Today on Top Ten Auto we take a look at the top ten executive cars as voted for by our panel of experts from some of the leading car magazines.
Watch to find out which car hits the number one spot!
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Watch to find out which car hits the number one spot!
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss a video!
------------------
Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!
Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!
Our website: http://menandmotors.com/
---- Social Media ----
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menandmotors/
Instagram: @menandmotorstv
Twitter: @menandmotorstv
If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com
© Men and Motors - One Media iP 2023
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MotorTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:30 Hello, this is Dave Lee Travis welcoming you
00:33 to the Top 10 Auto Show.
00:35 This week, we continue our roundup of the top 10 vehicles
00:38 from the main categories of the motor world
00:40 as voted by our panel of editors from the UK's top motoring
00:43 magazines.
00:44 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:47 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:13 This week, we take a look at the cars usually found
01:16 in the reserved spaces in the staff car park
01:18 as we count down the top 10 executive cars of 2001.
01:23 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:29 So to start with, at number 10 is the Vauxhall Omega.
01:34 The styling of this Vauxhall has never
01:36 been one of its greatest strengths.
01:38 The Omega's rather bland and wishy-washy outer shell
01:41 plus a lackluster interior really
01:43 tells the occupants what it is--
01:45 a cut-price executive car.
01:47 But we've come here to praise Caesar, not to bury him.
01:50 It's actually a very comfortable car to travel in.
01:53 And the revisions in 1999 have certainly
01:56 made the cabin a fairly classy place to sit in.
01:58 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:02 Now, moving inside, again, it's an all-new interior.
02:05 Vauxhall have tried to create, well, a touch of luxury.
02:08 And I think they've pretty much succeeded.
02:10 The dashboard has a soft-touch feel to it.
02:13 There's a new center console with heating and ventilation
02:16 controls and a brand-new stereo system, too.
02:18 Now, Vauxhall, like most manufacturers,
02:20 are incorporating a satellite navigation system
02:23 into the car.
02:24 And you can have the option of a 5-inch television monitor
02:26 screen right there, giving you the sat-nav.
02:29 There's plenty of space for passengers
02:31 and some handy storage bins, too.
02:34 The performance of the base model
02:36 is nothing to write home about either.
02:38 And it certainly can't match anything
02:39 from the other German manufacturers.
02:42 The other?
02:43 Of course.
02:44 The Amiga is actually manufactured in Germany.
02:46 Don't tell me you thought it was made in Luton.
02:49 It has to be said that the Amiga was always a decent car
02:52 to drive--
02:52 rear-wheel drive, a decent chassis and setup.
02:55 And if you pick the 3-liter V6, well,
02:58 a real stormer of an engine--
03:00 211 brake horsepower on tap and very respectable 0 to 60
03:04 times of just over 8 seconds, top speed of 150 miles an hour.
03:08 The 3-liter V6, of course, continues into the new range
03:11 in either Elite or MV6 form.
03:14 This is the MV6.
03:15 And this, in my opinion, is the pick of the bunch.
03:18 It gets a lowered sport suspension
03:20 by 15 millimeters, stiffer ride--
03:22 a touch, anyway-- and unique alloy wheels
03:25 and an aluminum dashboard.
03:27 Depreciation on the Amiga is high.
03:30 If you're going to buy new and keep it forever, then fine.
03:33 But this is never going to be the case, is it?
03:35 Let someone else take the early financial knock
03:37 and buy used, say, two or three years old number 10
03:41 in our chart of executive cars, the Vauxhall Amiga.
03:44 [MUSIC PLAYING]
03:48 In at number 9, the Peugeot 607.
04:00 At first glance, you'd be forgiven
04:02 for thinking the 607 is just a bigger 406.
04:05 But a double take shows that it is, of course,
04:07 something quite different.
04:09 Once you're inside the 607, there
04:11 is no doubt that it is a genuine contender
04:14 for the executive class.
04:16 It has everything you'd expect and stands
04:19 very favorable comparison with the interiors of the BMWs
04:23 and, in fact, the Mercedes.
04:25 What I particularly like about it
04:26 is how well the leather and the wood blends together.
04:29 It looks very natural.
04:30 It's very warm and inviting.
