When I pay off my daily driver in about a year, I’m looking for a used pickup. Old and beat up is fine with me, possibly even preferred (as long as it still drives fine).
I have the C-max plug-in. The all-electric range is only about 20 miles. But when the big battery is nearly dry, it converts to a regular hybrid, and it has a large gas tank. So the total range is more than on any car I’ve ever owned before. The internet tells me 620 miles. All I know from personal use is that I need a break before it needs gas.
It can be quiet. I like that, unless there are pedestrians standing in my way – they don’t notice that there’s a car waiting to get out of the parking lot. Do I honk? Roll down the window and say something? Just wait and hope they notice me? But when the battery is in play, it’s by far the most powerful and responsive car I have ever driven. Electrics are just SOOO much more responsive than gas engines. You can drive it for efficiency, but if you want to drive it for power, there’s power to burn. (The Plug-in Prius is tuned to only be efficient, but I think it’s the only electric car that doesn’t feel powerful when you drive it.)
The C-max drives nicely as a hybrid. The Volt has a lot more electric range, but is not designed to drive well on gas. It drives (no range anxiety) but it’s underpowered and isn’t fun any more. I’ve never driven the Tesla, but I hear that’s a lot of fun to drive. A fried got the BMW for a weekend test drive, and had a blast, but decided it didn’t have the range she needed to be her only car.
Heh, last weekend I bought the one I’ve been looking at! A bone-stock 1985 Nissan 300zx with 85k original miles. The one pictured at the bottom of the page is not the actual one I bought, but is almost identical (mine has rear louvers installed). The only “drawback” is that it’s normally aspirated (no turbo), but it still has some get up and go. And besides, turbos can be added on later. 
This will be both a daily driver and a project car. Instead of buying a different car every few years, I’ll put that money into this one.
My choices will be limited by my preference for a manual transmission that can haul three wet, dirty dogs. I just traded my Jeep Patriot (first automatic I ever owned) which I absolutely despised, for a New Jeep Wrangler (my 4th Wrangler). I remove the rear seat and store it until trade-in time and use the passenger side for my “stuff”, creating a one-seater.
I’ve heard why Wranglers suck, but I’m happy. Unless a better option pops up, another Wrangler for me.
Official sign of being old. 
Actually, while I wouldn’t be caught dead buying one, Buicks look pretty cool these days. Me, I always have a crush on my Mini Cooper and still want one in British racing green with stripes that make it go FASTER! I also want a motorcycle, like this: Crotchrocket
I’m strongly ambivalent about the 4C. On the one hand, smexy as hell and more than adequate for mostly responsible street use. On the other hand, Alfa is kind of the Pontiac of Italian cars when it comes to reliability.
Should Toyota whip up an electric MR2 I’m pretty sure I’d find a way to make that happen. Otherwise I wouldn’t mind having an old 1/4 ton long-bed 4WD pickup, pretty much any make. I’m pretty easy to please, as long as it seats no more than two people I’m interested.
I was surprised as hell to see either this or the RS (out yet?) running in the yellow and white group at the track, a father and son team, and they were flat moving. Maybe not pulling away from anyone but keeping up with some pretty fast cars. I was impressed.
I’ll probably upgrade the year and model of my Carrera S to a '09 - '11 4S. Macademia or Atlas Grey.
Such great little cars. Love them, too.
Don’t you start. Mine would have to come with divorce papers.
Probably another Subaru unless they can come up with a really good hybrid with a manual transmission.
Anything from this millenium
Okay… I’m fan of manuals. Always have been. My VW is a stick, as was the Volvo SportWagon before it, and the VW before that…
But the new floppy paddle transmissions make me so much less nostalgic for the manuals now. To me, the good ones are truly the biggest and best advance in automotive improvements in recent history.
Not judging, just surprised at how large a fan base remains.
A Regal GS would grab my attention. Turbo 6 speed and a pretty slick looking car. I don’t think they’re crazy expensive, either.
Mine will be a standard Prius: perfect for long road trips, and I don’t current have a house let alone a pluggable garage.
I would seriously reconsider a Buick if they actually go through with a new Grand National on the current Regal platform… AWD, 500 hp, jet black please.
SWMBO would divorce me in an instant if I came home with this.
We’ll be getting a 2015 Taurus in the fall when they all go on sale to make way for the 2016s. We’ll also be selling our boss 2013 tan Dodge Grand Caravan. single tear
I’ve been lusting for a new Corvette Stingraysince they came out last year. I might get one, but probably only if I decide to resume my hobby of high performance driver’s ed (i.e., track driving), which has been on hold for the last few years.
If not, maybe just something small and sporty like a Subaru BRZ.
I’m jonesing for a BMW 650, 2012-ish or newer. A bit pricier than I want.
I don’t know why, but I find the Hyundai Veloster surprisingly sexy & fun looking. Drove a loaded 2014 turbo and was pleasantly surprised. It doesn’t drive like a girl car or a Japanese driving appliance. It’s no BMW either, but it *is *much cheaper than the BMW 
If I had electricity at my home parking place I’d be looking hard at a Tesla. But I don’t and won’t, so I can’t.
Chevy Niva
50 mile electric range for MY 2016 from your wiki link.
2016 Volt is also $1200 less than the 2015. Looks like they will have a rear seat that can seat three people finally for 2016 too, although it looks a little small.
Nissan 370Z. Can’t beat the price.