Nowadays, it is tough being a car enthusiast living in a big city. The streets are clogged with traffic 24/7, there is no parking in sight, fellow motorists are rude and don’t get us started on fuel prices, insurance, and maintenance costs. Not to mention the cost of renting a garage or even a parking space is sometimes more than the monthly rent for a one-bedroom flat. It looks like a modern metropolis is no place for a car collector.

But there is a solution. Instead of having multiple cars for every occasion, why don’t we concentrate on one car for all purposes and see what the best vehicles for the one-garage situation are? In order to be a proper enthusiast`s ride, this car has to fulfil several requirements. It has to be powerful, fast and exciting, but it also has to be practical, easy to drive and dependable. Here are our top seven choices.

BMW M5 E39

You want that delicious old-school BMW feel, but you also want a car with modern amenities and equipment. You want four-door sedan comfort, but you also want muscle car performance. Sounds impossible? No, not at all, and the solution is merely the early 2000s BMW M5 E39. With a 4.0-litre V8 engine with 400 horsepower, a perfect six-speed manual transmission and performance that is still more than respectable, this car is the ultimate performance sedan. It can go unnoticed due to its understated appearance, but it can also turn into a proper street racer by the simple press of the accelerator pedal.

Ford F-150 Raptor

You probably didn’t consider a Raptor to be a contender but this muscle truck makes a strong case. Apart from being able to cross the Sahara without breaking a sweat, the Raptor has a 450 horsepower, twin-turbo V6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission and the ability to go from 0 to 60 MPH in just over 5 seconds, which is insane! Not to mention that you can easily carry five people and over 600 kilograms of cargo in the truck bed, and still have the most capable suspension set-up of any street-legal vehicle. What does this mean in real life? Well, you can park practically anywhere, outrun any patrol car and carry as many shopping bags as a delivery van. This is easily the only car you will ever need.

Audi RS6 Avant

Audi has a long tradition of making invisible supercars with their RS6 Avant series. The insanely powerful station wagons, with a capable all-wheel-drive Quattro system, have been excellent choices for people who need practicality as well as brutal performance. The newest model is no different, and it offers even more practicality, comfort, and equipment with its 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine with 591 horsepower. The 0 to 60 MPH time is just 3.8 seconds, and we bet that the people in that Lamborghini will be more than surprised when you overtake them with your station wagon.

Ferrari FF

You are a devoted Ferrari fan, but you have a family and responsibilities. Does this mean that your beloved V12 GT has to go? Not quite. Just buy a 2011 to 2016 Ferrari FF. This slightly controversial Ferrari is the perfect all-rounder with its 6.3-liter V12, automatic transmission and, Ferrari`s first all-wheel-drive system. Not to mention a comfortable interior for four people and an accessible luggage compartment with more than enough space for all your family’s needs. Think of it as a Ferrari station wagon with all the performance and excitement you`ll expect from a thoroughbred from Modena but with the usability of a Mondeo Estate.

McLaren GT

Supercars are impractical, right? Most of them are, and they are a real pain to use daily. That is why McLaren introduced the GT, the first user-friendly supercar designed to be as docile as a Fiesta and as fierce as a P1 when you want it to be. Based on the 720S model, the GT features more interior room, softer suspension and, most importantly, an enormous boot – at least by supercar standards. This means that you really can use the GT as an everyday car, travel a long distance, and carry more than just your wallet. Of course, since this is a McLaren, expect 620 horsepower on tap and blisteringly fast numbers.

Credit: Charles CC-BY 2.0

Volkswagen Golf R

What to do when you need a family hatchback with significant performance but loath the boy-racer looks of modern hot hatches? Simply buy a Golf R and have a perfectly understated five-door hatchback with 308 horsepower, sports car-beating performance, and the usability of a family car. Not to mention that the Golf R costs significantly less than any of the vehicles on our list. This makes it a perfect choice for people on a budget.

Porsche Macan GTS

The SUV class offers dozens of cars that combine everyday practicality and usability with respectable performance. However, almost all of them are just overpowered station wagons or big and clumsy crossovers. Very rarely do you find a real driver`s car in this segment, which concentrates on driving pleasure as well as practicality. This is one of them. The Macan GTS is not the fastest or most powerful Macan on offer, but it is the best one. Perfectly balanced, dynamic, and a joy to drive, the GTS is the one you need to get if you are looking for a sports car disguised as an SUV.