12 replies to this topic

[jamesmpi]

Autocar carried out a poll for readers to vote on their best british car, and the mini came out on top

 

http://www.autocar.c...er-british-cars

 

 

 

[Richie83]

It's beaten some awesome cars, but I'd naturally agree!

[Boa-Returns]

As it should be!

[BronkoMini]

Yeah I think most people on here would agree with that

[CMXCVIII]

By any standards it's quite right that the Issigonis Mini should top the list but it just shows how much Autocar readers don't know about the history of the British motor industry!

 

As someone commented on their website, it's a joke list, ranked by familiarity rather than merit!

 

There's nothing in their top 100 by Dr Fred Lanchester!? Nor by Uncle Hank Royce other than the weak, original 10hp light car? So there's no 40/50 Silver Ghost which for at least a decade was far and away the best car in the world!? WO Bentley is only represented by the rubbish Blower Bentley he disowned! There's no [Bentley designed] Lagonda nor Alvis nor high camshaft Riley! The three wheeled Morgan is on the list, bodged up on the cheap from old bits of angle iron, rather than any Frazer Nash, etc etc!

 

Yours sincerely, an old git who's run various of those best British cars [including a not-very-British-at-all Renault Megane 225]   

[Chris1992]

nissan duke?.. honda jazz?.. BMW mini?.... am i missing something? half of these cars arnt even British! 

[Mini 360]

nissan duke?.. honda jazz?.. BMW mini?.... am i missing something? half of these cars arnt even British! 

Engineered and built in the UK.  Owned by Japanese/German companies but all done here due to our expertise in the field.  

[RedRallyMini]

I really love the mini with all my heart but I'd rather have the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, the mk2 Escort or the Lotus Cortina to be honest.... 

[Cooperman]

It is strange that the Mini seems to be listed as a 'model range, but the Cortinas & Escorts are listed separately.

Surely the Cortinas, at least the Mk.1 & Mk.2 should be one type to include the 1200 right to the Lotus & 1600E, as is the Mini. The Mk.1 & Mk.2 Cortinas are as similar as the Mini & the long-nose Clubman are to each other.

Or for the Mini, do they really mean just the original Mk.1 850 which could well still be No.1 due to its unique position as the start of much modern car design & development.

[mab01uk]

nissan duke?.. honda jazz?.. BMW mini?.... am i missing something? half of these cars arnt even British! 

 

As said all are British designed and or built.

 

The BMW MINI was also Austin-Rover-Online's 'Car of the Decade' 2000-2010:

" like the Issigonis original, the R50 generation MINI was (and remains) a fantastic car to drive. Not only is its handling sharp and incisive, but the steering is accurate and well-weighted (as long as you ignore the whining EPAS) and the brakes are BMW-solid, rather than Rover-vague. Inside, you’re treated to a feast of ovoids and circles and tastefully coloured dashboard and trim options, while the driving position is spot on for those who like to feel in control of their car. Not only that, but unlike all of its small car contemporaries, the MINI’s A-pillars don’t create a blind-spot that makes junctions and roundabouts a nightmare to navigate."

http://www.aronline....cade-2000-2010/

[MiniGrin]

Yea id pretty much agrees with that, its revolutionary design, affordability and just plain cuteness..... but that said, wouldn’t we all prefer the Lotus Cortina, TVR Cerbera, Aston Martin DB5 Jens................. Etc. XD

[megamini_jb]

Everyone knows minis are the best

[Vicky1000]

I have to agree with that too