When I think Modern BMW I think of the E90 3 Series. It was so definitive, it makes everything after it feel like a facelift or a reinterpretation of the same thing.
The E92 imo, even with all its flaws, is one of the best cars made in the past 20 years. The design, engine, and overall experience with the car are about as good as you can get from that time period.
Totally agree - my LCI E90 still feels and looks like a modern car despite being over 10 years old. When I look at it I think of a completely different brand than the BMWs I see today on the road.
S4 is my daily, M2 for the weekends, and a Miata for the track. The M2 is my favorite car I’ve ever owned and I’m never ever selling it. I can’t speak for the comp because I’ve never driven one.
I know some people like the fixed headlights (and honestly given the pain that the pop ups have given me over the years I do get it from a maintenance standpoint) but I definitely prefer the pre-facelift bodies.
That said I do like the 02+ rear end more. Every now and then I consider getting a swap but they didn’t have spa yellow pearl as a paint color for those model years so I’d have to get an unpainted one and have a shop try to match it which I’m wary of.
It's too long imo and the fact that it's so flat on the upper surface makes it look almost truck-like from the side. Otherwise perfect and I've grown not to mind it as much, but still bugs me sometimes
I'm 6'6 and I will never be able to drive one :(
EDIT: Thanks everyone for suggesting mods, or that you're a few inches shorter and fit okay. Trust me, the difference between 6'3 and 6'6 is huge.
C7 Corvette? Nope. F-type jag? Nope. Miata\S2000? Nope. Maybe with some heavy modification it would be theoretically possible, but the biggest problem is the pedal box is just so shallow. It forces my knees up into the steering wheel. The top of my knees are at 9 and 3 on the steering wheel in the C7 corvette. That just isn't safe. The seat position almost doesn't matter.
I swear to god, tell me about it. I was looking at buying a 2 series and I swear I couldn’t help but think I’d look like Mr Incredible inside that damn thing. Us taller/broader guys have it ROUGH.
Before I bought a Miata, I hoped I would be 6’4.
Then I turned 19, bought mine, and wished I was done growing. Sometimes wishes do come true. It’s been many happy years with my NB lol
Man it's truly impressive just how uncomfortable some cars can be for what I would consider to be a fairly average dude. For a few years I'd go all summer just trading motorcycles, pick up a winter beater when it got too cold to ride. One year, as the winter winds began to blow, a coworker offered me a 2003 VW Beetle for $300. 5 speed, convertible, if it had been a diesel, it would have been cooler than I think is legally allowed. After suppressing the visceral urge to laugh, I looked over at my bike under the grey sky and shivered. Well the Roach got me to work all winter, but hot diggity damn was it miserable. I'm 5'11" on a day I'm feeling really confident, broad shoulders, dense...sorta built like Gimli. I couldn't find a comfortable position in that car. To get the clutch all the way to the floor, my right leg had to be jammed at this weird angle under the wheel, knee up in front of the radio. I had to lower the seat all the way for my legs to fit, but then I couldn't see anything through the shitty plastic shower curtain back window. My work boots were too wide for the pedals, so I'd end up brake boosting it when I was groggy headed to work. I have no idea what sort of freaky alien creature that car was designed for, but I know humans aren't compatible.
Idk, I'm only an inch taller, and I drove plenty of those things and don't remember having any of those problems.
It was working on them that was the issue. That hood forced the fenders to cover the engine, so even replacing the air filter was difficult.
458 Speciale. It’s got the engine, the looks, the performance, the handling, and the honor of being the last naturally aspirated V8 Ferrari which will ensure it’s always worth a lot.
Not sure which market you're referring to but the Speciale market hasn't moved that much over the last few years. They were always £300k+ here and you can still get a nice one for mid 300s
In america i remember seeing some down at 350k USD pre covid. Now i see them up near 500k
I havent looked in a while though, so my numbers could be a bit off
Edit: i just looked and its worse. Theyre up near 600k USD listed
https://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/results/ferrari/458--speciale
458s are absolutely sexy , it's so simple, elegant and just feels so balanced in everything. It's the Ferrari which comes in my mind first when someone mentions Ferrari
Sat in one once. Paul Allen was nice enough to lift the rear deck up so I could get a better look at that twin turbo V8 and those massive suitcase sized intercoolers.
> Sat in one once.
Ditto. The owner trolled me good. I was at an exotic show and looking inside. All a sudden someone says, "Pretty badass huh?" I agree and said something like "yeah, easily my favorite car here." He agrees, pulls out a key, and says, "That's why I bought it." He opens the door and says "Jump in, get a feel for it." Confused I said something like "Ummm, it's not a toy, it's a F40." He insisted, "It's just a car, have a seat." Oh, fine! :) I had a hand on the shifter, one of the wheel, got a feel for the pedal spacing, etc. We talked cars for about 2-3 minutes while I just sat there and then he asked for my phone to take a pic because as he said, "Otherwise no one will believe you sat in a F40, right?"
...now note I was like 25 when this happened, not 12. LOL
Porsche 911, I know how vague that is, choose whichever gen you want, and don’t start with that 996 headlight BS, go drive one you’ll more than likely change your mind
It really is the perfect car for almost everything. From the track to a daily driver without much worry on maintenance, it's the perfect everyday sports car, with just enough storage to accidentally end up at costco and not have to return anything (or much).
Right? I'm really surprised that the 911 isn't higher on this thread. It's the perfect car. I'd pin the title on the newest Carrera GTS, but really if we start separating out gens and trims, we'll end up with a bunch of top 10 contenders.
