Australia's Best mid sized Car 2004 - not the Euro

[yfin]

Hi - check this out - released today. Some very interesting scores - Euro below average for practicability (what the?) - and security (?) and depreciation (note Holden Vectra has better resale than Euro - total bs in my view).

Euro wins "on the road" scoring out of all medium cars short listed over $28k (performance, ride, braking, handling).

http://www.australiasbestcars.com.au/2004/2004_midsize_over.pdf

http://www.australiasbestcars.com.au/2004/mid_over.htm

[aaronng]

I wonder what is the criteria for practicality?

Is it:
Doesn't come in a stationwagon configuration?

How does the Mini Cooper 1.6 get 5 for depreciation? Maybe it's because the owners don't want to lose any money over selling it, so they don't sell unless they get almost the brand new price?!

[EuroSip]

Didn't rate too badly....but for practicality it got the same as 1-series...what the heck? the back seats in the one series is practically none-existent...the euro however has plenty of room...

Depreciation...hmm..did they use the luxury or the basic...cause although luxury models have kept their price quite well...the basic one i've seen for sale quite cheap when used...

How do they rate the 1-series based on resale...it just came out...

[Euro_Boy]

I agree with all your points raised ppl.

Liberty is a great car however I also question the criteria for practicality.'

Then again, we know what the euro is cpapable of and is. It or the owners themselves don't need recognition.

[Type R Positive]

Just depends on the judging panel. I guess they hate the Euro. They would have to. How could you give it a 2 for practicality? I guess because there is only 2 models and they both come fully loaded that it misses out? And it doesn't come in a hatch or wagon?

"Practicality: A judgment of the access/seating, practicality and intended use of the vehicle by test panel, including the range of body configurations. Consider cargo/storage areas, seat folding or removal and seatbelts/anchorages. Vehicles are penalized for impractical features such as space-saver tyres etc."

Hey, they gave the holden vectra a better environment score than the civic hybrid. Goes to show they are full of crap and drive commodores.

[euro77]

"Practicality: A judgment of the access/seating, practicality and intended use of the vehicle by test panel, including the range of body configurations. Consider cargo/storage areas, seat folding or removal and seatbelts/anchorages. Vehicles are penalized for impractical features such as space-saver tyres etc."

Must be the space-saver tyres! :thumbdwn:

[Type R Positive]

Must be the space-saver tyres! :thumbdwn: Yeah.

It got a 2 for security instead of a 5 because it doesn't have data dots?

[Pum[Z]]

Yeah Subaru's have data dots because they are targeted to be stolen or used as getaway cars from cops. The best thing for security is having insurance not data dots. If the car gets stolen at least u get a new car.

The Liberty is a nice car. But i only think the Liberty GT is better then the Euro. If they were comparing a Liberty 2.5 or a Euro as they did in this test i would pick the Euro...

[aaronng]

I also think the Liberty 2.5 had worse fuel consumption than the Euro (auto) from the review in Wheels.

[Faiz]

liberty 2.5 is in my point of view is not as good as the euro in any point. Maybe the gt and 3 litre but the 2.5??? they must be kidding themselves really. By the wya i just noticed that subaru liberty got more in handling than the mazda and euro.???/ The liberties have little or no steering feel. This is just peice of bulshit/

[EuroAccord13]

..... I Am Disgusted .....

[PERTH_EURO]

Put it this way hopefully the dumb people go and but mazda 6's with the Hyundai like interiors, and we can just laugh at them

:honda: all the way

[Thorn2004]

They are obviously on some pretty serious drugs, I mean wtf? Below average for practicallity? What are they taking? There is HEAPS of room, both in the front and the back, especially for the size of the car, I am 6ft 2 inches tall and I have plenty of room for my legs too. The boot is large and spacious, the seats fold back, there is mounts for a boot net, what the hell else do they want?

Regarding the resale, they are still taking those wacky pills, I have seen 2003 Accord Euro's still selling for mid to high 20 thousands up to 30 grand, infact Honda's in Generall seem to hold their value extremely well because they are not fleet car's!

Lastly the security is lower than the Liberty? There is a security alarm and a engine immoboliser as standard, I thaught the idea behind a security rating was how hard the car is to steal, the fact that Suburu used data dots on the Liberty says to me that they have a history of being stolen, and those data dots arn't going to stop the car from being stolen!

Stupid Commodore drivers !

[sodaz]

I can't believe it. The whole thing's a joke. Mazda 6's as quiet as a Euro? Gimme a break. The Liberty has a much weaker engine too. Makes you wonder if they even tested the cars. :confused:

[Thorn2004]

Put it this way hopefully the dumb people go and but mazda 6's with the Hyundai like interiors, and we can just laugh at them

:honda: all the way

Yeah and their Ford Motors too, don't even get me started on Ford made motors, I worked for Ford for 6 years :( Looking at the latest sales stats the Euro was outselling its competitors in the Prestige market with a total market share of 27.9 percent!

