Holden Sportwagon picks up two design awards

Robj

It is the best looking affordable wagan…congratulations holden.

Wheelnut

Over 12;000 Sportwagons sold since July.. that’s over 1,000 a month which is more than what Holden were expecting.

Congratulations Holden once again it shows that the VE isn’t as bad as a number of people on this site would like us to believe

However; can we expect to see the new Sandman? I’m sure that would be just as popular as the wagon if not more so particularly with Genration Xers.. not to mention Tradies.

Smokin’

I have been saying for ages that the sportswagon and holdens in general are world class vehicles. These two awards prove that the Sportswagon is a world beater, beating Audi, BMW, Hyundai, mercedez all renouned world class cars. Holden haven’t won all the motor and wheels magazine cars of thcar of the year awards because the build crap cars. These awarsds prove that Holden build european quality cars at korean car prices.

Falcodore

While i like the VE Sportwagon, isnt it actually less practical (ie. room) than the VZ it replaced?

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

About time Holden had some good news,an award deserved for such a great looking wagon.

Tomas79

True Falcadore,
Sportwagon, is just a less functional wagon.

It being an Australian award, you would’nt expect any of the foreigners to win.

So what exactly did this car bring in terms “innovation, functionality, quality, environmental”??

Wheelnut

Falcodore – your right the VE does have less room than the VZ it replaced:
VZ – 1402 Litres [with the rear seats up
VE - 895 Litres [with the rear seats up]
VZ – up to 2752 Litres [with the rear seats folded down]
VE – up to 2000 Litres [with the rear seats folded down]

However; the VT-VZ wagon was designed with fleet sales in mind [companies such as Telstra etc].
Yet given that a number of companies were turning away from wagons.. Holden decided to make the wagon more appealing to average families and make the wagon more of a “lifestyle” vehicle – just as they did with the ute.

Having said that there are reports from companies which have the VE Sportwagon which state that despite being smaller [than the VZ] a number of their staff prefer the VE as it feels and feels/handles more like a car than a commercial vehicle.. just like the ute does

Eitherway it still has more load capacity than a number of other Wagons with which it competes with such as the [Fugly] Chrysler 300C which has just 1600 Litres [and only managed to find 2,000 buyers in the first 12 months]

Wheelnut

Tomas79 says: “being an Australian award, you wouldn’t expect any of the foreigners to win.”

That is a load of rubbish.. The foreigners have had more than their fair share of Australian Automotive Awards. Over the past 45 years cars that are made overseas have won the WCOTY 25 times – which is more than half.. The most recent being the Honda Accord Euro.

Wheelnut

Then have a look at how many foreigners have won the various categories of Australias Best Car Awards….

DesignEngr

Tomas79 Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
“It being an Australian award, you would’nt expect any of the foreigners to win.”

Actually quite incorrect. Many winners are overseas products, in fact the VE wagon was awarded with the Peugeot 308 Touring and Passat CC equally, so no “first place win” at all, just qualify for a certificate.

And they all were behind the new “Qantas A380 Economy seat” which recieved the top award of “Design Award of the Year”

Smokin’ most of the brands you mentioned were not even eligible entries.

BTW the only time a vehicle took out top honours in the last 10 years was the Territory.

Fair reward for fair effort on the VE wagon!

Pious

Yep, good work. I’d personally have preferred the V70T6, or the XC70, each of which is not significantly more expensive, but have beautiful transmission and gorgeous interiors, though the XC70 is slower at 0 – 100 in around 8 seconds. The holden ride might be better, though, coz that is something that volvo dont seem to excel at.

TonyB

If holden to address the issues of the engines and transmissions, this would be a car I would consider. I really do like its looks. Holden seem to have gone quiet of late on the prospect of a diesel engine or a direct-injection petrol.

Falcodore

Yeah Wheelnut, no doubting its handling credentials and its one of the best looking wagons around IMO. Its a shame GM are in so much trouble as this would’ve went down a treat in the U.S. from what ive read on some their websites. A lot of people wanted the wagon before/instead of the ute over there which probably would’ve made more sense when you think about it.

Tomas, dont know if it falls under innovation or functionality, but the tailgate only needing a foot of space to open is definitely a good design.

