Today on The Top Ten Auto Show, Ken Gibson, Ginny Buckley, Glenda McKay, Richard Hammond, Chris Goffey and Ian Royle take a look at the top ten image cars. The cars you buy when the heart rules the head all to give that first class impression!
Which will leave our panel with a first class impression!
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Which will leave our panel with a first class impression!
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
Category
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MotorTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:31 I'm Dave Lee Travis, and this is the Top 10 Auto Show,
00:35 featuring a category we're going to call image cars.
00:38 These are the cars you buy when the heart rules the head
00:41 and when the badge and the styling
00:42 are both important to give a first class impression.
00:45 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:48 First up at number 10, it's the motor for Her Majesty,
00:54 the Bentley.
00:55 Now, of course, the queen won't be getting just
00:57 your basic honors like this.
01:00 Excuse me, did I say basic?
01:02 This Bentley and ours won't give you much change out of 150 grand,
01:06 can you believe?
01:07 The car brings out descriptions such as sumptuously appointed
01:10 or a gentleman's express and is a derivative of the Rolls-Royce
01:14 Silver Serie.
01:15 Unlike its famous stable mate, the Rolls-Royce,
01:19 it's got a much wider appeal.
01:21 Everybody from pop stars, Hollywood legends,
01:25 obviously the rich, but even lottery winners,
01:28 all go for the Bentley.
01:30 It's got something different.
01:32 Bentleys have always enjoyed a more sporty, cooler image
01:35 than rollers.
01:36 You know, that's why Bentley is in this top 10.
01:39 It's got stiffened suspension, a stiffened body shell,
01:43 and it gives it an amazing agility
01:46 for a car that's just under 18 foot long
01:49 and just over six foot wide.
01:52 The way it handles really does take some believing at times.
01:56 But why only at number 10?
01:57 Well, the sky-high image comes at a big price,
02:00 making big dents in the wallet, filling station,
02:02 and service bay after the initial purchase price.
02:05 But if you've got the cash, the Bentley Honnage
02:07 comes stacked with equipment and power under the pedal
02:10 to make ownership a pleasure.
02:11 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:24 At number nine, a car which is as brash and American
02:28 as the Bentley is exuding English gentlemanly charm.
02:31 If they ever made a car version of the Persuaders,
02:34 the Bentley would be Roger Moore,
02:35 and the Viper would be Tony Curtis.
02:38 This mean Chrysler is a real all-American muscle car.
02:42 It turns heads wherever it grunts its way around.
02:45 It has astonishing performance from one of the largest engines
02:48 you can get in a UK street legal car,
02:50 with a capacity of eight fuel-draining liters.
02:53 This power will get you up to 60 in under four seconds,
02:57 where it is safe to do so, and is
02:59 one of a long list of plus points
03:01 to brag about to your mates.
03:03 Unfortunately, the Viper has an even longer list
03:05 of negative points, including a cramped interior, security,
03:09 and poor refinement.
03:10 But if you're a guy who needs a powerful bruiser of a set
03:13 of wheels to impress your girl, you
03:15 can't go wrong with the Viper.
03:16 Strap her in and let her experience
03:18 the thrill of the ride in this beast,
03:20 and she'll never look back.
03:21 Or go out with that other guy with the Nissan Micra.
03:24 At number eight in our top 10 of image cars
03:40 is a genuine off-roader which doesn't know the meaning
03:42 of the word utility.
03:44 The Lexus RX 300 really looks the business,
03:50 and gives an executive limousine ride
03:52 combined with the classy leather and wood interior
03:55 to create an image car of standing.
03:57 The Lexus RX 300 comes in at about 30 grand,
04:00 but makes a far more convincing case
04:02 than any of its direct rivals, such as the Discovery or M
04:06 class.
04:06 If anyone sneers at the Japanese origins of the Lexus,
04:19 simply say that the RX 300 has been an enormous success
04:22 story with well-heeled middle classes in the States.
04:25 The ride is hushed and refined.
04:27 The cabin is a big and airy one.
04:30 And the vehicle is so very practical.
04:32 Yet the image projected is really high as well.
04:35 So the three liter engine can only
04:43 give you about 16 miles around town,
04:46 and the off-roader ability could be stronger.
04:48 But if the Viper was to impress the girl who enjoys thrills,
04:52 this RX 300 will wow the girl who enjoys refinement, luxury,
04:56 and practicality.
