On this episode of the 'Top Ten Auto Show', Ian Royle, Chris Goffey and Francessca Robinson take a look at the top ten coupes, including the Vauxhall Tigra, Peugeot 406, Toyota Celica and Audi TT.
Which will be number one?
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Which will be number one?
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]
00:30 Hello, this is Dave Lee Travis, welcoming you
00:33 to another edition of the Top 10 Auto Show.
00:35 This week, the subject is coupes,
00:37 the category of car designed to appeal
00:39 on the counts of style and fun.
00:41 But of course, even though looks sell,
00:43 the coupes have to be practical and a decent investment
00:46 as well.
00:47 All these factors have been taken into account
00:49 by our panel of experts, who are the editors of the UK's
00:52 top motoring magazines.
00:53 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:58 So let's start at number 10.
01:00 And this is the car which isn't on the current price list,
01:03 as it's now been deleted.
01:05 The Vauxhall Tigre was not a bad little coupe for its time.
01:09 Remember, this came out before Ford's Puma and Renault's Megane
01:12 and was pretty much the only affordable coupe around.
01:16 Hello, children.
01:17 I'd like to play a little word game with you.
01:20 I'd like you to think of as many words
01:21 as you can to describe this car.
01:25 Cute.
01:28 Stylish.
01:31 Small.
01:31 Cuddly.
01:37 And girly.
01:38 Now, that's the end of the word game.
01:40 But what does it reveal?
01:41 Well, that the Vauxhall Tigre very definitely
01:43 gets the thumbs up.
01:46 Inside, well, you get the standard Vauxhall look,
01:48 which can be a bit mundane on some cars, but not
01:51 on the Tigre.
01:52 There are seats in the back.
01:53 But if you're over 5 foot 10 tall,
01:56 you won't want to spend too long sat back there.
01:58 The boot's not bad for size either.
02:00 Plus, the rear seats fold to give you
02:02 that extra luggage space.
02:03 But if you're thinking you're going
02:04 to get Aunt Sally's Chippendale chest in there, forget it.
02:08 It hasn't the road manners of, say, the Puma.
02:11 And it really is cramped, especially in the rear seats.
02:13 But the Tigre has made many owners happy.
02:16 Once you get out on the road, this
02:17 is actually quite a pleasant car to drive.
02:19 The steering is sharper and more responsive than on the Corsa.
02:22 And even this 1.4 auto still feels fairly quick.
02:26 Equipment levels are high too.
02:27 We've already mentioned that it's got electric windows
02:30 and electric mirrors.
02:31 Plus, this has got power-assisted steering.
02:33 It's got a driver's airbag.
02:35 It's got an electric sunroof.
02:36 And you get alloy wheels on the 1.6 model.
02:39 The car gives the speed without the high insurance.
02:42 It's curvaceous without being ostentatious.
02:45 Although it's old, it doesn't look outdated
02:47 and stands out from the crowd in a big way.
02:50 Although the suspension makes the drive a little bumpy,
02:52 it's what you expect for a small sports coupe.
02:55 Refinement is pretty poor.
02:57 And the engine's a little buzzy.
02:58 But it's got plenty of pep to get you around.
03:02 At the end of the day, the Vauxhall Tigre
03:04 can be loads of fun.
03:05 And they really get you noticed.
03:07 The late, departed Tigre at number 10.
03:09 At number nine, it's the Renault Megane Coupe.
03:25 Like the other Megane variants, this
03:26 is a very capable car, pretty cheap to buy and to run.
03:30 And you get good kit for money.
03:32 The ride and handling is well-controlled.
03:34 But even with the two-liter version,
03:35 performance isn't great.
03:37 And the driving experience is pretty lackluster.
03:40 Plus, the styling isn't really that different.
03:42 The idea of a coupe is to create jaw-dropping curves
03:45 and sleekness over and above the original saloon or hatchback
03:48 version.
03:50 Here, Renault look like they haven't really tried.
03:52 Although probably it's because they
03:54 were restricted in terms of what was already there.
03:56 However, for the price, you do get a very adequate car.
04:00 But in this highly competitive world,
04:01 adequate is no longer good enough.
04:03 So we find the Renault Megane Coupe at only number nine
04:07 in our top 10.
04:09 [MUSIC PLAYING]
04:24 At number eight in our chart is the coupe version
04:26 of the Honda Accord.
04:27 Like the Renault, Honda haven't exactly pushed the boat out.
04:30 The styling isn't that sporty.
