base class with abstract method returning T

Question

I am defining a base class that has a method that returns type T. The classes the derive from this can return different types.

public abstract class BaseTransport
{
    public abstract T Properties<T>();
}

public class Car : BaseTransport
{
    public override T Properties<T>()
    {
       return new CarProperties();
    }
}

public class Bike : BaseTransport
{
    public override T Properties<T>()
    {
       return new BikeProperties();
    }
}

If it makes a difference the return BikeProperties and CarProperties are both derived from BaseProperties.

Is this possible to do? Just trying to enforce the implementation of a method...

Answer 1

You don't want generic methods, you want a generic class:

public abstract class BaseTransport<T> where T : BaseProperties
{
    public abstract T Properties();
}

public class Car : BaseTransport<CarProperties>
{
    public override CarProperties Properties()
    {
       return new CarProperties();
    }
}

public class Bike : BaseTransport<BikeProperties>
{
    public override BikeProperties Properties()
    {
       return new BikeProperties();
    }
}