RE: Vote for the best saloon of the last 25 years!
Discussion
LankyMcTally said:
I’m literally just home from taking an intentionally long and entertaining school run through almost deserted country roads prior to picking up my daughter ‘just because’, before being sensible and supremely comfortable for the return journey. Discrete and well damped cruiser, comfortable and luxurious family car and occasional lunatic; the E39 M5 does it all.
It’s also the car that I can’t resist just stopping to look at from time to time, as I did in the middle of nowhere this afternoon. Joji Nagashima and his BMW design colleagues of the time nailed it with this one:
My favourite E39 colour combo by the looks of it - Oxford Green with Heritage? LovelyIt’s also the car that I can’t resist just stopping to look at from time to time, as I did in the middle of nowhere this afternoon. Joji Nagashima and his BMW design colleagues of the time nailed it with this one:
Robertb said:
Good point... the B7 RS6 Avant deserves its chance to shine, and I have a soft spot for the CLS 63 Shooting Brake
They appear sadly to be a thing of the past with the march of the SUV/crossover EV, with only the Taycan Sport Turismo flying the flag.
From a personal perspective, I suspect the B5 RS4 won’t do very well in this poll. In an estate-only vote it might have fared a bit betterThey appear sadly to be a thing of the past with the march of the SUV/crossover EV, with only the Taycan Sport Turismo flying the flag.
A few others that could have sneaked in on the 25 year rule (can’t see the list anymore but don’t think they featured)
Robertb said:
Leins said:
Bit disappointed that there’s no vote for dog buses planned, given the level of interest in the Fast Estates thread. They’re a very “PH” thing, even more so than fast/super saloons IMO
Good point... the B7 RS6 Avant deserves its chance to shine, and I have a soft spot for the CLS 63 Shooting BrakeThey appear sadly to be a thing of the past with the march of the SUV/crossover EV, with only the Taycan Sport Turismo flying the flag.
Good list! So many cars that I could have voted for but went:
E39 M5
W204 C63 AMG
X308 XJR
But the Alfa, B7 RS4, E46 M3 and WRX STI would be right up there for me as well.
So many great saloons. But a pair of standouts from me.
E39 M5 & E46 M3.
In my personal opinion not just two of the finest M cars from BMW’s “golden era” (as in the era when they did everything as right as can be before things went sour) but two of the finest cars to ever wear the blue propeller badge.
They obviously got my vote along with a wild card.
Yep, Impreza fanboy here! But somehow went for second generation “blob eye” car.
Can’t wait to see the results of this one!
E39 M5 & E46 M3.
In my personal opinion not just two of the finest M cars from BMW’s “golden era” (as in the era when they did everything as right as can be before things went sour) but two of the finest cars to ever wear the blue propeller badge.
They obviously got my vote along with a wild card.
Yep, Impreza fanboy here! But somehow went for second generation “blob eye” car.
Can’t wait to see the results of this one!
Hardest selection to date!
I went:
BMW M5 (E39)
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (W204)
Rolls-Royce Phantom VII
I simply think the E39 is peak saloon car (having had a few tourings) with the perfect blend of simple, discreet, elegant styling inside and out, compact dimensions but eminently practical, an ability to be chucked around like a hot hatch, slid around like a hooligan or waft along like a limousine and a sonorous, beautifully linear V8 engine. I don't remember the gearbox or steering to be particularly brilliant but they're perhaps the only things that aren't 10 out of 10 and at least it's a manual.
The C63 simply because stuffing a 6.2ltr V8 engine in a compact saloon is amazing and will never happen again (and I very much liked the diesel wagon W204 that my wife had years ago).
And I think that perhaps people have forgotten about the impact the Phantom had when it was launched 20 (twenty!) years ago. The styling was an absolute master class (and still sets the template for Rolls-Royce's design language today) and it was the first time for probably over 60 years that Rolls-Royce could once again claim to make the best car in the world. It really was a revelation and still wholly credible today. Gets my vote ahead of some very choice other options (sorry Alfa)...
I went:
BMW M5 (E39)
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (W204)
Rolls-Royce Phantom VII
I simply think the E39 is peak saloon car (having had a few tourings) with the perfect blend of simple, discreet, elegant styling inside and out, compact dimensions but eminently practical, an ability to be chucked around like a hot hatch, slid around like a hooligan or waft along like a limousine and a sonorous, beautifully linear V8 engine. I don't remember the gearbox or steering to be particularly brilliant but they're perhaps the only things that aren't 10 out of 10 and at least it's a manual.
