Gen X, Millennials, or Gen Z: Who Had the Best Cars?
As Paul Simon once sang: “Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.” Well, similarly every generation sends a supercar down the drag strip. But who had the best cars? Was it the practical, yet pioneering Gen X? The tech-savvy Millennials? Or could it be Gen Z, who live out their lives on social media? Buckle up, rev your motors and let the car battle of the generations commence!
Gen X: The Era of Icons
Born between 1965-80 Gen X came of driving age in the early 1980s. It was the generation that grew up in the family Morris Minor, Volkswagen Beetle or Ford Cortina.
By the time they clenched their pink paper driving licence in their hands with the ecstatic joy of knowing the freedom of the open road beckoned, they were aspiring not just to 1970s icons like MG roadsters, Ford Capris and Jaguar E-Types or XJS sports tourers (if they won the Pools), but a raft of emerging 1980s superstars.
These eighties legends, which are now appreciating classics and desirable collectables, meant that in their youth, Gen Xers got into street races driving cars like the Ford Escort XR3i - usually white cabriolets!
Ford narrowed in on this market and upped its street-fighter game with cooking cars subjected to gamma radiation and given superhero capes. So suddenly the family Sierra and Sapphire sprouted massive wings and Cosworth badges to win rallies and drivers’ hearts
Meanwhile, yay for the yuppies, as they yearned for status and style as well as poise and performance. The Germans duly obliged with the Volkswagen Golf GTI, setting the template for so-called ‘hot hatches’ which endures to this day. Those climbing the corporate ladder to Gekkoism, would start with a GTI, and move up the chain to a BMW E30 - at least a straight six 325i if not the all-conquering first M3 - while their eyes were set on the ultimate prize, a Porsche 911 Turbo, ideally a Targa.
We can’t move on without hat-tipping the Audi Quattro, Lancia Delta HF and Integrale and of course the Peugeot 205 GTI - rally-bred champions all.
For more heavenly metal you had the Ferrari 308/328 of Magnum fame, and a DeTomaso Pantera, or ultimately the supercars that defined the 1980s, the hardcore Ferrari F40, the wide-shouldered Ferrari Testarossa, the technological marvel that was the Porsche 959 and the in-your-face Lamborghini Countach.
There’s no question this era was the sweet spot, the overlap of legends. It was a special time and many of Gen X’s adored automobiles remain must-haves today.
Millennials: The Tech Takeover
The Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996 hit the roads just over a quarter of a century ago. Of course, the Japanese manufacturers had well and truly made their presence felt on the automotive landscape in the 1980s, but truly got into their stride in the 1990s, having nailed reliability and quality, and moved on to creating true driving machines.
As such they landed some serious rivals to the Europeans. Even a shortened list of contenders will leave you salivating. From the rally fighter duo of the Subaru Impreza WRX and the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO to a kaleidoscope of coupes including the Toyota MR2, Celica and Supra, Nissan 300ZX and GT-R, Honda Prelude, S2000 and CRX as well as the Mazda RX-7 (later RX-8) and the world’s best-selling roadster, the MX-5. Plus, the original Honda NSX which put the frighteners on Ferrari!
Meanwhile, Ford stepped up with ST and RS badged editions of the Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta. BMW gave us the second best (after the 1980s E30) generation of M3, the E46 (1999-2006), and VW continued to get the Golf right, adding the wild six-cylinder R32. Porsche gave us what some regard as the last proper 911, the 993 series which was the final air-cooled version. Audi released its Bauhaus-inspired TT sports car, as well as the performance-tuned RS models.
The Mini was reborn by BMW for a new era and stepped up the performance and quality while retaining the fun factor. The Lotus Elise defined a new era for Britain’s famed sports car specialist, creating what remains one of the most visceral driving machines ever, and siring the Exige and Evora. Jaguar gave us the XKR and Aston Martin the gorgeous DB7.
In the supercar realm, Ferrari upped its game with the F355 and its successors, Audi surprised us all with the R8, and Lamborghini presented its first daily-driveable supercar, the Gallardo. But the crown has to sit on the lionized McLaren F1 supercar.
Millennials grew up with computers, of course, they embraced the mobile phone and the internet, essentially shaping how tech pervaded our lives… and our cars. Computer monitors, connectivity and charging points popped up in motors and they heralded the arrival of a new era of personal transport - the electric car.
From the Nissan Leaf to the Tesla Model S (via the Tesla Roadster), EVs started taking root. Tesla in particular was popularised by a fandom taken with a brand that redefined what modern cars should feature, such as auto-pilot systems and the Ludicrous Mode. Having said that, it’s taken a generation to even come close to ‘accepting’ electric cars. Which is a segue!
Gen Z: The Digital Darlings
Last but certainly not least, we have Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, a portion of which first started taking to the wheel less than a decade ago. Why portion? Because this is the first generation that doesn’t necessarily feel it needs a personal car.
With public transport systems better than ever; 5G and high-speed internet enabling greater connectivity; and the rise of ride-hailing services like Uber; not to mention the steeply rising costs of learning, buying, owning, insuring and running a car; it’s no surprise that many have dismissed driving altogether.
Which doesn’t necessarily bode well for the list of its automotive greats. Having said that, Toyota’s GR86 saw the Japanese carmaker bringing back affordable and fun sportscars. Mazda continues to churn out the excellent MX-5.
Most of the hot hatch champions have sadly disappeared but the progenitor, the Golf GTI, thankfully remains and one of its chief arch-rivals, the Honda Civic Type R can also continue to rock your world. Toyota’s pocket rocket, GR Yaris has entered the fray too.
Jaguar introduced the brilliant F-Type sportscar, although that’s already defunct and similarly Lotus has killed off its trio of tearaways to give us one rather exclusive Emira mini-supercar.
Talking of supercars, Ferrari and Lamborghini have been seeing the best sales in their storied history thanks to a host of new cars, while McLarens have come on strong, though the Audi R8 has passed into history. It’s fair to say that both in terms of price and performance, the 911 is now firmly in the supercar bracket, and sadly the more accessible Boxster/Cayman ranges will be discontinued shortly.
As the legacy car industry, along with new upstarts from China, moves massively into the electric car sector, we’re getting a stream of exquisite EVs from the Porsche Taycan to the BMW i4 M50 (a personal favourite), although the market was still dominated by Tesla until recently when Chinese giant BYD overtook Elon Musk’s car company. This sector will continue to see an explosion of exciting new cars and indeed entire new marques for the newest generation to be driving.
However, if you want old-skool, it’s still around in the shape of the right-hand drive Ford Mustang, boasting a wonderfully Jurassic 5.0-litre V8 and classic muscle car style. But it’s a lone rider on a road being cleansed of the old and baptised with EVs and soon driverless vehicles (that’s what Generation Alpha has to look forward to).
Car Battle of the Gens - Winner!
Gen X gave us icons, cars that defined an era and still turn heads today. Millennials brought in the tech, blending performance with practicality and a touch of eco-consciousness. Gen Z is redefining what it means to be a car enthusiast in the digital age, with a focus on sustainability, connectivity and autonomy.
However, the latest gen has the least soulful cars on offer frankly, Millennials had a great ride while it lasted, but it’s the enduring legends of the 1980s and early 90s that mean Gen X has to win this particular shoot-out.
By the way, you guessed it, the author is a Gen Xer!
