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In just a week’s time, we will be celebrating the election of President-Elect Obama McCain Palin Charles Barkley. Barkley, a retired NBA star who recently announced that he’s running for to be governor of Alabama in 2014. Anyway, back to President Charles Barkley: the thing is, Charles Barkley is really angry at the mismanagement of the Big 3 (I made that up). So he wants to ride around in a presidential limo that’s not from one of them. What should President Charles Barkley’s limo be? You can assume he stands at a more average height than his real-life 6’4″, and any car currently in production in the world is fair game. My choice, by the way, would be either a Toyota Sequoia or a Hyundai Genesis.
43 Comments on “Question of the Day: What Would Be the Best Non Big-3 Presidential Limo?...”
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I am a big fan of Nissan’s RWD cars, but they aren’t quite presidential enough in standard trim, so I would suggest this currently in production in the world car:
http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/lineup/galuelimousine/index.html
By the way, Mitsuoka’s work, while glaringly ugly, appears to have incredibly good fit and finish and quality. Now that the Q is dead Nissan might want to work with them to import this, minus the fugly front and rear end, as a high end version of the M45. I actually like how the section between the doors is treated.
A restored and stretched Checker Cab with a big block chevy engine.
The Lexus LS460h seems to be the “it” car to have for state occasions nowadays. You’d be surprised to see the numbers of those cars in the lists…
For me, personally, there’s only one car: The Mercedes 600 Pullman. The stretched, four door version. With a sunroof for the rear occupants only. And in black. With that car, you would rule the world supreme, in any day, in any age…
Maybach Benz!
VW Phaeton W12.
Next!
G-Wagon (Wagen?)
I know the UK recently placed a 100,000,000+ order for a new Boeing 777 to shuttle arround both the Prime Minister and the Queen. The least we could do is spring for a custom built, armored, Rolls Royce Phantom to thank them for their business.
Ernie Boch Jr., the boston-based owner of a lot of dealerships, has a looooooong Subaru Forester limo (I’ve sat in it.)
I’d go for a Volvo 940 limo for the pres. Dignified. High roof without being a stupid useless vehicle.
The old Citroen DS made an impressive limo for President De Gaulle. Alas, that was then.
Jaguar XF.
Let’s see the vehicle has to be in production, and it can’t be big-3. However, there is nothing that says it can’t be American.
I think Sir Charles would be very happy with a stretched International MXT:
http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1852299&guid=DE7E0B16C5F64510805BA0263F71A579
And maybe a stretched Prius for some greenwashing:
http://www.dieselstation.com/cars/custom-6-door-toyota-prius-a722.html
Or, if the Rolls was a no go. The one, the only, the $455,000, armored, 8-passenger, hand built, 5.0L V-12 powered, granite floored, Toyota Century Royal.
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2006/07/emperors-new-set-of-wheels-toyota.html
Also, I’d love to read a TTAC review of the Century. I mean how long would a hand built V-12 Toyota last? I read somewhere that it is guaranteed to have no appreciable wear after 100,000 miles.
Captain Slow’s Alfaab…
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp2.blogger.com/_ntRfb-GxkMk/R2jqnhpul7I/AAAAAAAAAA8/CO1RxhmIkps/s320/2%2Bway%2Bcar.jpg&imgrefurl=http://sarahtsaidso.blogspot.com/2007/12/stretch-limo.html&h=169&w=300&sz=8&hl=en&start=14&um=1&usg=__vb_gEBvgXy4rwddEv1bXC26-73w=&tbnid=_7-NMTNXycmJEM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522james%2Bmay%2522%2Blimo%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN
Kia Amantis are kind of big and goofy looking, real presidential in my opinion.
John
I think a Zil limo would be more appropriate, afterall, we’re talking
the finest of Russian Limo’s, with acceleration that equals a mid 70’s
Chevette…
SteveL
Toyota Prius.
There is only one answer to this question. The president rolls in a Mercedes S600 Guard. Half a dozen hundred pound-feet at approx 1300rpm, with bulletproof glass and a self-sealing gas tank; there is nothing else.
There is nothing comparable to an armored S-Class that is six and a half meters long.
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/cars-2009/mercedes-specifications/mercedesbenz_s600_guard_pullman_limousine-2857
Well, since Toyota has overtaken all of the Big Three in sales and is on its way to world domination, I feel a Toyota Century would be appropriate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Century
I’m big on the LS460h option.
