Bit of a philosophical one today. You may or may not have seen news about the upcoming V Eight Jensen Interceptor SX. I've been thinking of little else. Which got me thinking, is there a particular country that I identify with the most in car terms? Well, I am American, so America? Sadly, no. Now I appreciate muscular metal in a big way. But on a deeper level, a Chevelle SS leaves me cold. Maybe too many assholes drove them in high school. Germany? Fast and potent, but a bit too precise for precisions sake. See Gregory Peck in Boys From Brazil for more on that. Japan? See Germany, but with less power. Obviously that leaves Italy. Beautiful, extroverted cars we all lust after. And those interiors! But I'm kinda fat; I could never fit into those designer jeans. Not in good faith at any rate. France? Almost, as if I had lots of disposable income I'd own lots of oleopneumatic cars. But they're missing something. Like potent engines. Australia? Well, they certainly have engines, but I get the impression their cars also drag their knuckles. Which leaves us with Britain. Aston Martin, Lotus, TVR, MG, Triumph, Rolls-Royce, MINI, Caterham, Bentley, Noble, Jaguar and of course, Jensen? God save the Queen. You?
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Does my complete archive of modern Top Gear episodes qualify me as a British-flavoured petrolhead?
I’m German and so is my car, but all that creativity coming from British shed-based manufacturers can’t be ignored. Just yesterday I saw somebody in a Morgan Aero8. Blimey! What a cross-eyed beauty.
Guernsey. Right between Britain and France.
I love the old school leather and walnut, Wilton carpet British interiors. Even when attached to the more ‘orrendous Vanden Plas 1500 (nee Austin Allegro with an upright grill). Call me a sucker.
Then there are Citroen DS’s.
I guess if I could wake up with a dream car, it’d be one of the later British assembled Citroen DS with a later yet DS23 engine, leather and walnut interior, and steering headlamps, by jove. But left hand drive, please, since I live in the US.
Oh yes, a robotic Citroen expert mechanic in an extended garage, while we’re busy dreaming.
Next to it in my dream-garage, would be a Chrysler Turbine Car (I know it doesn’t count, since it was not a true production car, eh?)
Third would be a 1963-1964 Studebaker Hawk, 4 speed, supercharger, front disc brakes, black with red interior.
Forth would be a 1933-1934 Packard Eight phaeton.
I guess that makes me an Antique American-Brit-Franc. Yeah, I know. I’m weird.
It’s a “car guy” thing.
Oh mustn’t forget #5. “Czech it out.” (sorry) Every car guy wants a Tatra with rear V8 and a dorsal fin, right?
Then please, may I keep my 2008 Prius commuter car?
I guess that makes me a true American. A little bit of everything.
The country I identify with is (naturally) the UK.
Specifically, Jaguar.
They’re elegant, sophisticated, beautiful, well made and reliable.
I am Jaguar. ^_^
God save the Queen….
KatiePuckrik:
“God save the Queen”
But kill the X-Type
Mr Lieberman,
The X-Type will be around longer than Detroit will!
I’ll be here all week! :O)
I’d say I’m German at heart, Japanese at the wallet, American in conversation with acquaintances in public. If I had a wife and kids, maybe I’d turn Korean for a family sedan.
Hmmm…
I like RWD. I like lots of power, but I also like to be able to control it. I like going fast on highways. I find there to be something sublimely intoxicating about the E39 M5 and exciting about the E36 and E36 M3s. I love the comfort of my father’s pre Chrysler S class. A friend and I sometimes play Ronin on the local backroads with his A6 (I know, it was an S8, but still).
Oh, and sometimes, I like it when my girlfriend ties me up and whips and tells me what a bad boy I’ve been, and then spanks me.
I guess that means my country is Germany.
I’m quite satisfied with German driving dynamics, (owning a 3 Series, Mini Cooper S and LR Freelander (produced during BMW ownership IIRC)), though I prefer British design.
