Good news for Jaguar as the XJ takes second place, otherwise it's Japan trouncing France again
Build a better mousetrap, said Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the world will beat a path to your door. Build a shoddy car, says our survey, and you're probably French.
Yes, the French are in trouble again. Sixteen of the 25 worst-built cars in our survey are the spawn of the unholy Peugeot-Citroen-Renault triumvurate, and it's no surprise to find the Peugeot 807 propping up the list again.
Owners of the ill-fated MPV were shocked by its shoddy electrics and dodgy transmission, as well as excessive road noise and grumbling engines.
To be fair, there's a fair British contingent in the badly-bolted basement too, with three Rovers - the MG TF, MG ZR and 25 - and Land Rover Defender all languishing in the bottom ten.
'It's no surprise to find the Peugeot 807 propping up the list again'
Up at the business end, it's a bun-fight between the Japanese and German manufacturers to prove they can bolt a car together tighter. The Honda S2000 tops the list, with slightly obsessed owners revelling in the tactile 'feel' of the mechanical components and, perhaps a touch worringly, the pleasant smell of their roadster.
The S2000 edges a brace of Lexuses - the RX300 (3rd) and IS200/300 (5th) - the Toyota Landcruiser (7th) and Honda Jazz (6th).
The top ten also finds room for a pair of Audis - the A2 (4th) and old TT (8th) - and the Porsche 911 (10th), while Skoda's Superb achieves an, erm, superb finish in ninth place.
And proving that if you build your mousetrap out of lightweight aluminium, the world will indeed beat a path to your door, the gloriously British Jaguar XJ ranks as the second-best built car around. Stout fellow.
February 14, 2007
Honda's S2000 wins for the third year on the trot, but the big story belongs to Skoda and Fiat
February 14, 2007
Tough luck if you own a French car - Peugeot, Citroen and Renault all lurk in the bottom ten
February 14, 2007
Big scores for Lotus, Subaru and Mitsubishi, while Peugeot and Mercedes lurk at the bottom
February 14, 2007
Want you car to start in the morning? Buy Japanese. Otherwise - you guessed it - choose French
February 14, 2007
Good news for Jaguar as the XJ takes second place, otherwise it's Japan trouncing France again
February 14, 2007
Fiat's Panda does well and Skoda puts in a fine showing. Steer clear of SUVs and MPVs, though...
February 14, 2007
Can you spot the theme here? Japanese cars do well, European cars prop up the bottom of the table
February 14, 2007
All 35 manufacturers rated and listed from good to bad. Or Skoda to Peugeot, if you prefer
February 14, 2007
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