Car of the Year Selection Process

Frank Williams
by Frank Williams
Frank Williams
Frank Williams

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  • Frank Williams Frank Williams on Jul 04, 2009
    Kman Love it! To be fair, this should be more specifically the “Motor Trend Car of the Year Selection Process”. There are too many meaningless COTY awards given out by both automotive and non-automotive media outlets to limit this just to the MT COTY. You are correct that C/D's "10Best" (and "5Best") awards carry over the previous year's winners, which is an improvement over the way others do it. However, when a "WhateverBest" winner isn't good enough to keep it from getting trounced in a subsequent comparison test by something that didn't make the "10Best" cut, you have to wonder about the validity of their selection process for one or the other (or both).
  • Durwood Durwood on Jul 04, 2009
    "However, when a “WhateverBest” winner isn’t good enough to keep it from getting trounced in a subsequent comparison test by something that didn’t make the “10Best” cut, you have to wonder about the validity of their selection process for one or the other (or both)." Yep, i always wondered about that too. I been getting C&D for over 30 years now and i think the last 5 years it has went downhill with their road tests especially. I never could figure out why a family car was rated better on it's speed and handling instead of it's ride which would be my first most important thing. I want comfort in a family car...0-60 in five seconds is the least of my worries. And i won't try to take a 35 mph curve at 80 mph either. Take it on a 400 mile trip and tell me how comfortable it was getting there, and how good is the gas mileage...and is it safe?
  • Theflyersfan Theflyersfan on Jul 05, 2009

    Durwood - have you also noticed that their comparison test write-ups have shifted from mainly text to almost 60% pictures and a brief write-up? (...unless it is an M3.) It's a comparison test - I want to know how it compares to others, not rehash the same data that was in the last issue when it was on a road test. Every car rag has turned into floor-mat and tire/wheel ads with articles secondary. It's been posted a million times before, but for $10, it's good bathroom reading and not much else. I'll keep my Automobile and R&T subscriptions since they focus more on racing and the international side of things, but when my C&D subscription ends in 2015 sometime, barring a turnaround, that's it. So I do my own research on the subject. Car rental joints have a huge variety to choose from now so I can do my own 400 mile trip and recommend cars to others. Case in point - I had never considered the new Malibu to be worthy of anything, especially after suffering through the 2005-era ones, but the new one is far better than the Camry and I think ties the Accord in many categories families are looking for. 1000 miles in a rental will do that to you!

  • Durwood Durwood on Jul 05, 2009
    theflyersfan....Yes, i have noticed it seems to be mostly pics and ads anymore. Not sure i will renew when it comes up or not. I have my heart set on a fusion when i buy, so it will have to leave me unimpressed when i drive one for me not to buy. Funny how all the other mags like the Fusion better then C&D ever does. I like the Malibu but they overlooked one thing i don't like about it. They never put an arm rest/cup holder into the middle of the back seat. Nit picking? Maybe, but how do you over look something like that? It's attention to details that get you to the top. I have a friend who bought a new Accord a couple of years ago and i was surprised how hard it rode. No way i'm taking a 400 mile trip in that thing. Like i said my heart is set on a new Fusion , but when it comes time to buy i will test drive several makes of cars to see how good it stacks up.
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