Top 10 List | Top Ten Lists

People love buying new and used cars and collecting them – it’s their passion, their past-time and also their hobby. Most drivers are surprised and unaware of the risks many of their favorite car model pose to their health and liveliness. Here are just 10 examples of cars people should not be driving due to safety concerns.

1. Honda Civic Hybrid:

Many people would buy it to be fuel efficient. However, drivers should be advised that in 2006 the car company recalled 45,000 cars. I would check out the reviews before buying the car, given that this was their 4th recall.

2. Smart Cars:

This small car is highly efficient energy wise and environmentally. The smallness creates a huge problem for drivers. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that it does not give any safety to its drivers and passengers. CAFÉ reported that 2000 deaths came as a result of driving mini smart cars.

3. Mercury Grand Marquis:

I am really glad I got rid of this car. It was voted as one of the most dangerous cars by Forbes. It lasted approximately 18 years. 14 years into driving, it began to stall and had massive engine problems.

4. Toyota Corolla:

Toyota Corollas are really popular in North America. However, people should do a little more research before buying a specific year/model of Toyota Corolla. For example, the 2007 car had 20,000 recalls because of a stalling risk. In 2010, 1.13 million Corollas and Matrixes were recalled. Check everything before considering.

5. Mitsubishi Lancer:

The crash tests are not good. These cars were named as one of the most dangerous cars in 2011. This is also a good car for younger generations, which is even worse as they are not experienced drivers.

When buying a car for teenagers, parents look at the safety, cost effectiveness and fuel efficiency of the cars. Furthermore, the look and appeal examined by the teenagers determines whether the transaction is made. Here are the top 10 cars for teens based on 3 criteria: safety test results, cost effectiveness and fuel efficiency.

1. Ford Fiesta:

It’s a small car which will be a good starting point for teenagers. It has excellent stability control and crash test results. The cost starts at approximately $13,000. It is very fuel efficient, consuming 4.9L/100km on the highway and 6.8L/100km in the city. Ford is now developing a strategy for electrification slated to start in 2013.

2. Toyota Scion:

This car was specifically made for teenagers. The price for a basic car is around $16,000. The new edition is fuel efficient, consuming 9.7L/100km in the city and 7.2L/100km on highway.

SAB crash ratings are 5/5 for both front and side. It also has side, front and head airbags as well as a 4 wheel ABS system. The car just entered into Canadian markets in 2010. It has been successful so far.

3. Honda Civic

This car is fuel efficient, reliable and has an attractive practicality. It is one of the best selling cars. 16.5 million Honda Civics were sold as of 2007 worldwide, 7.3 million of them were in the United States. When driving on the highway, the latest edition (8th Generation) takes 5.7L/100km and 8.2L/100km on the city roads. The price is also ideal as the base car costs around $15,000.

4. Toyota Corolla:

This is a perfect car to buy for teens. Many instructors utilize this car to begin teaching lessons to first time drivers. Take a look on the road and you will see what I am talking about. The car is very basic, simple and comfortable. One can easily adjust to the system, especially when it was their training car. All cars are equipped with airbags and stability control. You can definitely find the car at a low price around $15,000.

5. Ford Focus:

This is an excellent car for starter drivers who do not have experience with the road. It has a SYNC system which allows the voice to control the Ipod and cellphone commands. It is cost efficient, pricing at around $18,000. It also has a 6 speed and dual clutch automated system.

On the highway it takes about 5.88L/100km.

First came the invention of cars and then began car racing. The first cars were raced in Paris in 1887 and since then there has been no looking back. The races happened within cities and from one city to another. Only in the 1900s were the first racing circuits built. And then arrived the car racing championships, which are popular throughout the world. These championships are managed by varied organizations based in the countries where they operate. In the sports category, car racing has a major audience viewership. Today there are many types of car races which are undertaken like the Formula One races, touring car races, production car races, stock car racing, kart racing, etc. Given below is a list of top 10 car racing championships held across the globe:

1. FIA Formula One World Championship:

This is a car racing championship of the highest class. The best and the fastest cars from all over the world participate in this championship. The races are called Grands Prix, which are run on specially built circuits or on public roads. The reason it is called formula series is because there are certain rules set out for the racers and their cars. Only participants adhering to these rules are allowed to participate. It has a huge audience throughout the world. Because of its huge popularity, it also succeeds in getting huge sponsorships for the racing events.

