Suppose you could only have one vehicle. It can be anything you want, but there are a few caveats:
- It has to fulfill all your current needs in life.
- It does not have to be new and you can equip it with whatever factory options you like.
- Initial cost isn’t a factor and whatever you choose is ready for daily use.
You’re looking at mine – a 2017 F-150 XLT with the 2.7 liter V6, four-wheel drive, and a modest interior. Plenty of room for people, able to haul bulky and/or heavy loads, it will pull whatever I need it to pull, and with an EPA rating of 23 mpg highway it certainly beats my current pickup – which is why I went with a new one. These also ride and drive very well, totally unlike the stereotypical pickup experience. It would work well for Shafer House.
So what about you?
You made a good choice with that 2017 F-150 XLT.
Think i’d do the same.
Thanks.
The question hit me and I had to think a while for an answer. Given my current situation in life, there aren’t any options other than Chevrolet, Ram, and Toyota.
Were I twenty-odd years older, or lived elsewhere, my answer would have likely been much different.
Yeah, GM is off my list because they refuse to put head restraints in any of their trucks for the rear center passenger. Ram doesn’t have a full center seat in back, and Toyota is rather dated. So even though my 5.4 has been a POS, I’d still have to go with Ford again.
Once the kids are grown I’d downsize. But for now, there’s not a better vehicle out there for an active family of 5 in my opinion. Crew cab pickups do it all.
Me too. Almost how I’d like it too with the bench seat and 2.7, though I’d really like the Auto 4×4 next time which means I’d need a Lariat.
After my experiences with my current 5.4 F-150 I’d be very hesitant to buy another Ford. But hey, if money’s no object why not, it’s the only truck that checks all the boxes for me right now.
Ford F250 King Ranch or Harley Edition with the four-door crew cab, short bed, 2WD, and the 6.7 liter Powerstroke engine.
There’s a reason we’ve had 2 Minis.
– 99% of the time there are one or two people in the car, so back seat space isn’t a concern.
– More than enough cargo room to go shopping or run errands, especially with the rear seats down.
– Can easily fit in our tight garage spot (no way that F-150 is getting in there!)
– Small, but not a penalty box. Fun to drive and a decent interior.
– Can find street parking a bit easier than with a larger vehicle.
We wish there were more options at the Mini’s size and price point, but we are in a small minority, I suppose.
I will say, though, that if I was ever in the market for a pickup, those new F-150s are pretty nice vehicles.
Something that size would do me fine, too.
We already have a Mini in the family (’15 Cooper S, won in a competition). I love the feeling of well-engineered quality and solidity it gives you, and all the neat little touches that show you the designers have really thought things though, not just built a penalty box and thrown luxury stuff at it till it groans under the weight! Only criticisms: Rear seat access is a bit tight (3 door) and for a car that size the trunk is a bit small. I have to fold the rear seat whenever I take it to the farm supplies.
In Australia the premium hatch is a fairly hotly-contested market segment, but with cost no object we’d go the same again, so long as Volcanic Orange is still available. 🙂
Pete, I agree with you completely. The interior is kind of an ergonomic disaster, but at least it’s a CHARMING ergonomic disaster!
Driving mine already. 2012 Ford Fusion SE, 2.5 6/A. Happier than a pig in doo doo. Great on gas too.
Enjoying our second month in a 2010 Fusion SEL with 2.5. Fits our needs perfectly and it’s my wife’s commuter car. My winter beater is an 02 Mazda Protege with 2.0 and five-speed manual. Ideal for urban driving
I don’t need much hauling ability, so I’ll go for a current Lexus LS460 F-Sport.
Benz W213 E-Class with the OM 656 3.0 liter Reihensechszylinder. Brand new inline-6 Rudolf Turbo Diesel FTW !
Comfort, interior space, handling, superb performance combined with good fuel efficiency, not too big, looking great inside & out…it’s all there. I might drive it till the day I die.
A Mid90s CAMRY or COROLLA Wagon with five speed manual would get the job done just fine for me.i never owned a new car&never will,it’s just not a good investment.
I do not know if there is a 92-96 Camry Wagon stick shift. I could not find one in the Portland, OR Metro Area so I bought a sedan instead.
