We hit you with What’s Your Ideal Road Trip Duration, Destination, and Vehicle? in a previous installment of Autopian Asks, and we’re back to the theme today but with a finer point: what if you’re road tripping in the back seat? What car do you choose when that’s your fate? (As in, a car you might reasonably find yourself in. NOT a limousine, Flying Spur, Maybach, etc.)
The back-seat Q probably takes you right back to your childhood, peak back-seat years for any kid who wasn’t raised by a single parent with a sportscar. The 1970s were my youngster years, and I assure you kids growing up in the 80s or later had it way better back-seat-wise than us polyester-clad youths of the Sonny and Cher era. I never even knew back seats could be made of anything other than vinyl, and you can forget about any kind of ergonomic shaping. Or a center armrest. Cupholders? Ha ha … no. And I assure you, you got thirsty back there in the 70s, because that vinyl bench reached temperatures most often associated with spacecraft reentry.
The gang was helpful as always in Slack. Thomas Hundal‘s first suggestion was the Popemobile, which Torch immediately and wrongly shot down citing lack of ventilation. See? The window goes down! It’s fine. But would you really want to to be displayed in a cage of Pope-proof glass for an 8-hour stretch down I90? Probably not.
Stephen Walter Gossin (yes, he’s one of those a three-name badasses) recommended the first-gen Chrysler LHS, citing important spring-break buddy experience. That kind of endorsement makes J.D. Power look like H.R. Pufnstuf, so I believe him. Also authoritative: Thomas at it again, this time with the Lexus LS430 and optional Ultra Luxury accoutrement. Massaging seats and a fridge? Ideal back-seat spec right there.
How about you? If you’re stuck in the back seat for a multi-hour mission, what vehicle would you most like to strap yourself into? We’re certainly interested in your actual back-seat experiences (you know what we mean, ya pervs), but you don’t have to name a car you’ve actually been in–theoretical choices are fine! And if you’ve had to endure some awful back seats while logging big miles, you can tell us about that too. We’re easy.
To the comments!
A Grand Marquis.
Honestly, a newer crew cab pickup. Ford Super Dutys have an expansive back seat, and a Mega Cab dodge or SuperCrew Tundra is even bigger.
We all hate how big those giant pickups are on the outside, but it’s super nice how big they are on the inside. People don’t spend $80k on these for nothing; they are hands down the best luxury cars under $100k or so.
As much as I hate the fact, pickups are the new luxury barges.
While the interiors are similarly appointed, the Ford and Toyota don’t ride nearly as nice as the Ram, and the GM products aren’t even worth mentioning in the same sentence if you’re talking about ride quality, and that’s what you want on a road trip.
Minivan. . . the new ones are great, captins chairs, entertainment systems. . .I kinda want one even though we don’t have enough kids to justify it.
Having upgraded from a Grand Caravan to an Expedition EL for family road trips including three adult sized children, I can tell you that both the second and third rows of an Expedition are much more comfortable than the second row of a minivan. The third row of the minivan just sucked.
My 1st reaction 57 Cadillac convertible but then no too hot rain etc so i figure full size custom van with 5 pilot chairs a kickass entertainment center or 3 capt vhairs and electric bed.
Maybach 62, baby. I know the 57 and 62 were massive flops but they’ll always be cool to me and the longer wheelbase of the 62 means I get to ride along in decadent opulence….until I make whoever’s driving hit up Taco Bell
Sorry mate
Ugh I went right to the comments. Fine. Give me the Genesis G90.
I gotta say, I don’t understand the restriction; a 15 year old Maybach costs less these days than some of the new cars suggested.
To be fair it will cost much more than any of them once something goes wrong
There was that time I was not only too drunk to drive home, I was too drunk to handle things like sitting and seatbelts… and doors. My roommate drove my pickup home and I did my best starfish impression in the truck bed. Its kind of like a backseat…
2008 Toyota Alphard Royal Lounge, considering Alphards are quite common now in Canada, though not really the Royal Lounge since it was the ultra high end version.
Yep, that’s the right choice
Well, according to my brother-in-law, the back seat of a rental Buick Lucerne is the place to be.
“There’s so much room! I can sleep over there and poop over here!”
BMW 7 series from one of the execs at my last job. We had to drive a few hours to a career event and it was a pretty nice ride.
