Old Top Gear 2001 - Saloon Car Shootout

[@DutchPlanDerLinde]

Before the crossovera and suvs, before the dark ages

[@benrgrogan]

I don't know if this was before the dark ages, most of these seem pretty awful.

[@bensmithkent22]

Crossovers were occupied by the likes of the renault scenic which was a mini mpv. suvs existed though in far smaller numbers rav 4 and cherokee had credibility back then.

[@juanpablocorreiaecheverria2857]

Cars today are awesome! Leave the peasants with their SUVs

[@DutchPlanDerLinde]

@@juanpablocorreiaecheverria2857 Are you saying suvs are peasant cars?

[@oddities-whatnot]

This obsession for SUVs is a joke these days. Usually some silly attention seeking woman with blonde hair, big sunglasses but best of all, the SUV is usually the front wheel drive version LOL because they cant afford the PCP payments for the AWD version. Pretentious or what. I dont need an SUV, and neither do most people. Its all about boosting the ego with the "look at me, im in a big car so I must be really special" attitude. Fucking morons. If I need to take a sheep to the vets then maybe id consider an SUV, but id sooner drive an A35 Mercedes.

[@nikolasmiljanic6987]

Still driving my 2001 Mondeo in 2018, in near-perfect condition, a truly great car...

[@jamesknightvo]

You probably keep it garaged and/or wax it often. If treated like a normal car, it will rust away like mine did.

[@nikolasmiljanic6987]

@@jamesknightvo It was in the garage but the 10 years in parked on the street. It doesn't have any rust spots, the engine is original untouched. Maybe you are living in a humid place.

[@sergioferrero46]

@@jamesknightvo as the owner of a 2001 Mondeo, I can assure you mine hasn't had any problem in 19 yeara

[@prasivykojot2338]

Which motor ?

[@nikolasmiljanic6987]

@@prasivykojot2338 1.8 petrol 125hp

[@soundseeker63]

Interesting how they rate the Laguna ahead of the Passat and Accord. Virtually all Lagunas have long since fallen to bits by now. The Passat (and Accord) are still going strong.

[@GinsengStrip-wt8bl]

soundseeker63 passat with 1.9 TDI and 1.8T engines & Vtec Accords are only cars from this vid worth buying today.

[@TheEmpyrean15]

Lagunas may not be as reliable but having driven both Passat B5 and Laguna 2, I can honestly say that Laguna 2 is miles ahead in terms of comfort, handling, power delivery (both were 1.9 diesels), technological advancement and style. As long as you remember that it's a not a German car and service it accordingly, it's gonna last just as long. In fact, I'm still driving a 2003 Laguna and it's just fine. Surprisingly, the interior and exterior are in a way better condition than most of the Passats from early 00s. Mechanically, everything's also alright, although the Passat gets its point for reliability. If a had to choose between Laguna 2 and Passat B5, I'd definitely go with the Laguna because it's a way nicer car to drive.

[@FEGTTTSDH]

Because in UK only buy diesel, and that was terrible in the Laguna... The petrol are much more reliable, far cheaper spares than any passat and the accord just rid off by rust... Sadly they ruined the good reliable MK1 with that dCi

[@yenchey3270]

Hah. Here in Poland the Lagunas are still standing strong, and I don't think they'll go away faster than Passats and Accords. Those two are in a race of who rusts faster, while the Laguna is aluminium

[@aleksihaapasaari]

@@GinsengStrip-wt8bl Nah, those Nissans are reliable aswell

[@RyanMoran1992]

Australian here. My first car was a passat like this, although it was a v6 automatic. It was and still is a great car. Got it with 120k km on it and its now got 280k and still going strong. I gave it to my dad to drive and I wish I still had it

[@GryphLane]

I had the petrol estate version of that Passat once and I can say categorically that Jason's talking out of his arse here. Even at 196k miles it handled well and the gearbox was absolutely fine.

[@paddyodoors2757]

I still own a 98 estate, love it, 250hp keeps it feeling modern

[@RockSolitude]

That old broadcast CRT/VHS aesthetic is very much appreciated.