Shak

Congrats is all i can say. Well done on Holden. By next year we will have DI and by end of Next year there will be a Disel. Mark Reuss confirmed it in an interview with WHEELS magazine. YAY

JEKYL & HYDE

CONGRATS HOLDEN,

although next time your designing the wagon space,pls let me fit my beloved golf clubs in(they don’t fit in the sportswagon,but sedan they do.go figure)…

NacaYoda

Great looking wagon.
Wouldn’t think of buying one though. Too thirsty.
Create an economical deisel and it would make it onto my radar.

DesignEngr

This is NOT a COTY or anything like that, where numerous vehicles are considered. This is an award, where the manufacturer nominates a product.
The VE wagon (and the other two) were placed behind the Qantas airline seat in the design awards. Any number of design awards may be awarded.
Wheels then picks one of the complete car entries, that recieves a design award and gives it the “Wheels” award.

BTW, the Koleos, Skoda Supurb and HSV W427 all missed the cut to recieve any award at all.

Will

Looks like a cheap copy of the 300C wagon, and that comes with a diesel…

Mantle

big deal……..the wagon might be selling 1000 a month but all it is doing is taking sales from the sedan as the total sales figures havent gone up but gone down.

I dont see any awards for fuel economy, engine and driveline refinement, reliability, build quality, Daewoo plastic interior……..all way behind everyone else.

anyway hopefully holden will be down the tubes when GM go the way of the dinosaur.

Wheelnut

Mantle first thing is they were “Design” awards not Automotive awards – Design awards tend to focus more on ergonomics; aesthetics; practicality and functionality Therefore things like performance and handling; power to weight and fuel efficiency etc don’t really come into it.

Secondly -does it really matter if they are buying a Holden Wagon over a Sedan or Ute – what matters is they’re buying a Holden.

Why wouldn’t you want to buy a wagon particularly when you can get a VE “International” Sportwagon with a range of extras including Leather Interior for the same price as a Omega Sedan [$34-36k] at least then you have the ability to carry loads like timber & furniture etc when you need to

Devil666

Will, I had a 300C hire car for my week in LA. The drivetrain is WORSE than that in the Omega. Yes. Worse. Not to mention the interior in the Luxury model (without leather) is potentially the cheapest interior I’ve ever seen/felt. Knowing how much those cars cost, it is insane to think that anyone would buy one. Handles like a dog, terrible drivetrain, disturbing interior.

Mantle, there are no Daewoo parts in the Commodore so just because your bitter about Holden importing cheap korean cars as a stop gap, pipe down.

Speaking of Daewoo parts, is it just me or did Subaru steal the back of the Holden/Daewoo Viva sedan for their Impreza? I swear I have to look for the badges to tell them apart…

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Oh god its back. Mantle is Soon/Sob/Sick of Bogans……….not worthy of a reply people.

Alex

Well I must say that I would have been more impressed if it had been an international award but all the same, even with my hatred of Holden, I do think it’s a very handsome looking Estate and I do think it deserves the awards. I personally would have given it to the Audi because I think that looks just as good but ads some nice details, the lights for instance; but once again, I do think it deserves it.

What on earth was the i30cw doing in there? It looks alright, but not that good.

And just remember people, it’s a design award and it has nothing to do with what the car is like to drive.

SteveH

Don’t know how this wins a design award since the Europeans have been doing the ‘sports’ wagon thing better and for longer. If they are basing the award on the fact that the Holden doesn’t look like a hearse and actually has some style, then fair enough.

Also Wheelnut, using your logic, aren’t special editions what carmakers do to offload cars that are rubbish and not selling very well?

Roddy

Amazing how these pea-brains can turn every positive into a negative.
It’s an excellent car that won an award…suck it up.

DesignEngr

Roddy, sure it one an award, along with two other cars, which the article somehow missed.

Let’s not forget that they were all also beaten by an airline seat for the top award.

Maybe the fact that this article is only a minor re-write from the GMH press release might have something to do with it. But hey it’s “news” and I guess we’ll live with that.

DesignEngr

… “won” an award … (long day)

phillip

For a particularly amusing look at Australia’s Ford/Holden divide, check out Jeremy Clarkson’s review of the Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst S (published yesterday) in Times Online:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article6388209.ece

Wheelnut

SteveH – yeah that is true.. However; you would have to be an idiot to knock back buying a car with so many optional extras in it for the same price as a basic entry level model.. wouldn’t you?

