Help us judge the best car of the last 25 years
Want to be an integral part of the PH25 birthday celebrations? Here's how...
Happy new year everyone! PistonHeads turns 25 in 2023, and it goes without saying that we’re going to make quite a big song and dance of it. Since arriving fresh-faced in 1998, we've seen it all - save for a new TVR Griffith, of course. You hardly need us to tell you that in that time we've become by some distance the largest motoring community in the UK, and, with a hat tip to our colleagues at CarGurus.com, the nation's leading marketplace to buy and sell performance and collectable cars. And Sheds, obviously.
But we'd be a pointless patch of grass without you lot; it is PHers and the mighty forums that provide all the frozen sausages. And it is in that spirit of togetherness that we call on you now to leave your indelible mark on the PH25 celebrations. Over the coming months, we'll seek to declare the best cars from the last 25 years in five crucial categories: sports cars, track cars, hot hatches, saloons and estates, and, of course, supercars. We'll narrow each segment down to a workable shortlist, and then ask you, the enthusiasts' enthusiast, to vote for a winner. And then from the five finalists, we'll whittle it down to one - which will be declared PistonHeads' Best Performance Car of the Last Quarter Century (we'll work on that).
The first round of polling will open soon, so please be sure to sign up for our newsletter here to find out when voting begins. We’ll announce the vote winner of each category in turn, before naming the overall PH25 champions' champion on August 12th at a fabulous 25th-anniversary event at Bicester Heritage - so get that date in your calendar immediately. And prepare yourself for a banger.
If it's nipping to the supermarket over speed humps it isn't a supercar, but if it's lapping the 'Ring it probably is.
If it's tazzing down a B road it could be an Elise or GR Yaris, but I wouldn't want to drive either to Spain and back with a dog in the boot.
So the best car in the last 25 years is therefore 'it depends', probably followed by something really bland like a Corolla hybrid with a ten year warranty, which is all the car any of us really ever need - just ask your local friendly taxi driver.
Hatchback: GR Yaris (obviously)
Small Sports Car: Elise Cup
Supercar: Very tough one. 765LT perhaps? Not driven that many of them so can't really comment here.
Normal Every Day Car: 5 series
Convertible: MX5 (NA too old so ND)
GT Car: Bentley Continental Supersport
Most Overrated Car: 992 911
SUV: Who cares?
(I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!! Probably a FFRR)Leccy Car: Not a Tesla is all I can say from personal experience.
Clearly one that is durable, reliable, frugal, and decent to drive.
I'd hold a shout for the Mk1 Focus, but for me it has to be the mighty Toyota Yaris 1.3 4 door petrol.
Best car in the world by far. If you want to get somewhere with limited resource, this car cuts the mustard in pretty much any part of the world, and has proven itself time and time again.
Much less so the nice to drive in but very limited Porsche GTX 994567 available with a 3 year waiting list starting at 78 gazillion pounds. How can that be considered the 'best' car of all time is completely beyond me. Especially as it's going to break down 15 times before it gets to 100k miles.
But I don't think this view will get much support somehow.
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