While the original NCC 1701 (and the subsequent -A) are always happy memories for me, I was always partial to Admiral Riker’s alternate version with the third warp nacelle and the super phaser-cannon.
The original is the only one for me.
Picard’s Enterprise-D is my favorite. Seemed like such an amazing place to work and live.
I like the NX-01 with grappling hooks and it’s polarized hull plating, but they are all cool.
Discovery is the best, followed by D in my opinion.
The original was a beautiful, clean design that looked as though it could fly. Every cluttered-up “new and improved” version is an abomination.
And no, I’ve never particularly cared for the “crouching jaguar” design of the -D model or any of its derivatives.
I may be the exception here, but I actually prefer the sleek, streamlined Enterprise-E. If only it had better movies.
Quite frankly, I’ve always been disappointed with most of the other Starfleet vessels shown in the movies (and on TV) as well. A lot more thought could have been put into their designs; instead, it was clear they’d been cobbled together from modules already present in the UFP (and Paramount) lot.
Of course, TOS was fortunate to have had Matt Jeffries as its production designer. He was both an aviator and an aviation artist, so he knew a thing or two about realistic designs.
For nostalgic reasons TOS and TNG will always win, but on a more practical level I’m fond of the Constitution-class refit from the movies.
The movie version of the original and the Sovereign class E version.
I prefer the CVN-65 USS Enterprise; specifically, after they removed the SCANFAR antennas and modified the superstructure (c. 1982).
“Kepten, it is…the Enterprise!”
I always loved Checkov’s pure joy at seeing the “old school” ship in person.*
As to the OP, I prefer the TOS ship, followed by the TNG D. I hate the later melted designs for the movies, the E, the F 'n G, whatever, and I’m not a fan of the TMP refit, though it’s the best execution so far of “take what we have and do modest improvements organically”. It looked like it was the same basic hull with retrofits, not that abomination from V that had the decks going the wrong way (numbered bottom to top). I don’t know what that POS was, but it wasn’t an Enterprise.
It made me smile when the TMP new shields held against V’Ger. It was like, “yeah that makes sense. Designs improve”. But it wasn’t like all of a sudden it was nano technology hull that came out of no where (Tony Stark, I’m looking at YOU.).
*only thing I liked in that movie
I like the JJ Abrams/Chris Pine movie version, and the NX-01.
“NCC one seven O one. No bloody A, B, C, or D.”
My personal favorite Enterprise is the refit from TMP and the -A version that replaced it.
My favorite Starfleet ship is still the Miranda-class light crusier like the Reliant from TWoK, though.
Me, too. Like the OP, I dig the Riker tri-warp pod version as well.
The Enterprise from Discovery has to be the best ‘new’ vision of the classic NCC-1701.
I also liked the update(s) (re-rendering) of it in DS9 and the re-mastered series of TOS.
Of all of the second place contenders - I think “E” is the best - but still remember fondly watching the beauty shots of TMP on the big screen back in '79.
The model I built based on the original. Probably a Revell, circa 1969.
AMT had exclusive marketing rights to Star Trek back then. I had the model too, along with one of the Klingon battle cruiser.
Here is a handy link to all 11 versions of the USS Enterprise.
My personal favourite is probably NCC 1701 A.