[@andriy_stashenko]

+.

[@colinpumpernickel2605]

The Honda Accord: So reliable it was beyond comprehension. If you can get one of these at a reasonable price, snap it up.

[@Dromoys]

Almost 20 years later: the passat fährt und fährt und fährt. Especially the infamous 1.9 TDI engine makes the car the best choise. The mondeo is also a pretty nice car. Too bad the owners were mostly scrimpers so it's hard to find one in a mint condition these days.

[@JohnCitizenDU]

Ahhh...VBH, looking good as always! The Avensis was exported: Y449 JCD ✗ Untaxed Tax due: 01 December 2012 ✗ No MOT Expired: 10 March 2013 Vehicle make: TOYOTA Date of first registration: March 2001 Year of manufacture: 2001 Cylinder capacity (cc): 1998 cc CO₂Emissions: 181 g/km Fuel type: PETROL Export marker: Yes Vehicle status: Not taxed Vehicle colour: SILVER Vehicle type approval: M1 Wheelplan: 2-AXLE-RIGID BODY Revenue weight: Not available

[@mediocre-motorcycle-modifi6818]

The C5 was so comfortable, shame the suspension didn't last.

[@Crazy_Borg]

Wow, these are cars from 2001 and most of them still have radios with cassette decks installed.

[@gillespriod5509]

Pretty normal up to 2005 to sure cars makers have surplus of that shit! I prefer choose myself the radio because stock ones are rubbish Most of the times

[@siraff4461]

Because in 2001 you could still buy tapes. A lot of people still prefered them for their ability to not skip (modern cd players don't either but late 90's ones did - a lot) and their lower price. It was pretty normal to have both for quite a long time.

[@thegearknob7161]

They may have had CD changers in the boot. My 1992 Jaguar is like that. I quite like it because it means you can play both cds and tapes, and because you have tape, you can use the tape aux jack thing. Most CD head units from that era lacked aux jacks so thats a good way around it.

[@Florian00]

Cassette was the cheaper option, CD was fancy a bit fancy back then

[@robloxfan4271]

Passats from that year have rust issues, used to have an 2004 Passat estate highline both front wings where gone with rust

[@maxschwarzschmied5744]

The passats all had zincified body carcass. I am riding a 2003 passat, no rust, no other issues

[@teea3085]

Honda Accord best of the lot, under rated cars.

[@pb5x5]

They had a rust problem with the bulkhead which has killed a lot off now.

[@Moukeaf]

Funny to watch this in 2017, when you know about the 1.9dci and electronical issues of the laguna

[@DrPepper22222]

Yep fantastic car I had 2 of them, but both run into electrical issues!

[@casualagent7250]

I think the ST 220 version of the Mondeo is rather nice. Going to check out eBay now...

[@toxy3580]

And now in 2019... Avensis and Accord all the way.

[@josejosejose9459]

Where is the Seat Toledo?

[@StephenButlerOne]

I had a 2004 laguna 1.9d estate (St) for 7 years. I toured Europe in it a few times, and sleept in it a few time. (firsts a double blow up bed in the rear). Also was a great family car. It was a close run for me between that an the Mondeo, but thought the laguna looked better. Was the Superb not out in 2001? Been a great car since launch, today is an amazing car. Though it has an older person's feel to it.

[@lucylocket4740]

The Superb was launched at the end of 2001, these cars are mostly from end of 2000 to the beginning of 2001!

[@stevek3036]

Too much 'listen to my pithy comments' and less objective evaluation. Even back then car evaluations were more about how clever the 'presenter' was and stocking the egos than sticking to objective facts and appraisals.

[@joemcdonough7509]

This is exactly why the show tanked in the ratings and why the replacement Top Gear in 2002 rocketed to success. They scrapped all these clever inside phrases that only the hosts understood and replaced it with funny lines that the audience could actually understand. It has nothing to do with being inoffensive and more to do with phrases that actually make any sense.

