The clear and obvious answer is Saab 900 Turbo. Before mid year 94 please. And my real answer is that any car that was very reasonably priced, easily modified, is dead reliable and looooooong lived is great. Model T, 55,56,57 Chevys, VW Beetles, Fox body Mustangs, Civics...
I have owned 56 cars over the years. According to published books I have purschased 11 of the cars on the worst ever produced list. Two of the models I've owned more than once. I think this makes me uniquely qualified to comment on this thread. 
I'd say if you do this, make the categories like these
best car if it is the only car you/your family owns
best second "toy" car
I think the best car in the world is the one that doesn't break the bank to have fun with, so consumables should be affordable, and it should be able to cart your typical married couple plus 2.3 children around. To me, a well maintained E46 M3 would be about the best you're going to get. A WRX STi would be in the running as well, possibly edging out the M3 for its ability to be a great rallycross car.
If a Jeep XJ could be lowered, I would have to say that they'd be a great chassis to start with. They're a little floppy, but the offroaders have fixed that with chassis bracing. A 242 transfer case in a Grand Cherokee would give you full time AWD with a center diff. If you can get that vehicle low enough, I really feel that you can make them handle. I saw what the XJ-R did at the Challenge in 2010, so I expect adding AWD could make it even better.
mguar wrote: In reply to Tim Suddard: Tim, Best car in the world? No question, a Jaguar XK-E. Called the worlds greatest crumpet collector.. Described by no less than Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever. A car that is worth as much as 15 times it's original cost today.. A long stroke big six cylinder that in the hands of a decent mechanic can easily last 150,000 miles between overhauls (Later V12's properly maintained will go to 300,000 miles before a rebuild is called for.). The Six can give a decent 25+ MPG if driven with fuel economy in mind.. A Car that can give Cobra's and Corvettes a run for their money.
A car that does nothing particularly well except look good. /troll/
Teh E36 M3 wrote:mguar wrote: In reply to Tim Suddard: Tim, Best car in the world? No question, a Jaguar XK-E. Called the worlds greatest crumpet collector.. Described by no less than Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever. A car that is worth as much as 15 times it's original cost today.. A long stroke big six cylinder that in the hands of a decent mechanic can easily last 150,000 miles between overhauls (Later V12's properly maintained will go to 300,000 miles before a rebuild is called for.). The Six can give a decent 25+ MPG if driven with fuel economy in mind.. A Car that can give Cobra's and Corvettes a run for their money.A car that does nothing particularly well except look good. /troll/
No, you were just trolled, and actually responded to it.
JoeyM wrote:Teh E36 M3 wrote:No, you were just trolled, and actually responded to it.mguar wrote: In reply to Tim Suddard: Tim, Best car in the world? No question, a Jaguar XK-E. Called the worlds greatest crumpet collector.. Described by no less than Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever. A car that is worth as much as 15 times it's original cost today.. A long stroke big six cylinder that in the hands of a decent mechanic can easily last 150,000 miles between overhauls (Later V12's properly maintained will go to 300,000 miles before a rebuild is called for.). The Six can give a decent 25+ MPG if driven with fuel economy in mind.. A Car that can give Cobra's and Corvettes a run for their money.A car that does nothing particularly well except look good. /troll/
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Let's not forget the General Lee. It could carry five comfortably, won grand national races, could jump collapsed bridges, and most importantly, would repair its own dents and frame damage in the blink of an eye.
Steve Chryssos wrote: Let's not forget the General Lee. It could carry five comfortably, won grand national races, could jump collapsed bridges, and most importantly, would repair its own dents and frame damage in the blink of an eye.
For me, the "best car ever" was my 1993 Civic DX Hatch. Ran like a top, rifle bolt 5 speed, could hold 4 large adults comfortably for hours (although the 30 seconds in and out of the back seat could be a bit of a challenge). Got almost 40 mpg highway and mid to low 30's in the city. Fold the rear seat down and you could move furniture with the car. It was surprisingly quick and easy to toss around, although not "fast" by any stretch of the imagination. I wasn't into racing at the time, but I've since seen them do pretty well at autocross and track days with a little work. The only real down side was the rust proofing (or complete lack thereof) around the rear wheel arches. If I could find an example today that wasn't clapped out, rusted out or pushing 300000 miles I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
ALMOST cool car JoeyM but people who tint their windshields dark cant be cool in my book.
Mid-Eighties 5.0 Mustang ! !
Fast as stink, runs forever, drops parts and fluids everywhere you take it but never seems to really need what it leaves behind. Seats four casually, holds it's re-sale value, had for pennies, simple to fix if it EVER needs to be, run it straight into the grave and grab another for next to nothing, then do it all again.
An American 80's Icon and chicks LOVE it ! ! !
Vigo wrote: ALMOST cool car JoeyM but people who tint their windshields dark cant be cool in my book.
argue with her 
Today, the best car in the world is my wife's 2007 Corolla S.
I'll explain: It's 100 degrees out and super humid. Most of my other debris wouldn't start today, and the two that did have no A/C.
Driving her 5-speed Corolla brings a different kind of driving excitement than I'm used to. Namely, the excitement of knowing that I'll actually arrive at my destination without any mechanical failure and not have the crap kicked out of me on the way there. (My daily driver is an old VW, so this is a novel concept)
Oh yeah, and being a 5spd S model, the Corolla actually drives pretty good, too. It's no Porsche in terms of driving dynamics, but it really is a great car. Plus it's paid for.
Soooooooo back to the original question.
Please help me narrow down and come up with a system to determine what the best car in the world is. And yes, there is a magazine story here too, once we get the parameters organized a bit better.
Here are my requirements...parameters...whatever, in order of importance:
I hope those priorities change one day. Specifically, I hope number 4 can kick number 1's sorry ass off the top.
To me, "affordable" and "fun to drive" means it's not going to have 300hp and lay down a 12 second 1/4, all the while tearing up the turns like a go-cart. So the obvious alternative is "light."
My current favorite all around "fun" car that's accessible within my budget "parameters" is 1g crx/3g Civic.
I'll get back to you once I'm able to spend more quality time with an Elise and/or NSX.
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