I suppose we should firm up what a perfect car is before attempting to determine what cars come closest to achieving perfection, but I’ll leave the firmification process entirely to you. Does the perfect car balance comfort, power, and handling in equal and high measure? Or does it embody perfection in design and proportion, with other considerations scoring lower? Or is the perfect car the one best-built with precision tolerances and clever engineering to perform impeccably and reliably?
Probably all of the above, with different amounts of each ingredient, and I look forward to reading your criteria and most-perfect selections in the comments. As for me, my choice is a car that I suspect few would choose as the “perfect car” (spoiler alert: it’s the one in the topshot), but hear me out.
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My Dad was a big Beetle guy, and regularly extolled what he liked about them: they were cheap to purchase and operate, mechanically simple, and thus easy to fix and maintain. “There’s no cooling system to worry about, and you can set the points by the side of the road with a matchbook cover,” he would say. I don’t recall Dad ever actually performing the matchbook trick in the driveway or garage let alone by the side of the road, but I trust that it could be done. My Dad saw the Beetle was the platonic ideal of a car as basic transportation, and that vision stuck with me as well.
Certainly, many – most, even – cars could handily outperform the Beetle even when new examples were rolling off VW assembly lines, and today, a Beetle of any vintage is positively bronze-age compared to the technological miracles we take for granted as we go along our merry ways. But in it’s own way, to me, the Beetle is still very much a perfect car.
Top graphic image: DepositPhotos.com
The one I build to my desired specifications. Its not a specific make or model. Its MY car.
A car’s job is not only to transport me, but to make me happy doing so, and when looking at it.
But if we insist on naming a particular vehicle, then a Kids Heart produced OEM Sil-Eighty. I think that is the only car I would NOT modify if I got my hands on one. ALL other cars are subject to surgery. We have a saying in my home “off the shelf is never good enough”, and I stand by that.
A few years ago, a shockingly well-executed Levin AE86 with a pickup truck bed came up at the Japanese auctions. Back then I said it was the perfect car, and I still stand by that.
If I’m not being silly, it’s the original NSX
The Beetle is the most perfect by being the least perfect. It is the bare minimum that will enable an average person to do almost anything that they could need to do with an average family in a car, and therefore is the car that has enabled the MOST average people to do so, by being the most attainable and relatively capable. It’s not the best at anything, but nothing about it is unacceptable.
It’s a rocketship compared to a 2CV, a battleship compared to a Dauphine, a limousine compared to a 500, Western Decadence next to a Trabant, and yet it was attainable all over the world, including in countries where cars like the Escort and Kadett were considered luxury sports cars.
The Japanese were late to the game, and only started their dynasty of excellence once such decadent and unnecessary luxuries as “coil springs”, “radiators” and “engine mounts” had become industry standard.
Let’s not forget the BMC Mini, Alec Issigonis’ revolutionary packaging masterpiece. Transverse front mounted engine, front wheel drive (sounds kind of familiar, right?), with tons of interior space. Affordable and cheap to run. I clearly remember many of the magazines I was buying around the turn of the century were having “greatest car of the 20th century” articles, and the Mini was number one on the list of many of them. The Beetle was right up there, too, and rightfully so. The original Mini wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty close.
Definitely a contender, the conical rubber springs are definitely a stroke of genius in cheap manufacturing, enabling progressive spring behavior at extremely low cost, but one might call it a pioneer rather than a perfection of the concept.
That’s not what I’ll say, though. I’ll make the claim that the Mini didn’t go far enough, it didn’t make it to enough countries or into the hands of enough people. It was largely a one-continent vehicle, with very little presence outside Europe. That said, it’s more a matter of execution than concept, and maybe the Mini could have gone just as far as the Bug if it had been given the distribution network.
I am of two minds, function versus beauty. If I were to choose function, it is not so much a car as a state of mind, which is of course the VW Microbus. Yes, you are driving a shoebox. But think of all the things you can do with a shoebox. On the other hand, if thinking beauty, I am thinking of vintage Mercedes 300S not the SL. The S cabrio was truly a car of beauty.
