Guilty pleasures: Top 5 cars we secretly adore 

Not all these four-wheeled misfits are objectively bad cars but, often, they will attract the sort of attention you’d rather avoid. Here’s our five favourite motors for when nobody’s looking…

Guilty pleasures — we’ve all got them. Whether it’s screaming along to Dolly Parton’s Nine to Five in the shower, or mixing pineapple and pizza, life’s full of little wins we’d rather keep quiet.  

Things are no different when it comes to cars. Chances are there’s one or two slightly embarrassing models that you’ve been hankering for, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! 

From the asinine to the unreliable, and everything in-between, read on to find out if your guilty pleasure motors are more common than you thought. 

Fiat Topolino 

Based on  Citroen’s equally unusual Ami platform, Fiat’s tiny electric quadricycle is utterly adorable. However, while the Topolino does epitomise everything that’s great about Italian design and flair, for many occasions, it’s probably not the sort of car you’d want to be seen rocking up in.  

After all, arriving to work in a car with braided ropes for doors and beach towel seat covers might lead to a few sniggers in the office. The Topolino is exclusively for those with personalities bold enough to stand out from the crowd.

Citroen 2CV

Unlike the Topolino, Citroen’s storied 2CV was a substance-over-style design from the outset – the following it later gained because of its quirky looks was merely a by-product of the car’s success.  

The fact the Deux Chevaux managed to endure an incredible 42-year model run is testament to the strength of the original design. Although, driving/owning one in 2024 requires a special sort of commitment to the classic.  

It’ll be laughably slow, probably quite unreliable, and feature the same level of creature comforts as a jail cell but, somehow, that hasn’t deterred us from wanting one.

Abarth 500e

With its shoe-like dimensions and retro styling, Fiat’s modern 500 (of any flavour) is a car that attracts its fair share of negative stereotypes. But, if you can look past all the clamor that surrounds the regular model, Abarth’s performance variant is a genuinely appealing performance alternative to the likes of Cupra’s Born and the electric Mini.  

Thanks to a vibrant yellow paintjob and a comical synthesised electric guitar engine note, you’re not going to fly under the radar. Although, if you dare to be different, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most interesting and engaging performance EVs on sale.

Rover SD1

Effortlessly cool in its day thanks to appearances in cult cop shows like The Professionals,   nowadays, to most, Rover’s SD1 just looks like a flakey old saloon from a defunct marque.  

While flakey is inarguably correct (the SD1’s track record for brittleness makes an Alfa Romeo GTV6 look like a Lexus), the old SD1 did popularise one of history’s greatest powerplants: the Buick/Rover V8.  

As well as sounding great and going like stink, the SD1’s lines mimicked that of the vastly more expensive Ferrari Daytona — which appeals hugely to petrolheads who grew up in mid-1970s. Given its propensity to go pop in just about every way imaginable, the flawed but loveable SD1 is the ultimate heart-over-head purchase.

Citroen C6

On first appearances, Citroen’s discontinued C6 might seem rather sensible and unremarkable compared to the other machines on this list. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll discover that it was actually one of the French brand’s most unusual oddball offerings.         

Shown here in obligatory taxi spec, the C6 wasn’t a terrible car, but it was a very strange one. From its hydropneumatic suspension —offering Mercedes S-Class levels of ride comfort— to its concave rear windscreen and head-up display (unheard of in 2005), Citroen’s flagship luxo-barge had idiosyncrasies coming out of its ears.  

Perhaps it’s this pioneering nature that intrigues us today, or maybe it’s simply the rarity factor. Either way, we can’t help but think the big Citroen is a whole lot more interesting than any contemporary German rival. 

Hero image credit: Shutterstock