5 Cars you should drive before you die

1. Bugatti Veyron 16.4

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is perfect for the driver who wants to drive as fast as humanly possible before he or she dies. Unlike other extreme luxury sports cars that go fast, the Veyron is one of the easiest power production vehicles in the world to drive. Add in the top-end speed of 253 MPH, and it is easy to see why so many auto drivers have fallen in love with the vehicle. Engineered by Volkswagen, the car includes all-wheel drive, a stronger-than-normal suspension, and a total of 12 radiators to support the sheer engineering power required to run the Veyron 16.4.  One of the most challenging aspects of driving the Veyron is actually finding someone to let you give it a try since the cars are reported to sell for more than $200,000 USD.

2. Ferrari 250GT SWB

When a car aficionado first things of a luxury sports car, the Ferrari 250GT SWB is one of the first autos to come to mind. When the power of a V-12 engine is added to the mix similar to the original design of the vehicle, the auto definitely fits in any list of cars that one should drive before you die. The Ferrari 250 GT SWB (short wheel base) just sounds cool when running. Between the engine noise exhaust, the auto gives off an aurora of power and the street-legal versions of the vehicle are rated between 220 and 240 horsepower. One of the most popular Ferrari builds is the Pininfarina-styled Gran Turismoberlinetta that was produced by the company between 1960 and 1962. The shifter of the auto is one of the best to give the driver a true feel of the car that is hard to match with modern sports car builds which use an electronic throttle.

3. Mini Cooper S

The Mini Cooper S represents the culmination of the company’s efforts into supping up the already popular vehicle by John Cooper who was the boss of the company who won the 1959-1960 Formula 1 racing championships. The 1275-cc car is rated at 76 horsepower and can almost top 100 MPH when tweaked just right. Aficionados who have not taken the time to drive the mini are missing out on one of the most unique rides to try out before you die. The vehicle is just over 10 feet in length and uses 10 inch diameter wheels and tires, but somehow still manages to seat four people without requiring the rear seat passengers to be children. Although the performance metrics of the S and even newer versions of the auto are not record setting, the Mini Cooper is one of the smallest automobiles that one will drive in a lifetime and delivers a rewarding driving experience.

4. 1963 Split Window Corvette

One of the most unique Corvettes to be produced in the long line of American muscle car is the 1963 Split Window Corvette. The second generation Corvette that was released in 1963 was the first to bring the Corvette performance to the public at large. The automobile features an eight cylinder, 327cid engine and is rated at 250 horsepower. The car was the first to also include a split rear window which after the feature was deleted in 1964, made the 1963 edition unique enough to add it to one’s bucket list to drive before dying. Depending on the specific build and condition of the 1963 Corvette, values of the auto range between $60 – $245,000 USD. For those desiring more power out of their second generation Corvette ride, the company changed the engine in 1966 to the 427 V-8 rated at 430 horsepower, it just will not have the now famous split window feature.

5. Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is one of the most iconic American automobiles to ever be produced. The original design of the vehicle was based on the Jeep Willys, and has undergone its own design evolution in that timeframe. The vehicle is credited with basically getting Americans started with off-roading with their automobiles, and driving just about any model with a standard shift and top down or removed makes it one of the “must-drives” on the cars one should drive before you die. For the adrenaline junkie in you, taking an off-road drive in a Jeep that has been lifted is an experience hard to match across most other makes and models of automobile ever produced.