Wheels COTY.. Electric! - Page 2

mik · 22-01-2015, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb2fairmont

prius's are taxis.

I`ll probably get flamed, but id rather have a Prius than a full electric car

.

2011G6E · 22-01-2015, 11:39 PM

COTY used to be about the best car in Australia.

Expensive and 100km range? It's not supposed to be for the "best car in Australia...for wealthy inner city people who don't drive much".

It used to be a relevant award, but not for a while now.

MethodX · 23-01-2015, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

I`ll probably get flamed, but id rather have a Prius than a full electric car

.

How about a camry hybrid? at least it looks like a normal car.

2011G6E · 23-01-2015, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodX

How about a camry hybrid? at least it looks like a normal car.

Ah, but I seem to recall focus groups (could have been in the USA) back when the Prius was first coming out that gave the result that potential hybrid owners liked the oddball "different" look of the Prius as compared to a "normal" looking car.
You see, they not only wanted to drive a hybrid...more importantly they wanted to be seen to be driving a hybrid. A real "Look at me and how environmentally friendly I am and you aren't" type mentality.

Yes, the Camry Hybrid and Honda Civic hybrid look just like normal cars...which is a great thing.

MethodX · 23-01-2015, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Ah, but I seem to recall focus groups (could have been in the USA) back when the Prius was first coming out that gave the result that potential hybrid owners liked the oddball "different" look of the Prius as compared to a "normal" looking car.
You see, they not only wanted to drive a hybrid...more importantly they wanted to be seen to be driving a hybrid. A real "Look at me and how environmentally friendly I am and you aren't" type mentality.

Yes, the Camry Hybrid and Honda Civic hybrid look just like normal cars...which is a great thing.

Ah yes the "smug" factor.
On another note I saw one of those old Honda insight hybrids the other day.... was surprised it was still running.

2011G6E · 23-01-2015, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodX

Ah yes the "smug" factor.
On another note I saw one of those old Honda insight hybrids the other day.... was surprised it was still running.

Ah yes, the Insight...it was very Prius-like in it's styling wasn't it?
Honda decided to do what it always has done however and go to a hybrid that normal people actually would be seen driving, which is how we ended up with the Civic hybrid...

LoudPipes · 23-01-2015, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

You see, they not only wanted to drive a hybrid...more importantly they wanted to be seen to be driving a hybrid. A real "Look at me and how environmentally friendly I am and you aren't" type mentality.

A similar mentality to most of the, I’ve got a GT or GTS crowd.

MethodX · 23-01-2015, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoudPipes

A similar mentality to most of the, I’ve got a GT or GTS crowd.

Yuck... horrible, but right comparison.

1TUFFUTE · 23-01-2015, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08FGXR8

I'm sure that in past COTY's competing cars had to sell at least 250 units a year to qualify.

They musn't enforce that anymore as I have never seen a Honda CR-Z on the road.

I think now that every magazine and website has its own Car of the Year, the Wheels COTY isn't so relevant anymore, it used to be the award to win.

In regards to the FG Falcon and COTY, I did read a comment once where it was harder for a car with a huge variety of models as all need to be excellent or something like that, there were a few silly things they picked on with the FG whereas the Honda Accord Euro has one body shape, 1 engine so there wasn't going to be as many opportunities to find weaknesses in the Accord.

Yes I remember reading that flawed argument so often, which incidently I only ever remember it being brought up for the falcon as a negative remark. BUT in the real world.....if the bones of a model are great, and there's models to choose from to suit your needs and budget......HOW IS THAT A NEGATIVE

And on the point of electric battery packs.....isn't the big ECO problem actually the process used to make, distribute and even dispose of the batteries? Not that the power they use is from a coal source!!!

CyberWasp · 23-01-2015, 07:39 AM

Maybe we should have an award for Car Magazine of the Year and put the show on the other foot.

Oxa384 · 23-01-2015, 10:22 AM

Why arnt I surprised?? I must be still in shock over a rotory powered Datsun ute winning the street machine of the year!!!

mik · 23-01-2015, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodX

How about a camry hybrid? at least it looks like a normal car.

im not fussed too much about looks ..... hey i drive an AU

,
the first thing that comes to mind is practicality ..... im old !
people talk about how good the range is on some of these electric cars

, hell i can get a two ton terri suv to go 900 or a 1000 k`s on a tank ...... now that is useful......... and in my book far more worthy of car of the year than a pos electric commuter.

What where wheels thinking ???

Hemihunter · 23-01-2015, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradEL

I went for a ride in an i3 recently, I must admit I was surprised at how quick it was, impressive accelration and pickup, but still oh so gay

I bet you didnt go too far in it...

Did BMW pay for the COTY award, they must have!!

TheSneakiness · 23-01-2015, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Well, looks like our petrol dynasaurs are dead?
Fancy Wheels awarding Car Of The Year to an all electric BMW thing that gets 100ks per charge AND has sold a grand total of 33 units in Australia?
A joke I reckon!

And the strange thing for me is I've seen an i3 out in West Ipswich of all places you'd expect to see one as soon as the award was announced, and yet it took me 3 months to spot a FGX Falcon.

Ugly as hell and completely inappropriate for the Australian roads.

maylandsman · 23-01-2015, 01:47 PM

They have pulled this from their posterior. 65k for a city dwelling car that can get 100km - but it is affordable - as the youngsters say, lol.

Seems a few on here, rightly or wrongly, consider Wheels irrelevant. I reckon they have declared this COTY to create controversy and try and get same relevance back. Backfire.

wozman · 23-01-2015, 03:03 PM

Wheels made the carmira coty

Chopped · 23-01-2015, 03:16 PM

Wheels "Lets pick something controversial and get everyone talking about us"

Checks internet....

woohoo it worked

jpblue1000 · 23-01-2015, 03:25 PM

I think its a good winner. very relevant for our near future. The vast majority of owners globally wouldn't travel outside its range in a day. I did 7 kms yesterday as most days!