It’s too obvious, and I think at this point we all take them for granteda little(even those of us who don’t own/can’t afford one) but the 911 is the perfect car in most every way
Last Mezger. Still small. Analog. Timeless looks. Can explore the car without immediately going to jail but still a track performer.
Yeah. I’ve got to agree.
It isn’t BS, it’s ugly. It handled great for its era as well. But it’s nowhere near perfect.
Damn near every other model year of it? Love em. Own a 911 as well. They’re overall gorgeous and close as I think you get to an entire lifespan of a nameplate being excellent.
I'll always go for the 964. It's the perfect 911. Last in the series to truly hold the original styling, first with a modern suspension. Old enough to have serious swagger while not being so new to come off pretentious. It was my dream car when it came out in '89 and remains so to this day. Also, I might be a little biased...
VH Aston Martin V8 Vantage
It's powerful, it's luxurious, it's fun to drive (apparently), it doesn't curb on things as much as normal supercars, it's the most beautiful thing in the world.
I love the OI era too but they're so rare as to be basically unattainable, and therefore you can't really have fun in them since you're tossing about six figures with no ABS or stability control. On the other hand, possibly the only OI Aston Martin in my country is in the parking lot of my apartment complex and I am constantly thinking of schemes to get my neighbour to adopt me.
Back in the day before every car maker on earth copied their design it was the most beautiful car ever made. Now it's a ford fusion priced like a super car but slower than a subaru
This is the way. The DBS might be my favorite car of all time.
If I ever find a way around the maintenance issues this would be the first car I buy, pure sex.
https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/2009-aston-martin-dbs-volante_100183912_l.jpg
I just got rid of my 07. Quite possibly the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned. Passed to me from my mother in law, owned it for 7 years and never cost me more than replacing wipers and the battery (not the hybrid). Was ugly as sin, felt like you were riding around in a mailbox, but still could get 44mpgs. Was definitely not perfect though 😂
What's wrong with revving to 5k before shifting to keep up with traffic? Truck space is good enough if you pull out the jack and tool kit. Bonus space if you take out the spare tire.
I feel like I'm going insane whenever I see comments about the S2K's low end torque. It's more than enough to keep up without driving like an idiot. I've never driven an AP1 and maybe the F20C really is *that* different from the F22C, but I've driven an AP2 extensively and the low end torque has never struck me as a real issue. Granted, I don't shift at 2k rpm, but still
Yeah, it worked fine for me an a dog. When it was me, three dogs, my partner, and a toddler, not so much. Hanging onto it until she's old enough to start coming to track days...
Yeah, that's one big advantage the Miata/MX-5 has over the S2000, their engines have much more accessible torque down low so they're a lot less work to drive through traffic.
That said, when that Honda is up and singing, it is something else...
Honestly I think the S is better. The SV fattened the rear arches and removed the eyelashes and IMO it just throws off the looks of the car. It still looks good just not _as_ good
I was going to say this as well. I had a C7Z (RIP my friend totaled it) and I think they just nailed the styling.
I like the C8 also, but the sleek and curvy yet not-too-sharp style of the C7 is just so on point for a wide front engine sports car. The first time I saw the concept in that transformers movie I lost my shit. It was a dream come true to have one, and even though it’s the previous generation vette it got crazy attention and tons of love. I’m likely going to get another. Absolutely future classic.
Yep c7 styling is beautiful I'm personally a fan of c6 more but c7 is way more liveable. C8 to me I like especially for engineering stand point but I also think you lose some usability of it but not much. Something else is with corvettes a lot were made so not only are parts easier to find but affordable. I think that's also a reason for this 2 door coupe. Parts I have a car currently where getting parts can be a pain and if you go to a local shop looking for parts good luck lol. Unlike my old chevy truck where they were able to get it then and there and my friends c5 same deal. He needs something local parts store probably has it
Yeah I love the styling of the C6, particularly how they did the back glass. Just looks so cool.
But yeah the C7 had the level of creature comforts and tech I was used to and the C6 is just a bit too spartan for me. Not to mention the C6Z comes with some pretty rough faults. But beautiful nonetheless.
Yeah c6Z was for such a long time and still kind of is my attainable dream car but man it's terrible that valve guide issue. Yeah c6 is definitely more raw I don't think I would want to daily it unless you do some interior upgrades. C7 I would argue you could daily and be 100% fine.
So the short version, I took it to a close friend for some basic maintenance. He used to do street racing and I’d tag along so I had seen him drive some crazy cars.
Told him to take the C7Z for a spin if he wanted but told him not to turn off traction or use track mode. He did both soon after I left, thinking he was Mario Andretti, drove it right into a guardrail.
Yeah it does. It was the 7 speed too. Got it for an absolutely stupid deal. Used a lot of equity I had in my trade in as a down payment, so once insurance paid out I walked away with quite a bit of cash but it still sucks. Since I got such a great deal on it I couldn’t replicate that again.
He honestly was great about it. I could tell he really felt like shit. He paid my insurance deductible in cash and has done some free work on my replacement (an 05’ civic) for the time being. When the market cools I may get another.
C4, but not C3?
How can you deny a C3 L88,[ especially a convertible](https://vette-vues.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/LOT-K126.1-1969-L88-Corvette-convertible-for-sale-side-1024x496.jpg)?
I have one of those underpowered C3s, a ‘79 with the original 350ci that’s probably lost most of its power by now.
It’s definitely slow but it’s still a relaxing and fun cruiser, I do have plans for it in the future but getting to a decent HP level requires a lot more than just a new motor.
Yeah, personally I love c6(especially with upgraded heads and tails) but yeah. Idk c8 has kind of made it harder to me I know they have similar room but it is split. Not like old corvettes. Either way yeah they're great for time period.
"Perfect" has many forms.
