Car of the year 2012

Bodhan

Hey guys,

the IMWA have chosen the 10 finalists for car of the year.

Which one would you pick and why?

Ford C-MAX

Ford Focus

Honda CR-Z

Hyundai i40

Kia Picanto

Kia Rio

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

Mercedes-Benz SLK

Peugeot 508

Range Rover Evoque

bijapos

Honda CR-Z, simply because it reminds me of the CRX.

Whats the betting the Focus (in silver) will win it.

L-M

Ford C-MAX

Yes for looks and pretty much every bar reliability.

Ford Focus

No, the hatch is horrendously ugly.

Honda CR-Z

Yes, because it's a manual hybrid, no because there's no reason why someone should pick it over the Scirocco.

Hyundai i40

Possibly, yes. Saw one in the Hyundai showroom when I was buying parts, it was locked, but I was impressed with what I saw.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

Lovely car, wouldn't see it COTY worthy, though.

Mercedes-Benz SLK

Again, as above.

Peugeot 508

Lovely cars, bit ugly. The i40 wins over it for me.

Range Rover Evoque

Possibly, it would be a toss up between this and the i40 for me, purely because of it's boldness.

PrettyBoy

The Irish car of the year finalists/winner always depress me.

bazz26

Like the recent Presedential candidates. None of the above.

RedorDead

The IMWA depress me. How they condensed this initial list (below) of 46 down to this ten is beyond me. Is it blindfold and pin in the page stuff?

Only in Ireland could we have (nearly all) part time journalists with not the first clue about cars deciding the destination of the car of the year award.

1. Audi A6
2. Audi A7
3. BMW 1 Series
4. BMW 1 Series M
5. BMW 6 Series
6. BMW X3
7. Chrysler Delta
8. Chrysler Voyager
9. Citroen C4
10. Citroen DS3 Racing
11. Citroen DS4
12. Ford C-MAX
13. Ford Focus
14. Ford Grand C-MAX
15. Honda CR-Z
16. Hyundai i40
17. Hyundai ix20
18. Jeep Compass
19. Jeep G Cherokee
20. Kia Picanto
21. Kia Rio
22. Lexus CT200h
23. Mazda5
24. Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe
25. Mercedes-Benz CLS
26. Mercedes-Benz SLK
27. Mini Coupe
28. Mitsubishi Outlander
29. Nissan Leaf
30. Nissan Micra
31. Nissan Murano
32. Peugeot 508
33. Renault Megane Trophy
34. Renault Wind
35. Range Rover Evoque
36. SEAT Alhambra
37. SEAT Leon Cupra R
38. Toyota L Cruiser
39. Toyota Verso-S
40. Toyota Yaris
41. VW Golf R
42. VW Jetta
43. VW Passat
44. VW Sharan
45. VW Touareg
46. VW Touran

Voodoomelon

On behalf of Motors on boards.ie, I would like to nominate the Juke.

HJL

Bodhan wrote: »

Which one would you pick and why?

Which ever one has the cheapest motor tax and longest service interval! :pac:

VolvoMan

Why is it that there hasn't been an expensive car to win it in around twenty years?

It seems that only family hatchbacks or supermini's are eligible for the award these days.

V Eight

bijapos wrote: »

Honda CR-Z, simply because it reminds me of the CRX.

Whats the betting the Focus (in silver) will win it.

It will be the Ford Focus - not because it's the best but Ford have a high advertising spend which keeps the motoring press in jobs. Apologies for the cynicism but the ads are probably already prepared......

pburns

Whoever has the best goodie-bag for the journos!:D

Seriously, some awful tosh has won COTY both nationally and in Europe. Although the Porsche 928 did win it in '78.:)

VolvoMan

pburns wrote: »

Seriously, some awful tosh has won COTY both nationally and in Europe. Although the Porsche 928 did win it in '78.:)

I think the Peugeot 307 was the worst winner.... Ever.

Lantus

VolvoMan wrote: »

Why is it that there hasn't been an expensive car to win it in around twenty years?

It seems that only family hatchbacks or supermini's are eligible for the award these days.

If you are rich enough to be able to afford a luxury car you probably dont need a panel of beards to tell you your aston martin/lambo/ferrari etc..is special.

Fishtits

Can't speak for the current setup but many years ago I was told by a major importer that they had provided cars FOC for several Journos and their Spouses in the year that they won Irish COTY.

It was back in the Haughey era, I guess that was how things were done.

Nissan doctor

The quality of motoring journalism in Ireland is terrible so their opinion on the car of the year couldn't have any less relevance to what is actually the best car of the year.:rolleyes:

Every one of them would be afraid of their life to say that something that isn't in a low tax band or economical or in any way flies in the face of the current green movement could be a good car.

Owen

Voodoomelon wrote: »

On behalf of Motors on boards.ie, I would like to nominate the Juke.

