CAR Magazine's Top 50 Greatest Cars

[cawimmer430]

Where is the BR-Z!?!?! It's RWD!!! 


Click this link to see and read the scans: http://www.germancarforum.com/community/threads/car-magazine-50-greatest-cars-of-the-past-50-years-1962-2012.47259/

[Raza]

I think I might have to buy this issue.

[MrH]

No, but really...where's the BRZ? 

[Laconian]

No, but really...where's the BRZ? 

Outclassed by the 2CV.

[Raza]

No, but really...where's the BRZ? 

It's still pretty new; there's generally an element of influence that defines greatness, and only time will tell.  But, I think the BRZ/FR-S/GT-86 won't be left off these lists for very long.  It's our generation's E30 M3. 

[Laconian]

Someone at work just got a BRZzzz in Subaru Clich? Blue. Looks nice.

[2o6]

Yes! The Focus is on that list!

[cawimmer430]

Outclassed by the 2CV.

The 2CV certainly deserves to be on that list just like the Renault 4. Brilliant cars in their day, highly innovative and they put France on wheels.

[Secret Chimp]

I don't get why a later-model Range Rover is in there. Are they really that good or is it just properly British to always be infatuated with them? And THAT Jaguar XJ? WTF?

[MexicoCityM3]

I've come to the conclusion that the E30 M3 is overrated. Yes, it's a fantastic car but the E46/E90 are better cars.

[TBR]

I don't get why a later-model Range Rover is in there. Are they really that good or is it just properly British to always be infatuated with them? And THAT Jaguar XJ? WTF?

First gen XJ was a pretty big deal IIRC.

Agree with the Range Rover. Should either be a Land Cruiser or a first gen Range Rover.

[cawimmer430]

There are a few cars missing from this list IMO.

Mercedes W123, Citroen Traction Avant (throw in a Citroen SM just for being so damn cool!), Peugeot 505 etc. come to mind.



I don't really see what a Jensen Interceptor, Ariel Atom, Alfa Romeo Alfasud, Lotus Carlton (Vauxhall | Opel Omega) and 2nd generation Fiat Multipla have lost on this list. I mean I see four Lotuses on this list already...

[93JC]

I hate 'lists'.

[cawimmer430]

I hate 'lists'.

Yep, the Jeep Cherokee is missing.

[Onslaught]

Why is the smart car on the list. My friend has one and I think it's junk.

[cawimmer430]

Why is the smart car on the list. My friend has one and I think it's junk.

Ah yep, that POS shouldn't be on the list as well!

[Colin]

You're never going to get agreement on lists like this.

The Jensen FF is there is the first road/performance car with 4WD.
The AlfaSud is there because........ oh, come on, surely I don't have to explain this one. Brilliant handling in an affordable family car (shame about the rust!)
Fiat Multipla - despite its looks, it was highly rated when it first came out. It was Top Gear's Car of the Year.

I think the first gen Range Rover would perhaps have been more appropraite, though there is no denying that the 3rd gen car depicted is truly excellent. I can vouch for that having driven one.

And the original XJ? Yes, absolutely. It was an revelation at a bargain price when it first launched. Definitely belongs on here.

[Onslaught]

I really don't have a problem with any car on this list other then the smart car. I don't like or give a crap about many of them but I can understand why they made a list like this.

[Madman]

I can sort of understand the inclusion of the Smart car.  It was the first microcar that (sort of) drove and felt like a real car, unlike those European bubble cars from the 1950s.  Shame we don't get the diesel.  It does twice the mileage of the gasoline one we get, which would at least help justify some of the Smart's other shortcomings.

[93JC]

Yep, the Jeep Cherokee is missing.

Seriously though, 'greatness' is a purely subjective quality that is evaluated using anecdotes and bias. This list is the print equivalent of one of those online lists that has every single entry on the list on a separate webpage and is really only there for search engine optimization and ad revenue maximization. It's a cheap, lame way of trying to make money: nothing more.