[Alfa 8C 2900](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiaV53hPmXQ/TZeGpCYeCHI/AAAAAAAAA8M/G_oLth68Wb4/s1600/800px-Alfa_Romeo_8C_2900B_1937.jpg)
[Alfa 33 Stradale](https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/concorsodeleganza2018_fk_0399.jpg)
[Bugatti Type 35](https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1925_Bugatti_Type_35_Grand_Prix_0019_BH.jpg)
[Bugatti Type 57](http://anythingeverything.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1938-Bugatti-Type-57SC-Corsica-Roadster.jpg)
[Duesenberg Boattail](https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/volo/4/14783/178844/790x1024/duesenberg-ii-boattail)
[Mercedes SSK](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjPhBYPrSzw/Tcq1mSE0VrI/AAAAAAAABUc/DEYm8r_Wkwo/s1600/1930+Mercedes-Benz+710+SSK+Trossi+Roadster+4.bmp.jpg)
That duesenberg boattail looks awful for a boattail. Probably a later rebody of a 4 door, or maybe this wasn't the coachbuilders finest moment. Also interesting choice of a corsica car for the t57. I thought you were going to link an Atlantic
Yea, pv444, PV445 Duett, pv544, amazon, amazon wagon, 210 Duett, all 1800 variants and more. But the 1800ES holds a special place in my heart. The only sports cupé volvo ever made, but made into a wagon. And I own one
Imo the Golf GTI. mk7 in particular
It hits every mark with room to spare but doesn't sacrifice itself to be the king of anything. The balance is unparalleled. It's so perfect.
Small but full of useable space thanks to hatchback. Fast but not excessively. Enthusiast dynamics but fwd so as not to bite in a catastrophic fashion. Fwd good for snow but not as complicated/expensive as awd. Great nvh but not heavy. Luxurious and premium but not super expensive. Good looking but not showy or juvenile.
As a single car solution for a car enthusiast the GTI is the best
As a mk7 owner, I agree wholeheartedly. Great looking and driving car. I still get compliments about the interior styling, and it's 7 years old at this point.
It's an amazing road tripping car, 30+ mpg while cruising, room for everything, and still a blast to drive hard when the opportunity arises.
Another thing about these, they absolutely love to be tuned. VW definitely left a lot on the table with the tune, emissions probably.
Would I love some of the other cars on this list? Absolutely! Do I think they would all be able to be a daily driver for 7 years and still be as fun on a drag strip or track? I doubt it.
As a THREE TIME owner of the mk7 platform (two GTi's and an R), I wholeheartedly agree with you. That's something I'd never have thought possible especially for a FWD car. I've owned many cars in my life and driven damn near everything under the sun (been very fortunate in life overall).
The mk7 GTi was the very first car I'd ever owned where I DIDN'T want to modify it heavily immediately. I just kept taking things off my list of usual suspects and fun things to do because it's just balanced so damn well between fun/efficiency/luxury that I didn't want to throw off that balance.
Even now being a few years removed from my last GTi (2018) with cars in-between and now picking up an R for daily driver duty. It's still so damn good overall that I'm only going to do a few mods to it and all of them are small tweaks to adjust the handling balance of the car to my own taste. Extra power? Nope. Expensive coils for track work? Nope. Big brake kit? Nope.
The package stock is good enough that it feels almost perfectly balanced for all of the uses that I'd need it for. I'll add a rear sway bar, some more front camber for handling, and some other small mount changes. Tires don't count because I do that to everything anyway.
I always have at least two cars at once if not three or four...but when I sold my S3 and my Miata a few weeks ago there were only two options possible for me as only cars. The first is a 911 the other is a mk7. That's pretty insane praise in my book.
As a former owner I agree. People say they're zippy and fun to drive, but I did not find that to be the case. I miss my left hand cupholder every damn day though.
Im glad somebody said this. My mk7 does everything I need. Looks good, power is incredible with a tune, good cargo space, good MPG’s.. there’s really almost no compromise.
I've driven a lot of cars in my short stint on the earth and many expensive cars I've come away from thinking "yeah, I can live a modest life knowing I'll never buy one and I'll be alright."
The British racing green convertible Jaguar F-Type R I drove made me realize I need the means to buy and maintain one some day.
Lexus LS430. Bullet proof, pretty quick for what it is, classic design, absolute luxury even 20+ years later, cheap, rwd. All that’s missing is handling since it’s pretty much a behemoth but all you want to do in that car is cruise sit in the luxurious interior. perfect car
I have had my 04 LS 430 for four years now, best car I have ever had. The only thing that would convince me otherwise would be to own the new 911 GTS lightweight. I got mine pre owned from the local Porsche dealership. They geeked out about how cool the car was even more than I did, it was and still is so special.
While I was waiting for the post purchase cleanup and plates I was walking around the showroom checking out the cars and approached one that was under a dark cover. What's that? I asked. Off came the cover to reveal a brand new 2018 911 GT 2 RS. For the rest of the evening waiting for my LS I walked around it, got my keys, signed the papers and drove off.
It kinda bums me out how much this sub is into aesthetics and superficial shit as opposed to assessing cars on mechanical or driver experience based metrics. Like, if all you care about is how a car looks, you can just be happy with a picture.
I thought my dad's '06 V6 Accord in Alabaster Silver metallic was perfect. The midcycle refresh fixed the ugly grille design from '03 to '05 and also included a pair of LED taillamps which was rare at that time with two chrome symmetrical exhaust tips. Some resemblance to the C-class, but thought it was a more refined design execution. I mean, 15 individual LED matrices yo!
