CarsGuide COTY 2009

[R-Design]

Its COTY time again and it seems CarsGuide is first cab off the rank. Pick a winner from the ten finalists & explain what will get it over the line.

Nissan GT-R

Toyota Prius

Volvo XC60 D5

Hyundai i30 CW

Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI

Ford Fiesta

Holden Cruze

Mazda3

Subaru Liberty

VW Golf

[Mr Hardware]

ford fiesta: best of a bad bunch, and not because its a ford.

[Wretched]

Unfortunately I believe the GTR will win.
The Fiesta or Golf should be the winner.

[prydey]

fuel economy shouldn't be a deciding factor. it should be part of the criteria maybe but only for the smallest of percentage points.

mercedes e250 all the way. if cars like the fiesta can win a car of the year competition then the criteria is all wrong.

[4Vman]

The Fanboi favorite will be the GTR, the "sensible" winner will be the Mazda 3, its simply the best in its class and sales have proved it, the Golf a close second....

[vandrsxr6]

Same as wretched.

I think the GTR will get it but I think the Golf should.

The Golf's got everything you need,looks,build quality,power,affordability.

The GTR is an awesome piece of machinery, but who could actually own one.

[Fev]

The GTR is undoubtedly the best bang for your buck sports car in the world. With it's reasonable price tag(for a highend supercar), awesome performance, looks and driveability, the GTR has been 2009's most anticipated car to come out of Japan. It has taken the world by storm with it's times around the Nuringburg Ring, battles with Porsche for supremacy and made headlines around the automotive world. And with a car that costs half the price of it's nearest competitor, it's got the most accessible price tag too.

[prydey]

merc c class won wheels car of the year last year? as an everyday all round car, the e class stands well above the others.

i'm unashamedly biased toward MB though.

[deesun]

It's Carsguide so a Holden will win.

[EgoFG]

Originally Posted by deesun

It's Carsguide so a Holden will win.

So I say cruize

[XR6_190]

Here's what I think, for anybody that is interested:

NISSAN GTR, Far too expensive (regardless of it's competition), how can you seriously suggest to people that the best car to buy is a 150K track weapon?

TOYOTA PRIUS, Hasn't got the on road performance to match any of the other options, and is far too expensive compared to it's more conventional competitors.

VOLVO XC60 D5, Has got a good chance, I have heard a lot of good reviews for this car, with a mix of decent pricing, good drivability, and the usual Volvo safety, I think it is the dark horse.

HYUNDAI 130CW, I can't even see how this got in there, after all it is basically a wagon variant of a car that has already been out for a couple of years. No chance

MERCEDES BENZ E250 CDI, Has an OK, chance, as does any new MB product. However I don't know if there is enough in it to justify the 45K extra over the local stablemates (Ford G6E/ Holden Calais)

FORD FIESTA, Probably will win, the guys from Carsguide have been giving it very good reviews, and from all intensive purposes it is a brilliant little car, looks great, well equipped, well priced and has a great mechanical package, about the only downside for it is the 1.4L that the Auto gets stuck with.

HOLDEN CRUZE, Yes it is an important car for Holden's future, there isn't much to say it will win, it is bested by many of it's older competitors, and has a restricted range (for now at least) I personally don't think that it is good enough to knock over either the Fiesta, or the Golf.

MAZDA 3, If it were last year, or next year, I would probably say that this would win it, but one of it's biggest rivals, the Golf is also up for the gong this year, and i think that it does most things just that little bit better than the 3.

SUBARU LIBERTY, I think that this is an interesting one, it may well snatch victory from the other favourites, but I don't really know enough about it to really say. All I know is that if it were down to styling alone, this would come close to last.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF, If it isn't the Fiesta that wins, it will be this. I am a huge fan of the new Golf, as are many others. It is just the perfect all rounder, good value, well built, performs well and has pretty good economy figures, I can really see this winning.

MY VERDICT, I think it will come down to either the Golf or the Fiesta, with the Volvo XC60 as my dark horse.

[greens_tuf]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

So I say cruize

+1 me too lol

[XR6_190]

Originally Posted by deesun

It's Carsguide so a Holden will win.

Don't be too sure on that one, Paul Gover who is the most biased of all of them towards Holden is on record saying what a great little car the Fiesta is.
They usually knock Ford the company, not so much their actual product. Remember also, the last car to win this very award was the G6E Turbo.

P.S. I have no affiliation what so ever with CARSGUIDE.

[robjh80]

The Fiesta will just beat the Golf for the win ..... but the Cruze could cause a possible upset and snatch it at the post.