Not only that but Holden has offered “international” spec Commodores since the VT thereby continuing a tradition in the same way they did with the “Vacationer” with the VH-VL.
So it doesn’t really fall into the same “special edition” category as the Getaway Prado or the World Cup Tarago or the Pulsar Reebok for example; which were more one-offs

Eitherway I’d hardly call selling 30 wagons a day S-L-O-W!

Mantle

Wheelnut……..loads of timber and furniture? are you kidding? what sort of timber and furniture could you fit in the back of this hatchback? the load space is ridiculously small for a so called wagon.

I guess if you are talking about dolls house furniture and very short off-cuts of timber you could be right………lol lmao

another thing wrong with it is that you cant have a decent roofrack on it because the hatchback door hits anything thats on it……..unless its very short, so its useless for timber or a canoe or………..well just about anything really.

Mantle

This is a typical car from Holden really…….has the looks but is seriously seriously lacking in any substance at all.

Wheelnut

Mantle – Yes the load capacity of the VE is smaller than the VZ it replaces yet its still bigger than its nearest rival the 300C which I beleive is also called a wagon.

It can easily carry an average sized book case with the seats down – Not only that but furniture also comes in DIY flatpacks these days you know.. If not furniture you can carry several removalist boxes etc so despite its size its still quite capable of carrying more than a sedan

I guess it depends on how adept you are at packing a car

As for the [Rola] roof racks you can put them on the Sportwagon as the part of the roof which forms part of the tailgate only goes as far to cover 1/2 of the cargo area.

So as long as whatever you’re carrying on the roof racks is the last thing to be put on and the first thing to come off you should have no major problems

Sick of Grumpy Old Men On This Site

Quote ” Mantle Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 6:21 pm

This is a typical car from Holden really…….has the looks but is seriously seriously lacking in any substance at all. ”

Mate only thing lacking substance are your comments on this site.

Suck it up as another said, its an awarding winning car GET OVER IT! Why bring the Europeans in on it ?

Same Old Same Old

Same old people bagging Holden ,yawnnnnn.

Whats up folks ? Is there something in your “EXPERT” opinion should have beat it?

SteveH

Agree Wheelnut, I am all for freebies on cars, just don’t know how a Holden limited edition is any different to any other brands. Holden must have been doing the International limited edition for a while now because they have had to get rid of oversupply each year

Adam

Picked one of these up (SS-V 6.0 litre) for $39990 onroad back in November when the end of the world was nigh and everyone was in a state of panic. Great car for those dollars.

Wheelnut

The Audi A4 Avant has 1400 Litres
The Volvo V70 T6 has 1600 Litres
The BMW 5 Series Touring has 1650 Litres
The Merc-Benz E Class Estate has 1850 Litres

All with the rear seats folded down and all smaller than the VE

Wheelnut

It’s not really a Limited or Epecial edition if you release similar models with similar specifications or features as well as the same name year after year.

By your definition all cars are limited editions I mean for example Holden only made 485,650 HQs does that make them “special”?

A Special edition is a car with certain unique features that no other car [from that manufacturer] has had before it or after it..
Not only that but car companies usually try to get rid of over supply when an all new model is about to be released -Like the XC Cobra or LE Monaro..
Both of which helps the car maintain its value and possibly become a collectors item – Some how I don’t think that the Sportwagon will ever become collecatble

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Who cares if the manufacturers are getting rid of an over supply ,all good for the purchasers .Seems Holden have offered a better deal to their customers than another recently “limited edition model”

Yep thats right Wheelnut,lets not forget sometimes the limed “ed” stuff really is collectible,look way back to the XC Coupe when they got rid of a whole lot of overstocked blue bodies. They went on to be Cobras and have since become one of Australia’s favorite Muscle cars worth 10 times what it was when it came out. That of course lead to another EXTREMELY popular model released by FPV in 2007 the GT Cobra. How many manufactures manage to sell a car for more than its RRP at its release ?

Shouldnt we get back to talking about the wagon?

Wheelnut

Not only that but special limited edition cars usually have a unique [individual] identification numbers on them [usually on the dash] like the XC Cobra and the LE Monaro or the VL SS Group A or the 10/15th Anniversary HSV Clubbies etc.

if it’s not individually numbered it’s not really considered to be special just another car with different featuress.

The VE Calais for example has a range of Luxury features – but given that those luxury features are “optional” on an Omega does that mean that the Calais is just a special edition Omega [or that an M3 is a special edition 323]?

SteveH

No, a Calais is not a special edition as it is a permanent model on Holden’s vehicle list.

