British-built cars: the best in the world?

[white_goodman]

I'm slightly ashamed to admit that out of the 10+ cars that I have bought, I have only bought British once (mk3 Astra). I sold MG/Rover for a year before they went under though, so tried to do my bit for the British motor industry!

Although it may not have been easy in the 1970s and 1980s to say that we make the best cars in the world, thinking about it now, perhaps we do. Thinking about, money no object, all the types of car that I would like to own, there may be equals but I can't think of any better alternatives.

Luxury SUVs



No-nonsense 4x4s



Luxury saloons









GTs





Economical runabouts







Supercars





Desirable classics









2-seater roadsters



The only type of cars that we don't really have are the bread and butter stuff but then Toyota, Honda and Nissan can provide that and they're just as good as anything else and I believe that the majority of European made Nissans are engineered in Britain.

When the kids are a bit older, I think Mrs White Goodman might quite like one of these



The last time she saw one of these, she thought they were hideous but she said the same of the Fiat 500 before she bought one and she owned that for 3.5 years and loved it!

So, are British-built cars the best in the world or are there any types of car that we don't make or other nations make better?

[jamoor]

we are the only luxury car makers in the world.

[fjord]

Rover. 75.

Think about that for a second.

[Ed.]

Best for what? desirability, reliability or ability etc?
What makes them the best once you have decided what that is, is engineering or production more important and then what can be attributed to local employees rather than the management culture. The UK should be proud of the production industry but not confuse it with nationalism.

[Otispunkmeyer]

fjord said:

Rover. 75.Think about that for a second.

think the pre face lifts were by all accounts, well engineered cars.

[white_goodman]

fjord said:

Rover. 75.

Think about that for a second.

For the money, yes.

[white_goodman]

Ed. said:

Best for what? desirability, reliability or ability etc?
What makes them the best once you have decided what that is, is engineering or production more important and then what can be attributed to local employees rather than the management culture. The UK should be proud of the production industry but not confuse it with nationalism.

All 3. Although not having owned any of them, I can't vouch for reliability first-hand. JLR seem to be doing better in the customer satisfaction surveys though. If you try and find equivalent models for all the above from other car-building nations, I bet you'll have some gaps!

[Amirhussain]

Think your probably getting a bit too over patriotic....

[dbdb]

CAR Magazine November 1986 by retromotoring, on Flickr

[morgrp]

Often unfairly criticised? Yes.

Better than some? Yes.

Best in the world? No.

[Ed.]

white_goodman said:

Ed. said:

Best for what? desirability, reliability or ability etc?
What makes them the best once you have decided what that is, is engineering or production more important and then what can be attributed to local employees rather than the management culture. The UK should be proud of the production industry but not confuse it with nationalism.

All 3. Although not having owned any of them, I can't vouch for reliability first-hand. JLR seem to be doing better in the customer satisfaction surveys though. If you try and find equivalent models for all the above from other car-building nations, I bet you'll have some gaps!

America makes most of the cars they buy, that should fulfill each category at least from the perspective of a local.

[white_goodman]

Ed. said:

America makes most of the cars they buy, that should fulfill each category at least from the perspective of a local.

Good point. I guess they could lay claim to the title but not many different types: basically, SUVs, (pickup) trucks, large saloons, Mustang/Camaro/Challenger and Corvette. There are some smaller cars around now with small turbocharged petrol engines but they're all mediocre at best. In terms of cars, Japanese cars are pretty popular in USA, although granted, some are built there.

I have two American cars: Jeep and Chrysler. Would I prefer a Range Rover and a Jag though? Yes, definitely.

Just playing devil's advocate really. Perhaps it should be a "tell me I'm wrong thread" but all the British cars I mentioned in the OP (with the possible exception of the Rover 75 and Nissan Juke, which I both like) are truly world class.

Does Germany have a MINI equivalent or a better product than the Range Rover? No, not really (I know BMW profit from MINI though but it's a British built and designed car). Is an S-Class truly better than a Jaguar XJ? Its equal maybe.

The Italians have plenty of exotica but no SUVs/4x4s.

The Japanese make some great cars but don't really have any credible luxury cars.

So, as a whole, which nation makes the greatest cars?

[Pints]

Japan has Infiniti and Lexus for the luxury element.

[Impasse]

It's a shame you couldn't find a way of including Lotus in your celebrations.

[mike9009]

Impasse said:

It's a shame you couldn't find a way of including Lotus in your celebrations.

Seconded

[Adeyb]

dbdb said:

CAR Magazine November 1986 by retromotoring, on Flickr

That is EXACTLY the same as my Dad had back then, wish we hadn't sold it, D121 PNA if anyone has it anywhere.

[Rodin]

All these manufacturers are not English, bought by strangers companies. It is the reason who explains that France is better that England in Automobile. In France we have two multinationales companies who make cars for everybody people, rich, poor, medium etc.

And I don't understand why you are proud to make a indian or german luxury cars in your country. You are able to buy luxury cars ? For exemple in France i'm more proud that my country produce Citroën C3 or Peugeot2008 that an pointless Bugatti Veyron.

Your car industry is so weak... i hope you will go outside european union for that France recuperates Nissan.

Nissan a Japanese company bought by Renault french automaker, you see all the difference between our countries: France bought strangers companies, English are bought by german or indians

[williamp]

Rodin said:

All these manufacturers are not English, bought by strangers companies. It is the reason who explains that France is better that England in Automobile. In France we have two multinationales companies who make cars for everybody people, rich, poor, medium etc.

And I don't understand why you are proud to make a indian or german luxury cars in your country. You are able to buy luxury cars ? For exemple in France i'm more proud that my country produce Citroën C3 or Peugeot2008 that an pointless Bugatti Veyron.

Your car industry is so weak... i hope you will go outside european union for that France recuperates Nissan.

Nissan a Japanese company bought by Renault french automaker, you see all the difference between our countries: France bought strangers companies, English are bought by german or indians

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26243593

Shhhh! done mention the foreigners helping rescue the French industry, eh?

Oh, and Renault didn't buy Nissan. Its a strategic partnership. Sut Alors!

Still, you have the world leading motorsport to fall back on, don't you!!!

[HaloGen8]

A lengthy video.....but oh so true....stick with it, really makes you think (and not just about BL quality, anyone associated with manufacturing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTCfJKNE2hg

[jamieduff1981]

Rodin said:

All these manufacturers are not English, bought by strangers companies. It is the reason who explains that France is better that England in Automobile. In France we have two multinationales companies who make cars for everybody people, rich, poor, medium etc.

And I don't understand why you are proud to make a indian or german luxury cars in your country. You are able to buy luxury cars ? For exemple in France i'm more proud that my country produce Citroën C3 or Peugeot2008 that an pointless Bugatti Veyron.

Your car industry is so weak... i hope you will go outside european union for that France recuperates Nissan.

Nissan a Japanese company bought by Renault french automaker, you see all the difference between our countries: France bought strangers companies, English are bought by german or indians

Yes the French attitude to the car industry is somewhat different to the British. The British have high expectations and are very self critical of the cars we build, and if there is a foreign built alternative that is better in some way then most British people will buy foreign.

France is different. Most cars made in France is considered throughout the world to be fairly rubbish, yet the French are proud of their cars despite them being poorly designed and built and buy them anyway.

Who's more foolish I wonder...