I'm going to come to a boards meet, and kill you to death with your own shoes.

For Forks Sake

pburns wrote: »

Whoever has the best goodie-bag for the journos!:D

Seriously, some awful tosh has won COTY both nationally and in Europe. Although the Porsche 928 did win it in '78.:)

The European one is a joke, if there's been a new car launched in Italy that year, no matter how poor it is, it will win it...

Some godawful garbage on this list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Car_of_the_Year#Results:_1964.E2.80.932011

For Forks Sake

Owen wrote: »

I'm going to come to a boards meet, and kill you to death with your own shoes.

Drive over him in a Juke, would be more apt

PADRAIC.M

I see the Lexus ct200h came second in north America to the scion!!!!???!! (another Toyota brand)

Mc Love

Dont want the focus to win because its a pile of ****e. Ford took a backwards step in terms of design. The only worthy winner on that shortlist is the C-MAX

EPM

Mc Love wrote: »

Dont want the focus to win because its a pile of ****e. Ford took a backwards step in terms of design. The only worthy winner on that shortlist is the C-MAX

It's automatically a pile of shyte because of its looks? You should go into journalism:p
It's probably the best car there, but that's not hard when the really good ones are excluded.

When are the results?

Mc Love

EPM wrote: »

It's automatically a pile of shyte because of its looks? You should go into journalism:p
It's probably the best car there, but that's not hard when the really good ones are excluded.

When are the results?

I had considered it once upon a time. But is it really that good? No doubt it will probably win though. I think looks and design should play a part in it though.

plonk

How are the Giuletta and the mito not even on the shortlist.

EPM

plonk wrote: »

How are the Giuletta and the mito not even on the shortlist.

Last years cars.

maddness

Should be really the BMW 1 M.

Sobanek

maddness wrote: »

Should be really the BMW 1 M.

"But its road tax is 2100 per year."

:pac:

Considering it's actually 1050.

Bodhan

I'd like the Peugeot 508 to win because it's good value, good spec and goes on the smell of diesel. I got a little over 1200kms of mixed driving over a week of driving around Donegal. In SW version it's one of the nicest looking estates on the market.

The Ford Focus is a close second, Ford have properly moved on with the new version. It's not just a facelift, it's an entirely new car. The 1.6 95hp is a bit weedy but it does great MPG and there's a bit of value in the car once you stay away from the options list like the self park and road sign reader.

The one I think will win is the Range Rover Evoque only because it's a cheap Range Rover. While it's a decent car and all, the boggo version has a gear box that needs a bit of muscle to move it around and it's not all that comfortable to be in for extended periods.

The I40 could win it too, good looking car and decent price but the interior isn't as good as the Peugeot 508.

Sadly lacking off the list is the A6, the Megane RS (which makes me dribble with excitement) and the Mazda 5.

I've been taking entries on the site for who's going to win and most people are saying the 508 but then again most haven't driven the whole list. BTW I haven't driven the Mercs but then very few have, sales are bad this year.

Lex Luthor

Think its between the i40 & Evoque myself.

Is the DS5 too late to make the list?

benj

i would like the 508 to win, looks well in estate form (sw)...

Eric Cartman

the SLK or toureg are really the only possible ones on the list

is it just me or has car of the year just been going to whatever tasteless underpowered muck has the smallest engine in its class for the last while

johnos1984

Voodoomelon wrote: »

On behalf of Motors on boards.ie, I would like to nominate the Juke.

I'll second that

I've just spent the past week in a rental one driving across Scotland and I was seriously impressed. The looks even grew on me

Maybe I should become a motoring journalist

Henry Ford III

Mc Love wrote: »

Dont want the focus to win because its a pile of ****e. Ford took a backwards step in terms of design....

I hope you change your socks and jocks as fast as your opinion

pburns

Eric Cartman wrote: »

the SLK or toureg are really the only possible ones on the list

is it just me or has car of the year just been going to whatever tasteless underpowered muck has the smallest engine in its class for the last while

That's a bit elitist...no reason why more affordable cars can't be more innovative...

x in the city

Bodhan wrote: »

Hey guys,

the IMWA have chosen the 10 finalists for car of the year.

Which one would you pick and why?

Ford C-MAX

Ford Focus

Honda CR-Z

Hyundai i40

Kia Picanto

Kia Rio

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

Mercedes-Benz SLK

Peugeot 508

Range Rover Evoque

Irish Car of the year...

range rover evoquwhatever...

lol

right.

Mc Love

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I hope you change your socks and jocks as fast as your opinion

Its starting to grow on me, and I knew you were going to call me up on that. I still think its a step backwards from the last model. It does seem smaller, both in boot size and passenger space.

RedorDead

Irish Journalists excel themselves yet again as Kia Rio wins.

