The Wesbank South African Car of the Year (SACOTY) pageant has come under criticism more than once, with a Porsche being elected The Car of the Year for the fourth time in 6 years by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists. First it was the Boxster in 2013, the (one with a roof) Cayman S in 2014, and the Macan S in 2015. That’s an enviable hit rate but how fair is to the other manufacturers competing with much more attainable metal, and how fair is it to a consumer for whom the competition once provided great insight into what metal wise money was best spent on?
So why does it keep happening?
There seems to be a disconnect between what the perception of the competition is and what it has become. Is it meant to be about value for money or excellence in its field. The public perception seems to be that it is a combination of both, and indeed the Panamera was not even the most expensive vehicle being judged. None of the top three were anything close to a people’s price champion – there’s the Volvo S90 which finished second followed by the Alfa Romeo Giulia in third place yet affordability is definitely in the judging criteria. It also doesn’t help with perceptions that the judging takes place at the Kyalami Motor Circuit which is famously custodian by Porsche.
What’s the solution?
Well let’s first make two things clear, at Carshop we’re not members of the guild therefore do not participate in the event so it doesn’t really matter what we think. Secondly, we happen to believe that the Porsche Panamera is a bloody amazing car, but then so is the Volvo S90 and most of the other cars on the list. But it seems based on public perception and the twitterings on social media that there is a need for categories as it’s done at the World Car Of The Year event.
What do you think?
Is Porsche deserving of its winning streak or do you think the metrics by which the competition is judged is skewed towards luxury and performance vehicles out of your reach? Or is this just a case of sour grapes from media who don’t participate in the judging process and vehicle manufacturers that never seem to make the grade? Or even still, is it just a case of this being 2018 and the zeitgeist dictates that everyone’s a journalist and Google their stomping ground?
