The Top Ten Auto Show: Season 2, EP. 10 - MPV's (2001) - video Dailymotion

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On todays show, Dave Lee Travis counts down the top ten MPV's with the help of Ian Royle, Ginny Buckley, Richard Hammond and Ken Gibson.  In amoung the top ten are cars from Hyundai, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Citroen and Vauxhall but 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

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:03 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:31 Hello, I'm Dave Lee Travis, and welcome to the Top 10 Auto Show.

00:35 This week, we're going to look at the world of people carriers and MPVs

00:39 to find out what our expert panel consider

00:41 to be the best multipurpose vehicles on the UK market over the last year,

00:45 the Top 10 MPVs of 2001.

00:48 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:51 At number 10 is the Nissan Serena.

00:56 As you'll know by now, our panel are experts in the motoring field,

00:59 but of course, that doesn't stop you from making up your own mind.

01:03 On this occasion, they definitely didn't like the Serena,

01:06 so what's wrong with it?

01:08 Maybe it's because the Serena's previous life as a commercial van

01:11 shows through too much.

01:13 That kind of hinders its chances of being a practical domestic vehicle.

01:17 This is, to be perfectly honest, a dog of a car.

01:21 It's a glorified van when all's said and done.

01:25 It's just got a few extra seats, a few little bits and bobs

01:28 to while away the journey.

01:31 It's a mid-engine car, so you sit right on top of the engine

01:33 and get a bit of a massage as you're driving along.

01:37 It really is that rickety.

01:39 It's just so much plastic.

01:43 It's typical Japanese plastic all the way through the cabin.

01:49 It seems Nissan have realized the Serena's shortcomings

01:52 as they're phasing it out this year.

01:54 Number 10, the Nissan Serena, a good bargain price minibus.

01:58 At number nine is an MPV that's bigger than most.

02:16 It's Hyundai's Trage.

02:18 Practicality is where the Trage scores highest.

02:20 Even by class standards, its interior space is impressive.

02:24 It's supplying plenty of room for both people and luggage.

02:27 And the driver will find life behind the wheel is not bad either.

02:31 On the downside, the Trage is a bit bouncy at speed

02:34 and the two-litre engine is hard work when you're fully loaded,

02:37 although the V6 isn't bad.

02:39 And the name, perhaps, loses something in the translation,

02:42 but Trage sounds a bit tragic.

02:45 [MUSIC PLAYING]

02:48 In at number eight is Chrysler's PT Cruiser.

03:04 With the looks of a hot rod crossed with a London taxi cab,

03:07 the PT Cruiser is the most unconventional MPV in our top 10,

03:11 joining the VW Beetle and new Mini as one of the must-have cars

03:15 of the moment.

03:16 This car is typically American, but underneath,

03:18 its over-the-top looks of practical vehicle lurk beneath.

03:24 The thing about the Cruiser is its versatility.

03:26 It might appear to be small and compact,

03:28 but you can easily fit in five adults with plenty of headroom.

03:32 And it has a seating system that can move into 25 different positions.

03:37 Just think of all the fun you can have trying them out.

03:39 [MUSIC PLAYING]

03:42 [CAR ENGINE]

03:45 So what about the performance, then?

03:48 Well, you really would expect this car to have something

03:51 amazing like a V6 tucked under the bonnet.

03:53 And unfortunately, I've got to report that what you get

03:56 is a 2-litre 16-valve.

03:58 So you can forget any ideas that you've

04:00 got about pretending that you're in a dragster burning people off

04:03 at the traffic lights.

04:04 It's never going to happen.

04:06 In fact, when you first get in it,

04:07 it does feel a little bit slow at first.

04:09 But once you're up and running, the engine feels quite punchy.

04:13 And you can have a jolly good time nipping about some nice country

04:16 roads like this.

04:17 [MUSIC PLAYING]

04:21 For such a bulky car, it drives rather well.

04:23 However, the 2-litre engine it shares with the Neon

04:26 proves to be noisy and a bit coarse.

04:28 Inside, the trim it shares with the Voyager and Neon ranges

04:31 is firm and practical.

04:32 And the pull-ball knob on the gearstick

04:34 enhances the hot rod image.