04:57 The Lexus RX 300, number eight in our top 10 of image cars.
05:08 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:12 At number seven, it's back to the stable
05:34 of brash stateside cars, but this time
05:36 with rather more breeding than the crude, muscular Viper.
05:40 This is the Chevrolet Corvette.
05:42 This is one of those cars that will instantly create a stir
05:45 when you enter the car park.
05:46 They'll think you must be a rock star or a top footballer,
05:49 or maybe you're just a car-loving guy who appreciates
05:52 power and performance.
05:54 Here's an image car which really makes jaws drop.
05:56 And when you start showing off the onboard gear,
05:58 your friends will start to salivate like the starving dogs
06:02 they are.
06:02 Just a view of the huge V8 engine is exciting.
06:06 This combined with the extrovert body curves
06:08 emphasizes the wow factor.
06:10 And when one of your passengers gets beside you,
06:13 you can demonstrate the power you have under the pedal.
06:16 Honestly, this is scary supercar territory
06:18 here at about 30 grand, which relatively speaking,
06:21 is a bargain.
06:22 The Chevrolet Corvette, number seven in our top 10
06:25 of top image cars.
06:26 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:30 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:34 At number six, it's the Audi A2, which
06:36 after the stunning looks of the Corvette
06:38 may seem rather bland.
06:40 Not at all.
06:41 Quite often, the image that your choice exudes
06:43 is determined not just by how it looks,
06:45 but by many other factors.
06:48 This is the new Audi A2, the world's first high volume
06:51 production car made entirely from this aluminum.
06:55 It's also got a service module at the front,
06:57 so you don't need to open the bonnet and get your hands
07:00 dirty.
07:00 It's bigger than an A3.
07:03 So anything more to tell you?
07:05 Can't think of anything.
07:07 This Audi is the choice of the thinking man
07:09 who cares for the environment.
07:11 And if these factors are going to impress your girl,
07:13 go for it.
07:14 First of all, the Audi A2 is a very light car
07:17 using a lot of aluminum, even on the space frame.
07:20 So it's not going to be a problem for you
07:22 to get around the car.
07:23 But it's got a lot of aluminum, even on the space frame.
07:25 So it needs less power to propel it.
07:27 So what engines are available in the A2 range?
07:30 Well, only two, both 1.4 engines, a diesel and a petrol.
07:34 The diesel is a three cylinder TDI,
07:36 producing 75 brake horsepower.
07:39 Fairly respectable acceleration time, 0 to 60
07:42 of about 12 seconds, and a top speed of about 110 miles
07:46 an hour.
07:46 But it's the fuel economy where you really notice, boy,
07:49 will it sip juice, doing over 66 miles
07:52 to the gallon on the combined route.
07:55 75 brake horsepower may seem tiny,
07:57 but it's perfectly adequate here.
07:59 And it's good for your pocket at the fuel pumps,
08:01 as well as for Mother Earth.
08:03 The A2 is cleverly designed to give a lot of space
08:06 over a small wheelbase and seats fall comfortably.
08:09 Ride and handling isn't bad, considering the higher
08:11 center of gravity.
08:12 And the cabin finish is first class.
08:15 If you own an A2, it shows you're a leader, not a follower.
08:18 And a man who'd rather not blow cash on power and show,
08:21 but spend your earnings on a sensible but interesting car
08:24 that really is a leader in current automotive technology.
08:28 The Audi A2, number six in our top 10 of image cars.
08:31 [MUSIC PLAYING]
08:35 At number five, another image car
08:46 with a futuristic exterior view, the Renault Avanti,
08:49 literally meaning ahead of its time.
08:51 This car has been on sale on the continent for over a year.
08:54 And many cool individuals have imported them to the UK
08:57 before the right-hand driving versions launched this month.
09:00 OK, so it's really an espace under all
09:03 the astonishing exterior styling.
09:04 But things have been improved immensely
09:06 from the original family MPV brief.
09:09 And the Avanti can now be confidently pigeonholed
09:12 as an executive car.
09:14 The Renault Avanti may be a transient flash
09:16 in the pan in the automotive world.
09:18 Some can't really see many other manufacturers
09:21 following Renault's lead here.
09:22 Yet, for the right type of owner,
09:24 it could be perfect to project as a strong image
09:27 of individuality and enthusiasm.