DownHere All Camrys&Corollas before 2011 came with manual(Wagon&sedan)Even today most New Camrys&Corollas are manual.Even the LUXURY TOYOTA AURION comes with six speed stick shift which is very fun to drive.considering the combo of 3.5 Liter(6v)&manual.
Really? You get a manual Aurion? We don’t even get that in Aus, even though we received Sportivo variants with styling tweaks designed by Toyota Australia.
92 and later Camry wagons were not available with manual shift in the US. So I bought a new Corolla wagon with 5-speed stick in 1993. Still runs great and is my daily driver.
It’s long gone now, but we too bought a new ’93 Corolla wagon 5 speed over Camry or Accord because the latter were automatic only. Our’s was languishing on the lot well after the ’94’s arrived, and I suspect that was because it was a manual. But to answer Jason’s QOTD, I too have a 4 door 4wd pickup, in my case a 2016 Tacoma. Not perfect for anything, and certainly not fun to drive or frugal with fuel, but it can pretty much do anything. It even has 5 headrests.
Easy a Ford Ranger. probably a 2001 or so.
Extended cab 3.0 V6 with an Automatic transmission and Air conditioning.
Small enough and easy enough to park pretty much anywhere I have to go.
Good enough on gas that if it was my only car it wouldn’t break the bank if gas prices go up again. With a small truck bed and a tow hitch it would cover all my hauling needs for the house I’m continually working on.
And the AC because its 75 degrees out and its February so August is usually triple digits.
Indeed. I’d like a Sport model or an FX4 if I could be picky. Maybe a manual trans. Love Rangers. On my second one.
That’s an exact description of one of my two vehicles. I’ve owned it since it was new, and I’m surprised at the number of times I walk by the Mustang ‘vert in favor of the Ranger, even on days with nice weather. Gas mileage would be marginally better in certain new, full-size trucks, but I only put 4,000 to 6,000 miles per year on each of my personal vehicles.
For the past year I’ve toyed with trading the Ranger in on a Ford Explorer, Flex or Edge and a folding utility trailer, but as long as the Ranger keeps running so well I find it difficult to wrap my head around the need for parting with the money to do so.
Hate to admit it, but as I approach the last 15 of my working years I’m acting a great deal more like my late father, who was notorious for his
cheapnessthrift.EDIT: Not sure why the preview posted upside down; the full-size view is correct.
I’d be torn between a Suburban or a Land Cruiser.
2017 Suburban LT 4×4 with 5.3 V8 and 6 speed auto & Z71 package ($59,590) not only could it survive as a “sole vehicle” but it would likely last well into 6 figures on the odometer. It would support a growing family and be able to haul just about anything that was needed.
2017 Land Cruiser full-time 4wd, 5.7 V8, 8 speed automatic, Brandywine Mica paint and terra leather. $84,775 – as classy and reliable as Land Rover/Range Rover wish they were.
Much as I like my minivan, I’ll second your vote for the Land Cruiser. Roomy, comfortable, and able to plow through just about anything.
I think I’ll stick with my poor mans land cruiser the 4Runner. For all the reasons listed above. Another advantage in that I don’t have to buy it.
I think if money were no object and it were to be a DD, I’d probably look for a well maintained M-B 560 SEL.
This is not an easy question. I must think.
OK. A 1965 Studebaker Lark 2 door coupe, fitted with a European V6 diesel of the very latest generation (I live in the EU)*, 6sp g/box, Jaguar XJ rear suspension/LSD 3.23 diff, power rack from a later car, collapsible steering, disk brakes from a Porsche 930, 6 point roll cage, Mazda 3 front seats. Suspension set to firm but not harsh. Chassis strengthened where they are known to crack. Body sound proofed. Aircon.
Done.
* Or a 350 SBC converted to run on LPG.
Yes, it’s been done before (more or less). See here: http://www.gibsonmotorsports.ca/single-post/2015/05/27/1966-Pro-Touring-Studebaker
I don’t buy cars too often, but when I have it’s typically been on impulse. On this past Labor Day I traded in my 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee for a 2009 Cadillac SRX. Just saw in on the lot, went in and bought it. So far, it fits all my needs:
– Able to haul plenty of passengers and cargo
– All wheel drive for bad weather
– The increasingly rare “tall wagon” silhouette that looks more like a wagon than a truck
– High-feature engine that runs on regular gas
– Hopefully, good reliability (last year of the first generation – so far, so good)
– A rare and interesting vehicle (less than 20,000 made in the first gen’s final year, and in, it appears, the rarest color combination for the year (blue diamond metallic)
– And just like my old Jeep, it’s built in Detroit!