I’m a bit of a sucker for the newish V8 Vantage (in either form), truly love mid-80s/90s Jags for some reason, and actually quite like the newer Disco3. Freelander2 and RRS (not a fan of the big daddy RR).
Call me British at heart (and yes, I too have a complete Top Gear archive – well, up till the most recent season).
I’m a francophile. Quirky is my middle name. I know they are unreliable as hell, but they are oh so charming. When my DS is finished in some years, that’s the only car I will ever need.
Other than that, I lust for english cars. British racing green, conolly upholstered, preferably a straight six.
Some say a car should be constructed by the english, designed by the italians, and built by the germans. I find some truth in that.
A cross to between Older Japan (pre-1990) Britain.
I live a very sad rusty life.
Although i am an obscure American car nut. Guess that makes me AMC?
Johnny…
Just posted this link on the MG blog.
Thought as a British car lover, you would like the trip back into the future!
http://www.sebringinternational.co.uk/
Trouble with the Germans is they have to overd0 everything!
To many damned parts!
The Japanese…now there’s a group willing to inflict injury onto themselves if they feel they let you down.
I mean, visiting the country I found powered and heated toilet seats!
They had a control unit along side the seat!
Yes, Way!
The British, they don’t have enough parts and the electric ones don’t work.
British for luxury
Italy for sportscars
My Godparents (from whom I got my love of hi-fi and British cars) had a pair of MG Magnettes in the late ’50s and early ’60s. As a boy, I spent a lot of time in these cars both here in the States and in Denmark and Norway. After a brief stint with a Ford Falcon, my Godfather bought a Rover 3500 which I actually got to drive. As such, wool carpets, Smiths instruments and elm dasboards evoke many happy feelings.
I owned a Triumph (’70 GT6+) back in the late ’70s. Just this summer I scratched a life-long itch and acquired a Triumph Trophy 900 motorcycle (my 10th bike and the first non-Japanese make).
My dream classic car is a Series I or II E-type coupe (which, strangely is a larger, more powerful, prettier version of the GT-6+). If I could get my wife to go along, I’d look for a nice late-model XJR.
But, having said that, Italy is a close second. I lust after an MV Agusta in the worst way. Where else can $13K (see e-Bay) buy such a gorgeous piece of motoring machinery?
Japan gave me my Nissan 240SX, my Toyota MR2 Spyder, my minimalist 4 cylinder 5-speed Isuzu Rodeo and my Infiniti G35. Soon they will give me a current generation MX-5. With respect to automobiles it is my country. By the way, they are Germany with more reliability, not less power.
Regarding the author’s claimed anglophile allegiances; as a knuckle dragging Aussie car might say if it could talk “money talks and bullshit walks” – I’m pretty sure they make those WRXes in Japan.
Italy for the weekend sports car (god I love Alpha’s style…)
Japan for the daily driver (bullet-proof reliability is a must.)
Sweden.
At least before they were borged by America.
Volvo WAS the perfect combination of efficiency, reliability, and safety. REAL wagons that could HAUL, do it with a reasonable amount of fuel, and keep you safe in a collision.
Saab WAS the perfect combination of sportiness, individuality, and frugality.
Were it 20 years ago, I would buy a 740 wagon for my daily driver/vacationmobile, and a 900 for my wife. No freakin’ brainer. And they’d both still be on the road today.
Today we have a Maxx and a Civic. Closest we could come to a Swedish ideal that once was. Sad, that.
I’m French living in the U.S.
For cars? I certainly admire Germany and Japan, and my next car may well come from one of those countries; I really like British cars; but in the end of the day, nothing makes my head turn like Italian cars, including lowly Fiats (have you even looked at a new grande punto?!).
I guess that’s because my 1st car was a Fiat uno, and despite being a squarish rust bucket, it carried me and my friends through lots of ordeals, never complaining, and always in a fun manner.
Love the Brits and Italians but don’t want their headaches.
Result?
Miata
S2000 would work as an upgrade.
