The perfect motor car

[Lachlan Hunter McIntyre]

I put to the people of this forum to envision and discuss what they believe to be the perfect car. Whether it be of their own imagination, or one that has already been made.
I'll start.

Something that is small, light, simple, and capable. Body-on-frame construction. 4x4, with live axles front and rear, coil suspension, disc brakes. Something with around 2.25 meter wheelbase and 1.5 meter width. Very simple flat body panels made of aluminium, very easy to fix dents with. An N/A 2 litre pure mechanical diesel, with provisions for a hand crank-start. Engineer all the electrics to be non-vital to the operations of the vehicle. Very basic interior, metal dashboard and mechanical dials. No carpet, with openings in the floor for water drainage. Basic flat cloth or vinyl front clamshell seats, and an optional rear bench seat. Make the entire car capable of being disassembled and reassembled with a basic tool kit. 6 speed manual only, high and low range, provisions for power take-off. Interchangeable soft and hard tops.
A basic 2 door topless off roader, rather like a tractor. With a top speed of around 120kmh. A vehicle that can function in any and every environment. From the harsh heat of Australian outback, to the freezing cold of Siberia. And everywhere in-between

In short, something fairly similar to the original Land Rover.

 

[Ravenor]

In short, something fairly similar to the original Land Rover.

I used to own a beautifully restored Landy SWB Series 2, if you want something newish that meats your specifications look for a Defender 90, you can pick them up quite cheaply an considering nearly everything but trim and the odd more complex part can be used across the whole production cycle you can't get anything better.

At the moment I'm driving a mix of a 2007 90 Defender (I have two as part of my business), Ford Transit van (again I own through my business), and various rentals but I am eyeing a far nicer car a New Morgan Plus 8, I want something that looks classic but has modern efficiency as my daily driver having said that me and my dad have agreed to buy a imported VW camper to restore together as a project, mostly because we have both always wanted one and he wants a get away for the weekend motor he can take my mum out in, so we are shopping around the bay and some auctions at the moment for the right one.

Oddly enough though, I'd rate the Dacha Sandero as a decent car for the price - if your looking for a new car, that's cheep to insure, cheep to run and reliable get a sandero (I have drove one for the last few day's and I have to say I'm impressed).

 

[Lachlan Hunter McIntyre]

I used to own a beautifully restored Landy SWB Series 2, if you want something newish that meats your specifications look for a Defender 90, you can pick them up quite cheaply an considering nearly everything but trim and the odd more complex part can be used across the whole production cycle you can't get anything better.

At the moment I'm driving a mix of a 2007 90 Defender (I have two as part of my business), Ford Transit van (again I own through my business), and various rentals but I am eyeing a far nicer car a New Morgan Plus 8, I want something that looks classic but has modern efficiency as my daily driver having said that me and my dad have agreed to buy a imported VW camper to restore together as a project, mostly because we have both always wanted one and he wants a get away for the weekend motor he can take my mum out in, so we are shopping around the bay and some auctions at the moment for the right one.

Oddly enough though, I'd rate the Dacha Sandero as a decent car for the price - if your looking for a new car, that's cheep to insure, cheep to run and reliable get a sandero (I have drove one for the last few day's and I have to say I'm impressed).

Unfortunately I live in America, and the defender was only sold here for about 5 years. They rarely change hands for less than £35,000. Roughly.

I already have a V8i Disco 1 with the R380. But that's loaded with computers and frivolous nonsense.

 

[Ravenor]

Unfortunately I live in America, and the defender was only sold here for about 5 years. They rarely change hands for less than £35,000. Roughly.

I already have a V8i Disco 1 with the R380. But that's loaded with computers and frivolous nonsense.

Look on ebay UK an set the search for world wide, an select left hand drive, you'll find one for you for buttons and the shipping fees if you get the seller to arrange them will be cheeper than you doing it yourself.

Also what sort of Defender are you looking for? I have a MOD Disposals account an can bid on LHD's quite often an they go for about 60 - 40% less at a time, if you're willing to have a phone call during the next auction an have the readdies I'l be willing to buy one for you for cost + shipping.

