About Cars

The West Midlands is the home of the British Car Industry.
Car manufacturing has dominated the region for around 100 years from West Bromwich to Worcestershire and Cannock to Coventry. Sadly the industry is rapidly depleting with the closure of Longbridge and many of the other makes either defunct or owned by American or German parents. Only a handful of independent British car makers remain. These are all small companies producing low volume hand built sports cars, like the Morgan, that only the British really know how to make

Below is a list of main car manufacturers associated with or still operating in the West Midlands. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Look further back and you will find great names like Alvis, Singer, Hillman, etc - all long gone.

Still hanging on
Aston Martin - Now operating out of the former Rover Group Test facility at Gaydon in Warwickshire.
Jaguar - Was Coventry but the famous Browns Lane factory is closed with production now only at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham.
Land Rover - Solihull - for now
Marcos - Kenilworth
Mini - Was Birmingham (now built in Oxford)
Morgan - Worcestershire
Reliant - Cannock

Gone, but not forgotten
Austin - Birmingham
Daimler - Coventry (with Jaguar)
Jensen - West Bromwich
MG - Birmingham (with Rover albeit originally from Oxford). The one car brand with any possibility still of survival.
Morris - Birmingham (with Austin albeit originally from Oxford)
Peugeot - Coventry
Rover - Coventry, Solihull & Birmingham - Rumours of a resurgence still persist
Triumph - Coventry

Buying A Car

Buying a car, used or new, is a decision based more on emotion than logic. We are, of course, interested in price, second hand values, fuel consumption, luggage space, the number of airbags, warranty servicing costs and all those other practical issues; but what drives us most is 'do we like it'. Style is the biggest factor driving the purchase decision although, one look at the popular cars on our roads could force you to wonder what style means. Style is a personal and subjective thing. With cars it can mean "nothing too flash" to … well, you know what an E-type Jag looks like, don't you.

Opinions or Facts

The comments against each car manufacturer are the personal view of CarHunt founder, Charles Rapson (pictured top right). Charles spent 30 years working in the motor industry and is therefore as qualified as anyone to make comment. But, like all comment, it is opinion and subjective. Ultimately, you decide what you like and don't like and ignore the critics and pundits and your next-door neighbours. Even ignore the views below … if you're brave enough.

It is however sensible to look at the facts before parting with any hard earned cash. The last thing you want is for your dream car to turn into a nightmare.

The Reliability Index provides a useful indicator of car reliability based on millions of pounds worth of real warranty claims.

Car Manufacturers - Alphabetical

Scroll down to find the car brand you are interested in. If you want to agree, disagree, add to or comment on any of the following, please e-mail us at comments@CarHunt.co.uk. We cant promise to answer your e-mail but we will read it. We make no promise that it will change our opinion.

Manufacturers who wish to have a link from this section should contact us at links@CarHunt.co.uk. This wont change our views either.

In Our Opinion ...

Best Small Car Honda Jazz
Best Mid Sized Family Car VW Golf
Best Large Family Car Ford Mondeo
Best Small MPV Renault Scenic
Best Large MPV Ford S-Max
Best Sports Car MG TF
Best Luxury Car Jaguar XJ

By Manufacturer

AC
Surrey based AC gets it's name from the original vehicle it produced in 1908 - a 3 wheel delivery van called the Autocarrier. AC struggled through troubled times for the past 3 decades but survived. The latest speculation concerns a plan to build AC cars in New York. If you've never experienced an AC you've never lived. If you want to know what its like, consider this marketing slogan "AC Cobra - for people who want to make a real noise".

Best used AC Cobra of any description.

ALFA ROMEO
Sporty brand within the Fiat group known for their style and performance. The reputation they once had for rust is out of date as Alfa's built in the last 10 years or so are rather good - and very stylish. Don't expect 100% reliability, as these are highly-strung and temperamental performance saloons.

