# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/101 "2009-04-21T13:56:00Z")
> [@2nd\_Law](#): > > Price no object? > > I’ve always liked the idea of having a VW beetle – one of the old ones. > > With an engine from a Lincoln Continental in it. Hope you weren’t planning on having any rear seat passengers! ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/102 "2009-04-21T15:10:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Those performance figures are for the “vanilla” 917K. The 917/30 was the turbocharged Can-Am version, which produced a hair under 1600 brake horsepower in qualifying trim. > > 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in _2 seconds._ Yeah, but try driving it in stop n go traffic. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/103 "2009-04-21T15:28:23Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Yeah, but try driving it in stop n go traffic. 😉 I’ve heard one at idle from 10 feet away, and at full whack from a few hundred yards away (at the [Goodwood Festival of Speed](http://www.goodwood.co.uk/site/content/festivalofspeed/)). If you actually put one on the road, I can guarantee people would get the hell out of your way. The loudest thing I’ve ever heard was an Avro Vulcan bomber doing aerobatics at ~1,000 feet. The second loudest thing I’ve ever heard was the 917/30. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/104 "2009-04-21T21:55:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Those performance figures are for the “vanilla” 917K. The 917/30 was the turbocharged Can-Am version, which produced a hair under 1600 brake horsepower in qualifying trim. > > 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in _2 seconds._ Sweet! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/105 "2009-04-22T00:10:13Z")
> [@Uncommon\_Sense](#): > > Plus, I doubt the 917/30 is anything close to street legal in its raw form. People have built street legal versions of the 917s’ older brothers, the 956 and 962- the [Koenig C62](http://www.supercarworld.com/cgi-bin/showgeneral.cgi?154) for example. Two 917s were registered for road use- one for Count Rossi of Martini & Rossi fame, which was registered in Alabama (to get around European crash testing and noise restrictions, which were much more stringent in the 70s!) even though it was kept in Belgium. I have no idea how much they were actually driven. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/106 "2009-04-22T12:41:40Z")
I’d want a whole _fleet_ of different cars, from classic roadsters to modern high-performance sports coupes, with a couple of electric vehicles thrown in. But if I had to pick just one, I’d go with the [Smart Fourtwo](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/579929_1027128_opt.jpg). Seriously. They’re everthing I want in a car: fuel-efficient, comfortable, and cool-looking. I’m actually not too far from being able to buy one; maybe next summer. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/107 "2009-04-22T22:39:31Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > But if I had to pick just one, I’d go with the [Smart Fourtwo](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/579929_1027128_opt.jpg). Seriously. They’re everthing I want in a car: fuel-efficient, comfortable, and cool-looking. Have you sat in one yet? Yeeesh…what a steaming pile of cheap-ass shit. It’s reminiscent of the very worst of early-90s American interiors. This might be OK if, you know, the car was actually _cheap_. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/108 "2009-04-22T22:48:45Z")
Those little cars are fun but I’d enjoy driving a huge ass truck too. I’ve seen a [Chevy 6500 pickup](http://allworldcars.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/monroe-truck-transformers-ironhide-2.jpg) and while I’d never actually buy it, I sure as hell would like to drive it for kicks. Wonder what kind of mileage that thing gets. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/109 "2009-04-22T23:02:10Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > [Bugatti Veyron](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Veyron)v. [Porsche 917/30](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_917) > 0 – 100 km/h in 2.46 s v. 0- 100 km/h in 2.5 s > Top speed 253.5 mph v. 254 mph And yet on Top Gear a Veyron was beaten around the track by a [Caterham R500]([www.ridelust.com Coming Soon!](http://www.ridelust.com/caterham-superlight-r500-named) -top-gears-2008-car-of-the-year/), and even _I_ could just about afford one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/110 "2009-04-23T03:44:49Z")