The C63 simply because stuffing a 6.2ltr V8 engine in a compact saloon is amazing and will never happen again (and I very much liked the diesel wagon W204 that my wife had years ago).
And I think that perhaps people have forgotten about the impact the Phantom had when it was launched 20 (twenty!) years ago. The styling was an absolute master class (and still sets the template for Rolls-Royce's design language today) and it was the first time for probably over 60 years that Rolls-Royce could once again claim to make the best car in the world. It really was a revelation and still wholly credible today. Gets my vote ahead of some very choice other options (sorry Alfa)...
Anyone else confused by “ nothing in our shortlist of more than 30 cars has an engine under 2.0-litres; those cars that do boast less than 2,000cc are helped along by ginormous turbochargers” ?
Anyway;
Giulia - because it overturned decades of Alfa ‘nearly’ saloons and gave us a truly desirable Alfa saloon
XFR - because it’s the halo version of the car that kept Jaguar afloat for a few more years
E39 - because it pretty much started the idea of a 4-door repmobile that could embarrass exotica
Anyway;
Giulia - because it overturned decades of Alfa ‘nearly’ saloons and gave us a truly desirable Alfa saloon
XFR - because it’s the halo version of the car that kept Jaguar afloat for a few more years
E39 - because it pretty much started the idea of a 4-door repmobile that could embarrass exotica
E39 M5 - because it got all of the elements of a luxury sports saloon right, a culmination of 50 years of saloon development
Evo 6 - because it showed how hardcore a four door car could be, with supercar-worrying pace. Showed what 2L Turbo AWD as a performance platform could do (a standard for the industry today), and how really focussed versions of regular cars could sell.
Phantom VII - because it re-established ultra-luxury price point, the first big car to really sit above an S-class in terms of luxury in decades, and it did it by offering content, not just handbuilt rarity. The Phantom really was the start of the zillionaires cars craze we have seen in the last 20 years.
Evo 6 - because it showed how hardcore a four door car could be, with supercar-worrying pace. Showed what 2L Turbo AWD as a performance platform could do (a standard for the industry today), and how really focussed versions of regular cars could sell.
Phantom VII - because it re-established ultra-luxury price point, the first big car to really sit above an S-class in terms of luxury in decades, and it did it by offering content, not just handbuilt rarity. The Phantom really was the start of the zillionaires cars craze we have seen in the last 20 years.
Edited by Wadeski on Monday 27th March 20:32
Leins said:
Bit disappointed that there’s no vote for dog buses planned, given the level of interest in the Fast Estates thread. They’re a very “PH” thing, even more so than fast/super saloons IMO
Agreed I'd have thought a fast estate option would have been interesting but I'm afraid the wagons on this list had to lose out to the E39 M5
Wow that's a lovely list, spoilt for choice.
I thought, well there can't be a clear winner and as I made my choice I said to myself well E39 M5 first, no brainer. What next?
Now I've read the comments, I see there is clearly a winner.
For my other two it was a bit more tricky. I love the WRX STi blob eye. I had one and really miss it.
Being an owner of an SLK55, I really get the C63AMG so 2015 model selected.
I could have easily selected the Accord Type R, Monaro, Maserati or Alfa Guilia. Such a lovely choice
I thought, well there can't be a clear winner and as I made my choice I said to myself well E39 M5 first, no brainer. What next?
Now I've read the comments, I see there is clearly a winner.
For my other two it was a bit more tricky. I love the WRX STi blob eye. I had one and really miss it.
Being an owner of an SLK55, I really get the C63AMG so 2015 model selected.
I could have easily selected the Accord Type R, Monaro, Maserati or Alfa Guilia. Such a lovely choice
trevalvole said:
It does seem to be, with an exception or two, entirely performance saloons or estates. There's an argument to say that something like a 320d that is quick, economical and reasonably affordable, is more of an achievement than an M3.
I'm not sure you're quite with the ethos of PH. It's like car magazines; the "best saloon" voted for in Evo would almost certainly not be the best saloon in What Car?. I would suggest that PH leans Evo on that scale. I personally do not care in a car can tow a caravan or transport a large dog. I must bite my lip and tolerate back doors for the transportation of elderly relatives, whereas I would rather something with two doors that is designed to scythe through swathes of southern English b-roads. I hope this competition will be judged similarly. Rapide for me.
aestivator said:
Nigel_O said:
Anyone else confused by “ nothing in our shortlist of more than 30 cars has an engine under 2.0-litres; those cars that do boast less than 2,000cc are helped along by ginormous turbochargers” ?
Yes, because it doesn't make any sense.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff