Joey_G_1975

My buddy Marakbai has just informed me that the W204 has won the AJAC Canadian Luxury Car of The Year Award:

Check it out:

http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/gui...mentid=5846411

and

http://www.ajac.ca/files/ccoty/CCOTY_Category_EN.pdf

and

http://www.ajac.ca/web/ccoty/photos_category.asp

peabers

430752

You canucks get different equipment than us, correct? And can get the c3504matic? With a little more oomph under the hood and a few extra features, I'd love the hell out of my c300sport 4 matic too.

BTW, not sure this award is too impressive as it is a very limited field. I mean, its NOT the luxury car of the year award, but the New Luxury Car Of The Year award for 2008. Point is, in the luxury car category, what are new cars for 2008? I mean I think the new bimmers are 2007 models, and the audi a4 is not new until 2009, and the lexii are all old (unless the "refreshened" g300 (or whatever) is considered new, the infiniti g35 is new for 2007 but not 2008, no new acura in the luxury category, etc. Point is, I suspect the Merc may have won simply by default!

here's the awards:

The 2008 category winners are:
BEST NEW SMALL CAR: Saturn Astra
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR: Honda Accord EX Sedan
BEST NEW LUXURY CAR: Mercedes-Benz C Class
BEST NEW PRESTIGE CAR (over $75,000): Audi R8
BEST NEW SPORTS / PERFORMANCE CAR under $50,000: MINI Cooper S
BEST NEW SPORTS / PERFORMANCE CAR over $50,000: Audi S5
BEST NEW CONVERTIBLE: BMW 335i Cabriolet

BEST NEW MINIVAN: Hyundai Entourage

BEST NEW PICKUP TRUCK: Chevrolet Silverado
BEST NEW SUV / CUV under $35,000: Nissan Rogue
BEST NEW SUV / CUV $35,000 - $60,000: Saturn Vue
BEST NEW SUV / CUV over $60,000: Buick Enclave

RLE

<<the W204 has won the AJAC Canadian Luxury Car of The Year Award:>>

Just how many Automotive "Journalists" would there be in Canada, anyway? I'm picturing 5-6 guys sitting in the bar with a bunch of empty pitchers on the table making up a list.

This brings to mind these lists of "Most Livable American City" (or similar) put out by some backwater magazine someplace which causes the local TV stations to go nuts with stories about the "great honor", as though anyone cares.

Joey_G_1975

Thanks for the respect American brother. Maybe you should have read the article and you would have known that 73 journalists have voted.

Why the negativity? I would just be delighted to know that our W204 has been acknowledged for being the luxury car of the year, regardless of what country the award was handed out. I'm hoping it's the first of many to be won! (either in Canada, the USA or anywhere else!).

Ted in Toronto

Hmmm....
Population of Seattle = 573,000
Population of Washington = 6,400,000
Population of Toronto = 5,000,000
Population of Ontario = 12,800,000

So, RLE, just how is it living in some little backwater place that no one cares about???
(actually, I've been to Seattle many times and it's a great place - I'm just surprised at your attitude...)

peabers

You show him, Ted.

Typical American attitude...
(Now you can freak him out by telling him that he lives North of us).

430752

You're still 2/3's of anything we are!

I don't care if the valuation of the loonie has since ruined that joke.

But I think everyone missed the fine print ... its the car of the year for *new* luxury cars in Canada. Not the winner of all luxury cars in Canada. Question is how many *new* luxury cars in the class of 2008? Maybe only 1 - the merc, but dunno fer sure.

Joey_G_1975

Were the other two cars in the category (Cadillac CTS and Volvo S80) *new* luxury cars in the class of 2008?

The 2008 Cadillac CTS luxury sport sedan has received a full redesign this year. Highlights include more muscular styling, a much improved interior, more power and available all-wheel drive. (per Edmunds.com)

Whereas, the Volvo S80 adds a turbocharged six-cylinder engine to the S80 lineup for 2008. Rated for 281 horsepower, the "T6" power plant is offered exclusively with all-wheel drive. The company's Personal Car Communicator (PCC) keyless startup and security system is now standard on the S80 V8 model, as is premium-grade leather upholstery. On the exterior, the V8 model gains brushed aluminum door moldings. Heated rear seats are a new addition to the S80's optional Climate Package. (Per Edmunds.com)

How should we read fine print now?

hmmm ... I don't think I could totally agree with your comments due to the fact that most manufacturers tend to make minor or major changes to existing models.

