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Old 10-11-2006, 08:34 AM   #1
ltd
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Default Carsguide car of the year

Yes it's that time of the year again, and from what these bums at carsguide have to say VE holden has already won.

Article below:
The CARSguide Car of the Year contest is bigger and better than ever for 2006.

After an exhaustive search and culling process through all cars launched in Australia over the past year, our motoring experts have selected their top 10 best cars to become this year's finalists.

Utilising input from motoring editors and senior motoring writers from The Daily Telegraph, Melbourne Herald-Sun, Brisbane Courier-Mail, Adelaide Advertiser, Hobart Mercury and Perth Sunday Times, CARSguide has begun the search for Australia's car of the year - the best of the best for 2006.

Last week the 10 finalists were tested extensively over three days, including a full day's examination at Wakefield Park at Goulburn, to find a winner.

Judged on criteria ranging across styling, safety, innovation, value, functionality, build quality and performance, the finalists were dissected and scored in a variety of situations.

With votes being counted, today we introduce the first four finalists as we head to the announcement of 2006 CARSguide Car of the Year on December 1. Three more finalists will be revealed next Friday.

AUDI Q7 TDI

Judge Neil Dowling's comment:


Historically, vehicles like the five-metre-long Audi Q7 rarely make Car of the Year contention. That it made it into the top 10 is an outstanding achievement.

Partially, it was down to Audi's remarkably effective trans-continental promo in a fleet of 15 Q7s. The vehicle shrugged at Australia's Outback and showcased its reliability, build-quality and sheer guts.

The Q7 diesel boasts high levels of comfort, space, fuel economy, towing capacity, safety, driving dynamics and features. Though not demonstrating new technology, the Q7 package is impressive.

Big it may be but the Q7 - particularly in its turbo-diesel version - is spectacularly efficient. Few SUVs come close.

HOLDEN VE CALAIS

Judge Stuart Martin's comment:

The most important new car launched this year was never in any doubt of being in the running. Stronger, faster and better by a mile, V8 Calais V has what it takes to rule the local large car roost and take on the Euros.

Although the V8 can return good fuel figures, it's a little thirsty when pressed, but the quality of Holden's billion-dollar baby makes up for it.

The chassis provides ride compliance with handling composure, with ample room for adults within its more compact-looking shape.

Track time allows the big Aussie sedan to show off its new-found balance, with all-new steering and front suspension a worthwhile part of the engineering budget. The VE package is a major step forward for Holden.

TOYOTA AURION PRESARA

Judge Paul Gover's comment:

Australia's No.1 carmaker was always going to get something on to the shortlist. For 2006, there were three obvious contenders: the all-new RAV4 four-wheel drive, the family Camry and the V6 Aurion.

Each made a case, but with only 10 spots overall it was the Aurion that was best of the best for brand T. The Aurion is the first realistic showroom rival to the big-six heroes, Falcon and Commodore, and arrived after an extensive local development program.

It shares basics with the Camry but has unique styling, a 3.5-litre V6 with six-speed automatic and changes to many minor things, including the seats and steering column.

The highlights include 200kW of power and fuel economy of 9.9 litres/100km, numbers that trump the base Ford and Holden on both fronts. Prices start at $34,990 and there are five models, including two Sportivo cars with tuned suspension and a body kit.

Toyota will also have a TRD Aurion with a supercharged engine producing around 230kW, even tauter suspension, huge brakes and more aggressive body kit, as previewed at the Sydney motor show.

VW PASSAT WAGON

Judge Kevin Hepworth's comment:

The very idea of a family wagon making it to the top 10 in Car of the Year judging could be bewildering to many who remember them only as semi-industrial load-carriers built off sedan platforms.

Well, welcome to the 21st century.

VW's Passat wagon is a stylish, refined and extremely enjoyable way to pack up a family of five with luggage.

Powered by the velvet-smooth, four-cylinder 2.0-litre FSI turbo, the Passat has all the legs necessary for long-distance travel and enough off-the-line punch to compete well in the city rat-race.

It also returns reasonable fuel economy.