2. FIA World Rally Championship:

This championship is a series of 2 to 4 days events. The tracks on which the racers drive are some of the toughest in the world. That is why this championship is considered to be a great challenge to the participants.

3. WTCC FIA World Touring Car Championship:

This is again an international car racing championship. The first championship race was held in the year 1987. It is promoted by Eurosport. This championship series is expanding very rapidly to cover many countries. It is also creating a game franchisee which will reach every nook and corner of the world and will broaden the number of target audience for the championship. The participation numbers, numbers of viewers and its popularity is on a growing spree. It is at the third place after the Formula One and the World Rally Championship.

4. American Championship Car Racing:

This is a national car racing event in the U.S. the cars raced are single seater and the racers are professionals in their fields. These have been similar to formula one cars and they are popularly known as Indycars. These cars are not as technology-driven as the F1 cars. But this is because there was a need to cut costs in order to increase participation. The Indianapolis 500 – mile race is one of the most important events of this national championship.

5. Le Mans Series:

This is an European sports car racing championship. It is managed by the Automobile Club de l’Quest. It was decided to keep the championship Europe based rather than international. This was done to attract many sportscar teams to the series. This championship has been expanding throughout Europe year – by – year.

The largest producer of automobiles in the world is the European Union. Therefore, the key to Europe’s affluence is the automotive industry. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and exports of Europe are strengthened by the automotive industry. Due to this the car sales in Europe have always topped the lists around the world. The top best-selling cars of Europe are given in the list below.

1. Volkswagen Golf

The favorite car of Europe is the Volkswagen Golf. The Golf was first introduced in 1974 and has been a favorite of the Europeans since then. It is a small car fit for a family and is also known by the name of Volkswagen Rabbit. It is of the Volkswagen Group A Platform series. According to statistics 492,556 Golf were sold in Europe in 2010 although the sales show a dip of 13.7% from 2009. Golf topped the German automobile industry in 2010.

2. Ford Fiesta

Second on the list of top 10 best-selling cars in Europe is the subcompact, front wheel drive by Ford Motor Company, Ford Fiesta. Launched in 1976, the Ford Fiesta is in its sixth generation. The car market of the United Kingdom was topped by Ford Fiesta. 402,207 Ford Fiestas were sold in Europe in 2010. 14.8% decline in sales was experienced in 2010 from 2009.

3. Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen started the production of polo in 1975. It is a supermini car and comes in hatchback, coupe, estate and saloon varieties. In 2010, more than 45,000 cars were sold in the United Kingdom setting a record as never sans last year did Polos manage to get into the list of top ten best selling cars in the United Kingdom. In 2010, Europe sold 354,068 Polos with a tremendous increase in sales by 25.1% from 2009.

4. Renault Clio

This is yet another supermini car by Renault, the French automobile manufacturers. The 2010 third generation Clio was launched in 1990. The sales of Clio have substantially been consistent since its launch. The only car to be awarded the Car of the Year twice, that is, in 1991 and 2006 is also called Renault Lutecia. In 2010 Renault sold 338,245 Clios with a small increase in sales from 2009, that is, 8%.

5. Opel Corsa

Since 1982, German manufacturer Opel has been manufacturing the Opel Corsa. It falls under the supermini category and is also known as Chevrolet Chevy, Vauxhall Nova and Holden Barina. The sales of this car have been disturbed by the question of the company’s future. 317,950 Corsas have been sold in Europe by Opel showing a decline of 9.6% from 2009.

Asian regions have had an unprecedented growth. Japanese foreign direct investment is the main driving force of the automotive industry in Asia. The major automobile exporter in Asia is Thailand. The developing countries of Asia also greatly contribute to the Asian automotive industry.

Following is a list of the Top 10 best selling cars in Asia depending on their overall performance and popularity.

1. Toyota Corolla

This is a car from the Japanese manufacturer Toyota, which is in existence from 1966. The line of subcompact Toyota Corollas came into existence from 1966 to 1987. The line of compact Toyota Corollas has been in existence since 1988. On an average one Toyota Corolla is sold every 40 seconds. There have been about 10 models introduced of the car. Toyota Corolla succeeded Toyota Publica. In Latin Corolla is known as a small crown.

