Wheels Car of the Year Nominees - No BF!

[Dave_au]

Taken from another forum, the apparent official list is as follows:

BMW Series 3
Chrysler 300C
Citroen C4
Ford Focus
Hyundia Sonata
Holden Tigra
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Rover Discovery 3
Lexus IS
Lexus GS
Mazda MX-5
Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Mercedes-Benz CLS
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Mitsubishi 380
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Nissan Murano
Renault Senic
Porsche Boxster
Suzuki Swift
Toyota Yaris

They have an outline of why certain cars were not included in their January issue. I have not read it yet, but I could only imagine the BF was given the boot due to the non-inclusion of the ZF on the lower trim models.

So who is going to win? The Evo may be up to it, as well as the Lexus IS and the Ford Focus IMHO.

[gmhdriver]

Because it is not an all new car ie. It hasn't changed enough from the previous model.
I have a feeling they'll give it to the 380.

[Dave_au]

Actually the criteria is if the car has substantially changed, ie, thats why Commodores can get a run in previous years, and why the Boxster is in too.

[gmhdriver]

I don't think a new transmission and a few minor tweaks is enough to be judged as "substantial".

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

I don't think a new transmission and a few minor tweaks is enough to be judged as "substantial".

Good point.

Don't worry BF owners, you guys can come talk to us AU owners and we will look after you. We never really expected much from our model with the lack of awards, wins at Bathurst etc etc etc. We will help you through this difficult time. :

Seriously, who cares if it wins an award. As long as it lives up to your expectations when you buy it. You don't need a magazine to tell you whats good and whats not. Otherwise the AU would never have sold. :

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

Because it is not an all new car ie. It hasn't changed enough from the previous model.
I have a feeling they'll give it to the 380.

Well given they gave one to P76 its only logical they give a gong to P76's successor

[apolloxbgt]

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

Because it is not an all new car ie. It hasn't changed enough from the previous model.
I have a feeling they'll give it to the 380.

I second that.

[JC]

They need to change the name of the award then. It should be known as "WHEELS CAR that is an all new design or one that has changed substantially in the last 12 months OF THE YEAR".

Car of the year to me suggests the best car you can buy that was made in the year they are talking about. I might just have to sue them for false advertising.

[M&Ms]

Well the Evo 8 and Evo 9 are heaps similar, yet the Evo 9 is in.

[The Monty]

I say the 3 series beema. The whole lot are nice, look good but are pricey on parts.

[merlin]

The Holden Tigra is on the list....plleeeasseee.

I vote for the 300C on price alone.

[Iphido]

Personally I think the BF should have gotten into it. Revised engines, across the board, new transmission across the board, stability control on many models, upgraded brakes on all V8 and turbo, revised NVH.

Given that the Fairmont Ghia was apparently beaten by the 300c in the three way comparison, and the Ghia is the best of the COTY Falcons, then well it stands to reason that the 300c will be hard to beat.

[henry 351]

Originally Posted by Iphido

Personally I think the BF should have gotten into it. Revised engines, across the board, new transmission across the board, stability control on many models, upgraded brakes on all V8 and turbo, revised NVH.

Given that the Fairmont Ghia was apparently beaten by the 300c in the three way comparison, and the Ghia is the best of the COTY Falcons, then well it stands to reason that the 300c will be hard to beat.

The new 6 speed automatic is not standard across the board if you want an auto in a BF, it's only available in some models. Maybe if it was, it might have made the cut.

[Ryan]

I have a feeling that the 300c is gonna take it this year.

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Who cares ? Its a BS magazine with a BS award ! To think the Holden Camira won it back in the early 80's ! That alone is enough to steer me away from this automotive suck hole trash report !

[gmhdriver]

Originally Posted by Blue Oval Mopar Man

Who cares ? Its a BS magazine with a BS award ! To think the Holden Camira won it back in the early 80's ! That alone is enough to steer me away from this automotive suck hole trash report !

At the time, compared to other cars in its class the Camira was considered as a great car, winning just about every comparison. It was only later that quality issues started surfacing.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

At the time, compared to other cars in its class the Camira was considered as a great car, winning just about every comparison. It was only later that quality issues started surfacing.

Good thing you mentioned Camira as I was thinking you were talking BA Falcon for a minute. ;)

Dan

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

At the time, compared to other cars in its class the Camira was considered as a great car, winning just about every comparison. It was only later that quality issues started surfacing.

OHHH , i see, so a car manufacturer just needs to spend a shyte load of cash , design a new car with as many technology pushing features as it can and give it a run around the block to win the awards ?

Sweeeeeeet! The A380 is a shooooo in ! Which ever way ya look at it its still just B/S awards given for getting a few hours free use of a few cars , the test of which are all about looks and feel ! WoW ! you've convinced me , NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Blue Oval Mopar Man

Who cares ? Its a BS magazine with a BS award ! To think the Holden Camira won it back in the early 80's ! That alone is enough to steer me away from this automotive suck hole trash report !

They can report how a car drives and behaves, how luxurious and refined it is, and how fast it is. But they can't predict how long it will last, or report on that. It's not their fault the Camira was built like poo, for example.