Can appreciate old ‘Murican muscle to a degree, but an endless run of live axle, pushrod V-8, overweight coupes feeling like there was far to little imagination in Deadtroit even then. Stagnation.
Cheerio,
Bunter
If I owned my own towing company and shop I would only buy British cars. Pre-German Bentleys, a couple of Morgans, D and E types, some Lotuseseses, and Noble or two.
Oh, and an Atom. That way if I’m ever charged with some heinous crime, I’ll be able to conclusively prove that I am insane.
All nations that have put their passions into the craft of making cars have contributed something to the car culture we all love – French, German, Japanese, Italian, Australian or American – all very different but all are essential elements that make up our car landscape. I could never choose just one.
Japanese: efficiency, reliability, and constant improvement.
Born in America, turned 20 and the Navy sent me to Italy where I was “educated” in cars.
Left the US driving Mustangs. Came back and haven’t owned a domestic since.
I like everything we don’t get here. I like anything older than I am. Lightweight chassis, convertibles, small high-quality engines witha good five speed and good brakes mean alot to me.
I own three VWs and one Honda. Over the years I’ve owned six Hondas, seven VWs, three Mustangs, two Fiats, part of a Corvair and some Asian motorcycles. More cars not remembered fondly enough to report on.
Still like anything domestic and older than about 1966. Since 1966 I like a few here and there but the cars got too big and too “in your face” to really warm up to.
My perfect garage would hold about 40 cars and buses (yeah BUSES! – highway coaches, about five I could pick out that I really like in RV form).
Waitaminute…BRITISH cars?!?!?!?!?!?
God save us ALL.
no_slushbox: All an Aussie car would say is, “Shit the fuckin’ bed, mate!”
This has been scientifically measured.
I’m half French and left the US for France when I finished my bachelors degree and haven’t come back. In part it was for the adventure, but secretly it was for cars. Yes, I love driving, but I don’t like using the car everyday to go to work. I had to get away from landboats and strip-mall hell.
So yes, here the cost of living is expensive, the gas is 8 bucks a gallon, and I have a small apartment instead of a home, but when I get out on a road, I don’t have to drive too far to get to a winding country lane. I can shift my own gears, and actually pass cars on that narrow road without being seen as insane.
Also here I can buy cars that aren’t available in the US. I had an black Alfa Romeo 147 2.0, but for family reasons I sold it. Now I am rowing the gears in my wife’s Renault Clio 1.2l with its neck snapping 60hp. But I am biding my time, I know there will be an Impreza with the fabulous 2.0 flat four diesel engine in it some time soon, and it will be mine! I mean, ours.
There are only two countries left originating emotion-infused automobiles of any interest: Italy and the United States. I expect that eventually China will enter this realm as well. The UK was once in the coterie, but has lost the connection between heart and motion. No, a modern Jag or Aston don’t qualify. They’ve become too generic, self-referenced, in-bred and soft. Mini doesn’t count enough to retain membership.
A common thread of emotional rambunctiousness and visceral style runs through Corvette, Bullitt, Shelby Mustangs, Viper, Cadillac V Series, Challenger, Wrangler, Ram, F150 Harley, V8 Silverados, Flex, Maserati GT, Quattroporte, Ferrari F430, California, 612, Fiat 500, Punto, every Alfa, etc. You need extremes to generate truly interesting, appealing cars. A continental, monumental, country with a brash, big-is-too-little attitude, and a nearly pure art culture undiluted by rational distractions have what it takes. Everyone else is building strata of appliances slightly flavored by native cultural slant. Germany and Japan? Nevermind precision — the heart sleeps.
Phil
It’d have to be Japan, but the old-school upstart Japan of the 60’s and 70’s, when their designs had that unique quirkiness to them back when cars were designed by hand and not by CAD.
Jonny Lieberman
I think you just sold me on a G8.
A few days back, something happened to me…
While working with a coworker and our new mutual boss, I hadn’t said much and finally cracked a joke.