2. Honda Civic

Yet another car from a Japanese manufacturer Honda, the Civic was introduced in July 1972. It was launched as a two-door coupe and the coupe was succeeded by a three-door hatchback. The subcompact Civic was present from 1973 to 2000. The compact Civic has been present since 2001 till date. The predecessors of the Honda Civic are Honda N360 and Honda Z600. It has been prevalent in street, drag, grassroots and touring car racing.

3. Honda Accord

Honda 300 was succeeded by Honda Accord. In Japan the compact car has been present from 1975 to 1989 and the mid-size car has been present from 1990 till date. This car is sold in maximum car markets in the world than any other car. The first ever Japanese car manufactured in the United States is the Honda Accord. Various versions and body styles have been introduced by Honda of the Accord. The debut model was the compact hatchback, and following it were the wagon, sedan and coupe.

4. Volkswagen Golf

The Golf was first introduced in 1974 and has been a favorite since then. It is a small car fit for a family and is also known by the name of Volkswagen Rabbit. It is of the Volkswagen Group A Platform series. It succeeded the Volkswagen Beetle. It is related to the Volkswagen Jetta and Scirroco.

5. Nissan Altima

Launched in 1997 Altima by Nissan is related to the Nissan Teana. The compact class was present from 1993-1997 and the mid size class has been available since 1998 till date. Nissan Altima has succeeded Nissan Stanza. In Asia the Altima is mostly available in the Middle East. Nissan Teana is sold in place of the Altima in other markets of the world sans North America where it is known as Nissan Altima only.

These days fuel efficient cars are in great demand. Car manufacturers are therefore competing with each other to give car buyers a choice in terms of other features along with fuel efficiency. Today you will get many cars that are not only fuel efficient but are also comfortable, safe and are fun to drive. Still when car buyers plan to buy a car that is popular for its fuel efficiency they also look for added features as well. Here in this article a brief sketch is given about the top 10 cars that are sought after for fuel efficiency as well as their extra features.

1. Audi A4

The first on the list is the Audi A4 which according to EPA returns fantastic mileage per gallon (MPG) both in city and highway driving conditions. One can get 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway from the Audi A4. This car has a four-cylinder engine under the bonnet and is powered by turbocharger. Another added feature is that it has got direct fuel injection system. You can derive 258 lb-ft of torque from this car and the acceleration is great even while returning good fuel economy figures. It is also available as a station wagon variant.  If you go for looks and would like to enjoy your drive then Audi a4 is the car you should go for.

2. BMW 335d

The BMW 335d which is next on the list returns 23 and 36 MPG in the city and highway respectively. Apart from its fuel economy you will love its power and torque. Rev up the engine and it will develop 425 lb-ft which is much more than many other cars in its class. Acceleration is also fast without compromising on fuel economy. The BMW 335d by far is the best car in the diesel segment that is currently being sold in USA.

3. Chevrolet Volt

Though the fuel efficiency figures of the Chevrolet Volt are yet to be declared by EPA yet it sounds promising given the fact that this car runs on twin power mode (electric motor and gasoline). That’s right; you don’t have to use fuel at least up to 40 miles. Thereafter you can switch over to gas. This can be an ideal car for people who have to commute short distances everyday. Now they don’t have to fill gas as they used to earlier.

4. Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta which is available in both automatic and manual transmission variants returns fantastic figures (29 MPG for city and 40 for highway) though the automatic one returns a bit higher. The three great things about the Ford Fiesta are its size, price and fuel efficiency. The car looks good too and takes on the curves smoothly. You will love to drive this car for your everyday errands.

5. Ford Fusion Hybrid

Returning 41 and 36 MPG in the city and the highway respectively the Ford Fusion Hybrid is perhaps one of the most popular hybrid cars. It offers high mileage that can be expected from a hybrid and at the same time it gives the pleasure of a mid-size sedan. The car is spacious and good to drive. The dashboard is user-friendly and the other gizmos give that technological aura. If you are looking for a car that has everything packaged into one then it should be Ford Fusion Hybrid.

I’m not particularly attracted to one certain type of car. Muscle cars; sure, I like a couple; exotics, yeah, there are some great ones. I don’t know what really qualifies a car to be great. Obviously aesthetics are a large portion, and a car can’t be some old buggy that can’t top 60 mph. I have been researching this list for the past 3 years and I think I’ve compiled a pretty good representation of the best cars of all time.

