# I'll buy you any car you want. But one only. What will it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099 "2011-05-07T22:20:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/81 "2011-05-09T17:44:25Z")
I say, you basically have two choices - you’re either being given a chance to have fun (buy something expensive that eats gas that you have to pay for - but still save some $ since you don’t pay depreciation/insurance). Or you can use this as a chance to enrich yourself by getting a car where the costs are frontloaded. For myself it is no question - I would use the opportunity to enrich myself as much as possible - a car to me is no more than a toaster that gets me from A-\>B. Given my current driving habits I probably would go for a fully decked out Prius, or possibly a similar luxury hybrid if it gets similar gas mileage. If I had a commute that was in the right range, I would probably go for a Nissan Leaf or similar electric vehicle. I assume given the spirit of the OP the charging station would be included in “buying the car” but I would have to pay for the juice. That way I can do the driving I would do anyway at the minimum cost, and use the OPs money to enrich the rest of my life in any way I want. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/82 "2011-05-09T17:50:20Z")
[Volvo V60 Hybrid](http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/geneva-motor-show-2011/volvo-v60-hybrid/255650), assuming it becomes available in the US. It’s extremely fuel-efficient, and it’s hard to think of any situation where this car would be inappropriate or inadequate. (Assuming I’m allowed to also get a small utility trailer for hauling my [velomobile](http://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html).) ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/83 "2011-05-09T18:27:29Z")
[This.](http://www.lastinterceptor.com/ReplicaStats/images/black/Rep16.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/84 "2011-05-09T18:34:15Z")
I think I’d just like to have an updated version of the car I have now - a BMW 335xi coupe. It’s just the right size for me, great to drive, looks good, and does pretty well in the snow. I’d love to have a diesel for the improved gas mileage, but they don’t make the x-drive in diesel yet. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/85 "2011-05-10T03:25:02Z")
Given all the city driving and parking I do, I would choose to replace my current car with an identical but new one, a 2011 BMW 328xdrive. Small, AWD, decent mileage, super easy to parallel, extremely comfy and plenty of zip. Ask me in a year and I’d say an Audi Q3 or a BMW X1, when they’re due to come out. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/86 "2011-05-10T03:58:51Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That’s the car we’re planning to buy later this summer (the 2011 Mustang). 🙂 You may want to either go for an automatic or wait until Ford sorts out some serious quality issues with the new Chinese transmissions. Or maybe just buy a Camaro. > **[Faulty Chinese-Built Transmissions Plague New Ford Mustang - Jalopnik](https://www.jalopnik.com/5792482/faulty-chinese+built-transmissions-plague-new-ford-mustang/)** > > The 2011 Ford Mustang debuted last year to glowing reviews, strong sales and swaddled in American pride. But over the past several months, hundreds of owners have complained of broken Chinese-built manual transmissions — a problem Ford has yet to... Huur Fix Or Repair Daily am I right? :o ---
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/87 "2011-05-10T09:01:40Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > Given the restrictions in the OP, I’d pick a new crew cab 4x4 F-150 with the EcoBoost engine. Decent mileage, can run over anything, and can carry whatever I need to. Being a turbo engine, it can probably be modded to get decent performance too. Ooh, I forgot about the EcoBoost F-150. I think you just changed my mind. Also, from what I hear, the EcoBoost does just fine performance-wise in its stock configuration. > [@ryan](#): > > Probably an import just due to the better production quality. I know you said you haven’t been car shopping in some time, so even though I understand why you’re saying this, you should know it’s an outdated way of thinking by now. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/88 "2011-05-11T14:52:44Z")