My problem is any perfect car in reality is The Homer. Now there is the perfect car
Beauty is the E type.
In the (translated) words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, “Perfection is not when there is no more to add, but no more to take away.”
Seen through that lens, the Beetle does approach perfection. And I say that with love, having owned a couple of air-cooled VWs.
The answer requires swallowing your pride a bit, but I think we’re all on board here at The Autopian because we know the answer is:
Toyota Sienna.
It functions great as a car. It functions great as an SUV. It moves people comfortably. It also has room for stuff. Everything is extremely well-engineered. There are enough cupholders to give you a panorama of beverage choices. It can be had with plenty of power. You can watch a movie in it. It’s easy to clean. It holds its value. It lasts forever.
Also Miata but everyone is going to say Miata.
What happend to Torch’s Sienna that David Tracy roadtripped to him?
My son has a 2002 Camry LE 4cyl,auto that just refuses to die and EVERYTHING works.I did have to replace the starter and radiator but it’s 24 years old.There isn’t a spot of rust on it and we live in Northeast Pa.It has a ton of room,is actually pretty comfortable,and it has a CD player.Parts are cheap,it’s easy to work on and you can get them anywhere.I wish they still made cars like that.
Camry is always the answer. The perfect car for normies.
I can believe every word of this. I rented a 2003 Camry, bare bones as it gets, and marveled at the time how well it did what was needed.
I didn’t need to carry any passengers on that business trek, but I would’ve happily carted four more if needed.
The perfect car is the one you sold about a year ago and regret. Repeat as necessary.
It’s gotta have room. It has to ride well. It has to resist rust well. It has to be reliable and durable. It has to be frugal. It has to look good. It has to have good seats.
The car I’ve experienced to do most of these well was my Volvo XC70 D5 from 2005.
Camry.
4Runner, maybe specifically 4th gen with V8.
About the only thing they don’t do good is fuel economy. But otherwise they have a good size, reasonable comfort, smooth power, dead reliable, and with proper tires can get through most, not extreme, conditions. They are also part of the era with just the right amount of tech.
And the back window rolls down for dogs.
Fuel economy is critical and the vehicle you’ve chosen is a guzzler.
100 series Land Cruiser
I feel a disturbance in The Force, as if millions of solid front axle purists cried out in grievance, and were silenced.
Wow I get to be the first one to say BMW e30 (but controversially I will say really only hits perfection with the later 325i)…I know it’s cliche but it’s a cliche for a reason. Light, zippy, reasonable gas mileage, comfortable enough seats, airy interior that feels increasingly hard to believe they used to make cars with this good of visibility. Everything they say about steering feel is true. Yes the trailing arm rear can bite you but I never spun mine out on pavement, though I did have a few tank slappers. Maybe it’s the time when I owned it but always felt like there was a sense of occasion driving it. No folding rear seat but had a bigger trunk than you’d think.
Still one of the easiest to drive manual transmissions I’ve used. Surprisingly good in snow as well as having very good ABS even in the ’80s. At least in my case was shockingly reliable and quite reasonable to DIY most repairs if you’re handy. Classic looks that even when I was driving mine 2008-2012 got positive comments everywhere I went. Loved that car so much, still miss it sometimes.
Never owned one, but I worked in a garage in the ’80s and the memory of driving a customer’s 1983 320i still sticks in my head (realize this is an earlier variant than what you’re talking about). Even as a late teenager at the time, I recognized the difference between this car and everything else…the complete driver focus. Everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Also agree about the transmission – never drove anything that felt as good as that manual. Almost other worldly with how smooth and precise it was. Big ups for the under hood access that the forward lifting hood afforded as well.
Yeh I remember a buddy of mine who was a big american car guy rolling his eyes when I bought my somewhat worn ’91 325i in 2008. We took it out to a soon to be developed subdivision that just had the roads in but no houses built yet and let him go flog it around for a few minutes-he got it after that. And yeh loved the forward folding hood, felt sort of exotic opening it at a gas station but was also practical. Never got to drive an e21, but I’m sure they’re great!
Guyssss… The perfect car is the one you had all along!
