Dream with me - your perfect car

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

A refurbished GM EV-1 using LI-ion batteries.

There's certainly a lot to like in the EV-1.

Originally Posted by RedDevil

Just hooking into the discussion that a car is a tool and therefore not perfect to add a few extra dimensions a car can be not perfect in

Let's abandon "perfect" then. What would you like to see exist? I had in mind something which could reasonably be made with current technologies, but isn't.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

This highlights my other invention; car sharing at airports. Why pay to park a car in a crowded lot and then have to pay to rent a car at your destination when you could trade cars with others? There needs to be an app that facilitates car swapping at the airport.

Car sharing is a wonderful technology, but what kinds of cars would you like to see shared? If you could step into a TSX with a lower VTEC transition coming out of any airport, out of any possible combination of parts available today, is that what you'd choose?

[Frank Lee]

...although I'd want a few simple upgrades like low r.r. tubeless tires, OHV, electronic ignition, and EFI.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I got a ride in an electric speedster (made from a kit car not a real Porsche) back in 1995-ish, my first ride in an electric car. A guy in Eureka Ca that ran the solar shop there had it. It went over 65 mph and good acceleration down highway 101, I was impressed. Both electric cars and speedster kits weren't all that common back then.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

This highlights my other invention; car sharing at airports. Why pay to park a car in a crowded lot and then have to pay to rent a car at your destination when you could trade cars with others? There needs to be an app that facilitates car swapping at the airport.

Yeah, "renting" would have to be much more like multiple car lots spread around, close to bus routes that you could just reserve online and pick up like a redbox movie. Or automated and the right car could come to you.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

I have come to conclude there cannot be a perfect car.

"I Ain't Ever Satisfied" — Steve Earle. Since it's not The Lounge I won't post a video.

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

...although I'd want a few simple upgrades like low r.r. tubeless tires, OHV, electronic ignition, and EFI.

I'd put that comment after the picture of the Speedster. But a good progression overall.

The OP's specification of a[n] Honda S600 fits a lot of use cases, but it would be hard to reproduce in aluminum, unless you're Randy Grubb. How about this from RÜNGE CARS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqZ9_yGgFEc

https://www.youtube.com/user/flyermotorwerks

But with BMW i3 wheels and tires, and a Buick altermotor (#13 on the List of Threads of 2017). Personally, my sky's-the-limit want would be for:



Tub in basalt fiber/hi-temp epoxy (bullet and fireproof), top in basalt fabric treated with Everwet/Nanoclear (ditto), two RAV4 hybrid (twin motor/ software torque vectoring) rear axles front and rear for 4WD, BMW i3 tires on red 19" Model A wire wheels, and a 5th wheel hitch where the VW muffler used to reside for a teardrop trailer. And hydrojets for the water.

If course this would be winched into the bomb bay of a golden Steampunk (pure steam/hot hydrogen lift) Zeppelin, fitted with solid brass Puckle guns with the flintlocks replaced with Tesla coils. With purple crystals for capacitors.

Because why not.

[nemesis]

I'd change the engine in my truck to variable compression, variable lift and cam timing, turbocharger paired with kers and 10 speed trans.

[LeanBurn]

C7 Corvette Stingray that could power down to 4cyl and reach 70mpg with activated aero panels to bring it down to 0.20cd, awd, all pilot controllable.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Ecky

What would be a vehicle you'd like to own, one that could be built reasonably with today's technology, if not one that fits all uses perfectly?

Something that could fit most (nearly all) uses, while still being relatively easy to drive around on crowded streets, would be one of those Japanese forward-control vans. Some are narrower than a current-generation Corolla, and shorter than a Camry, while their load capacity is in pair with some trucks. Some have also been available with 4WD, which would be useful for trips to visit my relatives in the countryside. Sure there is a possibility to improve them, mostly when it comes to crash protection, but it wouldn't be a top-tier priority at the moment.

Or, something a manufacturer could reasonably bring to market, which you would be tempted to buy?

The main issue wouldn't be the possibility of bringing those to the market, it would be an eventual need to upgrade my driving license in order to enable me to get a 12-seater van (in my country the limit of seats for a vehicle to be legally driven with a standard license is 9, already including the driver, plus there is also a 3500kg GVWR limit).

[ASV]

Tadpole trike with hydraulic drive train powered by a 10hp diesel pumped pressure accumulator
would have automatic regenerative braking and solar+capacitor powered electrical system

[jakobnev]

Tesla model 3, but with physical buttons, knobs, levers and a proper gauge cluster in front of the driver.