DrBoost
SuperDork
10/30/11 11:31 a.m.
Ok, watching Top Gear today and heard yet another dig from the fat guy that American's don't build good cars. Since TG is an enthusiast show I'm assuming by "good" he means good performer, so I'm forgetting about reliability as the sole measure, though I feel that does help make a good car. Price also factors in.
So, nationality-speaking, who makes the best car??? I suppose it'd have to follow the GRM challenge criteria, has to accelerate fast, handle well and look good. Oh, since we're talking about nationality of cars, it doesn't matter where it's built, but the company who makes is.
Without putting much thought into it, what do we have:
U.S.:
Viper (we'll include the last one, 'till the new one comes out)
'vette
CTSV
Britain:
Japan:
GTR
sorry, I gotta leave. I'll finish this when I get back. But feel free to expand this list, along with performance numbers at your leisure.
He always says how great the RS200 focus is, that's Ford.....
But Euro Ford...
And the GT40....
Taiden
Dork
10/30/11 12:28 p.m.
No one company makes the best car.
Every major company has made something really good and really bad.
Enjoying the good for the good and the bad for the bad is what makes a true enthusiast, in my mind anyway.
As a brand that pretty much anybody can afford, nobody does it better across their lineup than Mazda. Even if it's a minivan, it's got a little "zoom-zoom" in it.
In reply to 1988RedT2:
That's fanboy talk and I own a Miata.
Britain doesn't have much for auto producers anymore and what they have is small and specialized so I feel it's not a fair comparison to an international company with a full lineup. Otherwise I would suggest Nobel for the Brits.
Sorry, but you've got to define "good" first.
I drive Neons that cost less than $1000,and they never let me down. Thats good.
I have a supercharged Camaro that can smoke the tires anytime, anywhere. Thats good.
My truck gets 16 mpg towing my race car. Thats good.
Every Aston built is natural Viagra for me. Thats good.
People sometimes ask what the best car is, and I can't answer. I have too many different needs.
DaveEstey wrote:
In reply to 1988RedT2:
That's fanboy talk and I own a Miata.
Britain doesn't have much for auto producers anymore and what they have is small and specialized so I feel it's not a fair comparison to an international company with a full lineup. Otherwise I would suggest Nobel for the Brits.
Dude, I'm waaaay too old to be a fanboy. My first Mazda was a 1973 RX-2. I currently rock a 2005 MPV-ES. I've owned lots of Mazda's through the years (but never a Miata), along with a few other brands. There's a good chance that my next new purchase will be a Mazda as well. And oh yeah, Mazda is pretty small and specialized too.
As usual people are looking way to far into a simple question.
US: C6 Z06
UK: TVR Sagaris -- yea it hasn't been produced in a while, but I feel that car was very GRM except for it's price tag lol.
Germany: Porsche 911 GT3 RS
France: ummm a Peugot 206 or Renault Mugan thing
Spain: SEAT right?
Japan: Godzirra
Korea: Genisis Coupe
DrBoost
SuperDork
10/30/11 5:38 p.m.
I know "good" is a very wide open quality. I'm also thinking nationality over manufacturer. Jeremy keeps saying the American's can't build a good car. I can't think of any more Brit cars that are good from the GRM point of view than U.S. cars.
I know he's basically playing a character, but his incessant ripping on the U.S. because our cars are bigger (we were smart enough to build roads wide enough for a car) and we can afford the fuel to run a V8. And yes I know, Britain is older than the U.S. but the vast majority of our cities were settled before cars were the norm.
I think there are more U.S. cars that are "good" than Brit cars but he'll never see that.
People shouldn't get so worked up about Jezza.
Well, in terms of nationality, I'd have to say German. I mean who can compete with the likes of Audi, M-B, BMW and Porsche?
Of the more affordable stuff, Japan.
Wait are we talking new or used?
DrBoost
SuperDork
10/31/11 9:55 a.m.
Osterkraut wrote:
People shouldn't get so worked up about Jezza.
I don't think anyone is worked up. I just heard yet another slam and it got me thinking and i figured, what better forum to bring this up in?
On top of that, being from this side of the pond I know there's LOTS over there I don't know anything about.
He's just pissed that plenty of Americans are skinnier than him despite the stereotype. And doesn't he own a Ford GT? And go bonkers whenever he drives a Corvette? He just says stuff to piss people off, all you can do is laugh.
But if I ever meet him, you can be sure I'll point out that I weigh 140 lbs soaking wet and that HE'S the fat one 
No doubt he'll have a witty comeback...
Isn't the Noble a UK thing? Because i like those. A lot.
There is no such thing as "best" car. Too many variables.
Taking the word of a TV show comic is not the way to determine anything. It is entertainment.
I am not sure who makes the best car, but Im sure I know who doesnt...May is sometimes funny, sometimes witty, but often an idiot
4cylndrfury wrote:
I am not sure who makes the best car, but Im sure I know who doesnt...May is sometimes funny, sometimes witty, but often an idiot
Be that as it may, I would gladly put up with whatever for the chance to have one of those. The DBR9 is my favorite race car from the last 10 years or so.
Is this remedial reading? It says "Who makes the best car" not which car is the best.
The answer is me.
Joshua
HalfDork
10/31/11 12:43 p.m.
BMW. When they're ordered with a manual transmission.
Very enthusiast oriented, great racing heritage, great engineering (mechanical...not electrical), stiff chassis, keeps up with the big boys on a more realistic budget, classy, stylish, refined, fast, efficient, has way better lineup than Mazda or anyone else for that matter.
Aston Martin is amazing, Lotus is amazing, Ferrari is amazing, Corvette is crappy, but none are practical. In my mind BMW makes the last practical 'race' car.