Toyota Century, with wool seats.
Came to say exactly this. This is the best answer
I choose a 1911 Aberdonia. I get the fun of riding in a stagecoach while the driver gets COE visibility and trucklike reliability with mid-engine handling. Truly the peak of luxury!
now THAT is an excellent answer
I presume they have twin turbo V12 engines and A/C. Even if not, yes. So much this.
I love when people suggest cars that I’ve never heard of 🙂
The best backseat I’ve experienced: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. Other options I’d like to test on a road trip:
– Toyota Century
– Mercedes 600 Pullman
– VW Phaeton.
Lincoln Continental Mark V and 70’s Cadillac Eldorado both has outstanding ride comfort, but the back seats are unbelievable cramped considering the sheer size of those cars.
If you call seating for four adults across with arm and leg room cramped.
None of this “4-door coupe” nonsense. Four doors, yes, but something with a flat roof.
My current vehicle (F-Pace) would be fine, but a behemoth like a Suburban would offer a lot more space.
On the subject of comfort: a low wind/road noise level is key for a long haul.
Prevost luxury coach RV. I’ll sit next to the beer fridge. Wake me when we get there.
Are David and Jason up front? That’s a really important question that needs an answer
Any of the Japanese or Korean luxury minivan limos, pure luxury.
Bet a Dajiban would be fine too
Dude, I said I called shotgun.
Pre-2012 Maybach – maybe the 62 Landaulet, love that convertible top. By the way, what a way to spit in the driver’s eye. No fresh air for you Jeeves – just keep your mouth shut and eyes front.
Did this article get edited? I could swear it didn’t have that note about “no Maybach” etc. Anyway, fine, FINE. I have to go the Toyota Century route then. The new one is probably in the verboten category, but I would be perfectly happy in a nice used one.
Yes it got.
Realistically, anything with good cloth seats will be fine. The worst back seat road trip experience I’ve had was my dad’s ’03 Camry LE with “leather” seats. Slippery, stiff, really cold in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer. The trips from New Jersey to Florida were made so much worse by these seats, and short trips weren’t any better.
It’s bad enough that when I took ownership of the car (I had to sell my previous car during college and Dad had gotten a newer Camry), I swapped the seats with a cloth set from the junkyard.
Bring back velour, I say! So much forgiving on the thighs in summer.
Of course there are plenty of luxury options, but of the cars that I have actually been in: the slightly humble panther body era Lincoln Continental. That thing was a damn delight to stretch out across the back seat in, and good for make outs too. or to park next to a random beach on Lake Michigan that no one else bothered to go to, roll down all the windows, and just take a nap.
Full size conversation van (not motor home). Captain’s chairs, sofa, TV, lightning options.
My other choice is a Toyota Century. If you can use the folder down front seats even better.
Im with you. One of those “executive conversion”. True roadtrip luxury is getting up and moving around a little.
Yep… This is how I traveled as a child. We had a little DC TV and VCR and just watched TV that my parents had recorded.
Truth be told though, I hate being a passenger. I’ll drive 14-15 hour trips with my family and I’ll drive the whole time. It’s pure torture for me to be a passenger, especially because lately, I’m only a passenger when I’m teaching one of my kids to drive.
I can understand your feeling. I feel like whenever someone else is driving, I’m being pushed into the seat belt.
One of those high end conversion vans made to haul around the rich. You have it all back there, comfy chairs that recline in any way you’d want it, a big TV, snacks and drinks, enough room to get up and move around, probably a bed. I’ll get to where I’m going and feel like I never left my living room, what else could you ask for.
Minivan(any brand), with captains chairs of course.
This is really the only realistic answer.
An unconventional choice, but in some parts of the world the ideal road trip car is a Volvo 264TE by Bertone. Alternately, a Mercedes 600 ‘Grosser’ with full diplomatic flags.
Nothing ensures that everyone will get out of your way like the threat of being disappeared by the secret police of whatever dictatorship you’re cosplaying.
Rolls Royce Phantom, next.
Dang it, you beat me too it
2nd choice: Rolls-Royce Ghost
Beat me to it also.
Sorry:
Difficult to imagine the Phantom not being part of that list.
you’d be surprised what kinds of vehicles people trust me with