Towcar Awards 2008 FAO Nigel Donnelly

[Dustydog]

Hi Nigel,

Just read this insert and thought something was missing under the 4x4 section. Where's all the cheaper beauts like Hyundai Santa Fes and Kia Sorentos just to name two.

Apart from the Jeep Wrangler none of the chosen few is less than £30,660. Sorry but my wallet will not stretch that far.

I notice this years towcar award is in association with the CCC rather than the CC of previous years.

Ok if I was really flush I could live with the BMW X5 or the Merc GL420 but reality for me and others dictate otherwise.

Why were the cheaper but just as able vehicles left out??

Cheers

Alan

 

[rob_jax]

Alan,

Because tow-car of the year and similar awards are not an all encompassing award / ranking scheme.

The awards only assess models released in that year - so a car that won last year almost certainly won't win next year - unless they perform a facelift or introduce a new variant...

If you were planning to use the awards as a market wide ranking scheme for your next purchase - you'd probably want to think again...

Robert

 

[DavidKlyne]

Alan

I think we have a situation here like when the Camping Club became the Camping and Caravan Club! I think this competition you mention is different to the real Towcar of the Year award run by the Caravan Club with results usually published in September.

Robert mentions some of the constraints on the models choosen to be tested. I am not sure either competition really provides any more than a guide. I would have thought that value for money and economy should be two categories that should be used. The Clubs use the excuse that although members might not be able to afford to buy new but may want to buy second hand later on!

David

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks for that Rob and David. Now I understand, I just wish PC had said so for a thickie like me!!

Cheers

Alan

 

[Colinn]

C'mon Alan, you don't really thinking this testing/reviewing lark is for your benefit do you? Let the journos enjoy the good life that the top-of-the-range stuff gives them!

Spare a thought for Haymarket sister mag Autocar readers last week - they were treated to eight pages - yes eight - on the

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Alan

No sign of a Shogun either, perhaps it is just coincidence Mitsubishi sponsored the CC centenary handbook and not CCC.