AutoExpress - 2006 Honours (includes COTY)

Bruce · 11-28-2006, 08:41 AM

AutoExpress Awards

Orignal Link here

Roadster: Mazda MX5 Miata
Runner Up: Porsche Boxster & Nissan 350Z

Convertible: Vauxhall Astra Twin Top
Runner Up: Jaguar XK8 Cabriolet, Volvo C70, Audi A4 Cabriolet

Sporting Car: Porsche Cayman S
Runner Up: Audi B7 RS4, Nissan 350Z

Hot Hatch: Ford Focus ST
Runner Up: Skoda Octavia vRS, Volkswagen Golf GTi

4X4 Off Roader: Land Rover Discovery 3
Runner Up: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz ML-Class

Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Runner Up: Audi A8, Bentley Flying Spur

Executive Car: BMW 5 Series
Runner Up: Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Compact Executive: BMW 3 Series
Runner Up: Alfa Romeo 159, Audi A4

Compact Family Car: Honda Civic
Runner Up: Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf

Family Car: Volkswagen Passat
Runner Up: Honda Accord, Skoda Octavia

SuperMini: Renault Clio
Runner Up: Fiat Punto, Suzuki Swift, Peugeot 207

And the Car of the Year is..
Runner Up: Alfa Romeo Brera, Mazda RX-8

The Jaguar XK8,

Others:

MPV: Ford Galaxy
Compact MPV: Mazda 5 MPV
Estate: Honda Accord Tourer
4X4 Rec: Hyundai Santa Fe
SuperMini MPV: Nissan Note
Budget Car: Kia Picanto
City Car: Fiat Panda

cawimmer430 · 11-28-2006, 08:53 AM

Overall, I agree with the results though I think the Executive Class is so closely fought after that you can't go wrong with any car in that class.

No surprise that a British car wins COTY in a British magazine.

Bruce · 11-28-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cawimmer430

No surprise that a British car wins COTY in a British magazine.

Lol, very true, i knew before i even opened the link who would win

P.S. thanks Wimmer

The Artist · 11-28-2006, 08:55 AM

Wohoo S class

..

Bruce · 11-28-2006, 08:59 AM

I also want to say i also agree with most of the choices, especially the Ford Focus ST. Now it may not be as brilliant as the Volkswagen Golf GTi, lacking some of the interior quality of the Golf, but it offers an exciting package for good money. I really dig that exterior.

Mirage77 · 11-28-2006, 09:06 AM

I think the list is okay except for Jaguar winning Car Of The Year and the Astra twintop winning the convertible segment. IMO for Car Of The Year, a car should be an all-rounder and offering a complete package: the XK lacks on both of these, the former being that it is a Coupe (not as practical), and secondly, the interior of the XK is really a shame. And as far as I know the Twintop is as good as any other convertible out there, unless anyone can enlighten me on anything special about it.

The Focus ST is a really impressive car. I went to see it over the weekend, but I was utterly disappointed when the dealer said only test drives were available after putting down a deposit.

The interior is quite a let-down though, and for 'completeness' I'd get a Golf, anytime. For the power, perhaps the ST would be better.

cawimmer430 · 11-28-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7.3 AMG

I also want to say i also agree with most of the choices, especially the Ford Focus ST. Now it may not be as brilliant as the Volkswagen Golf GTi, lacking some of the interior quality of the Golf, but it offers an exciting package for good money. I really dig that exterior.

The European Ford Focus actually has a pretty sweet interior. Very high quality plastics and materials, very nice. Definitely on par or even superior to the VW Golf etc. The French competition in this class also has very nice interiors.

Euro Ford Focus Convertible interior:

It's you guys in the US and Canada who are getting ripped-off with your Focus. You're essentially getting a watered-down version of the Euro version.

cawimmer430 · 11-28-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirage77

The Focus ST is a really impressive car. I went to see it over the weekend, but I was utterly disappointed when the dealer said only test drives were available after putting down a deposit.

.

That is retarded.

Bruce · 11-28-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cawimmer430

The European Ford Focus actually has a pretty sweet interior. Very high quality plastics and materials, very nice. Definitely on par or even superior to the VW Golf etc. The French competition in this class also has very nice interiors.

It's you guys in the US and Canada who are getting ripped-off with your Focus. You're essentially getting a watered-down version of the Euro version.

I still feel some of the interior parts a little cheesy
(No offense Christian

)

However i still like the general design of the interior

As for the North American Focus, yeah we get the watered-down Focus, no Focus ST for us

Which is a shame, i know if i lived in Europe the Focus ST would be a serious choice for me

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirage77

I think the list is okay except for Jaguar winning Car Of The Year and the Astra twintop winning the convertible segment. IMO for Car Of The Year, a car should be an all-rounder and offering a complete package: the XK lacks on both of these, the former being that it is a Coupe (not as practical), and secondly, the interior of the XK is really a shame. And as far as I know the Twintop is as good as any other convertible out there, unless anyone can enlighten me on anything special about it.