For $44,990 (plus on-road costs) the Passat comes stacked with safety and comfort inclusions - you have to respect a car that has an umbrella holder (complete with umbrella) built into the driver's door.

There is also the added prestige of a European badge.


Anyone surprised?

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Old 10-11-2006, 08:37 AM   #2
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Their a bunch of douche bags...seriously, grain of salt.

A Ford didn't deserve to win, no media person is going to have the balls to say anything bad about the VE until the next falcon arrives.
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Old 10-11-2006, 08:42 AM   #3
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Well, if I was a betting man I'd put the farm on the VE being voted as the best car. It's all part of the billion dollar bribe.

Every time you look at that website they have a story about the VE, go to the history and see how many articles there are. Chequebook journalism at its worst. And Paul Bend Gover can get ******.
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Old 10-11-2006, 09:09 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ltd
HOLDEN VE CALAIS

but the quality of Holden's billion-dollar baby makes up for it.
Cough...BS....cough

Link 1 - multitude of VE problems

Link 2 - Fuel Recall

There is numerous more threads like these, so much for the "quality" of the VE...
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Old 10-11-2006, 04:21 PM   #5
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VW passat gets my vote
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Old 10-11-2006, 04:28 PM   #6
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More like the award for the most recalls within 2 months of its unveiling
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Old 10-11-2006, 05:00 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TZENU
More like the award for the most recalls within 2 months of its unveiling
Another one today for dodgy rear seat belts..... maybe they budgeted that into the billion bucks..... :
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Old 10-11-2006, 05:55 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TE50 056
VW passat gets my vote
agree...
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Old 10-11-2006, 06:48 PM   #9
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it should have read the commodore wins by default nothing more..... LOL HAHAHAHAHAHA
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Old 10-11-2006, 11:08 PM   #10
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Dont get it. The Calais V8 wins the award for the whole VE fleet including those with the inferior V6 engine?

I suppose that if they don't pick the Commodore as the winner there would be outrage.
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Old 10-11-2006, 11:16 PM   #11
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Passat or Q7. The other two are a joke.
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Old 11-11-2006, 12:18 AM   #12
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The Commodore's drive train hasn't improved a hell of a lot. The Falcon still canes it.

But the Falcon doesn't have a BS profile. People like Holdens because a) They caned in the V8 Supercars for a long time and b) Dominant at Bathurst.

But once again, lack of understanding.
The BFII Fairmont Ghia is a beautiful piece of machinery. The six-speed auto is so smooth, it pulls down it's pants and let's go of a big brownie on the Commodore's "clunker".

But people don't want to hear about that.
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Old 11-11-2006, 12:26 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uranium_death
...The six-speed auto is so smooth, it pulls down it's pants and let's go of a big brownie on the Commodore's "clunker".

But people don't want to hear about that.
not surprised if you explain it that way :P
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Old 11-11-2006, 11:57 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colossus
Cough...BS....cough

Link 1 - multitude of VE problems

Link 2 - Fuel Recall

There is numerous more threads like these, so much for the "quality" of the VE...
But Holden said it has European levels of quality, so it must have. : Why would they say that if it wasn't true. :

I wonder how many of the Holden sheep believe that.
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Old 11-11-2006, 01:50 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silver Ghia
Dont get it. The Calais V8 wins the award for the whole VE fleet including those with the inferior V6 engine?

I suppose that if they don't pick the Commodore as the winner there would be outrage.
We all know the VE will win the award now dont we
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Old 11-11-2006, 02:28 PM   #16
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Its funny about Gover's obsession with Holden considering his family connection with a recently departed FPV employee
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Old 11-11-2006, 10:43 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silver Ghia
Dont get it. The Calais V8 wins the award for the whole VE fleet including those with the inferior V6 engine?

I suppose that if they don't pick the Commodore as the winner there would be outrage.
They said in the article that they picked the Calais V V8 because it was "the best model in the range".

I remember Wheels magazine giving the COTY to the P76, but only to the V8 version, because they didn't think much of the six. Sounds like history repeating to a degree.
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