04:36 In conclusion, the Cruiser is an eye-catching, fun drive,

04:40 which also offers practicality and luxury

04:42 at a reasonable price.

04:43 [MUSIC PLAYING]

04:47 At number seven is the inspiration

05:01 for many other MPVs.

05:03 It's the Renault Scenic.

05:05 The test of how good a car really

05:07 is how other manufacturers respond following its release.

05:11 Using this logic, the designers at Renault

05:13 must have done something inspirational when

05:15 dreaming up the Scenic.

05:17 As within months of being launched,

05:18 competing designs were appearing on drawing boards everywhere.

05:22 The Renault Scenic, of course, is hardly new.

05:27 It's been around since 2000.

05:28 And it was the first of the mini MPVs.

05:31 Since then, we've seen Zafira and Multipla and all the rest.

05:34 The Scenic, though, is still amongst the best.

05:36 And it's the only one that offers you

05:40 a four-wheel drive version.

05:41 Apart from the extra ride height and the 4x4 system,

05:53 it is still very much a standard Scenic mechanically.

05:56 We get a choice of engines in the RX4.

05:58 You can have 105 brake horsepower, 1.9 liter DCI

06:02 common rail diesel, or this one, which

06:05 is a 2 liter 140 brake horsepower petrol engine.

06:08 It's no firecracker.

06:09 But then it's not pretending to be a sports car.

06:12 It's pretending to be an off-roader.

06:14 To drive, it does feel different from a standard Scenic.

06:17 And that's for two reasons.

06:18 Number one, well, I'm sitting higher up.

06:20 And that's a good thing, because I do get the command

06:22 and driving position that we all like in 4x4s.

06:25 Secondly, not quite so good.

06:27 It does feel a bit heavier, a bit more clunky,

06:30 a bit ponderous.

06:31 You can feel the extra weight in the drivetrain,

06:33 the unsprung weight.

06:34 And that means it's not quite as responsive at the wheel.

06:37 It's not unpleasant.

06:38 And I'd say it's probably more road car

06:40 like than many a soft roader.

06:42 The Scenic's funky interior and ingenious space saving features

06:46 have always been its top selling points.

06:48 Handy storage pockets can be found almost everywhere.

06:51 And the sliding back seats greatly

06:53 improve the rear storage space.

06:57 You could well accuse this car of trying

06:59 to be everything bar a forklift truck,

07:01 because it is a mini MPV, a people carrier.

07:04 It's also trying to be, or saying

07:06 it is, a bit of an off-roader.

07:07 And also, a bit of a luxury car as well,

07:10 because this is the privileged Monaco version, the top spec

07:13 version, which means we've got everything, everything.

07:17 Leather, twin electric sunroofs, air con, a huge list of spec,

07:21 possibly even a little bit too much.

07:23 Do we really need all of this?

07:26 You'll pay 18,900 pounds for the RX4

07:28 with either the diesel or the petrol engines.

07:31 That's a premium of about 1,500 quid over the standard Scenic.

07:34 But look at it this way.

07:35 Compared to a soft roader with roughly comparable kit,

07:39 you'll pay about 1,000 pounds less for the RX4.

07:48 It could all have gone so horribly wrong for the RX4,

07:51 with the resulting car being nothing more than a jack

07:54 of all trades, master of none.

07:55 And all right, people are always going to look at you a bit oddly,

07:58 driving around in something like this.

08:00 But it makes as much sense as many a soft roader,

08:03 more than some, in fact, when you consider that what it loses

08:06 in terms of pure off-road ability,

08:08 it gains in family-friendly practicality.

08:10 It's not an off-roader that the military would be putting

08:12 orders in for, even though they do it in green.

08:15 But for the rough and tumble of the school run, no worries.

08:18 [MUSIC PLAYING]

08:33 At number six is possibly the oddest looking MPV

08:36 in our top 10, the Fiat Multipla.

08:38 Now, Renault started the trend off in the mini MPV market

08:44 when they introduced the Scenic a few years ago.

08:47 Since then, everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon.

08:49 What makes the Multipla different is the fact

08:51 that it seats six people, six adults as well.