Best Used Alfa 156

CarHunt.co.uk Most Beautiful Car Award
ASTON MARTIN
The most beautiful cars in the world. James Bond (when he was Sean Connery) drove an Aston. The epitome of classic British sports cars. Aston Martin's only real blemish was the Lagonda of the late 70's and early 80's. Now owned by Ford as part of their Premier Auto Group (PAG) and hence a stable mate of Jaguar. PGA appear to understand the brands they are custodians of and todays Astons are as good, if not better, than past gems.

Best Used Aston Martin There isn't a bad Aston Martin. Whatever you can afford in the best condition and lowest mileage possible.

AUDI
In the 70's and 80's Audi was on a par, desirability wise, with Rover and Volvo but it all started to change with the Audi Quattro and continued with the A4, A6, A8 cars of the 90's and the latest generation of 'A' cars today. A serious and credible rival to the BMW/Merc throne. Part of the Volkswagen-Audi group (VAG).

Best Used Audi A4

AUSTIN
A once proud car brand was reduced to cars such as the Allegro and Maestro after it was absorbed into the British Leyland monster. Such a pity when it once produced some remarkable cars like the Mini. What most people don't know is that, if it hadn't been for Austin, BMW would not be around today. Austin gave BMW its first car, the Austin 7, to build under licences as the BMW Dixie.

Best Used Austin Early Mini or Montego Estate (honest)

BENTLEY
Sister, or is it brother to Rolls Royce and now owned by the Volkswagen-Audi Group (VAG). The company started in 1912 when the Bentley family started importing cars from France. W.O. Bentley was determined to produce fast cars and introduced the aluminium piston as a way of reducing weight and friction. Bentley is a legend in the world of motor sport with the 'Bentley boys' dominating race circuits like Le Mans for many years. During the bleak 1930's, Bentley hit financial problems and was rescued by Rolls Royce.

Best Used Bentley Anything with low mileage and not too expensive

BMW
The ultimate driving machine, the product of 4 decades of a consistent product development or a consistent marketing strategy? You decide. Not my cup of tea. Strong engineering, good engines and dynamics from a single-minded, even arrogant, company. Very desirable amongst the upwardly mobile as a status symbol. BMW started life as an Austin 7 and then went on to produce the 'Bubble Car'. In 2000, they sold MG, Rover and Land Rover but kept the new Mini - the car they really wanted. (See MINI for more).

Best Used BMW 3 Series from late 90's (codenamed E46)

CHEVROLET
"They don't make cars like they used to," sang Dolly Parton and boy she was right. Today's Chevy's are Daewoo's. For all that, if you are looking for low cost basic transport, a Chevy/Daewoo might be worth considering. They also have a decent reliability record. The Chevrolet badge would be an advantage.

Best Used Chevrolet An old '57 model, just like Dolly said or recent Kalos. See Daewoo also.

CHRYSLER
Chrysler is now part of the Daimler-Benz family. The company shows more sign of life under its new master and has produced a very eclectic product range. Like them or not. Cars range from the now defunct Neon to the Al Capone inspired PT Cruiser to the vast, new 300C.

Best Used Chrysler Neon is worth a look but for sheer 'in your face' styling, go for a PT.

CITROEN
Once upon a time Citroen produced highly individual designs with remarkable suspension systems. Mainly however it was their style - distinctive, unusual and very very French. During the dire 70's and 80's great design gave way to wind tunnel derived blandness - like many cars of that era. Beginning to rediscover its strengths and are now making more stylish cars like the C3 and C5. Good attempts but a long way to go to return to the great designs of the 50's.

Best Used Citroen Try a C2. Unless you can find a low mileage 1956 DS-19.

COLT
See Mitsubishi.

DAEWOO
See Chevrolet

DAIHATSU
Hard to say what I think of this Japanese company. They are ugly. They are cheap. They are compact. They are different. You had best decide for yourself

Best Used Daihatsu Fourtrak if you have a farm.