MINI Cooper S JCW - enough power when you need it, good gas mileage and enough room to transport 4 (or just 2 with alot of room in the back with the seats folded down). ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/89 "2011-05-11T15:32:44Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Toyota Prius, with everything please. Especially a sunroof and a cd jukebox. (Yeah, I’m olde.) I’ll second that. The car ------ not you being aged. 🙂 > [@mhendo](#): > > I will buy you any car you want. It can be a new car or a used car. It must be a car authorized for road use, so no Indy of F1 or NASCAR. There is no upper limit on price, so you can have a Bentley Convertible or a Mercedes 300SL gullwing or a Bugatti Veyron if that’s what you want. I will also pay for insurance and maintenance; you just have to buy the gas. Until that part sunk in I was going to say a 1930s Chevy. Those things had sloppy enough tolerances and simple enough designs that I could basically make any part I wear out. A complete fuel pump would be tricky but given a couple days I could probably do it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/90 "2011-05-11T16:52:54Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > You may want to either go for an automatic or wait until Ford sorts out some serious quality issues with the new Chinese transmissions. Or maybe just buy a Camaro. > > [Faulty Chinese-Built Transmissions Plague New Ford Mustang](http://jalopnik.com/5792482/faulty-chinese+built-transmissions-plague-new-ford-mustang) > Huur Fix Or Repair Daily am I right? :o Huh - that’s not good news (we’re not planning to buy any automatic cars until we’re too old to care whether our cars are fun to drive or not). Thanks for the link. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/91 "2011-05-11T17:20:34Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > [Volvo V60 Hybrid](http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/geneva-motor-show-2011/volvo-v60-hybrid/255650), assuming it becomes available in the US. It’s extremely fuel-efficient, and it’s hard to think of any situation where this car would be inappropriate or inadequate. (Assuming I’m allowed to also get a small utility trailer for hauling my [velomobile](http://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html).) wow. A diesel Volt. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/92 "2011-05-11T18:20:16Z")
Don’t laugh. A Mini Countryman S. Stop laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/93 "2011-05-11T18:20:46Z")
Free car? The catch is I can’t drive anything else? Not even a pool car at work? I’m guessing a rental is okay when I arrive via some other conveyance to a remote location, though, right? Easy: 2011 Expedition EL, based on driving a 2009 Expedition Max for a year and a half, completely free of charge. Sure, it sucked trying to find a parking spot in Mexico City proper, but I don’t live there any more. Given my current lifestyle and the need to pull a trailer sometimes and my desire for a comfortable commute, then I can definitely say that there’s not a finer automobile in the world. Maybe it only gets 14.7 L/100 km (hey, it was a metric country!), but without insurance, maintenance, or a payment to worry about, I wouldn’t care if gasoline hit $8/gallon. I want top of the line trim (but not King Ranch), and 4WD (snow). You can have the headphone accessory kit for the DVD system; I never have passengers anyway. Wasteful? Maybe. Polluter? Insignificant in the grand scheme. Women will call me a douche? Already married. Mexican narco-gangs will stop me and kill me an steal it? Fine, no more road trips into Mexico. When will you bring it to me? Hell, it’s such a fine road trip vehicle, I’ll even come to California (on my own dime) to pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/94 "2011-05-11T18:31:03Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > Don’t laugh. > > A Mini Countryman S. > > Stop laughing. Actually test drove one (an all-wheel model). I was pretty impressed - I’m NOT laughing! ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/95 "2011-05-11T18:35:03Z")
Black 4 door Ford Falcon. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/96 "2011-05-11T19:16:45Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [From Wiki.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Veyron#Specifications_and_statistics) > > 8 miles/g city 13miles/g highway That’s better than my first car got (1973 Plymouth Satellite). ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/97 "2011-05-11T19:30:44Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > That’s better than my first car got (1973 Plymouth Satellite). Met a guy with an Audi R8 - said he’s only gotten out of single digits once… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/98 "2011-05-12T18:39:18Z")
I’m not too particular. Just something from Pimp My Ride that has everything rebuilt. Sure, it would probably cost a lot to get anyone to give up the car, but you said price was no problem. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/99 "2011-05-13T01:21:39Z")
benz 300 diesel. i’ll bet it’ll be around long after all the cars you see right now have been melted. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099/100 "2011-05-13T13:36:18Z")
I’ll take [this Subaru WRX Sti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YfLruKG9xo) please, thanks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-buy-you-any-car-you-want-but-one-only-what-will-it-be/581099.md?page=6)