# What kind of car would you drive if money were no object? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451 "2009-04-17T18:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/61 "2009-04-19T04:40:32Z")
> [@TastesLikeBurning](#): > > Well I guess I’ve been told. > > For the idiots among us who still think it’s a great looking car, [here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrdRem8fH_Q) a clip where it looks spectacularly crap. To be fair, its design is pretty seriously overstated, given that it’s a grand touring car at heart, and German at that. That’s definitely the type of car I’d go for, but I’m not sure what model I’d take. The SLK would be a choice, were it not so overstated. Maybe one of its SL stablemates? ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/62 "2009-04-19T07:06:36Z")
> [@straight\_man](#): > > To be fair, its design is pretty seriously overstated, given that it’s a **grand touring car** at heart, and German at that. That’s definitely the type of car I’d go for, but I’m not sure what model I’d take. The SLK would be a choice, were it not so overstated. Maybe one of its SL stablemates? I’m happy to be corrected, but I thought it was designed to be a Supercar not a Grand Tourer? Either way I’m well aware my opinion’s subjective, but \*\*LSLGuy’s \*\*reply was a bit over the top. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/63 "2009-04-19T12:18:07Z")
**TastesLikeBurning** , I apologize for sounding like an absolutist jerk. Opinions about aesthetics are just that: opinions. And I did a lousy job (ie not at all) of qualifying my opinion as an opinion. My opinion is they’re overdone. They do sell a bunch for a car in that rice range, so clearly your opinion that they’re pretty hot is shared by a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/64 "2009-04-19T13:16:58Z")
[http://image.automotive.com/f/featuredvehicles/8982508+pheader/p64881\_large+1972\_Ford\_Mustang\_Mach\_1+Front\_Driver\_Side.jpg](http://image.automotive.com/f/featuredvehicles/8982508+pheader/p64881_large+1972_Ford_Mustang_Mach_1+Front_Driver_Side.jpg) This one. 1972 Mustang Mach I. LOVE this color: [http://www.ashentep.com/webpages/mach1/mach1.JPG](http://www.ashentep.com/webpages/mach1/mach1.JPG) Wouldn’t turn down this one either: [![](https://autotraderca.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/1972-mach-1.jpg) ](https://autotraderca.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/1972-mach-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/65 "2009-04-19T13:31:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > **TastesLikeBurning** , > > I apologize for sounding like an absolutist jerk. Opinions about aesthetics are just that: opinions. And I did a lousy job (ie not at all) of qualifying my opinion as an opinion. > > My opinion is they’re overdone. They do sell a bunch for a car in that rice range, so clearly your opinion that they’re pretty hot is shared by a lot of people. No harm done and apology accepted. You’ve always come across as a decent guy so thought your response was just out of character. Just of curiousity, how much do they retail for in the US? According to the Top Gear clip I linked to they sell for £330,000, which is near on $680,000 Aussie. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/66 "2009-04-19T13:32:21Z")
A brand new Ford Escape with a four-cylinder engine. I’m not very ambitious. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/67 "2009-04-19T14:33:34Z")
> [@Mongo\_Ponton](#): > > [This](http://paulrussell.com/portfolio-retrospective/A-mercedes-benz/30_SSK/) > > I’ve already had the pleasure of drooling on it. > > I could be happy for a couple of years just sitting in it and listening to the engine run, and the rest of my life driving it. > > I don’t have more than a few mp3s on my ipod and one of them is a recording of the engine of this car. That would be my second choice after the Talbot Lago. Third would be a 1938 or '39 [Lincoln Zephyr](http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0804sr_1939_lincoln_zephyr/photo_02.html) hotrod. ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/68 "2009-04-19T14:37:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > That would be my second choice after the Talbot Lago. Third would be a 1938 or '39 [Lincoln Zephyr](http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0804sr_1939_lincoln_zephyr/photo_02.html) hotrod. Coooool. Looks 'kinda like a '40 Ford Coupe that’s been stretched out. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/69 "2009-04-19T15:26:06Z")
> [@TastesLikeBurning](#): > > …Just of curiousity, how much do they retail for in the US? According to the Top Gear clip I linked to they sell for £330,000, which is near on $680,000 Aussie. Thanks for your gracious response. But now, for other reasons, I feel like a real tool. Per the MB USA website they start at USD495,000. Presumably there are not a lot of options on them, so the final as-delivered price is probably not too much higher, a mere 20 grand or so. Which is about 4x what I expected they cost. That’s not a car even remotely in my price range until / unless something magical happens to either my investment-picking or my lottery ticket-picking. Boy do I feel lame. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/70 "2009-04-19T17:18:20Z")