04:32 And the interior isn't really that sexy either.
04:35 However, to American eyes, it would be a success,
04:38 as the coupe version was designed for the US market.
04:41 And it sells like hot cakes.
04:43 Because of the stateside connection,
04:44 at least you get plenty of gadgets and gizmos
04:46 as standard, even on the base model.
04:48 But the overall look isn't one that you'd expect
04:51 of the upmarket stylish coupe.
04:53 On the plus side, though, it's extremely comfortable inside,
04:56 with plenty of space.
04:58 The car's very brisk performer, taking you to 60
05:00 in about 8 and 1/2 seconds.
05:02 Driving involvement is pretty good.
05:04 However, the American influence on this car
05:06 is seen in that you can only get an automatic gearbox.
05:09 How on earth can you really enjoy a drive
05:11 without a good old stick shift?
05:13 Still, overall, this is a comfortable coupe
05:16 with plenty of kit for the money,
05:17 and has good safety and reliability in its favor
05:20 as well.
05:20 The Honda Accord Coupe, a sensible buy
05:23 at number eight in our chart.
05:25 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:29 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:33 At number seven in the top 10 coupes,
05:40 we reveal the Citroen Zara.
05:42 Now, here's the car which was designed
05:44 to create a range of models in the small family sector,
05:47 similar to the Renault Megane idea.
05:49 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:52 Zara feels much more like a three-door hatchback
05:54 than it does an out-and-out sporting coupe.
05:57 Nevertheless, it's very quick on the road, feels very nimble,
06:01 and it responds to steering input immediately.
06:05 The interior feels very similar to the Zara saloon.
06:08 Seats are quite supportive and comfortable,
06:11 though I have to say the choice of fabric design
06:14 isn't my cup of tea.
06:17 The car's pretty refined when you're tootling along,
06:19 which is fine, and becomes nice and throaty
06:21 when you put the pedal down.
06:23 Because of the badge, we really can't
06:25 see residuals being high on this car,
06:27 so try to get a good discount when you buy
06:29 so you won't be too disappointed in a couple of years
06:32 when you find its value may have plummeted.
06:35 If you can live with a fairly muted styling
06:37 and the huge headlights at the front which seem to dominate,
06:40 this is a really good coupe.
06:42 The Citroen Zara Coupe at number seven in our top 10.
06:45 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:48 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:52 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:55 At number six in the top 10, it's the Hyundai Coupe.
06:59 Hyundai's in the past have always
07:00 been plagued by indifferent styling and pretty poor build
07:03 quality.
07:04 Over the last few years, things have improved dramatically
07:07 in both quarters, and in one particular car, the Coupe.
07:10 The company knew if they were to be taken seriously
07:13 by the world automotive market, they
07:14 needed something to make the most of the market.
07:16 And in the world automotive market,
07:18 they needed something that looked
07:20 like it had a sporty heritage and pep
07:22 under the bonnet for people to sit up and take notice.
07:24 Once you're on the move, this car
07:26 does actually handle quite nicely.
07:27 It feels safe even in the sharpest of bends
07:30 with very little body roll.
07:31 The braking is very responsive, and that's
07:34 thanks to brake discs on all four wheels.
07:36 But what does it for me is the smooth gearbox,
07:40 reminding me ever so slightly of the Audi TT.
07:43 [MUSIC PLAYING]
07:46 As in most Coupes, with the exception of a few,
07:49 there isn't much leg room for passengers sitting in the back.
07:52 However, once in the driver's seat,
07:54 the revamped interior gives a very spacious feel.
07:57 The seats are fully adjustable, giving a very comfortable
08:00 driving position.
08:01 However, I do find the steering wheel a tad on the large side.
08:05 Now, Hyundai have done away with the black plastic
08:07 and put silver in its place, which really isn't that bad.
08:10 The dials are clearly visible, and in keeping
08:13 with the car's sporty image.
08:14 [MUSIC PLAYING]
08:17 Hyundai say they've only made a few mechanical alterations
08:28 to improve drivability and refinement.
08:31 Extra soundproofing has been added
08:32 to improve low-speed engine noise.
08:35 But when pushed hard or even driving fast,
08:39 the engine becomes coarse-sounding,
08:41 and it can be off-putting, especially on a long drive.
08:45 There are two engines in the Hyundai Coupe range, a 1.6
08:49 and a 2-liter.
08:50 And even the 1.6-liter is extremely able and willing
08:52 to have fun with.