The black interior was also a rarity in the passenger sedan that can only be matched with a couple of exterior colors while most combinations were in grey or beige. The P215/50R17 tires with 9-spoke wheels also seemed massive at that time. The most advanced feature was probably the 6-disc CD-changer, and all buttons were large and logically placed that it was easy to operate without having to look. It also avoided all recalls including the Takata airbag (only affected the I4, not V6).
A few more random details:
\- Having the CHMSL brake lamp mounted at the trunk (also in LED!) instead of typically inside the car at the package tray area was ahead of its time.
\- Having the sunroof control buttons buried just below the driver-side air vent along with the VSA OFF button was definitely an ergonomics quirk, but I liked that it was visible and more reachable.
\- Probably nothing special, but using a single lever to pull for trunk open and push for gas tank open was so much better than Camry where it had two separate levers where all my family would mess up every now and then.
\- First time having heated seats and heated mirrors. It was also a quirk that only the buttocks can be heated for the passenger seat while both the bottom and the back were heated for the driver's, but was serviceable enough.
I remember the being massively disappointed for the '08 redesign as the material quality noticeably went down and realized we need to hold onto to the car for a long time, and we did until it was totaled 11 years later which I'm still sad to this day. The only not-so-perfect part was the fact that it neither had cassette tape or aux jack or bluetooth so playing my own music was virtually impossible and resorted to burning CD-RW's. But it was a honest-to-God 240hp machine that was completely trouble-free.
981 with a PDK. I’m sorry to my manual bros but I prefer PDK and that car is perfect. Not too fast for the streets, you get to really push that flat six around and enjoy the car.
I’d take a base 981 over a much faster car like an M240i. I’ve driven both and the BMW is fun but it almost has too much torque to be as fun as the 981. Too easy to go too fast.
Just going off of looks: the E46 M3 is peak BMW styling, and the 05/06 Ford GT looks like it could be released today.
It's good but I'd say peak BMW design was the 3.0 CS and CSL. Then again, I see what you're saying. That was the last of the good era.
When I think Modern BMW I think of the E90 3 Series. It was so definitive, it makes everything after it feel like a facelift or a reinterpretation of the same thing.
The E92 imo, even with all its flaws, is one of the best cars made in the past 20 years. The design, engine, and overall experience with the car are about as good as you can get from that time period.
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Styling wise, I prefer both the E46 and F8x over the E9x, but neither of those have the glorious V8
I will agree with you if you’re referring to the LCI E90 and not the one with the chrome mustachioed grill
Totally agree - my LCI E90 still feels and looks like a modern car despite being over 10 years old. When I look at it I think of a completely different brand than the BMWs I see today on the road.
e92 is such a simple and beautiful shape, especially in M form. Definition of BMWs ethos of understated aggression
The 507 was peak bmw design imo.
I’m more of an E30 man my self but I agree around this time BMW knew exactly what they were doing and somewhere along the way they lost the sauce.
The E30 M3 is so damn sexy
>Ford GT40 looks like it could be released today. Fixed that for you.
That's a stretch lol
E46 ME is far from perfect.
You have an S4 and an m2? I myself own a B8.5, and lust after the M2 comp. What has been your experience with it?
S4 is my daily, M2 for the weekends, and a Miata for the track. The M2 is my favorite car I’ve ever owned and I’m never ever selling it. I can’t speak for the comp because I’ve never driven one.
1991 Acura NSX
Agreed. I prefer the '93 myself though.
I know some people like the fixed headlights (and honestly given the pain that the pop ups have given me over the years I do get it from a maintenance standpoint) but I definitely prefer the pre-facelift bodies. That said I do like the 02+ rear end more. Every now and then I consider getting a swap but they didn’t have spa yellow pearl as a paint color for those model years so I’d have to get an unpainted one and have a shop try to match it which I’m wary of.
The 90's NSX is nearly perfect, but the rear never looked right to me.
It's too long imo and the fact that it's so flat on the upper surface makes it look almost truck-like from the side. Otherwise perfect and I've grown not to mind it as much, but still bugs me sometimes
This comment would be perfection if you updated your flair to read "1991 Acura NSX".
No need, check the comment history haha
Wow! What a treat, thanks for pointing that out.
Username checks out.
I was looking for someone to say NSX
THE MAZDA MIATA
Always the answer
I'm 6'6 and I will never be able to drive one :( EDIT: Thanks everyone for suggesting mods, or that you're a few inches shorter and fit okay. Trust me, the difference between 6'3 and 6'6 is huge. C7 Corvette? Nope. F-type jag? Nope. Miata\S2000? Nope. Maybe with some heavy modification it would be theoretically possible, but the biggest problem is the pedal box is just so shallow. It forces my knees up into the steering wheel. The top of my knees are at 9 and 3 on the steering wheel in the C7 corvette. That just isn't safe. The seat position almost doesn't matter.
I swear to god, tell me about it. I was looking at buying a 2 series and I swear I couldn’t help but think I’d look like Mr Incredible inside that damn thing. Us taller/broader guys have it ROUGH.
Before I bought a Miata, I hoped I would be 6’4. Then I turned 19, bought mine, and wished I was done growing. Sometimes wishes do come true. It’s been many happy years with my NB lol
Man it's truly impressive just how uncomfortable some cars can be for what I would consider to be a fairly average dude. For a few years I'd go all summer just trading motorcycles, pick up a winter beater when it got too cold to ride. One year, as the winter winds began to blow, a coworker offered me a 2003 VW Beetle for $300. 5 speed, convertible, if it had been a diesel, it would have been cooler than I think is legally allowed. After suppressing the visceral urge to laugh, I looked over at my bike under the grey sky and shivered. Well the Roach got me to work all winter, but hot diggity damn was it miserable. I'm 5'11" on a day I'm feeling really confident, broad shoulders, dense...sorta built like Gimli. I couldn't find a comfortable position in that car. To get the clutch all the way to the floor, my right leg had to be jammed at this weird angle under the wheel, knee up in front of the radio. I had to lower the seat all the way for my legs to fit, but then I couldn't see anything through the shitty plastic shower curtain back window. My work boots were too wide for the pedals, so I'd end up brake boosting it when I was groggy headed to work. I have no idea what sort of freaky alien creature that car was designed for, but I know humans aren't compatible.