DAIMLER
Fredrick Simms needed an engine for his overhead railcar. He met Gottlieb Daimler who had an engine. (Gottlieb more or less invented the internal combustion engine). Fred and Gotty became friends and so was born 'The Daimler Motor Syndicate Ltd' in 1893. Daimler is therefore the oldest British car brand - or would be if any were still made. Used to be part of British Leyland along with Jaguar. Proof that state ownership and government intervention in industry doesn't work.

Best Used Daimler Probably a Hearse as no one has ever complained. Or a Double Six.

DATSUN
See Nissan

FIAT
Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino to give the company its full title. Fiat has had its moments. It introduced robotisation to car production in the 70's. Who can forget those Fiat Strada advertisements? Currently makes 'interesting ' cars like the Multipla except it has made the mistake of trying to make it look more acceptable.

The British car industry had a reputation for industrial action during the 1970's but Fiat suffered from similar problems and lost 15 million man hours due to industrial action as early as 1969. Equally dogged by financial problems. Why the Italian car industry survives when the British car industry fails is an interesting point. Perhaps because Italians are loyal to domestic brands?

Best Used Fiat Multipla, before the facelift.

FORD
Some rather good and reliable cars these days like the Mondeo and Car Of The Year S-Max. Others are so-so but that's just a matter of personal taste.
Henry Ford's giant rolls on gathering brands as it goes but losses within the group run high and are bound to catch up with the company eventually. From its humble beginnings with the Model T, Ford now owns the impressive array of Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Volvo under its Premier Automotive Group brand. The good things about PAG is the fact that it is working hard to retain the integrity of each brand, its products are the best examples of each brand seen in many years and its based in Warwickshire at the former Rover Group test centre in Gaydon.

Best Used Ford Ka gets high marks for reliability but Mondeo is the best all rounder. Loads of space and spec and good value.

FSO
Fabryka Samochodow Osobowych in case you wondered. FSO was conceived after WWII to help rebuild Poland's devastated economy. FIAT provides the skills and product platforms but a lack of investment and working methods established during the communist regime meant the company could not survive in a modern economy. A great shame, as it started with such positive and worthy ideals.

Best Used FSO None really, it's been a long time

CarHunt.co.uk Reliable Brand Award
HONDA
Honda makes engines. It's what they do best. They make cars, motorcycles, boats, lawn mowers and many other things just so they have something to put their engines into. Don't expect their cars to be the most stylish or most exciting cars. The exception to that rule is the NSX. They will however be reliable as far as engines and gearboxes go. The Jazz is said to be the most reliable car on the market.The AA, RAC and Green Flag have yet to recover a broken one. They did at least get something from their long relationship with Rover - a better eye for design. They also make the best car ads seen on TV ever.

Best Used Honda Jazz, if you can track one down before its snapped up. Any other Honda if not.

HUMMER
Arnold Schwarzenegger drives one (or is it two). What else can you say about it except it's big and gets through about 7 gallons of fuel per mile? Often painted yellow, which is a big mistake in the used car market. Buy one if you want to 'make a statement' although not sure what statement you would be making?

Best Used Hummer Anything thats not yellow ... or a Range Rover.

HYUNDAI
Hyundai have at least a wide range of over a dozen different models. Quality is good. Style is an acquired taste. Performance is average. Reliability is good.

Best Used Hyundai Santa Fe or low mileage Ford.

INFINITI
Nissans luxury brand, which is something of an oxymoron. This is Nissan trying to do what Toyota did with Lexus. Can't say I'm convinced. No doubt scores of Infiniti owners will disagree and cite exceptional build quality, quality materials, technical specifications … yawn. Wake me up when they are finished.

Best Used Infiniti Mercedes C Class

ISUZU
This is more like it. Big serious trucks and pick ups. Manly and muscular. Built to match the American dream and doing it well. It is not surprising to learn Isuzu started life as the Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. They still build ships - in pick-up and 4x4 formats.