Ford Ranger.
The last great American truck. My Dad had an ’03 and only recently retired it. It was slow, had the turning circle of a cruise liner, and about the same power at the wheels as my clapped out Outback, but it could do work shit all day, every day and twice on Sundays.
My Mom got one of the new Rangers a few years ago, and ended up trading it in under Lemon Law because it developed a fascination with getting into and staying in second gear.
1991 Euro version CRX, fully loaded, possibly Norwegian or Swedish version, ZC or B16 powertrain. Would have to have the JDM SiR’s glassroof, but you can’t have it all.
No notes. I used to hate zc but they feel nostalgic now so I’m on board.
By ZC I mean the factory version with the non-vtec DOHC 1.6 that was available in Europe, not an US SOHC to DOHC swap.
It had the nice hood bump that the Japanese designers were so ashamed of that they ever only showed it in one official photo months into the reveal of the gen2 CRX in 1989.
Didn’t hurt that the Rover 216’s powertrain was the same but with a shorter final ratio transmission, which once swapped could either compensate for larger wheels, or give you a VTEC level 0-60 or better at the expense of a lower top speed (say 115-120mph at redline instead of the stock 130mph for the ZC).
Speaking of top speeds – all Euro CRXes 130hp and up (basically the ZC and the VTEC) had insanely lazy, non-assisted steering racks (4.5 turns from bump to bump), and were able of doing 130mph and up. They also had an ever shorter wheelbase than the regular 4gen Civic hatch, as it is well known (20cm shorter).
Top speed-limited SiRs in Japan, as well as slower and cheaper Civics and CRXes in Europe (the 1.4 90hp model and the similar 1.4 CRX available in Germany) had the power steering option available. Which was doing 3.5 turns from bump to bump.
From remembering my ZC, a faster steering would have been dangerous at very high speeds. I suspect that’s why the top non speed-limited levels couldn’t even have it optional.
FWIW, my US spec had no trouble hitting 125, as I routinely tested during a notoriously unpoliced stretch of the approach to a certain NYC bridge named after a President.
Not the sort of thing I recommend, nor am necessarily eager to make public, of course.
I can only imagine how sweet that already sweet ride of mine would’ve been with an engine upgrade.
My 1988 still had rear drums, but everything else was near perfection in terms of handling and fuel efficiency. And I loved its steel sunroof.
Throw in an aftermarket sound system, just some quality stuff in the four 6.5″ corners, and… damn, I miss those wheels.
Fiat Panda 1980 of course !!!
9th Generation Honda Civic Si Sedan.
Reliable power, that can go for hundreds of thousands of miles with basic maintenance.Good handling without a super harsh ride.Limited Slip Differential, 6 Speed Manual Transmission.Fits a family of four, plus a friend for short trips.Modern levels of safety without intrusive Driver Assist systems. Fully defeatable traction control when you get stuck in the snow. Bluetooth but no connected vehicle services.One is parked in my driveway right now.
I fully support this, my criteria is a little different but a 4th gen hatchback is damn hard to beat for me.
Honda must have fixed a lot with the 9th gen Si. My 8th gen Si has been comically unreliable, with issues that normal maintenance doesn’t address. It’s too bad as it’s genuinely a great car to drive but it seems fragile and is an electrical nightmare.
It’s been demoted to a regular summer driver and winter beater but no more autocross. The old e36 M3 has been promoted back to autocross duty along with winter beater and occasional summer driving.
The only correct answer is a Lotus Esprit in John Player black and gold livery on gold BBS rims. You are right now picturing it in your head. You’re welcome 🙂
I have a Matchbox of this, except replace Esprit with Europa. One of my favorites in my collection.
I don’t know what it is about that livery combo, it’s just so sweet
Nearly all tobacco company liveries are just amazing. I guess for the amount of money they made, they could pay for the best graphic design.
BTW fantastic screen name, assuming it might be inspired by Tires. I love that show. “Eh! Oh! Eh!”
Non-enthusiast? Rav4 PHEV. Great fuel economy, capability and power.
Enthusiast? GR86 or BRZ.
