20 Greatest Cars of the Last 20 Years

[Foxy]

Automobile Magazine has a list of their picks for the 20 greatest cars of the last 20 years (http://www.automobilemag.com/news/20_greatest_cars/index.html). List:


Acura NSX: Honda's greatest rising son.
BMW M5: An attack dog in a three-piece suit.
Chrysler Minivan: Ford's leftovers help save Chrysler.
Ferrari F40: Ferrari's most rewarding supercar.
Honda Accord: A tasty helping of bread and butter.
Jeep Cherokee: The quintessential sporting utility.
Mazda Miata: Reinventing a revolution.
Mercedes-Benz 300E: Well-built, modern, and fun to boot.
Porsche 911: Greatness in perpetuity.
Subaru Impreza WRX: The rally-car street star.
BMW M3: A civilized beast.
Chevrolet Corvette: America's sports car finally knocks the world on its ear.
Chrysler 300C: C stands for courageous.
Ferrari F430: Everything you expect of a car from Maranello.
Honda Civic: The car that set the compact bar.
Lexus LS400: When Japanese luxury stopped being an oxymoron.
Mini Cooper S: Cheeky upscale practicality.
Nissan 300ZX Turbo: The Z-car comes out of its coma.
Porsche Boxster: Porsche's saving grace.
Volkswagen GTI: The hottest hatch.

Agree? Disagree?

Kind of surprised a minivan made it to the list..

[DontPassTheFence]

The Mazda Miata FTW!

boxster should not have made the list -- more cayman S (for quality at a much lower price) or the 911 turbo!

Honda s2000 > NSX

Accord and Civic cant both be ont he list :/ accord > civic -- more like prelude actually...

And what about the fiero, olds calais 442, 'retta GTZ, lexus sc300 or sc500, I could name a few others, but those are the top ones that stick out in my mind

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Well, for one, the Fiero burst into flames at least one of the years it was produced more than once, so...

I would have to say that's a pretty accurate list, to be honest. I have never been a Civic/Accord fan, but the new Civic's are very quickly growing on me.

I am, however, surprised the RX-7 was not on that list.

[Foxy]

You know what, I think you're right on the RX-7! It was a magnificent car; I think it should've edged out the 300ZX or Mini Cooper.

As far as Accord/Civic goes, I think they may have put them up there for their significance. An Accord is a good investment in a car - you know it'll be reliable forever, they're comfortable, decently powered, and so on. They're perfect for the average motorist, and their sales have reflected that since.. forever. Same with the Civic, only in a different class.

[92CamaroRS]

I don't care what anyone says, the F-body belongs on that list. But i don't care, underestimate the Fbody all they want.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

As much as I like the 98-02 Firebirds, I don't think GM deserves the time of day for recognizing a car they let rot to hell.

Just because you have a big engine with a lot of horsepower doesn't mean much these days, especially not for 33,000 dollars. Those cars were at least 10 years overdue for an update.

[DontPassTheFence]

Yea, the final year Trans Am WS6 should be there -- as well as the final year Mazda Rx-7 Spirit R (japan only) And what aboot the 22b, eh? :lol:

And fieros didburst into flames prior to 84 but the goddamned car was named one of the Ten Best OF THAT SAME YEAR!

"
January 1984 — 2nd Annual 10Best
1. Audi 5000S/Turbo
2. Dodge Daytona Turbo
3. Honda Accord
4. Honda Prelude
5. Mazda 626
6. Pontiac Fiero 2M4
7. Pontiac 6000STE
8. Porsche 944
9. Toyota Celica Supra
10. Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
"

caranddriver.com !!

January 1987 — 5th Annual 10Best
1. Acura Integra
2. Audi 5000/CS Turbo
3. Chevrolet Corvette
4. Ford Mustang GT
5. Ford Taurus
6. Honda Accord
7. Mazda RX-7 Turbo
8. Pontiac Bonneville SE
9. Saab 9000 Turbo
10. Toyota MR2

[Foxy]

They only included cars that were for sale in the US, so no RX-7 Spirit, 22B, McLaren F1, etc.