Best Used Isuzu A low mileage Trooper

CarHunt.co.uk Best Brand Award
JAGUAR
Jaguar and William Lyons are two of the reasons I (Charles Rapson) joined the motor industry. I even met the great man on a motor show stand in 1976. He came over to talk to me because I was demonstrating his beloved cars in a way he found to be 'refreshingly affectionate'. He was a charming and encouraging man. William Lyons made Jaguar what it is. Brilliant engineering wrapped in beautiful design. Something the Germanic brands will never understand.

Ford went a bit off track with the Lincoln based S-Type but seems to be getting back to the essence of Jaguar with its latest and upcoming models. PAG appear to have realised that the integrity of the brand is everything. Good luck to them.
Footnote: The S-Type Jaguar and Rover 75 clay models were sculpted in the same design studio at the same time and separated only by a thin wall. The designers of each car used pictures of a MK2 Jag and a Rover 3.5 litre Coupe as inspiration. Both cars were first seen in the flesh outside the NIA in Birmingham one wet Sunday afternoon in September 1998. Both cars were officially revealed at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1998.

Best Used Jaguar XJ of any description

JEEP
OK so they were the first to build a proper 4x4 but Land Rover does it better.

Best Used Jeep A CRD Cherokee or the one that Radar drives in M*A*S*H

JENSEN
Sadly defunct West Midlands car manufacturer that produced some classic cars from its factory in West Bromwich. Who can forget the Interceptor? Various rumours about the companies' resurrection have never amounted to anything. The car remains a collector's item only for the real enthusiast.

Best Used Jensen Whatever you can get your hands on and afford the time and money to keep it going.

KIA
Korean manufacturer who started making parts for bicycles. The name means 'risen out (ki) of Asia (a). Has an 8-model line up but due to expand with additional and/or new models launched at Geneva in 2006. Best known perhaps for the Picanto and its unusual cartoon ads. A generally improving brand. Keen prices but high depreciation.

Best Used Kia Sedona

LADA
The 'export' brand of Russian carmaker AutoVas. Unbelievably, they still make these things in Russia but thankfully, no longer export them to the UK or anywhere in Europe. Build quality was abysmal - even dangerous. We know of someone who worked for Lada and left the company when the rear door of his Lada Riva burst open when cornering, almost throwing his child out onto the road. In case any Russian manufacturers are reading this, we have evidence - so don't bother trying to sue. Best avoided like the plague.

Best Used Lada None

LANCIA
Part of the Fiat group but stopped selling cars in the UK in the mid 1990's. The brand suffered from a reputation for poor quality - in particular rust. This was a common problem with all Fiat group vehicles due to the group's policy in the 1980's of using cheap Russian steel. This was a mistake as far as Lancia was concerned since this was supposed to be Fiat's quality brand.

Best Used Lancia Possibly a Saab 9000 which shared the same platform but with better build quality.

CarHunt.co.uk Best Brand Award (Runner-Up)
LAND ROVER
The Jeep may have started the 4x4 revolution but Land Rover perfected it. The brand lay in the doldrums for many years under British Leyland's ownership but sparked into life with the Discovery and then Freelander when the Rover Group led by John Towers decided to invest in this iconic symbol of British supremacy. Although build quality was an issue, it's owner's stay incredibly loyal. Some of the oldest cars still in everyday use are Land Rover Defenders in remote parts of Africa.

Today's Land Rover's are the best ever to come out of its Solihull factory. The latest Discover looks fantastic but then Land Rovers have always looked the part. Sadly very few owners drive them off-road, which is a crying shame. Land Rover is most impressive when driven through forest tracks or up mountains. Brilliant engineering gone to waste at the school gates.
The factory, built to produce the Rover SD1, won awards for its environmental design. Even today, driving past its Solihull factory, you barely know it is there

Best Used Land Rover Discovery Td4 or Td5 Diesel

LEXUS
Toyota's answer to Mercedes and not a bad attempt, if you like that sort of thing. Fans of Alan Partridge will possibly see Lexus as a pretentious brand where owners use the plural "Lexi" to describe a fleet of them. The latest Lexus however looks very interesting. Expect high build quality and reliability since this is really a Toyota.