2009 SRX was built in Lansing, Mi which is the capital of Michigan.
Great purchase, that SRX. The ’07-09 models had a really nice interior. Only two things bother me about that generation of SRX. 1, the gas mileage was pretty average and downright mediocre with the V8 which was surprising considering the relatively light weight of the car. 2, the first-gen never received the punchier DI 3.6 launched in 2008. That would have given it a little more scoot. As a huge fan of ventilated seats, I was also disappointed to find they were never offered during the first-gen. Oh well.
The second-gen was a better suit for the market and is a perfectly fine car in its own right. But I have NEVER warmed to it because I loved the first-gen, even though it was clearly not what the market wanted. I’d love to see Cadillac revisit the concept (RWD-based crossover) but it’s probably best they go for more profitable models.
Actually built in lansing
I would be torn between a 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham or a 1975 Oldsmobile 98 Regency. Cause for me they are two of the finest american cars made in the 70s.
What is it they say about sports betting? (something I do not do, BTW) “Route with your heart, but bet with your head”?
The picture below sums up the above saying, and my choice quite nicely. The car on the left is my usernamesake here and my passion. The car on the right is what I picked to be my new daily driver, and checks SEVERAL of the Mustang’s boxes, a lot more than I ever thought it would. I love it (so far).
But if we could only have one car, my wife would influence me to by the 2017 Civic Hatchback, rather than the 2016 Civic Coupe you see in the picture for better space and utility. With money being no object in today’s QOTD, I’d go for the top of the line touring model. Mine is an EX-T, which is in the middle of the pack, although very nicely appointed.
I’ve just been looking at cars as baby number 2 is on the way, my wife doesn’t like the stroller we have, and stroller choice was dictated by what would fit in our Mazda 2.
As I’m approaching but haven’t quite reached middle age, I find myself hankering for a mildly sportily specced small turbodiesel wagon – probably a SEAT Leon, Ford Focus or Peugeot 308. If I had to choose right now, I’d go for the Peugeot.
These cars are fun to drive on Scotland’s A roads, I like their looks, they have more than enough room for my needs but would be easy enough for my wife to get parked in the city.
Just recently had to do this. We ended up with a 2007 Ford Edge because of budgetary constraints. But I do like the Edge and Would probably choose a new version because it checks as many of the boxes as I can think of. Only thing the 2007 lacks for my list is a power liftgate and that is much for the wife as me. Traditional station wagons aren’t made any more and the wife does not like the Ford Flex. I had a Town & Country which did about everything I could ask as well. I hate a pickup because the stuff in the back always has the chance to blow out. And that always worries me.
Now ask a QOTD about a SECOND car….
A Jensen Interceptor FF… built by Toyota.
I realize that I’ve missed the point, but that’s OK.
One car to check all the boxes and money no object, it’d have to be a wagon for me. My heart says 2014 CTS-V Sportwagon or 2004 Audi RS6 Avant, as those are probably my two favorites of the genre. But the CTS is a bit tight on room even as a wagon, and the thought of trying to use a 13 year old Audi as a DD (even if an extremely low mileage and fanatically maintained example were to be had) conjures visions of empty wallets even if the purchase cost is no object.
Therefore, the logical (ha!) choice is the 2017 Mercedes E63 AMG wagon. It might get traded for something more practical a year or two after the warranty ended, depending, but it would be one hell of a lot of fun for 5 years or so, and quite spacious to boot.
I’ve already owned the finest car ever made, the Volvo 245 Turbo. Plenty of room for people or cargo, tows 1500kg, good ride and handling, decent power and MPG.
If I could buy a new one tomorrow, I would.
I’ll take a brand new Forester, thanks very much. AWD for trips to Tahoe, room in the back for all my crap and my dog’s kennel, and all my camping gear can go in the cargo box on top.