[@frisco-2.0]

My 2001 Opel Vectra B 1.6 is still running strong in 2022. 👍🏻

[@momcilolukovic6451]

Last autumn I was looking for an estate in this class, and it came down to the Laguna MY2005 (restyled version) - spacious, comfortable and well-equipped. I found Avensis and Primera bland, the C5 ugly and the Accord too pricey. The Passat is a good car but it is quite hard to find a well maintained one (at least where I live), and the same goes for the Mondeo. Tip: when bying a Laguna, go for a petrol version.

[@davidhayes4814]

The Laguna had very poor residuals and the diesel turbos had a poor reliability record: in contrast to the Peugeot.

[@vividman100]

Too right,the laguna petrol version was a also a banger.

[@StephenButlerOne]

David Hayes I got my laguna 1.9d estate (dynamic) at 4 and a half years old from a Renault dealer (had been a business lease), 46k miles for £4k cash. Got 7 years out of it and sold it for £1k. Great car for me that was.

[@teakay3684]

Everything imaginable broke on our old Laguna estate. Highlight was the exploding back window on the Autobahn.

[@utubeleplague]

Problems weren't apparent when those cars were new. And not just engine problems, there were inumerous electric problems with those Lagunas, starting by that smart key system. That was hell

[@martijnvanspaendonck7989]

Completely agree on the Mondeo. I think that generation still looks beautiful and classy today. And drives great! Disagree with them on the Charisma though: I think it looks quite cool and much better than most cars in this video. That Laguna was and always will be so ugly..

[@andriy_stashenko]

Laguna is fine.

[@hassankhan384]

My uncle had a 2001 toyota avensis 2.0d4d estate, best relible car ever he owned, that car was used as minicab from 2003 to 2010 then owners privately, it had over 250k miles but drove like a dream with 5 speed manual gearbox, was a really reliable car never gave up, pulled 3 mobile homes with it and never gave up in summer 2013.

[@mladencic]

Back in the time when car shows were about cars

[@VDPEFi]

The MK3 mondeo is one of the best all round cars ever built, it got that rep for a reason, still standing.

[@michieheinhuis2098]

The Renault Laguna looked good but my new 2001 DCi was hell on earth that days..

[@greengrass9572]

Where's the 156?

[@utubeleplague]

it didn't survive to the run to the test site where the filming took place. something would go wrong every mile!

[@paianis]

That's more compact executive than large family car

[@pakeydavid382]

5:24 What's the music under the C5 part?

[@woodrow_mayes]

Jakatta - American dream

[@pakeydavid382]

@@woodrow_mayes Thanks!

[@lce124]

Owned quite a few of them and the 626 was the best of the lot.

[@carlmaster9690]

God how things have changed in the past two decades

[@andriy_stashenko]

Absolutely.

[@ewaf88]

16 years ago but I still see plenty of the cars featured on the road - although some of them would have been produced for several more years. I liked the Laguna best as it was sweet to drive.

[@FLRSKLVR]

The Brits and their love for Fords. Ironic how the Laguna came in second place when a couple of years after its release they all broke down. The only ones out of this group that I still see on the road today are the Accord, Avensis and the occasional Mondeo.

[@vasme973]

What country? I see the passat ,mondeo , more then the honda and avensis.

[@ryiin]

Jason is quite possibly the worst presenter top gear had. the updated theme tune was horrible.

[@sutherlandA1]

Steve berry was more annoying, that voice of his 😬

[@oddities-whatnot]

Jason was patronising and negative. Yep. The worst presenter they ever had.

[@horse5407]

Plus that horrible Nordy accent

[@Thomas-wm8fu]

Had a 406 was a brill car was faultless from new up too 130,000 miles. 2 mondeos 2.0 TDCi 115 and 130 both brill.

[@beamboy07]

didnt know cicki was on there i thought only 5th gear

[@thestud5053]

For being car enthusiasts you would think they know the difference between a hatchback and a saloon

[@orion1983uk]

Saloon was a generic terms used to describe that class of car back then. The "family saloon class" so to speak.

[@porkyhunter]

those classic songs though

[@rizali7837]

I wonder which tv shows they came from?