08:55 And it's as wacky inside as it is out, as you'll soon see.

09:00 Almost everything about this vehicle

09:02 seems unconventional, none more so than its wacky appearance.

09:07 The Multipla's odd design makes it

09:08 look like two separate cars welded together,

09:11 one on top of the other, or like a mutant frog if it's in green.

09:15 But the Multipla's wacky appearance

09:17 belies the fantastic, practical, and inspired car beneath.

09:21 With such an unusual looking car,

09:23 you may find you get a few double takes at the traffic

09:25 lights, but this is a car with character and inspiration.

09:28 It's a pity more designers aren't as

09:30 adventurous as those at Fiat.

09:34 Now, when I said it was weird inside, as you can see,

09:37 I'm not kidding.

09:37 This center area looks like somebody

09:39 had a box of components, threw them all up in the air,

09:42 and wherever they've landed has been their final resting place.

09:45 It really is quite odd, including the center speedo,

09:48 which takes a bit of getting used to.

09:50 It's a dash-mounted gear shift, similar to what

09:52 Fiat did with the Ulysse MPV.

09:55 I think what will take most getting used to,

09:57 though, is the fact that you can see three people up front.

10:00 Now, each passenger gets their own three-point seatbelt,

10:03 as you can see there, and airbags all round,

10:06 which cover all of the occupants.

10:08 But I can't remember any other car that had

10:10 three separate seats up front.

10:13 The center seat is moved back a little bit

10:15 to give the driver a bit more elbow room,

10:17 although I have to say, for three adults up front,

10:20 it's a little bit cozy.

10:21 These side pods look like they ought to detach,

10:23 and you can carry them around as a fashion accessory.

10:27 I have to say that the quality inside the Multipla

10:29 is very good.

10:29 Gone are the days of buying a Fiat

10:31 and having bits dropping off all over the place.

10:34 In the rear, you get three decent-sized seats,

10:36 and because of the width of the car,

10:38 a reasonable amount of space.

10:39 It's pretty cozy for three adults back there,

10:41 as it is up front.

10:43 The seating is flexible, too, and quite easy to remove.

10:46 There's also the option of having a fridge

10:48 here in the front instead of this center seat.

10:51 Seems a bit extreme, but maybe some people want it.

10:55 (upbeat music)

10:57 (upbeat music continues)

11:01 (upbeat music continues)

11:28 Thanks to clever designing, Fiat have created a compact MPV

11:32 capable of carrying up to six people in full-size seats,

11:35 all with three-point belts.

11:37 Now, Fiat claim that the Multipla

11:40 will carry six adults in complete comfort.

11:43 Will it?

11:43 Well, we've got six here in the car with us right now,

11:45 and as you can see, it does do,

11:47 albeit a little bit cozy up front,

11:49 but I'm not complaining.

11:50 So does the Multipla actually fit the bill?

11:52 Well, it's up against some very tough competition

11:54 in the shape of the Scenic and the Zafira.

11:56 I guess it depends how many people you want to carry,

11:59 five, six, or seven.

12:00 If it's seven, then you'd have to go for the Zafira.

12:03 And I guess it depends as well

12:05 on how different you want to be.

12:07 You could buy a yellow car and be different.

12:09 You could buy a Fiat Multipla and be different,

12:11 or maybe a yellow Fiat Multipla.

12:13 Now, that would be different.

12:15 Let's go.

12:16 The Multipla at number six in our top 10 of MPVs.

12:21 (upbeat music)

12:25 (upbeat music)

12:27 Well, that's it for part one.

12:33 Stay with us for part two,

12:34 when we'll continue our countdown

12:36 towards the number one MPV of 2001.

12:39 See you in a couple of minutes.

12:41 (upbeat music)

12:44 Welcome back to the Top 10 Auto Show,

12:49 as we continue our countdown of the top 10 MPVs of 2001.

12:53 (upbeat music)

12:55 At number five is the second MPV from Chrysler

13:01 in our top 10, the Voyager.

13:03 The typical US styling of the Voyager

13:06 doesn't help it integrate into the European market,

13:08 but recent design changes have gone some way

13:11 to address this.

