VW Golf Mk6 Wheels Car of the Year

[russ83]

and the Golf 118TSI won best mid-size car 30-50k in the NRMA open road mag. Jetta came second.

[cme2c]

I was saying to my wife that if they put a sticker on the car for every award the car and engine had won, you wouldn't be able to see out the back window.

[Flighter]

I have to concur with those who think the Mk VI is a significant improvement over the Mk V (particularly at the lower end of the range) and hence worthy of being treated as a separate model deserving of this award. The 90TSi engine is ridiculously superior to the old 1.6 atmo, and I doubt the old 2.0FSI has anything over the 118TSI. The 6 speed manual and 7 speed DSGs being offered are again both improvements over the Mk V (at least for the 1.6, which only came with a 5 speed trans if manual), and the interior is class leading (I prefer it to the more expensive A3 myself). Externally every panel is new apart the roof (I think), so the only gripe some have is that it looks too similar. Although I prefer the new look, and find it different enough, I've no argument with those that feel it isn't, as appearance is subjective after all. So what if the chassis isn't changed; I'm not aware of anything being inherently wrong with it, so if it ain't broke, why "fix" it.

[mikinoz]

Call me a cynic but VWA dropped a massive amount of money on Wheels for the GTI liftout special recently.

It is a corporate economy, you can't say money does not talk.

[Nath]

Thats somewhat cynical isnt it?

[mikinoz]

Yes, it is, but it was prefaced.

I think that there needs to be a proper analytical approach to results of these tests.

Really, international car of the year tends to be more balanced, despite not being inclusive of local AU car models.

[G-rig]

MK5 and MK6 are very similar they both should have got it depends what influencing factors were in play at the time.

[Nath]

Well you said to call you a cynic.....

[VW350]

Coty 2004

The Golf V just missed out in Wheels COTY in 2004, it was in the final group alongside Volvo S40/V40 and winner Ford Territory. If it weren't for obvious local bias to the Ford, I'm sure the Golf V would have won.

The absence of the GTI at the time of judging didn't help its cause either. Had VW launched Golf V in 2005 with the complete range it most likely would have won COTY that year instead of the Mazda MX-5 which didn't even have ESP.

[Brian]

Call me a cynic but VWA dropped a massive amount of money on Wheels for the GTI liftout special recently.

It is a corporate economy, you can't say money does not talk.

OK, you're a cynic. Your text indicates that you think the GTI got the award "across the line". However I personally think the smaller more technologically advanced engines carried the day! After all, other than cosmetic refinements, what was the difference between the MK 5 and MK 6 GTI? Any old hot hatch will still run rings around it (the GTI) in standard form for a lot less oscar scholars.

[Highlander]

VWs Buckets of Cash

Yes, it is, but it was prefaced.

I think that there needs to be a proper analytical approach to results of these tests.

Really, international car of the year tends to be more balanced, despite not being inclusive of local AU car models.

Prefaced or not, cynical or not, VW must have very deep pockets and must put supplements in lots and lots of international motoring mags.

I recall that the Golf Mk VI was also awarded World Car of the Year,

http://www.autospies.com/news/NEW-YORK-AUTO-SHOW-Volkswagen-Golf-Takes-2009-World-Car-Of-The-Year-Honors-42871/

[Nath]

I wont get into what you inferring there but will comment on VW itself. From memory after they finish 'aquiring' Porshe later this year or next the VW group will be the largest motoring group in the world, so if this is true then I'd have to say yes they do have deep pockets.

[Highlander]

Inferences

I wont get into what you inferring there but will comment on VW itself. From memory after they finish 'aquiring' Porshe later this year or next the VW group will be the largest motoring group in the world, so if this is true then I'd have to say yes they do have deep pockets.

Inferring nothing other than expressing my cynicism of Mikinoz's cynicism.

We drove many cars last year before buying our Golf and in my opinion, the Golf has won the award on its merits.

For the cynics, nominate something within the price reach of the average motorist that comes anywhere near the Golf "range" for quality, driveability and value and just as importantly "feel".

After purchasing her Golf, my daughter who runs her own business and employs 10+ staff commented somewhat tongue in cheek, "Order and dignity has now been restored to the carpark"

[mikinoz]

Ha, a good conspiracy theory never hurt anyone.

It is a deserving winner, but I just think that there needs to be a bit of perspective given when there is so much riding on these awards, and there are many external factors that leads the reviewers to conclusions they do. Possibly I have been in sales too long, but I know simply if a supplier is good to me (ie. free samples etc) I am normally more loyal to them that another similar supplier.

No doubt you would all be happy with the MKVI if it were not COTY, so this really is a pointless external affirmation of what you all already know by buying/driving one.

[Highlander]

I have always been right

Ha, a good conspiracy theory never hurt anyone.

It is a deserving winner, but I just think that there needs to be a bit of perspective given when there is so much riding on these awards, and there are many external factors that leads the reviewers to conclusions they do. Possibly I have been in sales too long, but I know simply if a supplier is good to me (ie. free samples etc) I am normally more loyal to them that another similar supplier.

No doubt you would all be happy with the MKVI if it were not COTY, so this really is a pointless external affirmation of what you all already know by buying/driving one.

Exactly, I have known all along that it was the best thing available in 2009 for our purpose.

Actually I could have saved all those journalists a heap of driving and a heap of writing if they had just called me first.

No wonder you are cynical though if free samples are enough to keep your business, I tend to prefer service from my suppliers.