We Rate Engines was inspired by a single offhand remark on The Car Podcast with Chris Harris & Friends — available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

In Episode 79, "The Best Boring Car?", Chris Harris was joined by guests Chris Cooper, Manish Pandey (screenwriter of the Senna film), and Neil Clifford (fashion CEO). At around 29 minutes in, Chris Cooper made a reference to We Rate Dogs — the beloved social media account where every dog is rated above 10 out of 10, because obviously they all deserve it.

His point was simple and irrefutable: all engines are at least a 13. Every single one. This site exists to prove him right.

Chris Cooper · Car enthusiast, guest on The Car Podcast Ep. 79

"

… there was a Twitter account called We Rate Dogs, and it basically rated people's dogs. Marks out of 10. And every dog was 11 out of 10. Because we love all dogs. And that's my copy of this question, really. I love all engines. And whichever engine you put with me, that's the best. That's the 13 out of 10. It doesn't matter. It's an engine.

— Chris Cooper · The Car Podcast with Chris Harris, Ep. 79 · "The Best Boring Car?" · ~29:00