Have you ever driven a car that you thought was perfect?

T.J. wrote: What I mean is that, as an example, Trans_Maro's Ferrari would not be so great at a rallycross or a gravel logging road or even very useful for a run to Home Depot for some landscaping supplies. There is no overall perfect - perhaps there are cars that are perfect for some particular task, but they cannot be perfect for everything that a car could be expected to do.

It's not MY Ferrari, that's what makes it perfect.

I get to play with it but I don't have the maintenance costs.

O.P. asked if you had ever DRIVEN a car that was perfect.

I also have the best boat in the whole world. I have a neighbour who owns a boat and likes cheap beer.

I think I drove it in and out of a shop, but just sitting in a 1999 Q45 made me think I had found the perfect highway barge. It seems perfect for the task of getting four people somewhere in quiet comfort.

My DD is a Lexus LS430 and I seriously wonder what I can ever replace it with. Everything on this car feels well thought out and made with care. Usually to get this kind of build quality and level of interior appointments you are looking at some finicky Jag/Benz/Bentley that is just waiting to bankrupt you with unexpected repairs. But in reality the thing is as reliable as a Camry (probably more). Yeah, its not a car for track days or the autocross, but as a daily driver and mileage-eater it's pretty hard to find fault.

Perfect? Nah--- no car is perfect. My E36 M3 is about perfect for me though. It's my favorite car dynamically. Sure I wish it had the interior from an E46, but the way it goes down the road is about perfect. It's plenty fast to be fun, totally adept at traveling 1000 miles in a day, or thrashing it on track......or Hell--- driving a 1000 miles and then thrashing it on track and driving home! The steering, handling, comfort and visceral feel are all spot-on for what I look for in a car.

A bone stock NA Miata is also a contender for the "perfect" car. Hard to find fault when they hit exactly what they were aiming for.

gratuitous M3 shot:

Had the chance to spend a few hours in an F430 Spider, it was literally perfect in every sense. The sound oh ma gawd that sound..the handling was spot on, the flappy paddles were perfect and engaging. I loved that car so very much.

Driven and owned/own a lot of very expensive stuff. The worlds perfect car to me is a well maintained 10-15 year old F350xl regular cab pickup truck. Does everything you ask with no complaints and cost next to nothing to repair and I would hop in mine and drive it across the country at a moments notice. You can keep your Ferrari's that is what I want to own and do.

Probably not "perfect", but I'd say the closest I've come is an early S2000. Absolutely civilized and almost mundane up until it kicks over at high RPM's. Ridiculously smooth 6 speed. Just enough room, but still a very compact package. The only thing that keeps it from being perfect is somewhat bland appearance. Still on my "bucket list" to own one.

My search for automotive 'perfection' has led me down a different path...Hopefully one that will eventually end with me be being able to answer this question by quoting Ferdinand Porsche:

"I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself."

I drove a lightly modded (Swift springs, turbo-back exhaust and tune) EVO IX MR SE and loved it. I really enjoy daily driving my New Edge Mustang GT, even if it isn't completely suited to my commute.

I've owned a bunch of cars, and as of yet have never found a perfect one. I recently test drove a bucket list car, a Z4 M Coupe, and although I liked some aspects of it, not sure I could own one. Lots of power, terrible shifter. I expected it to be perfect...but it wasn't.

The closest to perfect I've driven is a 2012 911. Not a GT3 or anything, just a nice 911 with a PDK. It was a fast, nice driver that didn't beat you up. I could drive it everyday.

I do have a perfect autocross / track car however, and that was Steve Hoelscher's old DSP X1/9. Having driven everything from Vipers to open wheelers on track, there is simply nothing I've driven that compares to how well behaved or nice it was to drive. Everything seemed to slow down at speed, which is how I rate a good track car, with no extra movement of the wheel, no dramas. The biggest problem I had was working up to speed since the grip was so high. Pure magic.