It's pretty clear that this list was written with that in mind and is, of course, heavily biased toward the UK. That's perfectly understandable because it was written in the UK and is primarily aimed at UK buyers, but like Secret Chimp pointed out the Range Rover and Jag XJ stick out like sore thumbs.

[cawimmer430]

The Jensen FF is there is the first road/performance car with 4WD.

Not RWD.

The AlfaSud is there because........ oh, come on, surely I don't have to explain this one. Brilliant handling in an affordable family car (shame about the rust!)

Not RWD.

Fiat Multipla - despite its looks, it was highly rated when it first came out. It was Top Gear's Car of the Year.

Not RWD.

[cawimmer430]

I can sort of understand the inclusion of the Smart car.  It was the first microcar that (sort of) drove and felt like a real car, unlike those European bubble cars from the 1950s.  Shame we don't get the diesel.  It does twice the mileage of the gasoline one we get, which would at least help justify some of the Smart's other shortcomings.

The great gas mileage is the only nice thing about it. Everything else about it is crap, especially it's cramped interior and the low top speed.

Trust me, you'd rather be driving a 1974 Dodge Monaco. 

[cawimmer430]

Seriously though, 'greatness' is a purely subjective quality that is evaluated using anecdotes and bias. This list is the print equivalent of one of those online lists that has every single entry on the list on a separate webpage and is really only there for search engine optimization and ad revenue maximization. It's a cheap, lame way of trying to make money: nothing more.

It's pretty clear that this list was written with that in mind and is, of course, heavily biased toward the UK. That's perfectly understandable because it was written in the UK and is primarily aimed at UK buyers, but like Secret Chimp pointed out the Range Rover and Jag XJ stick out like sore thumbs.

Agreed. Lists like this depend on the personal preferences of the editors and biases.

I don't have a problem with the XJ being on the list nor the Range Rover. I do wonder why they have four Lotuses on the list when one or two would be good enough. Some seriously great cars are missing from that list like the Mercedes W123 or the Citroen Traction Avant. These cars should be on such lists with the title "Greatest Cars" IMO. 

[Char]

I've come to the conclusion that the E30 M3 is overrated. Yes, it's a fantastic car but the E46/E90 are better cars.

Absolutely agree.

[AutobahnSHO]

euro trash.    

The Ford Taurus takes credit for changing the face of cars forever..
-first plastic headlights- before that the US said they all had to be glass bulbs.
-aerodynamic shape

[Madman]

euro trash.    

The Ford Taurus takes credit for changing the face of cars forever..
-first plastic headlights- before that the US said they all had to be glass bulbs.
-aerodynamic shape

So it's the Taurus we have to blame for the millions of cars with with headlights that look like this?





Yeah, thanks a lot, Ford.  Great fucking idea! 


As for the aerodynamic shape, the Audi 5000/100 and the Ford Sierra beat the Taurus to market by three years.  Granted, the 1986 Taurus instantly made everything else in it's segment look horribly old fashioned (Chevy Celebrity, I'm looking at you!) but it was hardly the first car to make extensive use of aerodynamics.

[cawimmer430]

euro trash.    

The Ford Taurus takes credit for changing the face of cars forever..
-first plastic headlights- before that the US said they all had to be glass bulbs.
-aerodynamic shape

They totally like forgot the 'SHO! 

[AutobahnSHO]

They totally like forgot the 'SHO! 

I wouldn't even go that far- but the Taurus itself was revolutionary. Too bad it wasn't fuel-efficient enough to sell over there...

[cawimmer430]

I wouldn't even go that far- but the Taurus itself was revolutionary. Too bad it wasn't fuel-efficient enough to sell over there...

The list is very biased towards European [British] cars anyway. I mean four Lotus products!?!?

A list like this is always difficult to compile as there are many more great cars out there. What's missing from this list is for example the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado - a significant car and possibly the most desirable Oldsmobile ever (followed by the 1972 Oldsmobile Delta 88 in my mind!!!).

[Raza]

Most desirable Oldsmobile?  That's like being the most desirable form of cancer.