Good morning, and happy Friday! We’re back, after a day off to celebrate a bunch of guys signing some paperwork. Since it was a short week, with only three Showdowns, it feels like we’re due for another game of Track, Daily, Burn.
But first let’s officially crown Wednesday‘s winner. There was very little doubt in my mind that the Flex was going to walk away with this one. Sometimes it’s a close race, sometimes not. Wagon good, GM compact bad. And no one is surprised.
I guess that’s the right call. The Flex is a more useful vehicle, probably better built to begin with, and a whole lot nicer place to spend some miles. But I am a cheapskate at heart, and I don’t need the extra room, so I think I’d save a grand and go for the Cobalt. It’s a perfectly serviceable little car without many miles on it, and it’s burnt-orange, which I like.
Now, if you haven’t seen this game yet, let me explain: It’s like fuck, marry, kill — only with cars. You will choose one of this week’s winners to be your track toy, and for these purposes, “track” has a broad definition that can include anything from actual track time to rallycross to a Gambler 500. You’ll choose another to be your daily driver, the one you take to work and to the grocery store and whatnot. And sadly, the car you don’t pick for either of those roles must perish in flames. It’s harsh, I know, but it must be so.
Let’s review the week’s winners so you can see what you’re working with.
2003 Land Rover Freelander
This baby Land Rover has a terrible reputation for reliability, halfway decent off-road capabilities (though nothing like its larger siblings), and a cool style you don’t see often. Because of its propensity for breakdowns, you’d have to be very brave or very foolish to daily it – but you’d also be a hero. It would be a natural for a rallycross circuit, with all-wheel-drive and plenty of power for some sideways shenanigans.
Personally, I’d hate to see a rare and cool vehicle like this go up in flames – but then it is a British car. Wait long enough and its electrical system might very well self-immolate anyway.
1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible
And speaking of Brits, Tuesday’s winner was this sporty red number, with a reasonably reliable inline six in place of the expected V12. The XJS is still no slouch, but it handles more like a Buick than a BMW. You could probably hustle it around some cones – and in fact, I’ve seen it done – but that’s not its forte.
The Jag’s cozy leather interior would make for some relaxing commutes, I’m sure, and it would turn any milk run into a special occasion. But the ad for this particular XJS feels a little hinky, so it may not be all it appears. You might end up wanting to torch it out of sheer frustration.
2009 Ford Flex SE
This Ford Flex is the newest car here, both by model year and original design. As such, it’s sure to make a comfortable daily driver, with all the bells and whistles to which we have all become accustomed. On the other hand, it’s just a Ford wagon, so if you chose to save the other two more unique cars, one less Duratec V6 in the world wouldn’t be a tragedy.
But someone, somewhere, will look at this thing and want to rip out all the excess seats along with all the interior trim and carpet, weld a roll cage into it, lower the suspension, and go turn some hot laps with it. And that person, I salute.
So there you have it! I’ll keep this short and sweet. One of these becomes your race-day plaything, one is your grocery-getter, and one goes up in smoke. Which is which is up to you. No poll today; just duke it out in the comments. Have a great weekend!
(Image credits: Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace sellers)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
This is easy…
race-day plaything: Jaguar
one is your grocery-getter: Ford Flex
one goes up in smoke: Freelander
Rover up in smoke, Flex everyday, Jag is the racer.
Flex: Daily, although it might have had some track potential had it been a 3.5-liter Ecoboost with all-wheel-drive.
Jaguar: Track, as in “drive it to the horse track,” since it is elegant enough for the Kentucky Derby but still raffish enough for lesser race venues (except the two remaining US greyhound tracks), even when new
Freelander: Um, burn… that’s what I’m doing, just driving it down this off-road track so the authorities don’t see me set it on fire. Any noise you hear will just be me taking it further back in the woods to conceal the evidence. Yeah, that’s it.
I knew the Freelander was rough, but man it’s getting roasted in the comments! I’ve gotta agree; for the purposes of the challenge, the Rover has to burn.
The V6 makes the Jag a little more desirable as a daily for fuel efficiency, but we know that isn’t going to be a reliable method of transportation. I have no idea what type of track it deserves: it’s under-powered for time trial and not nimble enough for slalom. Does demolition derby count? (sorry XJS)
The Flex is the choice for a daily driver. I still prefer the Cobalt, but I guess if it’s a vehicle you’re spending long amounts of time in, the Ford is the better call.
Inline 6. The Jag has an INLINE 6.
Daily the Flex
Track the Jag (gonna need a some upgrades!)
