12/04/2013 at 14:47 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
What car would be the best all-rounder? Imagine yourself in situation where you want a project car you can tinker with, cruise around on a warm summer evening or enter a track day with but also need an daily driver and you only have space for one car. Let's make this question more interesting by imagining that you live in a climate where it's snowing for about half of the year.
One rule: no imprezas or lancer evos as they are way too obvious choice.
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CTS-V Wagon
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328i xDrive 6mt.
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944 for the Budget minded:
Ferrari FF for everything else:
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XJ Jeep Cherokee.
You can tinker, since the XJ shared body and interior parts with years '84 to '01 and there's a huge aftermarket for it. Plus what's simpler than two solid axles?
You can cruise. The doors will come off and with a 5-spd transmission you can expect low-mid 20's for mpg on the highway.
Track day. Even if it's equipped with 4WD it's part-time and you can sling that 190hp straight-6 around cones because the XJ weighs just at 3,000lb. If you get bored, tinker with the 4.0L engine and stroke it to 4.6L for 260hp and tons of torque.
Daily driver. ABS, airbags and a radio mean you're set for daily trips to the office.
Snow. The Cherokee eats snow and shits ice. It's a great winter vehicle.
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Y U NO 335i!?
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Doug Demuro, is that you?
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Fuel economy.
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Subaru Legacy S402 wagon.
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An SH Forester XT with the 6-speed manual from a GR STi. Subarus are built like legos, so a transmission swap is not hard to do. Add a set of adjustable coilovers, and you can be riding as high or as low as the situation dictates. Also, you have access to a full catalog of aftermarket parts from both the WRX and the STi.
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Pffttt it's turbocharged so Ze engine is very efficient und gives you gut kilometers per gallon. There's really no reason to get Ze 328i...
~ BMW Rep
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Well, in that case, I'm assuming a price of ~30k, and the 335xi is much more expensive.
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Tesla Model S with AWD (coming next year apparently)
And I'm not joking, at least not for my choice.
For the sake of this experiment, I'm just going to pretend that I live in a slightly colder version of Wichita. That means range isn't an issue.
I'm not a mechanic, so I don't need to tinker. The Model S would be a great cruiser, and it's pretty quick at the track (at least the drag strip). With that liftgate and frunk, it's a perfect hauler.
Only problem is no manual. That would be a shame.
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What's the budget? Do you care about being able to carry large things inside it?
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heck, the Model S doesn't even have a gearbox.
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If I bought one, I would put a box of assorted gears inside.
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AMC Eagle of course. In that yummy 70's two tone brown please.
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If you live in a snowy climate you will definatly want to 'invest' in a cheap heavy awd beater.
Plus, with the more functional beater it will allow you get slightly less impractical sports car for those summer and track days.
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DAMNIT I was sure I'd be the first to call it this glorious two toned bastard:
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What's your budget? I'd go for an E92 335i. Large aftermarket, can easily be tuned to be track beasts, if you go a little easy on it it'll get good MPG too
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That's exactly what I was thinking of!
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Oh I know, I know.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 21:32 |
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The easy answer is WRX wagon.
The smart answer is a WRX wagon with better styling, interior treatments, steering bits, and affordable insurance premiums. Also called a Saab 9-2x Aero.
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Outback XT? Decent handling, awd, LSD rear, sti shortblock for tinkering, good insurance rates because it's not an STi or wrx, lots of room..
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Focus ST, price, economy, practicality, and a hell of alot of fun. hence why i bought one as my DD.