Boxster crowned SA Car of the Year

Jessica Baker, Christo Kruger and Toby Venter with the Porsche Boxster, winner of 2013 Car of the Year.

The Boxster is the first Porsche in the history of the SA competition to make the list of 12 finalists, which, up to now, were mainly family-orientated four door cars and big sellers. Only about 20 Boxsters are sold in this country a month.

The Wesbank/South African Car of the Year competition rewards excellence and the winner should excel in its class - and not against the other finalists as is the general public perception of the competition. Other criteria include value for money, safety, dynamics, technology and aesthetics.

The South African competition is based on the European Car of the year points-based system and each of the finalists (12 in the 2013 competition) is put through a stringent series of tests by a jury made up of motoring journalists.

Each of the 30 jury members has 50 votes which have to be allocated to all 12 title contenders. Not less than 7 and no more than 10 points are allowed for any one vehicle. All votes have to be motivated and all of this is carefully scrutinised before the winner is announced.

This year finalists were also mathematically punished if they entered cars with other than standard specification for final evaluation to compensate for the advantage the extra specifications may have gained.

The final point allocations were:

• Porsche Boxster - 221
• Range Rover Evoque Si4 Dynamic 5-door - 181
• Toyota 86 High Spec 6 MT - 177
• Kia Rio 1.4 TEC Hatch Manual - 144
• Lexus GS 350 EX - 143
• Hyundai i30 - 106
• BMW 320i 1.8 Executive - 104
• Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T Tekna (with leather) - 79
• Opel Meriva 1.4 Cosmo - 67
• Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT 4x4 Double-cab Auto - 56
• Toyota Yaris 1.5 HSD Xs - 47
• Mercedes-Benz B180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY 7G-DCT - 35

Footnote:

The writer was previously a member of the jury panel but did not partake this year. It is my belief that the competition should be divided into different market segments, i.e. double and single cabs, SUV's, MPV's, entry level budget cars, medium-priced sedans, top of the range sedans, two-door sports cars, coupes etc and that a winner should be declared in each section. From the winners an Honorary Car of the Year could then be selected. This format would have a much stronger impact on the market and would be of considerably more benefit to individual manufacturers, car dealers and the public.

Buyers do not set out to buy a "Car of the Year" but to buy a specific type of vehicle. In other words they compare apples with apples and not, as in the current competition, a bakkie with an expensive sportscar.

Whilst the organisers and sponsors deserve praise for putting together the competition it will remain contentious and as widely discussed, criticised and praised as it has been ever since the competition's inception in 1986.