WHEELS COTY - any updates?

SUVshopper · 20-01-2006, 09:13 PM

Does anyone know what's the latest news on WHEELS COTY?

Bossxr8 · 22-01-2006, 01:33 PM

Winner will be announced either Tuesday or Wednesday.

deesun · 23-01-2006, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUVshopper

Does anyone know what's the latest news on WHEELS COTY?

Tomorrow,Tuesday morning on Today Show,Channel 9. Was promoted tonight at the end of Current Affair.

SUVshopper · 23-01-2006, 10:18 PM

It seems that the final four are:

Mercedes M Class
Lexus IS250
Mazda MX5
Ford Focus

AuFairlaneV8 · 23-01-2006, 11:11 PM

It seems that the final four are:

Mercedes M Class
Lexus IS250
Mazda MX5
Ford Focus

If thats true, then its lexus for the win

qwigybo · 24-01-2006, 12:02 AM

yeah i'll take the lexus pretty average line up though

eb2fairmont · 24-01-2006, 12:08 AM

MX5 easy.

Rev28K · 24-01-2006, 09:12 AM

MX5 - live on this morning's "Today" show.

Homer1 · 24-01-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev28K

MX5 - live on this morning's "Today" show.

MX5's a good car, but never been my cup of tea. I woul've picked the Lexus

merlin · 24-01-2006, 09:33 AM

So the MX5 won? Anyone got any specs on this car?

TheSneakiness · 24-01-2006, 12:07 PM

You're kidding right???

Homer1 · 24-01-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUII_SE_Ute

You're kidding right???

Nope.....can't wait for the IS350 to come out here too....will definitely be a contender for my next car.

TheSneakiness · 24-01-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homer1

Nope.....can't wait for the IS350 to come out here too....will definitely be a contender for my next car.

That comment wasn't aimed at you. I'd have a Lexus over a Mazda any day of the week. The comment was for the MX-5.

I sat in the previous model at the Brisbane Motor Show last year and wasn't impressed at all with space. Went to Hyundai and jumped in a Getz, heaps of room (which they then proceeded to sell me, different story).

aimzes · 24-01-2006, 03:43 PM

how the F**K can a mercedes M class make the cut? go out and drive one, youll see what i mean.

mx5, great little car... but id never actually purchase one.

Bossxr8 · 24-01-2006, 09:24 PM

I picked the MX5 as the winner in another thread about the award 5 or 6 weeks ago, what prize do I win.

380 couldn't even crack the final 4.

:

MickyB · 24-01-2006, 12:19 PM

One of my friends has the new MX-5, reckons it's a massive step forward over the previous models. That being said, it's certainly not the most practical vehicle to win, and definately only caters to a niche market. Of the those 4 I would have expected the Lexus or the Focus, although I am surprised 380 wasn't a finalist too.

Rev28K · 24-01-2006, 02:58 PM

Are Lexus bringing the IS350 out here? If they were serious about challenging the BMW 3 series wouldn’t they have the full range available from the start (although with the old model they brought out the IS200 then the IS300 a year or so later)?

One of the criteria with the award is something like the competence of it’s intended purpose. i.e. if it is a people mover is it a good people mover, does it lift the bar compared with other people movers, etc. This means that sedans can compete with sports cars and soft roaders.

**Polyal** · 24-01-2006, 03:21 PM

hmm lexus' are nice cars, but just dont do anything for me.

As inpractical as a mx-5 is, its alot of fun and the new version is a huge step up.

MAFIA · 25-01-2006, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

hmm lexus' are nice cars, but just dont do anything for me.

As inpractical as a mx-5 is, its alot of fun and the new version is a huge step up.

ahahahahah hahahaha More like the MX5 is impractical. Very small cabin space as that alway the problem with MX5 . The car only had a minor comsemetic changes to exterior and interior. Thay still got the same stupid engine power plant (boring). It the same little car for the last 15 years.

Ford Focus should have won easy.

Rev28K · 25-01-2006, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAFIATL

Ford Focus should have won easy.

OFFS! It's a different bodyshell (much much stronger), the engine has been pushed further back to the middle, different panels, different interior, etc, et bloody cetera.

It doesn't even look that similar to the old model - head on, side on or from the back. Have a look at how high the new bonnet line is.

Pedro · 25-01-2006, 07:02 AM

Wheels said earlier that the BF was ineligible this year as it only has some mechanical changes and a couple of cosmetics over a BA! How come that criteria didn't appear to be applied to the buzz box?

merlin · 25-01-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

Wheels said earlier that the BF was ineligible this year as it only has some mechanical changes and a couple of cosmetics over a BA! How come that criteria didn't appear to be applied to the buzz box?

Becasue it was a ground up redesign with only the mirrors carrying over from the previous model.

That being said I find the award very irrelevant as ALL cars available to buy in Aus should be included so the consumer can see what really is the best car to buy, its really unfair on cars with long model lifes - I mean if a car company can engineer a car so good that it dosnt need changing for 5 years (and can still beat new models) why should it be penalised by being inelegible?

Teki04 · 26-01-2006, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAFIATL

ahahahahah hahahaha More like the MX5 is impractical. Very small cabin space as that alway the problem with MX5 . The car only had a minor comsemetic changes to exterior and interior. Thay still got the same stupid engine power plant (boring). It the same little car for the last 15 years.

Ford Focus should have won easy.

