Question of the Night: Which new/redesigned -for-2015 world-market vehicle would you keep as your only vehicle for the rest of your life?

"boxrocket" (boxrocket) 09/06/2015 at 01:26 • Filed to: qotn, question of the night

1

23

Broader selection for Saturday night.

Pick one new vehicle that was introduced for 2015 as an all-new model (like the Porsche Macan), or was significantly updated/refreshed (like the F-150) that’s under $100,000 USD new, but you have to keep it as your sole vehicle for the rest of your life. You can bum rides from others, but you can’t drive or own anything else (outside of job requirements). Someone else is doing the driving if you’re going in any another vehicle outside of work.

Worldwide vehicles are allowed this time. The vehicle is allowed a universal exclusion of import laws (like the “Chicken Tax” and 25-year import restrictions in the U.S.) if needed.

You have to pay for all insurance, maintenance, and repairs, and use it as your daily driver, so keep it in mind for your selection. It also can’t have anything other than factory accessories, and must be a volume-production model, no one-offs. We’re doing this Irv Gordon style, that is, one car kept as close to stock for its lifetime.

My choice: LHD Ford Everest: Parts availability in 40 or 50 years wouldn’t be an overly massive problem if the last 50 years are any indication; it will be able to easily haul myself, my wife, and our future kids wherever we want, and it’s already fairly proven in its previous generation. Green with tan leather interior.

I haven’t test-driven one, so if it’s not at least as nice as a 2015 F-150 XLT, I’d instead choose a Guard F-150 Platinum-trim FX4 Crew Cab with the longer of the available beds, tan interior, and all available upgrades within reason.

SVTyler > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 01:52

0

Not very practical but I live in truck country so I’m sure I could borrow a friend’s if I ever needed to carry more than a shoebox.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 02:19

1

Ariel Nomad.

Big Bubba Ray > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 02:24

0

Either the Porsche Panamera Turbo or the Macan Turbo. Something about those cars make me randy.

Shiftknob > SVTyler 09/06/2015 at 02:24

0

Not sure if this counts. The geladewagen professional for me. I can be sure I’ll have a vehicle even at 90! Photo borrowed not mine.

Svend > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 02:28

2

Easy Skoda Superb estate SE L 1.4TSi 150ps ACT manual. GBP£25,420/USD$38,560.

The new Superb debuts a bolder design direction for the brand which we welcome. The overall design of the hatch is very Audi in its execution; no wonder as it’s styled by a former designer of the Volkswagen Group’s premium brand. Our favourite parts of the design are the clamshell-like bonnet, which forms the sharp beltline down the side. There’s also a complicated lower cut out down the side. Although not fitted to our SE test car, there are special head and taillight designs available, with Chrystal detailing to further make this big Skoda stand out.

Now based on VW’s clever MQB structure, the new Superb is also 28mm longer, 47mm wider, 6mm taller and has an 80mm longer wheelbase, yet rear legroom is the same. Still, that’s positively limo-like when compared to the Mondeo and Passat opposition. If the fact there’s no more legroom in the Skoda disappoints, you can console yourself that there’s 69mm more elbow room and 25mm more headroom.

Rear space might not have grown, but those clever Skoda engineers have still managed find an extra 30 litres in the boot and the fiddly twindoor system has been consigned to the bin! The total is now 625-litres. If that’s not enough, it can be extended to a frankly massive 1,760-litres by dropping the rear seat. Need even more space? Well, there’s always the elegant estate version of the Superb with 660 litres of bootspace, which can be extended to a cavernous 1,950-litres with the rear seat folded.

The last time we drove a small engine in a big car, was the 1.0-litre ecoboost petrol in the latest Mondeo and it wasn’t a total success. No such worries with the 148bhp version of the 1.4-litre TSI in the Superb, which despite its small size never feels underpowered. In fact it feels quick, happy to rev and is well matched to the standard six-speed manual transmission.