Best Used Lexus GS where used values have fallen with the introduction of new models. Alternatively, let your ego take a back seat and buy a used Toyota.

LOTUS
Started by the late, great Colin Chapman, Lotus changed hands after his untimely death in his early 50's. The company has been owned by General Motors, Romano Artioli, who also owned Bugatti and now belongs to Proton cars of Malaysia (honest). The company is divided into Lotus Cars and Lotus Engineering. The latter doing a lot of consultancy works for other manufacturers and motor sport outfits.

Best Used Lotus Exige, If you can find one for sale.

MARCOS
Another West Midlands based car company, now hand building cars in Kenilworth under, what their website calls, "the guidance of Jem Marsh". Jem was one of the founders of Marcos along with Frank Costin (Mosquito fighter planes) and still owns the rights to the brand name. They started in 1969, went out of business in the early 70's and came back in 2000 thanks to a Canadian millionaire and Marcos fan.

Best Used Marcos GTS with Rover V8 - if you can find one.

MAZDA
Based in Hiroshima, Japan making some first class cars albeit based on Ford platforms. Ford is the majority shareholder in this company. Mazda tried the Lexus/Infiniti route in the 1990's with the Xedos brand but failed - possibly because no one knew how to pronounce the name. Mazda scores well on reliability.

Best Used Mazda 6 if you want a conventional car or MX-5 if you want a sports car.

MERCEDES-BENZ
The king (or is it queen) of the car industry. Startlingly strong residual values leads to the saying "Your first Merc might be expensive, but the second one is free". Solid, big German machine - if anything, it is over engineered. Matter of taste but does give a certain credos. BUT, watch out for reliability and poor build quality. Mercs are bolted together badly and the E Class is one of the worst cars for reliability around.

Best Used Mercedes-Benz C Class, for value or an S for Class

MG
MG does not stand for Morris Garages as most people (and logic) will have you believe. It's not an acronym - it just is MG. I know this because of my long association with the company. Most famous for its open topped sports cars like the MGB, it ceased trading in April 2005 when MG-Rover group went into liquidation. If any part of this ill-fated company survives it will be the MG brand - even if it is built in China. MG has more enthusiast clubs than any car brand in the world.

Best Used MG ZS - yes, a Rover 400 derived car but the one that Jeremy Clarkson liked. Alternatively, you might be able to snap up a bargain MG SV - the one he banged his head on. The ZS has startling handling and brilliant fun to drive. Its huge success in the British Touring Car Championship is set to continue as the ZS is being used by Team RAC in the 2006 season and also features as a private entry. The TF is the definitive sports car and still the best.

CarHunt.co.uk Motoring Legend Award
MINI
A motoring legend born in 1959; the brainchild of Sir Alec Issigonis. Mini became a hugely popular car in Japan in the 80's; partly for it's 1960's British appeal but also because of its size. Houses in Japan come with just over 20 feet of car parking space - just enough for two Mini's or one Toyota. Now part of BMW, the new Mini was designed and engineered by MG Rover but kept by BMW when they sold off MG Rover. Former BMW chief Bernd Pischetsrieder is the nephew of Sir Alec and visited Longbridge as a child - hence his fascination and purchase of the company that made the Mini. Perhaps he has some right to think of the Mini as his rightful inheritance? Pity he doesn't work for BMW anymore!

Best Used Mini Either the original Mini Classic or the Britney Spears of the motoring world, the new BMW/Mini Cooper.

MITSUBISHI
An eclectic product range. From the dull Space Wagon to the over the top Lancer Evo. General build quality is good but stick to a recent (post 2000) model.

Best Used Mitsubishi Galant unless you feel really mad and go for an Evo.

MORGAN
Yet another low volume British sports car manufacturer who has been producing the same basic model for decades. As their own website declares "The Morgan Motor Company is delighted to announce that in 2006, the Morgan 4/4 will have been in production for 70 years. This is the longest continuous run of any production car in the world and is obviously cause for celebration."
Based in Malvern, Worcestershire (so yet another West Midlands company), they started in 1913
These hand built cars are however rather good (if you like that sort of thing) which is probably why they have survived so long.