Understandable

cawimmer430 · 11-28-2006, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7.3 AMG

I still feel some of the interior parts a little cheesy
(No offense Christian

)

However i still like the general design of the interior

None taken. I respect your opinion. To me, the Ford Focus interior is a high quality interior, especially for the class of car it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7.3 AMG

As for the North American Focus, yeah we get the watered-down Focus, no Focus ST for us

Which is a shame, i know if i lived in Europe the Focus ST would be a serious choice for me

The Focus ST is not a volume seller. Most people going for a Ford Focus are interested in value and basic transportation. Those with a bigger wallet looking for fun can go for a Mazda MX-5 or Toyota MR2 (do they still make those?

) or even an Audi A3 or BMW 1-Series (in base trim).

11-28-2006, 08:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bruce Crazy Canadian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: British Columbia Posts: 9,451 My Mood: Thanks: 3,577 Thanked 2,875 Times in 1,762 Posts Blog Entries: 2	AutoExpress - 2006 Honours (includes COTY) AutoExpress Awards **Orignal Link here Roadster: Mazda MX5 Miata Runner Up: Porsche Boxster & Nissan 350Z Convertible: Vauxhall Astra Twin Top Runner Up: Jaguar XK8 Cabriolet, Volvo C70, Audi A4 Cabriolet Sporting Car: Porsche Cayman S Runner Up: Audi B7 RS4, Nissan 350Z Hot Hatch: Ford Focus ST Runner Up: Skoda Octavia vRS, Volkswagen Golf GTi 4X4 Off Roader: Land Rover Discovery 3 Runner Up: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class Runner Up: Audi A8, Bentley Flying Spur Executive Car: BMW 5 Series Runner Up: Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Compact Executive: BMW 3 Series Runner Up: Alfa Romeo 159, Audi A4 Compact Family Car: Honda Civic Runner Up: Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf Family Car: Volkswagen Passat Runner Up: Honda Accord, Skoda Octavia SuperMini: Renault Clio Runner Up: Fiat Punto, Suzuki Swift, Peugeot 207 And the Car of the Year is.. Runner Up: Alfa Romeo Brera, Mazda RX-8 The Jaguar XK8, Others: MPV: Ford Galaxy Compact MPV: Mazda 5 MPV Estate: Honda Accord Tourer 4X4 Rec: Hyundai Santa Fe SuperMini MPV: Nissan Note Budget Car: Kia Picanto City Car: Fiat Panda**

11-28-2006, 08:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
cawimmer430 Contributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mühldorf am Inn, Germany Posts: 6,250 Thanks: 2,371 Thanked 1,739 Times in 830 Posts	Re: AutoExpress - 2006 Honours (includes COTY) Overall, I agree with the results though I think the Executive Class is so closely fought after that you can't go wrong with any car in that class. No surprise that a British car wins COTY in a British magazine.

11-28-2006, 08:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
The Artist Shaolin Shadow Boxer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Gothenburg Posts: 11,474 My Mood: Thanks: 127 Thanked 739 Times in 468 Posts	Re: AutoExpress - 2006 Honours (includes COTY) Wohoo S class..

11-28-2006, 08:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bruce Crazy Canadian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: British Columbia Posts: 9,451 My Mood: Thanks: 3,577 Thanked 2,875 Times in 1,762 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Re: AutoExpress - 2006 Honours (includes COTY) I also want to say i also agree with most of the choices, especially the Ford Focus ST. Now it may not be as brilliant as the Volkswagen Golf GTi, lacking some of the interior quality of the Golf, but it offers an exciting package for good money. I really dig that exterior.

11-28-2006, 09:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mirage77 The Doughnutman. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 5,438 Thanks: 1,473 Thanked 1,225 Times in 722 Posts	Re: AutoExpress - 2006 Honours (includes COTY) I think the list is okay except for Jaguar winning Car Of The Year and the Astra twintop winning the convertible segment. IMO for Car Of The Year, a car should be an all-rounder and offering a complete package: the XK lacks on both of these, the former being that it is a Coupe (not as practical), and secondly, the interior of the XK is really a shame. And as far as I know the Twintop is as good as any other convertible out there, unless anyone can enlighten me on anything special about it. The Focus ST is a really impressive car. I went to see it over the weekend, but I was utterly disappointed when the dealer said only test drives were available after putting down a deposit. The interior is quite a let-down though, and for 'completeness' I'd get a Golf, anytime. For the power, perhaps the ST would be better.