04:32 The engine range includes a 2.2 liter petrol, a 2.2 liter
04:37 HDI, and a 3 liter V6.
04:39 So far, the 2.2 liter petrol engine
04:42 has been the biggest seller, although it does seem rather
04:45 underpowered if you're really going to drive the 607 hard.
04:49 And drivability?
04:50 Well, the development of the suspension and handling
04:53 hasn't been an easy ride.
04:54 Bad puns aside, Peugeot were forced
04:56 to go back and do some fine tuning after being
04:59 blasted by the French press.
05:01 But on the snow and ice, our Ken Gibson
05:04 has found plenty to praise, mainly
05:06 the electronic stability control.
05:08 I really have to say this ESP is the business.
05:12 I'm driving on what can be only described as sheet ice
05:16 with a covering of snow.
05:18 And it's handling remarkably.
05:21 It's only when you really push it
05:23 that you can feel the back end go,
05:25 and then it gets corrected again by the system.
05:28 This is a really practical, genuine benefit
05:32 to the ordinary driver.
05:34 Value is the real stumbling block
05:36 of this brave new department for Peugeot.
05:38 They make excellent value small cars that hold the value well.
05:42 However, the executive class is a different ballgame
05:45 altogether.
05:46 So we'll just have to wait and see
05:47 if the depreciation of the Peugeot 607
05:50 is as bad as some pundits predict.
05:52 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:55 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:59 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:02 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:06 In at number eight is the first German car
06:08 in our executive lineup, the Audi A6.
06:12 The Audi A6 is a hugely practical car.
06:15 It has solid construction, big doors to get in and out of.
06:18 Plus, both saloon and avant have enormous load-carrying
06:22 abilities.
06:23 Inside, you'll enjoy really comfortable seating
06:26 and well-thought-out ergonomics, which all add up
06:28 to the positive experience.
06:30 And Richard Hammond seems to like it too.
06:32 It's got everything you could possibly need for middle
06:35 management, middle lane credibility.
06:37 Prestige badge at the front, Audi, very respectable.
06:40 Alloy wheels, flash.
06:42 And most importantly of all, a seriously big number
06:46 on the tailgate, 4.2 liters.
06:49 It's a V8, no less.
06:50 300 brake horsepower.
06:52 Thank you very much, Mr. Fleet Car Manager.
06:55 Have a round of golf on me.
06:57 Very nice, Richard.
06:59 But you'll pay through the nose in taxes
07:00 for a company car like that.
07:02 Not the best way to lure the executive.
07:05 Something that Audi must have had in mind
07:07 when they fitted their newly revised A6 with a range of nine
07:10 different engines, which means they should be
07:12 worn to suit the corporate pocket of even the most
07:14 lowly of lower management.
07:16 But it's not just under the bonnet
07:17 that they've made changes.
07:19 Just because it's a company car doesn't mean
07:20 it doesn't have to look pretty.
07:23 In the style department, the A6 doesn't really
07:25 make a bold statement.
07:27 But that's what many of its fans want.
07:29 This car's styling is perfect for those
07:31 who want to enjoy all the prestige that the A6 offers
07:34 without having to brag to the whole street about it.
07:37 However, impeccable build quality, luxurious cruising,
07:41 generous equipment levels, competitive prices,
07:44 and excellent residual values make the Audi A6
07:47 an impressive executive all-rounder.
07:50 Number eight in our chart of executive cars, the Audi A6.
07:53 [MUSIC PLAYING]
07:57 At number seven is another German offering,
08:09 the Mercedes E-Class.
08:12 The Mercedes E-Class is seen as a safe option for many,
08:15 but maybe too safe.
08:16 The image is the problem here, as the Mercedes brand
08:19 has often been seen as an old person's car.
08:22 Sure, they've tried their best to appeal to new young folk,
08:25 but in the end, you get a solid Mercedes
08:27 with no nonsense practicalities.
08:30 Despite having enough attitude to walk straight
08:32 onto the set of the latest gangster flick,
08:34 it's still very much a Mercedes.
08:36 It feels kind of sensible somewhere.
08:39 The view down the huge bonnet the size of a playing field,
08:41 at the end of which is a little three-pointy star,
08:44 like a target, sweeping across the horizon.