The new MX5 is a completely new car from the ground up. After just finishing with the new issue, I can say that the magazine offers a great read and is well accomplished. The only two things that carry over, are the mirrors (so says merlin) and the side indicators (from the first model dating back to 1989... to give it some character). Before you knock the car, first read about it. It has NOT had the same power plant for 15 years. I'm pretty sure it started off as a 1.6L, then moved to a 1.8L, with 1.8L turbos (SE and SP), and now runs on a tunned MZR engine from the Mazda3, which is a new engine.

:

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

That being said I find the award very irrelevant as ALL cars available to buy in Aus should be included so the consumer can see what really is the best car to buy, its really unfair on cars with long model lifes - I mean if a car company can engineer a car so good that it dosnt need changing for 5 years (and can still beat new models) why should it be penalised by being inelegible?

Well, firstly, if it is such a good car when it came out, then it should have WON the COTY in its released year. If it did not, then unfortunately it cannot be better then new models out 4 years after it was released. And, have you even read the magazine?????

I found two quotes in the magazine that refered to how the Territory was better then the ML (finished in the last round). First was in regards to the Terri being easier to use and fitting 7 passengers in comfort, however stating that Merc buyers would not look twice at the Ford.

QUOTE FROM WHEELS:
"The ML was functional and frugal as a diesel, but could it be called a class leader when the price started over $80,000? Carey could think of at least one wagon far cheaper and more user-friendly for much less money, and it won COTY just last year..."

Now, tell me how much fun would it be if the same magazine gave the same car the same award for the 5 years the car was out? I for one wouldn't be reading it. I quite like the criteria. The car has to be substantially new, and hence be the NEW Car of The Year.

merlin · 27-01-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teki04

And, have you even read the magazine?????
.

No, I didn't - most of those magazines are junk, reguritating the same crap week in, week out.

As for the MX5 I'm sure it is a nice car in isolation but if I'm paying $40K plus for a sports car I would want something that actually accelerates like a sports car - the MX5 has always been an underpowered 4cyl hairdresser mobile (even the turbo versions were undercooked) - I would have thought it needed to shake that mould and actually accelerate faster than a family sedan to win COTY? :lookedat:

XWGT · 25-01-2006, 09:19 AM

Have to agree

The MX-5 is pretty much a complete redesign and is very very good at what it is intended to do. Provide roof down rag top driving with great handling. i.e a huge smile factor.
It actally won Discovery channels all time best sports car award for bringing a taste of sports car driving to the masses. (Not a very technical award but more a "what has this car done for the motoring enthusiast type of award") Thats what it is. An affodable fun car with excellent engineering and reliability. I think its a very worthy winner.

Just my 2 cents worth

JADED6 · 27-01-2006, 03:27 PM

A 2 door soft top complete with space saver tyre = COTY for Australians. Nice.

Rev28K · 27-01-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JADED6

A 2 door soft top complete with space saver tyre = COTY for Australians. Nice.

As opposed to last year's winner which weighed over 2000kg had a higher C of G than the average sedan and the 4WD variant weren't really suited to serious bush-bashing.

Teki04 · 27-01-2006, 07:38 PM

As a sports car, at $40K, it accelerates pretty quick... sure, its slower then the Golf GTI, and the Renault Clio Sport, but its not far off. Not sure what else at $40K NEW goes quicker, especially a "sports car". I do not think an XR6T is a sports car.... unfortunately they need to steer/corner as well as go quick.

From what your saying Merlin, every sports car is measured by it's 0-100kmh. Unfortunately that is not how it works. Lap times and pace through corners are a measure of how good a car is around the bends, and hence a true measure. Just because it doesn't beat a family sedan at the lights, doesn't mean it is not a good sports car.

merlin · 28-01-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teki04

As a sports car, at $40K, it accelerates pretty quick... sure, its slower then the Golf GTI, and the Renault Clio Sport, but its not far off. Not sure what else at $40K NEW goes quicker, especially a "sports car". I do not think an XR6T is a sports car.... unfortunately they need to steer/corner as well as go quick. .

We will have to disagree on this point - to me an XR6T is a fast car that handles damn well for their size and has a load of street cred.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teki04

From what your saying Merlin, every sports car is measured by it's 0-100kmh. Unfortunately that is not how it works. Lap times and pace through corners are a measure of how good a car is around the bends, and hence a true measure. Just because it doesn't beat a family sedan at the lights, doesn't mean it is not a good sports car.

I didn't say that at all, I said it needs to do BOTH - for all its handling praise the MX5 sets dead SLOW lap times due its lack of grunt, it is outlapped by most cars in its price catagory, including XR6T. There is no point having dreamy handling if the thing dosnt accelerate quickly.

From Wheels: 0-100 in 7.8, 400m in 15.6, sorry but in todays standards for a $40K plus sports car that is people mover territory.

Why would you pick one of these over say a WRX (which arguably outhandles it and would leave it for dead in a straight line)? Reason probably is that you are not all that concerned with performance and just want a poser mobile hence the "hairdresser" tag hence my argument that Mazda has not shaken that image with the new version. As for COTY the major deciding factor is that the chosen car "meets the drivers expectations of what the car was designed to do" - to me it is marketed as a "sports car" (zoom zoom) and to me a sports car is more than just handling, it includes acceleration/top speed/

I am not saying it is a bad car or that no one should buy one, just that it didnt meet my expectations.