08:54 We're not talking enormous acceleration here,
08:56 but the car is fairly light and delivers
08:58 adequate power on the road.
09:00 Also on the plus list of the Hyundai Coupe
09:03 is an amazing warranty.
09:04 Good reliability and even used prices
09:07 have been keeping quite high.
09:08 However, now the all-new Coupe is on the market,
09:11 with many more improvements, things may not
09:13 hold as high much longer.
09:15 The Hyundai Coupe at number six in our top 10.
09:18 [MUSIC PLAYING]
09:37 At number five, slipping down from last year's number one
09:40 position, is the Peugeot 406 Coupe.
09:43 As saloons and estates, the 406 has been extremely capable.
09:46 But who would have thought this astonishing shape
09:49 would come from this family range of cars?
09:51 Thanks have to go to Pininfarina,
09:53 the Italian styling house who took the basic 406 body
09:56 and created a sleeker, sportier form that
09:59 pleases the eye, yet still keeps the solid characteristics
10:02 of the car that's underneath it.
10:03 But I'd like to introduce an annoying pseudo-philosophical
10:06 argument here.
10:07 The 406 Coupe is a beautiful car.
10:10 It's also a mainstream car, and beauty is seldom mainstream.
10:14 Some of the cars acknowledged to be
10:15 the most beautiful in the world, well, part of their appeal
10:18 is due to their rarity and exclusivity.
10:21 Now, the 406 Coupe might be the kind of car
10:23 that sends the fleet manager disappearing to the toilet
10:26 with a picture of it, but it can hardly
10:27 claim to be any sort of piece of automotive exotica.
10:31 That's what's led it to become almost invisible on the road.
10:35 When I first saw it at a motor show,
10:37 I was stunned that Peugeot could produce such a beautiful car.
10:40 Now, not far down the road, it's become just another company
10:43 car, precisely because Peugeot make it.
10:46 I'm sure there's a conclusion to be drawn from that.
10:48 Damned if I know what it is, though.
10:50 In red, it even has a look of a Ferrari
10:53 about it from certain angles, yet it
10:55 has astonishing practicality.
10:56 For goodness sake, there's even a diesel version.
11:00 Diesel version of a coupe?
11:02 And why not?
11:03 On the road, the driving position is comfortable,
11:05 and the ergonomics are nothing to complain about.
11:08 But it's a shame that the dash isn't a little more special
11:10 after the riot of curves outside.
11:14 The dash is more or less taken straight
11:16 from the standard 406, the only real difference
11:18 being these chrome bezels surrounding the dials, which
11:21 is hardly the stuff of fantasy.
11:23 Then underneath, we have a strata
11:25 of this odd, shiny, scratchy plastic.
11:27 And then right underneath, on the center console,
11:30 we have a reappearance of the dreaded elephant hide plastic
11:32 that's seen adorning the interior of the 206.
11:35 And I don't like it at all.
11:37 Mind you, it is a genuine four seater.
11:39 There's room in the back of the car for two proper grownups.
11:41 And there's a really neat trick for getting them in and out.
11:45 Forward and back.
11:48 And forward and back.
11:51 I'm sure I could break it eventually,
11:53 but it would probably take me ages.
11:54 So is it just a pretty face?
11:57 Is all of this just makeup?
11:58 Or is its beauty more than skin deep,
12:00 as the 406 Coupe got what it takes to cut the mustard when
12:03 you hit the road?
12:04 In short, yes, it has.
12:10 This is the 3 liter V6 engine version,
12:13 an engine that actually makes an appearance in a great many cars
12:16 as the Atlantic Venturi, a French supercar, the Renault
12:19 Espace and Laguna, to name but a few,
12:21 and then of course the 406 saloon and coupe.
12:24 Though I have to say, for whatever reason,
12:26 it seems to make the least interesting noise
12:28 in this car of all the other cars that it's fitted to.
12:31 That said, it is a stonker of an engine.
12:33 There's bags of torque.
12:34 And once you get it fully on song,
12:35 it does start to make a reasonably attractive snarl
12:39 as you progress at speed.
12:41 This car is getting on a little bit now.
12:43 And Peugeot have not announced plans
12:45 to update the coupe version.
12:46 But there's plenty of life in the old dog yet.
12:48 And the Peugeot 406 Coupe will continue
12:51 to stun and wow onlookers and please its owners
12:54 for many more years to come.
12:56 The Peugeot 406 Coupe at number five in our chart.
13:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
13:03 Stay tuned, because after the break,
13:25 we'll be running down the top four of top 10 coupes
13:27 as voted for by our Men and Motors panel of UK Motoring
13:31 Magazine editors.
13:32 [MUSIC PLAYING]
13:35 Hello, this is Dave Lee Travis welcoming you back
13:41 to our top 10 of coupes on sale during the last year.
13:43 [MUSIC PLAYING]
13:47 At number four, it's our first of two German contenders
13:52 in our top 10, the Mercedes CLK Coupe.
13:55 Now, here's the car which hasn't really
13:57 been designed for hot-headed young Turks who
13:59 want to thrash about a bit of metal at the weekend.
14:02 Now, as far as the interior is concerned,
14:04 certainly at first glance, it is a quality motor car.
14:07 That shows all over.
14:08 But this black wooden trim here, which
14:11 costs 1,000 pounds extra, by the way,
14:13 is not only prone to reflections,
14:15 but in certain places, they haven't even
14:17 made it fit properly.
14:19 The glove box over here has got to be the smallest one you've
14:21 ever seen in your life.
14:23 There's the service book and the instruction manual.
14:25 And you won't get anything else in there, possibly not
14:27 even a pair of gloves.
14:29 This center console lifts up for dual storage capacity.
14:33 But the lid rocks and rolls and wobbles around
14:37 like it's a 15-year-old Range Rover that's
14:39 had a hard life down on the farm.
14:40 And quite frankly, that really isn't good enough.
14:43 These seats certainly don't look anything special,
14:46 very nice brown leather.
14:47 But for 3,000 pounds as an optional extra,
14:50 you'd think they could make them look a little more special.
14:52 And many people who've been a passenger in this car
14:54 say these seats are just far too firm.
14:57 Me personally, I like that.
14:58 But it's not to everybody's taste.
15:00 And overall, the feel of it is not
15:03 as good as it should be in a car of this class.
15:07 There's plenty of space inside for four,
15:09 forget the fifth person.
15:10 And it's quite an extensive list of standard kit,
15:13 including air conditioning or climate control,
15:16 which seems to be less of a luxury option on just
15:18 about all cars these days.
15:20 The CLK will keep its price very well.
15:22 This car is in tremendous demand still
15:25 as a long-distance, comfortable cruiser that
15:27 will turn heads at 50 yards.
15:30 There are two compressor engines in the Range
15:32 if you enjoy a good vocal sound under the bonnet.
15:34 But if you're seeking refinement,
15:36 we would go for the 320.
15:38 The CLK Coupe is an expensive car.
15:40 But it will reward you for years and will keep its price well.
15:44 The Mercedes CLK Coupe at number four in our chart.
15:49 [MUSIC PLAYING]
15:52 We're up to the top three now.
16:12 And at number three is the car destined for the death sentence.
16:16 And what has the poor old Puma done to Ford?
16:18 It's been a very successful car.
16:20 And the Ford Puma has pleased thousands and thousands
16:23 of customers.
16:24 Who knows what's in the heads of the mandarins at the Ford Motor
16:26 Company.
16:27 But for now, let's enjoy this small, sporty Coupe,
16:30 which is based on the chassis and floor
16:32 panel of the best-selling Ford Fiesta,
16:34 put together by the genius of Welshman Richard Parry-Jones.
16:38 But hang on just a minute, because there's more to this
16:40 car than a couple of seconds here and there.
16:43 This is a great car because of its handling.
16:45 Now, the Puma was always a superb car to drive.
16:48 But the revisions to the racing Puma
16:50 have made it a handling dream.
16:53 Tuned suspension and revisions to the springs
16:55 mean that it's got absolutely bags of grip.
16:58 It goes around this track as if it's on rails,
17:00 even on a wet, miserable, damp day like this.
17:03 As a performer, the Puma isn't much to write home about.
17:06 However, the experience is extremely thrilling.
17:09 In the same way that a cart gives you
17:10 the impression of high speed, somehow the Puma also
17:13 puts a huge grin on your face when you're behind the wheel,
17:17 even though its acceleration doesn't come anywhere
17:19 near many of its rivals.
17:20 [MUSIC PLAYING]
17:24 [MUSIC PLAYING]
17:27 Well, two more cars to go.
17:38 And can you guess what our number one will be?
17:40 Here at number two, the car with a very aggressive statement
17:43 to make, it's the Toyota Celica.
17:45 Now, if you can't work out what saloon or hatchback this
17:48 was developed from, don't worry, because it wasn't.