The F-bodies had nice engines, but were always trounced, sales wise, by Mustangs. Given the presence of the Vette on the list, I think the F-body didn't really deserve to be up there.. The WS8 might've even been better, but then, poof - no more Fbodies.

[goredsox]

i'm not surprised that 80% of the cars on that list are imports, it just goes to show how sucky SOME domestic's are.

Just about all of those cars are out of the average joe-bloe's budget, with the exception of the Accord and Civic.

Why not the Grand Am??? It may not be the greatest car but if you look in a world almanac you will see that the GA has been on the top 10 selling list since the 90's...

[levey]

Well....If they were going by top selling cars only...The K car, Tempo, and Chevette would be on the list. But....I don't think that's the point behind the list.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

As nice as the Grand Am is, I don't think it would/should be on the list. The Grand Am, while being nice, didn't really revolutionize anything, not that some of those cars did.

In my opinion, if Pontiac played their cards right with the Grand Am, it could have been a more successful car, with higher ratings.

It's a shame they let the problems it has bog it down.

Nonetheless, I love my Grand Am GT.

[Prospeeder]

I think like, the Grand Prixs or Cutlass Supremes should be on the list. They were one of the first cars to use Heads Up Display, have an onboard computer, not use one exterior or interior part out of any of thier sharing body groups, and were extremly areodynamic.. And were affordable, sure they wernt the fastest cars, but the Turbo and 3.4 DOHC cars were pretty quick cars and handled quite well

[88Grandamturbo]

Yea I agree with prospeeder, I wish I had my GP back.....it went through hell and back with me. Surprising it lived past 245,000 miles without a rebuild. :D

[99GrandAMSE]

... for the most part, I wouldn't own or recommend ANY of them :(

[Foxy]

Off of the list, or..?

[goredsox]

if they had the top 10 most reliable list it would probably have only honda's and toyota's. I'm not saying thats good but thats the truth.

i know my GA is the best car my family has ever bought. 147,000 miles and going strong (knocks on wood) No LIM problems, doesnt burn oil, original tranny, no major work, only maintenence.

[urweak]

No grand national? I mean come on, a car that out performed just about everything in an era when v8s where making 150hp, and it used a turbo 6 cylinder. Why isnt that on the list. The viper should probably be on the list aswell, maybe inplace of the NSX.

But i do agree with most of the cars on the list.

[Prospeeder]

Oh hey, didnt think of the GNX, that should definatly be on there, mabye a list of top 20 american cars in the last 20 years

[XoticGA]

Mini Cooper? :puke:

I'm with Kelly on this.. No thanks

[Foxy]

Don't knock the Mini Cooper until you've driven one.. very fun cars!

GNX / Scyclone / etc are fun cars as well, but .. they're gone and didn't make much of an impact, IMHO. They're certainly not very well known outside of a relatively small enthusiast community..

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by Foxy
Off of the list, or..?

... yes, off the list :)

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by Foxy
Don't knock the Mini Cooper until you've driven one.. very fun cars!

GNX / Scyclone / etc are fun cars as well, but .. they're gone and didn't make much of an impact, IMHO. They're certainly not very well known outside of a relatively small enthusiast community..

I know where you are coming from but you mean to tell me the two Ferrari's listed there are vehicles for the masses? ... I believe you could consider those specific to an enthusiasts as well :lol: ... makes me laugh though how much individual consideration there is when pondering which cars have made more of an impact than another :)

[Prospeeder]

how have any of those cars seriously impacted automotive developoment?

[voyager]

Originally posted by Prospeeder
how have any of those cars seriously impacted automotive developoment?

how many car companies have something vaguely like a miata these days..? how many had a roadster on the market before the miata came out?

woot! i have a car on the list!

[urweak]

Originally posted by Prospeeder
how have any of those cars seriously impacted automotive developoment?

The chrysler minivan created its own market. I think that is an impact.

[Foxy]

Kelly,

Yeah, there is (obviously) a ton of individual consideration in the list. Someone heavy into 4x4's, for instance, would probably want to see more Jeeps, Land Rovers, FJ's, etc.