13:12 The latest model of the Voyager

13:14 offers vast improvements over the old one,

13:16 especially in areas of safety, specifications,

13:19 and interior quality.

13:20 But despite the changes,

13:22 the price has remained mostly static,

13:24 making even the top spec Voyagers

13:26 a big hit among private buyers.

13:29 Numerous seating options and some ingenious touches

13:31 make the most of the space available in the cabin.

13:34 Although if space is top of your agenda,

13:37 then go for the grand version,

13:38 which is positively cavernous inside.

13:41 Gadgets on the Voyager include powered doors and tailgate,

13:44 which open automatically

13:45 at the touch of a button on the key fob.

13:47 Perfect for showing off in the supermarket car park

13:50 and stops you getting your paws dirty.

13:53 At number five in our top 10, the Chrysler Voyager.

13:56 (upbeat music)

13:59 Next up at number four is the Ford Galaxy.

14:13 When it was first released,

14:14 the Galaxy enjoyed being the best selling vehicle

14:16 in its class.

14:17 However, the recent growth of the mini MPV market

14:20 has started to eat away at the sales

14:22 of the likes of the full-size Galaxy

14:24 and its development partners,

14:26 the VW Charon and the Seat Alhambra.

14:29 Clamber on board, and straight away,

14:32 Ford have very much shunned the kind of fun fresh flavor

14:34 you find in a lot of other MPVs,

14:36 where they carpet the dash

14:37 and then put the console in the center.

14:39 It's very, very sensible and sober in here.

14:42 It's wearing a suit.

14:43 But I would worry if it were mine,

14:45 that it might daint rather quickly,

14:46 particularly with this bit of walnut along here.

14:48 And it's all rather sober and boring,

14:50 but that is probably a nod from Ford

14:53 towards the many business buyers for the Galaxy.

14:55 But this is a full-size MPV

15:00 and therefore offers more space than its mini competitors.

15:03 It is in the area of size and luxury

15:05 where Ford is directing its marketing of the Galaxy.

15:09 Although being a full-sized MPV,

15:11 the Galaxy's drive is almost car-like

15:13 and gives a comfortable ride

15:14 whether you're running round town or cruising the motorway.

15:17 The Ford Galaxy at number four.

15:19 At number three is the versatile Citroën Picasso.

15:38 The egg-shaped, good-value Picasso

15:40 comes with the versatility and storage space

15:42 expected in any vehicle in the MPV class.

15:45 Its boot is the biggest in its class

15:47 and if you require even more room,

15:49 you can always take out the easy-to-remove rear seats,

15:52 although folding seats would be more convenient.

15:55 Also in the boot is a useful,

15:56 if not very sturdy, basket to hold your shopping.

16:00 So how does the Citroën drive?

16:03 Not normally a strong point with people carriers.

16:06 I'm delighted to say this one there drives very well.

16:10 Handles just like a car.

16:12 Its low centre of gravity means it's very good on corners.

16:16 It is remarkably comfortable.

16:18 Full marks for driving pleasure.

16:20 Safety is high on the agenda with the Picasso.

16:24 Features include airbags from all directions,

16:27 anti-lock brakes and three-point seatbelts

16:29 for all rear passengers.

16:31 There is a marked absence of anti-theft devices though,

16:33 so maybe it's worth forking out for extra security.

16:37 For the only people benefiting from the safety features

16:39 will be car thieves.

16:41 The Citroën Picasso at number three.

16:43 At number two is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

17:00 Now this is a car that would make Doctor Who proud.

17:03 The A-Class is almost Tardis-like,

17:05 making ingenious use of the space available

17:07 within its small car frame.

17:10 There's no doubting the brilliant packaging on the A-Class.

17:13 It has the space of a Golf or a Focus,

17:16 but it's smaller than a Ford car.

17:18 The boot's not huge.

17:19 There's good room in the rear for passengers

17:21 and the seats remove fairly easily.

17:23 There are also front and side airbags,

17:26 but all-round build quality is perhaps not what you'd expect

17:29 on a Mercedes-Benz.