Hmmm. That’s interesting. While it would be easy to say an old two door car, I know that won’t be the best choice. So, if I were to look at my needs, it would have to be easy to fix. I would like the option for a V8. It has to have enough cargo space to fit groceries and other stuff. It has to be comfortable. And it has to have enough interior space to carry me and my friends if we wish to go do stuff.
So, with all that said, I would probably go with either a Third Generation Lincoln Navigator L, or maybe an LT1 powered Buick Roadmaster/Cadillac Fleetwood. Yes, they’re a bit big and unwieldy in normal traffic and the gas mileage is average bordering on mediocre. But, if its one vehicle to serve me for the rest of my life, and considering the needs I have now and the needs that might arise later, I can’t think of anything better.
I have the fortune of not having to worry about a significant other or children to not limit my car choices at my current stage in life, and while many my age would think 2 doors and high performance if price were not a concern, the added convenience of 4 doors making it seem more “sleeper” than say an M6 would make a new BMW M5 sedan an easy choice as my sole vehicle.
Why not an M3 sedan ? Lighter and better handling and enough space behind the wheel 🙂
Since there is no M3 estate, i will go for a estate BMW 340i Xdrive auto, with a towhook and a big closed trailer.
Easy last year Town and Country Limited all options with sunroof. White and beige frost interior.
… or maybe i’ll have a Ferrari FF with a towhook ….
I’m going with the first thing that comes to my mind, so tomorrow it might change,,,
Resto-modded ’60 Chevy El Camino, 350 powered, 5-6 speed manual transmission, disc brakes on the front, modern a/c, maybe even on an Art Morrison chassis if they make one for that year.
I’ve weened myself off the pickup truck as I don’t want to work on my house anymore. I could say my current 2014 TSX Sportwagon was perfect. Still I am moving to the Sierras so maybe AWD will become important. Also as I get older some self driving tech would go a long way to keeping us independent.
My 74 Impala, or my 74 Montego. It’s a tough call between those. Both have family history. I’d rather not have to decide between those two. So I’m going to ignore your rules and keep them both.
2009 Outback. Not a terribly clever answer, though — it’s my actual, sole vehicle.
Dodge Dakota. Enough room for two, can haul or tow when needed, 4×4 is nice in the winter, comfortable, and all the truck I need, but with better fuel mileage and that small car handling
Only thing is, the engines in the Dakota were never that great for mileage.
Maybe the original ones did OK compared to their contemporary full size counterparts? The later ones were pretty thirsty and aren’t anywhere near efficient as modern full size trucks.
The one we owned was a 1992 with a 3.9 (318 with twp cylinders lobbed off). We got over 20MPG in her, and that was on a 4×4 truck with air conditioning running. Compared to a Chevy TBI-305 or a Ford 300, the mileage was nice
Fairly easy answer for me. I plan to keep my 1994 Cougar forever barring tragedy, already almost 12 years in as is. It’s just modern enough to be comfortable, safe and reliable, just old enough to be interesting and fun to tinker with to keep it modernish, and it’s more than practical for my needs. Only caveat is since it’s a rust prone 90s car and only daily drive it between spring and fall due to those concerns, I need to get the hell out of this climate(which I will do) first. So…. since it’s maybe boring anyway to pick something I’ve already have kept forever (in car years) and needs to be my sole car fitting my current needs – I’d pick a brand new Challenger with the V8 and 6-speed for pretty much the same reasons, plus far better corrosion resistance modern cars are known for. Make mine Destroyer grey with black wheels and leather.
Love this Matt. We’re kindred spirits.
Modern stuff, there’s just nothing that would motivate me.
Perhaps an ATS.
Definitely would be satisfied with a Dodge Avenger/200, in spite of all the internet hate.
Initial cost not a factor? Then a Tesla Model S please.
* Fast!!! I drove one once, and it’s an all-around thrill.
* Self-energized: I can do all my local driving and 40-mile round-trip commuting powered by the solar panels I’m putting up this summer.
* Enough range even for a long trip with the Supercharger network.
* Seats four in luxury, which is nice when we go out with friends or family.
* Lots of cargo room with the back seats folded down. If it doesn’t fit, get it delivered.
In the real world? Then a Toyota Prius checks three of the five boxes, and is the best affordable compromise between low carbon and long range. Which is why we have one.
Ooooh. This would definitely be a contender for me, too!
