Best car in the world?

[Supernaut]

I seem to have grown rather fond of E36s of late. They seem like just enough car without being over the top.

 

With that in mind, I could see myself using an E36 M3 touring. Nice straight 6, manual box, and the practicality of an estate.

[John F]

Purely subjectively, based on everything I've owned & driven, as an affordable daily driver used in all weathers & for all purposes, it'd be one of these:

 

[Lord Sterling]

A 1928 Woodvega 16/690 manual top over drive.

[wuvvum]

the standard CX is fine by me although, as of this morning, I'd probably prefer it with a manual gearbox!

Nah m8, what you want is a C-matic.

[Lord Sterling]

A 1956 Blenheim Spectacular.

[BavarianRetro]

I'll have to be boring and predictable, but two of mine are BMWs.

 

A 1989 E30 325i SE two door Auto in Dolphin with leather and air con, on 15" BBS is just as good as it got in 1989.

 

Their ubiquity and current user profile counts against them, but you really need to go back to 1982 and compare the E30 to its contemporary competition to truly understand what a phenomenal car it was.

 

See also 1996 E39 528i.

 

My other one is the South African M88 powered E23 745i. Full spec with buffalo hide Recaros, and every extra and the M1 engine, give or take.

 

Sign me up for a late 90s Bentley Continental too.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I've sat in but never driven a Rolls Royce Camarge. They look goony in photos but close up are beautiful - very understated in a Bristol kind of way. Here is the inside.

 

 

Lovely aren't they? Would be very high on my list.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I seem to have grown rather fond of E36s of late. They seem like just enough car without being over the top.

 

 

 

 

Worthy but dull. A BMW trait. Fine tools for sure, but not really covetable. I'm talking about cars you go out to the garage just to look at and sit in.

 

There's a young lady who walks past my house some days, about 19 or 20. She's so utterly stunning that I don't really think of her on a physical phwooooaaar! level. Utterly unattainable but lovely to look at. She works in a local shop, and she smokes as well - just to give her that slightly raffish edge.

 

That an XJ-C, and what proper cars are all about. Cars that make you swoon. Wow. If only.......

[Scruffy Bodger]

One of these would do for me.

 

[chodweaver]

I was thinking Jensen FF, but never having actually been in one, let alone driven one, I cannot know that I would actually enjoy driving it. I had a thing for Scimitar GTEs too and the same things apply.

 

Mini Moke. Not in original spec, though please: Bigger wheels, bigger engine, bigger seats. Roll bar. And the climate to go with it. And a landscape with no tedious motorway journeys. I am however prepared to fix it myself. Continuously.

 

Lotus Esprit S4 Sport 2.2. Any colour will do. I wouldn't care if it was a pig to drive and broke down all the time (of this I am sure) because: I would have a Lotus and I could afford to fix it. Continuously.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I'll have to be boring and predictable, but two of mine are BMWs.

 

A 1989 E30 325i SE two door Auto in Dolphin with leather and air con, on 15" BBS is just as good as it got in 1989.

 

Their ubiquity and current user profile counts against them, but you really need to go back to 1982 and compare the E30 to its contemporary competition to truly understand what a phenomenal car it was.

 

See also 1996 E39 528i.

 

 

 

 

Really?

[mercrocker]

I remember that "prequel" they did to Last of The Summer Wine.....Winding the clock back to the 1930s when the lads were young.   They were discussing their dream cars and Cleggy said his was a Morris Ten.   "A Morris Ten!  What t'hell you want one of those for?" shouted the young Compo.   Cleggy went on to explain that there was no good wanting an expensive dream car if you couldn't afford to run it.   

 

On that basis, I would quite like my Minor to be working properly and fully repaired structurally.  

 

However, I do appreciate that rather dilutes the true intent of the question.   So, on the basis that it ought to be something I have experienced ownership of and continue to afford to run, I am going for one of these.... 

 

 

W116 280SE.   I reckon a damned good one of these and a couple of grand in the bank for the most immediate of its future problems would see me through a few years.  

[BavarianRetro]

Had one. 1986, 1976 Daimler 4.2 XJC MLS 215P IIRC. Looked beautiful.

 

Was shit.

 

The E39 wasn't intended to be in my list, just another example of exemplary design and engineering that beat the competition hands down for years.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I remember that "prequel" they did to Last of The Summer Wine.....Winding the clock back to the 1930s when the lads were young.   They were discussing their dream cars and Cleggy said his was a Morris Ten.   "A Morris Ten!  What t'hell you want one of those for?" shouted the young Compo.   Cleggy went on to explain that there was no good wanting an expensive dream car if you couldn't afford to run it.   

 

On that basis, I would quite like my Minor to be working properly and fully repaired structurally.  

