What Was The Best Car You Drove in 2014?

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
12/30/2014 at 23:14 • Filed to: None

Pretty much exactly what the title says. While everyone is about to start up their best and worst lists, I want to know what was the one best car of 2015.

My vote is probably a pretty obvious nod. 2014 was a pretty good year. I went from one mediocre BMW into a nice S2000 and a couple other nice vehicles. I even drove a hefty number of exotics, although each was only for about 100 ft.

Therefore, my bump for the best of 25 is the 73 deTomaso Pantera. It's all the specialness of an 70s Italian supercar with the sheer brute power of a muscle car. It's near impossible to get into, probably terrible on a track and a safety hazard at high speeds, but it's got that something .

So now I turn the question to you: What was your best car of 2014?

DISCUSSION (35)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:15

Y U DO DIS TO ME? If I had to pick, probably the V10 S8, with the low-mileage '76 Fleetwood a close second.

Jay Lauer > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/30/2014 at 23:17

76 Fleetwood, aren't those humongous?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:18

Largest postwar American production car, I believe. 19 and a half feet long, 5500 lbs. In a way, terrifying to drive.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:18

This being my first year driving and me being able to count all the cars I've driven on my two hands, probably an automatic E36 328i with the sport package.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:19

I've driven maybe five cars this year. The best was mine.

JK. Probably the objective 'best car' I've driven this year was a Chevrolet Sonic RS.

That's kinda sad.

Jay Lauer > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/30/2014 at 23:21

Right on. I had an E46 with the sport package. They're unbelievably solid cars.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:21

The answer is either my grandparents 1994 Mariner Blue Miata with 260k miles or my Sportwagen!

shop-teacher > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/30/2014 at 23:22

'78 (and equivalent to that generation) Chrysler 300's were even bigger. Same length as the Caddy, but even wider. My Grandma had one, beige with beige interior.

Jay Lauer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
12/30/2014 at 23:22

That is kind of sad. I've heard that car is terrible. Just the worst.

Could be a 944 for next year........

Steve in Manhattan > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:22

So I rented one car all of this year - a 2014 Honda Civic LX (automatic). So I suppose that's my best, although my experience with ZipCar was the worst - I canceled my membership. The car was filthy (with only 270 miles on it), the windows were marked up with white lettering, the gas card didn't work, and on and on. And they offered me one hour of free driving to compensate. Nope.

Dusty Ventures > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:23

Oh god. Hard to choose between the Super Production class Evo 8 and the Open class STi wagon. Both were fantastically bonkers

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > shop-teacher
12/30/2014 at 23:23

Wait, the 300 Cordoba?

shop-teacher > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:23

This year wasn't a very adventurous year. The best thing I drove was a '14 Ford Flex ecoboot. Holy hell that bastard is FAST! If only I could have afforded to buy it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:24

It drove amazingly... until my girlfriend hit some black ice and sent it into a tree. Her dad fixed it and still drives it though, so there's that.

Jay Lauer > Dusty Ventures
12/30/2014 at 23:26

That's more like it. I'm a Subaru fan, even though the Evo is probably more sharp.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:27

I sense sarcasm. :)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:28

Yeah some asswad covered it in stickers and put a cold air intake on it. What a tool, right?

Actually later this week I might be driving a twincharged Buick. But that'll be 2015.

List of cars I've driven this year: LeSabre, Silverado, Passat, Cirrus, Ranger, B2500, PT Cruiser, Sonic,Park Avenue. That's it. I don't get around much :P

Jay Lauer > Steve in Manhattan
12/30/2014 at 23:28

A lot of things about Manhattan I've heard seem great. Except cars.

I feel for you. I like having big open roads to drive on.

shop-teacher > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/30/2014 at 23:28

Might have been an Imperial. Not exactly sure anymore. Whatever the biggest bastard of a Chrysler you could buy that year was. Sumbitch was HUGE. Grandma was very happy to downsize to a new '85 Buick Park Ave.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/30/2014 at 23:33

Actually that honor goes to the lincoln MkV. 232in compared to 230in for the Caddy

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
12/30/2014 at 23:40

Fleetwood was 234 inches. Fleetwood Series 75 was 252. Your lincoln is small.

http://automotivemileposts.com/cadillac/prod1…

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/30/2014 at 23:44

Obnoxious excess at its finest I guess

Justin Hughes > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:45

Jeep Compass.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-best-car-i…

As the great philosopher Eric Clapton once said, it's in the way that you use it!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
12/30/2014 at 23:46

Precisely

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:53

Well, I used to do valet. . . So there is quote a long list but I'd have to say the audi R8 V10 was the best from this last year.

camaroboy68ss > Jay Lauer
12/30/2014 at 23:55

hmmm, best car.... I would have to say my 68 Camaro SS/RS, first time in two years it was actually on the road for events

TheJWT > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 00:00

I would say my car, but my car is kind of crap.

...So my car

Cherry_man1 > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 00:10

my 1973 Gran Torino

bootstrap > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 00:15

Tesla Model S

Jedidiah > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 00:16

I haven't really driven anything that I haven't before except for my new Wagoneer, so it automatically defaults as the best for this year I suppose.

It has a suprisingly small turning circle with the open knuckles. This big ass SUV slides into tiny parking spots.

It completely changed my thoughts on semi-ellipitical leaf springs; I never imagined these things could be so damn comfortable.

It has excellent visibilty due to its large greenhouse and huge towing mirrors.

Low range is unsynchronized, which is a bit annoying. Not having to fiddle with hubs or do any shifting is nice because of the Quadratrac (not very Jalop of me but w/e).

THOMAS5 > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 00:45

1. 997 gen 2 turbo manual

2. 2014 mercedes s550

3. Quartoporte gts

Dusty Ventures > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 01:35

Well I mean they weren't exactly "stock," so...

Kinja'd!!!

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 02:54

2000 mercury mountaineer, it may sound like a terrible choice, but I got my license only 4 months ago, and its the best because it is MINE

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 03:11

Boss's new F350 was pretty impressive. Besides the abysmal fuel usage and impossibility of parking in any city parking space (especially with a 32 foot trailer) that thing was amazing. Fantastic ride quality, and with all the options the interior is an interesting blend of "luxurious with shitty build quality." I swear it took at least a dozen cows to cover everything in leather, and did I mention how smooth it is to drive? Forget shitty pavement, you can barely feel massive potholes that would have eaten a wheel on my 350Z.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jay Lauer
12/31/2014 at 06:04

Opel Astra i nearly bought.