09:29 There's nothing else on earth like the Renault Avanti.
09:32 So if you don't want to follow the crowd,
09:34 this could be the ultimate image car for you.
09:37 The Avanti, number five in our top 10 of image cars.
09:40 [MUSIC PLAYING]
09:44 Join us after the break as we continue our countdown
09:50 towards the number one image car of 2001.
10:00 I'm Dave Lee Travis.
10:01 And this is the Top 10 Auto Show,
10:03 featuring a category we're going to call image cars.
10:06 Straight in at number four, the car
10:14 that started off this current craze of image-conscious wheels,
10:17 the new Volkswagen Beetle.
10:19 Well, it's a Volkswagen.
10:20 So these days, that's pretty much a cert.
10:22 And after all, what you're parting with your money for
10:25 is basically a Golf with a cute retro exterior stuck
10:28 on the top.
10:29 The suspension, the steering, and the chassis
10:31 are all from the Golf, as is the two-liter engine, which
10:34 it shares with the Golf GTI.
10:36 And when you get inside, you discover
10:39 that plenty of the switchgear looks spookily familiar
10:42 as well.
10:43 Now, take heart, all you nostalgia fans,
10:46 because the interior may look very modern.
10:48 But there is a hint of '60s flower power.
10:51 A Budweiser.
10:52 The flower's optional, of course.
10:54 For under 13 grand, you can enjoy the eye-catching curves
10:57 of the Beetle, with all the retro charm of the original,
11:00 but without the reliability problems and crude dynamics.
11:04 Look for the engine in the new Beetle, of course,
11:06 and you'll find it up front, not the back,
11:08 as the car is based on the Volkswagen Golf.
11:11 There are loads of advantages to this, of course,
11:13 with superb quality, reliability, and refinement.
11:17 When you go for a drive in the new Beetle,
11:18 small children wave at you.
11:20 Other road users smile fondly as you pass them by.
11:23 And even the white van driver will stop and let you in
11:27 instead of carving you up.
11:29 It's all very unusual.
11:31 And yes, it's all very friendly and all very nice.
11:34 But I can't help feeling a bit silly driving this car.
11:38 You feel very conspicuous, especially when the color
11:41 is bright banana yellow.
11:43 The main drawback comes from the necessity
11:45 to create that old Beetle-shaped sweeping curve
11:48 for over the roof line, which means that headroom in the back
11:51 is severely compromised.
11:52 Still, if you'll be using this Beetle for you
11:55 and your cool life partner, you'll
11:56 never notice this drawback.
11:58 Just stick a flower in your bud vase,
12:00 put on some psychedelic groove on the stereo,
12:02 and you'll be away.
12:03 The new Volkswagen Beetle at number four.
12:06 [MUSIC PLAYING]
12:09 [MUSIC PLAYING]
12:13 [MUSIC PLAYING]
12:16 [MUSIC PLAYING]
12:20 At the number three position, it's the revolutionary smart
12:22 car from MMC.
12:24 Hang on.
12:25 MMC?
12:26 Don't I mean Swatch or Mercedes?
12:28 Well, both these companies were involved in the early days
12:31 with this project.
12:32 But MMC are now the owners of this mark.
12:34 The situation is rather complicated, unlike the car.
12:38 The designers simply wanted a machine
12:40 to transport people around town or the city
12:42 in the smallest possible size and the best possible style.
12:46 Bring on the smart, the plastic-paneled mighty midget
12:49 that's been a huge hit across Europe
12:51 and is now taking the UK by storm
12:53 now that it's made in right-hand drive form.
12:56 Now, although the smart car is obviously a lot quirkier
12:59 looking than the Mercedes, it's actually quite comfortable,
13:02 easy, and surprisingly grown up to drive.
13:05 And once you're behind the wheel,
13:07 you feel like you're in a much bigger car.
13:10 Well, maybe not that big.
13:12 If you're a trendy city dweller, the smart
13:14 is the perfect accessory to a loft apartment, polished floors,
13:17 and a bread-making machine.
13:19 It's got far more than just fashion accessory status,
13:22 though, as it makes a lot of sense
13:23 if you only need a car for short trips around town.
13:26 Critics say that car park spaces and fees
13:29 are the same whatever the size of car.
13:31 This is missing the point.
13:33 The three-cylinder 43-brake horsepower engine
13:35 hardly uses any juice in those inevitable jams.
