What is the Best Car For NYC Commuting?

Kinja'd!!! "Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
09/09/2013 at 09:58 • Filed to: QOTD

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So my car-spotting and driving in NYC got me thinking. What would be the best car if I had to drive in NYC everyday? It would have to be something small enough to have good maneuverability, have healthy amount of power down low, but also comfy enough so that it doesn't beat you up in traffic. So here are the rules: 1. You are the driver, so no limos or taxis. 2. You are not law enforcement or EMS, so no cop cars or ambulances. 3. It has to be street-legal and sold in the US. I think and C63 AMG would make a great NYC commuter car. It's got the moves, the power, and the lux. What's your pick?


DISCUSSION (32)


Kinja'd!!! Nibby > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 09:59

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You don't need a powerful car in NYC.

I'd probably go for a decent midsize sedan like a Fusion.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > Nibby
09/09/2013 at 10:00

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No you don't...neeeed a powerful car. But it would make it more fun. :)


Kinja'd!!! Victorious Secret > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:00

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CLK63 Black Series

I want the sound of thunder to scare the people in the streets.


Kinja'd!!! dinobot666 > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:04

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Scion iQ. Seriously.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > dinobot666
09/09/2013 at 10:05

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When it comes to parking that on the street, I cannot argue.


Kinja'd!!! jsmizira > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:05

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this would be my guess because potholes.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > jsmizira
09/09/2013 at 10:05

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Yes good suspension travel is a must.


Kinja'd!!! Raphael Orlove > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:07

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Baja Bug - tons of suspension for potholes, extra short for easy parking thanks to cutoff bodywork, enough power for the stoplight grand prix and not enough to get you in trouble.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > Raphael Orlove
09/09/2013 at 10:08

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Is it comfy in bumper-to-bumper traffic?


Kinja'd!!! Raphael Orlove > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:11

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when the dampers aren't shot, yes


Kinja'd!!! Nibby > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:12

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Not really... there aren't many places in Manhattan and Brooklyn where you can enjoy going 60mph


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > Nibby
09/09/2013 at 10:13

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When we where navigating through the city in our '08 Sienna...I thought boy this could use MOAR POWER! But yeah maybe the 63 is a bit overkill.


Kinja'd!!! Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:14

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Kinja'd!!! Jagvar > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:29

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A BMW 1M might do the trick.


Kinja'd!!! willkinton247 > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 10:32

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I disagree. The ride would be way too tough on those nasty roads. Therefore,

FORD RAPTOR

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Kinja'd!!! Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 11:22

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Kinja'd!!! Your boy, BJR > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 12:37

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Manual Fiat 500. (manual only because of the strain NYC puts on autos. and also for fun.)


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > Your boy, BJR
09/09/2013 at 12:40

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I drove my '95 Prelude in the city once. Not a fun experience, don't know if I would want to do that daily.


Kinja'd!!! His Stigness > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 15:17

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An SLS of course. It's like a C63 except even more powerful, and you look like a complete ass in your car with a hood that's longer than most people's car.


Kinja'd!!! His Stigness > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 15:19

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Hey Tom could I ask you a favor and have you read one of my Tales of an Enthusiast works in progress. I've been working on it for a few days but I keep stalling. I can email it to you if you've got time.

Thanks!


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > His Stigness
09/09/2013 at 16:25

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Yeah I might have time to take a look. Will most likely have to get back to you tomorrow though. Oh, and I totally forgot that parenthesis response. It's my first day back at school with the students, so a bit crazy. But yeah send it to automatchconsulting@gmail.com Hey do you Google Drive? That would be much easier, I could comment on your piece right there.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > His Stigness
09/09/2013 at 16:25

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Yeah but I would not want to park that and the suspension is real stiff for NYC potholes.


Kinja'd!!! scoob > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 17:06

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The people suggesting AMG's are quite brave. My most recent trip through NYC was in a '98 Trooper and even that was intolerable.


Kinja'd!!! His Stigness > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 19:22

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It's cool.

Yeah I've got Drive, I just haven't really used it yet, but if it's anything like Docs used to be I'll upload and share it.

Thanks!


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > His Stigness
09/09/2013 at 19:35

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Ok, just make sure you convert it to a Drive document. Or you can make a new Drive document and just copy/paste.


Kinja'd!!! SpeedSix > Tom McParland
09/09/2013 at 22:35

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I would say a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9.

Short Explanation: Classy

Long Explanation: It's one of the first cars with electronically-controlled ABS, self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension, limited-slip differential, and the impact-absorbing benches fitted to the front and rear for US consumption means that small dings from parking won't matter.

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Photo Credit: Hooniverse


Kinja'd!!! His Stigness > Tom McParland
09/10/2013 at 01:19

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K I uploaded it and shared it with you via your email.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > His Stigness
09/10/2013 at 08:39

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I converted the file to Drive and shared back, that way I can comment/edit directly on it. Today is a bit crazy but I will see what I can do.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > His Stigness
09/10/2013 at 11:45

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I made some comments, hopefully it will help. Check your Google Drive account. :)


Kinja'd!!! His Stigness > Tom McParland
09/10/2013 at 17:23

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So I have to do more than just upload it, it's not a "drive" file? I'll check that out.

I read your comments and I think I'm going to abandon that topic and move on to the next one: the first autocross.

Thoughts?

And thanks again for taking the time to read it for me.


Kinja'd!!! Tom McParland > His Stigness
09/10/2013 at 22:47

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That is the beauty of writing in this forum, there is no pressure, no deadlines, no rules. If you aren't feelingng this topic, put it aside and try something else. But don't abandon it completely because you might get inspired sometime to give it another go.


Kinja'd!!! His Stigness > Tom McParland
09/10/2013 at 23:06

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That's true, but if I decide to finish it down the road it won't fit in with my whole timeline thing I have going with the Tales of An Enthusiast. But I can always just make it a separate piece.

I'm just going to set it aside for now because I just wasn't feeling it when I was writing it, it felt forced and I don't think that makes for good reading. The last two Tales really flowed and I had a good time with it, I think that was key to getting on the FP, but that's my intention with any piece, as long as Oppositelock enjoys it, then I'm happy.