The criticism-free car?

[once]

I've been thinking. It seems that just about every car has got something wrong with it.

The MX-5 is a great-handling car, but some can't see past its "hairdresser" image. Top Gear said that everyone who bought BMWs were c*cks or that you only bought a boxster because you couldn't afford a 911. Audis have too much weight in the nose. Alfas are unreliable. And on and on it goes.

Is there a car out there that nobody can criticise? That no-one has a bad word to say about? Is there a criticism-free car?

And, no, I'm not talking about a Toyota Pious. We are looking for a car that petrol heads and pistonheads would actually want to buy. If cars were albums, which one would be Sgt Pepper or Dark Side of the Moon? The one that nearly everyone can agree on.

It doesn't have to be the best car or the fastest or the most expensive. Just one that no-one can criticise.

Or if we can't find that, let's settle for the car that gets the least criticism.

I'll start the ball rolling - mk1 Golf GTi.

[MrOrange]

E30 3-series

[Rawhide]

Lotus Esprit?

[falkster]

MrOrange said:

E30 3-series

That's a definate!!

[Codswallop]

The 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen. It was literally the best internal combustion car in the world when it was released.



Scratch that - eco-mentalists would probably hate the thing for spawning the motorcar

[greeneggsnsam]

Rawhide said:

Lotus Esprit?

I would agree with you, but women (the ones I know, anyway) think it's ugly.

[s m]

MrOrange said:

E30 3-series

Hasn't it got really 'slow' steering and that awful E36 Compact rear suspension set-up?

[soad]

Some (older) porsches should qualify?

[Mastodon2]

once said:

I'll start the ball rolling - mk1 Golf GTi.

I've got a criticism; too prone to rust to be a viable every day, all weather car.

[Plotloss]

Mini surely?

It has its' detractors but even they can see what it represented.

[s m]

Mastodon2 said:

once said:

I'll start the ball rolling - mk1 Golf GTi.

I've got a criticism; too prone to rust to be a viable every day, all weather car.

Plus all the slack in the brake pedal travel.......

[snotrag]

[quote=once

I'll start the ball rolling - mk1 Golf GTi.
[/quote]

Easily critiscised by saying - 205 Gti

[The_Burg]

greeneggsnsam said:

Rawhide said:

Lotus Esprit?

I would agree with you, but women (the ones I know, anyway) think it's ugly.

Strange as women are generally the only ones with small enough feet to drive them.

[falkster]

s m said:

Hasn't it got really 'slow' steering and that awful E36 Compact rear suspension set-up?

I think you need to go stand in the corner!!

[Negative Creep]

s m said:

MrOrange said:

E30 3-series

Hasn't it got really 'slow' steering and that awful E36 Compact rear suspension set-up?

I wasn't that impressed with my 320 to be honest. Thirsty, not quick and felt a bit cheap inside

[Rollcage]

All the great cars have some criticism or another, it's finding the ones that have the fewest.


Also, are we talking when the cars were knew, or as second hand buys?

[Jimmy No Hands]

I'm gonna say the M3 CSL.

[mrmr96]

Answer, with reasoning:

You'll never get a car free from criticism due to the polarisations of people's opinions. The car witht the least criticism will therefore be the one which panders to the largest segment of the population. So something which is 'on trend' with real 'mainstream buyers' would be least criticised. Therefore something which doesn't alienate like the top or bottom brands - so I'm thinking a brand like VW and therefore probably the Golf has the widest support/appeal. Which engine? Probably a warm diesel so something like a Mk5 Golf GT diesel I reckon.

[Dalto123]

944. Great drivers car, fantastic quality product, good value for money, and a good way into a nice brand of car. Then again you may be stuck with the term 'poor mans Porsche' but I don't hear that often if at all.

[Jimmy No Hands]

Dalto123 said:

944. Great drivers car, fantastic quality product, good value for money, and a good way into a nice brand of car. Then again you may be stuck with the term 'poor mans Porsche' but I don't hear that often if at all.

Depends which variant really. I did absolutely adore mine and it was only a 2.5 Lux.