100 Best Cars

[Croc]

So I saw this Telegraph article about the 100 Best Cars ever.

I don't agree with it on so many levels:

• Its got a British bias - a Vauxhall 30/98? FFS! A Bentley Speed Six? Having driven one, thats a truck not a car.
• Its relative ranking is strange - why is a 911 ranked lower than the Miata/MX5?
• It includes a C type Jaguar but not the D type?
• There are many choices that could only come from noxious or addictive substances - a Honda Jazz? A Golf as number 2 choice?
• They include a Pontiac GTO but exclude the 66 Oldsmobile Toronado which was ground breaking in its design.
• The Peugeot 205 was a better designed car than the Golf or the Focus (usual crap French quality though).

I do agree with some inclusions

• Peugeot 504/MB 190/MB W series - those cars did a tremendous amount for African mobility.
• Caterham is at number 56
• Lancia Lambda - sadly under rated for its ground breaking features
• Saab 92

Clearly it comes down to the definition of "Best"

What would you include or exclude from this list?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/guides/100-best-cars/

[fastg]

Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2??????

​​

[Kitcat]

Lots of dubious choices here. No Jeep? No Ford Explorer (which started the SUV revolution that continues), no Dodge mini-van (which started that seismic automobile trend). The Opel GT but no 'Vettes after the C1? The lotus Elise, Morgan Trike, but no recent Mustangs or Hellcats etc., wha???

I think the Toronado was based on the same platform as the Riviera, which did make the top 100, justifiably as it helped start the whole front wheel drive trend in the US for high end cars (for a while).

[Croc]

Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2??????

Just for you Graham, just for you!

[Croc]

Lots of dubious choices here. No Jeep? No Ford Explorer (which started the SUV revolution that continues), no Dodge mini-van (which started that seismic automobile trend). The Opel GT but no 'Vettes after the C1? The lotus Elise, Morgan Trike, but no recent Mustangs or Hellcats etc., wha???

I think the Toronado was based on the same platform as the Riviera, which did make the top 100, justifiably as it helped start the whole front wheel drive trend in the US for high end cars (for a while).

Ford Explorer was truly preceded by the Range Rover in the very early 70s. It made a hard core 4x4 luxurious enough to be considered a daily driver for the family.Ford just copied the concept for the USA for the 80s. I give the Rangie the nod.

Jeep is a good point. Consumerization of military hardware. The Bronco was just an evolution of the Jeep.

List is missing a pick up (or ute) - cross over of business with personal life was transformed for small business owners and trades people.

Dodge mini van is an interesting observation. Didn't the Renault Espace come first? What is the first minivan?

[Croc]

[QUOTE=xcarguy;112225]

- Austin Healey Bug Eye Sprite Errr why?
- 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro I give a Shelby Mustang GT350 the nod first. It invented the racing special in mass production. Camaro followed.
- 1955-57 Ford Thunderbird Yeeeeeeessssss.....I guess. Not sure why? Opera windows. Fins. Reminds you of your childhood in the 50s immediately after the war.
- Scarab ummmm....confused here
- Volvo P1800 The first decently styled Volvo is a milestone. The only decently styled Volvo before 2000 is a miracle.
- CJ5 YEs definitely.
- Ford Bronco (first generation) Nope
- Datsun 1600 Curious on your argument for including this one.
- De Tomaso Pantera I love a 351 Cleveland but think a Muira was more ground breaking?
- Plymouth Superbird This was the manufacturer racing special that killed production car racing for the first time forcing a move away from production based race cars into ever increasingly custom builds. All other production based racing categories eventually followed.

[xcarguy]

. . . What would you include or exclude from this list?

You simply asked what any of us would include/exclude. You didn’t say anything about putting choices under a microscope and dissecting.

[Croc]

You simply asked what any of us would include/exclude. You didn’t say anything about putting choices under a microscope and dissecting.

No, I didn't. However, like sharks, crocs smell blood in the water when some cute....no thats not the right word but anyway...little xcarguy skips along innocently to frolic in the in the watery shallows, carelessly tossing his blonde ponytails around, throwing out unusual Best Top 100 car suggestions that defy any conventional logic or automotive philosophy. So naturally I give you the opportunity to fairly escape by justifying your choices.....


....or I may just post again that infamous photo of you being a blonde!


Anyway, the real reason is that I am genuinely curious about some of your choices!

[JohnCh]

The Lotus Elan and BMW 2002/1600 are notable omissions. They were both game changing when released and are still held in high regard more than 50 years later. I'd also add the Dino 246 GT, Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, Lotus Elite (the original with a fiberglass monocoque, not the fat bastard namesake of the '70s) and Alpine A110 among others.

-John

[lucky dawg]

The Jeep Wagoneer was decades before the the Explorer. Even the Cherokee beat Ford by several years.