[TUF_302]

The Volvo!! Jokes lol!! :

Seriously though the fiesta should win, but if not either the golf or the GTR

[Jason[98.EL]]

I would hope the Fiesta will get it but i do think that the VW will take the crown

Had a trip in a new one ( VW ) the other day and all i can say is very nice

Jason

[austyphoon]

Car of the year shouldn't be about price, so that argument should be thrown out the window. This is what these cars are judged on, styling, safety, innovation, value, functionality, build quality and performance. I don't understand how you could compare a Fiesta or Cruze against something like the GT-R in performance and expect to get a fair result.

Personally I would pick the R35 GT-R because it really re-defined the term 'Everyday supercar', it doesn't have a real competitor that can match it in price vs performance.

I think it won about 10 separate car of the year awards internationally last year so why not just give it another one, lol.

[XR6_661]

I think the Golf should get it...

But I rekon then GTR, as mentioned, will take it out based purely on what it is and what has gone into it.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by austyphoon

Personally I would pick the R35 GT-R because it really re-defined the term 'Everyday supercar', it doesn't have a real competitor that can match it in price vs performance.

I think it won about 10 separate car of the year awards internationally last year so why not just give it another one, lol.

Cost of ownership should be a consideration. New gearbox every 20,000k. If thats an "everyday supercar", their race cars must spit diffs every 15 laps.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by deesun

It's Carsguide so a Holden will win.

What he said!... Unfortunately exactly how it'll pan out

[Iggypoppin']

New trans every 20,000? I doubt that unless your absolutly destroying it on track days. The servicing costs should scare most away, 10,000 bucks for a trans service after a track day, ouch. My moneys on the mazda3 though, awesome car.

[Cheese3]

the GT-R should win it, best car in the world for the least price!

but it wouldnt suprise me if fiesta will in, great little car and priced cheaply

[Rodp]

Golf. World Car of the Year - should be good enough for Carsguide. Only one that could pip it would be the Fiesta, IMO.

GT-R, affordable insane performance but servicing costs more than make up for the relatively low sticker price.

[ZDI-970]

imo hyundai and volvo cant win because the fact that they are hyundai and volvo! id say its between the mazda and holden... family cars that are reliable and look ok...

[Fairlane]

Mazda 3 will win. Personally I reckon it should be Fiesta or the GTR.

The GTR is definately worthy.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Cost of ownership should be a consideration. New gearbox every 20,000k. If thats an "everyday supercar", their race cars must spit diffs every 15 laps.

In that they have a 100,000km 3 year warranty that will cost Nissan a lot won't it?

Don't all XR Turbos blow up gear boxes on a daily basis and BOSS V8s drink oil by the 44 gallon drum? I am sure I read that on a web site somewhere. Probably a holden one that may have people who hate fords because they are quicker than their car and just make stuff up....

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by flappist

In that they have a 100,000km 3 year warranty that will cost Nissan a lot won't it?

Don't all XR Turbos blow up gear boxes on a daily basis and BOSS V8s drink oil by the 44 gallon drum? I am sure I read that on a web site somewhere. Probably a holden one that may have people who hate fords because they are quicker than their car and just make stuff up....

Now, that would be the LS1 you're referring to flappist

In seriousness, the gtr while it is a great car, doesn't tie in with the other cars, a fiesta or golf can't be compared and compete with a GTR, as the cars are far too different.

[SVD]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Cost of ownership should be a consideration. New gearbox every 20,000k. If thats an "everyday supercar", their race cars must spit diffs every 15 laps.

thats because people were using the (what everyone calls) launch control system for its not intended purpose, otherwise the gearboxes would be fine! the system people use to launch the car was designed if the car had gotten bogged and it even says so in the owners manual!(like people read them though ey...)
the race cars just decimate everything!

back on topic, the award i reckon will either go to the Scooby or possibly the fiesta...

[schnoods]

Either the holden cruze, the VW gold or the Liberty.

Lets be realistic, people that bought or was tempted to buy a GTR didnt buy one because of carsguide.

The volvo wont because its a volvo, nothings really changed, its a great car but is it better than the rest?

Prius and hyundai are just making up numbers, the Mazda might squeeze in, the rest wont come close...

[aualright]

VW seem to be the darlings at the moment. To me they are a Toyota with German cred. Since I only know one person that owns a Golf GTi I probably shouldn't use their experience as a guide...but I will. So-called quality was missed on his 'copy' and the DSG doesn't quite have the response he wished. But...it is European (German even), has good resale and doesn't clack, clack like they used to. In fact, you could even call them fashionable which is more than half the battle.
Wonder if they churn wheel bearings like their siblings over at Audi.

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