What is the Outright Greatest Car?

"Tim (Fractal Footwork)" (fractalfootwork) 10/29/2013 at 16:56 • Filed to: Outright Greatest Car, OppositeLock

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Yes, that broad of a question. All of us have different preferences on what make a car inherently good, so there will be no correct answer, save for your own. Answers could range from what car most changed the world in light of a problem, what car redefined the idea of 'speed' for a generation, or just a car that brings tears to your eyes.

Please explain below why you think a particular car is worthy of the title of 'Outright Greatest Car', and hopefully we'll be able to crown a winner.

Turner950s > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 16:58

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According to James May, the Citroën DS.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 16:58

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McLaren F1

No explanation necessary.

/thread

feather-throttle-not-hair > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 16:59

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Obviously. Next question please!

505Turbeaux > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 16:59

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It is all I ever need, good on all fronts, and an icon

Nibby > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 16:59

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OVER 30 MILLION PEOPLE CANNOT BE WRONG

I kid, I kid. Actually, good question... hard to single out one car to be the greatest. It's all perception... I'll start with the typical Jalopnik answer: Miata.

LuczOr > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:08

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Chevrolet Aveo.

SpeedSix > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:09

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Mercedes-Benz 600

Because pure class.

maximillious > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:12

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The P1 without a doubt is the greatest car I have ever seen in my life and therefore is the greatest car ever. It is, for lack of a better word, Perfect. If I were to ever sit in one I would weep like a baby, as I type this my eyes are welling up from the overwhelming emotion that car brings to me. I have that photo as my mobile background too :)

Joe_Limon > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:13

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The problem with most super cars, is they offer a performance level that is virtually unusable on the road which they are supposed to live on. As such, I decline the traditional thought that the fastest/quickest equates to the greatest.

The other problem with most expensive/high end cars, is that they are extremely expensive to maintain. As an analogy, the space shuttle can make it to space does that make it the greatest plane? HECK NO! Those maintenance/disposable costs of operating it throw it out of the running.

Then there are cars with great looking designs. Yes they look good now, but how will they look in 10+ years? To me, the greatest designs have already withstood the test of time. Perhaps in 20 years my opinions will sway to these new cars, but for now, the greatest designs are already decades old.

The problem with choosing a great car of old however comes with the issues of reliability and again that cost to maintain/repair. Modern drive trains offer many advantages outside power/fuel economy gains. Reliability and the ability to easily source new components are two huge benefits for newer cars.

So where does that leave me? Kit cars? Hmmm... no, we can do better then kit cars... let me introduce to you a car that raced in the 1950's lemans and recieved a Podium finish. That is produced today continuing the original vin numbers (i.e. not a kit car). Has your choice of modern power plants. Has enough performance to be immensely enjoyed on the street but not enough that you can only truly measure its worth on a track. Also, it just pushes into the 6 figure territory so albeit not a corolla... it remains a reasonably Acquirable vehicle.

I give you, the Allard J2x MKii

snackwel5 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/29/2013 at 17:16

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Yes. Very true! The McLaren F1 has broken so many records, and the body style of the car makes it look like it was made just 5 years ago! The front is absolutely stunning, and is panoramic in every angle. Also, even though the car is 21 years old and has some 10,000 miles on it, you can sell it for $3,000,000 U.S

UserNotFound > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:16

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Simple. The Singer 911.

$kaycog > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:19

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Ford GT/GT40.........because......

Joe_Limon > maximillious 10/29/2013 at 17:21

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The P1 is pretty great, but it has some pretty insurmountable drawbacks. Namely, there is no way in hell I will ever own one unless I win the lottery.

feather-throttle-not-hair > feather-throttle-not-hair 10/29/2013 at 17:23

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But... but my wienermobile picture! it disappeared!

Pitchblende > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:23

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My car. Because I can drive it whenever I want, can't get much greater for me than that.

Car is too broad a definition, different cars are great at different tasks, but does that make the best compromise the greatest? No, not really. If you were to ask for the greatest car in differing sectors then I would come up with different vehicles, but the greatest at being a car for me has to be the one I own.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/29/2013 at 17:23

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EVO - "arguably the greatest car ever produced"

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Joe_Limon 10/29/2013 at 17:24

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Bring in the W123 240D.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > snackwel5 10/29/2013 at 17:25

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I assume you've watched EVO's Analogue Supercars video - if not, I just posted it above.

Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:27

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This is definitely more opinion based than fact based. Nearly everyone will have a different answer because everyone has their own ideas of what perfection is. In my case, it is either the Stratos or the 037.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Turner950s 10/29/2013 at 17:28

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I agree
Amazing car

Blondude > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:34

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Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, because Blondude bate... er, bait...

Or both.

maximillious > Joe_Limon 10/29/2013 at 17:35

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yup thats the biggest drawback for sure. If i was close enough to one in real life i would lick it. I bet it tastes as sweeeeeeeeeet as it looks.

desertdog5051 > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:37

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Whatever I own at the time of the question.

Joe_Limon > maximillious 10/29/2013 at 17:43

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I would take my sweaty hand out of my coat pocket and leave a greasy streak across the door panel as I "gauge" the surface finish of the paint.

davedave1111 > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:43

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Cheap, fun to drive, decent reliability, economical, practical, good-looking. It's not some exotic two-seater, just a car that's really good at being a car.

xx45xx > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 17:54

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because stingrays and prancing stallions fear the cobra's bite!

MURICA!

Menebrio > $kaycog 10/29/2013 at 17:58

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....because...you! But as a child of th 80's, I unfortunately disagree:

webmonkees > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 18:00

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Extreme performance or influence?

Domestic:

Mustang. The full range from 4-cylinder wheezer to OMGlightspeed under one nameplate.

And hidden in carports and tarps and yards,

another kid's education on how cars are made and how they break.

maristgrad > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 18:00

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Because STABILITY CONTROL - Doesn't really matter what you drive if you crash into a ditch

maximillious > Joe_Limon 10/29/2013 at 18:01

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Then i would take my knife out of my pocket and "Gauge" your face.

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 10/29/2013 at 18:06

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Lamborghini Miura, first mid-engine car, And oh that design

Jayhawk Jake > Nibby 10/29/2013 at 18:28

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I think this is closer to the right answer than any super car.

It's a car for the masses. It's a car that enables millions of people to get to work, and does so in a way that isn't offensive (even if it's boring). There's probably a better example, but this is the direction I think you need to look.

Take the Douglas DC-3 for example. I consider it to be the greatest airplane of all time. It's not exciting, it's performance isn't really that spectacular, but it made aviation practical for the first time. If it wasn't for the DC-3, we likely wouldn't have modern air travel. There must be a car that we'd have nothing if it wasn't for its existence.

TheStraightSixKid > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 11/07/2013 at 18:45

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E39 M5

I win