A sportscar for...

[Sam]

Putting a bike in the boot and driving to a mountainside hotel and on arrival being judged by everyone and anyone as a nice and interesting bloke.

Mostly it’s a user-image question. Which car promotes a purely positive reaction?

It also has to be designed from the beginning as a sports car and capable of carrying a bicycle. In bits if necessary.

I can only think of 1 option.

[Sam]

And it’s not a 911. Lots of people think they’re a bit flash.

[Gary71]

New Alpine?

[inaglasshouse]

Lamborghini Espada. Simples.

[rhd racer]

Putting a bike in the boot and driving to a mountainside hotel and on arrival being judged by everyone and anyone as a nice and interesting bloke.

Taking a leap here. You bought the flat nose from Paul McLean and Mrs Sam didn’t like it, so you need to dress to impress?

Are we talking brand-spanking or used?

[Nine One One]

Audi S1

[911hillclimber]

Aston Martin, DB4

[jb]

It depends on the audience.
Bike people won't care what is the car
Car people may wonder why you want to bring a bike.
People people probably don't care what bike or car so long as you are amuse them
So buy what you like and stuff what people think, mind you an Espada does sound like fun

[Sam]

It’s not really an actual scenario, more an intellectual exercise [pub discussion] on how people judge us by car choice:

I’d say the DB4 and Espada would be seen as hugely ostentatious / flashy by many.
The only way you’d get a bike in an Alpine is with an angle grinder. Thought I do think they’re close ‘good bloke’ user image.
The S1 is a hatchback. It’s small though, which I think makes it less alpha male than a bigger fast Audi.

What I suppose I’m after is something you’d get out of in front of a diverse crowd, with all the people JB describes in, and not one of them would mutter ‘wan ker’ under their breath.

[911hillclimber]

Transit van.

Most people think a sports car is for over 40's loosing/lost their libido and have too much money.

[rhd racer]

Original Audi Quattro, arrive Michelle Mouton style. Only a nice bloke would do that, as long as you don’t do a Scandinavian flick outside your hotel.

[mycar]

A 356 with a roof rack for the bike will be the best choice for the man with the fragile ego.

Next we need to discuss what you'll be wearing when you step out of the car.

Cycle clips will show you to be a man of the people.

Anything lycra is wan ker, obvs.

[911GP]

Audi RS2 or RS4

[Lightweight_911]

.

It depends to a large extent on what you define as a 'sportscar' - I personally wouldn't categorise any of the cars mentioned so far a 'sportscars' ...

A 356 (with a bike/roof rack) definitely fits your criteria though.

.

[23e Heure]

Although as a fellow cyclist I am enjoying the concept, perhaps the “must carry a bicycle” part is a bit of a red herring.

Ultimately how many sports cars are there that draw consistent and universal admiration, without being considered flashy by any audience?

A 356 must surely be one of top options.

But not the only one. There are some Italian cars that would work, especially from the 50s/60.

I think it really helps if the model is relatively unfamiliar too.

My own vote for number one would be a Lancia Appia Zagato.

I reckon you could just about squeeze a bike in the back, disassembled. You’d defo need one without a roll bar though.