I had one of these way back when, an HF Turbo (2WD) complete with martini stripes…
but my best-looking 4-door was one of these:
Stretched Ferrari
Its got 4 doors, but note, 4-stud wheels…
My Current four door, Oh goodness me, has it really come to this? I had such a promising start…
Agree with the Avenger and Dolly Sprint.
Thought the last incarnation of the Escort before the Focus replaced it (was that the Mk 5?) was quite pretty.
(Just had to edit this post to remove two four-SEATER cars that didn’t actually have four DOORS. D’OH!!!)
How about…
Not biased in any way though… 
Scotty B.
Wow, resurected after over two years but good thread Mr Reman, how are the running costs of the Lexus stacking-up - average consumption too?
Here is a nice looking 4… well 5 door motor:
It’s a very cheap car to own… It’s just when you drive it anywhere it starts getting expensive. 
I’m averaging about 20 to 23 MPG at the mo, But as I only do about 2000 miles a year in it, I prefer to think that I’m averaging about eight and a bit litres a week… It doesn’t sound quite so bad does it? 
Joking aside, Apart from fuel, insurance and road tax, It’s not that expensive to run. As long as you change the oil and filter once a year, They’re almost indestructible.
Inside, almost everything falls into the category’s of “Powered”, “Heated”, or “Leather trimmed”. Everythings well layed out and I find the front seats REALLY comfortable… Though the back seats can be a little cramped (If you know what I mean. 
).
For a chunky four door saloon, The handling’s pretty impressive too (On country lanes I think it could just about show a clean pair of heels to an MX5 if the driver wasn’t on the ball !).
Is it as fun to drive as a MK1 MX5?.. Not even close!
But if asked how it compares to the plethora of Audi A3’s/A4’s and E46 BMW’s I test drove when I was looking for my '5’s replacment? It’s light-years ahead of the similar aged German offerings… I just wish it had another 100 or so bhp to back up it’s “Sports saloon” styling. 
Scotty B.
Funny you should mention the German offerings, I am currently considering replacing the 2.5L Mazda 6 Sport which we have had from new with something like this, OK 2 doors but 4 seats and a cabrio and with 4wd for extra winter traction, it does seem pretty cheap for a lot of car…
Not keen on the 430 Lexus cabrio though.
I think this looks allright,
In the days when you could buy 3 star…
I could just as happily agree with the Alfa 159, Citreon DS or the Maserati Quatroporte but (and maybe just because no-one has suggested this, unbelievably) I’m going to plum for this - my favourite of the genre. Please be upstanding…
I take car, and I raise you an estate!
Have a proper hankering for one of these with the 2.4 JTDM engine, bet it’d be a great practical barge that still looks awesome
I considered an Alfa 159 as a company car when they first came out Tim, had completely fallen in love with the La Linea of its design.
However, a word of warning - they have very little ground-clearance, the one I had for a weekend test drive bottomed out (under engine) twice in two days on just ordinary roads…
Alfas are flawed in so many ways but I always find myself wanting one, they’re proper ‘sensible head vs childish desire’ cars.
The modern ‘Spider’ is a lovely lovely looking car, I really hope the 4C marks a proper return to form for Alfa.
Hi
For me the Alfa 156 is about the best looking 4 door saloon. To me the 159 looks like someone tried to tack on a few of the 156 styling features onto a normal car.
As to the Quattroporte, I am a bit of a far of the 1990s QP IV. Not sure I would call the pretty, but restrained and cleanly styled. The appeal is the contrast of the restrained exterior, bonkers turbo engine and tarts boudour interior.
All the best
Keith
I’m of the opposite mentality, the 159 appears a great evolution of the 156. I was never sure about the boxy styling of that era of Alfa.
This is a friend of mine’s Alfa 75, he raves about it: RWD, 50:50 weight. In his own words ‘Engine is sold, electrics are comical’
Hi
The 156 is almost as far from boxy as you can get! The 155 is pretty boxy and not very good looking (had 2 of those, and while in just about every measureable way they were better than the 156, as something to drive they were a long way short of the 156). 159 just doesn’t really appeal (not only the styling, it is grosely over weight when compared to the 156).
We used to have a couple of 75s. Styling was never their strong point. We had one auto and one manual, both the same colour with the same interior and the same silly styling kits. Number of times I got to the end of the road, slowed down and wondered for a second why the car was juddering before realising I was in the manual not the auto. Never really had a problem with the electrics on ours beyond a dodgy earth that was a pig to trace down on the auto. When we were looking at them a friend who had a 3L showed us round his to say what to look out for. He popped the bonnet, pointed at the engine bay and commented that the only things that went wrong were those labelled Bosch. I take it your friends one is a 2L Twin Spark. Lovely engine and pretty good throttle response (only cars I have had which were better were the Alfa 33s).
All the best
Keith