The World's Best Car

[Dave A]

Oh I know, we all base our opinions on different factors we consider important in what would be determine a car to be the greatest. If I was basing my opinion on a price not a factor basis I wouldn't be voting for the Mini. I'm not being so bold as to say no one should ignore price as a key factor.

 

[Danny]

Oh I know, we all base our opinions on different factors we consider important in what would be determine a car to be the greatest. If I was basing my opinion on a price not a factor basis I wouldn't be voting for the Mini. I'm not being so bold as to say no one should ignore price as a key factor.

Fair enough.

 

[Roo]

Bet you can't guess which car I went for.

That's right, (arguably) the only non-sports car on the list:



Yes, that's my Mini. Yes, that's the Goodwood Festival of Speed startline. And yes, if I knew I was going to get that opportunity, I would've washed her before I went

Basically, it's the only car on the list I can afford, and I own 2, and I think they're brilliant. Cheap thrills, entertaining handling (lift-off oversteer is fun!) and the ability to park anywhere. Including in school halls. The others I may never own (except possibly the MX5), but I'll always have good memories of my Minis.

 

[Jim Prower]

to tell the truth, I dont' like ANY of these cars.

guess i'm going 'Vette.

 

[Poverty]

Its not about which one you like the best, its the one that you think is the best.

 

[Roo]

Hmmm, I see some good cars there but IMO i cant pick any as i do not think there is a 'best car' in the world, i dont see the MX-5 Miata as the best Japanese car, but i do think if there was a 'best car' in the world that it would come from Japan!

Sorry if i have been useless in this poll.

Barry

It's your vote, you can use it as you see fit. Don't feel bad about it!

 

[IMADreamer]

But if that were a deciding factor for the greatest car, then the poll would be between the Mini, Mazda MX-5 and Hyundai!

The Corvette is very affordable. Base price of 40k, Z06 in the 70s. Used C5s sell for well less then 30k. If that's not affordable I don't know what is?

 

[Famine]

The Corvette is very affordable.

Only in the USA...

Base price of 40k, Z06 in the 70s. Used C5s sell for well less then 30k. If that's not affordable I don't know what is?

Anything that costs less than that is, by definition, more affordable - like the Mini, MX-5 and Hyundai. Average wage in the UK is the equivalent of $40,000 a year, so a car which costs that much cannot possibly be "affordable".

 

[IMADreamer]

Only in the USA...



Anything that costs less than that is, by definition, more affordable - like the Mini, MX-5 and Hyundai. Average wage in the UK is the equivalent of $40,000 a year, so a car which costs that much cannot possibly be "affordable".

ah true. Sometimes I forget some of you fellas are overseas, and I agree the Miata, and Hyundai are far more affordable then a Vette.

 

[1X83Z]

Well unlike most I think this list is just fine. I'm not sure what everyone wanted? Did you guys want a bunch of super cars up there? The model T, please, it wasn't the car that was revolutionary it was the process of making the car.

I mean, simply put, that's incorrect. It wasn't just the unbelievably, incredibly, spectacular, absurdly revolutionary production process that made the vehicle the best ever, it was the fact that the vehicle was affordable enough for ownership by all people. As WikiPedia says, "It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car which 'put America on wheels.'" If that's not a revolutionary automobile, I'm not sure what is. Sorry, but I don't see how any of the cars on the above list can claim they did more for the automotive industry than the Model T.

Anything that costs less than that is, by definition, more affordable - like the Mini, MX-5 and Hyundai. Average wage in the UK is the equivalent of $40,000 a year, so a car which costs that much cannot possibly be "affordable".

If $40,000 isn't "affordable" then it seems you're suggesting no-one in the UK lives under a roof, since, presumably, homes in the UK tend to sell for lots more than $40,000. Hence the magic of debt. I too consider the Corvette to be quite affordable - especially relative to its competition.

 

[Poverty]

id call a caterham affordable. 40k cars arent exactly affordable for most people especially seeing as houses cost so much. Plus we get taxxed much much higher than you guys, near or past double the taxation I belive.

 

[TopHat]

I went for the Mini, not the MINI but the BMC, I mean, what a marvel in space efficiency! Its amazing, and the engine was IMO suprisingly large for this sort of auto. Mini FTW!!!11!

 

[Famine]

If $40,000 isn't "affordable" then it seems you're suggesting no-one in the UK lives under a roof, since, presumably, homes in the UK tend to sell for lots more than $40,000.

Yes, of course I am...

No doubt I'm also suggesting that gold is affordable because a 1kg ingot is only $20,000.

It's a matter of scale.

A $200,000 house, which you work 25 years at average wage to pay back, is affordable, as far as houses go - especially at 5.5%. Houses typically range from about this level to about four times higher - though can exceed and undercut this level and, most important of all, almost never lose value - they retain it or appreciate. The average UK house is about $220,000. Cars, on the other hand, typically start at about $12,000 and go up to about $45,000, on average, though some are much higher and some are lower - but you can also buy an older one for much less, something not normally true of houses. This puts the Corvette, even if it were priced like that in the UK (which it isn't - try $85,000 for a base C6), at the very top end of the normal car-buyers range.