1. 1959 California Ferrari Spyder
The real car is actually a 1959 California Ferrari Spyder 250 GTO LWB, of which there are only 10 in existance, but I figured I should probably cover the gamut with this one. And that’s probably a little too specific. But seriously, unbelievable car. Sure, it’s only $4,000,000, but if you have never heard of or seen this car, LOOK IT UP. Like, now. Come back to this later. Or not at all. Just discover this car like I did. The design is incredible. It’s just SO BEAUTIFUL! It handles great, sounds great and has it where it counts, too.

2. 1967 Lamborghini Miura
Will there ever be a top 10 list without a Lamborghini on it? I actually really don’t like Lamborghinis that much. In fact, I’d go as far as to say I really don’t like them at all. But the Miura is so radically different from the others that I sometimes doubt it’s actually a Lamborghini. It is way ahead of its time, with a design that is more like something from the mid ’90s. It is a sleek, stylish, and, there’s no other way to put this, cool.

3. 2011 Porsche Cayman R
I’ve been a fan of the Caymans for longer than any other type of Porsche. So you can imagine when I discovered the Cayman R at the Detroit Auto Show in 2011, this was a real treat. The design of this Porsche is so subtly different from every other one, but something about it is just 50 times more charismatic than the others.

4. 1960 Lotus Elite
This car is so simple, yet so great. It was designed to be a racing car, but is really great looking as well. It is often overlooked by the Elan and Elise. Even the Exige S seems to have had more publicity than this. It actually took me two years to discover this car.

5. 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Where has the Corvette gone? I hate, absolutely hate the new Corvettes, partially because they are nothing like this one. This car is an icon of the ’50s and was one of the last good corvettes.

The word ‘Cheap’ doesn’t signify something of low quality rather it can be spelled as affordable or inexpensive. Here we are talking about cars so though people will feel happy that there are certain cars which won’t burn a hole in their pocket yet they would feel bad if quality wise the car underperforms.

Tata Nano which is manufactured by Tata Motors had already created a buzz long before its launch. It was touted as the cheapest car available on earth. Of course it is (going by the records) and will remain so for sometime before another one dethrones it from that pedestal. Tata Nano made a spectacular entry into the world of automobiles taking the industry by storm. Long queues were seen in front of the booking counters. People had to wait for months before they could lay their hands on this tiny beauty. It created ripples in the western world particularly the developed nations. The Rs one lakh car was created with the vision to enable every household to own a car and this perhaps pinched the rich nations.

Nevertheless the Tatas were not the first ones to manufacture affordable cars. The trend to make affordable cars had begun long time back in the west. Who can ignore the Fiat 500 which was manufactured in Italy? Similarly Germany had its Beetle from the Volkswagen stable and France its Citroen 2CV and Renault 4CV. The US too had its own in the form of Ford Model T.

So here we present the top 10 cheapest cars in the world starting from number 10: -

1. Tata Nano

The launch of Tata Nano created a sort of history in the automobile industry. At a time when high-end motorcycles started sporting a price tag of somewhere around $2000 in a country like India the Nano was offered at $2,497. The cash registers started ringing immediately. This tiny car is not only about price but other factors too. The car was well-planned and everything was indigenous. However there were skeptics who argued (maybe they were true to some extent) that air pollution will increase because many people will be able to afford a car like this.

The list comprising the top 10 cheapest cars in the world ends here. Clearly the winner is Tata Nano which is standing at number one position for the moment. Maybe for sometime it will be able to hold its place. Nano did not make a sudden entry rather it was a planned one. The buzz was created long before its launch. Of course the manufacturers had to face setbacks while setting up its manufacturing facility. When finally that issue was settled the Nano rolled on to a red carpet welcome. The popularity and success of the Nano will encourage other car manufacturers to come up with models which may turn out to be cheaper than the Nano but till then it will remain the bestseller.

2. Cheery QQ

Standing tall at number two and holding it firmly the China made Cheery QQ costs $4,781. It is surprising that one can get two Nano cars at this price; still the Cheery holds its ground. The car has lot of similarities with the erstwhile Matiz from Daewoo (later sold off to GM/Chevrolet) and this resulted in trademark issues which were sorted out after much deliberation.

