The worst year for new cars ever?

[mikeyr]

Apologies for the formatting (copy and paste job) but with the benefit of hindsight can anyone see a worse top 3 than 2002?

And who the hell were Simca?!?

European Car of the Year
Year Winner Pts Second Pts Third Pts
1964 Rover 2000 76 Mercedes 600 64 Hillman Imp 31
1965 Austin 1800 78 Autobianchi Primula 51 Ford Mustang 18
1966 Renault 16 98 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 81 Oldsmobile Toronado 59
1967 Fiat 124 144 BMW 1600 69 Jensen FF 61
1968 NSU Ro 80 197 Fiat 125 133 Simca 1100 94
1969 Peugeot 504 119 BMW 2500/2800 77 Alfa Romeo 1750 76
1970 Fiat 128 235 Autobianchi A112 96 Renault 12 79
1971 Citroën GS 233 Volkswagen K70 121 Citroën SM 105
1972 Fiat 127 239 Renault 15/17 107 Mercedes 350SL 96
1973 Audi 80 114 Renault 5 109 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 95
1974 Mercedes 450S 115 Fiat X1/9 99 Honda Civic 90
1975 Citroën CX 229 Volkswagen Golf 164 Audi 50 136
1976 Simca 1307-1308 192 BMW 3-series 144 Renault 30 TS 107
1977 Rover 3500 157 Audi 100 138 Ford Fiesta 135
1978 Porsche 928 261 BMW 7-series 231 Ford Granada 203
1979 Simca-Chrysler Horizon 251 Fiat Ritmo 239 Audi 80 181
1980 Lancia Delta 369 Opel Kadett 301 Peugeot 505 199
1981 Ford Escort 326 Fiat Panda 308 Austin Metro 255
1982 Renault 9 335 Opel Ascona 304 Volkswagen Polo 252
1983 Audi 100 410 Ford Sierra 386 Volvo 760 157
1984 Fiat Uno 346 Peugeot 205 325 Volkswagen Golf 156
1985 Opel Kadett/Vauxhall Astra 326 Renault 25 261 Lancia Thema 191
1986 Ford Scorpio 337 Lancia Y10 291 Mercedes-Benz 200-300E 273
1987 Opel Omega/Vauxhall Carlton 275 Audi 80 238 BMW 7-series 175
1988 Peugeot 405 464 Citroën AX 252 Honda Prelude 234
1989 Fiat Tipo 356 Opel Vectra 261 Volkswagen Passat 194
1990 Citroën XM 390 Mercedes-Benz SL 215 Ford Fiesta 214
1991 Renault Clio 312 Nissan Primera 258 Opel Calibra 183
1992 Volkswagen Golf 276 Opel Astra 231 Citroën ZX 213
1993 Nissan Micra 338 Fiat Cinquecento 304 Renault Safrane 244
1994 Ford Mondeo 290 Citroën Xantia 264 Mercedes-Benz C 192
1995 Fiat Punto 370 Volkswagen Polo 292 Opel Omega 272
1996 Fiat Bravo/Brava 378 Peugeot 406 363 Audi A4 246
1997 Renault Mégane Scénic 405 Ford Ka 293 Volkswagen Passat 248
1998 Alfa Romeo 156 454 Volkswagen Golf 266 Audi A6 265
1999 Ford Focus 444 Opel Astra 269 Peugeot 206 248
2000 Toyota Yaris 344 Fiat Multipla 325 Opel Zafira 265
2001 Alfa Romeo 147 238 Ford Mondeo 237 Toyota Prius 229
2002 Peugeot 307 286 Renault Laguna 244 Fiat Stilo 243
2003 Renault Mégane 322 Mazda 6 302 Citroën C3 214
2004 Fiat Panda 281 Mazda 3 241 Volkswagen Golf 241
2005 Toyota Prius 406 Citroën C4 267 Ford Focus 228
2006 Renault Clio 256 Volkswagen Passat 251 Alfa Romeo 159 212
2007 Ford S-Max 235 Opel/Vauxhall Corsa 233 Citroën C4 Picasso 222
2008 Fiat 500 385 Mazda2 325 Ford Mondeo 202
2009 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia 321 Ford Fiesta 320 Volkswagen Golf 223
2010 Volkswagen Polo 347 Toyota iQ 337 Opel/Vauxhall Astra 221

[poing]

1981 didn't seem too good either. 1978 was a good one though

I've always been curious who picks these and what criteria they use.

