Best car from a given Mfr?

[Super Sonic]

So what do you think is the best car from a particular manufacturer? It's purely subjective,there are no wrong answers as 'best' means different things to different people.
In my opinion, Honda's best car was the Accord type R. It can do all the family car stuff, It can be driven 'economically' by shifting up at 2-3k, but hang on to the gears til VTEC kicks in and it completely changes character. It can do motorways with ease but due to its wishbone/ multilink suspension and lsd it laps up twisty back roads. A great all-rounder.
So what's yours?

[KTMsm]

Honda I'd suggest it's either the NSX Mk1 for obvious reasons or the Civic Type R EP3 for it's abilities / practicality on a budget

Similarly Mazda either the RX7 FD or the MX5 Mk1

Toyota - Supra Mk4 Turbo is iconic

Suzuki - Swift Sport Mk1

[blearyeyedboy]

I'm going to start at the end of the alphabet.

Vauxhall: Omega. Brilliant cars for their time and the last decent non-premium exec car, in my opinion.

Volvo: the 240GLT.

VW: This'll be controversial but I'm going to pitch the Corrado VR6.

[Gigamoons]

Subaru Impreza P1

BMW e30 M3

Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi

Renault Clio Williams

(Yes I was a teenager in the 90s)

[samoht]

I'm tempted to say the original Gullwing for Mercedes; it brought a new level of performance to the market at that time, and was perhaps further ahead of the competition than any Mercedes since. One could also argue that the much-criticised W140 S-Class was the most 'Mercedes' of all of their cars, or the S124 as it was the iconic upper middle class family estate.

I think probably the original 1968 Jaguar XJ was the biggest single step forwards Jaguar offered and sufficiently good in ride, handling, performance and smoothness (with the V12) to have Rolls-Royce looking anxiously over their shoulder. The E-type is another possibility, however I think the saloon is 'more Jaguar'.

[samoht]

I'd propose that the original Renault Espace was their finest hour. Renault at their best is about being relentlessly logical and ending up with a solution quite different to anyone else, thus demonstrating how irrational 'conventional wisdom' is. There was little that was more distinctive than the Espace, not just the MPV package but the individual rotating removable seats and the overall rational / modern style of the car inside and out, combined with low weight and good aerodynamics.

[finlo]

samoht said:

I'd propose that the original Renault Espace was their finest hour. Renault at their best is about being relentlessly logical and ending up with a solution quite different to anyone else, thus demonstrating how irrational 'conventional wisdom' is. There was little that was more distinctive than the Espace, not just the MPV package but the individual rotating removable seats and the overall rational / modern style of the car inside and out, combined with low weight and good aerodynamics.

Good shout except it's conception was nothing to do with Renault.

[Maxym]

finlo said:

Good shout except it's conception was nothing to do with Renault.

And it was down to…???

[anonymous-user]

finlo said:

samoht said:

I'd propose that the original Renault Espace was their finest hour. Renault at their best is about being relentlessly logical and ending up with a solution quite different to anyone else, thus demonstrating how irrational 'conventional wisdom' is. There was little that was more distinctive than the Espace, not just the MPV package but the individual rotating removable seats and the overall rational / modern style of the car inside and out, combined with low weight and good aerodynamics.

Good shout except it's conception was nothing to do with Renault.

Renault weren't even first choice from memory. I believe PSA were offered it but turned it down believing there was no place for cars like this...

[finlo]

Maxym said:

finlo said:

Good shout except it's conception was nothing to do with Renault.

And it was down to…???

Chrysler/Simca/Talbot/Matra.

[Cold]

biggbn said:

finlo said:

samoht said:

I'd propose that the original Renault Espace was their finest hour. Renault at their best is about being relentlessly logical and ending up with a solution quite different to anyone else, thus demonstrating how irrational 'conventional wisdom' is. There was little that was more distinctive than the Espace, not just the MPV package but the individual rotating removable seats and the overall rational / modern style of the car inside and out, combined with low weight and good aerodynamics.

Good shout except it's conception was nothing to do with Renault.

Renault weren't even first choice from memory. I believe PSA were offered it but turned it down believing there was no place for cars like this...

Wasn't it intended to be a successor to the Rancho - or do I have my concepts mixed up?

[anonymous-user]

Cold said:

biggbn said:

finlo said:

samoht said:

I'd propose that the original Renault Espace was their finest hour. Renault at their best is about being relentlessly logical and ending up with a solution quite different to anyone else, thus demonstrating how irrational 'conventional wisdom' is. There was little that was more distinctive than the Espace, not just the MPV package but the individual rotating removable seats and the overall rational / modern style of the car inside and out, combined with low weight and good aerodynamics.

Good shout except it's conception was nothing to do with Renault.

Renault weren't even first choice from memory. I believe PSA were offered it but turned it down believing there was no place for cars like this...

Wasn't it intended to be a successor to the Rancho - or do I have my concepts mixed up?

Yes it was, but when Matra couldn't go ahead with it independently I think it was offered to psa before Renault...I may be wrong, but that's one of those things stuck in my head..

