h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Want a look at the car that inspired the name?

http://www.kmbusinesssolutions.com/49prefect.htm

Apparently the Escort is the modern day descendent...

Really? Well I suppose car makers do that a lot.

Tis indeed

I'd still like to own a Prefect though

I'd love to see one in reality. Only ever seen photos online, and only after I went looking for them.

You can practically buy one. It's now branded the Chevrolet HHR!

I know; I drive one!

All American cars are rubbish, even Ford cars

All cars are rubbish. I've driven many kinds of cars and I can say (from personal anecdotal experience) that Russian cars are among the worse, English cars are still thought to have the worst electrical systems, American and Canadian cars rust, and Asian cars tend to develop transmission problems.

Few, other than uber-priced cars have a truly good fit and finish, and they all have passenger compartment design flaws.

I'm for going back to horses and carriages!

I think we may have to agree to disagree on all cars being rubbish I would say though that I only ever buy Japanese or German cars. I remember the days of my granda's Lada Samara all too well

Fair enough!

Doesn't it greatly depend on the actual car too though?

Some models or makes can have certain problems attatched. Like the Lancias rusted like anything her in the UK because they were built for the Italian climate and couldn't cope with all our rain. And if you're bad to your car and keep hitting the doors orff the walls when you get out, of course it's gonna rust coz you keep damaging the paintwork.

And even the super-cars have their flaws - like the lack of back seats (or leg room if they have back seats),the expense, the insurance, the tax,the fact that you've spent a small fortune on it so you don't want to drive it anywhere incase it gets dirty/danaged/stolen......

You're right on most all points. I wouldn't include the self-abusing of one's car though, because we were mostly discussing inherent design flaws.

I guess we'll never have the perfect ground transport. the wish list would probably read something like:
Snazzy, small, super-sporty, two seater with power to spare.
Must accommodate up to 8 fully grown adults comfortably on cross-country rides.
Must be great on gas and fit in the tiniest parking spaces.
Must sleep six, when camping (with storage for gear).
Must have the amenities of an at-home office.
Must have a mini kitchen, bar, and wine cellar.
Must have capacity to carry full sized sheets of plywood, 3 metre fence posts, and other home improvement supplies.
Must be self-cleaning and self protecting.
Must be cheap!

ASounbds like you need the . Don't know many 2 seaters that sleep 6!

I reckon my Jazz is the closest you can get to a TARDIS. It's amazing how big it is once you get in I always get confused when I get into my sister's Mazda 323 cos it's so low and I'm used to my stately high up driver's seat

A Nissan Micra's a bit -like too. Surprisingly spaceous.

I reckon they've changed a lot since I was last in a Micra. I remember feeling really claustrophobic; but this was when they first came out, many moons ago

Yeah. I had a new one for a few days a couple of months ago. Was kinda scary coz it was an auto with not much power. But surprisingly spaceous. Felt quite far back from the dash.

Yes, NPY!

A Tardis would do nicely, except that I'd miss the rush of aiming my vehicle down the highways.

A vehicle that makes use of the Tardis' B.O.T.I. technology is a great start!

I know! Than you'd never need to worry about going in convoy or if you'd enough room in the back for the huge tv you'd just bought coz everything would fit.