Best Used Morgan BMW powered Aero8 but you wont get much change out of £40k

NISSAN
Originally sold in the UK under the Datsun brand name. Unusually for Japanese car companies, Nissan hit financial problems in the 1990's and was rescued by Renault. A fairly dramatic turnaround has taken place and Nissan are now commercially successful. Cars range from the really dull to the really outstanding. Decide for yourself, which is which.

Best Used Nissan 350Z

NOBLE
Jeremey Clarkson described it as "awesome" and that is the only way to describe the dynamics of the Noble. Stunning designs too from yet another low volume British Sports car company. This time, modern dynamic styling in place of the traditional "I say, chaps" styling of other LVBSCC's. Formed in 1999 and still run by engineer Lee Noble. Based in Leicestershire.

Best Used Noble Any

OPEL
What Vauxhall is called in the rest of Europe.

PANTHER
Another LVBSCC this time originating in Surrey. The company started in 1972 and enjoyed some success in its early years. It unfortunately collapsed in 1980 and was temporarily rescued by a Korean businessman. Despite a new factory and new model, the company continued to lose money and closed down in the early 1990's.

The most famous Panther is the De Ville Convertible, which starred as Cruella De Vil's car in Disney's 101 Dalmatians starring Glen Close.

Best Used Panther De Ville Convertible and a couple of Dalmations.

PERODUA
Owned by Daihatsu, which is owned by Toyota, Perodua is Malaysian and makes rebaged Daihatsu's. Sold in the UK through its Malaysian competitor (Proton) dealerships. They are cheap is about the best anyone can say but don't expect anything else.

Best Used Perouda Kelisa but 'best' is stretching it.

PEUGEOT
French cars but also building the 206 Coventry - well some at least for a limited time. Best known for the classic 205 hot hatch, Peugeot found this a hard act to follow for many years. Now making some interesting cars although I still cant help looking at the 1007 and asking why? Best engines are Diesels.

Best Used Peugeot For value, it has to be the 106

PORSCHE
The must have accessory for the young and upwardly mobile man and woman of the 1980's. Porsche rode the crest of the 80's stock market wave until the bubble finally burst. Used Porsche's were changing hands for less money than a fake Rolex. The brand suffered serious damage that it is only just shaking off. A very well engineered car and dynamically very impressive, which is why it hasn't died with the yuppie.

Best Used Porsche Forget it's yuppie past, the 911 is still the best performance sports car there is.

PROTON
Malaysian car company and owner of the Lotus brand. No real experience of the brand so suggest you try one out and decide for yourself.

Best Used Proton Sorry, can't help here.

RELIANT
Del Trotter did more favours for the 3-wheeled plastic pig (as it is affectionately called) than anyone else. Reliant make cars for people who don't like cars. They did however produce the Scimitar, a rejected design concept for the Triumph Stag, and one-time favourite of Princess Anne.
The strange Uncle of the West Midlands car industry, based in Cannock. Today they mostly make fibreglass and lightweight composite bodies for others (including the Metrocab) and import compact speciality cars like the Piaggio.

There are rumours that Reliant may be making a comeback?

Best Used Reliant Yellow Reliant van (with Trotters Independent Trading on the side) or a Scimitar once owned by the Princess Royal.

CarHunt.co.uk Most Inspiring Car Brand Award
RENAULT
Createur D'Automobiles is a fitting slogan for this dynamic and inventive French carmaker. Renault has led the field for many years, especially in the MPV sector (Espace, Scenic). Setting aside the Renault 19, they haven't made a bad car in years and they pulled Nissan out of the toilet.
Not a bad achievement for a once state owned company. The French government still hold a significant stake in the company (around 15%).

Best Used Renault Vel Satis because it will be so cheap but the Scenic if you want something really impressive.