A Cadillac [World Thorium Fuel](http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/14/cadillac-world-thorium-fuel-concept-car/) or a [Nucleon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Nucleon). (You said money was no object. Your words. 😛 ) Seriously, though, I’ve always kinda liked the new Ford Thunderbirds (though I’m not sure about the convertible part, though at least it’s not a permanent open top. I like decent protection from the rain, and from serial killers trying to stab me through the roof), though a [Phantom Corsair](http://www.cracked.com/article_17048_8-awesome-cars-they-wont-let-you-buy.html) might be fun. (Of course at that point, I might as well just be buying a replica \Batmobile\ [Gotham Cruiser](http://www.chickslovethecar.com/KeatonCar.aspx?Comments=All), which might actually be cheaper and more practical) But Hell…I’m just happy to have something with decent gas mileage, air conditioning, some way of playing music, and a design that won’t blow up or cut my legs off if I get in an accident. Or a nuclear Batmobile. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/111 "2009-04-23T11:21:44Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Have you sat in one yet? Yeeesh…what a steaming pile of cheap-ass shit. It’s reminiscent of the very worst of early-90s American interiors. This might be OK if, you know, the car was actually _cheap_. Yes, I’ve sat in one. Test-driven one, even. It was surprisingly roomy and comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/112 "2009-04-23T12:33:53Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > A Cadillac [World Thorium Fuel](http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/14/cadillac-world-thorium-fuel-concept-car/) or a [Nucleon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Nucleon). > > (You said money was no object. Your words. 😛 ) > > Seriously, though, I’ve always kinda liked the new Ford Thunderbirds (though I’m not sure about the convertible part, though at least it’s not a permanent open top. I like decent protection from the rain, and from serial killers trying to stab me through the roof), though a [Phantom Corsair](http://www.cracked.com/article_17048_8-awesome-cars-they-wont-let-you-buy.html) might be fun. > But Hell…I’m just happy to have something with decent gas mileage, air conditioning, some way of playing music, and a design that won’t blow up or cut my legs off if I get in an accident. > > Or a nuclear Batmobile. In one of those ‘you shouldn’t revisit your childhood heros’ moments, Your post reminded me of my youthful lust over the Buick Wildcat ([1985 Buick Wildcat Concept Design & Development Info](http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z138/Buick-Wildcat.aspx) ) It hasn’t aged well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/113 "2009-04-23T12:46:22Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > In one of those ‘you shouldn’t revisit your childhood heros’ moments, Your post reminded me of my youthful lust over the Buick Wildcat ([1985 Buick Wildcat Concept Design & Development Info](http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z138/Buick-Wildcat.aspx) ) > > It hasn’t aged well. 🙂 I dunno. I kinda like it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/114 "2009-04-23T13:22:47Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > It hasn’t aged well. 🙂 Looks a damn sight better than any current Buick model… ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/115 "2009-04-24T11:14:12Z")
Well _I_ sure like it. At least it’s not just the vague jellybean shape of all the other modern cars. (It’s a MEGA jellybean shape!) ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/116 "2009-04-24T11:30:40Z")
I guess I should clarify…I like the exterior, and the overall look of the car, the interior stuff? not so much. ([1985 Buick Wildcat Concept Image. Photo 11 of 11](http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/5073,138/1985-Buick-Wildcat_photo.aspx)) ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/117 "2009-04-24T11:59:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > People have built street legal versions of the 917s’ older brothers, the 956 and 962- the [Koenig C62](http://www.supercarworld.com/cgi-bin/showgeneral.cgi?154) for example. > > Two 917s were registered for road use- one for Count Rossi of Martini & Rossi fame, which was registered in Alabama (to get around European crash testing and noise restrictions, which were much more stringent in the 70s!) even though it was kept in Belgium. > > I have no idea how much they were actually driven. Here’s a [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNiVDgMiExQ) of a street legal 917 where the guy is driving pretty fast. Love the sound of that engine. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/118 "2009-04-24T13:38:39Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > Here’s a [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNiVDgMiExQ) of a street legal 917 where the guy is driving pretty fast. Love the sound of that engine. That’s actually a replica built around the engine from the 911 RSR. You can’t get one of the original flat-12 motors from the 917 for love or money (well, not without buying a whole 917). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/119 "2009-04-24T13:59:32Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I am sorry, but you are all wrong. The correct answer is [the Maybach Exelero](http://www.royal-auto.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/maybach-exelero.jpg). That is one beautiful car. I think you need a cape and a sword cane to go with it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451/120 "2009-04-24T14:05:17Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > That is one beautiful car. I think you need a cape and a sword cane to go with it. It’s hideous! Looks like the bastard child of a Cadillac XLR and a George Foreman grill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-would-you-drive-if-money-were-no-object/493451.md?page=7)