Is there such a thing as the "perfect" car?

Kinda reminds me of the joke about the perfect woman......

Awd convertible wagon with a manual trans and turbo-Diesel.

T.J. wrote:

e23inGB wrote: Does the perfect car exist?

No.

+1 Only possible if followed by "for __"

Knurled wrote: The W8 was also available with a manual transmission but when you look up "Unicorn" in the automotive dictionary, it's used as a description. No picture, field researchers haven't been able to photograph one yet, but there are plenty of rumors that they are out there.

http://jalopnik.com/could-you-go-7-200-for-this-rare-2003-vw-passat-w8-1634603843

Define "perfect." Most would say that means a car that emits nothing, costs nothing to buy, costs nothing to own, never breaks, is perfectly safe, and never corrodes. So... no.

In reply to ddavidv:

As a current owner of a Mini and a past owner of an E30: No... and HELL NO, respectively. The former is too small, hot and loud for every day use. The latter too unreliable and surprisingly not fun to drive (at least in stock form like I had).

Otherwise I agree cars are too much of a compromise for anyone to be "perfect". For me, wagons are close - I'd love a V6TT Audi S4 Avant if I had unlimited funds to pay someone else to maintain it. I have a delusional dream I can rebuild my '73 Volvo 1800ES into the "perfect" car, but I know it won't be - for example if I ever need to carry more than one other person, that 3rd person will be unhappy (and forget carrying a 4th).

Travis_K wrote:

Knurled wrote: The W8 was also available with a manual transmission but when you look up "Unicorn" in the automotive dictionary, it's used as a description. No picture, field researchers haven't been able to photograph one yet, but there are plenty of rumors that they are out there.

http://jalopnik.com/could-you-go-7-200-for-this-rare-2003-vw-passat-w8-1634603843

Yes. And I definitely would pay $7200 for that.

I don't know where I started off with liking weird-sounding AWD longitudinal VWs, but here we are.

Yes there is IMO, with a caveat that depending on model year, it can be better at some things than others.

The GC8 2.5RS is the perfect car. It can fit 4. It can knock down ok mpg on 87 octane (I typically got 25 to 27usmpg on the highway, 20 around town). It had awd, which was perfect for the 6 months of winter we get here, as well as muddy gravel roads. It wasn't "fast", but with 170hp and 170tq, it was by no means "slow". It was durable (headgaskets aside, which I still consider a minor thing in the grand scheme, and even then, in my experience having owned over 10 Subaru's, the headgasket issue is WAY overblown except for on the one year only 1998 DOHC 2.5RS). It was lightweight for what you got. You could autox it, rallyx it, track it and have fun.

The GD model is almost as good, but the added weight (almost 500lbs) really takes away what made the GC good. As a more non-sporty car, I'd take the GD (wagon) over the GC.

Just my opinion, take it or leave it. But for places with actual winters, they are hard to beat. Considering Subaru was the fastest growing manufacturer in north america in (2012 or 2013), a lot of people seem to agree with me ;)

My biggest GC 2.5RS beefs are that they are cramped for their size and that they aren't wagons. But they are really, really nice cars all around.

I basically agree with HITempguy. No such thing as a perfect car. All depends on your needs and wants. Obviously if you live in Key West Florida your perfect car will likely be different than if you live in Anchorage Alaska. Having said that, I think the WRX wagon/hatch may be fairly close for a lot of people. In order to fit into the "perfect" category it also needs to be affordable. AWD, hatch, 4 door, turbo. Good in the dry, wet, snow. Have space to carry things, reliable, decent mileage (mostly). Me and my son put down the seat and slept in ours at the 2014 Rolex. Autocross, HPDE, Rally. It does it all. Another vote for Subaru.

Is there such a thing as the "perfect" car?

Nope... It's going to take two cars. Whatever you drive. And a Miata

R32 Skyline.

Want power? Can be had. Is decent/excellent stock depending on which one.

Want handling? Double wishbone suspension front and back, plenty of resources to improve.

Want RWD? Buy a GTS-T. Want AWD? GTS-4/GTR.

Want space? Sedan. Want sporty? Coupe.

Want a rare car (in the US) that will turn heads?

Want light? Car stock is 2800lbs for RWD version. Want a budget FRS with space and stock turbocharged?

Give it like 5 years and the wagon people are covered as well with the Stagea.