Tempting, but Manitoba and Saskatchewan don’t have the Supercharger network, and the range isn’t enough otherwise.
Can I include a house with a garage and a 220v charger in the initial cost? I love electric vehicles but apartment living is quite the obstacle
This is a tough one, Jason.
I have a wagon at the moment and it was very useful when I moved house last weekend. But I didn’t take anything that big in it and I still rented a moving truck. And I’ve been tempted by crossovers in the past but you do generally pay a penalty with gas mileage.
If it’s money no object but it has to be my sole vehicle and for an extended period of time, I want something as new as possible. If I was back in New York, I’d take a brand new CTS 3.6 AWD. Unfortunately, the twin-turbo doesn’t come with AWD or that’d be my option. Alternatively, I could get the CT6 with the 3.0 twin-turbo and AWD. If I wanted a crossover/wagon, I’d probably look at a Lincoln MKX Black Label 2.7T AWD.
If I was playing this game in Australia, I don’t know what I’d do. I’d want something luxurious but the Germans are too common and the Japanese don’t quite offer what I want. The new Alfa Romeo Giulia QV would be an extremely entertaining left-field choice, so if the ride quality isn’t too harsh, I’d take that.
OK. Single. Live near NYC.
Must get to work in any weather.
Where you live is ‘UGE when it comes to this game.
I thought about it for a while, and almost wrote that no car would do the job as a sole vehicle.
Then I remembered the car that I probably should have bought instead of my Outback, which, except for the coming expense of a timing belt replacement, leaky head gaskets and so-so gas mileage, isn’t all that far off.
A Honda 2008 Element SC AWD, 5 speed automatic. Legendary build quality, versatility, wonderful space utilization and not so big it can’t be driven in the city.
Easy – a new Range Rover SV-Autobiography with the 4.4 TDV8 and the duotone paint. Capable, comfortable, elegant. And a beautiful place to sit whilst awaiting the breakdown truck. (I kid, I kid!)
Nice. And don’t sweat it; quality and reliability are improving for Land Rover thanks to Tata’s money.
A 1980-83 E70 Corolla, with the bulletproof 3TC Hemi engine, with racing cams and a twin turbo, added for good measure.
Heck, with performance cams, headers and single turbos, these cars get into 9-10 second 1/4 miles in Puerto Rico and hold records.
These micro machines have handed many a V8 muscle car their unreliable ass.
I have two, so let the Apocalypse come!
Can’t beat an old school RWD Toyota. 😉
Nice choice but the best set up for a four cylinder engine is single turbo
Coulda sold you my 82 sedan it had a 3T and five speed it ate the 3T I tossed in a cheap 4k and four speed it ran ok but still only a Corolla not fast with crap handling, sold it off the front lawn for $550.
I’m going to pick the one car, of the dozens I’ve owned in my lifetime (I’m 59 years old), that I wish I still had: a 1970 Plymouth ‘cuda automatic with a 383 cu. in. engine.
…and we have a winner!!!!
It would be my 2010 Ford 150 XLT crewcab.
Charger Hellcat. Fast, big, safe, reliable, huge trunk and back seat and relatively decent mpg. I would probably get it in black but since I don’t like black paint on black wheels, I would want to retrofit the chrome 20″ Mopar classic Cragar-style wheels
Lots of factors to consider, like income, family needs, location. I’d think an AWD Sienna would cover most situations. For less hauling needs, an Outback wagon.
But for someone with a growing family on a tight budget (which I would imagine applies to most growing families), the base Grand Caravan would be a superb sole vehicle. Yeah, it’s been around since 2008 and you’re not going to be ‘stylin’ while driving but, hey, for the low price, it can’t be beat for general hauling needs, be it live cargo or otherwise.
In fact, the base, non-Stow n Go version with its removable second row bench might even be preferable since you could get three small kids in it if necessary to utilize the fold-flat third row for incidental hauling.
Since trips to IKEA, Home Depot, and Costco can sometimes be necessary, I’ll need to have a wagon. Not too big though, so maybe a ’93 Volvo 240 with a stick and A/C.
Empty nester, with no grandchildren on the horizon (at least yet). I still have the occasional need to work on the house. I also need to move my drums, bikes and kayak. We’ll occasionally organize a group to go to ball game somewhere. What could possibly handle all that? Enter the minivan.
