The summer is here, which means it's about time for us to figure out where to go on a lovely road trip. The possibilities are just as endless as the roads ahead, and Jalopnik readers know ten cars that promise the perfect ride.
While being classy and comfortable is certainly on the list of demands, decent mileage and acceptable performance for the highway would be great too. Reliability is also an important factor as you don't want to spend your holiday waiting for a tow truck.
10.) Volvo V70R
We all knew a Volvo wagon will be on the list right from the start, but Gamecat235 sums it up better than any Scandinavian PR trainee could:
V70R - Loads of room, enough torque, under the radar looks, fun to drive.
Suggested By: Gamecat235, Photo Credit: hezoos
9.) Jeep Cherokee
The Cherokee is a comfortable car with proper off-road performance. That's just what you need for an adventure! Who needs sway bars anyway is not only a proud owner of this baby, but also an active traveller:
Every summer I try to do two road trips, One to Lime rock for the ALMS race and one to Maine or New hampshire and I couldn't think of a better car to do it in than my Cherokee, especially with the doors off! There is plenty of room for me, my girl and some mates. Along with all the necessary camping/hiking/fishing/hunting equipment. Not only that but along the way I get decent gas milage ( aprox 15-17mpg) and no matter where we end up, we will be able to traverse the terrain.
Suggested By: Who needs sway bars anyway, Photo Credit: Joe St. Pierre
8.) Lincoln Continental Convertible
Forget gas mileage: it's a land yacht. That means it was built for road trips.
Suggested By: Brian, The Life of, Photo Credit: exfordy
7.) Toyota MR2
Oh, I know what you're thinking! What the hell is a tiny mid-engined sports car doing here, right? Well, sorry about that, but I'm with 505 - morphine not found on this one:
I know the answer is always Miata, but you know what? There is more room in an AW11, than in any gen Miata, the two boots together offer more room for packs, and if the sun is just too hot to bear, you have a proper roof over your head, and not just a black canopy making you all claustrophobic. And when you want an open roof, you just pick out the glass sunroof, put it into the boot up front, and presto.
Also, driving enjoyment.
Suggested By: 505 - morphine not found, Photo Credit: ScottKDP
6.) Volkswagen Westfalia
Pro: you can take all your stuff
Con: it's slow
Pro: easy to fix
Con: it's an old car, something will break
Pro: It's awesome.
Con: I'm out, let's go!
Suggested By: Gamecat235, Photo Credit: DVS1mn
5.) Mercedes-Benz "Bobby" SL
The third generation SL is comfortable, was classy enough for Bobby Ewing, get's quite a lot out of a gallon of gas, and since it's an old Mercedes, it's as reliable as an axe. It's also a pleasure to drive.
Suggested By: My X-type is too a proper Jaguar, Photo Credit: svenner.hamburg
4.) Ferrari 365 GTB/4 "Daytona"
Forget modern Ferraris, everybody has those. The Daytona on the other hand is a rare beauty, which also happens to be a great gran turismo. Chairman Kaga was inspired by Cannonball Run instead of Miami Vice:
When I think road trips, I think Cannonball. When I think Cannonball, I think of those first few runs. When I think of those first few runs, I think of Dan Gurney and Brock Yates burning asphalt for just under 36 hours in a '71 Ferrari Daytona. When I think of the Ferrari Daytona, I think about how nice a convertible version would be. And how rare they are. And definitely not about Sonny Crockett. And how amazing it would be to drive one across the country. But in 36 days, instead of hours.
Tell me I'm wrong.
Suggested By: Chairman Kaga, Photo Credit: Rex Gray
3.) Ford Crown Victoria
Mattp123 reckons all cars using Ford's Panther body-on-frame platform are valid candidates here, but I would go with the Crown Vic. If it was good enough for police and cab drivers to spend half of their lives in them, it will do just fine for long hours on a summer vacation.
Suggested By: mattp123, Photo Credit: Angry Falafel
2.) Subaru Legacy GT Wagon
It's the clever man's WRX wagon, and that's really all you need to know about it. If you don't know what a WRX wagon is, here is why the Legacy is better: more space, enough power, all-wheel drive, better economy, a sunroof and no hate from other jealous drivers.
Suggested By: D-VO, Photo Credit: Aidan
1.) BMW 635CSi
BMW had to win this round not only because the 1980s 635CSi is awesome, but because the Neue Classe and the E46 M3 cabrio were strong candidates coming from Munich as well. But when it comes to our winner, nataku83 has a strong argument as an owner:
Yeah - that's the best road trip car I own anyway. Very solid chassis, decent noise isolation, excellent high speed manners (although I think mine has a 3.64 rear end, so the revs are a bit high at speed), great seats, cruise control, dual a/c, a huge trunk and if you manage to find a twisty road, you can easily forget how many hundreds of pounds of luxury features you're hauling around with you.
That's all you'll ever need.
Suggested By: thewisedriver01, Photo Credit: Paul Altobelli
Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
Top Photo Credit: lookoutforchris