Easy to work on, tons of support, inexpensive buy in, reliable, almost unlimited power/handling potential, inexpensive parts (for GTS-T/4). Sedan version can also carry your kids/baby and the trunk space is good.

Non GTR AWD versions are bigger same weight similar to the GC8 mentioned above but with a far better engine.

Disadvantage is that they are 25 years old at a minimum for US legality so any old car issues they may have.

e23inGB wrote: I don't have the room for multiple cars at the moment, so finding that one car that can be miata like fun but yet eat up the daily commute with ease seems to be my car.

So then it really comes down to identifying and prioritizing both your wants and needs for the current and forseeable future, and then deciding how much or little you're willing and able to compromise on each.

Audi RS6 Avant. Fast, roomy, AWD, looks great. Expensive.....

Based on what I've been told, Mustangs and PT Cruisers are the best cars ever.

Yes indeed. I've owned over fifty cars, all used as daily drivers, all different in every way.

The best car ever made is the 1984 Ford Escort Wagon . . . in dark red, with a red interior and standard transmission.

Bar none, it performs every task required of a daily driver/regular car-as-car (NOT status symbol or fashion accessory or camping equipment or dick extension or brass knuckles any of the other foolishness that car sellers try to heap on us!)

Simply the best of the best.

AWD wagons aren't perfect, but they are the leatherman of the auto world me thinks. VW made a allroad passat wagon with a hot version VR6 and a manual for awhile. I found that very attractive- one was for sale in the bay area for months while I looked for a V70R. It was 18k with 100k on the clock I think. I read up on the W8 and if the motor breaks its bleak. The b5 (I think) a4 avant with the v6 and the twin turbos and a manual is on my bucket list. Its much more of a sports car than what we ended up with. I bought us a 2007 V70R with the 6 speed auto instead of the manual because I know its not a sports car and we enjoy it more as a fast grocery getter/GT while letting the transmission keep the revs at 2k-2.5k. The seats are so effing good. It has a 3300 lb towing capacity and I bought the very beefy OEM hitch which is going on along with the stock springs. I know how to fix Volvos and they built them to be fixed. The electronics are very scary in this era... I still holding my breath. Wagons can do allot, but not everything. I like what the 2004-07 V70Rs can do at the 10-15k price point.

The best, fastest, most indestructible car in the world....

Is a rental car.

Every vehicle is a compromise. Not 'perfect' but my best 'all around' DD was a nicely optioned '87 AMC Eagle 4X4 wagon. Coulda used more power (what doesn't) and not an auto-xer but it did everything well, reliable as water. There's a Eagle wagon w/ SBC transplant around here that could solve that power issue.

I 'spose the modern equivalent would be a 325xi wagon. Power and handling the plus. Gimme heated leather and mirrors ftw.

As a counterpoint to the AWD wagons, I think that depends greatly on what is going on in somebody's life. If 99% of your driving is on roads that don't see snow or ice 99% of the time, or flat land roads pretty much regardless of what the weather is 99% of the time, AWD is overrated. If 99% of your driving is with one passenger or less, four doors/seats are overrated. If 99% of your driving is with nothing more than a few days worth of groceries for one or two people, wagons are overrated. There are always other ways to deal with those rare occasions. As opposed to the typical American more-is-better philosophy, my wife and I have found great value for us personally over the years in right-sizing our decisions to whatever our current situation is at the time.

Sports cars are out. They would need to make multiple trips to transport the same amount of people and cargo as a typical sedan, and they aren't twice as fast. Sedans are out too. There are a few good wagons out there that match up well with sedans, with much more cargo room. I'd agree that a sporty AWD wagon is the best mix of fun to drive and utility. That said, there is still a lot that they can't do. I'm a big fan of modern crew cab trucks. Lots of room, can seat six, you can't beat a bed for utility. Can tow whatever won't fit. They also fun to drive in their own way. Sub full size sport utility if you prefer covering your cargo or need more than six seats. I think minivans are less versatile than wagons, crew cab trucks, and SUVs. In a way, they are just as focused as sports cars, but toward people carrying and comfort in the most economical and convenient manner. There are some cross overs that could give wagons a run for the money- Jeep SRT8, Trailblazer SS, Porsche Cayanne, etc., but these are also like big wagons. I have always thought that a great do it all vehicle would be an Astro van with a Syclone drivetrain swap.