Posts by: Nick G - UKTV

Maybe you like the R8 but there's something you're not quite happy with it. Worried the 4.2-litre engine is too thirsty? Then hang on till year next for the rumoured V8 diesel version. Bouyed by their TDi diesel performance at Le Mans, Audi are thinking about applying the same tech to their road cars. A 35mpg supercar? Not that crazy. Okay, it will be crazy to some, in which case they should wait for the imminent V10 version, which shares its engine with the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Dafman, the Vauxhall VXR8 IS a Holden. It's the new Monaro. Your wish is fulfilled.

The Kia Cee'd does everything right for a smallish price tag. Trouble is, so does its in-house rival, the Hyundai i30. It's basically the same car, except that the Hyundai gets more kit. You can't imagine passionate club clubs developing around either one, but the Kia is marginally better looking.

If 4x4 heritage counted in this battle, Land Rover and Jeep would be scrapping over who reached their 50th anniversary first, Mitsubishi would smugly point to their similarly old Jeep knock-off and Nissan wouldn't be shamed. The French, BMW and Audi would blush like the virgins they are, but Honda does have a heritage of sorts. They're on their third CR-V now, and back in 1993 actually sold a Honda-badged Land Rover Discovery in Japan called Crossroad. It bombed.

You're right, a RR Drophead owner would host a different kind of Glastonbury party than a guy throwing open the doors of an Espace, but I'd wager there'd be more champagne and supermodels. Just don't scratch the teak decking.

No-one can fall about in the back of the new Defender, at least not if they're seated. The old versions had four side-facing seats in the back, but new EU rules nixed that, so now there's only two. Remember those stories about the guy who managed to get a nine-seat Defender certified as a minibus for free entry into London's congestion charge? Couldn't do that now with a maximum of seven seats.

Thumbs up for the Fiat Grande Punto there from owner Marty. But the suspension fault is ominous, seeing as the last one suffered in that area too. Seems Fiat can't shake its acronym: Fix It Again Tony.

Kai, if sports means speed, then the Renaults do not disappoint. Both hit 60mph in under seven seconds. Not something your average shopper hatch will do. If it's glamour you're after, you're right. They're more high street than high society

Hey Joe, you can have a hardtop GTC. It's called the Continental GT. But if you want your hardtop to retract like it does in the Merc SL, you'll have to make like a tradtional Bentley owner and get a coachbuilder to do the job for you. Or just buy a Merc SL

The Ford Ranger got banished to the Wild Car holding pen because three out the four journo jurors don't understand pickups. I, on the other hand, know exactly how useful they can be. All will carry a tonne in the back and, like the Ranger they're proper 4x4s. Nowadays they also come with car-like cabins and will do 30mpg if you're careful. The Ranger is one of the best. Only one problem: it's still bleedin uncomfortable over the bumps.

Smart Roadster fans, your car is no longer on sale. That doubly bars it from this contest. The hope is it'll here next year reborn as an Ace and built in Wales. I kid you not.

To Nick: The Honda Jazz is an old-stager now and isn't new enough for our awards. You're right to say it's rarely out of the top 10 in owner surveys, but so is the Skoda Fabia. If that's your criteria for voting, tick the Skoda. You'd expect the new one to be just as good.

Allow me to answer, Natmanu. The RR Phantom has been around too long for this contest - 12 months old or less, remember. Same goes for the 300C. Fans of the Phantom should put a big fat tick next to the Drophead - it's mostly a Phantom after all.

Mr 8 Ball, you sound like you enjoy a bit of punishment, but £34,000 for a barely polished Lotus Elise is taking the pain too far, especially as the Europa is supposed to be competing with the much cheaper Audi TT. I say it fully deserves its banishment to the Wild Car pen.

Had the bung been big enough, we'd have restricted the competitors to rubbish American 4x4s only. But it wasn't. The real reason for the Range Rover's non-inclusion is its age. Only those cars launched within the last 12 months are eligible for Car of the Year.

Doesn't the 3-series look a wee bit dull? So, dull and, as you say, in danger of becoming more ubiquitous than the Mondeo. Lethal combination. Also not new enough to make this list. The newer coupe is represented by the M3 (and what a representation)

The newly revamped XJ was on the list, but didn't survive the journo panel. Too long in the tooth now, was the verdict. Vote it back in from the Wildcar selection

I can't believe the Fiat Grande Punto will stay good-looking for ever, but it's holding on. Nearly a year after it was launched and I still find myself glancing back at that nose. It's chic on the cheap. The Punto is the Primark of superminis.

I agree with you Chris - the DB9's thermostat is set very low. The competition scrutineers banned it here because it was launched more than 12 months ago. Only brand new cars line up on this grid.

I reckon that Mitsubishi would be a lot cooler if it only had two doors. Not my decision, but doesn't it always seem that you can't do urban cool with four doors? Unless it's an old Land Rover of course.