17:39 I've always really liked the A-Class,

17:40 and if you're thinking of buying a used one,

17:42 remember there are lots about, so haggle hard

17:45 to get a good deal.

17:46 Too expensive?

17:47 Walk away and go to another dealer.

17:50 Always look for a car that's got full service history,

17:53 or you could look out for one of the former Fleet

17:55 or Higher cars, which might have about 25,000 miles

17:58 on the clock, but could be snapped up for as little as 8,500

18:02 pounds.

18:04 Base model A-Classes are priced well, but move up the range

18:07 and you'll notice steep price increases,

18:09 but that's where you can expect to find the better residual

18:11 value.

18:12 Fuel economy and running costs are excellent, however,

18:15 as to our insurance premiums.

18:18 The A-Class is quiet, easy to drive,

18:20 and handles well for what is a tall car.

18:23 Now, if you're fed up with city driving

18:25 and don't want a full automatic model,

18:28 well, you could look out for Mercedes' Auto Clutch system,

18:32 which uses a conventional five-speed gearbox,

18:34 but without the clutch.

18:35 And it's a system that actually works quite well.

18:38 And so, before we find out what cars made it to the top slot,

18:50 let's run down the top 10 MPVs of 2001 from 10 to 2.

18:56 At number 10, it started life as a commercial van

18:58 before becoming an MPV.

19:00 It's the Nissan Serena.

19:02 At number nine, it's got a tragic name, the Hyundai Trage.

19:06 In at number eight, looks like a London taxicab

19:12 crossed with an American hot rod, Chrysler's PT Cruiser.

19:17 At number seven, the MPV that was

19:19 inspirational for many others, the Renault Scenic.

19:21 At number six, the oddest looking car in our top 10,

19:27 but we still love it, the Fiat Multipla.

19:29 In at number five, a typically American-styled MPV,

19:36 the Chrysler Voyager.

19:37 At number four, the full-size Ford Galaxy.

19:45 At number three, the versatile Citroen Picasso.

19:52 [MUSIC PLAYING]

19:59 And at number two, the Tardis-like Mercedes A-Class.

20:02 And so on to the number one MPV of 2001,

20:09 as voted for by our expert panel.

20:12 [MUSIC PLAYING]

20:19 Regular viewers of the Top 10 Auto Show

20:21 will be used to seeing Vauxhall's offerings languishing

20:24 at the bottom of the chart, but not this week.

20:27 The number one MPV of 2001 is, of course, the Vauxhall Zafira.

20:32 It's with its space, or rather the practical way

20:35 it uses it, that helps put the Zafira at the top spot.

20:38 There are three rows of seats, which can carry up

20:40 to seven people comfortably.

20:42 The two rear seats conventionally

20:43 fold flat onto the floor to create a huge load

20:46 space in the boot area.

20:48 The middle row of seats can also be folded forward

20:50 to create something more resembling a cargo

20:52 bay in the rear.

20:54 Behind the wheel, you'll find a bland but solid-looking dash,

20:57 similar to the Astra on which the Zafira is based.

21:00 But everything you need is there and in the right places.

21:03 The Zafira lacks some of the fine touches and handy storage

21:06 features other MPVs have.

21:08 However, the upright driving position

21:10 with adjustable seating and steering

21:12 make for a comfortable and commanding driving position.

21:15 All models benefit from air conditioning

21:17 and electric front windows as standard.

21:19 But basic models do come a bit sparse,

21:22 and only the top-level model gets

21:24 alarms, which are standard on other makes.

21:27 Buying a Zafira makes sense in that it comfortably

21:30 carries up to seven people at a fraction

21:32 of the cost of a full-sized MPV.

21:34 And having those seven versatile seats

21:36 keeps second-hand buyers interested,

21:38 and so residual values remain high.

21:41 Add to that cheap running costs and insurance premiums,

21:44 and you can see why the Vauxhall Zafira is our number one

21:47 MPV of 2001.

21:57 Well, that's all for this week.

21:58 But do tune in next week when we'll

22:00 be running down the top 10 family cars of 2001.

22:03 This is DLT saying, see you next week.

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22:35 (upbeat music)

The Top Ten Auto Show: Season 2, EP. 10 - MPV's (2001)

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