The boss looks as my coworker and says, “Bill is one of those guys who doesn’t talk much, but when he does he is very pointed and has a lot to say.”
I remembered hearing the EXACT SAME THING (verbatim!) in 6th grade during a parent/teacher conference.
It was at that moment I realized that I haven’t changed a bit over the years. Despite constantly trying to improve, I am still stubborn and rough around the edges. Now I’m upset and bitter that my golden days may be behind me.
I must be American!
Well, I love the sound of the american pushrod V8. Call it 350, 302 or HEMI. It just plain rocks… even in the modern super muffled versions.
I also enjoy a lot the driving dinamics of my Isuzu Impulse… and the power of its little engine.
I think the Aussie cars are like a mix of american and european cars… just less gay (european) and more simple (american). But it’s just my take.
I like European cars, but hate the stupid complication level (and the cost associated) they put in everything.
I also like eccentric/quirky stuff (that’s also why I love my strange car)… so Saabs get a nod here.
So I go for Aussies/Gringos on this one. Or better yet, Venezuelan =)
I currently drive a Honda Civic, which I like, but it feels underpowered. My previous car, a Toyota Camry felt bland, so I’d say Japanese reliability/cost effectiveness isn’t it.
I don’t like trucks, SUVs, or job-cutting-raise-my-own-pay-a-hundred-times-mobiles, so America isn’t it.
I do love cruising at high speeds on the freeways, so I’d say I was German.
America – but not like you might expect. I like 4 doors and wagons. Striaght-6, 3 on the tree. Love my ’67 Rambler, and if I won the lottery, I’d have a restored Biscayne.
Yes, I know, you don’t have to tell me.
Of course, I really drive Hondas because they are everything the Rambler and Biscayne ever pretended to be – good, reasonably priced transport, but the Hondas hold together.
If I could have any car to drive daily, it would be the new Audi RS6, so that makes me a German. I also like Japanese cars, but Lexus is the wrong company to challenge Audi RS and BMW M. Infiniti should be building the hyper cars, unlike Lexus and their isolation tanks, Infiniti knows a thing about road feel.
1988 BMW 528e, the ultimate commuter car. A 2 lb hammer can be substituted for most of the special tools BMW recommends to repair it. Dynamic 88, I’m with you. The 528e is as close as I can get to an updated 66 Valiant.
German.
Fun
Well-Engineered
Comfortable
Fast
Powerful
I’d go through hell and back in a E39 BMW M5.
For me, it’s probably Japan. I love Italian style and German precision, but I just can’t deal with the cost and reliability issues. I like the idea of an M3 or an Alfa GTV6, but the reality would probably drive me to drink.
I like Japanese coupes of the variety that became extinct a few years ago (the old MX-6, Prelude, 240SX, et al). They were blander than a European car, but if you took reasonable care of them (which I do), they weren’t prone to leaving you stranded on the side of the road or forcing you to choose between repairs and rent.
I used to have a 1991 Honda Prelude Si 4WS, the old mechanical four-wheel steering. It was old enough and had enough miles that it was into that awkward “things keep wearing out” phase, and I had a problem with the A/C that wasn’t resolved until right before I sold it, but I still love the way it looked and the way it drove. If I could buy a new one, I would. The only changes I would make would be:
– A taller fifth gear (3,150 rpm at 60 is silly)
– Bigger wheels (the stock 14-inchers looked nice, but weren’t long on grip)
– Proper ABS (Honda offered anti-lock brakes on the Prelude in ’91, but not with 4WS, and in any case their early ALB system was crap)
– No door-mounted seatbelts
– A decent modern stereo (Honda’s factory AM/FM cassette systems were garbage), without the obnoxious power antenna (which inevitably moans like a condemned man).
(Yeah, a modern Civic EX coupe is nearly the same thing, but the Prelude was better-looking, and I liked the 4WS.)