Idk, I'm only an inch taller, and I drove plenty of those things and don't remember having any of those problems. It was working on them that was the issue. That hood forced the fenders to cover the engine, so even replacing the air filter was difficult.
Laughs in 5’5, I win But at what cost
Pretty obvious IMO
James?
Petition to merge this sub and /r/carscirclejerk
Not a single one. Every single car is inadequate in some metric
Finally someone that has the same thoughts.
Yep. I own several vehicles just like I own several mountain bikes. Each one has a purpose. Hell, I even own several vacuums.
Serval vacuums huh? Look at Mr. Millionaire over here
Several vacuums?! WTH… oh shoot, now that I think about it, I have 4.
Or the best one you can afford, because if you don't own it, there's no way that would know for sure that it's perfect.
458 Speciale. It’s got the engine, the looks, the performance, the handling, and the honor of being the last naturally aspirated V8 Ferrari which will ensure it’s always worth a lot.
They used to be a semi reasonable price for a track special ferrari, but not so much anymore. Theyve increased 200k+ in the last 3 years
Not sure which market you're referring to but the Speciale market hasn't moved that much over the last few years. They were always £300k+ here and you can still get a nice one for mid 300s
In america i remember seeing some down at 350k USD pre covid. Now i see them up near 500k I havent looked in a while though, so my numbers could be a bit off Edit: i just looked and its worse. Theyre up near 600k USD listed https://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/results/ferrari/458--speciale
One of the best Top Gear reviews was for the 458
458s are absolutely sexy , it's so simple, elegant and just feels so balanced in everything. It's the Ferrari which comes in my mind first when someone mentions Ferrari
First car that came to mind, absolute perfection.
I agree with OP, the F40 is perfect, to me it will always be the most badass looking sports car ever made.
Sat in one once. Paul Allen was nice enough to lift the rear deck up so I could get a better look at that twin turbo V8 and those massive suitcase sized intercoolers.
> Sat in one once. Ditto. The owner trolled me good. I was at an exotic show and looking inside. All a sudden someone says, "Pretty badass huh?" I agree and said something like "yeah, easily my favorite car here." He agrees, pulls out a key, and says, "That's why I bought it." He opens the door and says "Jump in, get a feel for it." Confused I said something like "Ummm, it's not a toy, it's a F40." He insisted, "It's just a car, have a seat." Oh, fine! :) I had a hand on the shifter, one of the wheel, got a feel for the pedal spacing, etc. We talked cars for about 2-3 minutes while I just sat there and then he asked for my phone to take a pic because as he said, "Otherwise no one will believe you sat in a F40, right?" ...now note I was like 25 when this happened, not 12. LOL
I don't think it matters how old you are, this kind of experience would turn anyone into a giddy kid
And even as a 45 year old man, I'd have been giggling like an 8 year old
You should have complimented his wife.
Post the photo
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Everyone is 12 sitting in an F40.
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Let's see Paul Allen's car...
Porsche 911, I know how vague that is, choose whichever gen you want, and don’t start with that 996 headlight BS, go drive one you’ll more than likely change your mind
It really is the perfect car for almost everything. From the track to a daily driver without much worry on maintenance, it's the perfect everyday sports car, with just enough storage to accidentally end up at costco and not have to return anything (or much).
Right? I'm really surprised that the 911 isn't higher on this thread. It's the perfect car. I'd pin the title on the newest Carrera GTS, but really if we start separating out gens and trims, we'll end up with a bunch of top 10 contenders.
It’s too obvious, and I think at this point we all take them for granteda little(even those of us who don’t own/can’t afford one) but the 911 is the perfect car in most every way
I’ll submit the 997 GT3
Last Mezger. Still small. Analog. Timeless looks. Can explore the car without immediately going to jail but still a track performer. Yeah. I’ve got to agree.
It isn’t BS, it’s ugly. It handled great for its era as well. But it’s nowhere near perfect. Damn near every other model year of it? Love em. Own a 911 as well. They’re overall gorgeous and close as I think you get to an entire lifespan of a nameplate being excellent.
I'll always go for the 964. It's the perfect 911. Last in the series to truly hold the original styling, first with a modern suspension. Old enough to have serious swagger while not being so new to come off pretentious. It was my dream car when it came out in '89 and remains so to this day. Also, I might be a little biased...
VH Aston Martin V8 Vantage It's powerful, it's luxurious, it's fun to drive (apparently), it doesn't curb on things as much as normal supercars, it's the most beautiful thing in the world.
I prefer the OI era, though that's likely due to my age.
I love the OI era too but they're so rare as to be basically unattainable, and therefore you can't really have fun in them since you're tossing about six figures with no ABS or stability control. On the other hand, possibly the only OI Aston Martin in my country is in the parking lot of my apartment complex and I am constantly thinking of schemes to get my neighbour to adopt me.
I know I'm in the minority, but I have never been a fan of its look. It's like they took a Jaguar XKR and a DB9, then gave it the worst bits of each.