Just looking at a email I have got recently DHL have a minimum tax method going for cars over a certain age as well, so if your happy to buy a defender with a few miles on the clock but maintained by the spanner boys to a decent standard, you might be able to pick up something for far less than you think.

 

[Lachlan Hunter McIntyre]

Look on ebay UK an set the search for world wide, an select left hand drive, you'll find one for you for buttons and the shipping fees if you get the seller to arrange them will be cheeper than you doing it yourself.

Also what sort of Defender are you looking for? I have a MOD Disposals account an can bid on LHD's quite often an they go for about 60 - 40% less at a time, if you're willing to have a phone call during the next auction an have the readdies I'l be willing to buy one for you for cost + shipping.

Just looking at a email I have got recently DHL have a minimum tax method going for cars over a certain age as well, so if your happy to buy a defender with a few miles on the clock but maintained by the spanner boys to a decent standard, you might be able to pick up something for far less than you think.

Why in god's name would I want one with the steering on the wrong side? Should be RHD.
The problem is, the USA is draconian on the importation of cars. If it isn't over 25 years old, it's automatically crushed if they find it. Even if I did find one over 25, it'll most likely be a pile of rust, as any car from a very wet climate as the UK is. One without rust will be approaching £25,000.
Beyond that, the Defender is too modern for what I'd want. Electric ignition, turbo diesel, plastic interior, electric dials, carpets. It's a civilised Series, and I have neither the want nor the need for civility. I'd want nothing newer than an early SIIa.

See what I described above. Practically a slightly simplified diesel Series I.

 

[Ravenor]

Why in god's name would I want one with the steering on the wrong side? Should be RHD.

Sorry my bad, but the message stands.

The problem is, the USA is draconian on the importation of cars. If it isn't over 25 years old, it's automatically crushed if they find it. Even if I did find one over 25, it'll most likely be a pile of rust, as any car from a very wet climate as the UK is. One without rust will be approaching £25,000.

What? I know a lot of guy's who do restorations an conversions of British Cars and they don't complain about this.

Beyond that, the Defender is too modern for what I'd want. Electric ignition, turbo diesel, plastic interior, electric dials, carpets. It's a civilised Series, and I have neither the want nor the need for civility. I'd want nothing newer than an early SIIa.

The OLD MOD spec defenders until 99 are your hunting ground mate, if you see Crown Ownership on the V5 your getting a solid motor, MOD defenders where built like tanks and designed to run without maintenance for a VERY long time. In 2002 I drove one that had it's last maintenance cert dated 1991, and I did about 100k in it before it was fucked up enough without REME attention to drive.

Oddly there is a Emergency kit for a defender than you can use if electronics are shot, not many kits where produced an they are policed to fuck, but it's the same as the older British Tank kits, from the mid war period, and it was cautiously issued until 1980, and it's why even the current MOD Landys have a cil cap.

 

[Lachlan Hunter McIntyre]

If the car is over 25, it doesn't have to meet any safety or emissions. That's how it works here. Can blame it on MB-USA who got huffy in the mid 80s because people were buying Mercs in Europe and bringing them to America as a grey market import. It was cheaper than buying from Mercedes USA, and they weren't bogged down by the American-spec emission standards. Merc pissed and moaned to the government and the government made it illegal to import new cars.

Again, electrical. I loathe computers and electrics with a passion. If it cannot be fixed with a spanner or a hammer, it has no business being on a car. You can limp a car home with only 3 cylinders. Your computer shits the bed, and you're fucked. The 200tdi is a brilliant design, but not as brilliant as it could've been.

 

[temeluchus]

I drive a 1997 reliant robin mk2. It is motoring perfection.

 

[Bassomatic]

https://sneed-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/df/0f/7b/df0f7b1c426e828ac79f08755c4579df.jpg

Literally freedom on wheels. Isn't a good car about freedom?

Trolling aside, for me perfect really depends on what I want, at that moment I'm quite indecisive I'm aware. What would be perfect for me would be a coupe with quite aggressive looks, gobs of power a RWD set up (Front engine) and a proper stick shift. Comfort inside enough to hold up on long trips but no frills to speak of, a place to plug my phone in and nice speakers are all I ask. Small size is also a big thing. While I enjoy the time I've spent in things like the newest vette, it's just so big.

