# Best and worst "car casting" you've seen in in TV and film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873 "2021-06-08T21:18:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/121 "2021-06-11T12:21:07Z")
Former astronaut Maurice Minnifield’s gold 1960 El Dorado in _Northern Exposure_ suited him perfectly. [![](https://pics.imcdb.org/0is204/cadillaceldorado172558zk3.7500.jpg) ](https://pics.imcdb.org/0is204/cadillaceldorado172558zk3.7500.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/122 "2021-06-11T12:50:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Former astronaut Maurice Minnifield’s gold 1960 El Dorado in _Northern Exposure_ suited him perfectly. > > [https://pics.imcdb.org/0is204/cadillaceldorado172558zk3.7500.jpg](https://pics.imcdb.org/0is204/cadillaceldorado172558zk3.7500.jpg) The stereotypical astronaut car would be a classic corvette. But for someone advancing in age that might not be too comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/123 "2021-06-11T13:06:05Z")
Also, the **gold** Cadillac conveyed maturity, arrogance, and _full-of-himself-ism_ that a cool Corvette wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/124 "2021-06-11T13:55:59Z")
> [@Hakushon](#): > > Bad: Jayne Mansfield in _The Girl Can’t Help It_ (which constantly emphasized her curves) driving a 1957 Lincoln Premiere Convertible–a straight-sided car shaped like a brick (unless it was chosen for contrast?): Evidently she liked the Lincoln so much that she bought a nearly identical one. Jayne and her Lincoln in '61: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/71/38/ba/7138ba6e02d84aee4d5446c4abd10db1.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/71/38/ba/7138ba6e02d84aee4d5446c4abd10db1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/125 "2021-06-11T14:00:30Z")
If you’re [wondering](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actress-jayne-mansfield-dies-in-car-crash) (I wondered), that was NOT the car in the fatal accident. > …Mansfield had been on her way to New Orleans from Biloxi, Mississippi, where she had been performing a standing engagement at a local nightclub; she had a television appearance scheduled the following day. Ronald B. Harrison, a driver for the Gus Stevens Dinner Club, was driving Mansfield and her lawyer and companion, Samuel S. Brody, along with three of Mansfield’s children with her ex-husband Mickey Hargitay, in Stevens’ 1966 Buick Electra. > … I didn’t realize 3-year old Mariska Hargitay had been asleep in the back seat when it happened. 😢 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/126 "2021-06-11T14:30:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The stereotypical astronaut car would be a classic corvette. But for someone advancing in age that might not be too comfortable. There was an episode where he describes why he got the Cadillac instead of the Corvette like all the other astronauts. Unfortunately I can’t remember the details. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/127 "2021-06-11T15:07:55Z")
Poor Matt Damon got stuck driving a cheapo Russian taxi (a GAZ Volga 3110) during the big chase scene in “The Bourne Supremacy”, instead of the sportier Mercedes chasing him (and crashing into things). On the other hand, the taxi that was commandeered in “Taken 2” _and_ the chase cars were Mercedes. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKOKMdCc1xs) Apparently it is good product placement to have your vehicles battered and smashed up in action movies. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/128 "2021-06-11T15:45:39Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I’m torn on James Bond’s Aston Martin. On one hand, there’s no way a real spy would ever drive anything that flashy. But on the other hand everything about how Bond operated was completely unrealistic in terms of actual spy craft. However, much of the time Bond was trying to blend into high society. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/129 "2021-06-11T16:51:14Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Former astronaut Maurice Minnifield’s gold 1960 El Dorado in _Northern Exposure_ suited him perfectly. Seems like a convertible would be an awfully impractical vehicle in Alaska. Though, being a TV show, I seem to remember there were an inordinate amount of episodes that apparently took place in the summer, or at least light jacket weather. Although they did have the occasional ep where they emphasized the cold & snow, or they at least acknowledged winter coming. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/130 "2021-06-11T17:32:50Z")
Dwight was very concerned about _image_ when he bought a Trans Am. It’s always been a flashy version of the Firebird with fake scoops, spoilers, air damns, and decals to make it look faster than it was. If Dwight didn’t care what others thought, he’d have driven a Mustang LX with the 5 liter, or a Firebird Formula, which had all the performance parts of the Trans Am but didn’t shout, “boy racer.” ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/131 "2021-06-11T17:39:13Z")
How about the opening of Batman vs Superman, where billionaire Bruce Wayne is driving a $20,000 mini-Jeep? ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/132 "2021-06-11T19:13:48Z")
A truly rich auto aficionado would have plenty of cars that are fun in one way or another, regardless of their prestige or price tag. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/133 "2021-06-11T22:01:40Z")
Henchman 24’s powder blue Nissan Stanza. Nothing says, ‘I live in my mom’s basement’ like that car. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/134 "2021-06-11T22:46:17Z")
I nominate Larry David’s Prius on _Curb your Enthusiasm_ Although I see he’s traded up. > Seinfeld co-creator and current star of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, [Larry David](http://www.carscoops.com/2015/06/julia-louis-dreyfus-and-jerry-seinfield.html), is driving around in a brand new BMW i3 for the show’s ninth season. David drove a Toyota Prius in the show’s previous seasons, and was even spotted driving one in real life. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/135 "2021-06-11T23:12:36Z")
The somewhat obscure 1973 James Caan/Sally Kellerman crime/comedy movie _Slither_ featured an all-black proto-RV RecTrans Discoverer 25R as a very mysterious/ominous chase vehicle–it fit the role very well. [![](https://pics.imcdb.org/4290/rv23.jpg) ](https://pics.imcdb.org/4290/rv23.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/136 "2021-06-11T23:29:37Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > The stereotypical astronaut car would be a classic corvette. But for someone advancing in age that might not be too comfortable. > > There was an episode where he describes why he got the Cadillac instead of the Corvette like all the other astronauts. Unfortunately I can’t remember the details. I watched every episode but I don’t remember either. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/137 "2021-06-12T00:25:50Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > Batman vs Superman, where billionaire Bruce Wayne is driving a $20,000 mini-Jeep? A mini-Jeep? That sounds fun, what was it? It’d be cool if it was a [Mahindra Roxor](https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a28675796/mahindra-roxor-4x4-drive/)… but then there’d be something I’d actually like about that movie, and my head might _nigh on esplode…_ ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/138 "2021-06-12T01:03:30Z")
It was a 2016 Jeep Renegade, first used in Jeep commercials as a tie-in to the movie, then seen in the movie, in shots that made the brand very readable. Other Fiat Chrysler products were also used in the movie, so Bruce Wayne didn’t drive a Renegade because he thought it was cool. He drove it because Fiat paid him to drive it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/139 "2021-06-12T02:24:31Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I watched every episode but I don’t remember either. It might be in the episode [Lost and Found](https://northernexposure.fandom.com/wiki/Lost_and_Found) where Maurice crashes the car after being asked for money from the Colonel he respected. I think that Colonel was the one who told him to get the Caddy instead of the Vette because it would be more stately and long term. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873/140 "2021-06-12T12:33:32Z")
Re: Steve McQueen’s Mustang in _Bullitt_. No matter how fast he drove that thing, that green Volkswagen always got there before him. That was one fast beetle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-car-casting-youve-seen-in-in-tv-and-film/943873.md?page=8)