When the typical price for a car is 0.25 to 1.00 times your annual salary, a car costing an amount equal to your annual salary isn't notable for its affordability. When the typical price for a house is 5 to 20 times your annual salary, a house costing 5 times your annual salary is notable for its affordability, even though the house costs 5 times as much as the car.

Hence the magic of debt. I too consider the Corvette to be quite affordable - especially relative to its competition.

The last bit is possibly true, in the US.

 

[barryl85]

Well unlike most I think this list is just fine. I'm not sure what everyone wanted? Did you guys want a bunch of super cars up there?

Not at all, but what i dont like to see is a hairdressers car in the Japanese section, i'm sure we would have more than one vote up there by now if we had a Skyline, Supra, Impreza or say an Evo in there. Now im not saying thats what car should be there as the MX5 obviously won the poll for best Japanese cars for some misterious reason.

Wheres all the MX5 followers? No where but im sure we have a few die hard Skyline fans about.

Barry

 

[samj_13]

ah true. Sometimes I forget some of you fellas are overseas, and I agree the Miata, and Hyundai are far more affordable then a Vette.

But they aren't as fast Too bad the Corvette is more expensive in Eurasia, approximately how much more is it? And is the 911 cheaper there than it is in the USA?

I picked the Corvette over the 911 mostly because the Corvette is cheaper and is faster around a track.

But I'd take both any day!

 

[Roo]

If $40,000 isn't "affordable" then it seems you're suggesting no-one in the UK lives under a roof, since, presumably, homes in the UK tend to sell for lots more than $40,000. Hence the magic of debt. I too consider the Corvette to be quite affordable - especially relative to its competition.

They (houses) do, but a $40,000 car isn't affordable because everyone's busy paying the mortgage for their $200,000 house. If you own and have paid off your own house, then yes, a $40,000 car is probably affordable.

 

[Kylehnat]

Houses are paid for over the course of 20-30 years, not 4 or 5. You'd be laughed out of the bank if you tried to get a $40,000/30-year loan.

 

[Poverty]

But they aren't as fast Too bad the Corvette is more expensive in Eurasia, approximately how much more is it? And is the 911 cheaper there than it is in the USA?

I picked the Corvette over the 911 mostly because the Corvette is cheaper and is faster around a track.

But I'd take both any day!

base 911 cheaper in the UK than base c6 I belive
As for whats faster a 911 or Corvette than depends on the model and track. The GT3 is faster round the 'ring than the Z06 though.

 

[Flame-returns]

If $40,000 isn't "affordable" then it seems you're suggesting no-one in the UK lives under a roof, since, presumably, homes in the UK tend to sell for lots more than $40,000. Hence the magic of debt. I too consider the Corvette to be quite affordable - especially relative to its competition.

Perhaps Famine should have rephrased his post to read "not affordable for a car". In the UK a house is considered an essential and so people are perfectly prepared to take out a 10 year mortgage to pay for a house they know they will live in for over 10 years but they are not prepared to take out a huge loan and long-term commitment for a car, this is especially true in London (Which, by the way is significantly bigger than New York) due to an effective public transport system and the god-awful Congestion Charge.

 

[Scaff]

base 911 cheaper in the UK than base c6 I belive
As for whats faster a 911 or Corvette than depends on the model and track. The GT3 is faster round the 'ring than the Z06 though.

Base C6 Corvette = £45,850

Corvette Z06 = £60,000 (approx.)

Porsche 911 3.6 Carrera = £59,070

So no even at base level the 911 is still around £14k more expensive, however the 'Vette will have the steering wheel on the wrong side of the road for us in the UK no matter what model you get.

Personally I would still go for the 911, and thats not dimissing the vette at all. I just prefer the Porsche, so it also gets my vote.

Regards

Scaff

 

[Poverty]

Base C6 Corvette = £45,850

Corvette Z06 = £60,000 (approx.)

Porsche 911 3.6 Carrera = £59,070

So no even at base level the 911 is still around £14k more expensive, however the 'Vette will have the steering wheel on the wrong side of the road for us in the UK no matter what model you get.

Personally I would still go for the 911, and thats not dimissing the vette at all. I just prefer the Porsche, so it also gets my vote.

Regards

Scaff

I would have added a extra 10 grand on those vettes. I thought the 911 was a bit cheaper than that aswell, guess I was wrong.

 

[jammyozzy]

I voted for the 911, but only because I'm in love with the 993 GT2.

 

[Danny]

Only in the USA...



Anything that costs less than that is, by definition, more affordable - like the Mini, MX-5 and Hyundai. Average wage in the UK is the equivalent of $40,000 a year, so a car which costs that much cannot possibly be "affordable".