17:51 This was designed as a coupe from the ground up.
17:54 So there are no compromises here, one would have thought.
17:57 Let's take a closer look.
17:59 It looks fantastic with a stance that's
18:01 purposeful and an interior which favors the performance driver.
18:05 Yes, you get the drilled aluminum pedals
18:08 and the sporting seats.
18:09 And yes, you'll have enormous fun on the road.
18:11 You don't see many Toyota Celicas on the road.
18:14 And this keeps the desirability high.
18:16 And it looks at the moment to be quite a good long-term
18:19 investment.
18:20 [MUSIC PLAYING]
18:23 Coupes are one of the most stylish types
18:28 of automotive fashion.
18:29 Every girl should have one in her wardrobe.
18:32 They offer a great blend of performance and good looks
18:34 that guarantee them a place on the catwalk.
18:37 But some models, like Toyota Celica,
18:40 are looking less chic designer label and more high street
18:43 fashion in need of an update.
18:45 Enter a swanky Californian design studio,
18:48 some inspiration from American muscle cars, and hey, presto,
18:52 this season's model is on the catwalk.
18:54 Inside, well, to be honest, it's a bit of a disappointment,
19:01 really.
19:02 It might be comfortable, and it might
19:04 have the levels of equipment that you
19:05 expect of a car in this class.
19:07 But stylish, it certainly isn't.
19:09 It's a kind of hodgepodge of angles and different shapes.
19:13 There is far too much of John Major's favorite color
19:15 and a complete overload of plastic.
19:18 And although there is enough room for me as the driver
19:20 and for the front seat passenger,
19:22 unless you're planning on carrying children
19:24 in the back seats, you can forget it.
19:26 [MUSIC PLAYING]
19:39 Before we unveil the top car in our chart,
19:41 let's remind ourselves of the cars from 10 to number two.
19:44 [MUSIC PLAYING]
19:48 At number 10, the late departed Vauxhall Tigre.
19:53 At number nine, the Renault Megane Coupe.
19:55 At number eight, Honda's Accord Coupe.
19:58 At number seven, Citroen with its Zara Coupe.
20:02 The number six position sees the Hyundai Coupe.
20:05 And at number five, Peugeot is Pininfarina's triumph
20:08 that is the 406.
20:11 At number four, Mercedes with their CLK Coupe.
20:14 And Ford has its Puma hanging on in there at number three.
20:18 The number two slot belongs to the Toyota Celica.
20:21 So the number one car.
20:22 [MUSIC PLAYING]
20:26 Well done if you guessed the Audi TT Coupe
20:36 was going to secure the top slot in our chart.
20:39 This triumph of design still thrills people around the world
20:42 and with good reason.
20:43 This has to be one of the most interesting and good looking
20:45 cars on our roads today.
20:47 With high technology wrapped around a sleek and understated
20:50 package, the attention to detail is astonishing.
20:53 And sometimes people own the car for weeks or even months
20:56 before discovering yet another joy to behold.
20:59 The Allen key effect seen around the fuel flap
21:01 is repeated in many different areas of the car, for example.
21:04 And the use of chrome inside is just
21:07 enough to give a sense of occasion
21:08 without being over the top.
21:10 My impressions of the TT to drive
21:12 are, on the whole, very good, apart
21:14 from this particular model just being a little underpowered.
21:17 There's no kick in the back acceleration.
21:18 It doesn't exactly roar away from the lights.
21:21 But it feels a superbly poised car
21:23 to drive when you push it hard and have a bit of fun.
21:27 It does feel very safe and secure, of course,
21:29 thanks to Audi's four-wheel drive quattro system.
21:31 It corners and handles superbly.
21:34 You'd be hard-pressed to get this car out of shape.
21:36 But of course, you can't defy the laws of physics,
21:39 push any car hard and be silly in it,
21:42 and you'd probably end up in the bushes.
21:44 This really is a two-seater car.
21:46 And even children will feel crammed
21:47 in the back of the Audi TT.
21:49 But that's not the point.
21:51 This is a brilliantly built car with first-rate materials
21:54 and assembled with as much care as a Swiss watch.
21:57 (upbeat music)
22:00 This has been Dave Lee Travis running down
22:06 the top 10 coupes on sale in the year 2001.
22:10 I hope you've enjoyed the show.
22:11 Please join us next week when we'll be taking a look
22:13 at the top 10 luxury cars.
22:15 Take care.
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