08:47 This is actually enormous fun to drive.
08:49 I don't get it.
08:50 I don't see why you need it, but it's huge fun.
08:52 When it comes to the interior of the Mercedes,
09:05 while in a car that costs money more familiar than an estate
09:08 agent's, you'd expect something a bit more special.
09:10 It is terminally bland, though I suspect
09:13 it will last incredibly well.
09:16 So when it comes to value for money,
09:18 even though the car may seem expensive, as an investment,
09:21 it actually makes a very sensible choice.
09:24 That's what you tell the bank manager anyway.
09:26 At number six, we find an old English classic.
09:43 Owned by the Americans.
09:45 Shh.
09:46 It's the Jaguar S-Type.
09:49 The first thing that strikes you about the S-Type is its looks.
09:52 Styling can be described by one word, retro.
09:56 You may remember that when the S-Type was launched,
09:58 Jaguar wanted to recreate a lot of that style of the '60s.
10:02 And with those twin headlamps, the Mark II style grille,
10:04 and the copious curves, it certainly
10:06 looks more retro than cutting edge.
10:08 Some people feel a little let down by the new small Jaguar.
10:11 It's certainly no rival for the BMW 5 Series
10:14 as a driving machine out on the road.
10:16 And it's not big enough to be a traditional limo.
10:19 However, the Jaguar S-Type has been hugely
10:21 successful for the company.
10:23 And although it's not an obvious practical choice
10:25 for the executive with the family,
10:27 it is an excellent mode of transport
10:29 to whisk the manager and his colleagues
10:31 with their golf clubs in the back for a very upmarket weekend
10:34 away.
10:35 Believe it or not, it's actually the interior of the S-Type
10:37 that surprised me most.
10:39 I was expecting something more like a Jag XJ.
10:42 But instead, well, set your sights
10:44 more like a Mondeo gear.
10:46 It feels all right.
10:46 It's reasonable quality.
10:48 But the colors, it's so dark.
10:50 And this nasty walnut trim, this is definitely
10:52 geared for the American market.
10:54 And Jaguar are the first to admit that it needs a change.
10:57 In fact, it is due for a facelift.
11:00 But who really cares about all this?
11:02 What the majority of buyers want from a Jaguar
11:04 is the badge on the front of the car.
11:06 And this car's got one.
11:09 Number six in our chart of executive cars,
11:12 the Jag S-Type.
11:13 At number five is the only Japanese car
11:30 in the executive top 10, the Lexus GS300.
11:35 25 years ago, no one would believe
11:37 that any Japanese car would be considered an executive class,
11:41 especially since German cars seem
11:42 to have ruled the roost in this category since time began.
11:46 However, the midsize Lexus, the GS300,
11:49 puts a convincing case forward.
11:51 The new version retains much of the look of the original.
11:54 But it's under the skin where you'll
11:55 find most of the improvements.
11:57 We've got everything in here that we need.
11:59 Straight away, we've got plenty of wood
12:01 and acres and acres of leather.
12:02 We've also got loads of buttons that
12:03 would indicate we've got plenty of kit.
12:05 And the sexiest sat-nav setup I've ever seen on any production
12:08 car, I reckon.
12:10 There's no doubt as well it's got
12:10 the usual incredibly high standard of fit and finish
12:13 we'd expect in a Lexus.
12:15 Only downside is, like a lot of the girls
12:17 I used to date, oddly enough, the one thing it is lacking
12:20 is any kind of passion.
12:22 Once you get the thing rolling, the first thing you notice
12:24 is the first thing you don't notice.
12:26 Noise.
12:27 There isn't any.
12:28 In fact, if it wasn't for the rather garish rev counter
12:31 showing a measly few hundred revs,
12:33 you wouldn't know you were running at all.
12:35 It's just going to be rolling.
12:36 An impressive package the Lexus GS300 may be,
12:39 we feel that the list price is not great value.
12:42 Unless you can get an excellent discount, which is unlikely,
12:45 you'll be mightily shocked by the depreciation
12:48 over a couple of years.
12:49 And those fuel bills are not going to be small.
12:52 However, if you don't want to be seen as just following
12:54 the pack, the Lexus is a very credible alternative
12:58 in the executive car sector.
13:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
13:04 Hello, this is Dave Lee Travis, welcoming you
13:16 to the Top 10 Auto Show.
13:18 This week, the top 10 executive cars of 2001.
13:29 At number four, we have the car from the Swedish makers
13:32 of jet fighters.
13:32 It is the Saab 9-5.
13:36 Once upon a time, the Saab Car Company
13:38 were quite content in bringing out unusual left field cars.
13:42 Since the takeover by General Motors,
13:43 however, the company has had to launch cars that
13:46 are more commercially viable.
13:47 The result, the 9-5, has been a remarkable success for Saab.
13:52 Even though the 9-5 is an all new car,
13:55 it does look remarkably like the outgoing 9000 series.
13:58 But for the real Saab fan, there is
14:00 the cockpit, which must take inspiration
14:02 from their aircraft.
14:04 With the instruments banked in front of you,
14:06 you feel very much like you're in control of an aircraft.
14:09 And one other typical Saab feature
14:10 as well, the ignition key mounted down here
14:13 on the transmission tunnel.
14:15 They've always done it, and it looks like they always will.
14:17 Doesn't mean you can lock the gearbox as well.
14:20 The performance of the Saab 9-5 is excellent.
14:23 It may not be quite as sporty as some of the competition,
14:25 but you feel that the engine under the bonnet
14:27 will really do the business out on the open road.
14:30 And don't forget, there's also Saab's legendary turbocharger.
14:34 The best way to enjoy a 9-5 is to sit back, calm and unruffle.
14:38 Think Club Class again on a long intercontinental flight.
14:41 Just reserve that acceleration for takeoff
14:43 and maybe a bit of overtaking.
14:45 But be warned, when you do come to land,
14:47 you might find the brakes are a bit of a surprise.
14:49 It's not that they're not there, they are.
14:51 But you will have to give the pedal a bit of a prop.
14:54 Most Saabs tend to keep their value well over the years.
14:57 But if you fall in love with the Saab 9-5,
14:59 you may want to keep it for years and years and years.
15:03 At number three from Italy, the Alfa Romeo 166.
15:21 When considering buying an Alfa Romeo,
15:23 there's one overriding factor that eclipses all others.
15:27 But look beyond the badge
15:29 and you'll notice something else about the 166.
15:32 It's big.
15:33 It actually feels comfortably sized as well.
15:37 It doesn't feel tinny and small.
15:38 You feel you're in something substantial and solid
15:40 with plenty of road presence.
15:43 The Alfa Romeo 166 offers a rare touch of flair
15:46 in the line-up with other rather sober-looking executive cruisers.
15:50 Just like a Mickey Mouse tie in a stuffy boardroom,
15:53 the 166's stylish Italian design cheers you up just by looking at it.
15:57 On the road, the Alfa 166 carries you along in hushed luxury
16:01 until you put your foot down.
16:03 Then the distinctive Alfa roar and the great acceleration
16:06 reminds you that this is much more than just a motorway cruiser.
16:10 And also it's not short of go.
16:13 Because it certainly isn't underpowered.
16:15 This particular version has a 3-litre V6,
16:17 which apart from sounding glorious, which it does,
16:21 it also provides plenty of oomph right through the rev range
16:24 where, ebby-wah in whatever gear, there's always power to hand.
16:27 Oh, and talking about the gears, we've got six of them.
16:30 They're not the slickest operating thing in the world, but they ain't bad.
16:34 We think that the high level of standard equipment
16:36 makes the 166 excellent value for money
16:39 and compensates for the steeper depreciation
16:42 than some of its German counterparts can enjoy.
16:44 (MUSIC)
16:47 And so to the runner-up in our top ten, at number two, the Volvo S80.
17:03 When the Volvo S80 was first released on the unsuspecting world,
17:07 we then realised that this was the shape of things to come.
17:11 The bigger shock was that this was only going to be a saloon.
17:14 No estate from the company which was famous for them.
17:17 Absolutely.
17:19 For Volvo, the S80 was going to show the world
17:22 that this was how they would build an executive car for the 21st century.
17:27 Although not as engaging as, say, the Saab 9-5,
17:31 or as exhilarating as the BMW 5-series,
17:34 the S80 offers a very different sort of driving experience.
