Top Five Cars Dads Will Drool Over

There isn’t one type of dad, so we’ve covered all your bases…

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and Fraser Engine Co. knows most dads would love a new car for their special day, so here is our list of the most dad-sought-after cars for 2020.

We’ve broken our selection down by type of dad. (If we missed a category, you’ll have to let us know.)

The first car on our list is for the everyday dad. It’s the Chevy Corvette Stingray convertible, which we are slotting in as the “Manly” entry. For decades the Corvette has been the status symbol of men who can afford, and know how to enjoy, a luxury performance vehicle. Barely 300 Corvettes rolled off the assembly line in 1953; sporting a 235-cubic-inch straight six engine bolted to a two-speed automatic transmission, but that’s another story. We’re going to share the specs for the most current model. The 2020 Stingray.

This is an all-new design for the Corvette, featuring a mid-engine configuration that Chevy refers to as precise and powerful at the same time. From hidden door and trunk handles to the LED lighting package for the engine, this is not your dad’s dad’s Corvette. But, it could be your dad’s!

Our next car dads drool over is the new Jeep Gladiator. The 2020 North American Truck of the Year, we bestow upon the “Sporty” dad. It brings the “beach dad” and the “rock-climbing dad” together for a bonfire between the headlights. Referred to by Jeep as “exceptionally functional with a blend of SUV and pickup attributes,” the Jeep Gladiator kicks Soccer-Mom SUVs up a complete level. Available in many models, including the Sport, Sport S, Overland, Mojave, Rubicon, North Edition, and High Altitude rig, there’s definitely a Gladiator for your dad.

For dads who want to appear practical, but still have the testosterone-driven need for speed, we submit the Tesla Model 3, a fully electric car. How is the performance of a glorified golf cart? Well, to start, the Model 3 can accelerate from 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds. It sports a five-star NHTSA overall safety rating and two completely independent motors that control torque to the front and rear wheels. Add a full 360° view set of cameras, forward-facing radar, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and that controversial but awesome Autopilot self-driving feature, and you’ve got a pretty space-aged vehicle for someone “appearing” to be practical.

For that Work-A-Holic dad, we believe the Ford F-150 Raptor, a full-size pickup, can take him from the office parking garage to the lumber yard with an aggressive and strong towing capability to go from mild to wild. The high-output 3.5-liter V^ EcoBoost engine generates a massive 450 horsepower, and a ten-speed automatic transmission eases engine burden when carrying heavy loads or towing sizable items. 

Another welcome feature is Trail Control, which is a cruise control system for low-traction, rugged off-road terrain, like that muddy dirt road up to your uncle’s cabin in the woods, or those pesky cement parking curbs, you know, for when your pizza is getting cold and you gotta get home. Don’t forget the niceties like a power-sliding rear window, power-folding exterior mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, and a host of other “Big Brother monitors your life” safety features.

Our final entry for “Dad’s Other Baby” is a three-way tie; simply because for that Mid-Life Crisis dad, any of these muscle cars will be a welcome addition to the family. Take your pick, Dad, the Chevy Camaro ZL1, the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, or Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. All are equally endowed and equipped for that dad who remembers the days of drag racing in the mall parking lot but wants power windows, and air-conditioning, among other amenities.

In multiple comparison reviews from Kelly Blue Book, Car & Driver, and U.S. News & World Reports, there just isn’t one overall winner. Price, power, and features from each manufacturer give enough uniqueness to their muscle car, that it truly comes down to personal preference. Read, and watch, the reviews in the links above to make your decision. (Just a head’s up, U.S. News’ feature was most likely written by a bean counter who drives a Mini Cooper. Yawn. The KBB video is our favorite.)

FRASER FAST SPECS

• 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible
  MSRP: From $66,400
  MPG: 15 City / 27 highway
  Curb weight: 3,637 lbs
  Horsepower: 490 to 495 hp
  Dimensions: 182″ L x 76″ W x 49″ H
  Torque: 465 to 470 lb-ft
  Tone: Casual Dad out for a cruise

• 2020 Jeep Gladiator
  MSRP: From $33,545
  MPG: Up to 17 city / 22 highway
  Curb weight: 4,650 to 5,050 lbs
  Dimensions: 218″ L x 74″ W x 75-76″ H
  Towing capacity: 4,000 to 4,500 lbs
  Tone: Go anywhere and bring all the junk Dad

• 2020 Tesla Model 3MSRP: From $37,990
  MPGe: Up to 148 city / 132 highway
  Range: 250 to 322 mi battery-only
  Dimensions: 185″ L x 73″ W x 56-57″ H
  Curb weight: 3,552 to 4,100 lbs.
  Tone: Electric sheep in wolves clothing Dad

• 2020 Ford F-150 Raptor
  MSRP: From $53,455
  Horsepower: 450 hp
  MPG: 15 city / 18 highway
  Engine: 3.5 L V6
  Curb weight: 5,508 to 5,684 lbs.
  Towing capacity: 6,000 to 8,000 lbs.
  Tone: Intimidating Dad

• 2020 Chevy Camaro
  MSRP: From $25,000
  Horsepower: 275 to 650 hp
  Curb weight: 3,351 to 4,120 lbs
  MPG: Up to 22 city / 31 highway
  Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 3.6 L V6, 6.2 L V8
  Tone: Mid-life crisis overkill Dad

• 2020 Dodge Challenger
  MSRP: From $28,095
  Horsepower: 305 to 797 hp
  Curb weight: 3,858 to 4,429 lbs
  MPG: Up to 19 city / 30 highway
  Engine: 3.6 L V6, 5.7 L V8, 6.2 L V8, 6.4 L V8
  Tone: Mid-life crisis overkill Dad

• 2020 Ford Mustang
  MSRP: From $26,670
  Horsepower: 310 to 480 hp
  Curb weight: 3,532 to 3,825 lbs
  Engine: 2.3 L 4-cylinder, 5.0 L V8
  Transmission: 6-speed manual, 10-speed automatic
  MPG: Up to 21 city / 32 highway
  Tone: Mid-life crisis overkill Dad

If you want to recreate a vintage Dad-Car of your own, bolt in a world-class FRASER remanufactured engine and impress all the other dads in the neighborhood!