[gmhdriver]

Originally Posted by Steffo

They can report how a car drives and behaves, how luxurious and refined it is, and how fast it is. But they can't predict how long it will last, or report on that. It's not their fault the Camira was built like poo, for example.

Spot on. Another example is the original wedge shaped Magna which won car of the year in 1985. They turned out to be the biggest smoke billowing, transmission blowing, unreliable pos you could imagine.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Blue Oval Mopar Man

Who cares ? Its a BS magazine with a BS award ! To think the Holden Camira won it back in the early 80's ! That alone is enough to steer me away from this automotive suck hole trash report !

I'll second that.
I read the entire magazine while I was waiting in hospital (only decent magazine that was in the giftshop...or so i thought) and the mag just seemed to be written very poorly. I've read better reviews on this forum.

[deesun]

The 380 wouldn't be my pick,but I'm not picking.
The 300c has a huge price advantage and has impressed recently.
Just because its on the list doesnt mean its any good it may not get past first day of testing.
Commodores have missed out in previous years for the same reason as no BF.
Don't discount the Discovery which has been louded in other markets

[Iphido]

Its avalible From Xt through to Fairmont Ghia. The only cars you can't get a ZF in is the wagons. Ok, its tided to the V8 but its still a option.

Seems like wheels thinks that changing the wheel base 5mm is far far more important that changing engines, transmissions, adding safety features and general improvement.

Whats so amazing about the Yaris over the Echo? Or the new boxster.

It is a realitively thin slice of the market. I know I wouldn't concider any of those cars for my next purchase.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Iphido

Its avalible From Xt through to Fairmont Ghia. The only cars you can't get a ZF in is the wagons. Ok, its tided to the V8 but its still a option.

Seems like wheels thinks that changing the wheel base 5mm is far far more important that changing engines, transmissions, adding safety features and general improvement.

Whats so amazing about the Yaris over the Echo? Or the new boxster.

It is a realitively thin slice of the market. I know I wouldn't concider any of those cars for my next purchase.

The ZF is only available on the Fairmont Ghia, Fairlane/LTD and optional on the XR's. It is only avilable on the XT or Fairmont when you get the 230 V8. Not available on Futura or wagons.

The MX5 might be the darkhorse, it won the award back when the original was released.

[csv8]

Chrysler 300C should win it. Be a suprise to all the ricers in the list. Plus the 300C is quite impressive.

[WizBang]

The Chrysley 300c is in for the running but I think I will but my money on the Ford Focus

[The Taipan]

BMW Series 3 - too expensive, not enough improvement, and not signficantly better than competition.
Chrysler 300C - Good chance, top 5, maybe a winner.
Citroen C4 - for some reason wheels like these things, but I hope not...
Ford Focus - good car, not enough to win though
Hyundia Sonata - Huge improvement over previous, excellent value, dark horse
Holden Tigra - all competitions need a wooden spoon, this one gets a plastic spoon.
Jeep Grand Cherokee - huge improvement over previous models, reasonable value, not dynamically good enough for WCOTY though...
Land Rover Discovery 3 - don't know enough about this toy
Lexus IS - don't know enough about the lexus toys...
Lexus GS - Camry with a BMW price tag...
Mazda MX-5 - big improvements also, but not practical enough day to day... hard to see it winning, even though it still is a class act.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class - nah
Mercedes-Benz CLS - doubt it
Mercedes-Benz M-Class - I believe, like the Cherokee it is vastly improved, but lacks value, and doesn't do anything better than its competitors.
Mitsubishi 380 - This vehicle will only get there if the judges are simpathetic to it and its manufacturer's plight, it doesn't offer anything new, or at better value...
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX - Excellent Performance COTY for Motor, but everything that gives it that title will take away from the WCOTY, not a winner, but top fun all the same....
Nissan Murano - no
Renault Senic- no
Porsche Boxster - Still a beautiful machine after all these years, but I don't see how it got in...
Suzuki Swift - may also crack the top5, hard to beat on value, and in its class it is a good choice
Toyota Yaris - haven't seen anything about the Yaris yet, surely it will be an improvement over the dated Echo, but I'm not expecting anything more than an appliance from T

My guess - top5:
Sonata
300C
Swift
Focus
Cherokee
380 or MX5 and possibly C4 to replace any of the bottom three.

[marcosambrose]

Originally Posted by The Taipan

My guess - top5:
Sonata
300C
Swift
Focus
Cherokee
380 or MX5 and possibly C4 to replace any of the bottom three.

300C? surely not, its a big american soft riding hunk of steel with no dynamic advantage over any australian car. The sonata will not win it, merely because its a sonata, id say MX5 or Focus.

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by marcosambrose

300C? surely not, its a big american soft riding hunk of steel with no dynamic advantage over any australian car. The sonata will not win it, merely because its a sonata, id say MX5 or Focus.

Relax. The 300C wont win........my thongs dont taste good.

Oh and by the way, how is preparation of your first Indy race going? :

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by The Taipan

Lexus GS - Camry with a BMW price tag...

Your thinking ES, the GS is rwd with either a 3.0L v6 or a 4.3L v8.