> [@Jettboy](#): > > Coooool. Looks 'kinda like a '40 Ford Coupe that’s been stretched out. Yeah, I’m a sucker for the teardrop shape. And I could probably even afford one of these, or at least a replica. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/71 "2009-04-19T21:33:07Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I’d opt for a 193 Studebaker AVANTI! Wasn’t the 193 Studebaker advertised as the “The CXCIII Studebaker. The One Caesar drives.”? In any case, I’d pick a 1964 Chevrolet Impala Covertible, white with red leather seats. I bought one new and kept it for 14 years. Memories, memories… ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/72 "2009-04-19T21:50:53Z")
If money were no object, I’d drive a Toyota Solara convertible that I’d park in front of my Malibu beach house. Cars don’t impress me much. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/73 "2009-04-19T22:13:43Z")
My current stable includes a 1998 Jeep Wrangler, a 2005 Yamaha FZ6, and a 2007 Mustang GT. I’ve got strange tastes, so I’d have to add a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, a 1996 Eddie Bauer Bronco, a current crew cab F-150, a Ford GT, a Yamaha Warrior, and a Harley Soft Tail of some kind. I’d also like to build a Factory Five MKIII and maybe a Factory Five '33 Roadster. Both would be fuel injected and have power brakes and steering. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/74 "2009-04-20T01:54:53Z")
That Jeep Cherokee with the original SJ body that Argent Towers posted is my perfect beach and fun car, with a 69 Mustang right behind it (if I could afford a full time mechanic), or a 2009 Audi TT, which will most likely become my next car. For my boyfriend, his 1998 Jeep Wrangler officially finally died today, and I see that there are a ton of 2010 Rubicon’s up on the computer right now, so I guess he is about to buy his dream car. I am PUMPED. I love Jeeps, and it will be so awesome to ride in one where we don’t have to pull over all the time so he can get under the engine and kick the shit out of something so more air comes in, or pull over when it’s smoking and use the leftover water in various bottled water trash in the backseat to cool things down. Sorry, it’s been a rough Jeep weekend. So glad that thing finally got killed. And this time, the Jeep will have real windows! Not the plastic whatever that has a million knife slashes in it courtesy of lovely thiefs who don’t realize he just keeps the doors unlocked anyway! Sorry, keep with the posting, this thread is better than porn. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/75 "2009-04-20T03:25:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I am assuming “money is no object” will also include the upkeep, and the maintenance, and the insurance. > > First choice, for fun: Lotus Elise. This isn’t outrageously out of my range, and I love the look. > Second choice, for showing off: Astin-Martin Vanquish. I’m not ready to move on to the DB9. > Third choice, for pure ostentatiousness: Bugatti Veyron. If you like the Elise, then you should go for the SC (more power) but for true fun motoring and a totally adorable exhaust soundrack you can’t touch the Exige Sportpac… ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/76 "2009-04-20T03:33:40Z")
If I had to choose ONE car for all uses it would have to be the Audi RS6 Avante. Lamborghini V10 engine, four wheel drive wagon. MMMMM Nirvana. But if money was really no object I would rather take the total purchase price and buy 3 or 4 cars - a) Honda Oddesy (Mugen version) - for family b) Lotus Exige (for me) c) Mid size runabout - maybe a Corolla? d) Probably a full size Rangie e) Maybe some sort of highly customised Jeep Wrangler or similar for totally Rad offroading ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/77 "2009-04-20T04:41:23Z")
While I suppose I would buy an expensive car if money were no object, I can’t think of one that stands out. Cars really aren’t my thing - they are for getting to and from a place. Sometimes I look at a sports car and think it is cool, but there isn’t one that I want more than another. I’m not sure if that helps your theory any. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/78 "2009-04-20T05:22:25Z")
> [@TastesLikeBurning](#): > > I’m happy to be corrected, but I thought it was designed to be a Supercar not a Grand Tourer? I dunno — I mean, yeah, it’s called a supercar. On the other hand, it’s front-engined, comfortable, well-equipped, not that loud (that I know of), and it’s not even the fastest car in the Mercedes-Benz stable (Brabus does a tuneup of another, lesser Merc.) Let’s face it, it’s just a really expensive grand tourer. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/79 "2009-04-20T05:26:27Z")
1958 Chrysler 300D for special occasions. For every day driving, a newish Jeep Grand Cherokee. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/80 "2009-04-20T05:45:39Z")
BTW, I never actually gave my own answer. I’d be very tempted by the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione ([wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_8C_Competizione)), despite the loudness — but if I could put a modern engine and modern safety features into a Giulietta ([wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Giulietta) again), that would be nice too. I love Alfa Romeos for their looks… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451.md?page=5)