Enthusiast with family? WRX
The WRX as a hatch IMHO.
But of course!
Or Camry for the normies. RAV 4 PHEV works too.
Enthusiast there is only one answer: Miata. No compromises.
The Toyobarus are for normies trying to be an enthusiast.
Enthusiast with family? Camry or RAV4 with $2,500 NB Miata on the side.
Dentist/Attorney/Brain Surgeon: 911
To avoid any allegations of bias, I will disregard anything I own or have owned.
For perfection of purpose, it’s probably the Gordon Murray cars or the LFA.
For the most perfected all around vehicle, my vote is for the Raptor R. It’s hard to think of a way it could be improved.
Sorry if it isn’t good enough for you to own it isn’t the perfect car.
For me it would be the Corolla or Civic. Big enough for many families, economical to operate and produce, very modifiable for enthusiasts, and with a large following of fans.
My other answer was Honda Fit, so stupidly practical and reliable yet also fun to drive
Me too. I love mine.
The OG Lexus LS400/Toyota Celsior. Meticulous Japanese bubble-period engineering pointed at the international luxury car market. Stylish (but not too stylish), quiet, beautifully appointed, smooth and insanely reliable. Still a great car today, 40-ish years later.
I thought you would say the answer is always Miata
Top Gear Cool Wall rules. Any vehicle I own is automatically imperfect by virtue of me owning it.
I’m on board with that rule, luckily my car collection has not quite been perfect yet, which gives me lots of great cars to choose from!
There is ONE correct answer to this question:
S123 Mercedes-Benz 300TD-T.
I will not be taking questions.
Mmm, I was going to say the W123 but I think we can agree to disagree.
I like wagons 🙂
Cannot disagree even if offered money.
The Beetle met the daily transportation needs of millions of people over a 65 year production run,it was a rugged, dependable workhorse that just got the job done, with reliability created through almost ruthless simplicity
However, Lee Iacocca was a very smart person, and he went on record as stating that the 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Series were the closest to perfect of any car ever made, so, I’m going to have to trust the expert on this one
1986 Chrysler LeBaron? Drive one for more than an hour and your back will scream bloody murder. No lumbar support for your spine and a saggy seat equal agony. I’ve sat on aluminum bleachers in the rain that are more comfortable.
Iacocca must have said that at a 1986 sales conference.
We were told that they were both extremely quiet and smooth, and that if anyone could possibly find a better car, they should probably buy it
Just the right car at the wrong time. In today’s world the lack of lumbar support ties in nicely to a generation of people who have no spines.
JK
Mister Rourke would like a word with you and his little Tattoo too.
Did it? Did it really? Or was it just cheap enough owners looked past all it’s faults?
It wasn’t all that cheap, at least not in comparison to other entry-level small cars on the market by the 1960s and ’70s. Its best sales year in the US was 1970, when it cost around $1900 in California (slightly less in the east), the AMC Gremlin went on sale mid way through the model year at basically the same exact price. A base Toyota Corona or Datsun 510 were within a few dollars, the Austin America was $100 lower, and the Simca 1100 was more like $400-$500 less.
Iacocca aka “I Am Chairman of Chrysler Corporation of America” must have interpreted perfect by the only way knowing what “K-car” model you were driving was to look at the model identification placard above the glovebox on the passenger-side of the dashboard.
Obviously the 2001 Chevrolet Tracker Base Trim 4×4. Practical? You bet. Economical? I got 30 mpg once. Looks? It has them. Luxury? What would YOU call automatic headlights, and air that can be conditioned at the push of a button!
For real though, I have a lot of respect for those little Suzuki 4×4’s. They achieved the template for what pretty much all modern cars are, without real sacrifice to the purpose of an SUV. I’ve always said, if I had to get rid of all of my other cars, I’d keep the tracker, and still be able to achieve about 80 percent of what I do with the other ones.
I prefer my Isuzu Amigo over the GEO Tracker from another mother
Recently bought one from a towing company deep in the woods (I buy salvage cars for a living) and the sucker RAN from fuel in a washer fluid bottle… had not seen one in YEARS!