[pradeepkc]

Well, IMHO, the COTY should be picked this way. We first list the cars by their segment. Then compare them to other cars in the segment (including previous years). Now that you have shortlisted them segment wise, you compare them to each other and see what each has to offer, what's new in the car that the other cars in the segment don't have(also includes drivability). The fuel efficiency. NOT the reliability, cause it's new. And VFM does not come into picture cause reliability is part of it too. If a car is offering few features more for 10% less than it's closest rival, but if you end up spending 25% more over the life of the car, your VFM logic goes out the window. So you can't do VFM on new cars.
And XUV sure offers a lot for a lot less, but they over did it. When I saw the car in person, few angles were okay, but from some angles it just did not look in place. Overall it looks like a bling car, based on the exterior and interior fit and finish. They should have stuck to simple and well fitted exterior and interior. more like the new Jeep Cherokee in the states.
All said, I have seen most of the cars in the person, but did not drive any. So I chose honda fit based on the ones I have seen. It's very compact and practical. I liked the amount of space it offered for it's size compared to it's rivals. it's a perfect city car. It's missing a few things, but not a deal-breaker. And might be a good VFM car based on Honda's overall reliability factor.

[RS_DEL]

Originally Posted by Tgo

I have a feeling that the XUV 5OO will be a car of the year on this forum. Good thing Mahindra launched it late in the year so that people don't get to know how it performs on the road.

A relative had bought the car a month ago. The electronics failed to the extent of both headlamps and keys were not working. Just heard from him that Mahindra is changing the engine also.

What are we looking at here?

WRT the Mahindra XUV We are lookng at "un-informed euphoria"!!

A vehicle of the year winner ideally should be one where there is a credible record of of a fair amount of reliable service by the vehicle concerned to a reasonably wide universe of users over a period spanning atleast half a calender year if not more.

But then that's just my thinking. Maybe my perception is skewed by my utilitarian line of thought, and I am not that much of an enthusiast.

[zen rally sport]

my vote goes to the mahindra xuv500. no doubt the market has lapped it up well becoz of its filled to the gills features and a truly contemporary design. how it performsi on the road is yet to be seen but as far as the reviews go all r praises for the car. I would like to have one for sure. my choice amongst the recent lot.

[SDP]

Originally Posted by RS_DEL

WRT the Mahindra XUV We are lookng at "un-informed euphoria"!!

A vehicle of the year winner ideally should be one where there is a credible record of of a fair amount of reliable service by the vehicle concerned to a reasonably wide universe of users over a period spanning atleast half a calender year if not more.

But then that's just my thinking. Maybe my perception is skewed by my utilitarian line of thought, and I am not that much of an enthusiast.

With the basic premise for COTY being that the vehicle should be launched in that year, getting a credible record spanning a decent amount of time is going to be tricky. But I understand your point.

May be we should run the COTY quiz for Year2011 only after June-2012.

[RS_DEL]

Originally Posted by SDP

With the basic premise for COTY being that the vehicle should be launched in that year, getting a credible record spanning a decent amount of time is going to be tricky. But I understand your point.

May be we should run the COTY quiz for Year2011 only after June-2012.

True this whole thing about the COTY is inherently flawed IF you are NOT an enthusiast.

How ever if you are a true blue enthusiast and feel majority opinion is valuable and a reliable indicator of the success potential of the launches in the current year then sure, go by the COTY polls.

[RadiantKarma]

Originally Posted by Tgo

I have a feeling that the XUV 5OO will be a car of the year on this forum. Good thing Mahindra launched it late in the year so that people don't get to know how it performs on the road.

A relative had bought the car a month ago. The electronics failed to the extent of both headlamps and keys were not working. Just heard from him that Mahindra is changing the engine also.

What are we looking at here?

Very valid point Tgo.

Team-bhp is a community of car enthusiasts. Nay, let me correct. Team-bhp is a community of car-owning enthusiasts. The COTY award, apart from critical evaluation of the car, should duly reflect this vital ownership aspect. We've voting with buckets to the cars many of us would not buy. There are all kind of magazines / websites who are doing this. What distinguishes team-bhp from others is that we are a community of enthusiastic car owners. Prior to voting, we ought to subject the car to, shall I say, 'Potential Ownership Test' - i.e. if I were to buy a car in the given segment, would I buy this one?

With this pattern of voting only, Team-BHP COTY would be consistent with the very precept, raison d'etre and image of Team-BHP. A prospective buyer considering Team-BHP COTY for the purchase should feel confident that 90% of his job for potential ownership aspect is already done by Team-BHP. I have a vision of Team-BHP COTY award leading and guiding the prospective buyers towards overall satisfactory ownership.

Also, since there is only one category, we should also have 1st Runner-Up and 2nd Runner-Up awards, as there are quite a few worthy contenders.

[Nutty Nair]

My vote goes to the Hyundai Verna. Great styling, great interiors, good engines coupled with good after sales service. Yes, the new Verna Fluidic is one car I would like to own. Not such a fan of XUV's styling and also if the rear seat is so cramped as to be good for kids only, then better have a sedan. Hyundai Eon would have got my vote if the engine was a bit more powerful and also if it was more reasonably priced. The rest of the lot just don't come into the picture at all for me.

[KPS]

Originally Posted by pradeepkc

All said, I have seen most of the cars in the person, but did not drive any. So I chose honda fit based on the ones I have seen. It's very compact and practical. I liked the amount of space it offered for it's size compared to it's rivals. it's a perfect city car.