ROLLS-ROYCE
The only car good enough for Lady Penelope of Thunderbirds fame. Pity they don't make a 6-wheel version. Replaced by a Ford (Parker must be turning in his grave) for the rather poor remake. The car for the landed gentry is a little old hat and pompous for most tastes but pure class nevertheless. Currently owned by BMW sort-off. It's a long and complex story involving Vickers and VW. The future however looks uncertain with falling sales and BMW 'doing a Rover' and hinting that it might sell the company if things don't improve. It would be very sad if the BMW board trashed yet another great British brand.

Best Used Rolls-Royce A Bentley, which has a brighter future under VW ownership.

CarHunt.co.uk Saddest Demise Award
ROVER
This once great British brand came to an abrupt end in April 2005 having struggled for years under BL ownership. BMW failed to resuscitate the brand, largely due to internal disagreement on the brands value. The Phoenix Consortium who bought MG and Rover from BMW for £10 in 2000 made a brave attempt. Sadly, it all fell apart with only the lawyers and accountants standing to gain.

However the latest noises coming from new owners, Nanjing in China, hint at the possible revival of the Rover brand - in China at least. The company is currently in talks with BMW who own the rights to the name. Rover is still a credible brand name in the Far East. As the song goes "There are 9 million bicycles in Beijing" and many were once Rover "safety cycles". Rover takes its name from the first modern bicycle the company patented - the Lady Rover. This bicycle replaced the Penny Farthing and Hobby Horse cycles and is the design that has endured to this day. Some say that Rover is too damaged to survive but see Skoda and it is the Far East!

Best Used Rover 75 Diesel. The automatic diesel is especially good if you are comfortable with an automatic box. One of the best used car buys you will find at the moment. And, no, parts supply will not be a problem.

SAAB
Scandinavian manufacturer whose name is an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan AB. They make cars and aeroplanes. Now owned by General Motors with their cars owing a lot to Opel/Vauxhall products. Loss making and future, like General Motors, uncertain. Cars are nevertheless solid and good to drive. If you want something a bit different a used Saab is worth a look. Test drive on, just to find out for yourself.

Best Used Saab A recent, low mileage diesel 9-5 Estate

SEAT
Another member of the VW group started life in Spain in the 1950's as a subsidiary of Fiat but with a strong Spanish government stake. SEAT stands for Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo which translates as Spanish Corporation of Private Cars. Early Seat's were poor copies of Fiat models but, under VW guidance, they now make some excellent cars based on VW platforms. One manufacturer who understands the emotional nature of car buying with its Auto Emotion strap line.

Best Used Seat Toledo but all are worth looking at.

CarHunt.co.uk Best Value Car Brand Award
SKODA
This is one of the oldest car brands in the world, starting up at the end of the 1890's I'm not even going to quote any of the old Skoda jokes as none of them are relevant or true anymore and haven't been for some time. According to the Reliability Index, Skoda now takes top spot for reliability, beating even the top Japanese and German brands. Another VW success story. This once ridiculed Czech brand now has serious credentials and is held back only by its brand image. If you are thinking of buying a new car, the Octavia makes total sense since it's a Golf/A3 at a fraction of the price. A Skoda is a smart purchase.

Best Used Skoda Octavia but, like SEAT, any Skoda is worth serious consideration

SMART
Personally, I never really got this car. Built be a watchmaker with Mercedes help. Why? It just proves that, for Smart owners, the heart rules … I suppose. Most of the Smart cars sold in Germany are for daily rental companies or Mercedes dealer courtesy cars. One of the best car ads I've seen was an ad for the Mini (classic) run by Rover's operation in the Netherlands. It featured a picture of a Smart car with the headline "This is why we don't make watches" and the Mini logo underneath. Smart were not amused.

Best Used Smart A Watch.

SSANGYONG
A product of the Vietnamese war, this South Korean company started by making Jeeps for the US Army. The company is now owned (or rather controlled) by Chinese automaker, SAIC.

Best Used Ssangyong A Land Rover.