Well, given that we have Socialized Wall Street, I think the Zil would be the most appropriate choice. Otherwise, an up armored S Class is the choice of Oligarchs and Dictators the world wide. I don’t think anyone can argue that we don’t live in an oligarchy. It will just take them a while to capture Obama…after all, they were run by Bush I, eventually co-opted Clinton, and Bush II was their handmaiden. Google “bankruptcy bill” if you have any questions.
Black S classe, blackout windows, driven quickly with a full armed guard.
Audi A8L, or Jag Super V8.
The Popemobile: “It’s not just for Supreme Pontiffs anymore”
This is the stupidest (i’m sorry!) QOTD in months. His “limo” is a Chevy Aveo, and he drives it himself. What’s with this whole entitlement mentality, anyway? Act human, take care of those around you, and your needs will take care of themselves.
A Camry seems interesting, but an Avalon has more space. A Maxima or Accord seem like good cars too. I mean they are more American. A crossover like the FX35 seem Politically gear head correct also. If I were President I like perhaps a Porsche Pamanera V6 like vehicle. I like an elegant, comfy, capable and relaxed theme. Nothing very big I don’t think. That said I’ve always considered the Current 5 series a sporty limo. Perhaps the next 528i is the perfect car, I just wish it to have an elegant and enjoyable interior.
Sorry. The edit’s a problem again. If we’re really talking the President, it’s a Prius. Or a Focus or Cobalt if we must buy “American”. That’s reward aplenty.
@baabthesaab:
I’m sorry, I’m just confused by your comment – whose “limo” is a Chevy Aveo?
And you don’t think the President of the United States is entitled to a limo? If nothing else, the armored limos are necessary for their safety.
Also, I’m fairly certain the Focus and Cobalt are made by the big 3.
I would have to go with the Panamera, J/K. Actually, I saw the Genesis on the road today and that was the first car that popped to my mind when I read this question.
Toyota Yaris.
Somebody needs to Photoshop that. But not me.
Mercedes, Honda and Hyundai all build vehicles in Alabama, so the smart governor would have to go with one of them.
The Alabama built Mercedes R could make an excellent limo.
no_slushbox :
Whoa! Isn’t that the car Homer Simpson designed???
No contest. It has to be the Toyota Century.
If it’s good enough for an emporer, it’s good enough for the skinny guy from Chicago.
Yeah. This really ought not to be a contest. Toyota Century. End. Communication.
five letters…SMART!
…and not the roadster. We don’t want another Dallas incedent.
:)
Kurt.
Dude, the obvious choice: The Nissan President.
The Merc 600 is no good.
“Mercedes-Benz uses this know-how acquired over many years to provide answers to different risk scenarios all over the world, offering Mercedes-Benz Guard models with various resistance levels in accordance with the European standard.
High-Protection vehicles, engineered to the European B4 resistance level, resist large-calibre revolver ammunition and offer particularly good protection against the increasing threat of drug-related and violent street crime. Highest-Protection vehicles, engineered to resistance level B6/B7, provide effective protection against the threat posed by terrorist attacks. Their armour is designed to resist rifle-launched projectiles from military weapons which have a velocity almost twice that of bullets fired from a revolver. They also offer resistance to shrapnel from hand grenades and explosive charges.”
Jeez, every yokel carries RPGs these days.
This is a tough one for obvious political, nationalistic reasons:
Lexus, Nissan, Toyota – Japanese attacked us
Mercedes – Germans declared war on us (twice!)
Rolls Royce – British owned us until we had a
huge disagreement and sent them
packing (it’s German now anyway)
Of course on the other hand:
GM – Trying to rob the treasury
Chrysler – Trying to rob the treasury
That leaves the barely viable Ford which will probably be the ultimate surviving Big One.
And you don’t think the President of the United States is entitled to a limo? If nothing else, the armored limos are necessary for their safety.
I think JFK’s open top limo would be perfect for all heads of state. It would remind them that they too are merely mortal
“In just a week’s time, we will be celebrating the election of President-Elect Obama/McCain/Palin/Charles Barkley.”
Poor Joe Biden. He doesn’t get any respect. Not that the twit deserves any, but there you go.
A former Delwarer resident
The train from Wild Wild West
The ONLY limo for any self respecting 3rd world leader or out-of-work former NBA star is the 1967 Mercedes 600 Pullman. A piece of rolling art. More pix.
S Class
DUHHHHHHHHHHH!
“the 1967 Mercedes 600 Pullman. A piece of rolling art”
Rolling, because the odds of it starting and running without incident are slightly better than the odds of the Detroit Lions playing football in February.
I was just going for the purest expression of style–nobody said nuthin about the thing having to be reliable. If you want reliability, get one of those Toyota Crown things–Boring!