No, the Ferraris listed are not for the masses, but the F40 is one of the most pure sports cars ever produced; anyone who loves to drive would gladly hand over testicles to drive one. The F430 is a modern luxury sports car, arguably the pinnacle of automotive lust - just look at it; it's drop dead gorgeous, it's comfortable (can't say that about many supercars of yesteryear). I think the Enzo could deserve a spot on the list, but I can see where they are coming from with the F430's description - it's the evolution of the F355, F360, cars that revived the Ferrari brand.

That's the same reason why the Chrysler 300C is up there. It's a seriously imposing vehicle, one that is unmistakably American. It's a far cry from the bland, older cars that the US made in the late 80's, early 90's, and it's inspired quite a bit more bold styling in all of the other DC cars. Out of the big three, which one isn't struggling? That would be DC.

The GTI is the original "hot hatch." Look at the Ford Focus SVT, RSX/Integra, Mini Cooper, etc - all of them are inexpensive pocket rockets that are practical yet super fun to drive; the GTI is why they exist. One might even say that the GTI spawned off the whole sport compact craze..

The BMW M3 / M5 are class benchmarks. If you want to build a sport sedan, you're competing against those - Mercedes, Cadillac, and Audi all know it. The NSX is Japan's premiere sports car - it hasn't been redesigned since it was introduced in the early 90's, and it still can hold its own on the race track against newer high end sports cars. The Vette is America's supercar. The 911 is the everyday supercar and one of the most enduring, best performing machines ever put on the road. And the WRX.. well, I own one, so it's gotta be good! ;)

I could see some cars not belonging on there. The Boxster is a nice car, but I think the Cayman will prove more enduring in the enthusiasts' eyes (though the Boxster, as the price-leader in the Porsche lineup, is still an excellent car, which can't always be said for the cheapest Porsche). The 300ZX is a nice car, and definately a great Z car.. but I think the original Z car had more of an impact. I dunno much about the Mercedes 300E, to be honest.

I think overall, the list is pretty good, and I'd gladly drive almost all of them.

And shame on Kelly for saying he'd pass up on owning a Ferrari!! ;)

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by Foxy
... And shame on Kelly for saying he'd pass up on owning a Ferrari!! ;)

Well, guess I wouldn't PASS if the circumstances were right whereby I could have a PURE TOY and nothing but a toy, you know? :lol: ... the only real thing I meant by bringing up the comment about the Ferrari's was the fact they have them in a list along with two Minis ... A Mini Cooper and a Mini Van :roflmfao:

[TorquePower]

Grand am!

[Prospeeder]

Originally posted by TorquePower
Grand am!

What exactly did they revolutionalize? being affordable family cars like the Taurus/Sable an status's and similar cars. And they were /are rattle traps with poor interior quality and engine problems (LIM 3100, 2.3 Head gaskets, 3300 TCC, 2.4 Water pump, 2.2 Timing chain, 3400 LIM, ect...) I dont think grand ams should be on there at all. That said, I dont think the Grand Prix or Cutlass should be on the list anymore, they both had the same engines along with the same problems and didnt exactly have the greatst interior quality either, just had cooler options is all.

Im sure some1 will get offended by this post, but its the truth and everyone knows it.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

I'm happy you changed your mind Erik.

I was judging you for thinking Grand Prix or Cutless' should be on the list. ;)

They didn't really revolutize or heavily impact anything, despite being good, I'ms ure.

[DontPassTheFence]

Yea -- everyone and their mothers knew "All Fieros exploded" yet not a sole outside of GM enthusiasts knows that BUICK once made a car that made even the corvette of that same year tremble with fear...

BoOoOOo!

[voyager]

i don't really agree with the hooplah about the mini cooper either. since most of the ones i see these days are on used car lots, i guess most consumers got over them after seeing austin powers for the 5th time too. BMW's answer to VW's new beetle fad is all i see them as. or a classier, more expensive geo. it's just one of 100's of small european cars; one that got fed a billion dollars of US market advertising. i see nothing revolutionary about them. they are, after all, nothing new, no moreso than the new beetle was. only difference being factory installed racing stripes and british flags. wtf. mini is german owned now and comes with a great british flag painted on top?! woot lets give them some awards.

what about an insight or prius? i mean, a halfway-affordable halfway-electric car is nothing to sneeze at IMO. maybe a bit late but someone's finally getting on the ball with that eh? what's gas now, twice what it was 2 years ago? so we should build bigger SUV's? give awards to 8mpg supercars with comfortable seats?