[@porkyhunter]

Oh right. I meant pet shop boys at the beginning and jarkata

[@gwishart]

The cheesey sitcom music is from _Terry and June_

[@filtrakioldhorborn]

Which ones are the ones most likely to be running at this day you guessed it the japaneese ones

[@davebassman5339]

You obviously didn't read the guy above's post, showing that it died in 2015, before hurling your pathetic insult.

[@paddyodoors2757]

This was the golden era of comfort and reliability. As a mechanic of 25 years I've seen countless diesel passats, 406s, avensis and a few primeras and mondeos with way north of 500k miles. The Laguna was nice but had too many flaws inc a few that would take the turbo or gearbox out.

[@beamboy07]

mondeo and passat are the only ones you see now from that generation so i consider them the winners

[@beamboy07]

and the laguna

[@benjaminparrish6296]

Shame they rejected the nissan just on looks. Sr20 engine and multilink suspension giving it higher lateral gs than the Nissan 300zx. Genuinely one of the best cars I've ever been in.

[@RainingPiggies]

What's the music that played over the Mazda?

[@khairuldanial81]

Its being boring by pet shop boys

[@michaelforde4373]

had a 306 406 and another skywagen the pugs were very reliable if plastic

[@lordmmx1303]

I still drive Vectra to this day. 367t kilometers. and runs great.

[@gillespriod5509]

On my petrol lupo i have near 400000 km and i have recently rebuild interiors and i go to swap an engine If she needs, because she are in very good shape!no car biult after 2005 can have such a long lifespan! Quality has fallen down and i decide to keep 2000s cars! They are better years

[@vasme973]

@@gillespriod5509 true.👍

[@potatoman5933]

¿What is the name of the first song?

[@zied5663]

What is the song on the c5 plzzz

[@riteshb7r]

Name of the music 3:30

[@leenevin8451]

blood is pumpin voodoo & serano

[@saeedmirza19]

Honda all the way

[@scottbogfoot]

0:23 Rubbish recording, Vicky Butler sounds like a Dalek....i love it!

[@Birmingham_racing]

Passat is the only one worth buying anymore and will last for many years to comd

[@karlosbricks2413]

It's pretty boring though, it's just the boring car for everyone

[@FEGTTTSDH]

My problem with the passat, is the inside quality at the passing miles, the upholstery of the doors take off all and the buttons wear incredibly fast

[@FEGTTTSDH]

@Simon Webb At least if never was parked in the sun... probably, I see over 10 examples and only one was perfect inside... When I see somes audi a3 8l exactly the same problem

[@MrVTEC555]

Not just the Passat, the Accord, Primera, Avensis, 626 and Carisma are all still worth it. All reliable motors that just keep going. You could get most of these cars for very little, besides the Accord and the Passat as they have retained more value.

[@darren2456]

X808 VOT ✗ Untaxed, due: 01 March 2009

[@josephwallace7287]

I fancied Vicki.

[@clintkel1]

great videos. wonder why the Rover 75 wasn't included?

[@eoin730]

CSimmonds80 it was a rover I suppose

[@lucylocket4740]

Because it's fugly as hell!

[@lce124]

Because its not in the same category of car.

[@bensmithkent22]

Back then it was actually believe it it or not in the compact exec class above. It was dare i say it actually a pretty good looking quality ish car thanks to the huge bmw investment in it. Interior was retro yet oozed quality compared to most of these passat aside. Btw the 75 is a heap of shit these days hardly see any but back then it was alright.

[@ichibanmanekineko]

@@bensmithkent22 the 2.0 cdti connoisseur is 100% quality. No rust, solid construction, BMW 5 series engine... BMW 5 series gear box, drive train. Thick leather seats.... I miss mine a lot

[@cracksha23]

If you get a top end Passat it wipes the floor with every car on this list. The 1.9 TDi engine is like a low flying aeroplane and the handling is brilliant. Mine has done 115,000 miles and it’s still going strong. The interior also just feels superior and more well made than its French or Japanese rivals.

[@KozenaDrzka]

IT'S GOOD... GOOD!