[HTP99]

biggbn said:

Cold said:

biggbn said:

finlo said:

samoht said:

I'd propose that the original Renault Espace was their finest hour. Renault at their best is about being relentlessly logical and ending up with a solution quite different to anyone else, thus demonstrating how irrational 'conventional wisdom' is. There was little that was more distinctive than the Espace, not just the MPV package but the individual rotating removable seats and the overall rational / modern style of the car inside and out, combined with low weight and good aerodynamics.

Good shout except it's conception was nothing to do with Renault.

Renault weren't even first choice from memory. I believe PSA were offered it but turned it down believing there was no place for cars like this...

Wasn't it intended to be a successor to the Rancho - or do I have my concepts mixed up?

Yes it was, but when Matra couldn't go ahead with it independently I think it was offered to psa before Renault...I may be wrong, but that's one of those things stuck in my head..

Yep, Renault weren't Matra's first port of call, pretty sure it was PSA who told them to jog on "nahh that'll never work...."

[Puddenchucker]

Ferrari: F355 Fast enough to be fun, but not unnecessarily over powered or stuffed full of electronics.

Mazda: MX-5 ‘nuff said.

Skoda: Octavia Mk1 Reliable, durable, comfortable, practical.

VW: Golf Mk2 When German cars were better built & engineered than their rivals.

Lotus: Elise Mk1 & Mk2 A proper Chapman-esque car.

[heisthegaffer]

Fiat Tipo. First 100" wheelbase in its class, galvanised steel bodywork but most of all, kicked off major platform sharing.

[KTMsm]

Puddenchucker said:

Ferrari: F355 Fast enough to be fun, but not unnecessarily over powered or stuffed full of electronics.

Mazda: MX-5 ‘nuff said.

Skoda: Octavia Mk1 Reliable, durable, comfortable, practical.

VW: Golf Mk2 When German cars were better built & engineered than their rivals.

Lotus: Elise Mk1 & Mk2 A proper Chapman-esque car.

Ferrari 250 GTO - just look at it

Skoda - Rapid Mk1 a poor man's 911

Lotus has to be the 7 for budget and the Esprit for iconic

[Muddle238]

Land Rover - L322 Range Rover.

I've never owned, driven or even been in one, but I read that they were the best Range Rover model LR ever produced. I'd be tempted to say old Defender or Disco for off-road prowess, but I imagine the L322 is virtually as good but also exceeds in the comfort department too.

Classic was still old tech, lets not mention the P38, L405 suddenly very computer-y and liable for repeat return visits either to a JLR main dealer, or vanishing courtesy of organised criminals. New FFRR a similar story. L322 just seemed rugged but still luxurious; good enough for the late Queen anyhow.

[anonymous-user]

I'm afraid I'd just end up listing my favourite cars!

Lexus LS400...birth of a legend!
Mercedes 300 sel 6.3...birth of the super saloon.
Renault 4...utilitarian but much more usable than older 2cv, a genuine people's car at home anywhere.
Range Rover OG, the original gangsta! Didn't create the genre but pretty much owned it. A manual 3.5 two door on cards for me please.
Citroen DS because...only citroen had the chutzpah to take a stunning art deco design, underpin it with a magic carpet and hamstring it with a boat anchor engine. These were a common daily driver for French people...
Porsche 928. The ultimate grand tourer, a better looking, better built Daytona. Never bettered.

OK, OK, I'll stop for now
......

[Mr Tidy]

biggbn said:

I'm afraid I'd just end up listing my favourite cars!

Lexus LS400...birth of a legend!
Mercedes 300 sel 6.3...birth of the super saloon.
Renault 4...utilitarian but much more usable than older 2cv, a genuine people's car at home anywhere.
Range Rover OG, the original gangsta! Didn't create the genre but pretty much owned it. A manual 3.5 two door on cards for me please.
Citroen DS because...only citroen had the chutzpah to take a stunning art deco design, underpin it with a magic carpet and hamstring it with a boat anchor engine. These were a common daily driver for French people...
Porsche 928. The ultimate grand tourer, a better looking, better built Daytona. Never bettered.

OK, OK, I'll stop for now
......

I'm not convinced about the Lexus when the cam-belts needed changing at about half the cost of the car!

Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 is definitely a contender though.

Renault 4 may be better than a 2CV, but a Citroen Ami might be better than both.

RR was a bit late to the 4x4 party when you look at the Jeep Wagoneer, Chevy Blazer, etc.

Citroen DS was amazing, apart from the boat anchor!

The 928 was impressive, but never as fast as a Daytona - so I know which one I'd want (not the Porsche).

[samoht]

I think the 2007 Fiat 500 was possibly their best car. Fiat specialise in small affordable cars, yet provision of basic transport is resolutely unprofitable. The 'new' 500 managed to be both affordable transport and a desirable car that people cared about, rather than just another household appliance. The fact that it debuted in 2007 and you can still order one brand new on the Fiat website today is testament to its appeal and inherent rightness - imagine going into an Apple shop and buying an original, pre-3G iPhone today! (The electric 500 is all-new, but the original ICE model remains available in parallel).

I can't think of another Fiat with the same combo of emotional appeal and mass-market high volume success.