AG
Judging Japan by the Corolla is like judging BMW by the Isetta. The Civic, on the other hand, is a damn good FWD car. I sold my G35 and I’m driving my girlfriend’s Civic while I wait to get a dirt cheap MX-5 in the winter. Her previous generation 1.7 liter Civic coupe is amazingly fun (I did make her get it with a manual). Without an LSD it’s hard to avoid one-wheel-drive standing starts, but through the corners it’s incredibly neutral. In normal driving wringing the hell out of the 1.7 is honestly more fun than short shifting the G35 to try to remain at semi-legal speeds ever was.
If you love cruising at high speeds on the freeways a G, M, IS, GS or LS will do the job just as well as any Kraut rolling stock, and with a better warranty and less maintenance.
I have to give credit to Mercedes and BMW for staying true to pure RWD, but Infiniti has accomplished that also, and Lexus is headed that way.
American- because you need something to tow your British/Italian/French/German/Swedish/Japanese car
Everyone makes a big sedan/economy car/sports car
Only Americans make SuperDutys.
I’ve never driven cars that aren’t available in the US but if I’m to believe motoring journalists I would probably like the French cars. I’ve read that the French manufacturers are very good at extracting the most driving pleasure out of the least car possible. Not the old fashioned Citroens and big Peugeots but more like the 10x and 20x series from Peugeot and the Clio from Renault.
I also tend to take Fifth Gear’s opinions a little more serious than Top Gear’s. TGs hosts seem to give out opinions too much based on humor.
Judging Japan by the Corolla would be just like judging Germany by the VW Golf/Rabbit
I’m sure both nations would be glad if you compared the two.
There is no ONE automotive country. A composite is best :
I would buy a car that had the following pedigree:
Basic design – Italian
Engineering – Germany
Interior design – England
Production – Japan
Marketing – USA
Spare parts -China
BTW : I’m Australian and if Australian cars are Knuckle dragging then cars from the U.S are still in the primordial ooze ! The Mustang has still got a live axle and the Corvette is good but is like a Model T compared with other sportscars !
Don’t get me started on your SUV lineup ! Geez
In my closing argument for Japan I present:
-Three amazing generations of MX-5/Miatas.
-Three amazing generations of MR-2s.
-The Corolla ae86.
-The Mitsubishi Starion.
-The third generation RX-7 – one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
-The fourth generation Supra – how great is this car? Just find a stock turbo six-speed and price it.
-The NSX.
-The S14 240SX – a beautiful car with perfect handling, I sorely miss mine.
-The Lexus SC300 5-speed manual.
-The S2000.
-All the Z cars.
-The WRX/EVO rally cars.
-The GT-R.
There is no other country that can touch that record of perfectly executed incredible cars.
And those are just the cars that were exported to America. When the JDM Japanese cars are included Japan is completely untouchable.
You want classics, check out the Toyota 2000GT and the handmade, Fairlady based first generation Silvia, just to start with.
With the MX-5 going strong, the IS and G holding the midsize market, and Toyobaru, Nissan and Mazda all hinting at small RWD coupes (all of which will make the 1-series look like an overpriced also-ran – oh wait, it already does) Japan will likely continue to be my car country of choice well into the future.
I’m with Axel. Swedish cars from the olden days were fabulous antidotes to the accepted brands, freaky looking in a way that delighted people who didn’t need to wear their labels on the outside of their clothes. Bought my first 99, used, in like 1973. It was such an early model it even had freewheel.
What do I drive today, 35 years later? A Volvo V50, for better or worse.
And yes, I’ve spent many delightful hours riding and driving with my hero Eric Carlsson.
I have to agree with you there, but aside from Lotus and Jensen, those are German or US brands you listed.
Of those you listed, only the Lotus really evokes any passion in me. In the case of the MINI, I’d take one, but not in preference to a Civic.
In fact, second to the Elise, I’d have a VX220/Speedster over any of those other brands.