17:37 In fact, you'd be surprised what this Volvo can do.
17:41 Now, if the engine in the Jag was respectable middle England,
17:44 well, this thing has got a nutty Swede under the bonnet.
17:47 Again, it's a V6, but this time it's turbocharged,
17:50 giving you 270 brake horsepower.
17:53 And that acceleration is ridiculous.
17:56 It'll get you to 60 in a shade over seven seconds.
17:59 And that's a figure that most sports cars would be proud of.
18:04 If you were put off by the firm ride
18:06 that others in this class needed to have
18:08 to offer a sporty driving experience,
18:10 then the Volvo has been designed for you.
18:12 The handling is good, and the 2.4 SE provides adequate performance.
18:17 Plus, the S80 is bristling with equipment.
18:20 This makes the car a pretty good buy.
18:22 However, Volvo has been obsessed with giving potential purchasers
18:26 choices in so many areas that second-hand cars
18:29 in all different colours and trims are difficult to price.
18:32 But maybe when it settles down,
18:34 this car will get a strong resale value like its German counterparts.
18:38 (MUSIC)
18:41 So, let's run down the top ten executive cars of 2001 so far
18:50 from ten to two.
18:52 (MUSIC)
18:55 Down at number ten, bland outside, comfy in, the Vauxhall Omega.
19:01 In at number nine, no, it's not the 406, it's the Peugeot 607.
19:06 Motoring in at number eight, it has everything,
19:08 but not enough to get any higher, the Audi A6.
19:12 And at number seven, the safe option, the Mercedes E-Class.
19:16 At number six, the English classic with American owners,
19:19 the Jaguar S-Type.
19:21 Midway at number five, the only Japanese car in the running,
19:25 the Lexus GS300.
19:27 Flying in at number four, they make planes and cars
19:30 you'll want to keep for years, Saab's 95.
19:34 Getting close to the top spot at number three, the Alfa 166.
19:38 Almost there at number two, built like a tank, goes like a rocket,
19:42 the Volvo S80.
19:44 And so, to the number one executive car of 2001,
19:48 as voted for by a panel of editors of the UK's top car magazines.
19:52 (MUSIC)
19:58 It is the one and only BMW 5 Series.
20:02 The 5 Series awards cabinet must be very full at the moment
20:06 as it's won so many awards over the years.
20:08 In practical terms, the car will give you a large family vehicle
20:12 that will keep the driver very happy as well.
20:14 He or she will be happy with the executive cabin,
20:17 the levels of comfort, as well as the 5 Series' world-renowned driving abilities.
20:22 BMW have ensured that the car has been continuously revised
20:26 regularly to keep ahead of the pack.
20:28 Maybe there could be an inch or two more space in the rear passenger area,
20:32 but overall, it's a highly impressive practical package.
20:35 Basically, the only base version is the SE,
20:39 on which you get pretty much everything.
20:41 Electric seats, air conditioning, all that kind of stuff.
20:43 Costs you about £35,140.
20:46 To spec it up to this, the Sport, it's gained the M-type suspension
20:50 and huge alloy wheels, a nice fancy steering wheel,
20:54 a few body styling details, another two and a half grand,
20:57 thank you very much, taking it to a total of £37,640.
21:02 To some designer gurus, BMW have lost their way in the styling department.
21:06 To others, their cars are leading the way that the others will follow.
21:10 The critics argue that the traditional kidney grille and the chrome trim
21:14 is a little dated and the dash is on the cluttered side.
21:17 The rest of the interior is rather sober but practical and ergonomic.
21:21 We score it highly here.
21:23 Full marks for the 5 Series with its performance and recent refinements
21:27 and tweaks which have improved output in both power and emissions.
21:31 Of course, we'd all like to buy the top of the range, stunning M5 model,
21:35 offering 0-60 in about 5 seconds, but at a price of £52,000,
21:40 it's probably a bit out of our reach.
21:49 So, congratulations to BMW with the number one slot for this year's series.
21:54 This has been Dave Lee Travis saying thanks for watching
21:57 and we'll see you next week for the top 10 mid-sized estates.
22:01 See you then.
22:02 [Music]
22:31 (upbeat music)