Burn the Freelander
Track the Flex
Daily the Freelander
Burn the Jag
I always like the Volvo super touring wagons so why not a Flex.
The Freelander is something you never see and looks fun.
I’ve seen nicer Jags out there even for that money.
Track the Jag (perhaps a Cannonball? Seems fun for a long trip)
Daily the Flex
Burn the Rover.
track the jaguar
daily drive the flex
burn the land rover
Daily: Flex
Track: Jag
Burn: Rover
I think this is a trick question. Could you daily drive the Rover? How long would it run? Would it make it a week?
Honestly I would say I burned it and put it in a museum somewhere, because it is quite possibly the last Freelander running.
But I did buy a Freelander one time, with a blown head gasket, to fix and flip. That is when I found out there is not enough money in the world to fix a Freelander with a blown head gasket. So I would say burn the Freelander. Burn it. Burn it. Burn it. Burn it. When you burn it, let me know, and I will bring hot dogs and marshmallows.
I would daily the Jaguar, and take the Fex to the track, mainly because the rules say I must. I would turn the stereo up to cover up the laughing of all the people around the track. But, I will be having fun! So I don’t care. Screw ’em.
This is the easiest Track/daily/burn ever!
Daily the wagon, track the Jaaaaaag, burn the Freelander. Light that candle and walk away without even looking back.
Track the Freelander, meaning take it off road until it dies. On the plus side, it will likely die with walking distance of the highway.
Daily the Jag. Looks like a fun cruiser.
Burn the Flex. No offense, but it’s just boring, even in a cool colour.
Track: Flex. By “track” I mean I would turn it into a mini camper and use it as a tow vehicle to bring a better car to the track. With the seats folded, there is space for a bed with ample room to bring other camping equipment along. Its towing capacity is adequate for many track vehicles.
Daily: Jag. Aside from suboptimal reliability, it could be a decent daily driver. It looks like it would it would be comfortable. The 6 cylinder is a plus; I don’t want V12 fuel economy when I’m driving to the grocery store.
Burn: Land Rover. I don’t think this needs an explanation.
Track the Jag
Daily the Land Rover
Burn the flex.
This sounds like the most reliable option right? I see no issues in relying on old British cars.
Yeah, just make sure that the Lucas smoke has already been added…
This was a tough one. I don’t want to burn any of them, and I’d daily both the Jag & the Flex. I have no specific feelings about the Rover, so…
Track: Flex
Daily: Jag
Burn: Rover
I’m with you all the way.
Flex -daily
Freelander- track
Jaguar – burn
The Flex is my favorite car of the week, but picking it as the daily feels so … obvious. So we’ll autocross it, mostly because it’ll look bad-ass and no one will expect it.
And while the XJS feels like the right car to recreate Angela Bassett’s “Waiting To Exhale” moment (yes, I know it was a 7 Series in the movie), it’s too nice to burn. So it becomes the daily.
Sorry, Landie.
Flex for daily use.
The Jag gets the cage, suspension and tires.
The Freelander disappears in a puff of smoke.
This is the way.
Sometimes the obvious answer, really is obvious. This is one of those times.
Neither Brit would survive daily driving, so that leaves only the Ford.
The Freelander should be burnt, and I’d never shed a tear. (bit could be fun to toss it through around some hay bales in a farm field before burning it down)
Then there’s the Jaaaaaaaaaag. Some slicks and a lot of money could convince it to get around a track for a few laps before something new breaks on it, or it overheats.
Freelander = Track (Gambler off-roader toy)
Flex = Daily driver
Jag = off to the crusher or burn it down
Give the mundane family Flex a chance for eternal glory in one of those offroad/rally things.
Give the Rover a well deserved Viking funeral.
Give me the Jag and let me cruise around like a proper gentleman.
If I’m allowed, the jag for cross country civilized rally racing. Let it do waft its best at. Grand touring. Daily the flex. Burn the jeep wannabe. It’s cute but someone has to go. The jag is on my irrational bucket list and the flex is the only one suited for daily.
It’d be cool if the poll plugin could support this kind of thing but oh well. I’d track the Land Rover, daily the Jag and burn the Flex.
Let me explain. Autocross is about the only thing that makes sense for the Land Rover. Not controversial.
I actually like the Flex the best out of all of these but I don’t want to daily it because of its size, so burn it must be. That leaves the Jag as the daily, God have mercy on me
I have no need for umpteen seats or AWD
So I’ll take the lovely Jaguar and a couple bottles of leather conditioner.
Rally/Offroad Track the Rover
Daily the Flex
Burn the Jag ( it’s just not a good looking car )…
Same here Taco!
Yep
This is the correct answer.