I'd like a few electronic gizmo's like traction control with the cavet, I can turn them FULLY off. Shitty weather half awake driving to work, sure let's keep that on. Back roads on a sunday afternoon, just the car and myself. Something like a gutted F type with the big motor but not a semi auto if you can picture that.

 

[Lachlan Hunter McIntyre]

https://sneed-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/df/0f/7b/df0f7b1c426e828ac79f08755c4579df.jpg

Literally freedom on wheels. Isn't a good car about freedom?

Trolling aside, for me perfect really depends on what I want, at that moment I'm quite indecisive I'm aware. What would be perfect for me would be a coupe with quite aggressive looks, gobs of power a RWD set up (Front engine) and a proper stick shift. Comfort inside enough to hold up on long trips but no frills to speak of, a place to plug my phone in and nice speakers are all I ask. Small size is also a big thing. While I enjoy the time I've spent in things like the newest vette, it's just so big.

I'd like a few electronic gizmo's like traction control with the cavet, I can turn them FULLY off. Shitty weather half awake driving to work, sure let's keep that on. Back roads on a sunday afternoon, just the car and myself. Something like a gutted F type with the big motor but not a semi auto if you can picture that.

The V6 F types have a manual option. Arguably, the V6S is the one you'd want anyway. More power to dollar ratio, better noise. A proper mechanical LSD rather than an electric one like the V8 has. A bit lighter.

 

[Bassomatic]

It's probably a much better car all around, and as you said bang for the buck but if I'm dreaming I want horse power to spare because reasons. Also I should probably state, in the dream car it would be sucking it's own air.

 

[Lachlan Hunter McIntyre]

It's probably a much better car all around, and as you said bang for the buck but if I'm dreaming I want horse power to spare because reasons. Also I should probably state, in the dream car it would be sucking it's own air.

The V6S has about 380 horses.
And subjectively, I think the V6 suits the Jag character more. Jaguar is known for their sixes and twelves. I'd personally never want a Jag with a V8. But again, purely opinion on my part.

 

[Bassomatic]

If we want to really be sticklers an inline six would be even more fitting.

 

[Lachlan Hunter McIntyre]

Which Jaguar Land Rover is apparently going to start making again.

 

[CWCchange]

Take your pick:

Mercedes-Benz W124

BMW E30

 

[Bassomatic]

e30 + 46 swap = dream

Because I'm American I need too much horsepower.

 

[The Dude]

My perfect car would be a station wagon. But not just any station wagon (or estate car for you Eurotrash); it would be angular and edgy like the newer Lamborghinis, with two doors, all-wheel drive, a six speed manual transmission, and the W-16 engine out of the Bugatti Veyron. It would have ceramic disc breaks, a Bluetooth and Blu-ray entertainment system for the kids, dark purple and charcoal rough-out leather interior, and it would be Kryptonite Green with Pewter accents.

 

[Ponderous Pillock]

I'd personally say something like the Morgan 4/4.

Why? Because it's a car design that evokes the earlier days of the motor car by being sleek and classical, driving isn't a chore from A-B it's an event in and of itself.

There's nods to modernity too, a digital radio and air conditioning are optional extras and they handle beautifully.

 

[polonium]

Personally I think there's no such thing as the "perfect" motor car because there's so many competing demands. I'm currently driving a new car, and it's stuffed full of fantastic technology, and for cruising the highway or sitting in traffic it's close to perfect for me. It's a big wagon so I can fit camping gear in there and put a kayak on the roof and all of that, and it's AWD so it goes good on soft roads or the beach, but if there was a zombie apocalypse I'd dump it as soon as the fuel tank was empty because without regular servicing with tools I can't use, it'd be a nightmare to keep on the road. You'd need the diagnostic computer kit they have at the dealer and all sorts of ridiculous shit.

 

[nad7155]

no such thing as the "perfect" motor car

This.

It all depends on the use.

For a SHITF situation, a simple, rugged pure mechanical diesel is ideal.

It's a loaded question.

Maybe it should have been phrased "What is YOUR ideal car".