[imitchellg5]

In the same vein as the most pointless cars thread, how about discussing the most useful cars ever? These cars should be cars that stand out from everyday machines and go above and beyond basic requirements for transportation.

I'll start off with a car that I think is pretty cool and versatile, my mom's 2005 Subaru Legacy GT estate. Plenty of power, a ton of room behind the back seats, and the back seat folds nearly flat, meaning you can fit pretty much anything in there (I can stuff more stuff back there than in my dad's [useless] Xterra).

[Doofy]

Landy Defender. Period.

[ghporter]

I agree with Doofy. The Defender, whatever year model, has proven its worth on just about every continent, and in every conceivable condition. I wish I could find one (an older one, 'cause I like the older, more rectangular design) that I could afford.

[subego]

Willys Jeep.

[besson3c]

Whichever car costs me the least to own and doesn't harm me. So far my Corolla has been fine...

[finboy]

'92 Civic Hatchback, with tailgate. That sumbitch would haul anything, and you could literally sleep in the back of it. AND it got 35-40 MPG interstate with 115 HP. It hugged the road like a go-cart.

Best part: I got passenger-side t-boned by a semi tractor and everyone walked away. Amazing.

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Landy Defender. Period.

[Phileas]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Landy Defender. Period.

Close. For me the perfect Land Rover is the Series II. I sold mine when we left the old country and I miss it every day.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Phileas 

Close. For me the perfect Land Rover is the Series II.

When I say 'Defender", I mean any utility Landy from S1 right through to Current 90 and 110. Just makes it easier!

[mduell]

Originally Posted by finboy 

'92 Civic Hatchback, with tailgate. That sumbitch would haul anything, and you could literally sleep in the back of it.

Is that the one Hans Reiser claimed he was sleeping in/actually moving his wife's dead body in?

[iMOTOR]

This:

[imitchellg5]

But not with the V8...

[iMOTOR]

Please explain.

[imitchellg5]

Turbo diesel all the way. The 5 cylinder diesel is great, plus comes in a manual!

[iMOTOR]

That might be a great motor, but it’s hardly better than the V8. It’s not an option here anyway.

[macaddict0001]

The crown vic is really useful, the only downside is the 1997+ models can't tow much. Most hatchbacks are pretty useful too.

[anthonyterrell]

For a generic car I would go with a Toyota Camry or Honda Civic. They don't always look the best but tend to last longer than you'd like them to. Great on gas mileage and decent space.

[anthonyterrell]

Originally Posted by macaddict0001 

Most hatchbacks are pretty useful too.

+1 My first car was a 02' Ford Focus ZX5 (manual of course). I have a little soft spot for hatchbacks!

[Spheric Harlot]

Most useful car ever:



Sadly, 'twas time to sell it, and so I've been carless for the past few weeks. Trying to decide what to get next.

[osiris]

"I'm useful!"

[Spheric Harlot]

^ I resent that.

I loved my van.

[is not]

the unimog

[Spheric Harlot]

^ clear winner.

Sorry, Landy fans.

[Phileas]

Mogs rock, gotta agree. They are insanely rugged.

[downinflames68]

95 Audi S6. One of 300. Rally bred 20v I5 turbo engine. Bulletproof, ~300hp with just a chip. With aftermarket parts capable of daily driven 450hp, with stock internals. With aftermarket rods and pistons, capable of 700hp daily driven horsepower. The transmission and differentials are also rock solid, and take the 300% increase in stride, no problem. Able to swallow a **** ton of gear, able to sleep in comfortable, and fantastic seating for long road trips (power recaro sports). It's the best car I've owned, and it is arguably one of the best cars TO own, as maintenance is minimal, and the car itself is extremely reliable. Only downside is it sucks down premium to the tune of ~23mpg.

[downinflames68]

Not sure why you guys are posting trucks and vans when the title of the thread is CAR. Trucks/Vans are not cars. They are vehicles, but not cars.

[Spheric Harlot]

Anything much smaller than that VW van is pretty useless to me.

[macaddict0001]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Not sure why you guys are posting trucks and vans when the title of the thread is CAR. Trucks/Vans are not cars. They are vehicles, but not cars.

Not everything has to be taken so literally, remember that most crossovers/suvs/vans are for CAFE purposes trucks anyway. The line is blurred and you're just arguing semantics. That said I enjoy playing the devils advocate as well.

[downinflames68]

Well obviously the most useful "truck" is going to be something totally different than the most useful "car" so considering they have different definitions, I think we should be using similar words. I mean, by that rational, here is the most useful "car":

[Laminar]

Good job.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Not sure why you guys are posting trucks and vans when the title of the thread is CAR. Trucks/Vans are not cars. They are vehicles, but not cars.

Would you consider a Land Rover a "car?" Based on its use and design, it could be seen as a car or a truck. I think of "car" as a bit more broad a concept than "sedan or hatchback," so the Landy really does seem like a "car" to me.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Well obviously the most useful "truck" is going to be something totally different than the most useful "car" so considering they have different definitions, I think we should be using similar words. I mean, by that rational, here is the most useful "car":

That's pretty useless.