SUBARU
Owned by Nissan, Toyota and General Motors over the past decades hasn't stopped this Japanese outfit produce some first rate cars with some potential classics. Very successful in Motor Sport with the Impreza. Known as Scooby's by fans of the brand - something to do with the sound that Sccoby Doo makes.

Best Used Subaru Any are worth a look depending on your needs and budget.

SUZUKI
More famous for their bikes, Suzuki continues to develop its skills in car making. Not a lot of experience of this brand to comment any further other than to say that the latest cars look much better than previous models. Suggest you test drive one and make your own mind up.

Best Used Suzuki Grand Vitara, unless you fancy a motorbike.

CarHunt.co.uk Lemon Award
TATA
Huge Indian engineering company named after its founder and run by a member of the Tata family ever since. They make steel, ships, electricity and a lot of other things - possibly very well. They dont make such a good job of cars. Safari is popular with farmers but possibly because it is so cheap? I'm sorry to say I cannot recommend anything from this company.

Best Used Tata None.

TOYOTA
The mighty Japanese brand marches on thanks to its superb reliability record. Toyota is the second largest carmaker in the world but could become the largest, as General Motors slowly but steadily melts. Toyota employs over a quarter of a million people worldwide and accounts for 40% of all cars sold in Japan - the toughest market in the world. The city of Toyota in Japan is named after the company, not the company named after the city. Impressive, whatever you think of their cars.

Best Used Toyota Carina E

CarHunt.co.uk Most Sadly Missed Award
TRIUMPH
Coventry car company that was ahead of its time. The Dolomite 1850 was a classic and serious rival to the BMW 3-Series ancestor, the 2002. Sadly a victim of brand rationalisation within BL's failed 'Roverisation' programme. The Triumph name is now more readily associated with motorbikes and bras.

Best Used Triumph Dolomite or TR4A or a Triumph Stag

TVR
The most successful British sports car producer based in Lancashire. Now owned by a young (25 year old) Russian who states he intends to keep the company British! I believe him as I think he realises that a Russian car maker would not be credible and Sports cars is a very British preserve. Good luck to him
New model Sagaris launched in 2004 joins the legendary Tuscan, T350 and Tamora

Best Used TVR Any that you can afford.

VAUXHALL
British brand of GM's Opel brand originally based in Vauxhall and Luton in London from which it derives its name and logo. The name Vauxhall has been retained for the UK market despite pressure from Opel and GM HQ. Not Jeremy Clarkson's favourite car brand but don't take his opinion as gospel. Jeremy is a bit too wedded to cars from the Henry Ford and Ferrari stables. A comprehensive range of ever improving cars.

Best Used Vauxhall All good but Zafira offers best value.

CarHunt.co.uk Most Switched On Manufacturer Award
VOLKSWAGEN
German giant who achieved world-wide fame with the Beetle - a car originally designed by the man behind Porsche to be the German 'Peoples Car'. The Beetle was a hard act to follow but VW did so with the Golf; one of the most successful cars in history. The same approach eventually spawning a range of first class, well built cars. VW's approach also breathed new life into other struggling car brands such as SEAT and Skoda.

Best Used Volkswagen Golf or Passat or Polo or ... whatever size you need.

VOLVO
Swedish manufacturer with production facilities also in Holland (the former Daf works) it set about discarding it's 'boxy but good' image from the 70's in favour of something a bit more sporting. Volvo is now part of the bulging portfolio of Fords Premier Auto Group brands, which includes Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover. Design, engineering and testing has now moved to PAG's Warwickshire head quarters in Gaydon.

Best Used Volvo All pretty dependable. Large estates like the V70 are its forte.

YUGO
There are too many puns so I will avoid them. Part of Siberian Zastava basically producing Fiats. Similar fate and history as all other former communist state car companies - lack of investment and inefficient working practices leading to aged models and poor quality.

Best Used Yugo None



For a fascinating insight into motoring history through photographs, try this Japanese website - but with most of its important text in English.

Copyright 2006, Charles Rapson
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