Anybody can build a sports car, a utility van, or any other kind of specialized vehicle. But what about a car that can do it all?
10.) Pontiac Aztek
Laugh all you want at this thing, but the chopped-up minivan had all kinds of absurd all-world features. You could get it with all-wheel drive, a built-in cooler, a 400-pound-rated pull-out cargo table, an air compressor, a seat-mounted backpack, bike/canoe/snowboard racks, a two-piece tailgate that had its own cupholders (AMERICUH), and of course a built-in tent.
Suggested By: Foo2rama, Photo Credit: Pontiac
9.) Golf GTI
It's fast like a sports car only it can also haul your crap around. It's classless so it fits in at your rich great-aunt's country estate and at your local swap meet. There's a reason why it's the standard-bearer for the hot hatch idea.
Suggested By: willkinton247, Photo Credit: VW
8.) Ford F-150 Crew Cab
Any crew cab is going to be able to do double duty as a family sedan and a truck. The F-150 stands out because you can set it up as everything from a desert racing like a Raptor, to a full-on Range Rover-grade luxury car with whatever Emperor Platinum Ranch Whatever they call their top trim level these days.
Suggested By: Blake307, Photo Credit: Ford
7.) VW Transporter
It's a sedan, it's a truck, it's a convertible, it's an offroader. It's built as simple as possible and it's a world-tourer if you want it. These boxy VWs have got everything.
Suggested By: manifold engines, wanting for time, Photo Credit: VW
6.) Ferrari 250GT Drogo
It's the only Le Mans racecar I know of that can also carry a Christmas tree.
Suggested By: Hart88, Photo Credit: Brian Snelson
5.) Audi Allroad
Put simply, it's a high-speed wagon with adjustable suspension, but I think former owner zacarious describes the Allroad best.
She can be a sports car, with a V8 and 6-speed manual it was a blast to drive (only way could could get a manual A6 Avant was to get an allroad - fun fact!)
She can be German Luxury Cruiser (it was an A6 sedan at heart - so the old girl would eat miles like a champ)
She can be hoonmobile (turn off the traction control and she'll burn more than enough tires)
She's sure-footed in any weather (turn the traction control back on)
She can carry lots and lots of shit (dogs, skis, Ikea sofas) allroad and do it all.
She can tow stuff (especially with the V8)
She can look cool (timeless design)
She can go off-road (still the only car to pass the Land Rover's off road test, second fun fact!)
Suggested By: zacarious, Photo Credit: Audi
4.) Jeep XJ Cherokee
Take the Allroad's capability and add a staggeringly massive aftermarket community. The Xj's practicality from stock is amazing, but people turn these things into everything from slammed road racers to sky-high rock crawlers.
Suggested By: Who needs sway bars anyway, Photo Credit: Jeep
3.) Unimog
Any of the military-designed mid-century offroaders could hold this spot — the original Jeep, the Jeep Gladiator, the Series Land Rover, the Pinzgauer, the G-Wagen, the Humvee, the Munga, the Iltis. I'm going with the Mog because you can get them in any configuration you want these days, from economical diesels to massive V8s, with chrome and deep paint or mounted farm equipment.
Suggested By: AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs, Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz
2.) Ford Model T
For years, the T was very nearly the only car that people bought, so these things served as offroaders, family cars, tractors, everything. T's have been turned into stripped endurance race cars, ski-equipped snowmobiles and even saw mills. If there is something that requires an engine, a T has been made to do it.
Suggested By: TavshedFjols, Photo Credit: Ford
1.) Toyota Previa
The T may have been the king in its day, but you just try and make one work in modern traffic. All-round capacity today goes to the minivan, and you could argue that the old, reliable Previa is the most useful minivan of the moment. The Yota stands out because with AWD it can still be made to offroad and with the engine right in the middle, to drift like a purpose-built hoonmobile. After all, a mid-mounted Lexus V8 AWD family car/offroader/utility van is just an engine swap away.
Suggested By: Automatch Tom, Photo Credit: Toyota
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: Ford