To get back on topic, I still don’t see how the Sportswagon offers innovation, functionality, quality, environmental and emotional appeal. Can anyone explain how the judges arrived at this above all other cars that were presented?

Wheelnut

Exactly; and so to is the VE Sportwagon International. As I said Holden have been doing International Spec Commodores with a range of similar options etc since the VT – in the same way the Calais has had similar features since it was introduced with the VK back in the mid 80s

Therefore the International Sportwagon isn’t a one off or a special limited edition

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

If you dont like the choice SteveH then complain to them. Otherwise its a win for Australian designers,dont you think?

Quote ” The award was judged by a panel of top local and international design experts on a strict set of criteria including innovation, functionality, quality, environment and emotional appeal.”

SteveH

Wheelnut, three months ago, was there a VE Holden Sportswagon International? Probably not. (I don’t know for sure, so I’ll say probably) In three months time will there still be a Holden Sportswagon International as a current model? Probably not. Therefore, I see the current Sportswagen International as a limited edition. Just because they trot them out every so often to keep sales going, does not make it a regular model.

Mantle

nothing like a Holden bogan getting pissed when faced with the facts that Holden cars are on the bottom rung compared to their competition…….its so funny ……..oh well wont have to worry about that soon guys…..GM is going into bankruptcy as we speak and the strong word is Daewoo…..sorry .Holden will be sold off……..and not a moment too soon. HOORAY !!!!

Moderator

Mantle,Sob,Soon,Figjam you have been reported numerous time for your inciting comments .

I strongly recommend you refrain from anymore nonsense remarks .

Shak

Mantle do you read any of the articles on this site. Holden is not being sold off as stated by most of these aricles and by the Managing Director of Holden MR Mark Reuss in a recent interview. You really are a hater. Just shut up will you !!

Shak

Mantle you actually sound like a pissed off bogan, stop making such racist comments

Tomas79

SteveH Says: “To get back on topic, I still don’t see how the Sportswagon offers innovation, functionality, quality, environmental and emotional appeal. Can anyone explain how the judges arrived at this above all other cars that were presented?”

Exactly Mate, thats what I ask…
Given that the sportwagon doesn’t really show anything special in any of those areas, just means this award will have to be taken with a little pinch of salt….

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Now what is it they say about people destroying Toyota blogs on this site ! Put your rocks down boys.

Here we have the 3 wise monkeys from Japan.

See No Evil,Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil of Japanese cars,but bag the crap out of anything Australian.

How Australian of you all as usual !

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Here you are boys,seeing you dont think its worthy of its award why dont you contact them directly to see how they arrived at the decision.

http://www.designawards.com.au/

Would have been a deserved award if who won then ? Lets us all know your reply please .

SteveH

Oh dear BM, getting a bit touchy are we?

I personally don’t bag the crap out of everything Australian. I have said in other posts that an FG Falcon is miles ahead of an Aurion and in this article, where have I said this Sportswagon is a bad car? I said that I din’t see how it won a design award as it really doesn’t bring anything new to the table. I would see a G6ET or FPV F6 as being far more innovative than this.

Also BM, next time someone quotes a survey or award you don’t agree with, you will be contacting the producers of the survey or award directly to voice your concerns?

Wheelnut

SteveH says; Wheelnut, three months ago, was there a VE Holden Sportswagon International? Probably not. (I don’t know for sure, so I’ll say probably) In three months time will there still be a Holden Sportswagon International as a current model? Probably not. Therefore, I see the current Sportswagen International as a limited edition.

So going by your definition all cars are Limited edition modlels. I mean the Calais which you consider to be a regular model wasn’t around until 1985 with the VK and back then no one could predict if it would be around in 3 years let alone 3 months time now could they?

Over that time the specifications and features etc of the Calais have changed which means that each model is even more limited now doesn’t it?

Not only that but there are a number of other cars that have cme and gone but the majrity of them aren’t considered limited editions or collectableare they..?

But that’s all this is just another regular commodore wagon with a few different features etc and a differnet badge[like the Calais is differnet to the Omega]

All companies do it from time to time.. that is add a range of different features [as "packages"] usually as a result to demand/popularity but it doesn;t make them any more collectable or anything like that does it?

Hopefully now you understand what I am getting at – its not limited or unique because you can get a wagon with the same optional features etc – its special because you’re not paying any extra for those features as you would normally

Tomas79

Bavarian Missile,
Do you have to resort to bring toyotas into every blog?

