Is there such a thing as a perfect car? A vehicle designed so well and built so good that it would satisfy just about everyone who cares about cars? And a vehicle that would withstand the test of time in terms of design, performance, and longevity? Yes, it’s completely overhauled with the most obsessive attention to details but its base is still the 911.
I am looking at this new Singer design and I wonder if that is perhaps it? And then I think of the Caterham, the Morgan 3-Wheeler, and even the Lada Niva (because I’m special like that). Even the BMW 2002, perhaps the E30, come to mind. What about the Jeep Wrangler? Even the reputable Toyota Corolla deserves a mention here. And there are hundreds of others…
Then I think about it some more and find faults with all of them. And I ask again, does a perfect car exist? Or do we require a small herd of cars to achieve the automotive perfection? Or perhaps this 911 “reimagined” by Singer is it?
Just look at this damn thing…
Hooniverse Asks: Is there a perfect car?
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8 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: Is there a perfect car?”
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Short answer: No.
For a longer answer, I will have to assume we are talking about a perfect execution of whatever it’s supposed to be. There are too many mutually exclusive capabilities for there to ever be the perfect car.
Even in a niche-limited scope, perfection is a quest more than it is a destination. There is always something that could be better. The 911 is pretty damned good, but the Singer is proof that it could be better, and even at the top, there is room to improve. The Singer isn’t the best at everything.
…but a car where everything is “good enough” is its own kind of perfect.-
Agreed.
But this Singer is what, perfect for recreational track days? It looks to be taken too far for enjoyment on the road, indeed for that I would be looking for a 1960s narrow car so there isn’t so much grip you have to be doing warp factor 9 to get anywhere near the limit. I doubt it would be that comfortable for a long journey either, so they have gone some way from the do-it-all 911.
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There are compromises in every design, and a wide variety of preferences and needs for individuals.
The Singers are things of beauty and craftsmanship that borders on artistry, but certainly compromised as transportation.-
Where are the cupholders?
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I’m thinking more of a commuter’s slog and wasting its clutch on stop and go traffic and wheels on pot holes instead of more noble pursuits.
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There’s no perfect car, because there’s no target by which to define it. Besides, most of my favorite cars (the E30 springs to mind) have some imperfections, but eliminating them wouldn’t improve my rating of it. In fact, I think imperfections give them more character.
As for the Singer, it’s a work of art, but I don’t particularly like it. I don’t care for the wide rear tires and flared fenders, dislike the taillights, and have always hated that damned RS-inspired ducktail spoiler. The car is almost too smooth– like it’s been dipped in syrup. -
That Singer is a beautiful thing, but not quite what I’d call a perfect 911. Some of the aesthetic choices I find odd. I’m not a fan of the trend of the flared fender that stops short on the trailing edge. Not a fan of the openings and negative space in the headlights and taillights. The interior is well executed, but pretty busy.
On a different scale, I’ve said before that I find my wife’s Accord Hybrid a very good, near perfect all around car for the enthusiast and non-enthusiast to share. It’s roomy and comfortable, quiet and very economical (she regularly sees 45-50 MPG). But, the electric only shove off the line is satisfying. There’s just enough starch and feedback in the suspension and steering to bring confidence and keep the enthusiast engaged. It’s not a sports sedan, but someone like my wife wouldn’t like a sports sedan (she didn’t like the Mazda 6 we tested). But, as a car that will satisfy both her passion for comfort and economy and my desire to be engaged in the act of driving, it’s about perfect.
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