2007 in review

As the year draws to a close, it's a good time to reflect on the motoring year. Total annual car sales are projected to exceed last year's total with Toyota being the biggest seller. By the time you read this, the race for second place will be decided between Ford and VW, with Opel in fourth place.

It says something about Ireland when BMW is the 7th biggest car seller and Mercedes is in 12th place, ahead of more recognised volume makers such as Mazda, Honda, Citroen and, the major European success this year, Fiat.

The recent debacle about unaccompanied learner drivers saw the government perform that much quoted motoring manoever, a U-turn. I still get into arguments with people who complain about the length of time it takes to get a driving test. My point is that when you are learning and when you apply for a test, there must be some recognition of the fact that you are indeed learning and that you will need to practice.

If I were in power, I would not allow driving test applications until the applicant could demonstrate that they had spent at least a year in training. We demand training in every other aspect of our lives, but in driving – a discipline where we can cause carnage and death – it seems wholly unrealistic to expect a full licence until we have accumulated some experience and awareness on the roads.

Again, by the time you read this, the Irish and European 'Car of the Year' titleswill have been awarded. My own predication for Irish 'Car of the Year' is the new Nissan Qashqai, which should tick enough boxes to get the COTY award. It will get the nod just ahead of the wonderful Kia cee'd and the incredible Ford Mondeo. As I am consistently accused of a Fiat and Alfa Romeo bias, I include the new Bravo as a car that should figure in the final shake up.

If you are buying a car in the New Year do yourself a big favour and go out with an open mind and drive a few cars before buying. You will be amazed and surprised how your pre-conceptions will be shattered and you may even buy a car that you might never have previously considered. In these days of rising taxes, new green taxes and spiralling petrol prices, you must consider your car for the bulk of your needs and not the occasional needs. Ego will always play a part and there is no legislating for that but those who say 'I’d never drive an X or a Y' are only kidding themselves.

My personal car of the year was Freelander 2. This car/SUV/soft-roader was very classy. It had everything I wanted, as well as a few welcome things I didn’t need. The best characteristic it had for me was comfort and it had that in spades.

I am always asked what a good car is for, say, _20k etc, so from the ones that I drove this year I am going to give my favourites in a few categories.

Under €20k The Fiat Panda, if four seats are enough for your needs and the Opel Corsa if you need five.

Under €30k The Kia cee'd diesel (E25k remember) followed by the VW Jetta 1.4TSI.

Under €40k The best Ford Mondeo available with a diesel engine.

Over €40k but under €100k The Audi A6 Allroad – I was totally smitten and if you had that kind of money you’d be too. People Carrier. The sublime Ford S-Max.

4WD. The Freelander 2 over everything else.

Hot Hatch. The Honda Civic Type R (Reviewed online for December) over the Mazda 3 MPS. Coupe. Any of the following three: the stunning Alfa Romeo Brera, the Audi TT and the unique Mazda RX-8.Convertible. In soft roof form: the Audi TT over the Alfa Romeo Spyder. In folding metal roof format: the MX-5 for 2 seats and the new Ford Focus CC, if four seats are required. My Green COTY awardis won hands down by the Honda Civic IMA.

In the absolute indulgence category I'd pick the 4.4litre V8 Volvo S80 and for the best fun the Fiat Panda 100bhp is a pure blast.

The car that surprised me the most was the Volvo C30 1.6D. It fulfilled all my motoring needs and is a divine car to drive.

Worst car? None. Every car model, as I have said time and time again, has its market and appeal - and it generally finds it. So there you have it, 2007. No escaping the 'I-wantpa-wordwith- you' gang now is there?

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