And isn’t a bit racist, to be calling us monkeys from Japan???

As for being Australian as ussual…
As an Aussie, i believe in giving credit where credit is due…. Not just because it is made here…

Wheelnut

Will the Aurion Touring be around in 3 months time? Probably not! However; I suspect that Toyota [like all other car companies] will most likely offer a similar car in the future with similar featires at no extra cost now won’t they?

There is a difference between Special and Limited Editions.
Just like there is a difference between 4WD and AWD which is another automotive term people tend to get mixed up.

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Touchy SteveH …………noooooo ,just if you have an issue with this car getting the award take it up with those that gave it.

Quote “Also BM, next time someone quotes a survey or award you don’t agree with, you will be contacting the producers of the survey or award directly to voice your concerns?”

Yep give me the details and Ill gladly request from them why it was chosen ,but surveys arent awards dear sir they are based on opinions !

Interestingly they had the Holden R8 Sportwagon on Top Gear tonight against the Audi R6 wagon. I think for a car thats a 1/4 of the price it did a bloody good job! A fraction under the M3s time,the Lamborghini engined Audi Wagon is amazing then so it should be at 270k !

I think this award is justly deserved even if you clearly dont Tomas,pppfftttttttttt wouldt expect anything less from him !

SteveH

I see your point Wheelnut, but its getting a bit pedantic isn’t it? Lets just leave it at its only around for a limited time and has many special features at no extra cost.

Hows that?

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Tomas put up or shut up stop changing the subject.

Dont like the fact the Sportwagon won then contact them directly for an explanation.

Wheelnut

Tomas If you had a better understanding of the english language; I think you will find that by making the comment

“Now what is it they say about PEOPLE destroying Toyota blogs on this site !”

BM wasn’t Talking about Toyota [Cars or the Company] but the PEOPLE who make comments on Toyota blogs about other people [mainly Holden or Ford fans] who ruin Toyota blogs -by getting on and not being able to say anything good about Toyota.

Because There are just as many people [such as yourself] who get on Topics on this site [such as this] which relate to other cars such as Fords Holdens etc [anything that isn't a Toyota] and are unable to say aything good about them either.

Therefore for you to accuse us of ruining a Topic which relates to Toyota when you do the same thing is being hypocrytical [as usual]

Golfschwein

I see lots of sour grapes here from the likes of Tomas79 and Mantle. In fact, it was Tomas79 who kicked the first negative comment here, so your constant complaints of Bavarian Missile and Wheelnut instigating the attacking are rice-paper thin, Boy.

Who cares if the award errs on the lightweight side? Share a little joy, is all I’m suggesting.

Tomas79

Bavarian Missile, thats a really stupid reply…
As if they could, or would justify it to me if I contacted them!!

Wheelnut, I do have an excellent understanding of the English language, if not better then yours.

Golfschwein, don’t get your knickers in a knot… I Haven’t kicked off with negative comments on here, I’m just asking questions!!!

Golfschwein

Sigh. Always fightin’, Tomas79. Always fightin’……

Just be nice to people. I tried that when I was in my twenties, and it’s paid dividends ever since. Oh, you should also have written “better than yours” and not “better then yours”.

Dave

Congratulations Holden, the sportwagon is the best looking wagon on the market and wholeheartedly deserves this award.
No wonder Commodore is Australias No.1 seller and outsells Falcon by nearly 2:1

Golfschwein

See? Easy! Well done, Holden.

Limited Slip

Being a top seller doesnt make it the best car……….its definateley not better than Falcon. Its a fleet vehicle sold at no profit to keep sales up. Anyway Holdens slales figures are bogus anyway because they include vehicles delivered to their dealers not vehicles actually sold. Typical Holden false figures………..

Andrew M

This is a design award.
Unlike many posters, they dont decide these awards based on emotive surveys or phone polls.
Perhaps if an Indian phone survey was behind these results some would find the results a little easier to digest.

The Sportswagon is a very slick looking vehicle, no arguments. sure the engine and tranny arent anything worth spruking about and neither is the interior, but this award isnt formulated around that.

Over 1000 sales per month for one configuration alone of a nameplate sounds pretty good to me for an australian product.
Toyota cant even sell enough to justify producing a wagon for starters.

