Cars I Pretend Suit Me

Clara Kinsella

@halfbackclara

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The cars I keep test-driving in my head while actually tapping my Leap card onto the 145. A mix of sensible, stupid and pure fantasy, rated on whether they survive Dublin rain, match-day traffic and the terror of parallel parking on a hill in Ranelagh. Proceed with caution and a bus pass.

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Showing 1–10 of 10

Cars I Pretend Suit Me — 10 items
Name	Vibe	Best for	My take
1Volkswagen Golf (modern, not clapped-out)	Responsible adult with a Spotify problem	Office commute plus surprise IKEA run	Every time I see one I think “that’s it, I’ll be sensible now,” and then remember my rent.
2Toyota Yaris Hybrid	Quiet overachiever with reusable coffee cup	Stop-start traffic on the Quays without crying	Feels like owning a very calm goldfish that also pays half your petrol bill.
3Audi A3 Sportback	Promotion you maybe didn’t deserve but took anyway	Client visits where you pretend you don’t still use student cutlery	I’d park this three Luas stops away just so nobody at work thinks I’m paid more than I am.
4Hyundai Ioniq 5	Retro game console turned into a car	Future-proofing your guilt about the planet	LOOKS LIKE A CONCEPT DRAWING. I’d buy it just to sit in the driveway and charge my laptop.
5Kia Sportage	GAA parent energy but with good podcasts	Dragging friends, kit bags and snacks to away matches	Too big for my life, perfect for my fantasy where I’m organised and own more than two towels.
6Skoda Octavia Estate	Pragmatic aunt who secretly loves speed	Airport runs, flat-pack furniture, three lost umbrellas	The UX of “just fits everything” is irresistible. Shame it screams ‘I know my tax band’.
7Tesla Model 3	Tech bro, but you recycle so it’s fine	Pretending the M50 is a sci-fi tunnel	As a UX designer I want to love the giant screen. As a human I would crash from over‑tapping Spotify.
8Honda Jazz	Retired music teacher, surprisingly nimble	Parking in spaces that looked impossible	The magic seats are genius. I’d fill the whole back with books and still have room for my poor plants.
9BMW 3 Series Touring	Midlife crisis, but tasteful and punctual	Long spins down the N11 pretending it’s the Autobahn	I’d insist it’s for practicality then immediately rev it leaving the Tesco car park.
10Suzuki Swift Sport	Hyperactive terrier in high-vis trainers	Rainy back roads when you’re definitely not late	Bright, loud, slightly ridiculous. So yes, obviously, I want it in yellow.