13:38 And where there is on-street parking,
13:40 you can even get away with sideways parking.
13:42 The thing is so small.
13:44 But the smart scores in the image stakes
13:46 thanks to the fact that everyone wants to talk about it
13:48 when you drive up.
13:50 Now, because this car is so light
13:52 and the wheelbase is so short,
13:54 cornering is loads of fun and effortless, but beware.
13:58 The 600cc engine means it's got enough grunt
14:01 to easily get you out of shape on the corners.
14:04 This car was not designed for the windy country roads.
14:08 And if you go too fast into a bend,
14:10 you're going to frighten yourself.
14:12 Forget motorway cruising,
14:14 but if you want to be the top cat in your urban alley,
14:16 get smart.
14:17 It's at number three.
14:32 Number two is a bizarre, outstanding car
14:34 that hasn't been seen much on the UK roads,
14:36 as it's hopelessly impractical and expensive.
14:39 But boy, what an image.
14:41 In America, the Plymouth badge is no more,
14:43 so these should really be Chrysler Prowlers.
14:47 This is a name that's much more familiar, Plymouth.
14:49 And this is the Prowler.
14:50 It's the only hot rod made by a mass manufacturer.
14:55 So, why do so many people want a car like this?
14:58 The answer, it's dramatic good looks.
15:00 I mean, it really stunned the motoring press
15:03 when it was first shown at the 1996 International Motor Show.
15:07 When you own a Prowler, you're guaranteed fantastic exclusivity
15:10 because the way the car is designed
15:12 means that it will never be granted
15:14 full production car status in the UK.
15:16 And Chrysler, who make Plymouth,
15:18 say they're not prepared to compromise
15:20 and change the car just for British law.
15:24 I could bore you with the reasons,
15:26 including the size and height of the bumpers and lights,
15:28 but let's just dwell on the incredible looks
15:31 of this 1950s throwback.
15:33 The concept is simple.
15:34 You take the classic lines of the old American hot rod,
15:38 an aluminium chassis,
15:39 aluminium independent suspension, front and back,
15:43 a 3.5-litre V6 engine
15:45 chucking out something over 220 brake horsepower,
15:49 four-speed automatic transmission,
15:51 and there it is.
15:52 The essence of the old hot rods was their simplicity.
15:55 And despite its dramatic looks,
15:58 the Prowler hasn't really changed any of that.
16:01 This is not a car for doing the weekly shop in,
16:04 but one for cruising at car meetings
16:05 with your best girl by your side.
16:07 We find nothing else touches the Prowler
16:09 for sheer image quality.
16:11 Chrysler claim that this has European standards
16:14 of steering, road holding, and handling.
16:18 Not quite sure where they get those European standards from.
16:22 It's very light aluminium chassis,
16:24 aluminium suspension, and a composite body shell
16:26 means the whole thing is very light.
16:28 So, even though it's a V6,
16:32 it's a nice car.
16:33 Before we reveal the number one in the top 10 of image cars,
16:49 let's run down the charts so far.
16:52 (upbeat music)
16:54 At number 10, the stately Bentley.
16:59 At number nine, the mean Chrysler Viper.
17:02 At number eight, the luxurious off-roader,
17:05 the Lexus RX 300.
17:07 At number seven, the stateside bruiser,
17:10 the Chevrolet Corvette.
17:12 At number six, the high-tech aluminium Audi A2.
17:16 At number five, the futuristic Renault Avanti.
17:19 At number four, Volkswagen's new Beetle
17:21 for the 21st century.
17:24 Number three, the tiny but mighty MMC Smart Car.
17:28 And at number two, the phenomenal Prowler.
17:31 So, what is the number one car?
17:33 At number one in our top 10 of image cars,
17:41 the MINI comes zooming in to take the honours.
17:44 The design inspired from the original classic MINI
17:46 with BMW's knowledge and expertise
17:49 have produced an amazing little car
17:50 that improves on the original in all ways,
17:53 but still retains its spirit.
17:55 Okay, so this MINI can trace its ancestry
17:57 back to the old one in much the same way
17:59 that all Americans trace theirs to Bonnie Prince Charlie
18:02 or Her Majesty the Queen.
18:04 But it looks right, it looks like a MINI
18:06 is a fantastic modern interpretation of an old design.
