Best Car Ever? Discuss

[Pete-M]

I've been musing about this most of this morning and while I still put the Mk1 Focus 1.8 up there as possibly the best family all-rounder with my sensible hat on I've realised that whenever I want a vaguely sensible hottish hatch I've always ended up with Golf GTIs (and my current V6). I've had an early Mk1 1.6 GTI for a couple of years, then a Mk2 8v GTI for a couple of years, then another 8v GTI but with a 2.0 fitted. I don't go out of my way to end up with them, but they're bloody good at what they do. My current Mk4 V6 isn't as sensible, but it feels like a 535i in a tiny shell.

 

If they didn't rust so badly I'd suggest my S210 E320 CDI wagon. It's an epic bit of kit, bur rots like something made from old Alfasuds.

[Junkman]

The best car for what?

 

One car will never cover all your transport requirements.

[Cavcraft]

Ok, you can lock this thread now:

 

 

[eddyramrod]

Volvo 740GLE auto estate.  Game over.

[Lacquer Peel]

Volvo 940 estate with a Mercedes OM606 diesel fitted

[alcyonecorporation]

Yue Loong Feeling 2000 Turbo. 

J Reg.

With a Carford dealer number plate. 

Like brown chickens, they are the best. 

[mrcitroen]

Ok

 

I'll nominate the Citroën BX. Most of the BX lickers would put forward the GTi, 16v and the turbo diesel.

 

Being a bit different, I would say the 19TRS. Ticks most of the boxes and is not complicated as it's carb so no injection witchcraft to deal with. Nice interior, quiet at speed reasonably powerful and torquey, fantastic on long journeys, swallows a reasonable load. So in my opinion it's pretty much a well sorted all rounder.

[DodgyBastard]

I'd go with the 305 for my best car.

 

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

lexus LS400

 

thread over - i win.....

 

 

Indeed. What else goes and rides like an LS400 in such silence and reliability for so little?

[flat4alfa]

There is only the one

 

[Bear]

We were at the point where people didn't want mainstream family cars to roll over in extremis, that's not unreasonable.

Tell that to the designers of the XC90 - and things like the cashcow that also only stay on the road because of skyhooks (ESP etc). - imagine how well a Kuga or Ecosport would stay attached to the road without software assistance.

 

Since gaining fame for that test they get ever more ludicrous. A HiLux 4x4 goes on two wheels when loaded and driven at speed then swerved, and their reaponse is that a commercial vehicle needs stability control and driver aids? No. It needs a driver who anticipates and adjusts for road conditions. Even if the chances of an Elk are raised the chances of an Elk, and oncoming traffic, outside of very specfiic regions are slim. Otherwise we'd have had far more focus on this in general development.

[Lacquer Peel]

If cars had proper suspension (and drivers, aye) they wouldn't need electronic aids.

[Cavcraft]

The best car for what?

 

One car will never cover all your transport requirements.

 

I present to you:

 

 

It doesn't just do everything, it does everything in style.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

^^ But they're still bloody horrible really. Something about old Vauxhalls just says 'is this all I'm worth? Really?'

 

There are some cars we like that you know aren't very nice. Some of the cars I like are utter shit. But there are a number of cars that when new, were just outstanding. We're talking the Big Dogs rather than Ford, GM or VW peasant fodder; LS400, the 528i upwards E39, W140 Merc V8/V12. Cars that were so good 20+ years ago that they're still good now.

 

I don't think anything has really eclipsed the LS400 for the cushion soft ride and eerie lack of noise when bowling along at 80. Imagine you'd bought one for 800 quid. How would you better that?

 

Focus?

Golf?

Vectra?

 

For fucks sake. No!!!!

 

Think of dating a 40 year old Sophia Loren as opposed to a 20 year old version. You most certainly still would. Aim for that, not the bird in Lidl.

[timolloyd]

I agree with Foad, or at least something old and Pug-shaped. I don't think anything has come close for simplicity, modernity, and, er, toughity

[Bianconeri]

Alfasud (in the 15 minutes before it started to rust) or the Peugeot 504.

[anonymous user]

The best car for what?

 

One car will never cover all your transport requirements.

You have no idea how limited my requirements are, which is why I have a Land Rover

[Bren]

This. It does its job and it WILL break down but nobody will ever criticise you in the same way nobody will have a go at you for getting pissed or contracting a STD.

You can weigh it in guilt free as well....

 

This is ours sat in its 19" snowflakes.

[bramz7]

A well sorted turbo charged XUD in a small car (ZX, BX or 306) is for me, the best balance of performance, economy and driveability. Yes they'll probably fall apart in some way or another but who cares? 

 

On the other hand, a decent AX is a surprising car to hoon around in. Vastly overlooked by most people due to their 205 stablemate taking the limelight. Better ride, just not as much 'holy **** I am going to die' but then getting away with it handling. 

[Cheezey]

I vaguely remember reading James May thought the best car ever was the Citroen AX GT five door was the best car in the world.

 

For me it has to be an R8 214SEi. Economy, handling, looks, good to drive and affordable.

[Bren]

I present to you:

 

 

It doesn't just do everything, it does everything in style.

Unfortunately they give you no feedback when driving - even a mondeo is nicer to drive.

 

In fact I would go as far to say as driving a vectra is the automotive equivalent of engaging in necrophilia.

[puddlethumper]

I'd go with the 305 for my best car.

 

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Couldn't agree more Mr F.O.A. Die. Although I would say a 305 van has the edge. But then I'm biased. A lot!!

Mine has back seats and all. Howzat ?

[Fat_Pirate]

This was the high-water mark:

 

[Zantimisfit]

Ford Classic

 

Ticks every box except the last twelve, and the first one

 

P.S. Peugeot 305 What Car Car of the Year 1979!

[fred]

Subaru Forester - Had mine now for 5 years - Just Goes and Goes , Roads , off road, snow,  - Love it

[Uncle Jimmy]

Peykan Hunter, obvs innit.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Peykan Hunter, obvs innit.

 

 

Whatever became off him? He used to post here a lot.

[cros]

Ok, you can lock this thread now:

IMG_3114.JPG

You've shut someone in the boot and they've pissed themselves.

[Bear]

306 is a good contender. AX has awful offset pedals...

[Felly Magic]

Nothing VAG is worthy of it, built down to a price garbage, sold with very high profit margins by the manufacturer. A well sorted 306 with an XUD is a bloody good car, drove a mate's n/a XUD facelift LX when brand new, was a Ryton car, did feel reasonably solid, and by hell was it chuckable, it was a vegetarian as well