The Corvette is very affordable. Base price of 40k, Z06 in the 70s. Used C5s sell for well less then 30k. If that's not affordable I don't know what is?

I mean, simply put, that's incorrect. It wasn't just the unbelievably, incredibly, spectacular, absurdly revolutionary production process that made the vehicle the best ever, it was the fact that the vehicle was affordable enough for ownership by all people. As WikiPedia says, "It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car which 'put America on wheels.'" If that's not a revolutionary automobile, I'm not sure what is. Sorry, but I don't see how any of the cars on the above list can claim they did more for the automotive industry than the Model T.



If $40,000 isn't "affordable" then it seems you're suggesting no-one in the UK lives under a roof, since, presumably, homes in the UK tend to sell for lots more than $40,000. Hence the magic of debt. I too consider the Corvette to be quite affordable - especially relative to its competition.

They (houses) do, but a $40,000 car isn't affordable because everyone's busy paying the mortgage for their $200,000 house. If you own and have paid off your own house, then yes, a $40,000 car is probably affordable.

Houses are paid for over the course of 20-30 years, not 4 or 5. You'd be laughed out of the bank if you tried to get a $40,000/30-year loan.

And let's not even start on the fuel consumption, insurance, tax and general running costs...

 

[Scaff]

I would have added a extra 10 grand on those vettes. I thought the 911 was a bit cheaper than that aswell, guess I was wrong.

Those are the current book base prices for those three, and if you want to get real scarey you can add a good few thousand to the 911 price to get the car even close to the base spec of the C6. Porsche options lists are quite reknowned for being more than a little expensive.

I just did a quick build on a base 911 Carrera and added a few minor bits like metallic paint, colour coded lether and the sports pack, total cost now just under £69,000 (and that was being very restrained with the options list).

911's get expensive very quickly.

Regards

Scaff

 

[Kylehnat]

So basically, the Corvette costs twice as much in Europe as it does here. That seems like an excessive markup...Can I buy an M5 in Germany for €35,000? That'd be nice .

 

[Matt R]

Chevrolet Corvette.

 

[Tornado]

Actually, i can only think of one, the Chevy Corvair, that didn't work.

It must be said though, that that was mainly due to the unfounded controversy surrounding the car more than anything. They were actually very good cars.

I mean, simply put, that's incorrect. It wasn't just the unbelievably, incredibly, spectacular, absurdly revolutionary production process that made the vehicle the best ever, it was the fact that the vehicle was affordable enough for ownership by all people. As WikiPedia says, "It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car which 'put America on wheels.'" If that's not a revolutionary automobile, I'm not sure what is. Sorry, but I don't see how any of the cars on the above list can claim they did more for the automotive industry than the Model T.

Which should read "It is incorrectly regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car which put America on wheels." And remember, the thread is "Best automobile." Not "most influential."

 

[Dave A]

So basically, the Corvette costs twice as much in Europe as it does here. That seems like an excessive markup...Can I buy an M5 in Germany for €35,000? That'd be nice .

Nope, £55k over here that's about $90k USD.

 

[Race Idiot]

Nice. Assuming you didn't write it, any link?

Thats Blowdog who owns that car, he posts occasionaly at another forum I visit. Before he had that GT3 RS he owned a 600bhp R34 M-Spec Nur. The last I heard he was on the list for the 997 GT3 but that was a while ago.

Also nobody better badmouth the corvette ok? Because it was made by god for fanboys to argue how it's totally the best car ever to be made and then jerk off to afterwards.

Voted Mini btw

 

[1X83Z]

Houses are paid for over the course of 20-30 years, not 4 or 5. You'd be laughed out of the bank if you tried to get a $40,000/30-year loan.

Yes but this argument is completely irrelevant because it's relative to the price of the item. A $400,000 house being paid off over 30 years is probably relatively similar in price to a $40,000 car being paid off over 5 years. No one in their right mind would want an item for $40,000 to be paid off over 30 years, because they could easily pay it off in less time.

A $200,000 house, which you work 25 years at average wage to pay back, is affordable, as far as houses go - especially at 5.5%. Houses typically range from about this level to about four times higher - though can exceed and undercut this level and, most important of all, almost never lose value - they retain it or appreciate. The average UK house is about $220,000. Cars, on the other hand, typically start at about $12,000 and go up to about $45,000, on average, though some are much higher and some are lower - but you can also buy an older one for much less, something not normally true of houses. This puts the Corvette, even if it were priced like that in the UK (which it isn't - try $85,000 for a base C6), at the very top end of the normal car-buyers range.

You missed my point, my boy - I used a house as an example of an item that can be purchased when you don't have the money to purchase the item outright, making the point that things that aren't "affordable" can indeed be within reach. I wasn't using the house as a comparison to the Corvette - just saying that people frequently go into debt to buy things they can't afford, in order to counter your statement which outright dismissed the possibility that anyone can afford a Corvette.