On another note, I see GM has finally bitten the bullet and filed for bankruptcy

I also agree with Limited slip in that #1 selling doesnt count for anything but bragging rights.
By Daves theory then, toyota would be selling the best vehicles in the world.
But if you want to play sales figures, add all the aussie made Falcon variants including ute and teritory and you will see the Ford Aus manufacturing isnt faring that badly

Wheelnut

Well Tomas79 if you do have an understanding of the English language which [as you believe] is better than mine; you would have realised BM was talking about the blog topics on this site which relate to Toyotas – and how hypocrytical people [like yourself] can be about those who ruin the blog topics on this site which relate to Toyotas;
when they themselves ruin blog topics on this site which don’t relate to Toyotas

NOT the Toyota Company or their cars [there's a difference] and you wouldn’t have had to make a comment as you did.

But as usual you made an inciteful comment which was off topic just becasue you wanted to be involved; even though you had nothing constructive to say [about the car]

Soapbox Inc

god you people need to get a life……..

Frosty

Mantle, I bet you are crying your eyes out as Holden has survived and GM will be reborn. Now if only you would just stay away and stop rubbishing one of Australia’s largest employers, the local car industry which includes Holden. You are a disgrace to Australia and should go elsewhere if you hate Australian Companies even if they are a a Subsibory of GM.
Well done Holden on designing such a attractive wagon at such a affordable price for the average Australian. With direct injection expected inside the next 6 months, Diesel engines, E85 and also a facelift due inside 8 to 10 months things will start to get better for Holden and the hopefully Mantle wont be able to cope with it and will quietly go away under his shell. Totally deserves the design awards, best looking Australian Wagon ever built and one of the best looking wagons in the world. By the way Direct Injection Commodores are being tested on Melbourne’s roads right now so if you listen carefully you will see a DI commodore on the road.

Pious

Actually, I have no life. Thomas did not say that his understanding of English is better than Wheelnut’s. He quite graciously said “I do have an excellent understanding of the English language, if not better then yours”. This means that he considers his grasp of english is excellent, but not better than [yours], i.e. that your grasp of english is equal to or better than his. Had he said that his grasp of english was “as good as if not better than…” then that would convey that his english was equal to or better.

How can I mention Volvo in this post? Ah, I just did! Mission accomplished.

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

quote “Tomas79 Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 11:03 pm

Bavarian Missile, thats a really stupid reply…
As if they could, or would justify it to me if I contacted them!!”

Why wouldnt they ,all you have to do is be nice and ask

Australia – Land of Racists

Welcome to Australa, Land of Racists.

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:14 pm

Here we have the 3 wise monkeys from Japan.

Andrew M

Thats a compliment, not racism

“Racist” seems to be the term thrown around loosly by those not really knowing what it is.

I do ask though, does racism not exist against Australians???

It seems to be a one way card you glass house livers seem to be playing

Australia – Land of Racists

Only idiots think its a compliment to be called a monkey.

In this case, you are Andrew M.

If you don’t think its a racism, maybe we all should start calling you a monkey as a compliment.

Andrew M

As long as its a wise monkey……

Even if you were called a Monkey (without being wise) I still fail to see how the term Monkey is Racist

Maybe offencive if you have touchy feelings, but Racist???

Andrew M

QUOTE………..
“maybe we all should start calling you a monkey”

Well you and your friends have called myself and others a lot worse. Is this where we should be pulling out the racism card too.

SteveH

Wasn’t the whole Andrew Symonds thing with Harbajhan Singh because Harbajhan called Symonds a monkey? In that context it was called racist. In the context of being called a wise monkey, I don’t see it as being racist.

(Excuse the spelling of Harbajhan, but you get the general idea)

Pious

Actually, the three wise monkeys ARE from Japan. The expression comes from a carving of the monkeys in the Toshogu Shrine at Nikko, about 1 1/2 hours out of Tokyo (one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, in the snow). As a result, the expression “3 wise monkeys from Japan” is geographically correct.

Soapbox Inc

Come now, I don’t think people who comment on a website about cars ALL day and ALL night on a website are really qualified to have the debate over what does and doesn’t constitute racism. Leave that one to the grown ups, and just go back to oohing and aahing over your big fast cars….

Andrew M

SteveH,
But it was proven that what ever term news paper headlines wanted to throw around, the term Monkey wasnt Racist.

Claims to the Symonds case being Racist are just as false as the ill informed on here claiming it is today.