 

However, I do appreciate that rather dilutes the true intent of the question.   So, on the basis that it ought to be something I have experienced ownership of and continue to afford to run, I am going for one of these.... 

 

Mercedes-w116-280-SE.jpg

 

W116 280SE.   I reckon a damned good one of these and a couple of grand in the bank for the most immediate of its future problems would see me through a few years.  

 

 

The last attractive S Class. Needs to have a proper engine though.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Citroen SM

[Sir Snipes]

 

I could name all kinds of exotic sports or wafty barges but, even if I did a Harry and filled a barn with motors, I'd be driving this day to day.

[Supernaut]

Worthy but dull. A BMW trait. Fine tools for sure, but not really covetable. I'm talking about cars you go out to the garage just to look at and sit in.

 

There's a young lady who walks past my house some days, about 19 or 20. She's so utterly stunning that I don't really think of her on a physical phwooooaaar! level. Utterly unattainable but lovely to look at. She works in a local shop, and she smokes as well - just to give her that slightly raffish edge.

 

That an XJ-C, and what proper cars are all about. Cars that make you swoon. Wow. If only.......

 

Alright, alright. On that basis: The 4-door Citroen SM from that perfume (I think) advert.

 

Or, I know this is tedious, but I've always had a thing for 1957 Chevrolet Bel Airs. So one of them, but with an utterly ridiculous supercharged big block, beefy gearbox and uprated brakes and suspension. Straight pipes are a must, too.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I quite like the idea of these ' bespoke' modified classics in the style of Vicarage MK2 Jags etc. But I'd have to have an original standard one too. As I like the way old cars drive and make me feel when I'm driving them.

 

These 3 will do, but any of the super powerful Jag, Jensen, Bristol , Merc etc Restomods would do.

Or I could just make my own , something like UKSaab's T2 Turbo or a 600 bhp W12 Skoda Superb or a DS Safari with Activa suspension and an SM engine , or...

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Nah m8, what you want is a C-matic.

 

Unfortunately only available on Series 1 CXs, which rust faster.

[Bren]

V8 SD1 also a good steer. Not exotic but wkn't bankrupt you either.

[rml2345]

If we're doing money no object silliness then I'd really like one of these;

 

 

The 7.7 litre, three tonne ZIL 41041 has to be the best worst car in the world.

Although a well sorted P6B would make a fantastic daily.

[chrisjvm]

Alfa Romeo Montreal...

 

Someone beat me to the SM.

 

Though I've been in an SM and while it didn't disappoint it was quite noisy which surprised me.

[paulplom]

Our bargain of the century Volvo V70 has been nothing but a pleasure to clean up and fix up. Very comfy too and has a nice, smooth engine. We'll even ignore the peeling bonnet because of how good the car's been to us.

Brother's waft-o-matic Camry V6 is up there too.

 

I still love the XJ-C and the XJ-S. Perhaps one day I'll own one. Probably not.

 

I still want my taste of the Eastern bloc so perhaps a Tatra or something a bit more common man..... Polonez.

+1 for V70. Our 2006 model has been with us for ten years or so. Averages 50mpg while fast and very comfortable. The last year I've been thinking about what could possibly replace it when the time comes. Nothing so far seems to come close. At 117k it should be good for a good few years yet.

[sierraman]

Citroen CX TRD.

[outlaw118]

This question is too hard.

 

[Lord Sterling]

Tofaş Şahin.

[sierraman]

Lonsdale YD41

[New POD]

Without reading any of the other posts in order not to be swayed by anyone's argument.

 

Mk2 Cavalier Cdi hatch

 

The right balance and compromise of:

 

Fast, comfy, safe, economical, roomy, mechanical simplicity, reliability.

 

I've never owned one.

 

I had a 1.6 gl, a cdi auto, an Sri saloon and a Calibre.

 

A mk3 cavalier is almost as good, but looses out on size.

 

I've owned a 1.8 L version of the mk3 and it was almost as good as the 1.6 gl mk2.

[sierraman]

No that’s a good shout. Those cavaliers were a good all rounder.

[New POD]

Not exotica by any means. My personal opinion for the best car ever made is -

 

 

Yep - the Metro was a missed opportunity for the British car industry to have become great again in my opinion. Loads were sold so they started to build them poorly. Strange philosophy but very historically British.

 

If I had to go and buy a new car today (I wouldn't but if I had to) -

 

 

A small Maserati, obviously.

 

Overall - best car ever that I really, really, really would like?

 

A Stout Scarab

 

 

 

That's me finished on this topic.

Having owned 2 metros I have to say there's nothing in my current motoring use that wouldn't be perfect for a metro.

 

obviously if they had 5 speed gearboxes in the Turbo it would have been better.