The Continental Irish Car of the Year Awards were announced today at an Awards Ceremony in the Convention Centre, Dublin. The Overall winner and Continental Irish Car of the Year 2012 is:

The KIA RIO

The category winners were as follows:

Continental Irish Small Car of the Year 2012
KIA Rio

Continental Irish Compact Family Car of the Year 2012
Ford Focus

Continental Irish FamilyCar of the Year 2012
Peugeot 508

Continental Irish Executive/Luxury Car of the Year 2012
Range Rover Evoque

Continental Irish Performance Car of the Year 2012
Mercedes Benz SLK

Continental Irish Van of the Year 2012
Volkswagen Crafter

Cashel Mc

So you have sat in and driven the new Rio then?

Gophur

It's a sad sad day when a Kia is COTY!

Panda Moanium

RedorDead wrote: »

Irish Journalists excel themselves yet again as Kia Rio wins.

The Continental Irish Car of the Year Awards were announced today at an Awards Ceremony in the Convention Centre, Dublin. The Overall winner and Continental Irish Car of the Year 2012 is:

The KIA RIO

The category winners were as follows:

Continental Irish Small Car of the Year 2012
KIA Rio

Continental Irish Compact Family Car of the Year 2012
Ford Focus

Continental Irish FamilyCar of the Year 2012
Peugeot 508

Continental Irish Executive/Luxury Car of the Year 2012
Range Rover Evoque

Continental Irish Performance Car of the Year 2012
Mercedes Benz SLK

Continental Irish Van of the Year 2012
Volkswagen Crafter

Just as a point of interest, why did you feel the need to put that first line in? Presumably you don't agree with the choice of Rio then? Care to explain why, or is it just the lazy default position here on Motors to slam anything to do with Irish motoring journalism?

For what its worth (and yes I have driven it) I think the Rio is an excellent car, a million miles away from its predecessor, and is now a genuine rival to the likes of the Polo and Fiesta. In my opinion it is a worthy winner.

166man

So the best car they can think of as the best performance car money can buy turns out to be a hairdressers car. Great stuff lads.

I say screw them and give it to the motors forum right here on boards. Would be good craic having a poll to decide, better than those gobsh1te journalists.

Cashel Mc

Great win for Kia , just shows how far they have come along or how far back rivals have gone.

Cashel Mc

Its a car that does a job and does it very well indeed , better than the rest in its class , why should it not win? Because its a Kia?

Absurdum

Cashel Mc wrote: »

why should it not win?

because the Ferrari 458 exists

EPM

Gophur wrote: »

It's a sad sad day when a Kia Is COTY!

Because it's a Kia? You could say the same if a Skoda won it. Both brands images are in the gutter tbh. Kia make some excellent cars.

It really makes me laugh when a car is dismissed for No reason other than badge.

Zubeneschamali

Cashel Mc wrote: »

Its a car that does a job and does it very well indeed , better than the rest in its class , why should it not win?

It doesn't have to be best to win its class, it just has to be the best car in its class launched this year.

The overall winner tends to be a bread-and-butter car, not a Merc or Range Rover, so it really only had to beat the Focus and 508.

There's also the fact that it's a huge step up for its maker, while the Focus and 508 are not.

Cashel Mc

The overall winner tends to be a bread-and-butter car, not a Merc or Range Rover, so it really only had to beat the Focus and 508.

There's also the fact that it's a huge step up for its maker, while the Focus and 508 are not.[/QUOTE]

Totally agree with you

Cashel Mc

Absurdum wrote: »

because the Ferrari 458 exists

Irish car of the year .
Not Monaco car of the year.:)

Bodhan

I was at the do today, I thought it was a fair list of who won and the Kia deserved it.
It's serious value for money and the Rio is possibly the best car they make, the Picantio and Sportage are close second.

The only one I'd change is the Merc, it doesn't deserve the win because the Renault Megane RS Trophy is a much better drivers performance car and better value for money.
Plus people won't hate you because it's just a Renault, albeit a 40k one.

RedorDead

Cashel Mc wrote: »

So you have sat in and driven the new Rio then?

Yes

Panda Moanium wrote: »

Just as a point of interest, why did you feel the need to put that first line in? Presumably you don't agree with the choice of Rio then? Care to explain why, or is it just the lazy default position here on Motors to slam anything to do with Irish motoring journalism?

For what its worth (and yes I have driven it) I think the Rio is an excellent car, a million miles away from its predecessor, and is now a genuine rival to the likes of the Polo and Fiesta. In my opinion it is a worthy winner.

Believe me I would love a reason to support Irish motoring journalism. Bar a few people doing something different. Bodhan on here being one, it is devoid of proper journalism.

The Kia is a fine car but it is in no way innovative nor is it the best car launched this year. Lets see how many other countries vote it coty.