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!
Ford Club Wagon conversion with captain’s chairs.
Suburban (or similar land yacht) with middle row captain chairs. I spent a large amount of my youth traveling the country to soccer tournaments in my friends decked out suburbans. N64, beef jerky, and shooting spit wads out the window. What a time to be alive.
There are three obvious answers:
A mid 70s wagon with rear facing seats of course.
Having logged many many miles in the rear-facing seat of our ’73 Grand Fury wagon, I am not sure this would be my choice. All smells from the car (dad’s Kool smoke, sister’s vomit bag, brother’s dirty diaper) form a cloud in the back seat. Opening the window was a non no as mom was concerned the exhaust would come in. It is fun to make faces at following drivers, however.
Citroen C6 with the “TGV seats”
When I was a teen my mom had a second gen Lincoln Town Car. I remember being stoked whenever my little sister got old enough to want to get shotgun on road trips because I could curl up on that couch of a back seat and nap.
This is The Way. (“The Mandalorian” noises)
I came here to nominate my favorite car Grandpa (the retired GM exec; RIP) ever owned: a ’76 Sedan de Ville. Comfy dark blue “Manhattan” cloth, tons of legroom, fantastic ride.
1963 Lincoln Continental
Mercury Grand Marquis
I’m late to this party, but the fact that no one out of 93 comments suggested a full-on shagadelic, 70’s custom van with water bed, wet bar, and TV/VCR combo greatly disappoints me.
You guys/gals can sit upright in your factory seats while I’m popping Dramamine and riding the the waves while watching the best road trip movies of the 70s-80s (Vanishing Point, Surgarland Express, Gumball Rally, Cannonball Run, etc.).
When I was a kid, we would take family trips in a Suburban. It didn’t have a third row, so two of us got to just hang out in the back on some blankets. Probably would not be as fun or comfortable as an adult.
Ram 1500 Mega Cab trucks are great as the back seat area is bigger than most NYC apartments and the higher trim levels are slathered in leather.
Any full size GM wagon 1971-1991. Apart from room and ride, the most important thing: you put the cooler in the back-b-back with the opening facing forward…
Any well paid business guy leftover (below 2014), like S-Class or 7 series. LWB please.
Almost everything there is maintenance and reliability nightmare, but if I am in the back seat, probably I don’t own it, so, I won’t be distressed by the hefty reapir bill.
Other they saw a reasonably priced 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 LWB. Gorgeoues, low mileage and well maintenated by the first owner, until feb/mar, then it got its 2nd owner. Not sure how that guy took care of that, no maintenance record after adding 1/2 of the current mileage in these few months. As a mechanic described the N63 engine in that situation as a “grenade with the pin pulled”, and my own due diligence, skipped that one.
But certainly, the back seat would be a nice place to be while you wait tow.
1969 Mercedes 280SE. That’s the car I grew up in, my place was the back left one. Very soft brown nappa leather, reading lights in the c-pillar. Despite being the short wheel base, it was roomy enough for my sister and me. Maybe today I would prefer the longer W109 (but with the 6.3 V8, please – just for the sound).
I once did about 1500 miles at US West Coast in a 70s Cadillac. It was nice.
1994 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. I’ve done multiple trips from the midwest to Florida in this car and from both my wife and daughter’s feedback, the back seat is a nice place to be. Plenty of legroom, multiple power outlets, overhead mirrors – the equivalent of a leather couch to lounge on. Far more comfy than the Chevy Volt we’ve also done the same trip in. I have to admit, the boat-like handling I normally enjoy isn’t ideal when going through places like Atlanta, but riding in the back might allow me not to worry about it.
I’ve driven half way across the country and back again quite a number times of times in a variety of 80’s Cadillac Broughams. From the driver’s seat, it’s a comfy experience. When I had passengers, I always got compliments – this is indeed the car to cruise in.
I’d love to have Mom’s old ’88 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham back in good nick. Those velour seats were so comfortable and riding in the back was pure princess stuff.
If I can’t have that, I’m demanding a Ghost. LOL. MY LIFE IS ABSURD AND THIS IS REASONABLE. SHUTTLE ME BACK TO CHEESE COUNTRY, JEEVES.
OK, so if we’re going by vehicles I’ve (part-)owned then it’s ’90s Dodge Caravan pretty-please, ’00s Subaru Outback LL Bean if not, or ’65 Chevelle if I hafta. A big greenhouse to view the scenery and room to stretch one’s legs are both necessary.
Though now I’m just thinking, “why not take Amtrak?”
I am surprised nobody has proposed the back seat of a Goldwing or Dyna.
Early 2000s Crown Victoria. You know why.
The problem with those back seats is that they’re all plastic and you can’t open the doors from the inside.
Wait…
1972 Chevy Kingswood. Back when I was growing up, you could sprawl in the backseat or hop over and setup shop in the rear of the Station Wagon (I can’t remember if the second row folded flat). Regardless, there was always plenty of room to sleep, play games, whatever. No seatbelts required in the way back.
Easy! A hearse.
A 2017 Lincoln continental with the rear seat package
Based on personal experience: Saab 9-5 wagon (the 2.3t, not the aero…softer ride). Tons of leg room, some of the most comfortable seats I’ve ever experienced, HVAC vents and seat heaters, and a huge and easily accessible storage area right over your shoulder should you need to grab a mid-ride beverage or sandwich.
Toyota Previa! One can turn the second row seats to face backwards to provide limo-like legroom. High headroom, space for a cooler of crusing items.