Why am not surprised that Wheels gave the VE COTY. I'm ready to be shot down in flames after this but here goes. Whilst the VE is an improvement over past commodores I really don't think it is worthy of Wheels COTY. 2 recalls, Design compromises, panel gaps, useless space (weight) saving spare wheel, widely criticised A-Pillar, Dodgy Aircon and still ugly in many peoples views. The Wheels judges have simply let their emotions or patriotism cloud their judgement. Why is it that other car awards have gone to the Aurion? Why is it Wheels magazine is so good at giving awards to lemons and favouring the Aussie product. The VE has now joined the ranks of other cars that should not have been given COTY like the Leyland P76, Camira, TM Magna, VN, VR, VT and Ford BA. Some of these cars maybe sentimental old favourites now but not one of these cars deserved the award. i.e. P76(bad quality, unreliable over heating engine), Camira (lets not go there), VN (harsh, unrefined, hacked Opel, bad brakes, oil leaks and poor finish), VR (face lifted VN/VP, still leaks oil, Engine still Harsh and G'box nothing to talk about) TM Magna (plastic fantastic, oil burners, bad g'box), VT(modified opel, oil leaks, heavy, compromised suspension) and BA(brake shudder, cooling probs, under cooled auto, CPU freeze ups). Perhaps the Wheels COTY curse will strike the VE as well.
After looking at this list, it doesn't seem like much of an achievement (a freakin' Camira won one?!), but I guess there can only be one a year..