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[1] "I don't know what is the best vehicle for that."

[2] "I don't know what would be the best vehicle for that."

[3] "I don't know what be the best vehicle for that."

My ear says [2] would be best. But [3] is shorter; is it also acceptable?

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ᴇʟᴇvᴀтᴇ
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    3 is not correct English - it is Pirate speak – mplungjan Sep 05 '14 at 10:08
  • 2 is the best choice, but 1 is good too. 3 is not acceptable. – Ronan Sep 05 '14 at 10:08
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    You'd use the subjunctive here in French, but I don't believe it ever was used here in English. – Peter Shor Sep 05 '14 at 10:50
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    @mplungjan I like the "pirate" reference. I was going to ask why pirates talk like that, but found an existing question: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/171741/uncertain-whether-pirate-talk-be-authentically-or-mockingly-archaic – Barmar Sep 07 '14 at 00:43

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There are a number of ways to express the idea contained in your example sentences without sounding unnatural:

"I don't know what the best vehicle for that [thing] is."

"I don't know what the best vehicle for that [thing] would be."

"I don't know what would be the best vehicle for that [thing]."

"I don't know the best vehicle for that [thing]."

"I can't figure out the best vehicle for that [thing].

among others. Your option 1—

"I don't know what is the best vehicle for that [thing]."

—sounds a little awkward to me, but there is nothing syntactically wrong with it. As mplungjan remarks above, "I don't know what be the best vehicle for that [thing]" has a Long John Silver ring to it and would not be a very suitable way to express the idea in modern idiomatic English.

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