[RDMcG]

Simca were actually moderately popular in the fifties, French. Sort of Renault- like as I recall. The had a car called the Aronde that I used to see often.

[OnTheOverrun]

mikeyr said:

And who the hell were Simca?!?

Just one of France's largest car makers with the 1100 being the top selling car in several countries for years and they effectively invented the GTi sector when they introduced the 1100 Ti in 1973. . . . . . . . . . .

[jbi]

There's a horrible lack of anything interesting or sporty on that list in recent times

[ClintonB]

1993 Nissan Micra 338 Fiat Cinquecento 304 Renault Safrane 244


I'd say that gives 2002 a pretty hard time. Best year looks like 1978.

Edited by ClintonB on Saturday 19th June 23:52

[Hugo a Gogo]

86, ford scorpio and lancia y10, redeemed only slightly by the mercedes taxi

ever noticed how almost every Fiat ever released has won car of the year (and lots of their associated brands cars, Alfa, Lancia etc)?

no corruption there I reckon

[RB26DETT]

Hugo a Gogo said:

86, ford scorpio and lancia y10, redeemed only slightly by the mercedes taxi

ever noticed how almost every Fiat ever released has won car of the year (and lots of their associated brands cars, Alfa, Lancia etc)?

no corruption there I reckon

What's wrong with the Scropio ?

[Hugo a Gogo]

it's a big dull ugly car, redeemed as a 2nd hand smoker because it's so cheap

not car of the year, ever

[RB26DETT]

Hugo a Gogo said:

it's a big dull ugly car, redeemed as a 2nd hand smoker because it's so cheap

not car of the year, ever

Ever been in one ??

The options list was unbelieveable at the time for a Ford.
And the Cosworth units are



Yes I am biased but I bloody love Granada's except for the hideous bug eye.

[jbi]

Hugo a Gogo said:

86, ford scorpio and lancia y10, redeemed only slightly by the mercedes taxi

ever noticed how almost every Fiat ever released has won car of the year (and lots of their associated brands cars, Alfa, Lancia etc)?

no corruption there I reckon

Indeed... and how many of those fiats are now remembered fondly?

Scarce few I should imagine

[Hugo a Gogo]

RB26DETT said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

it's a big dull ugly car, redeemed as a 2nd hand smoker because it's so cheap

not car of the year, ever

Ever been in one ??

The options list was unbelieveable at the time for a Ford.
And the Cosworth units are



Yes I am biased but I bloody love Granada's except for the hideous bug eye.

yes, i have
it had a curiously cramped feeling for a big car at the time, windows slope in on you, and those thick pillars weren't as common as they are now - the old granada was far more airy feeling

A mate was a salesman for Ford at the time, told me about a customer who'd spec'd his Ghia right up, leather, all the toys, spent a fortune - then was surprised two years later when he wanted to trade it in and they offered him a pittance compared to what he'd spent

I would have an estate though, a bug eye one at that - i like em!

(cossie engine wasn't in the 'car of the year' spec either)

[thinfourth2]

mikeyr said:

Apologies for the formatting (copy and paste job) but with the benefit of hindsight can anyone see a worse top 3 than 2002?


2002 Peugeot 307 286 Renault Laguna 244 Fiat Stilo 243

At least the fiat is italian this lot are two people carriers and a corsa

2007 Ford S-Max 235 Opel/Vauxhall Corsa 233 Citroën C4 Picasso 222

[Hugo a Gogo]

the Stilo isn't in any way improved by being Italian

Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Sunday 20th June 07:04

[sday12]

poing said:

1981 didn't seem too good either.

The first FWD Escort that sold millions, exhaulted by Jackie Stewart and spawned the XR3?

Yeh, rubbish

[CK_N4S]

1987 seem to be year of the barges

[bazking69]

Aaaah. EcotY. The survey that no one ever takes any notice of....

[poing]

sday12 said:

poing said:

1981 didn't seem too good either.

The first FWD Escort that sold millions, exhaulted by Jackie Stewart and spawned the XR3?

Yeh, rubbish

They did sell millions, including to me - twice, doesn't change the fact they were poo.

Celebrity endorsements don't make a car good, even when it's Jackie Stewart.

[900T-R]

After looking at that list, would you believe the jurors are actually being asked to give their vote on "the most outstanding new car of the last 12 months"?

[LHD]

ECOtY is the bentest thing on earth.

Funny how the Fiat Group have one it more than anyone else.

There is the oddballs though - Porsche 928 anyone?