The Motor Forum

D. · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: European Car of the Year 2009

Nothing too exciting in there. All very capable though.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:00 am Post subject:

How can we vote for the Megane when it isn't officially launched yet?

Humphrey The Pug · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:17 am Post subject:

It will probably be the Alfa or Fiesta.
_________________
Mummy, Daddy, Sissy, Sassy Baby.

BeN · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:44 am Post subject:

Oh, the list is out?

I was thinking of this year's Motor Car Of The Year, with the nominees picked from the list.
_________________
On the other side of the world - Hurlecot de Millou

Not the same since 2008

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

Hard to tell without driving them, but my instinct would be to go for the Mito, by a small margin from the Golf and the Superb.

DarthBalls · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject:

I went for the Alfa as it's the one that interests me the most.
_________________
It's so cold right now that I'm thinking of catching gonorrhoea just for the burning sensation.

Stuntman · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject:

I'd vote Insignia, because I think it's the car that represents the biggest improvement over its predecessor.

The only car on the list I'd consider buying would be the Golf.
_________________
Drifting through life

M. · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

I'd say the Superb as the car that makes the most effort and innovation in the areas that matter to its audience - namely space and practicality.
_________________
Generic reply key:
1. Happy birthday
2. Congratulations
3.

4. Good luck
5. Buy a mac

TimR · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:

Isn't the Golf just a facelift really?

PR · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject:

I'd vote Fiesta. It bucks the trend of cars becoming heavier with each new iteration, which deserves recognition.
_________________

Matt · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:41 am Post subject:

M. · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:22 am Post subject:

Surely the C5 is more of an improvement over what went before it?
_________________
Generic reply key:
1. Happy birthday
2. Congratulations
3.

4. Good luck
5. Buy a mac

cbeaks1 · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

I'm going for the Fiesta on the basis that I have one and it is superb.

I'm not sure being better than the last one is a great way to judge it. If the C5 and Insignia push themselves beyond the Mondeo or BMW 3 then great. The C5 doesn't seem to have done, and we'll find out in a week or two how the Insignia fares. No doubt plenty will prefer the looks and the Turbo petrol engine sounds like a winner, but having read Cropley and Goodwin's first thoughts it doesn't sound like it will be a quantum leap.

PR · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:45 am Post subject:

M. · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:59 am Post subject:

Although the Fiesta is clearly excellent car I'm not sure what new it brings to the class. The lighter weight aspect has been done by the Mazda 2 (which I know is the same car) but I'm struggling to think what else it does that's truly new. The Superb is innovative in its packaging. It's not a radical car but the proportions do reflect that it has but internal space as a top priority. The Insignia should have done the same.
_________________
Generic reply key:
1. Happy birthday
2. Congratulations
3.

4. Good luck
5. Buy a mac

BeN · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:01 am Post subject:

It will be interesting to see how the eventual results compares with our own mCOTY.
_________________
On the other side of the world - Hurlecot de Millou

Not the same since 2008

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

I'm still shocked that the XF didn't make it from the original nominees to the shortlist. But then the voting is about as objective as the Eurovision song contest.

Stuntman · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject:

I totally agree that improving upon the predecessor isn't the best way to judge whether a car is worthy of CoTY or not. But because IMO the shortlist isn't particularly inspired, the only car o that list which has made me think significantly more highly of it has been the Insignia.

I was pretty impressed with it at the London Motor Show, but then again I didn't test the rear seats for headroom...

I imagine that on an objective basis, the best cars on the shortlist are the Fiesta and the Golf.
_________________
Drifting through life