I ended up with an Olds Silhouette GL model. It has enough cargo capacity to handle most anything I do. However, I do miss having a sport sedan/coupe but I like the hauling capacity my van has. I would love a “Man Van” like Chrysler was selling a couple of years ago, but I probably won’t find one used.
I’d really like to have the OSV Silhouette from 1999-2000, coil over suspension, six Recaro seats, 4 wheel disc brakes, custom rims. I’d like to pump up the 3.4L V6 for those occasions when one needs to merge in traffic, in Detroit.
It could be my “one” vehicle.
So that’s what that is! I’ve seen a maroon one in pictures elsewhere (was there more than one? Repaint? Photoshop?) and it was a headscratcher because of the deep ground effects on a minivan lacking the usual door shutlines for the wheelchair ramp.
Yes, there was a red one that matched the rest of the MY2000 (?) SEMA show cars Olds had that year. There was a SEMA-ready Alero and Intrigue, too.
Here is another Macho Van
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/06/bisimoto-2014-honda-odyssey-sema-2013/#slide-1295054
I’ve seen videos of the Bisimoto van. Highly impressive.
For me it would have to be an AWC34 Stagea 260RS. Practical wagon body, with all the GT-R running gear, sweet as for a daily driver, and plenty of room for the kids and any gear we want to take with us.
I’m pretty happy with my current car, a 1996 Olds 98. Big enough to be comfortable. Small enough to fit in a crowded garage. Acceptable performance & gas mileage. Back seat is big enough to transport a flat screen, and the trunk opening is big enough to swallow a christmas tree or a lawnmower.
If money is no object, I will find a 94-96 in red or green, with no rust, a tan interior and a sunroof.
Good question; real hard to answer. Let’s settle with a ’05-’07 Lexus LX470.
– Extra posh (good for highway comfort)
– Beast 4×4 from Land Cruiser (good for snow and backroads come spring thaw)
– Top reliability (need I say more?)
– Seats 8 with ease (I can find use for that)
– V8 (simply delicious, and good for towing)
– Good looks (who wants an ugly vehicle? Ugly cars drain morale)
Drawbacks are size (not good for driving with… er… gusto, as I do with my Acura) and fuel economy (sniff, bye money). Otherwise, it hits all the right spots.
The only major drawback of Lexus LX is the rust resistance on salty road in snow seasons. It’s rather perfect if driven in non-snowy ( thus salt isn’t used ) seasons.
Manitoba uses sand in place of salt, so should be good. And all the LXs I’ve seen have been in good shape.
Manitoba is probably too cold for salt, problem solved
Checker Marathon wagon.
Lots of wagon love in the answers so far, and I’ll add some. It’s a bit finicky to own, but this 2003 M3 estate has been a great all-rounder.
IRL: the Chrysler T&C minivan I already have (I have 4 kids under 9, so anything I get has to take 4 car seats.) I kinda wish I had a slightly newer van, so it would have the 3.6 engine (twice the power of the 3.3 in mine, and consistently better MPG) but mine has been dead-nuts reliable for the last 150k.
If I could have an imaginary car, it would be a Mazda 5 built on the 6 platform. I had a ’06 M5 and put over 200k on it with very minimal problems. My kids just didn’t fit in it anymore so we had to go to the T&C. If the 5 was juuuuuuuust a little longer, 4 kids would fit in the back no problem. And it was just so fun to drive!
For me it would have to be a Mercedes W126, 300SE. The short wheelbase makes it more manageable and better-handling, and the smaller 6-cylinder M103 engine is better on gas than the V8’s. A very nice balance of new and old in my opinion…the W126 is what many consider to be the last properly-built Mercedes (serviceable, durable, reliable, etc.), with newer safety features, especially in later years, like airbags, anti-lock brakes, etc.
My 2014 Sienna is the perfect do-anything vehicle – lots of room for people or cargo, but not so big that it’s difficult to park. It’s the perfect sole vehicle for just about anyone. Now that I live where there is occasional snow, I might opt for the AWD version (though fuel economy suffers).
I also have a Chevy 3/4 ton 4×4 pickup and I can’t imagine using it for a DD – it’s so honking big and the turning radius is so huge that parking on city streets becomes almost impossible. Maybe in a rural area something like that would be more practical.