I picked what I think are the all-time classics. If you feel I didn't include one that should be on the shortlist, by all means mention it in the comments.

What about Ronin or Bad Boys 2?

I considered Ronin, but haven't seen it in a while. Bad Boys 2, on the other hand, I haven't seen at all.

From the list, The French Connection.

Not from the list:
The Matrix Reloaded
The Bourne Identity

I think Death Proof would like a word with you Kunz

I saw French Connection again last year and the car chase stood out as it felt raw and violent and very real. It just isn't showy at all.

Rob

I say The French Connection. It just feels like a car chase, not a carefully choreographed destruction spree. I was kinda meh about Bullit.

Bullitt, baby. It's the movie that invented the cars-flying-through-the-air in San Francisco car chase.

My vote as well. It has everything you want from a car chase. Mustang. Yes. McQueen. Yes. Great San Francisco setting. Yes. Explosions. Yes.

Here, just watch it. The film itself is somewhat inconsistent, but damn this is just the best 11 minutes ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMc2RdFuOxI

Wow...I suck. I think I have only watched one of those listed films.

Someone a while back posted about a short film where they strapped a camera on a fast-as-shit car and drove through Paris (or something like that). What was that? Was that you Ed?

No, it wasn't. If memory serves right it was the boy wonder, Zeppelin. I've seen three of the listed films which does not include The French Connection. I doubt too many people would have seen all.

Wow...you're absolutely right. It was Zep and it was called C'était un rendez-vous...and it wasn't even a car chase. What the hell am I doing here?

A second write-in for the insane car chase that concluded Death Proof. I haven't seen Bullitt but like the trivia of one of the cars losing 5 hubcaps in the chase.

Coming out of lurk mode to put in a vote for Ronin, most specifically the Peugeot vs BMW sequence. Really a wild ride when I saw it in the theater.

Always love the French Connection, and while Bullitt is a staple, my eyes can't keep from notice that same VW bug he passes 5 times.

Hey Pretty,

Intellectually I remember Ronin having an amazing chase (Frankenheimer FTW) but damned if I can remember anything about it. Is there a rocket launcher involved?

There are two major chases in the movie. One of them indeed involves a rocket launcher.

At the risk of violating a forum policy (please let me know), Youtube clips of both:

BMW vs Peugeot

Rocket Launcher Chase

You're fine...unless those videos don't work. Then you're not fine

No BBII!??! Fail!

Just kidding, though that is the best part of that movie; very impressive.

My pick is certainly The Road Warrior; that sequence is off the rails, and considering the budget...wow.

Seconded. The chases in Ronin elevate a decent movie into a good one. And thanks for the links. These will be fun to revisit.

The chase in Bullitt blew me away when I saw it. It's been ages since I've seen it and now it's actually the only thing I really recall from the film. Ronin would be my write in for second place as well.