[TorquePower]

Grand Am, and any other engine with the 3100/3400 LIM gasket problem revolutionized automotive market this way:

People finally started to realize GM is a bunch of cheap parts slapped together.

[04REDGT1]

Having two Ferrari's on the list dosen't seem right. I think the Impala should have been there.

Jeff

[Foxy]

Oh yeah, I'd definately take an Impala over a Ferarri ;) White Impalas are only notable for making me just as paranoid when one is behind me as when a black Crown Vic edges its way in and follows me.. Is that a cop?!

Someone else did a "100 greatest cars of all time," based on reader votes.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/100-greatest/results/100-91.html

The results are a bit bizarre for this one. I agree with #1, but #2 is strange. Still no Grand Ams or Impalas, I think (actually, I think aside from the 'Vette, there aren't any GM vehicles there). There's a handful of Fords and DC cars, though.

[Prospeeder]

The Hummer is GM and its Number 73, same with a couple Vauxhaulls those are GM, and some Saabs, and Subaru is partly owned by GM. GM is more than Pontiac, Olds, buick, caddilac, and chevy...

[Foxy]

The Hummer was developed by AM General, not GM, and AM sold it up until 1999. GM may sell it now, but it wasn't a GM design, and didn't become famous because of GM..

Subaru isn't owned by GM! General Motors was a 20% minority shareholder of Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent corporation) from 1999 until 2005 when they sold 8.7% to Toyota and put the rest on the open market. They never 'owned' Subaru.

All of the Saabs on the list were from before GM took over in 1990.

And the lone Vauxhall on there was developed by Lotus for GM (though, admittedly, Lotus was owned by GM at that point.. but I wouldn't consider them part of the GM family).

[thegeswho3]

BMW's answer to VW's new beetle fad is all i see them as. or a classier, more expensive geo

have you ever driven one???

They are certainly not a "more expensive Geo". They are a hoot and about as nice a little car as has ever been built. Some people want BMW class, fit and finish and quality without a big ass car, and the Mini pulled it off perfectly.

And for all those who wanted the RX-7, im sure it wouldve made the list if rotaries caught on anywhere else in the industry, and the "best" RX-7s from the 90's were electrical problems waiting to happen.

Wheres the F150 (i guess cus its a truck, not a car, but neither is a minivan??) That bad boy has kept ford alive for 30 years and has seriously revolutionized a country.

[DontPassTheFence]

Originally posted by Foxy
The Hummer was developed by AM General, not GM, and AM sold it up until 1999. GM may sell it now, but it wasn't a GM design, and didn't become famous because of GM..

Subaru isn't owned by GM! General Motors was a 20% minority shareholder of Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent corporation) from 1999 until 2005 when they sold 8.7% to Toyota and put the rest on the open market. They never 'owned' Subaru.

All of the Saabs on the list were from before GM took over in 1990.

And the lone Vauxhall on there was developed by Lotus for GM (though, admittedly, Lotus was owned by GM at that point.. but I wouldn't consider them part of the GM family).

I know I dont consider Lotus part of GM whatsoever -- its clear in the craftsmenship of the car that GM has little or no influence on any of Lotus' car.

Id love an elise or an exige, such sexy cars, I saw one on the freeway last night and I about shit - I must have drove next to it, pacing it perfectly for nearly 5 miles just to keep looking at it (while trying to watch the road)

[goredsox]

Originally posted by Prospeeder
3300 TCC

I'm just glad you mentioned us!!! I didnt want to get left out:lol: I would agree with the statement, even though it doesnt apply to my baby. i guess some GA's like mine were not born on Friday the 13th (Knock on wood:D )

P.S. I did have to have the TCC replaced, its pretty common for this engine/tranny combo...