[@TordenPaws]

wasn't the laguna one of the least reliable cars of the 00's?

[@georgepom328]

And the Rover 75 isn't even included it showed how far they fell

[@livc444111]

If only Renault had spent money on quality control rather than gadgets 😞

[@PresidentCamacho2024]

renault buyers only look at gadgets, they will never open the bonnet

[@mfitzy100]

The next generation was an excellent car but the damage had been done

[@Krezo200]

Just bought a p11 144 primera Good car

[@Danratman]

Accord & passat proved most reliable, hindsight is wonderful

[@carwrtr1]

The 626, Accord, and Charisma are my favorites. Automatic transmission is required..

[@vesy92]

0:01 Song?

[@reallifebegins2212]

Suburbia by the Pet Shop Boys

[@vesy92]

@@reallifebegins2212 Thanks

[@travosk216]

What the hell is that music at 4:00

[@gwishart]

It's Tight Fit's cover of _The Lion Sleeps Tonight_

[@TheMcooper17]

from a time when we all wanted 90s saloons. nwo everyone want some puggy 30008 clone with no maintinence required

[@rayaspo4893]

Bring back the saloon.

[@alangreig4261]

I knew they were going to pick the mondeo

[@mistreku]

the C5 will run rings around the Passat or Laguna..

[@gavin9744]

Why does she sound alike one of the voices from Forza?

[@deefenbakerone4369]

Ha! Still drive an accord. £400 never fails to start NEVER breaks down and rides better than almost any modern car and only the small boot counts against it. I'll keep it till it dies.

[@vasme973]

I dont agree that drives better then almost new cars. But its good price.

[@deefenbakerone4369]

@@vasme973 since then my Accord was sent to the scrap yard in the sky. My new car proves the point, its taller to give more room with stiffer suspension to control the roll. More toys better mpg much quieter but the rides much worse than the Accord.

[@jeff4362]

No Rover 45?

[@lucylocket4740]

4:51 (Accrington) Hehe, that's where I live!

[@dylanbarker8185]

Lucy Locket, so do Iol

[@lucylocket4740]

Where abouts?

[@oddities-whatnot]

Lucy Locket you think they will tell you that on here ? Accrington has some decent people, but by and large its rough. There is a lot of crime, youth disorder and druggies. Thats just for starters.

[@lucylocket4740]

That's true that! 🤨

[@H.K_R]

The Mondeo would be my pick at the time The Mitsubishi Carisma is dull The Avensis lasts forever The Passat sounds like a tractor and rusts in seconds The Nissan is a box on wheels The Peugeot 406 was the last good Peugeot saloon until the 508 The Accord is alright I guess The Vectra has no good features The 626 is a box on wheels like the Nissan The Renault Laguna is too soft and spongey The Citroen C5 is more ugly than a hippopotamus My dad had a Laguna, he said it was alright on the Motoway but on a twisty road the steering wheel did nothing to the wheels.

[@setusukesh]

The accord actually looks soo much better looking than the passat

[@oddities-whatnot]

You can still see cars like that for sale at any dodgy used car dealer you find. Or your nearest council estate.

[@garygoldrick4564]

had mondeo and the avensis and vectra and all good

[@garygoldrick4564]

obiwan525 1.8 vvti in the avensis , the mondeo i had 1.8 petrol and 2.5 v6 petrol was reliable the 2.0 tdci I had wasn't tho

[@garygoldrick4564]

obiwan525 yes 168 bhp never had a problem with it just running it was expensive, I've had a 2.0 d4d avensis t27 was a great car but was a nightmare to start sometimes

[@garygoldrick4564]

obiwan525 my avensis was a 1.8 gs just like in this video but mine was a hatchback with the Sr spoiler and grille that I searched the country for

[@ianoconnell8678]

yeah they are all good but the vectra i think was rubbish because of its looks and drive and comfort

[@gman7692]

Jason who? I can see why he didn't go far.

[@andriy_stashenko]

😅

[@adamwoodward2003]

So the Mondeo was rated Top Gears car of the year in 2001, yet everyone still mocked the Jaguar X-type for having the same chassis as it.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Adam Woodward yes because nobody wants to pay Jaguar money for a Mondeo in drag.

