Which company, above all others, made the most truly brilliant cars

[trance565]

we dont have the mondeo or just about any other ford you can buy in the european continent, we've been getting shafted for a while now.(honestly i think it's due to capitalism and big ceo's with too much freedom/money, such as oil companies paying them off to keep the nice fuel efficient/higher quality cars out of our country).

[Kai Robinson]

Mondeo exists in the US...at least the 1st gen did - as the Ford Contour...but nothing other than the Duratec V6 available...i guess americans wouldn't understand the 'tiny' 2.0 with 135hp...

And as for my landrover comment - i was referring to the PROPER landies - S1/2/2a/3 & Defenders...not these poncy freelanders.

[[XC] Lead Head]

Mondeo exists in the US...at least the 1st gen did - as the Ford Contour...but nothing other than the Duratec V6 available...i guess americans wouldn't understand the 'tiny' 2.0 with 135hp...

And as for my landrover comment - i was referring to the PROPER landies - S1/2/2a/3 & Defenders...not these poncy freelanders.

Umm...The Contour was available with the 2.0 I4, one of my friends has one with it. Although the 4 cyl was detuned to 125HP. A 170HP 2.5 V6 was available, and there was also an SVT Contour with 200HP.

As far as Americans not understanding underpowered - we do. Plenty of 5000lb + pickup trucks running around with 140-240HP engines. Hell the 1st generation ford ranger had an ~80HP 4cyl and a 59HP Diesel as options.

[Kai Robinson]

I stand corrected! But....you guys never got the CVH engines from 1.1 to 1.6 litres (only the bastard child 1.9), never got the Zetec 1.4/1.7 (Yamaha I4's) or the Zetec 1.6/1.8 engines. Soooo many engines we've had that you guys missed out on!

[[XC]thewildblue]

But I suspect that it may be lancia they choose as we saw some clips of them ripping round in an old stratos.

I love it when a plan comes together....

[don_xvi]

we dont have the mondeo or just about any other ford you can buy in the european continent, we've been getting shafted for a while now.(honestly i think it's due to capitalism and big ceo's with too much freedom/money, such as oil companies paying them off to keep the nice fuel efficient/higher quality cars out of our country).

For real ???

[[XC] Lead Head]

I stand corrected! But....you guys never got the CVH engines from 1.1 to 1.6 litres (only the bastard child 1.9), never got the Zetec 1.4/1.7 (Yamaha I4's) or the Zetec 1.6/1.8 engines. Soooo many engines we've had that you guys missed out on!

The 1st gen North American escort had the 1.6 CVH, but I'm guessing most people just opted for the 1.9. Don't believe we had any Zetec smaller then the 2.0 though.

[jcool]

What's hard for most people is probably the easiest thing in the world for me: having to chose one car and one car only, my answer was always and will always be.. a white 911 GT2 with black rims

So, I am gonna say Porsche. Might have something to do with where I live and grew up though

Even though I am not too fond of the stock market BS they've been pulling as of late. Until recently though, they've had the cleanest record of any car company out there.

[don_xvi]

Odd that this thread fell silent without ever discussing the show's answer.
For those that haven't watched it, the fans voted Ford #1.
The show's pick ? For reasons I still fail to understand, LANCIA. Then they proceeded to explain that Ford had 4 brilliant cars by their count, whereas Lancia had 7. As they ran through the 7, it seemed that iffy styling and rally success were the primary criteria. Whatever...

In the fan voting, Ferrari came in 10th and Mercedes 6th.

[zanzabar]

they have been plating to much gta4, like when he tested a honda nsx on gta4 at laguna seca then tried to match the time in an acura nsx in real life. at the time i guess that they played a few classic rally events, or they just really like low density iron

[YukonTrooper]

I imagine a large percent simply voted for what they drive or what they've driven. According to those numbers, it would be logical (the majority of people aren't driving their kids to school in Lambo's).

[[XC] riptide]

Odd that this thread fell silent without ever discussing the show's answer.
For those that haven't watched it, the fans voted Ford #1.
The show's pick ? For reasons I still fail to understand, LANCIA. Then they proceeded to explain that Ford had 4 brilliant cars by their count, whereas Lancia had 7. As they ran through the 7, it seemed that iffy styling and rally success were the primary criteria. Whatever...