It won't fit my gear while keeping it dry. I wouldn't be able to get a child seat in the back, for lack of the back seat.

It doesn't meet emissions standards to allow me to drive into a number of cities, including Berlin, Hannover, and the city I live in.

I wouldn't actually be able to drive into those cities at all, in fact.

Let alone find a parking space.

In short, it's not a car.

A VW van is, for all practical purposes (and in fact for the automotive tax bureau), a family car.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Not sure why you guys are posting trucks and vans when the title of the thread is CAR. Trucks/Vans are not cars. They are vehicles, but not cars.

The Land Rover Defender is a CAR in almost every country in the World.
It's only you North Americans who think it's a "truck". And let's face it, you boys are slightly odd.

[Doofy]

And yep Unimogs are awesome.
I just wouldn't like to try to park one in the local multi-story.

[bstone]

Subaru Legacy Outback
4 cylinders, so it gets great gas mileage (comes in 6 cylinder optional)
AWD full time
Tons of cargo room

[parsley]

These cars should be cars that stand out from everyday machines and go above and beyond basic requirements for transportation.

Meh, there are hundreds of hatchbacks, hundreds of vans and hundreds of wagons out there. My own car stands out in the crowd more than any of those listed here but I am not that egocentric and selfish to say it is the definition of awesomeness or hammer. Same to 'most useful', cause it does fit my very own needs better that yours. It's like arguing which one has the cuttest gf/bf. An exercise in dumbness.

Having said that, the Unimog is the only one that truly stands out. Cause that ugly pistachio green monster… eck, about as useful as a whale in a fish tank.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by parsley 

Having said that, the Unimog is the only one that truly stands out. Cause that ugly pistachio green monster… eck, about as useful as a whale in a fish tank.

Actually, the 'mog is probably the ONLY one of the cars posted here (except maybe the Landy) that would be of any use AT ALL in a fish tank.

You're weird.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Is that the one Hans Reiser claimed he was sleeping in/actually moving his wife's dead body in?

That was an 88 CR-X, so a little smaller. But, yeah, it would be OK for hauling bodies I'd guess.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by parsley 

My own car stands out in the crowd more than any of those listed here

No it doesn't. There are people in this World who've never seen any other car than a Land Rover Defender. Read that again. It's true.

I don't own a Defender. I simply recognise the mark they've made on 20th century world-building.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

Anything much smaller than that VW van is pretty useless to me.

Only in America™

[Spheric Harlot]

No, it's not an SUV.

I've never seen an SUV you could fit a Hammond in.

[iMOTOR]

Any SUV could fit a Hammond:

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

Would you consider a Land Rover a "car?" Based on its use and design, it could be seen as a car or a truck. I think of "car" as a bit more broad a concept than "sedan or hatchback," so the Landy really does seem like a "car" to me.

Considering it is not required to meet CAR crash, emissions, efficiency, rollover, bumper height, headlight height, or roof strength standards......

no.

It is a truck. Because everything on it is designed to fulfill truck requirements. Just because I use an apple as a hammer does not mean it is a hammer.

[downinflames68]

PS: Check out my sweet motorcycle:



It isn't classified as a motorcycle but I use it like one, therefore it is one.

Check out my sweet airplane:



It isn't classified as an airplane but I use it like one, therefore it is one.

[Spheric Harlot]

Both the tax bureau and my car insurance classified my VW as a car, and I'm sure they not only READ the book, but in fact WROTE it.

Have you ever - just once, maybe on a whim - considered trying NOT to be an asshole, Rob?

Do you think you might be able to, maybe until, say, Wednesday?

Just for the sake of a handful of people on an internet forum who might like to talk about what vehicles they consider cool and useful without having some stupid **** brat know-it-all throw his worthless dictionary knowledge at them?

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Not sure why you guys are posting trucks and vans when the title of the thread is CAR. Trucks/Vans are not cars. They are vehicles, but not cars.

Can a mod please edit the title to "The most useful vehicle featuring four wheels ever?" please?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Considering it is not required to meet CAR crash, emissions, efficiency, rollover, bumper height, headlight height, or roof strength standards......

Hey Rob. Ever wondered why you couldn't get Defenders in the US and A for ages? (Possibly at the moment too - I haven't looked lately).

It's because they don't pass your CAR regulations.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Can a mod please edit the title to "The most useful vehicle featuring four wheels ever?" please?

Then I'd have to go "Cozy Coupe". Keeps the little monkeys out of trouble for ages, so exceedingly useful.

[downinflames68]

Maybe you need to start a most useful light truck thread. That would allow all the SUVs pictured here, as well as your VW van.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Considering it is not required to meet CAR crash, emissions, efficiency, rollover, bumper height, headlight height, or roof strength standards......

Let it go, Rob.

For what it’s worth, my XC90 (which is very much an SUV) is based on the S80 platform (which is very much a sedan). My XC90 can fit three 55 gallon cans in the back, will out perform any sedan off pavement, is as safe as any sedan, and it gets better gas mileage than your Audi (25mpg highway-3.2L I6).