Royal Auto - Australia's Best Cars 2007

[bailey78]

Howdi Guys,

Just read the monthly Royal Auto (RACV publication) and they have a special on the "Australia's Best Cars 2007" award. Tested by "representatives of all Australia's State Motoring Clubs - headed by RACV" - whatever that means!

Volkswagen won a few awards.

Best Small Car - 1st Volkswagen Polo, 2nd Mazda 2, 3rd Toyota Yaris

Best Medium Car - 1st Ford Mondeo, 2nd Volkswagen Jetta, 3rd Honda Accord Euro

Best Prestige - Passat came 4th - Lexus IS250 won

Best Sports Car - 1st Volkswagen Golf R32 , 2nd Volkswagen Golf GTI , 3rd Subaru WRX, 4th Mitsubishi EVO 9

Top two in the sports car section is amazing considering the cars that came following 4th - (in order) Focus XR5T, Civic Type R, Clubsport R8, Audi TT TFSI, Cooper S, 3MPS, Megane Sport, 207 GTI, 350Z track, RX8......

Great stuff!

[bailey78]

S3

Would have been interesting to see where the Audi S3 would have come in (not tested)...the other half is about to order one - we took a demo for a spin last weekend and the thing was just out of this world......only problem was the head room - i'm 6ft5 and my head was slightly touching the roof - plenty of room in our golfs though!

[mhh]

Great to see the VW's doing well, but I would question their definition of Sports Car, given the cars making up the field. A Golf R32 or GTI is a sporty car, but not a sports car.

[bailey78]

?

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - have you ever driven an R32?

have you ever driven an S4?

have you ever driven a porsche?

not as far apart as you may think........

what is YOUR definition of a sports car?

you do realise that "sports cars" are not "super cars"

[mhh]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - have you ever driven an R32?

have you ever driven an S4?

have you ever driven a porsche?

not as far apart as you may think........

what is YOUR definition of a sports car?

you do realise that "sports cars" are not "super cars"

I guess it is just down to personal definitions. But I notice VW don't describe the R32 or GTI as sports cars either in any reference I could find on their website - although I might have missed it. I've just never heard of Golfs (or most of the other cars on the list) as being described as sports cars, although they certainly have a sporting flavour.

My definition of a sports car is a coupe of sporting intent which doesn't share its body shape with a common or garden model. That would make an RX8 and 350Z (and an Audi TT) a sports car but not an R32 or GTI. That isn't to say I'd prefer an RX8 to an R32 because I wouldn't. Other sports cars I can think of include the Lotus Elise and Exige, most Porsches, Mazda MX5, BMW Z4, etc.

Supercars? Well, I think of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Zonda etc in that category.

I've driven all the cars you mention and I own a GTI and a Porsche 911.

[jb747]

I think the practical definition has changed somewhat over the years.

[bailey78]

I guess it is just down to personal definitions. But I notice VW don't describe the R32 or GTI as sports cars either in any reference I could find on their website - although I might have missed it. I've just never heard of Golfs (or most of the other cars on the list) as being described as sports cars, although they certainly have a sporting flavour.

My definition of a sports car is a coupe of sporting intent which doesn't share its body shape with a common or garden model. That would make an RX8 and 350Z (and an Audi TT) a sports car but not an R32 or GTI. That isn't to say I'd prefer an RX8 to an R32 because I wouldn't. Other sports cars I can think of include the Lotus Elise and Exige, most Porsches, Mazda MX5, BMW Z4, etc.

Supercars? Well, I think of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Zonda etc in that category.

I've driven all the cars you mention and I own a GTI and a Porsche 911.

I probably should have added that they had another section for "luxury sports car"....might have cleared up any misconceptions anyone had with the term "sports car".

I guess by naming the group sports cars they were probably referring to "affordable" sports cars under 70k (Pretty sure the TT TSFI was the cheapest on that list)
Upon reading your comment, I thought you implying that they were more "cosmetically" sporty ie. Audi S-Line trim....my bad

PS Nice garage mate.

[GermanwithaVdub]

.......

PS Nice garage mate.

x2

[datracer99]

I guess it is just down to personal definitions. But I notice VW don't describe the R32 or GTI as sports cars either in any reference I could find on their website - although I might have missed it. I've just never heard of Golfs (or most of the other cars on the list) as being described as sports cars, although they certainly have a sporting flavour.

My definition of a sports car is a coupe of sporting intent which doesn't share its body shape with a common or garden model. That would make an RX8 and 350Z (and an Audi TT) a sports car but not an R32 or GTI. That isn't to say I'd prefer an RX8 to an R32 because I wouldn't. Other sports cars I can think of include the Lotus Elise and Exige, most Porsches, Mazda MX5, BMW Z4, etc.

Supercars? Well, I think of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Zonda etc in that category.

I've driven all the cars you mention and I own a GTI and a Porsche 911.

Nicely put. Fits my definition of sports car damn well.

Most mug punters would not class the GTI as a sports car, but those that know it would call it a Performance Car.
Perhaps that would be a better decription of the class - Performance and Sports cars under $70K.

But hey, Golfs did good. great to see.

[NickZ]

How come the R32 beat the GTI this year, but last year the GTI won? They have not changed that much since last year?

Regardless, it is a great result for VW

[phaeton]

7 Aussie Awards in Two Weeks not bad for VW

as well as the above

GTI won Drive.com.au's Best Sports Car under 60K

Eos won Drive.com.au's Best Convertible

Polo (Small Car), Multivan (MPV) and Caddy (LCV) won their respective classes in the Secure by Design awards.

[acdcfan]

7 Aussie Awards in Two Weeks not bad for VW

as well as the above

GTI won Drive.com.au's Best Sports Car under 60K

Eos won Drive.com.au's Best Convertible

Polo (Small Car), Multivan (MPV) and Caddy (LCV) won their respective classes in the Secure by Design awards.

And yet nothing to Golf MKV.......
Shame...... excellent car

[OvaltoJetta]

[QUOTE=bailey78;104977]

Best Medium Car over $28,000 - 1st Ford Mondeo, 2nd Volkswagen Jetta, 3rd Honda Accord Euro
QUOTE]

It may be a nice car, but how the hell did the Mondeo get "Car of the Year" in this category when it's only been on the market for a few weeks and the criteria is based on the following as per their website.

"New vehicles are evaluated throughout the year according to standard road test procedures and are given a score of between one to ten in each of the criteria, with ten being well above average and one being well below average. Those criteria are then weighted according to each one's importance to buyers in that particular market segment."

The Mondeo TDi scored 757 points v 754 points for the Jetta TDi. But the Jetta was better on fuel economy, warranty, standard features and practicallity ..... so what the? The Honda Accord Euro was 3rd back on 704.

Yet again, just like there was a flurry of new models in the same class and soon after the GolfV was released, the Jetta appears to have raised the bar in it's class. It's just a pity Volkswagen Australia doesn't brag more about these class winning vehicles.