QOTD: What Cars Would You Like to Set on Fire? (A New TTAC Series)

Corey Lewis
by Corey Lewis

Today we have a dual-function Question of the Day. The primary function will be informative; detailing an upcoming new series here at TTAC and explaining how it all works. The secondary function is to solicit ideas from you, our dear readers, for said new series.

By now you’re undoubtedly intrigued, so keep on reading.

The new series is entitled Buy/Drive/Burn, and it’s all very simple. This is the SFW automotive version of the NSFW game people play with the letters “FMK.” Each entry will pitch up three cars against one another. The competitors must have been available as new in the same model year, and will be close-ish in price and mission. The name of the game is to assign a fate to each car presented. The fates are:

  1. Buy. This is the car you purchase at the dealer, as new in the year from whence it came. You own this car, and are responsible for its maintenance for a number of years. For our purposes we will assume it’s a semi-primary vehicle.
  2. Drive. The vehicle which earns this pick is the one you can borrow and enjoy with some regularity without incurring the financial responsibility behind it. It’s not free, but let’s say the fee for borrowing it is mostly nominal and affordable for the class of car. It can never be yours, you’ll always have to give it back.
  3. Burn. One of the selected vehicles must die a fiery death at the hands of an uncaring arsonist. Purchased from the theoretical showroom as new, it is then immediately destroyed.

There’s a preview set of vehicles below — executive express Euro luxury sedans from the year 2000.

Audi A8

Audi’s largest sedan came in standard or long-wheelbase formats (sticking with the standard today), with a 4.2-liter V8 producing 310 horsepower and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. Aluminum-intensive construction kept the weight right at two tons. This modern option is yours for around $62,000.

Jaguar XJR

The slight pricing advantage of Jaguar’s flagship sedan means you get an upgrade to the sporting R version. Dated in tech but classically correct in styling, the XJR cost around $68,000 and weighs about the same as the Audi, but has 340 horsepower from its 4.0-liter V8.

BMW 740iA

Ah, we’re near the terminus of the best-looking 7 Series model. The 740iA sits as the entry level of the range, lacking a long wheelbase and the V12 engine. Its 4.0-liter V8 bests the Jaguar in displacement (4.4 liters), but is down on power at just 282 hp. But BMW has a history of making nice-driving sedans, and this one’s a looker.

It’s as simple as that — three choices and three assignments. As you’re thinking about which of this trio you’d set on fire, come up with your own ideas for Buy/Drive/Burn competitors. I’ll be waiting in the comments.

[Images: Daimler AG, Audi, Jaguar, BMW]

Corey Lewis
Corey Lewis

Interested in lots of cars and their various historical contexts. Started writing articles for TTAC in late 2016, when my first posts were QOTDs. From there I started a few new series like Rare Rides, Buy/Drive/Burn, Abandoned History, and most recently Rare Rides Icons. Operating from a home base in Cincinnati, Ohio, a relative auto journalist dead zone. Many of my articles are prompted by something I'll see on social media that sparks my interest and causes me to research. Finding articles and information from the early days of the internet and beyond that covers the little details lost to time: trim packages, color and wheel choices, interior fabrics. Beyond those, I'm fascinated by automotive industry experiments, both failures and successes. Lately I've taken an interest in AI, and generating "what if" type images for car models long dead. Reincarnating a modern Toyota Paseo, Lincoln Mark IX, or Isuzu Trooper through a text prompt is fun. Fun to post them on Twitter too, and watch people overreact. To that end, the social media I use most is Twitter, @CoreyLewis86. I also contribute pieces for Forbes Wheels and Forbes Home.

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  • B234R B234R on Dec 07, 2017

    I hope there will be more of this! Buy is easy: audi, because 4wd.. Drive: jaaaaaaag, because why not Burn: BMW left, and it doesn't bother me at all so this was actually quite easy :)

  • Carilloskis Carilloskis on Dec 07, 2017

    Buy the BMW Drive the Jag Burn the Audi.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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