We’ve all asked ourselves this question at some point: If I could only have one car, what would it be?
Not the weekend toy, not the track-only monster, but one car that could handle daily duties, family trips, and still make you grin every time you turn the key.
At RNG Classics, we’ve driven and hired out just about every type of car you can imagine — from lightweight track specials to big GT bruisers. And while many of them are thrilling, few tick every box.
That’s where three standouts from our fleet come in: the BMW E46 M3 Convertible, the Audi RS6 Avant, and yes, even the Aston Martin DB9 — because who says a V12 GT can’t do the school run?
BMW E46 M3 Convertible – The Driver’s Choice and 911 killer!
If you want one car that’s fast, involving, stylish, and practical, the E46 M3 is a strong contender. This early-2000s icon is one of the last great analogue M cars, with BMW’s legendary naturally aspirated straight-six pushing out 333bhp. It revs all the way to 8,000rpm, and the soundtrack alone is worth the hire fee.
In Convertible form, you can drop the roof for weekend blasts yet still seat four in comfort — and unlike many modern sports cars, it actually works as a daily driver. Our example comes with the SMG-II paddle-shift gearbox, letting you flick through gears in milliseconds without losing that old-school mechanical feel.
It’s a car that wears many hats — and looks superb in all of them.
Audi RS6 Avant – Power, Space, and All-Weather Grip
Need more space without sacrificing performance? Enter the Audi RS6 Avant — quite possibly the ultimate stealth supercar. On paper, it’s a family-friendly estate. In reality, it’s a twin-turbocharged powerhouse with over 500bhp and quattro all-wheel drive that laughs in the face of bad weather.
You could take it to the supermarket in the morning and a track day in the afternoon. It’s brutally fast, comfortable for long journeys, and big enough for all the family’s luggage. If there’s such a thing as a sensible performance car, the RS6 is it. A rocket ship for hire…
Aston Martin DB9 – Family GT With a V12 Heart
It might not be the first car you think of for everyday duties, but the Aston Martin DB9 proves that practicality can be glamorous. With seating for four (albeit two little legs in the back) and a surprisingly usable boot, it’s perfectly capable of running the kids to school or whisking the family away for a weekend.
Under the bonnet? A 6.0-litre V12 producing one of the best exhaust notes in motoring history. Every trip — even to the shops — feels like an occasion. It’s proof that you don’t have to choose between elegance and excitement.
We took ours on a road trip day with McLaren’s recently and EVERY owner said the Aston sounded best!
The Verdict
If I had to pick one? The sensible side says RS6 Avant, the purist in me shouts E46 M3, and the romantic… well, the romantic hears that Aston Martin V12 and doesn’t care about anything else.
The truth is, there’s no single right answer. But at RNG Classics, we can put all three in your hands — so you don’t have to imagine!