This version of the 1.4 TSI petrol also features clever cylinder de-activation, which equals impressive 115g/km emissions and 57.7mpg fuel economy.

This Superb’s 57.7mpg fuel consumption and 115g/km emissions mean this Skoda falls into the 18% company car tax band for 2015/16.

Not quite up to Mondeo levels of driver involvement, none the less, the Superb SE on standard suspension and 17-inch alloys is still a refined drive and a tidy handler, with responsive steering, moderate body roll and plenty of grip.

SE is the mid-spec Superb, but is still well-equipped with dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and SmartLink control for your Apple or Android phone.

Neat standard features include the power tailgate and umbrellas in the front doors.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 02:50

5

No explanation needed.

pip bip - choose Corrour > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 03:34

0

Chevrolet SS / VF Holden Commodore SS manual.

El Rivinado > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 03:44

0

Dodge Challenger with a V8

I’ve been in a couple Challengers before and they are very good cars, but more than that, they’re practical as well. For a two-door, the rear seats are actually useable, the trunk is pretty big and wide, which is great considering I might not be hauling anything big. It’s got the power, the gas mileage is no worse than my current Eldorado, the ride is fairly comfortable, I can actually see out of the damn thing as it doesn't suffer from gaping blind spots and gun-slit windows like others *coughCamarocough*, and it's got plenty of style. It's the perfect car for a guy like me, and probably the only non-luxury car being built I would pick today.

Leon711 > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 05:32

1

Golf R Estate, manual.

carries enough, fast enough, comfy enough, blue enough.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 06:29

0

Because of course.

I wanted to cheat with an ICON FJ, but then I saw the price limit.

JR1 > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 09:12

1

New for 2015? The Ford GT350

boxrocket > El Rivinado 09/06/2015 at 10:11

0

I know it got different grille, tail lights and headlights this year or last, but I’m not sure it’s refreshed enough to meet the criteria.

boxrocket > pip bip - choose Corrour 09/06/2015 at 10:12

0

Were those significantly updated for 2015? The stateside SS is more or less the Same car it's been for a couple years, no?

j250ex > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 12:23

0

It's redesigned for 2016 and available only in Japan but if you have to drive something for 50 years this is a great choice.

El Rivinado > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 13:39

0

It's also got a redesigned interior, the old 5-speed gearbox has been replaced by the new 8 speed version, and the base V8 has also been given a bump in horsepower.

boxrocket > j250ex 09/06/2015 at 13:59

0

Works for me!

boxrocket > Shiftknob 09/06/2015 at 14:04

0

Not significantly revised enough as it’s still the same basic Gelandewagen body and greasy bits. I’d probably allow the 6X6 model, though, but I don’t think it's under the $100k USD limit.

not for canada - australian in disguise > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 14:23

0

Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian, reliable, durable, and extremely good at offroading. Plus the Barbarian is quite possibly the nicest out of the three compact pickups we don’t get in NA. People always clamor for the Ranger and the Hilux, but honestly, I’d have the L200 if it were one car for the rest of my life.

It’s really the last good thing Mitsubishi makes. And they won’t even sell it here, shame.

pip bip - choose Corrour > boxrocket 09/06/2015 at 17:10

0

it’s about to be released.

JDMatt > boxrocket 09/07/2015 at 02:38

0

I’m Only 22 so I’ve got plenty of life left. So therefore I chose a car that will probably kill me. And if I can keep driving it when I’m in my 80s, then I had a really good life!

boxrocket > JDMatt 09/07/2015 at 09:16

0

Great choice, but where can you get one under $100K USD, because I want to get one, too!

JDMatt > boxrocket 09/08/2015 at 02:56

0

Oops! I must have skipped over the part where the car had to be under 100K.

Maybe North Korea?

boxrocket > JDMatt 09/08/2015 at 09:04

0

There’s probably some Chinese knockoff of it, though I doubt you’d want to keep that for your lifetime. I had the $100k limit to keep me from defaulting to a McLaren P1 or a Regera, haha.