Automotive Boats (not the Canoe kind)

We've all used the terms boat, land yacht, barge, etc. when describing large vehicles. I remember when an 80's Lincoln Town Car was considered such but now I wonder what new cars (other than Bentley, Challenger, Camaro) you would consider to be a boat.

It crossed my mind one morning heading into work when I noticed an 80's Town Car parked next to a new Altima and realized size-wise they look pretty damn close. Another one I noticed late 00's Chrysler 300 next to a late 00's Civic. Both look awfully close in size parked next to each other.

I know everything now is bloated due to safety requirements and more toys to distract drivers but what say the masses. What cars would also double as a fishing vessel?

Are you confining this to just "cars"? Lots of trucks that are boats...F350 quad cab dually, etc... plus lots of crossovers, vans.

For a pure car, I have to say that the Fisker Karma struck me as a big car. Saw one at the auto show and was surprised.

You cant buy the big, floaty, couch seating, somewhat disconnected (just enough feedback to know where the tires are), cars anymore, nobody builds them. Big yes, but they all ride too rough now for starters.

MA$$hole wrote: We've all used the terms boat, land yacht, barge, etc. when describing large vehicles. I remember when an 80's Lincoln Town Car was considered such but now I wonder what new cars (other than Bentley, Challenger, Camaro) you would consider to be a boat. It crossed my mind one morning heading into work when I noticed an 80's Town Car parked next to a new Altima and realized size-wise they look pretty damn close. Another one I noticed late 00's Chrysler 300 next to a late 00's Civic. Both look awfully close in size parked next to each other. I know everything now is bloated due to safety requirements and more toys to distract drivers but what say the masses. What cars would also double as a fishing vessel?

I recently saw a current bodied Mustang along side the "ugly" Jaguar XJ from the late 80s... The Jag looked surprisingly small

Have you seen a 2013 Ford Taurus next to a Contour? The Taurus looks small from a distance because there are cues from the Fusion and Focus in the design, and it doesn't have a huge hood or trunk. But side to side, the Taurus is HUGE.

The SHO is no land-yacht though!

In reply to Klayfish:

Yes, cars. We all know big trucks are huge.

In reply to pinchvalve:

Forgot about the new Taurus. They may as well have just slapped E150 badges on the thing.

pinchvalve wrote: Have you seen a 2013 Ford Taurus next to a Contour? The Taurus looks small from a distance because there are cues from the Fusion and Focus in the design, and it doesn't have a huge hood or trunk. But side to side, the Taurus is HUGE.

Yes the Taurus is huge!!

I always thought my old B-Body '91 Olds Custom Cruiser body on frame V8 RWD wagon was a big heavy sucker. You could feel the two tons of heft when cornering and launching. Curb Weight? 4435lbs.

That unibody fwd new Taurus Eco-Boost V6... curb weight? wait for it... 4340lbs!!

MA$$hole wrote: In reply to Klayfish: Yes, cars. We all know big trucks are huge. In reply to pinchvalve: Forgot about the new Taurus. They may as well have just slapped E150 badges on the thing.

Would we call the Ford Flex a car? It's basically like a station wagon, and it's pretty big.

In reply to MA$$hole:

I had a 1965 Ford Galaxie 4 dr and a 1967 Pontiac Parisienne 4 dr. Now those cars were land boats. They just don't make cars like that any more (and Thank God for that)

I think e90 Bimmers are boats. Unless you read the badge it's hard to tell if it's a 5 series or 3 series.

On a non-auto note, my '12 Sierra is huge compared to my old '02 Silverado (both 4Xs) , still not used to driving it after 1K miles... but I like it.

I give you the Cadillac XTS, biggest American car this side of an SUV. (I do like them alot though)

I used to drive a 1972 Impala. It was actually bigger and handled worse than the literal boat I own now.

Nothing made today even comes close.

Toyman01 wrote: I used to drive a 1972 Impala. It was actually bigger and handled worse than the literal boat I own now. Nothing made today even comes close.

'68 and '70 Impalas here

yepper, them was boats

I find my Volvo 850 to be boatish.. Can't wait to get the saab back on the road

Toyman01 wrote: I used to drive a 1972 Impala. It was actually bigger and handled worse than the literal boat I own now. Nothing made today even comes close.

1973 Delta 88. That pig floated at 120mph.

VonSmallhausen wrote: I give you the Cadillac XTS, biggest American car this side of an SUV. (I do like them alot though)

Coworker just bought one. It's a very nice boat.

74 Mercury Grand Marquis 2 door, with a 460. When you hit the gas it would squat so hard you couldn't see over the hood, which was at least 6 feet long.. Driving it was actually like steering a boat, you would turn the wheel and wait for the car to catch up.

MA$$hole wrote: We've all used the terms boat, land yacht, barge, etc. when describing large vehicles. I remember when an 80's Lincoln Town Car was considered such </blockquote Then '70s Lincolns must be super tankers! Fact: a 460 in the engine bay of a town coupe looks like a small block inside an F150.

foxtrapper wrote:

mad_machine wrote: I find my Volvo 850 to be boatish..

My thought as well whenever I drive the g/f's car. Sadly, she hasn't driven her MINI in weeks...

06HHR wrote: Driving it was actually like steering a boat, you would turn the wheel and wait for the car to catch up.

My '90 E150 conversion van was like that. It didn't like doing anything quickly: starting, steering, or stopping. It took some time to get used to, but did promote a more relaxed driving style that kept fuel mileage somewhat reasonable (15-ish).

06HHR wrote: 74 Mercury Grand Marquis 2 door, with a 460. When you hit the gas it would squat so hard you couldn't see over the hood, which was at least 6 feet long.. Driving it was actually like steering a boat, you would turn the wheel and wait for the car to catch up.

Haha. My wife took her drivers ed road test, including parallel parking, in her dads '77 Grand Marquis 4 door.

When the newest version of the Camaro and Challenger came out, I thought they looked awefully large, especially for "muscle cars".

I saw a photo of an Abarth Fiat next to a 964 porsche recently - the Porsche made the Abarth look surprisingly large.

When I park my P71 next to a new Taurus, I completely understand how the Taurus can be the new Police Interceptor - they're almost the same size.