CAR NEWS: COTY 2011 - 2012 Test Fest Day 2: Oddly matched bunch

[ghosthunter]

Car news from kotse.com

[SIZE=4]COTY 2011 - 2012 Test Fest Day 2: Oddly matched bunch[/SIZE]
Words and photos by Christopher Kho



What does a Nissan Sentra 200, Subaru Forester 2.0XS, and Kia Sportage AWD all have in common? Except for the other Kia Sportage DLX on the scene, last Sunday’s line-up was all powered by a four-cylinder 2.0L engine and fall above the one-million peso price range. But as similar as this bunch may seem on paper, they prove to be very different animals on the road. That's what we found out on a cloudy second day of the 2011-2012 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P) Test Fest last September 18, 2011, at the All Terra Cyclery in Ortigas Home Depot in Pasig City.

The eager group of motor heads got together bright and early for a quick spin around the day's selection. With only four cars on the menu, it meant that the day would end early, and we can all go home to salvage the remaining hours of what was supposed to be our day off. Ideally, each test day should be able to accommodate at least seven test vehicles, if this year's 42 nominees were distributed equally. However, due to some scheduling difficulties, we fell short of being ideal by a mile.

The Subaru Forester is a face we're all too-familiar with from COTY-P 2008; so what merits it another shot at the title this year? Well, there's a new 2.0L flat-four under the hood that should be smoother and greener than the aging powerplant it replaces. Though we can't tell the difference, all we know is that it growls and catapults like a true boxer should. On the other hand, the pair of Kia Sportage's are considered late-bloomers. It was meant to go head-to-head with the Hyundai Tuscon last year, but supply constraints meant that the Philippines only got its piece of the pie in early 2011. Finally, the Nissan Sentra 200 already made its COTY debut last year with an automatic transmission and makes a come-back with a new close-ratio six-speed manual.

Here's what Kotse.com's crew have to say about each of the day's ride: ..........

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LINK: COTY 2011 - 2012 Test Fest Day 2: Oddly matched bunch

[foresterx]

I wish there were more choices. Btw which do you think will win coty?

[ghosthunter]

I wish there were more choices. Btw which do you think will win coty?

That were just day-2 of COTY. We have more cars lined up in the next few weekends of COTY tests.

[foresterx]

Oh ok, didn't see it was just day 2. I thought those were the finalist.