3. Maruti Suzuki 800

Tagged as the ‘bread and butter’ car of Maruti, the Maruti Suzuki which is priced at $4,994 was once the most affordable car in India. The Maruti 800 is a mini hatchback that is great for city commuting. Many families which dreamed of owning a sedan but could not afford one found an excuse with this car.

4. Geely MR

The Geely MR comes at $5,500 and is slightly cheaper than its elder brother. Both the cars are similar. However the MR with its sporty powertrain feature acts slightly differently than the HQ SRC. Otherwise for an enlightened car buff there is no striking difference between the two cars.

5. Geely HQ SRC

The Geely HQ SRC is offered at $5,780. The car is built on the platform of Daihatsu Charade (1980 model). When the Daihatsu Charade was introduced in the auto market it was considered as a good and dependable car. It remains to be seen how far the Geely can take its legacy.

Expensive cars exist only in the realm of the rich and famous. We can look at them enviously as they glide past us with a murmur and with the grace of a gazelle. Every car manufacturer has at least one elite, fabulously expensive car within his brand, which is built exclusively for their select customers. They bring them out in limited quantities since they want to retain the exclusivity of the brand.

Here are ten of these cars:

1. Lamborghini Reventon:

They are renowned for their expensive cars, but this one is on top of their list also. Costing about $ 1,600,000, it has a top speed of 212mph. They build only 20 of these every year; hence their exclusivity and price are maintained.

2. Ferrari Enzo:

A superb car, it has always been very popular among the rich and the famous. They produced only 400 of these cars, and even today the previously owned models are  sold at a much higher price than it’s original costing of $ 670,000. Ferrari’s craftsmanship is renowned and this is one of their masterpieces.

3. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster:

With superb German technology behind it, this gorgeous convertible is prized among car fanatics. It has the world’s fastest automatic transmission, and a top speed of 206 mph, is well known for its excellent performance and style. At $ 495,000 it is definitely not built for the general public.

4. Porsche Carrera GT:

How can we expect anything but the best from Porsche?  A true racing car feel in a convertible of the highest quality, this beauty can cost you anything around $ 440,000.

5. Maybach Exelero :

Most people are not familiar with a Maybach car – since every model of it is a high-end model. It is loosely termed as a super luxury Merc, because the production lines are the same. But for those who have owned a Maybach – there are none which are equal to it in performance and engineering. Be ready to fork out $ 8 million for this particular beauty.

Sports Utility Vehicles or SUV’s as they are commonly known, were never renowned for speed. They were good large vehicles and were generally considered to be more of a utility car rather than one associated with fast driving. However their growing popularity has made car manufacturers realise that if fast driving can also become one of their attributes then the SUV’s will become vehicles of choice for money.

Here are the top ten fastest SUV’s for 2011. We judged them with regards to their top speed and 0 to 60 times.

1. BMW X6m:

BMW claim that this is the fastest SUV available in the market and with a speed of zero to sixty in 4.3 seconds, the claim seems to be absolutely correct. The cost is a massive $ 88,900, and at 5000 lbs it is one of the heaviest vehicles in this list. But with BMW’s superb engine power behind it, it is a great machine.

2. BMW X5m:

Another product from the BMW stable, this ute is also a great machine. Slightly slower and heavier than the X6, it is however backed by the reputation of BMW’s excellent craftsmanship. BMW’s zero maintenance facility makes it virtually cost-free with regards to any maintenance problems which may arise.

3. Porsche Cayenne Turbo X:

Sleek and sporty, this beauty has been in the forefront of the SUV field for many years. Even the cost factor of $ 104,700 does not seem to deter those who feel it is one of the best SUV’s available. It’s twin turbo-charged V8 engine generates 500-hp with twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8, for a zero to 60 speed in 4.4 seconds.

4. Mercedes Benz ML 63 AMG:

Mercedes Benz has been renowned for luxury and speed and quality. They have maintained their excellent quality in this V8, 6.3 litre 503 horsepower engine, It has a maximum speed of 155 mph, which may not be as high as the other SUV’s but it is still good enough to make this list.

5. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8:

The fastest model made by Jeep, it breaks all the myths that Jeep only has slow lumbering vehicles in it’s roster. It has a 420 horsepower, 6.4 litre V8 engine and can streak from zero to 60 in 4.8 seconds. It’s price of $ 45,000 makes it a very good buy in this category.