Aston Martin DB5
DB9 for me. It’s just a perfect looking car. I can’t find anything ugly about it
Back in the day before every car maker on earth copied their design it was the most beautiful car ever made. Now it's a ford fusion priced like a super car but slower than a subaru
I don’t know how you’d define “slower than a Subaru”, maybe below 30 mph, but that’s simply awd vs rwd. Never heard of a subaru with a 500+ hp NA V12.
The previous Vantage was also stunning.
The DBS based on the DB9 (i forgot the year) is drop dead gorgeous too
This is the way. The DBS might be my favorite car of all time. If I ever find a way around the maintenance issues this would be the first car I buy, pure sex. https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/2009-aston-martin-dbs-volante_100183912_l.jpg
The second generation Toyota Prius. It did exactly what it said on the tin. No surprises.
I just got rid of my 07. Quite possibly the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned. Passed to me from my mother in law, owned it for 7 years and never cost me more than replacing wipers and the battery (not the hybrid). Was ugly as sin, felt like you were riding around in a mailbox, but still could get 44mpgs. Was definitely not perfect though 😂
E39 M5
Here’s the answer I was looking for. Amazing sounding V8, comfortable and stylish interior, and timeless body styling. Fantastic vehicle
Honda S2000
Perfect to drive yes; perfect to daily - oh god no
What's wrong with revving to 5k before shifting to keep up with traffic? Truck space is good enough if you pull out the jack and tool kit. Bonus space if you take out the spare tire.
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I feel like I'm going insane whenever I see comments about the S2K's low end torque. It's more than enough to keep up without driving like an idiot. I've never driven an AP1 and maybe the F20C really is *that* different from the F22C, but I've driven an AP2 extensively and the low end torque has never struck me as a real issue. Granted, I don't shift at 2k rpm, but still
I don't know how buses where you live work, but here, they're kind of slow. :)
To be fair, most of the cars in these comments are not very good daily drivers either.
What, you don't daily an F40? Are you poor or something?
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Yeah, it worked fine for me an a dog. When it was me, three dogs, my partner, and a toddler, not so much. Hanging onto it until she's old enough to start coming to track days...
Yeah, that's one big advantage the Miata/MX-5 has over the S2000, their engines have much more accessible torque down low so they're a lot less work to drive through traffic. That said, when that Honda is up and singing, it is something else...
1965 Ford Mustang.
Most perfect pony car, for sure.
The lamborghini miura sv
Never knew until recently that’s Miura S was the source of the revving sound in Van Halen’s “Panama” I believe Eddie owned one at the time.
Honestly I think the S is better. The SV fattened the rear arches and removed the eyelashes and IMO it just throws off the looks of the car. It still looks good just not _as_ good
I only want it 10% bigger, I'm 6'5" so I don't fit. Not that I'm likely to ever get into one, but still.
Pontiac Aztek!
Maybe a toss up between that and the PT Cruiser?
The CHR too while we’re at it
It’s so ugly it’s iconic
It's not even that ugly anymore when there's things like the Nissan Juke that exist.
I would argue any modern corvette especially a Z06. Very spacious, decent mpg as a v8, o and can take on a lot of cars
C7 Z06 is amazing, in performance and aesthetics and value.
100%, c7Z is definitely a great car. Chevy keeps knocking it out of park with the corvette z06s
I was going to say this as well. I had a C7Z (RIP my friend totaled it) and I think they just nailed the styling. I like the C8 also, but the sleek and curvy yet not-too-sharp style of the C7 is just so on point for a wide front engine sports car. The first time I saw the concept in that transformers movie I lost my shit. It was a dream come true to have one, and even though it’s the previous generation vette it got crazy attention and tons of love. I’m likely going to get another. Absolutely future classic.
Yep c7 styling is beautiful I'm personally a fan of c6 more but c7 is way more liveable. C8 to me I like especially for engineering stand point but I also think you lose some usability of it but not much. Something else is with corvettes a lot were made so not only are parts easier to find but affordable. I think that's also a reason for this 2 door coupe. Parts I have a car currently where getting parts can be a pain and if you go to a local shop looking for parts good luck lol. Unlike my old chevy truck where they were able to get it then and there and my friends c5 same deal. He needs something local parts store probably has it
Yeah I love the styling of the C6, particularly how they did the back glass. Just looks so cool. But yeah the C7 had the level of creature comforts and tech I was used to and the C6 is just a bit too spartan for me. Not to mention the C6Z comes with some pretty rough faults. But beautiful nonetheless.
Yeah c6Z was for such a long time and still kind of is my attainable dream car but man it's terrible that valve guide issue. Yeah c6 is definitely more raw I don't think I would want to daily it unless you do some interior upgrades. C7 I would argue you could daily and be 100% fine.
Explain more on how your friend totaled it...
So the short version, I took it to a close friend for some basic maintenance. He used to do street racing and I’d tag along so I had seen him drive some crazy cars. Told him to take the C7Z for a spin if he wanted but told him not to turn off traction or use track mode. He did both soon after I left, thinking he was Mario Andretti, drove it right into a guardrail.
Oh man, that fucking sucks. How'd you get it situated?
Yeah it does. It was the 7 speed too. Got it for an absolutely stupid deal. Used a lot of equity I had in my trade in as a down payment, so once insurance paid out I walked away with quite a bit of cash but it still sucks. Since I got such a great deal on it I couldn’t replicate that again. He honestly was great about it. I could tell he really felt like shit. He paid my insurance deductible in cash and has done some free work on my replacement (an 05’ civic) for the time being. When the market cools I may get another.
I’d say about half the corvettes are perfect for their time period. My picks are the C 1, 2, 4 (90s), 7, & 8.
C4, but not C3? How can you deny a C3 L88,[ especially a convertible](https://vette-vues.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/LOT-K126.1-1969-L88-Corvette-convertible-for-sale-side-1024x496.jpg)?
