Wheels Car of the Year

[pombstard]

For 2005 is the Ford Territory - not news, I know. But I did get to drive a 2WD last night. OK, so I'm not a fan of Falcons and their derivatives, but I was expecting more than I got. Just felt like a Falcon on stilts - wobbly handling, soft ride and not much fun.

This can't really be the best car on sale here, can it? Its cheap for what you get, true, but so's a Hyundai or a Kia. For the price of a Territory I could get a Subaru Liberty or a Honda Accord Euro - I just couldn't tow a boat with one.....ahhh, now I get it....seat four, tow a boat, big six, penny dropped.

Anyone else driven one??

[Stin Hambo]

I would personally have a Euro Accord. Now if only they would make a Type-R version

Australia is just full of Falcon XR6 and Commodore SS...

It needs a damn hot car like a TVR

[80bob]

Ah yes, Wheels car of the year - a car so good the rest of the world isn't interested in them. A bit like falcons and commodores. Sorry, but there were far too many worthy cars to win and the Territory certainly wasn't one of them. Right, rant over back to normal now.

[308gt4]

mate of mine was on the selection committee and he told me that there wasn't a bad car amongst the lot of them and the Territory was totally unexpected as the winner and even he (a Ferrari nutter as well as a Merc tendency) picked it as it met all the criteria.

I personally would never pick a 4wd but I have never driven it or any 4wd bar the X5 which is a bit rich calling it a 4wd, but better judges than i have seen something in them.

My pick was the F430 but then it would be wouldn't it

[Stin Hambo]

So what were the other cars on the list?

Actually Ford South Africa have ordered 2,000 as it is tough enough to last.

I bet the RWD Territory was better than the 4WD.

[pombstard]

308gt4 said:

mate of mine was on the selection committee

Tell us more.... Be interested to know more about it

[308gt4]

going for a spin in a Gallardo this week some time with him and will ask for you if I remember during all the excitement.

He writes for several mags and said that the criteria that was laid down had the Territory as the winner but that there wasn't a bad car amongst the lot FWIW

Went for a tootle in a Bentley Arnage R with him the other week and although it was large and heavy it scooted off into the distance with a race between the speedo and the fuel gauge

[pombstard]

308gt4 said:

going for a spin in a Gallardo this week some time......Went for a tootle in a Bentley Arnage R with him the other week

Two points to note...

First, tell us more of this - not too many of these in Oz, outside of the Gold Coast and the swankier parts of Sydney & Melbourne

Second, any chance of getting to Sydney in the Gallardo????

[Stin Hambo]

Where in Australia are you 308?

[308gt4]

I'm on the Gold Coast and Ferrari-less atm but planning on a 355 soon hopefully.

The Bentley was seriously impressive for a heavy car but I must say that my 5 series has nearly as nice an interior and it cost 1/10th the price.

It handled quite well too and was quite chuckable according to my mate who does this sort of thing all the time.

He miss getting to the Coast with the Gallardo but has promised he will be down from Brisbane with it soon as he gets a hold of it again.

I went to the AGP in Melb to see the race and buy a 328GTB or a 328GTS from Lance Dixons but one was a beater and the other was sold so am sitting on the side of the road hitching lifts in Gay-yardos

If any of you guys are up my way just send me an email via pistonheads and we can hook up

Cheers

John