18:11 Waiting lists are still long,
18:12 and this highly desirable gem
18:14 is going to keep its value for a while as well.
18:16 But you're not going to buy this as an investment.
18:19 They're a real statement as to who you are.
18:22 The styling looks good to non-car lovers,
18:24 but those of us who know and love the original MINI
18:26 will be in ecstasy taking in every curve and line
18:29 of this wonderful homage to a great British institution.
18:33 The interior is superb.
18:35 Nowhere this side of an Audi TT
18:37 do you get this kind of attention to detail.
18:40 Everywhere, nothing is wasted.
18:42 Huge dinner plate-sized almost speeder in the middle
18:44 harks back to the old car.
18:46 A nice touch on this, the Cooper one,
18:48 is mounted on the steering column,
18:50 we have the rev counter.
18:52 And everywhere, the steering wheel,
18:53 it houses an airbag, but it still looks great.
18:56 And down here, this row of toggle switches
18:58 to operate the fog lights and the windows look fantastic.
19:01 Overall, it might look a bit nary for some tastes,
19:04 but one thing, it feels very, very well put together.
19:09 Behind the wheel, you'll enjoy a great driving position
19:11 and an entertaining performance
19:13 from the 1.6 litre four-cylinder engine under the bonnet.
19:16 Oh, yep, yep, uh-huh, this is definitely a Mini.
19:19 Same old ride.
19:20 No, that's not true at all.
19:21 It doesn't do that in the slightest.
19:23 But it does feel like a Mini.
19:25 You're kind of aware that it's been manufactured
19:27 and it turns in quickly like a Mini
19:29 and you can feel that four-square stance.
19:32 It still feels nippy and quick and exciting.
19:35 It's a lot of fun to drive.
19:37 The old Mini certainly didn't over-cater
19:41 in the boot department and the story is similar here.
19:43 It's not exactly massive,
19:44 but access is a million times better
19:46 thanks to this proper hatch
19:48 and these folding seats, very useful.
19:51 And there are loads of other big differences too,
19:55 like I don't remember there being frameless windows
19:58 on the original Mini.
19:59 And you couldn't impress your friends
20:01 just by opening the bonnet.
20:03 Look at that.
20:05 Et voila.
20:05 Good news here too, because this engine,
20:07 not made in the 1950s, modern BMW 1.6 litre.
20:11 Because it's built like a BMW,
20:13 you'll have no more reliability hassles
20:15 that you had to endure with the old Mini.
20:17 It's incredible really that we used to go out in Minis
20:19 as our first cars.
20:20 I mean, by today's standards, the things are death traps.
20:23 You may as well drive a damp paper cup
20:25 into a 40 ton Arctic and expect to walk away.
20:28 So for the new one,
20:29 obviously things are a heck of a lot better.
20:30 Not just the structure of the thing being more sturdy,
20:33 but we've got airbags everywhere as well
20:34 and brakes that work.
20:36 So you do stand a chance of walking away
20:38 from a collision with a hedgehog at least.
20:40 Of course, this means you'll have less fun
20:41 in the garage at weekends,
20:43 but would you rather spend your time
20:44 enjoying this fantastic machine,
20:46 showing it off to your mates,
20:47 or trying to fix a dodgy mechanical job in your garage?
20:50 So what do you get for your 10 and a half grand?
20:58 Well, it's got all the build quality of a BMW.
21:01 It is a BMW and it looks fantastic.
21:04 All right, so it's a bit cramped in the boot
21:05 for your shopping.
21:06 Put it on the back seat.
21:08 I mean, look at this thing.
21:09 It may not tempt Fiesta buyers away
21:11 any more than you'd tempt them out of Marks and Spencers
21:13 with the offer of a pink zoot suit.
21:15 But BMW reckon of the hundred thousand or so
21:17 they're gonna make next year,
21:18 they should sell 20,000 in the UK.
21:21 Me, I agree with them.
21:22 You can keep your little toy cars,
21:23 your MX-5s and MGFs.
21:25 I'd have one of these every time.
21:27 The new Mini is a revolution in quality,
21:30 reliability and image,
21:31 and rightly attains the number one slot
21:33 in our top 10 of image cars of the year.
21:36 (upbeat music)
21:38 This is Dave Lee Travis saying bye for now.
21:46 We'll see you next week when we'll be taking a look
21:48 at the top 10 selling cars in the UK for last year.
21:51 See you then.
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