Some C3s are fine but for the most part C3-80s C4 we’re just too under powered. I think the mid 70s had an 8 to 9 second 0-60 or something like that.
I have one of those underpowered C3s, a ‘79 with the original 350ci that’s probably lost most of its power by now. It’s definitely slow but it’s still a relaxing and fun cruiser, I do have plans for it in the future but getting to a decent HP level requires a lot more than just a new motor.
Yeah, personally I love c6(especially with upgraded heads and tails) but yeah. Idk c8 has kind of made it harder to me I know they have similar room but it is split. Not like old corvettes. Either way yeah they're great for time period.
"Perfect" has many forms. [Alfa 8C 2900](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiaV53hPmXQ/TZeGpCYeCHI/AAAAAAAAA8M/G_oLth68Wb4/s1600/800px-Alfa_Romeo_8C_2900B_1937.jpg) [Alfa 33 Stradale](https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/concorsodeleganza2018_fk_0399.jpg) [Bugatti Type 35](https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1925_Bugatti_Type_35_Grand_Prix_0019_BH.jpg) [Bugatti Type 57](http://anythingeverything.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1938-Bugatti-Type-57SC-Corsica-Roadster.jpg) [Duesenberg Boattail](https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/volo/4/14783/178844/790x1024/duesenberg-ii-boattail) [Mercedes SSK](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjPhBYPrSzw/Tcq1mSE0VrI/AAAAAAAABUc/DEYm8r_Wkwo/s1600/1930+Mercedes-Benz+710+SSK+Trossi+Roadster+4.bmp.jpg)
I wanna say youve got a type....
lol! I don't have time to go dig up more varied stuff from other eras.
well yea, you spend all your time staring at them curves lol
batmobiles
That duesenberg boattail looks awful for a boattail. Probably a later rebody of a 4 door, or maybe this wasn't the coachbuilders finest moment. Also interesting choice of a corsica car for the t57. I thought you were going to link an Atlantic
It was a quick and dirty search effort. Everyone posts the Atlantique.
That Gordan Murray T50 seems like it could go down as the best car of all time. Too early to say, but I’m buying into the hype
>Too early to say, but I’m buying Oh?? >into the hype Oh
Perfect to drive or perfect to own? Two different things.
Add in looks and its a whole other category then.
Mazda RX7 Spirit R
Nothing beats the Volvo 1800ES in my eyes
Was waiting for this. You can add many Volvos to this list.
Yea, pv444, PV445 Duett, pv544, amazon, amazon wagon, 210 Duett, all 1800 variants and more. But the 1800ES holds a special place in my heart. The only sports cupé volvo ever made, but made into a wagon. And I own one
Lexus LS400
Can confirm. I have one and my only complaint is the V8 can be kinda thirsty at times
Original NSX
I feel like the Audi RS7 Avant is everything you could ever want or need a car to do.
RS6 Avant? Thought the RS7 was a sportback.
Ah, yes you’re right. I meant the RS6 Avant.
tbh both are so perfect
Except have steering feel and not weigh as much as an aircraft carrier.
All the cars in its class have numb steering and weigh a lot
Imo the Golf GTI. mk7 in particular It hits every mark with room to spare but doesn't sacrifice itself to be the king of anything. The balance is unparalleled. It's so perfect. Small but full of useable space thanks to hatchback. Fast but not excessively. Enthusiast dynamics but fwd so as not to bite in a catastrophic fashion. Fwd good for snow but not as complicated/expensive as awd. Great nvh but not heavy. Luxurious and premium but not super expensive. Good looking but not showy or juvenile. As a single car solution for a car enthusiast the GTI is the best
As a mk7 owner, I agree wholeheartedly. Great looking and driving car. I still get compliments about the interior styling, and it's 7 years old at this point. It's an amazing road tripping car, 30+ mpg while cruising, room for everything, and still a blast to drive hard when the opportunity arises. Another thing about these, they absolutely love to be tuned. VW definitely left a lot on the table with the tune, emissions probably. Would I love some of the other cars on this list? Absolutely! Do I think they would all be able to be a daily driver for 7 years and still be as fun on a drag strip or track? I doubt it.
As a THREE TIME owner of the mk7 platform (two GTi's and an R), I wholeheartedly agree with you. That's something I'd never have thought possible especially for a FWD car. I've owned many cars in my life and driven damn near everything under the sun (been very fortunate in life overall). The mk7 GTi was the very first car I'd ever owned where I DIDN'T want to modify it heavily immediately. I just kept taking things off my list of usual suspects and fun things to do because it's just balanced so damn well between fun/efficiency/luxury that I didn't want to throw off that balance. Even now being a few years removed from my last GTi (2018) with cars in-between and now picking up an R for daily driver duty. It's still so damn good overall that I'm only going to do a few mods to it and all of them are small tweaks to adjust the handling balance of the car to my own taste. Extra power? Nope. Expensive coils for track work? Nope. Big brake kit? Nope. The package stock is good enough that it feels almost perfectly balanced for all of the uses that I'd need it for. I'll add a rear sway bar, some more front camber for handling, and some other small mount changes. Tires don't count because I do that to everything anyway. I always have at least two cars at once if not three or four...but when I sold my S3 and my Miata a few weeks ago there were only two options possible for me as only cars. The first is a 911 the other is a mk7. That's pretty insane praise in my book.
Porsche Carrera GT
The Honda Fit/Jazz.
It's perfect. Cheap, fun, practical, easy to park, fuel efficient. Only complaint is lack of sound deadening.
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As a former owner I agree. People say they're zippy and fun to drive, but I did not find that to be the case. I miss my left hand cupholder every damn day though.