In the fan voting, Ferrari came in 10th and Mercedes 6th.

They remember the good old days of lancia. My Dad had a Lancia Delta and my Grandad had a Coupe and a Thema a few years after. The downside was parts. They were very expensive.

[zanzabar]

I imagine a large percent simply voted for what they drive or what they've driven. According to those numbers, it would be logical (the majority of people aren't driving their kids to school in Lambo's).

yah i bet that u are right, but they had mentioned matchbox and i think that they have made the most great cars. if i went a dug my childhood collection out of the garage i bet i could find at least 20 or 30 great cars in it.

they said 4 great cars from ford so im guessing that they counted the ford gt, the mustang fastback, the t-bird, and the gt40. i think that they had more though since the new mustang and t-bird should count separate, then there is the focus rs/svt (they are both focus but they are different im not sure if they count as 1 or 2).


i think that they mostly had wanted to pick something random so the masses wouldent be able to call it, and they smashed a marina with a piano so all was well

[Kai Robinson]

I doubt they counted any of the american fords, other than the mustang and the GT-40. The rest are probably Ford Europe/Ford of Britain (RS1800 Escort Mk2, anyone? Sierra RS500 Cosworth?)

[zalbard]

Ferrari and Porsche?

Yep, agreed.

[Darxide]

Can't believe Clarkson said Ford only had 4 great cars. They've had way more than that, even the American models alone number more than 4, not to mention the UK/Euro cars.

Maybe the fact that I drive a Cougar makes me biased (Ford badged in Europe, not Mercury).

[Chris_redfield]

Odd that this thread fell silent without ever discussing the show's answer.
For those that haven't watched it, the fans voted Ford #1.
The show's pick ? For reasons I still fail to understand, LANCIA. Then they proceeded to explain that Ford had 4 brilliant cars by their count, whereas Lancia had 7. As they ran through the 7, it seemed that iffy styling and rally success were the primary criteria. Whatever...

In the fan voting, Ferrari came in 10th and Mercedes 6th.

I'm not a huge fan of either Ferrari or Mercedes.

I actually thought the reasoning for picking Lancia were pretty good. Sure they had there problems but all the cars they picked were inventive and were trying technical firsts. The Aprila, was the first car designed in a wind tunnel for instance.

And as for the rally success it was pretty phenomonal, isn't the Stratos something like the only two wheel drive car to beat the Audi Quattro. I have a soft spot for the Stratos because of Sega Rall on the Sega Saturn. It looked like an incredible sports car, but it was one that was willing to get down and dirty. Its like an incredibly pretty woman who isn't squemish or worried about breaking a nail. Seeing the Stratos in a rally stage is like watching January Jones working on a farm.

I think they put up a good argument for picking Lancia but my personal vote would have been VW or Mitsibushi, but then I drive a Lupo so what the hell do I know

[Shaz]

If you counted Ford worldwide you'll find a hell of a lot of great cars. 4? Europe had more than that.

In no paticular order:
GT40
Mustang (60s, fastback, new ones a bit... meh in comparison of greatness)
RS200 Group B Rally (the mental one that got them all banned, can't deny awesomeness there)
Sierra RS500 (dispute it? nope.)
Sierra XR4x4 (if only I could have one of those as a company car)
Escort Cossy
Escort RS Turbo
Fiesta RS Turbo (a turbo and a :banana::banana::banana: packet? mental)
Mk1 Granada (just how it looks makes it great, bankjob-mobile aswell)
Ford Falcon (Mad f*cking Max anyone? Probably the COOLEST Aussie muscle car)
Focus ST (mk2)
New Focus RS (meeeeental.)

I've probably missed a couple but you can't really deny ANY of those cars being great. 4? Come on Jezza, get over it.

I still want a Delta Integrale though...

[Chris_redfield]

I contest the RS and the ST. Your not allowed in one of those unless wearing either a track suit with a Burberry cap, and you have to think that Ali G is hysterical, but not in an ironic way.

[Kai Robinson]

Erm...i think not, chris. The only way you'd see someone in a tracky wearing burberry driving a Focus RS, is if they've STOLEN it.

