Car enthusiasts love quizzing each other about the fastest cars, great off-road rigs, fuel economy heroes, and just about anything else even tangentially related. But, there’s a joke that has a kernel of truth to it.
Today, Pete asked what cars are way better off-road than they have any right to be. Now, a lot of you gave great answers like Geo Metros on snow tires, Ford Rangers, and front wheel drive Buicks. All great answers, but the Dude has a point:
Any rental car.
AllCattleNoHat:
Followed very closely by the “Community Pickup Truck” from yesterday.
I won’t say what automaker it was, but once, I went on a press trip where the shuttle driver absolutely sent a rented Chrysler Pacifica through a muddy field. While not a rental, I took a borrowed Jeep Renegade on a wild day of rallycross. Yep, the best car off-road is one that you don’t own!
Today, Jason wrote about the poor Spotify Car Thing dying and the people trying to keep it alive. Bet you didn’t think you’d get trolled by a transmission! From Jatco Xtronic CVT:
This is a great story and a good lesson Jason. Guess what device will never give you up like the Spotify Car thing? The Jatco Xtronic CVT and its smooth, shift-free driving experience will never let you down whether you’re looking for a comfortable and quiet cruise or a fast paced run around town. Best of all, it will never leave you deserted because it’s just so reliable.
Finally, here’s some Jason appreciation in his article about an amphibious Renault 5, which is the most Jason thing ever. From RecoveringGTV6MaratonaOwner:
Before I even read this article, I must say that one of the things that makes this blog so great is that I immediately knew EXACTLY whose article it was by the headline. Torch, we love ya buddy and your love of the odd, unique, overlooked, once banal, previously lost to history, and misunderstood. You sir, are the God of taillights and automotive oddities! Thanks for the all your great posts and enthusiasm!
Have a great evening, everyone!
I think that ‘whatever shitbox you had when you first got your license’ makes a strong showing.
I’ve got a VW Polo through terrain that a Range Rover wouldn’t contemplate…because the owner cared about their car, and wasn’t 17yo.
My first car barely functioned on paved roads, so I don’t think it would have fared well in the dirt.
Someone should write a piece on cars that are most likely to exceed what they were intended to do…
Like, I bet an Impreza or Camry AWD does a shocking amount of off roading when compared to a Ram 3500, all things considered.
I mean, that’s the old Dad joke.
“What’s the difference between a Jeep and a rental car?”
“A rental car will go ANYWHERE.”
I came here to say this.
I measure a vehicle’s ability to do any difficult/abusive task on a fucks given ratio. The fewer fucks the user gives about the vehicle, the better it becomes at things like off-roading and hauling bricks.
Jeremy Clarkson taught us years ago that a rental is the fastest car… in the world:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYt9DO5WXr8
I can’t believe nobody mentioned a Citroën 2CV…
Someone once told me that the fastest car in the world is a rental car. I’ll go one better and tell you that the fastest rental is a Home Depot truck that you pay for by the hour. Ask me how I know!