And then there’s the Solstice and Sky — more of the same. And that brings me to the MX-5. How did Mazda, a lightbulb manufacturer manage to produce a car with soul, when all BMW could do with Bentley was remove it?
British, without question. In my garage right now is a 1959 Bugeye Sprite undergoing a renovation and a 2007 Triumph Bonneville — in my eyes one of the best looking bikes for sale today. And I still maintain that a MG TC is one of the best looking cars, ever.
Simple, rugged, and fun. My sort of fun.
American.
I appreciate the japanese manufacturers efficiency and reliability.
I appreciate Italian design, and German engineering (but not german reliability, bleh!)
I, however, really love some of the US cars. I guess the Australian, too, since that is where the G8 originated.
Challenger, G8, CTS, even the Mustangs (which are my least favorite of the breed…) are just awesome. Anything with an SRT that doesn’t end in a -6.
Too much red meat in my diet, maybe.
Look at our top ten and this will tell you where we are weak as car people…
Japan
Japan
England/Germany
Japan
USA
Germany
Japan
Germany
USA
Japan
Without any French or Italian…shows we are not really worldly.
I need to get out more.
I have a passion for the automobile, I guesse that’s the Italian in me.I mostly owned and driven German cars, it’s all in the design details. A couple of VW’s and 3 Audi’s I finally bought a GM………
Saturn Astra that is.
My favorite cars have been Japanese produced improvements on British vehicles. I had a couple Miata’s which are obviously the Japanese version of a British roadster, and the Land Cruiser which is nothing but a Japanese Range Rover.
I would really like to own the nicer, more aesthetically pleasing British versions, but I am just too cheap and easily aggravated by breakdowns.
I liked my BMW 328, but it never really became a favorite. The rest weren’t really all that great.
@rich
I have to agree with you there, but aside from Lotus and Jensen, those are German or US brands you listed.
If you go by ownership, Lotus would be Malaysian.
I am a Hungarian-American Francophile who, due to an unfortunate choice made by my immigrant Grandparents, is marooned in the US.
However, due to the generosity of the US taxpayer, I was able to spend many years in Europe during my military career.
Even before I had first set foot in Germany, I had already owned one Peugeot, One SAAB, and one Renault. I went on to purchase five more Renaults.
Now that I am retired, I try to go back to Europe every year and, if the stay is long enough, lease a new Renault short-term.
Although I would not hesitate to buy a new diesel Kangoo if I lived in Europe, my fondest recollections are of the three Renault 4’s I had at different times. They are the cars that taught me how to have fun with less than 40 horsepower. My only regret concerning French cars is that I never bought a Citroen 2CV when I had the chance.
So, if you’re in Northern Virginia and you see a Honda displaying an EU flag, thet’ll be me.
VIVE LA FRANCE!
One point to remember about American cars verses the rest…
Having been around a bit ( not much of a renter…taxied everywhere), there is no place in the world like the good old USA.
I mean this not as a nationalist but as a traveler.
The things I love about other countries is their mass transportation.
In Vienna, I got about even drunk (yes, I AM the ugly American) using their great u lines.
U2 to U4 to U whatever.
Elsewhere its the Blue line, Green line…whatever line.
Take one to a point, transfer to another…pretty soon you are there and very far from your hotel.
And the trains!
Fast.
Clean.
Popular.
But here, really…you need a car.
My trip from Chicago to southern MO every two weeks alone would make most Europeans international travelers.
Our large open roads have made us a different kind of driver and buyer.
These small, low horse-powered cars sound and look like great fun…but they haven’t a chance on our roads or in our world
Italy most people would have probably figured that one by now. Alfa Romeo specificly followed by Ferrari, Masarati and Lancia.
Probably Czech. There is something about Tatras that really appeals to me. The T603 looks so otherworldly, but I like the T613 and T700 too.
SWEDEN!!
Ich bin ein Deutscher.
USA!
But as for cars, I love my (’99 5 speed) Accord, and I’d love to have a Cayman and a Peugeot 404.