[XS_Rich]

If you counted Ford worldwide you'll find a hell of a lot of great cars. 4? Europe had more than that.

In no paticular order:
GT40
Mustang (60s, fastback, new ones a bit... meh in comparison of greatness)
RS200 Group B Rally (the mental one that got them all banned, can't deny awesomeness there)
Sierra RS500 (dispute it? nope.)
Sierra XR4x4 (if only I could have one of those as a company car)
Escort Cossy
Escort RS Turbo
Fiesta RS Turbo (a turbo and a :banana::banana::banana: packet? mental)
Mk1 Granada (just how it looks makes it great, bankjob-mobile aswell)
Ford Falcon (Mad f*cking Max anyone? Probably the COOLEST Aussie muscle car)
Focus ST (mk2)
New Focus RS (meeeeental.)

I've probably missed a couple but you can't really deny ANY of those cars being great. 4? Come on Jezza, get over it.

I still want a Delta Integrale though...

As an ex-owner of a mk2 ST, I'd argue it shouldn't be in the list. Sure it was a 'good' car. But a great car? Heavy engine up front, and plenty of understeer as standard. Drinks petrol and not particularly sharp handling.

Will people be talking about it down the pub in 30 years time? I'd be very surprised.

Likewise the Escort RS Turbo and Fiesta RS Turbo. They were okay, but certainly not in the same league as the Escort Cossie and the RS500.

Also the new Focus RS, will it really stand the test of time? When compared to its contemporaries in 30 years (Golf R, Scirocco R, Cupra R, RS Megane 250) will it really stand head and shoulders above them or will it just be remembered as a good hot hatch?

PS I don't own a Burberry tracksuit... Though I have met a 19 year old chav driving a brand new RS at a rolling road day. I'd like to think that he was either a drug dealer, or had rich parents. Makes me feel better about my own life that way.

[don_xvi]

I'm finding new enjoyment in this thread just from the way you Brits talk... I'm going to have to google a few words in recent posts to figure out the subtleties !

[ownage]

How much do EU people like Ford's nowadays? EU Ford's are much better looking than US models, but I don't see much people buy them anymore. Focus can be great, but I only see the hideous ones driving in Holland. S-Max and the new mondeo are great, but there is so much competition from EU brands, why buy a Ford?
I think its fair to say Ford has made the highest number of 'good' cars. I still don't like to say its Ford, because they don't have much to offer atm.

[Kai Robinson]

They're not pretentious, like Audi, BMW & Volkswagen. They make cars for the everyman.

[[XC]thewildblue]

If you counted Ford worldwide you'll find a hell of a lot of great cars. 4? Europe had more than that.

In no paticular order:
GT40
Mustang (60s, fastback, new ones a bit... meh in comparison of greatness)
RS200 Group B Rally (the mental one that got them all banned, can't deny awesomeness there)
Sierra RS500 (dispute it? nope.)
Sierra XR4x4 (if only I could have one of those as a company car)
Escort Cossy
Escort RS Turbo
Fiesta RS Turbo (a turbo and a :banana::banana::banana: packet? mental)
Mk1 Granada (just how it looks makes it great, bankjob-mobile aswell)
Ford Falcon (Mad f*cking Max anyone? Probably the COOLEST Aussie muscle car)
Focus ST (mk2)
New Focus RS (meeeeental.)

I've probably missed a couple but you can't really deny ANY of those cars being great. 4? Come on Jezza, get over it.

I still want a Delta Integrale though...

Get rid of the xr4x4, they are a good car, but not exactly great....Ive done a few thousand miles in these over the years, in both the 2.8 and 2.9. They are good for starship mileage and are torquey motors but its just a sierra. Not a patch on a sapphire cossy let alone the RS500....my old next door neighbour had a moonstone blue RS500 from new till it got knicked in the early 90s by some pikies.

RS Turbos, well the phase 1s were collectables at some point and the Phase 2 cars went really well, but just like the xr3i they were chav wagons. RS Turbo fiesta...not a chance.

Focus ST can go, as can the Mk2 RS...its wrong wheel drive after all !!

Remove the granny and replace with mk2 escort (mexico, rs2000 anyone ??) they are great cars and you still see them being rallied today.