is how compact trucks should be, but instead we get the argument that a compact pickup isn’t what we want, but instead an oversized and underpowered V6 domestic full-size. I call BS on that.

7: Ford Transit HD (dually)

transit

Probably the most widely-seen vehicle in Europe, the Transit has a reputation for being a workhorse that can handle Europe’s small communities and narrow-gauge roads. I’m not a fan of the styling of the Transit we are getting in America, so I’d go a generation or two back and get one just like the picture…just in any other color.

6: Opel Insignia OPC

insignia opc

You might be saying, “Dude, it’s a Buick Regal”, and you’d be mostly right. What is missing from the Regal, however, is the 321hp turbo motor, six speed manual and all-wheel drive. They get it, we don’t. There’s been rumors since the Regal came back about a Grand National version. Hey, GM: HURRY UP ALREADY.

5: Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel

WG GC

Two words: “Diesel Jeep”. No other reason. Moving on…

4: Land Rover Defender 90

Land-Rover-Defender-90-Station-Wagon-XS-2012-1366x768-004

Tell me, exactly, why this isn’t a good choice? Yes, I know that we got this in the 1990s but let’s face it: you’ll see those driven more in upper-class suburbia than you ever will in a muddy field trying to round up sheep. These are used heavily out here, along with Toyota Land Cruiser Prados and Mitsubishi Pajeros.

3: Mitsubishi L200 “Barbarian”

4460005

For the most part, everything I said about the D-max works for the truck that started life as the Mitsubishi Mighty Max. But seriously…the “Barbarian”…that’s awesome. It’d be even more awesome if the truck was handed over to a mentally-unstable Aussie with a welder and a Mad Max fetish. He’ll show you “barbarian”…

2: Ford Ranger T6

Ford-Ranger-Pocket-Style-Fender-Flare

This would render most versions of the F-150 moot. 3.2L inline-five diesel, looks that good, room for four adults. Thanks, Ford. Appreciate that one.

1: Ford Focus Mk2 RS

ford-focus-rs-2009-01

The second I saw one of these in Edinburgh, I knew what car made the top of this list. This is the Focus we didn’t get, period. Not this generation, and certainly not any that is this pissed-off. At over 300hp, this was one of the baddest hot hatches around Europe, and it is great for hunting yuppie brats in VW GTi’s. The fender flares and RS-specific body panels turn the yawn-inducing Focus into an eye-opener. We’re due to get the new Focus RS on our shores soon, and if the rumors of all-wheel drive and an even stronger power plant are true, then the wait will be worth it.


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8 thoughts on “Top 11: McTaggart’s List Of Euro-Only Rides That Caught His Eye While On Vacation

  1. NotoriousREV

    The Renault Laguna will probably eat its own turbo or the rear axle will fall offand the interior will disintegrate around you.

    The 300C is seen as too American for most British folk, at least. Those that do buy them fit awful Bentley style grilles, stupid chrome rims and pimp tints.

  2. Chevy Hatin' Mad Geordie

    All I can say is that I’ve never seen anything more boring in these esteemed pages – but that’s probably because I’m British and only into cars made before 1980.

    Although the focus RS would be wild fitted with a Kugel Enterprises big block Ford conversion!

  3. Nick D.

    Ooooh, that Ranger and Focus RS and Mondeo Estate. Dammit Ford, why do you hold out on the good stuff on the US market?

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