Order of Magnitude – Best cars for the NC500

Order of Magnitude – Best cars for the NC500

Something you may have seen floating around your social media feeds are images of Scotland’s take on Route 66 – an increasingly popular driving route, the North Coast 500.

With restrained freedom upon us, you’re likely to be wondering what there is to do this year now that we’re allowed to explore the country – however dystopian that may sound.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful driving routes, the NC500 takes you on a 500-mile (516 to be exact) round trip of the most northerly parts of Scotland. We’ve experienced it first hand, and you can find out more about it here.

We’ve chosen what we think are the five best cars to get the most out of the NC500 experience and for the first time in a while we’ve had to exclude electric cars completely – for obvious reasons.

5. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 2020

GT500 1

What we hope is the biggest cliche on this list, the Ford Mustang is the ultimate road-trip car, at least, that’s what the sterotypes say.

If you haven’t at some point pictured yourself on Route 66 in an American muscle car, then shame on you.

The Shelby GT500 is Ford’s latest Mustang, with 760bhp produced by its supercharged V8. What’s known as one of the most iconic muscle cars in history, the Mustang ticks every box for that perfect Instagram picture whilst travelling the NC500.

Whilst not the most practical car on our list, with little boot space and little room for the family, the locals are going to love the GT500 so you’ll make friends wherever you go. Scotland’s wide open roads suit the ‘Stang perfectly and we can’t think of many better places to enjoy one. Just be sure to plan your petrol stops.

Alternatives: Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Corvette (C7)

4. Lamborghini Urus

Urus, NC500
Image courtesy of Lamborghini

Undoubtedly the most capable for all weathers on our list, the Urus is an excellent if not a little expensive choice for the NC500.

With unparalleled speed for an SUV, along with plenty of space and comfort, the Urus is certainly one that would make light work of the road-trip.

Housing a 4.0L twin-turbo V8, the Urus is going to bring a bit of excitement on even the greyest of days up north. Lamborghini and all-terrain weren’t words that were used in the same sentence a few years back, but Lamborghini’s ridiculous SUV is more than capable of battling through all 516 road miles with little effort, and can also take you off the beaten track. There are plenty of opportunities to explore off-road – just do it responsibly.

With space for the family and a large boot for storing essentials such as cold-weather gear and gallons of midge repellant, the command driving position is perfect for enjoying the incredible views as they flash past in a blur…

Alternatives: Porsche Macan, Audi RSQ8

3. Aston Martin Superleggera

Drive the North Coast 500
Image courtesy of Aston Martin

Could you really do the most famous road-trip in Britain without even contemplating completing it in this quintessentially British GT?

The Superleggera has filled a niche – the super grand-tourer – and it does it exceptionally well. It has earned rave reviews for it’s handling and good looks, and will look right at home outside whichever castle, highland hotel or stately home you choose to stay in. Like the Mustang, the roads really suit a big GT like nowhere else in the UK.

If driving the Superleggera didn’t make you feel like 007 already, the route passes the famous Eilean Donan Castle, which James Bond fans may recognise as the MI6 headquarters from Die Another Day.

Similar alternatives: Ferrari 812 Superfast, Mercedes-AMG S65, Bentley Continental GT

2. Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

2019 porsche 911 gt3 rear angle view carbuzz 519212 1600

Wondering when a Porsche would pop-up? We’d hate to disappoint…

The GT3 Touring was built for exactly this purpose, so it is little wonder that it would be weapon of choice for the Magnitude team member (Ed) with the most NC500s under his belt (12).

With the perfect beld of comfort, practicality and fun Porsche’s are also have legendary reliability which comes in handy when help is so far away. Just ask Ed, who has broken down twice on the NC500 – both times in a TVR/

Similar Alternatives: Mclaren 570S, Lotus Evora.

1. Audi RS6

Audi RS6 North Coast 500
Image courestu of Audi AG

It wouldn’t be an Order of Magnitude without an Audi and the RS6 is perfect for the job in hand.

The super-estate continues to be one of our most searched for vehicles on our finance calculator, and it’s not hard to see why.

The RS6 manages to offer up everything you may need for a multi-day roadtrip; speed, comfort, fun and space.

One of the major challenges of the NC500 is staying in your car – there is just so much to do and see. That is the genius of the RS6; you can carry as much kit as you like – tents, walking boots, surfboards – and it won’t even notice.

It’s also AWD so you can thread the RS6 along the best of Scotland’s roads whatever the weather. And that’s just why the RS6 tops our Order of Magnitude yet again.

Alternatives: Audi RS4, Mercedes E63 AMG, BMW M3 Touring (when it lands on our shores).

If you’re considering any of the above – or maybe something else – make sure you check out our finance calculator. Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team who have a range of finance products available for you.