No real proof to what was said has been shown. The stump microphones didnt pick up the conversation and the Umpimers didnt here the exchanged words either.
For all we know there could have been more said between the two which brought about the Racism tag being thrown around.

End of the day, Monkey doesnt = Racism

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Thats it AndrewM “Monkey doesnt = Racism”

Back on topic
Here is the full list of the winners from AIDA

http://www.designawards.com.au/files/090529_Full%20List%20AIDA%20Winners.pdf

I did contact them directly for an explanation for their choice on the Sportwagon but got this reply only SteveH………

“”Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your enquiry about the 2009 Australian International Design Awards. At the Presentation Night last Friday the judges gave the following comment on the Holden VE Sportwagon:

“The family vehicle stereotype is completely reconsidered with great packaging and finishes. Innovative tailgate and solid rear tray offer excellent access.”

The Sportwagon also received ‘Best Overall’ in the Wheels Automotive Design Awards at the same event. More information about this Award win will be available in the upcoming June issue of Wheels magazine.

Form more information about the Australian International Design Awards visit http://www.designawards.com.au or sign up to our mailing list at http://www.australiandesign.org

Regards,
MITCHELL WADE
Creative Director, Australian International Design Awards
Standards Australia
Level 10, 20 Bridge Street Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 476 Sydney NSW 2001
P +61 2 9237 6048 F +61 2 9237 6091 mwade@designawards.com.au “”

So I did try for you ,I guess you could push harder for a more detailed answer from each of the judges .Their detail are on the site

SteveH

BM, as I said before, the context that you used monkey in, ie three wise monkeys, is in no way racist. Using the Andrew Symonds example again, he was called a monkey because of the way he looked, not because he was sitting there eating a banana. Therefore, that use of the term monkey is racially motivated.

I had a look at the website you provided BM and all I can say is that it must have been a pretty slow year automotive wise if a fancy tailgate justifies giving the Sportswagon the award.

Soapbox I do apologise. I can tell that you are my elder and I hope you go back to your bowls club and share your experience there.

nobody

A well deserved award for Holden. I’ve seen afew of these around my area but mostly in the R8 guise and am a fan of it’s meaty looks. Personally I do like it better than the europeans especially the strange looking BMW wagons.

I’ve never been inside a VE Sporstwagon myself so can’t say what I feel about how it goes and all. For the price, one can do alot worse.

Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

My fav out of all the wagons would be the same as Pious’s…The Sportwagon would be my second choice ,R8 is great bang for your buck I think!

Andrew M

Steve,
Calling Andrew Symonds a monkey in no way refers to a race unless the Andrew symonds of the world declare themselves a race

The Andrew Symonds incident was nothing more than an offencive remark.

Pious

BM – say it…..VOLVO!…my anti spam word is “VOLVO” Kismet, eh?

SteveH

Andrew, as I said, I believe Andrew Symonds was called a monkey because of the way he looked, ie dark skinned. I don’t see many white people being called a monkey in a derogatory way.

Also, agree with Nobody that the R8 version is a good looking car for a wagon.

Mumble Duck (used to be Duck)

Yes Congratulations Holden. Well done.

Andrew M

Ok Steve fair enough.

No racism had here though.
Plenty of people crying out for it in an attempt to try and defame certain individuals.

Andrew M

And on the R8 version,
It sooo needed the sedan style tail lights to really set it off

http://gmail Roberts

I have a 2005 VZ sedan thats done 225,000kms and have had no problems with it, however my sister in law has a new Omega Sportswagon company car and has had heaps of trouble with it after doing 30,000 kms. She had the preivious VZ executive wagon before and it was sold after hitting a huge 350,000kms with no problems (it was just 3 yrs old). She has also said that the space is horrbile as well as the blind spots compared to her VZ wagon and would prefer to drive a 350,000kms VZ executive before jumping happily into the new sportswagon. I have to purchase a wagon myself, in order to care for my grandmother, but I am definately going to look for a VZ executive wagon before even going into Holden to purchase a new sportswagon.

Wheelnu®™

According to what the Motor Vehicle Fleet Mananger at work told me – the VE Sportwagon is apparently out selling SUVs including the Kluger and the Territory.. maybe trends are changing…. or people are just being more practical

PK

I am thinking about buying a new Calais Sportwagon but I think the tailgate will open too high for the height of my garage ceiling (it’s pretty low). Is there anyway of limiting how high the tailgate can open??