Toledo Man Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I read an article in the Daily Mail today listing the 10 worst British cars. Top was the Austin Allegro closely followed by the Morris Ital but what pisses me off was the the Triumph Acclaim was in 7th above the TR7 which was in 10th. I find that hard to believe. OK, OK, so it was Honda under the skin but it was built in this country and held the record for fewest warranty claims. It was probably the best thing to roll off a BL production line. I have 2 of these cars and apart from rust issues they're quite reliable. The 7th worst British car? Bollocks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Well yes... You have to consider that it is probably the opinion of about 35 individuals polled in Hampstead... if it isn't a completely fictional opinion of the journalist You can probably safely bet that 'those who voted' for the Allegro have probably never even sat in one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Man Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 I can believe that. Meanwhile here's a an article to the same survey: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/austin-allegro-voted-britains-worst-car-870149.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I can believe that. I got all my cynicism from Life in Bratfud. Worst car owned? Probably my second Renault 25. Cornered like the QE2. Worst driven? definitely a 1988 Fiat Uno with it's 900cc engine and binding brakes > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I thought Acclaims were just trimmed here - but mainly built in Japan (or wherever)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mother Teresa Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I read an article in the Daily Mail.... You've only got yourself to blame, the Daily Demoraliser indeed ;D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mother Teresa Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Incidently, a colleague at work who buys and sells cars, bought a late reg pageant blue Allegro maybe 5 years ago, in part-ex. He drove it around for some time before moving it on. It was alow mileage 2 owner and in wonderful condition. The engine ran beautifully and sounded like a bloody sewing machine ;D I'd have been pleased to run around in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitNL Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 They forgot the Morris Marina. That was the worst car my dad owned. In the end he wouldn't drive it further than 10 miles from in incase it broke down again. My grandma had an Allegro and she newer had any trouble with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorbs Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 My Dad ran an Allegro 1300 saloon for about 6 years when I was a boy. It was about 9 years old when he sold it. Later on my Mum bought an 11 year old Aggro estate as a runabout. Due to a cock up with the delivery of his company car, my Dad ended up commuting 100 miles a day in the estate for about 3 months; they gave very few problems. Definately the sort of car you'd need a sense of humour to own nowadays though! I've always quite liked Acclaims. I still do, although when new, they really were the chariots of blue rinsed old ladies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ.Lintern Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Isn't the Marina basically an MGB saloon...? :X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveNotSoSideways Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I went to the Wyedean TSSC local meet in my car,yonks ago, some bloke was telling me how fast and his acclaim was, and better than his spitfire. Lucky he had to drive back the same way as me, he tried to drive briskly, but the first straight we got to, see ya mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorbs Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Isn't the Marina basically an MGB saloon...? :X Pretty much. ;D One way to raise the hackles of an MGB owner is to refer to their car as a Marina coupe, or convertible if it's a roadster..... ;D To be truthful, I've never understood the MG / Triumph rivalry and so am reluctant to slag off MBGs too much even if a so called sports car with a leaf sprung live axle is a bit of a contradiction in terms. The Acclaim thing reminds me of how fucked up BL or Austin Rover were at the time. My Dad was looking for a new family car to replace the Allegro which he planned to keep as a second car. The local BL dealer, Taggarts of Kirkcaldy, were selling Minis, Metros, Itals, Ambassadors, Acclaims, Rover SD1s, XJ6s and XJSs alongside each other in the showroom. I had a great time in the XJS while my Parents looked over a used Austin Princess...... Thankfully they bought a Cortina in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knackerjack Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Reliant Robin is the worst......................nothing says more about what a loser you are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6 Nick Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Reliant Robin is the worst......................nothing says more about what a loser you are. Except the chap who put a 300ZX twin turbo V6 in one. I could live with that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knackerjack Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Except the chap who put a 300ZX twin turbo V6 in one. I could live with that one! Not for long ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Man Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Dave, you're right. They ain't fast. I reckon an Avon Turbo would give you a run for your money. Didn't somebody put a Rover V8 in a Reliant Robin once? I think it had the LT77 gearbox which bolted straight on to the rear axle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Well wasn't the acclaim an "economy car"? It must have been, my dad bought one when I was a kid... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Man Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 They need to be with a relatively small fuel tank. (46 litres if I remember correctly) I can easily get 35mpg out of my Trio-matic. Whatever people say about them (we won't go there!) they're not bad cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Man Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 James, in answer to your earlier reply: The Acclaims were built in the UK at Cowley. The running gear was pure Honda. Cowley was the old Morris factory and now where BMW makes the MINI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick B. Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 The Acclaims were built in the UK at Cowley. The running gear was pure Honda. Cowley was the old Morris factory and now where BMW makes the MINI. So to put it briefly: BMW mini is today what Triumph Acclaim was 3 decades ago. I kinda like that thought. Cheers Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorbs Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Minis? More like Maxis! They're effing huge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Mini's are cute. What is now being bartered under the "Mini" trademark is a pre-eminent yuppie mobile, with all the charm of mouldy bread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2vitesses Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 1983 Vauxhall Chevette estate was the WORST car I ever drove, it replaced my 1.1L Fiesta as the company car. It's 1300cc engine was gutless, it would not go round corners at all (went straight on most times!). Nice seats and interior though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 1983 Vauxhall Chevette estate was the WORST car I ever drove... Oh YES! they were awful! And for some reason, always had gross paint choices... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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