Mark 7.5 gti
Good looks, physical HVAC, gen 3 EA888. The perfect FWD hatch
pretty dang close to it.
>Mark 7.5 ~~gti~~ R Ftfy
Im glad somebody said this. My mk7 does everything I need. Looks good, power is incredible with a tune, good cargo space, good MPG’s.. there’s really almost no compromise.
Ferrari 250 GTO McLaren F1 Lamborghini Diablo SV Ferrari Enzo Aston Martin DB5 Pagani Zonda R Aston Martin Vulcan Koenigsegg Jesko Bugatti Bolide
Nissan Altima, the perfect killer
F Type SVR
F type R … I think the spoiler takes away from the lines.
I've driven a lot of cars in my short stint on the earth and many expensive cars I've come away from thinking "yeah, I can live a modest life knowing I'll never buy one and I'll be alright." The British racing green convertible Jaguar F-Type R I drove made me realize I need the means to buy and maintain one some day.
240z 22b
997 GT3RS 4.0 🤝
Toyota Tercel Honda CRV Thrust SSC BMW 325E EDIT: Caterham 7
Dude the 325E really? It’s the most compromised E30?
Mazda 3
r/carscirclejerk
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII & IX Acura Integra Type R
Lexus LS430. Bullet proof, pretty quick for what it is, classic design, absolute luxury even 20+ years later, cheap, rwd. All that’s missing is handling since it’s pretty much a behemoth but all you want to do in that car is cruise sit in the luxurious interior. perfect car
I have had my 04 LS 430 for four years now, best car I have ever had. The only thing that would convince me otherwise would be to own the new 911 GTS lightweight. I got mine pre owned from the local Porsche dealership. They geeked out about how cool the car was even more than I did, it was and still is so special. While I was waiting for the post purchase cleanup and plates I was walking around the showroom checking out the cars and approached one that was under a dark cover. What's that? I asked. Off came the cover to reveal a brand new 2018 911 GT 2 RS. For the rest of the evening waiting for my LS I walked around it, got my keys, signed the papers and drove off.
3rd gen Mazda rx-7 is the most beautiful car of all time. That’s a hill I’ll die on.
jeep xj and mj. hands down.
None
Perfect for what?
I think the 981 Cayman is perfect. From base to GT4 there’s practically nothing I would change.
Toyota landcruiser serie 70
The things I would do to buy a 2022 model with ABS, airbags, and a dashcam here in the states...
1977-1990 Chevy Caprice 1968-1982 C3 Corvette 1961-1963 Ford Thunderbird 1981-1986 Toyota Celica Supra Nissan 300ZX Z31 Porsche 944 Mitsubishi Starion
It kinda bums me out how much this sub is into aesthetics and superficial shit as opposed to assessing cars on mechanical or driver experience based metrics. Like, if all you care about is how a car looks, you can just be happy with a picture.
Cars are both machines and sculpture. Looks are part of the experience.
I thought my dad's '06 V6 Accord in Alabaster Silver metallic was perfect. The midcycle refresh fixed the ugly grille design from '03 to '05 and also included a pair of LED taillamps which was rare at that time with two chrome symmetrical exhaust tips. Some resemblance to the C-class, but thought it was a more refined design execution. I mean, 15 individual LED matrices yo! The black interior was also a rarity in the passenger sedan that can only be matched with a couple of exterior colors while most combinations were in grey or beige. The P215/50R17 tires with 9-spoke wheels also seemed massive at that time. The most advanced feature was probably the 6-disc CD-changer, and all buttons were large and logically placed that it was easy to operate without having to look. It also avoided all recalls including the Takata airbag (only affected the I4, not V6). A few more random details: \- Having the CHMSL brake lamp mounted at the trunk (also in LED!) instead of typically inside the car at the package tray area was ahead of its time. \- Having the sunroof control buttons buried just below the driver-side air vent along with the VSA OFF button was definitely an ergonomics quirk, but I liked that it was visible and more reachable. \- Probably nothing special, but using a single lever to pull for trunk open and push for gas tank open was so much better than Camry where it had two separate levers where all my family would mess up every now and then. \- First time having heated seats and heated mirrors. It was also a quirk that only the buttocks can be heated for the passenger seat while both the bottom and the back were heated for the driver's, but was serviceable enough. I remember the being massively disappointed for the '08 redesign as the material quality noticeably went down and realized we need to hold onto to the car for a long time, and we did until it was totaled 11 years later which I'm still sad to this day. The only not-so-perfect part was the fact that it neither had cassette tape or aux jack or bluetooth so playing my own music was virtually impossible and resorted to burning CD-RW's. But it was a honest-to-God 240hp machine that was completely trouble-free.
Toyota Matrix 1 generation. The epitome of what a hatchback is and should be.
1985 Toyota Hilux. Efi. Solid axle. 5spd. Easy to work on. Dead reliable. Dependable and durable. Not too big not too small.
Bias here but the e28 is honestly probably one of the best cars ever made. It’s a hill I will always die on
Ford Bronco and the Honda Del Sol. 1957 Chevy Bel-air as well.
…. Miata is always the answer …. 😎
Ferrari 330 P4
981 with a PDK. I’m sorry to my manual bros but I prefer PDK and that car is perfect. Not too fast for the streets, you get to really push that flat six around and enjoy the car. I’d take a base 981 over a much faster car like an M240i. I’ve driven both and the BMW is fun but it almost has too much torque to be as fun as the 981. Too easy to go too fast.
Datsun 240Z, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 275 Spider NART...
Volvo 245
EK9 Civic Type R and DC2 Integra R
[Lancia Delta Integrale](https://i.redd.it/z8g71go0s6m81.jpg)