RE: Vote for the best saloon of the last 25 years!
Discussion
The Panamera and Rapide S are not saloons. Saloons have a separate boot and four doors. They are four door hatchbacks(?).
Hopefully there is an estate category, so all the fast Mercs, Audi's and Subaru can fight it out there. Same goes for the M3 in a coupe fight out. There were never really known for their four door variants.
For sheer comeback alchemy and a car many people were hoping for, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (2015)
Close between the XJR 575 and XFR, both epic and very Jaguar. But the XFR takes it, in part becase it lead to the Project 8.
BMW M5 E39 with that M/S62 engine.
So that't it.
Alfa
Jag
BMW
Hopefully there is an estate category, so all the fast Mercs, Audi's and Subaru can fight it out there. Same goes for the M3 in a coupe fight out. There were never really known for their four door variants.
For sheer comeback alchemy and a car many people were hoping for, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (2015)
Close between the XJR 575 and XFR, both epic and very Jaguar. But the XFR takes it, in part becase it lead to the Project 8.
BMW M5 E39 with that M/S62 engine.
So that't it.
Alfa
Jag
BMW
white_goodman said:
AddyT. said:
I knew before reading the comments it will predictably be a BMW that wins. From the first few comments looks like that will be the outcome. In some articles this site is like being on a BMW fan club page. How boring. BMW’s really arent the be all and end all….
I don’t think it’s necessarily that clearcut at all. Remember you get up to 3 votes and they’re not ranked, so actually the high number of BMWs on the list could mean that a BMW does not win, as the votes are split between multiple models if there isn’t a strong consensus. E39 M5 seems like a strong contender so far and quite rightly so IMHO. The M5 pretty much defines the super saloon genre and the E39 was arguably the best of the bunch but if others prefer different M5 variants, then it could well slip down the rankings and open the door for something like the Alfa, which is a one-off. I think that the GR Yaris was a bit of a shock result for many in the hot hatch category, so it’s possible there might be another surprise result here. The E39 M5 did get one of my votes but I also voted for the X308 XJR, as I think it’s one of the best-looking saloons ever made and there’s something about the cabin ambiance of a Jag of that era that makes a contemporary Audi/BMW/Mercedes seem a bit “clinical”. The E39 M5 beats it “on paper” being 30bhp up but the Jag has that Supercharged torque and a lovely compliant setup, so I wonder whether in the real-world there would be much in it? The E39 M5 is more covetable/valuable but if I could only own one of them, I would genuinely struggle to choose between them.smilo996 said:
The Panamera and Rapide S are not saloons. Saloons have a separate boot and four doors. They are four door hatchbacks(?).
That does feel like splitting hairs. The idea that a 3-series is completely functionally different to a 4GC when most people wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at it is a bit silly.It would be worth putting the BMW 5-series GT on the list just to have a car which either is or isn't in the "saloon" category depending on which boot handle you use. It's Schrodinger's Saloon!
lotus116tornado said:
Surely the M3 (E46) is not a saloon, it was only sold in coupe and convertible format and therefore is irrelevant. If it's in you would surely have to add other coupe's.
Beat me to it, it'll score highly as well.Edited by lotus116tornado on Monday 27th March 15:03
I think the e39 is nailed on to win this anyway, followed by the v8 m3 and rs4s
Sorry, I should have added a reply……I’m on my 3rd Quadrifoglio Alfa, and it shows BMW how to produce a wonderful performance saloon. I drove the current M3/M4, and the handling was just not there. Typical BMW front end float, with not good turn in or bite compared with the Alfa’s supreme quick rack steering. Oh, and how can anyone buy a BMW these days. They look awful! Full stop. Maybe the current M5 is a wonderful car…….but that is the one and only BMW that hits the spot.
The Alfa wins, and looks just so right. It’s nice to see so many if you agreeing with this sentiment.
The Alfa wins, and looks just so right. It’s nice to see so many if you agreeing with this sentiment.
I've owned and driven quite a few on this list, including the most probable winner, the E39M5. However its not in my top 3. Its heavy, poor & long gear change, vague steering and doesn't feel like a sports car. I enjoyed mine but as a gentleman's express mile muncher, it was never a car that I thought was much fun on a B road. E39 makes much more sense as a 525/530.
Likewise the B7 RS4 Avant, was a lovely mile muncher but horrific understeer, not at all 'sporty'. The wingbacks are sublime though.
My favourite of all the cars on the shortlist, by a long way, is the Accord Type R. Every control and input has a sports car feel, the steering, brakes, handling, gear change all sublime. You could easily think you were driving a sports car and for me that's why it's my top choice. A shame so few made it here and the ones that did mostly rotted. Also a shame that probably less than 0.01% of people reading and voting will have experienced one to know. Most people here have probably been in an M3 or M5.
After the ACR comes the M3. The E46 is great in any guise, it is smaller and more nimble than the E39 but has all the solidity and quality. Brilliant car.
Then the GC8 Imprezza, not perfect but what a giggle, when the turbo comes in on the squashy old suspension, it's like fairground ride, an absolute hoot. Awful mile muncher though.
1. Accord Type R
2. E46 M3
3. GC8 Imprezza
Likewise the B7 RS4 Avant, was a lovely mile muncher but horrific understeer, not at all 'sporty'. The wingbacks are sublime though.
My favourite of all the cars on the shortlist, by a long way, is the Accord Type R. Every control and input has a sports car feel, the steering, brakes, handling, gear change all sublime. You could easily think you were driving a sports car and for me that's why it's my top choice. A shame so few made it here and the ones that did mostly rotted. Also a shame that probably less than 0.01% of people reading and voting will have experienced one to know. Most people here have probably been in an M3 or M5.
After the ACR comes the M3. The E46 is great in any guise, it is smaller and more nimble than the E39 but has all the solidity and quality. Brilliant car.
Then the GC8 Imprezza, not perfect but what a giggle, when the turbo comes in on the squashy old suspension, it's like fairground ride, an absolute hoot. Awful mile muncher though.
1. Accord Type R
2. E46 M3
3. GC8 Imprezza
I can see the E39 M5 winning, as people seem to adore it, but I went for the following:
E46 M3 (the M car I would most like to own)
W204 C63 (because it was peak AMG hooligan in my view)
Evo VI (peak Evo/rally homologation special)
There were some other great cars on the list, but those were the standouts for me.
A shame there isn't going to be a fast estate category, as that would seem a very PH type of car.
E46 M3 (the M car I would most like to own)
W204 C63 (because it was peak AMG hooligan in my view)
Evo VI (peak Evo/rally homologation special)
There were some other great cars on the list, but those were the standouts for me.
A shame there isn't going to be a fast estate category, as that would seem a very PH type of car.
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