Wheels COTY 2002 - the turning point? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Troutman · 08-09-2002, 21:32

An interesting point was raised in another thread about Wheels magazine Car of the Year. Historically speaking:

Ford:
------
XD Falcon - not COTY, award withheld
EA Falcon - not COTY due to VN Commodore winning (neither car should have won in my opinion)
EF Falcon - not COTY due to supposed handling and fuel economy deficiencies, Liberty won
AU Falcon - not COTY due to various reasons - Liberty won again
BA Falcon - ???????

Holden:
----------
VB Commodore - COTY due to its Euro finesse
VN Commodore - COTY due to, um, EA having 3 speed automatic?
VR Commodore - COTY due to brilliant safety innovations and revolutionary Acclaim model
VT Commodore - COTY due to various reasons
VY Commodore - ?????????

You'll notice I haven't accused Wheels of being anti-Ford, but I quietly have my suspicions. There is no question in my mind that the new Ford will be a better car overall than the new Holden, simply due to the unfortunate "we're untouchable" Holden attitude contrasting to the "we must not fail" attitude of Ford Australia at this time.

Oh how interesting this will be!

08-09-2002, 22:22

I think that wheels are finally noticing that everyone thinks they are Holden Biast.
So mabey just to shut-us-up they could make the BA COTY?
It wouldnt really surprise me if they did that because they are desperate to get there credibility back for Ford fans.

08-09-2002, 22:24

and secondly, when dose the car have to go sale to qualify?
Mabey it won't be on sale in time. Because Motor are having there BFYB next issue and the BA will just miss out on it.

Troutman · 08-09-2002, 22:25

I think the cut-off point is November or something, so VY and BA will both be there for sure.

Rodderz · 08-09-2002, 22:36

Will be interesting. I just hope that with all the car magazines that come out over the following months is that they study each car in its whole car in its entirety. Being professional journalists they need to be unbiased and call it how it is.
The write up on the BA in the latest MOTOR has been very good and true compared to some of the unbiased crap they have published in the past.

Stealth00 · 08-09-2002, 22:44

Focus has got this years COTY wrapped up, followed closely by Barra of course.

DR XR · 08-10-2002, 00:09

Even though i think Barra should win Focus will probly take it. Its the best Ford for them to choose that way Commode does'nt loose and they could'nt have that happen. Heck if some Commodes won because of a revoloutianary Acclaim model and VR being safe {even though the equivilent Ford is safer} then BA has to be a dead cert with the most high tech suspension seen on a local car along with DOHC locally built six and the option of Turbo and Quad cam V8 engines and other high tech gear such as Drive by wire etc. Since AU lost along with just about every other modern Ford in recent history i have only brought 2 coppies of wheels. If BA loses i wont by one ever! I dont have a problem with high standards but i do have a problem with twin standards.

Martin · 08-10-2002, 01:12

Wasnt the award withheld the year the XA was released also?

I dont think Wheels has it in for Ford, its just that the Falcons always need a second go before they get it right. IMO
The XA was a rebodied XY
XD a rebodied XC
EA was more or less a clean sheet but the 3speed, CFI, shitty handling and quality didnt do it any favours.
EF was probably the best chance but had to go against the fantastic Liberty. No IRS didnt help
AU was underdone and also had to go against the Liberty...And still live axle on base models

BA, going by the specs it should be the best chance yet. As for Focus it will be interesting on how they do on Aussie roads, the Euros never seem to cope well over here....

Troutman · 08-10-2002, 01:42

Not sure what happened in the XA's day - but could find out if need be.

The VN is my least favourite decision, because that was a rebodied VL - and Wheels admitted it. It was built on an unbelievably small budget, which is not a factor Wheels should take into account. The Honda Civic of the time probably should have won.

Of course it is not just a Holden vs. Ford thing, and in my opinion the VR was a very worthy winner. But Holden seems to get special consideration when it comes to COTY, or something.

But I am not accusing Wheels of being biased overall. Their coverage of new model releases, particularly Falcon and Commodore, is the reason why I don't bother with any other magazine most of the time.

Perana XR8 · 08-10-2002, 03:32

The VN wasnt as bad as the Camira though still didnt really deserve it though.