[@adamwoodward2003]

@@Jabber-ig3iw The whole point of using the Mondeo platform for the X-type was so that the car would cost less to make and develop which would keep the costs down for anyone wanting to buy one, the X-type wasn't priced like a Jaguar at all. Compare the MSRP of a new X-type to other Jaguars from the same era, X100 XK, X350 XJ etc, you'll see a massive price difference. The X-type was the car that actually made Jaguar as a brand profitable again. They're good cars.

[@michaelallen3918]

From experience the Japanese cars and Korean cars are far superior in reliability and durability over the European cars, at least in Australia.

[@asthmaticgeriatric7147]

At 3:31 Even the cat thing doesn't like the Vectra XDDDDD

[@arelortal6580]

Ford Mondeo numbewá YES !!

[@gabrielcaramet3238]

I would have gotten a mondeo passat or vectra at the time

[@AKA001]

Ahh 2001... when it was still acceptable to wear runners with jeans...

[@sharonec5419]

Yep Mitsubishi really ruined the Carisma when they revamped it. They made it dull and boring before that it had a stylish dash and was not too bad. Why is there a Daewoo badge on the front of the Avensis they are driving? and what a horrible after market grill. The standard grill that comes with Avensis was much nicer.

[@tbrasc0]

Fish and chips with onion rings on the side?

[@antoninoguess5389]

Wheres the alfa 166

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Antonio guus in the luxury sector where it belongs, not slumming it with these bland boxes.

[@sarahwebster8927]

Top Gear vote for Ford... what a surprise!

[@lucylocket4740]

It seemed pretty obvious from the beginning they were going to vote for it, you're right!

[@ThatSilentGuy]

It's made in the UK which economically is _good_

[@przemyslawjenda2802]

03:30 kurwa Manieczki se włczyi do jazdy... to były bczasy::D

[@leenevin8451]

blood is pumpin voodoo & serano

[@przemyslawjenda2802]

@@leenevin8451 i know very well

[@jamydeedhillon1309]

Ford mondeo absolutely boring car same as Nissan and mazda and peagout 406 was a petrol swilling heavy beast.. Renault laguna was a 5 star rated for safety. I had the 18.16v dynamiqe from new. Never had a single problem in 3 years motoring. Then changed up to face lift 22dci initial fully loaded it had more buttons than cadburys. Had 3.years of trouble free motoring with that too. Was quick big time when needed. As i said extremely safe and modern looks. But before the laguna i had a Renault fuego. And then a Renault 25 gtx 2.2 litre petrol missed the on board voice computer wish Renault bought that back to new renaults lol

[@edibfeyzuahbeygi2045]

I don't know why I love Renault so much :)) It's kinda my favourite car brand.

[@Illusionyary]

I love how they think the fairly decent looking cars like the Accord are ugly compared to the rest of these hideous plastic designs. 90s were truely a bad time for car design atleast outside of sport cars.

[@RichieRouge206]

Passats are so tediously dull and designed for idiots with no personality. And they break a lot. Mondeo everytime

[@bigearedmouse17]

Proof V.B.H. has never used a Vacuum Cleaner Ever ?

[@leenevin8451]

Passat surely??

[@beamboy07]

renault looks the most futuristic

[@yudhabagaskara98]

Because it's the newest car at that time

[@beamboy07]

@@yudhabagaskara98 well yeah and on top of that french cars aesthetically more interesting and is more innovative and creative

[@jigrodrigues]

Laguna for coolness, 406 for confort, 626 for reliability, passat for posers and the mondeo for blandeness

[@3storiesUp]

You've never driven a Mondeo then ....

[@falagarius]

No Subaru Legacy?

[@PaulHojda]

They were never popular in Europe

[@MrVTEC555]

They weren't hugely popular here, only the turbos got attention.

[@pb5x5]

I wouldn't touch a Laguna mk2 with a barge pole. Like driving a boat that is constantly trying to sink its self with unreliability.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

Mazda got it together a year later