Here is a link http://www.polk.com.au/webamr/ click on latest automotive news for the sales stats!

Geez and there is a 3 month wait on the Euro's at the moment according to my dealer, all those people who must be wrong, amazing eh?

[Faiz]

Yeah and their Ford Motors too, don't even get me started on Ford made motors, I worked for Ford for 6 years :( Looking at the latest sales stats the Euro was outselling its competitors in the Prestige market with a total market share of 27.9 percent!

Here is a link http://www.polk.com.au/webamr/ click on latest automotive news for the sales stats!

Geez and there is a 3 month wait on the Euro's at the moment according to my dealer, all those people who must be wrong, amazing eh?


Hey sydney is crwaling with euros! seriously every third car i see there is a euro :honda: Kinda makes you think. People have good taste at sydney i guess. In new castle there are a few around here but in sydney they are basically every where.

[yfin]

I forgot to mention we also got a below average for fuel consumption. What the?

What is so good about the Mini Cooper 1.6 pricing to rate a 5? It is quite expensive for what you get.

Oh - and the "environment" gets a critical weighting whereas braking and lots of other important factors to buyers only get "high". Hmmm - that is nice but how many buyers honestly factor the enviornment into their decision - (some do) but very few in Australia because so many people want 5.7 litre V8 Commodores...

[PERTH_EURO]

Angry little bunch arent we LOL

**** Piss Take ***

[Thorn2004]

Angry little bunch arent we LOL

**** Piss Take ***

Your damn straight :D

We love our Euro's and everyone who owns one loves their Euro and those sales stats show that alot of people wanna buy them so it can't be that bad a car :honda: I sure do get some nice looks and compliments on my Euro too :)

[PERTH_EURO]

Im hearin ya brothers

There is no way you will ever see me in a mazda 6 or a mini (cause I aint)!!

[EuroAccord13]

I forgot to mention we also got a below average for fuel consumption. What the?


Right, I should go show them how to drive the car economically...What BS is this about bad economy..

Oh and practicability? Don't they know the Euro comes in Wagon form?

GeeeZusssss......

[Archangel]

We all know the truth ;) thats all that matters!

Let those naive people have their Subaru's!

[VirIIx]

think of it this way..

at least we won't have many wankers driving and giving us euro owners a bad name.. it's best to leave the glorified cars to the wankers and all sorts who want to be "in".

so be thankful in some ways :)

oh.. and yes.. wagon and AWD too i believe!! so Subaru can go eat it :p

[Faiz]

enought subaru bashing... they are good cars too but 2.5 is not included in my list of good subs.

[bigdongers]

Hondas have always been hammered for security. They did a security test a while ago and all Hondas scored badly. Its to do with the quality of the locks etc... The Subaru would gain points for data dots also.

Practicality of a Euro would score lower against a Mazda 6 who offers a hatch with fold flat back seats. I think the space saver spare would lower the practicality score too.

[bigdongers]

How did the Subaru get a 1 for depreciation? Its got the highest resale value of the lot!

[euro77]

I also think the small opening of the boot has something to do with the low practicality points. I was trying to put in a 21" monitor in the boot, but failed no matter what I do. The monitor just won't pass the opening in any angle :(

[EuroAccord13]

I was trying to fit 2 suit cases in the boot but it kept hitting one of the bar hinges of he boot... :P

[Speeder]

hey enough subaru bashings. my friend is looking at both the euro and the 2.5 liberty and he is convinced to get a euro, but the liberty is in no way a bad car. its more spacious/ better seats and definately better rear space. but the euro dash is too hot though. i know a couple of my friends owening liberties in the past and not one had any problems in terms of the mechanical side of things. and for flat four (boxer, EJ25 i think)) been weak?? i have no idea what you had to smoke but they are not weak, they are just hard to work on. each of their own, and hey comparing an euro againt a liberty makes more sense then comparing to the mazda 6.

[evolution42]

i have a 2000 Liberty RX 4AT and a 2004 :honda: Accord Euro Luxury 6MT. The sube is still a great car. Sure, it doesn't have the outright acceleration of the euro, but it has truly excellent handling and roadholding.

ive actually driven the new 6-cyl liberty 3.0R- it's sensational! If i was after an auto euro, I would seriously consider the 3.0R. has pretty much the same equipment cept the sube misses out on the xenon headlights, heated seats and rainsensing wipers of the euro. but the sube fights back with a 13 speaker mcintosh sound system, gorgeous 17" alloys, momo design steering wheel and an 8-way electic passenger seat.If you stomp on the pedal, theres a slight initial lag, then it picks up and just flys:) , and the handling of the rear-biased AWD is better than the FWD euro.

however i sat in a 3.0R-B and it's manual transmission is nothing like the euro! extra long travel, weird springing and it seems to grind into each slot... take the euro's manual transmission anyday:D