Revealed: your ultimate Car That Got Away

Sure is. But before we begin, let’s get one thing out of the way. You see, there may have been a wide field, but this was anything but a fair fight. From the off, one car took the lead and held on to it. It was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Ford’s pumped up RS Cosworth. Why unsurprisingly? Because this was the car to own if you were a teen in the 90s – a gasp-inducing, supercar-embarrassing, joyrider-attracting passport to coolness that your mum definitely didn’t approve of. Plus, it had a spoiler, and teens love a good wing – even though the Cosworth actually went faster without it.

But that wasn’t all. Hitachi also asked you to pick a favourite from each decade. The resulting shortlist reads like a who’s who of era-defining cars: from the 70s, the muscular Ford Capri, from the 80s, the iconic boxy lines of the Golf GTi MkI, and from the 00s, the frankly ridiculous 9,000rpm Honda S2000. Click through the gallery above to take a look at them in all their beautiful retro glory.

Certainly is. These cars might be old, but there’s not a petrolhead out there who wouldn’t fancy this lot on their driveway.

Yet for all that, it’s worth remembering that age doesn’t necessarily guarantee style, and that, despite Britney Spears’ best wishes, the world didn’t end in 2009. There’s a new generation of kids out there, with a new generation of cars on their wall – and chief among them is Ford’s new Focus RS.

In many ways, the RS is the spiritual heir to the Cosworth. For a start, it’s inherited the breakneck pace, hitting 0-62 in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 165mph. It’s also got the trademark grippy handling and on-point styling. And it’s bursting with flashy new tech: where the Cossie got an optional CD player (yes, CDs), the RS boasts Brembo brakes, and an innovative 4WD overspeed function that can drive the rear wheels at a faster pace than the front. The result is a tautly balanced ride that’s just as happy diving into corners or sliding around them, sideways.

What really places the RS firmly on the path to legend status is the way that Ford has managed to capture the unfussed, louche aggression that defined the Cossie, and bring it bang up to date. Put it together with the other winners and you can see the difference, sure, but you can also see a recurring theme. Each of these cars has swagger, and as such it’s no surprise to find they were the biggest teenage crushes of their era. And with Hitachi Personal Finance, you might never have to see another slip between your fingers.

Hitachi Personal Finance is the expert in providing affordable loans to the UK’s car lovers. For the last 30 years, it’s provided loans to over five million British petrolheads, helping them get their dream cars on the driveway. It’s been voted the UK’s Best Direct Personal Loan provider, and lends over £1.5 billion a year, approving a loan every 60 seconds. It also offers some of the lowest rates around, so you can borrow between £2,500 to £25,000 with rates as low as 3.8% and have the funds in your account within 48 hours. And, as every negotiator knows, with the cash in your pocket you’re in a strong position to get the best deal possible – and with cars like the Focus RS out there, what else are you waiting for? 

Find out more and apply for your loan today at hitachipersonalfinance.co.uk/car-loans