singular vs plural - What kind/kinds of car/cars are you interested in?

1. What kind of car are you interested in?


2. What kind of cars are you interested in?


3. What kinds of cars are you interested in?

Is there any one that can’t be allowed to be said?

I would think that #1 could be possible, when the speakers, intending to buy a car, are in a shop which sells cars. And in #2, when it’s not the case as 1, plural cars are more reasonable, in my eye. In 3, for ‘cars’ is plural, it seems that plural ‘kinds’ can be used - but sounds somewhat strange. Can all three be said or not?

Answer

Your understanding of #1 is correct: someone shopping for a car is asked "what kind of car are you shopping for, family sedan, small commuting car, a big station-wagon or SUV?"

Statement #3 might apply to a situation where a collector is asked to list the range of vehicle types he likes to collect (racing cars, luxury cars, cars formerly owned by celebrities, etc).

Statement #2 might apply to a situation where a highly specialized collector, who collects only one kind of vehicle, is asked to say which kind that is (sports cars or luxury cars or cars whose body panels were made of soybeans...). The question assumes a single property will unite these cars into a class. The collector might say he collects "only vintage cars" but they could include vintage racing cars and vintage luxury cars and ...