The Honda Fit (nee Jazz) is not part of the list. The Honda Brio is not the same as Honda Fit. Honda Brio has no boot space and is not a segment changer

Originally Posted by RS_DEL

A vehicle of the year winner ideally should be one where there is a credible record of of a fair amount of reliable service by the vehicle concerned to a reasonably wide universe of users over a period spanning atleast half a calender year if not more.

IMHO, typically the winner of of COTY award are segment first or game changer and force other manufactures to rethink their strategy. The XUV is definitely a segment changer considering the product offering and price point. The EON is another car for example. Similarly the Verna which caused Honda (face lift), VW (more features) and Ford (free add-on's) is again another example

There is enough information available on how good/bad a car is and we can make a reasonable judgement on the performance of the car, hence there is no need to wait for a credible performance record.

Cheers

KPS

[RS_DEL]

Originally Posted by KPS

The Honda Fit (nee Jazz) is not part of the list. The Honda Brio is not the same as Honda Fit. Honda Brio has no boot space and is not a segment changer


IMHO, typically the winner of of COTY award are segment first or game changer and force other manufactures to rethink their strategy. The XUV is definitely a segment changer considering the product offering and price point. The EON is another car for example. Similarly the Verna which caused Honda (face lift), VW (more features) and Ford (free add-on's) is again another example

There is enough information available on how good/bad a car is and we can make a reasonable judgement on the performance of the car, hence there is no need to wait for a credible performance record.

Cheers

KPS

Different strokes for different folks my friend.

COTY to my mind has to be an award where the product in question has proven itself to have caused a change in market dynamics to the betterment of consumer interest INCLUDING reliability.

WRT your statement about information being available in the public domain about product reliability prior to product launch - forgive me for saying so , but you are contradicting yourself.

Reliability is ONLY known subsequent to usage over a reasonably wide universe of users over a reasonable period of time.

But then these are considerations which may not be considered significant by some folks and I have no quarrel with that.

[KPS]

Originally Posted by RS_DEL

WRT your statement about information being available in the public domain about product reliability prior to product launch - forgive me for saying so , but you are contradicting yourself.

I never said prior to launch. As far I understand COTY covers cars already launched in a calender year. Hence there is no contradiction.

On the question of reliability even 6 months is too less. I would still say that the current process is correct. There is no point in declaring COTY, say in June

[Geo_Ipe]

Voted for the Verna. And realised it's running second right now!

Agreed that the XUV's a loaded product at a mouth watering price, I'm really concerned about the quaity of the 'load' they're providing. And unfortunately if something goes wrong, I really don't expect the non metro dealers to attend to it n' rectify it quickly enough.
I may be wrong, but time shall tell.

And why the Verna?? Simply because it took the game to the City n' beat it. That's impeccable from any point of view!

[NYMEX]

Theme for XUV 5oo is VFM at predatory pricing, not much else going for it.

The SUNNY is a tried and tested car - 10 generations are testimony! {The '89 model in our family is still giving great service after doing over 100,000 km and remains in mint condition}. It sets new benchmarks in value for the segement and it's reliability will impress in due course. The only -ve is the looks are not as flashy as some of the others and this should not be held against it while voting. Consider the package as a whole

The runner up is the Hyundai Eon as it is the only one which can give serious competition to the dominant player (Alto) in it's segment . For a city car it's adequate and this is the performance criteria in this segment.

[KkVaidya]

Originally Posted by NYMEX

{The '89 model in our family is still giving great service after doing over 100,000 km and remains in mint condition}.

Great to know you own a '89 model. Can we see some pictures & engine specification.

[mannubhai]

Originally Posted by Tgo

I have a feeling that the XUV 5OO will be a car of the year on this forum. Good thing Mahindra launched it late in the year so that people don't get to know how it performs on the road.

A relative had bought the car a month ago. The electronics failed to the extent of both headlamps and keys were not working. Just heard from him that Mahindra is changing the engine also.

What are we looking at here?

Originally Posted by RS_DEL

WRT the Mahindra XUV We are lookng at "un-informed euphoria"!!

.

Originally Posted by RadiantKarma

Very valid point Tgo.

. Prior to voting, we ought to subject the car to, shall I say, 'Potential Ownership Test' - i.e. if I were to buy a car in the given segment, would I buy this one?


Also, since there is only one category, we should also have 1st Runner-Up and 2nd Runner-Up awards, as there are quite a few worthy contenders.

I voted for this car with my vallet. Probably the 1st or one of the firsts in TBHP to have owned an XUV, and I can vouch for this car after 2 months of niggle free driving. I am happy about the moeny i spend on this machine.

Having said that, Yes I do agree that its just a euphoria that is driving this poll. Having sent out only 5k cars or so and just in 5 cities, many who have voted may not even have seen the car, and have jumped the wagon on hear-say. Not sure if thats the right way to vote. This is more like the National Film awards being given to unscreened movies .

[shabash]

From an engine point of view XUV has the Scorpio engine with a different tune. Owning a Scorpio and having driven it for about 50K Kms, I think the engine is a Gem. So I don't see any issues there.

I am not sure how much experience Mahindra has with Monocoque, expectation is that the JV with Renault should have given them some technical expertise. But still Ride and Handling is not that great as far as I have heard.

Regarding the electronics (being a techie and having worked in the Semiconductor industry), I know that XUV uses NXP (previously Philips Semiconductors) chips. Automotive is a very strong area for NXP and they make one of the best automotive ICs in the world. So I don't see any worries there. So overall I think they have a great package and should do well. Ofcourse TGo said about the faulty electronics, but this can happen as there is always a PPM (Parts Per Million) failure rate for ICs and can be disastrous - In this case I must say that is what would have happened.