My e30 M3 is as close to perfect as any I've had. sold it out of concerns regarding long term maint. costs

Never drove the absolute perfect vehicle yet but the one that keeps popping up is any generation (that I've driven so far) M3, I've driven all but the new F30 or E30 M's and each was so amazing in so many ways only other vehicle that makes me feel that was the ND miata.

Have SOOOOOOO many cars left to drive in life though.

Nope.

Hmmmmm, "Perfection is in the hands of the driver...." ( based on, beauty is in the eye of the beholder)

with that said.... I've only once performed a perfect 4 wheel drift around a 150 degree (nearly hairpin) turn....

with my 1964 Volvo 1800S running Michelin XZX tires.....

PIX we need mote PIX in this thread.. .. .

And the perfect car for me? . .. .At the moment it is an STR but this is because I don't own it yet.

And the Back

I like momentum cars that rev; the e30 m3 that I drove was about perfect. The 2.3 16v was the most perfect I've owned; it just felt right.

I'd have too say that the closest thing I've had is my '05 Legacy GT wagon. Just the right size, good power stock, good handling. Nice interior, good looking exterior. Decent mileage for it's power and AWD. I'm working on making it my perfect car now, fixing the Subaru shortcomings, and adding a bit of power and handling without degrading driveabiliy or the ride. But the truth is the best car is multiple cars that serve their specific purposes well.

My 2000 S2000 is the perfect fun car for me. I have taken it on long weekend trips and it was comfortable and still entertaining to drive. Enough trunk space for my small bag and my wife's multiple bags.

After a test drive, I spent a lot of time running through the configurator and trying to figure out how to afford one. It felt small, it had a great seating position, good power, tons of room, and it looked incredible.

Joe Gearin wrote: Perfect? Nah--- no car is perfect. My E36 M3 is about perfect for me though. It's my favorite car dynamically. Sure I wish it had the interior from an E46, but the way it goes down the road is about perfect. It's plenty fast to be fun, totally adept at traveling 1000 miles in a day, or thrashing it on track......or Hell--- driving a 1000 miles and then thrashing it on track and driving home! The steering, handling, comfort and visceral feel are all spot-on for what I look for in a car. A bone stock NA Miata is also a contender for the "perfect" car. Hard to find fault when they hit exactly what they were aiming for. gratuitous M3 shot:

I was gonna suggest E36 M3 but you beat me to it. Mine is a sedan so it's even a wee bit more useful than a coupe.

Back in the day, test drove a relatively new Escort GT... Wow! Loved that engine! Anyway, bought the GT for the wife and for many years enjoyed the car. The Escort was the perfect car... with the one exception.. it was FWD. Toward the end when the Escort was starting to look shabby, I had visions of pulling the motor and putting it in a proper sports car...

Whelp, as many of you may know... the Escort GT engine is basically the same engine in a Miata.

The irony is, I eventually bought a Miata and pulled the engine and replaced it with a fuel sipping Festiva motor.

The 14 Mustang GT right now I feel is perfect.

Just returned from a trip to NW Arkansas. The sound coming from the Dinan exhaust was sublime. Great pedal placement making heel-toe a breeze. Hauled me any daughter 1000 miles in perfect comfort. The E36 M3 is just a tidy and efficient package. Perfection? Damn close if you ask me.

I went to drive experience called Push Start and spent an hour in a 458 Italia and I could think of nothing they had not thought of. I am sure there are faster cars and I sure somebody can tell me all about how the new GT-3 is slightly better but in that moment that car stole my heart (I was never a Ferrari guy) It was like it could read my mind and react exactly as I intended it to. I just kept going faster and faster and it was never going to bite me. They are so competent and the sound was to die for. I have been to several other drive experiences and have driven both a Murialago (it was awful) and a 996 GT-2 (it was scary) It would eventually be death of me. But that 458 was perfect.

In reply to ptmeyer84: I would second that one. An E36 can do just about everything most people need a car to do and is quick and fun.