RE: Vote for the best saloon of the last 25 years!

[Leftfootwonder]

BrotherMouzone said:

cerb4.5lee said:

BrotherMouzone said:

I’m torn between voting for my ‘teenage’ hero’s cars (EVO, Impreza, Accord type R, E39 M5 etc), or cars that I actually would buy today / suit my use case the most (W204 C63, B7 RS4, E60/1 M5, XJR etc).

Great list of cars.

I found myself torn in the same way too. Back in the day I absolutely loved stuff like the EVO/Impreza/Accord Type-R etc as well. Just too many great cars to choose from on this list I reckon. The other 2 lists were a doddle to choose a favourite car in comparison to this one for sure.

Went with W204 C63, E60 M5 and B7 RS4 in the end. Cars that I would buy / best suit my use case today.

Feels wrong to leave out Accord Type R, EVO VI, ST220 etc though but just don’t see myself ever owning them!

I have gone hero cars and ATR is top of my list purely as I put my money where my mouth is, twice. Its not cheap to run these days and finding parts is getting harder but luckily they are pretty bullet proof mechanically so aren't too much of a headache. Still own my second one and absolutely love it. Evo 6 and E39 M5 complete my list.

[WCZ]

I went for:
Evo 9
RS4
C63

[CABC]

Julian Scott said:

If you drove it in 2000, it was incredible.
If you drive it in 2023, it's underwhelming.

The world has moved one.

Don’t agree.
I drove an E46 and E90 back to back on several occasions around 10 yrs ago. E46 was clearly “older” in technology not just age but way more fun. Felt so much lighter and agile.
As a cruiser E90 wins, but that’s not the criteria here.

[cerb4.5lee]

Julian Scott said:

cerb4.5lee said:

TheAntics said:

On basis you can vote up to three cars (you don't have to pick three) and that if you do vote for three you can't rank the vote...there is only one car in that list which I find exciting. E46 M3.

Have you driven one? I was a bit disappointed when I had a go in one sadly.

If you drove it in 2000, it was incredible.
If you drive it in 2023, it's underwhelming.

The world has moved one.

It was around 2006 when I first had a go in one, however to be fair to the M3 I did have the Cerbera at the time though. So it was always going to feel heavy and a bit limp in comparison to that.

It definitely wouldn't feel all that to drive now I agree(mainly because we are spoilt with turbos now I reckon).

[entropy]

Went with E39 M5 over the C63 Merc. No experience of either, voted based on herd mentality!

Evo VI - has to be the Tommi Makkinen Edition, obviously.

VXR8 - Last of the Aussie V8s and spiritual successor to the Lotus Carlton. RIP Holden and Ford. Check out Ross Reviews on YT for Aussie V8 reviews.


Honerable mentions:

B7 RS4 - fun for an Audi, that V8 engine; drivetrain laid the groundwork for the R8.

Accord Type R - the original usable Type R (4-door, four-seater) however you may need to think about who can sit in the back because of the bucket seats impeding space. Bonkers for its time with big rear spoiler, LSD, 200+BHP.

[foxhounduk]

Is there really any point doing a survey for this?

The winner is clear:

The Alfa Romeo Giulia.

I've had 2 in the last five years, a QV and a Veloce. The best chassis in the business.

[Fessia fancier]

Trophy-GTA said:

Alfa 156 GTA
Maserati Quattroporte
Alfa Giulia QV

My choice too

[Wren-went]

Should be the best saloon ever, then it has to be

1 Lotus Carlton

2 Sapphire cosworth

3 M5 E39.

[smuj1972]

Undoubtedly it will be an M5; the question is, which one?

[petelong]

How can you leave out the beautiful Audi RS5!!! You’ve included the RS4 and RS6 which are both estates, NOT saloons!!!!

[E90_M3Ross]

petelong said:

How can you leave out the beautiful Audi RS5!!! You’ve included the RS4 and RS6 which are both estates, NOT saloons!!!!

It's explained in the article. I'm not sure I've seen a review saying the RS5 was as good to drive as the equivalent C63 or M3 though, so perhaps that's why?

[MikeDB1]

Itsallicanafford said:

I think that a Tesla should at least feature on this list.

It's a poll on PistonHeads, therefore I think it reasonable for all qualifiers to have ... PISTONS

Set up a site called EVHeads.

[Davie]

I generally prefer fast estates over fast saloons... but like many, for me the E39 M5 is easily the one I'd choose assuming the rules couldn't be bent far enough to include the Lotus Carlton. Though as with most "best" polls., what constitutes "best" is very subjective.

[dvshannow]

Reading these replies makes you realize what a keeper a good e39 M5 would be

[howardhughes]

I've had an obsession with M5's since the launch of the 28, and was overjoyed to actually sit in one recently, have a some resto work done.

However, my dream came in 2000. My then colleague let me drive his new E39 M5 back to work. It was summer, and I was behind a wheel of a 50k car.
For me, it what dreams are made of. Great memories.

[B'stard Child]

Wren-went said:

Should be the best saloon ever, then it has to be

1 Lotus Carlton

2 Sapphire cosworth

Both those are older than the 25 year time frame so shouldn't even be on the short list

The Carlton is an agricultural parts bin special at best

Wren-went said:

3 M5 E39.

Is where my vote went

[Gwilliamlloyd]

E46 m3 brilliant car but no saloon , bring on a coupe category?

[Chris944_S2]

MikeDB1 said:

Itsallicanafford said:

I think that a Tesla should at least feature on this list.

It's a poll on PistonHeads, therefore I think it reasonable for all qualifiers to have ... PISTONS

Set up a site called EVHeads.

Technically it has pistons in its brakes.
They could setup a site with the motto “slowing down matters”

[E90_M3Ross]

Gwilliamlloyd said:

E46 m3 brilliant car but no saloon , bring on a coupe category?

Agree. Perhaps a 4 seater coupe category - 911 would walk it I'm sure, however.

Speaking of which, there should be a link to all of these "best xyz of the last 25 years" somewhere....??

[Musk1e]

Giulia QF
E60 M5
W204 C63

Uninformed opinion as I haven't driven any of them, but my 156 GTA is on the list