Its ugly and expensive, 4 stars is dubious for poor pedestrian safety but very relevant. Good on wheels and COTY.

JP

Wretched · 23-01-2015, 03:46 PM

Can't comment on the car itself, never driven one.
However I can see why Wheels would hand this prize over to it. As has been said, it has taken the future of motoring to another level. Between this and the Tesla, they both are taking the future of motoring to the next level.
It may be ugly (subjective) and expensive but that is the cost of leading the industry. All that R&D needs to be recouped somehow. Especially the cost of the materials (CFRP).

That's not to say the car is bad. The i3 won World Design Car of the Year and World Green Car of the Year. With two models available (pure electric or electric with a range extender) it gives the option for essentially a city car or something that can be used further out.

WCOTY worthy? Not sure but then what is?

As for BMW paying Wheels off? Really? This again? First Holden, then VW now BMW? Get over it.

Mighty Reds · 23-01-2015, 04:23 PM

I would have ruled the BMW out of COTY purely based on its name.

I can't possibly be the only person who is over the whole 'i' branding (damn Apple).

Wretched · 23-01-2015, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Reds

I would have ruled the BMW out of COTY purely based on its name.

I can't possibly be the only person who is over the whole 'i' branding (damn Apple).

I 100% agree with you. Short sighted naming convention.

DanielXR8 · 23-01-2015, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Well, looks like our petrol dynasaurs are dead?
Fancy Wheels awarding Car Of The Year to an all electric BMW thing that gets 100ks per charge AND has sold a grand total of 33 units in Australia?
A joke I reckon!

If sales volume was a prerequisite for judging then the Corolla would have won. You still wouldn't have been happy.

The BMW i8 is an impressive bit of engineering and certainly points the way to what we can expect more of in the future.

DanielXR8 · 23-01-2015, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

And the odd shaped FG boot floor in practice is actually far superior to a flat floor where shopping and stuff tips and slides all over the place as you drive along.

And I think this is the only time I have ever heard of rack rattle in an FG.

Reading this review with the first four words saying "It’s far from faultless...", I'm left wondering why the i3 is actually COTY??.

And electric cars aren't all that clean and CO2 emission free. Where does the electricity to charge it come from in Vic - brown coal.

Rack rattle was mentioned at the FG launch and the 2010 XR6 I rented with just on 200km on the odo was an impressive car, but yeap, it had rack rattle on bad WA roads. Heard it two or three times, so maybe like a lot of things Falcon, its a bit of lucky dip on what umm characteristics your Falcon has.

1TUFFUTE · 23-01-2015, 04:55 PM

I'm not sure a car 'hinting' at future progress deserves our nod of approval now. After all......it's still a LONG way off before we need or use these cars a lot.
As for its range being acceptable..........I'd like to see one other car with a range of 100klms that doesn't get flamed to death. That suits such a small minority it's a mute point!

Totally and utterly a media stunt and anyone who falls for it needs to wake up to reality. A useless electric car can win "best" car of the year when they're actually relevant as far as I'm concerned!!

jpblue1000 · 23-01-2015, 05:00 PM

I think they sold nearly 30,000 of them last year in the US alone in less than 12 months. Not really fringe or irrelevant...how many falcons sold?

JP

Wretched · 23-01-2015, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

I'm not sure a car 'hinting' at future progress deserves our nod of approval now. After all......it's still a LONG way off before we need or use these cars a lot.
As for its range being acceptable..........I'd like to see one other car with a range of 100klms that doesn't get flamed to death. That suits such a small minority it's a mute point!

Totally and utterly a media stunt and anyone who falls for it needs to wake up to reality. A useless electric car can win "best" car of the year when they're actually relevant as far as I'm concerned!!

100km? WEhere is that?
The review here indicates that range without the petrol generator is 100miles (160km)
With the range extender they were seeing 150 miles (241km). Ample enough for many suburban people who have small cars.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i3/mpg

It may be for a small minority but then so is a car that needs to fit 5 overweight individuals, tow a trailer, be RWD, etc.

The i3 is all about bringing to the market a technologically advanced vehicle (what car under 100k has on offer in terms of technology and engineering that the i3 does) that reduces emissions at the tailpipe, providing decent mileage and accommodate the average person.

**Charliewool** · 23-01-2015, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

100km? WEhere is that?
The review here indicates that range without the petrol generator is 100miles (160km)
With the range extender they were seeing 150 miles (241km). Ample enough for many suburban people who have small cars.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i3/mpg

It may be for a small minority but then so is a car that needs to fit 5 overweight individuals, tow a trailer, be RWD, etc.

The i3 is all about bringing to the market a technologically advanced vehicle (what car under 100k has on offer in terms of technology and engineering that the i3 does) that reduces emissions at the tailpipe, providing decent mileage and accommodate the average person.

Are you going to buy one?

Wretched · 23-01-2015, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Are you going to buy one?

No, why? are you?

Adamz Ghia · 23-01-2015, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

I think they sold nearly 30,000 of them last year in the US alone in less than 12 months. Not really fringe or irrelevant...how many falcons sold?

JP

Meanwhile F Series sold 750,000~ units...

Batmobile · 23-01-2015, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binny

Erm Motor is the same publisher isn't it and even has some of the same journos?

I haven't bought either in a long time.
I beleive online publications like Caradvice and TMR are a much better read and they are free.

Lesson learnt !!!

. I pop into the news agency, and saw first hand that both magazines Motor and Wheels are owned and supported by the same owner Bauer Media Group . That's disappointing , as I was starting to enjoy Motor . Now , i won't be buying either .