And what's this 2/3's comparison all about? Do you actually praise yourself that high on a pedestal and demean and degrade all others? Or just Canadians? Is this what being an American is all about?

Gotti78

WOW, I think any American that’s high on there selves should take a trip to Buffalo. After going to a football game there I couldn’t even believe how Americans still felt proud,what a hole!

430752

Hey, I like Canada. More than parts of the US of A. But the 2/3's is still a joke, and one with a lot a mileage behind it. So I'm sticking with it. It is not a comparison, but a joke. If you can't fathom that, too bad for you. Geez, and Canadians were supposed to have a good sense of humor, much of the Second City comedy troupe (from my hometown of Chicago) was Canadian. Well, maybe you guys have gone down the crapper like the USA did: everyone takes offense at everything nowadays. Or maybe you only get 2/3's the joke up there?

Joey_G_1975

Hey 430752, I can take a joke but the tone in this thread seems to be taking a turn for the worse!

No offence taken!

But let's keep our focus on why we are here ... our beautiful W204s!

430752

btw- hadn't considered those two (volvo and caddy), having focused on the japanese/german cars being either 07's or 09's. Still don't think the volvo offers much competition, but beating the cts starts to give the award some meaning.

Joey_G_1975

The newly redesigned CTS is a nice car but I'm glad the W204 beat it!

Mike's ML

These rags have to produce 12 monthly "Best of" something or other for their covers in order to catch your attention on the store racks. How many "Best of" automotive topics can we come up with.
I'll start with "Best German Steering Wheels for 2007".
Mike

Joey_G_1975

I have no clue what you're talking about but the AJAC Car of the Year award is awarded once a year - hence car of the "year".

Here's a little brief on the award:


What are the AJAC Car of the Year Awards?

The purpose of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) program, created by journalist members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), is to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.

Key to the awards program is an annual event known in the Canadian automotive industry as “TestFest”.

Every year the top automotive journalists from all across Canada gather for a four-day new vehicle evaluation of over 180 models.

Their purpose? To select the best new vehicles in various categories as well as an overall Car of the Year and Utility Vehicle of the Year. A "Best New Technology" award and the "Best New Design" award are also chosen.

The evaluation is based on "real-world" back-to-back testing so that the results have relevance for consumers.

In other words, the rigorous testing program includes "real world" driving on public roads – exactly where consumers drive - so that the test, and vote, results are relevant to potential car and truck buyers.

Every member of a test team compares each vehicle in its class, back-to-back, on the same roads, under the same conditions to ensure objective evaluation.

Team members use a detailed rating form, comprising 21 separate evaluation parameters that include acceleration, braking, vehicle dynamics, maneuverability, even off-road capability, where applicable. Each parameter is rated using a prescribed 0 – 10 rating scale.

Every detail, from safety features to cargo capacity, is thoroughly scrutinized, discussed, and individually rated by secret ballot.

Those ballots are then tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG. The results are kept confidential -- even from AJAC -- until the awards press conferences wherein the category and overall winners are announced.

As soon as the winners are declared, the comparative test data, and vote results are posted to the AJAC web site for use by consumers as a resource buying guide.

Three AJAC surveys have shown that consumers are powerfully influenced by a Canadian Car of the Year award win. In 1999, the influence on buyers of the Canadian Car of the Year was 45%. In 2002, that percentage rose to 47.5%. While in 2005, the survey confirmed an influence of 58.4%.

For more information about the Canadian Car of the Year Awards, please visit the AJAC web site at www.ajac.ca, or call the AJAC office at 1-800-361-1516.

Mike's ML

Joey,
The string of posts was getting a little hot so I thought I would try to change directions and lighten things up --- IT WAS A JOKE!!!!
Mike