I think Wow simply means that it's a car you really want to own. It doesn't have to be a class leader in anything, just to give that vibe.
Quite right. I've never been attracted to the sorts of cars that were objectively the best in their category. I've always been drawn to the (to me) more interesting options that sat just off centre of the obvious choice.
'90 VW Polo G40 (when the Golf MK2 16v was the hot hatch king)
'94 Audi RS2 (why have a quattro when you can have an estate?)
'97 Porsche 911 turbo (when £90k could have bought a F355)
Then along came the family...
Nowadays, the cars that trigger my desire are still not everyone's cup of tea. I may be alone in thinking the Alfa MiTo the prettiest hatch of the last 10 years and I also love the Honda CRZ - both discontinued, unloved and cheap! Trying to find a late model CRZ with the uprated engine/battery and a black interior. Thank God we all like different things.
