Car maker Hyundai is running heavy campaigns stating that BSM (Business Standard Motoring) has rated its i10 as Car of the year (COTY) 2008. This post shares a small thought in this regard.
Is it possible to declare a particular student as rank student for this academic year 2008-09, as soon as classes start in first semester (say during June 08)? A student can be declared rank student, or topper etc on either of these two conditions: 1. he/she can be declared rank student for academic year 2007-08 based on the marks secured in 2007-08 exams, or 2. has to be declared topper for 2008-09 only after annual exams for 2008-09 are held and scores are evaluation is complete. In other words, you can’t select a student as topper for the given academic year at the beginning of the academic year.
Is it possible to declare a particular student as rank student for this academic year 2008-09, as soon as classes start in first semester (say during June 08)? A student can be declared rank student, or topper etc on either of these two conditions: 1. he/she can be declared rank student for academic year 2007-08 based on the marks secured in 2007-08 exams, or 2. has to be declared topper for 2008-09 only after annual exams for 2008-09 are held and scores are evaluation is complete. In other words, you can’t select a student as topper for the given academic year at the beginning of the academic year. Having said that, my concern is, how can someone call a car as car of the year 2008 at the beginning of the year 2008?
We’re still in Feb 2008, 10 more months to go, so many cars are to be launched in coming months, so how we can award COTY award to any car so early?
If it was Car of the year 2007 then it would have made sense, but I don’t see reasoning for calling it COTY 2008, because year 2008 is not complete yet and there’s every chance that some cars may hit the market this year which might be better than i10.
Same with bikes... This trend is more in auto industry than anywhere else. What is your view? Is it not misleading the consumers?
Image from Hyundai website.
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Everybody knows that these are just gimmicks by marketers. At least most do.
ReplyDeletePeople looking to buy cars/bikes usually go on expert personal advise given by reliable sources rather than just reading a magazine and finding out that "X" car is a car of the year.
The i10 1.2l is smooth to drive in cities. Doesn't give the mileage as such though.
DeleteThat's right Hari, but Some consumers do get influenced by ads, I was just pointing out that ads can be misleading.
ReplyDeleteComments received for this post when posted on Mouthshut:
ReplyDeleteseera said:
Feb 20, 2008 10:56 AM
B O O K E D B O O K E D
Taulia and Gamcha are back....
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Comment: You are right nidhi... We should not get carried away by these kind of ads... Instead why dont they take up theme of customer satisfaction and make a ad???
well better left for them to think...
---Seera
enidhi said:
Feb 20, 2008 11:12 AM
Seera,
thanks for the comment.
btb what is Taulia and Gamcha? Taulia mean claps?
Also there’s no rush to book space at my reviews...aaraam se aane kaa...
Paulsb02 Star Writer said:
Feb 20, 2008 11:45 AM
In business every trick is allowed unless they are caught. I am only surprised if they give 2009 awards now...Lol!!
Good post there...
Chintu25 Star Writer said:
Feb 20, 2008 11:55 AM
Hmmm marketing gimmick nothing else....they know some people will surely fall for it.....but few ppl will question it...though its a sorry state of affairs...
Relevant review from u as usual :)
Smita
PS Spoke to Faisal about ur issue...he said will look into it...
enidhi said:
Feb 20, 2008 12:03 PM
@Paul:
Yes.. all is fine in war, love and business...
May be I can call my post as post of the year 2008 :)
enidhi said:
Feb 20, 2008 12:07 PM
@Smita,
Yes. Let us say some other magazine votes another Hyundai car as car of the year I am sure they dont mind calling both cars as car of the year..
And thanks for speaking to Faisal, but I dont have any expectation... They have been ’’looking into’’ the issue for over an year now...If they were prompt it is a matter of few minutes for him to call the concerned person in charge and ask him/her to investigate the issue and do the needful...
alk_ranjan said:
Feb 20, 2008 02:29 PM
nidhi
this is indeed false advertising claim!!
even my wife exclaimed same
how is this car of the year?
u took up this point
kudos to you™
rohitthebest Star Writer said:
Feb 20, 2008 03:44 PM
True True.
Car sucks big time from back and look at those lousy head lights.
With so less leg space and high cost of hyundai spares - i have no idea how is it really selling.
Alto is a better option than i10 as per me.
Keep writing
Rohit
hakoonamatata Star Writer said:
Feb 20, 2008 05:17 PM
That’s a good observation. Since most of us are not so good in our observations, companies go on and make false clains one on top of another.
I would not be surprised to see more than one brands calling themselves as ’’Car of the year’’ within the same segment.
veganman said:
Feb 20, 2008 08:18 PM
Hello enidhi, as for as I know COTY 2008 AWARD means the year in which the award is given and NOT the year when the car has been launched. In other words, a car which is launched during 2008 may win the COTY award for 2009. Correct me if I am wrong.
enidhi said:
Feb 20, 2008 08:50 PM
@ alk ranjan,
Yes...business people twists facts to suit their need...
enidhi said:
Feb 20, 2008 08:52 PM
@ Rohit:
I do not know much about the car as I haven’t driven it...
It is the same improved reliable Santro engine so people who like the looks go for it without much hesitation.
enidhi said:
Feb 20, 2008 08:53 PM
@Ateesh:
Marketing is so aggressive these days, eveyone calls their product number one, quoting any study/report/news which might be in their favor...
enidhi said:
Feb 20, 2008 08:57 PM
@ Veganman:
May be, but in that case the title should still be COTY2007. Because saying COTY 2008 gives an impression that it is the best car in 2008, which is a wrong verdict, since better car may comeup till dec 2008.
They should atleast specify in bold letters- best car of 2008 till date out of cars released between jan 2007 till Dec 2007
Else it is misleading. Dont you think so?
spikeguard Star Writer said:
Feb 21, 2008 06:32 AM
nice post Nidhi - very relevant and useful. False advt. Now I dislike Hyundai even more :-)
!! Spike !!
rajivahlawat said:
Feb 22, 2008 01:18 PM
It’s very very simply a convention folks, and I wonder why so much debate is going on about such a trivial matter!!
It’s a global convention to give COTY awards at the start of each year, to cars launched and sold in the previous year (criteria and dates are different for different awards).
So if you are fearing your favourite brand of car is getting launched soon and will lose out on getting COTY 2008 because the i10 has already got it, take heart!! It may get the COTY for 2009, of course at the start of 2009!!
The trend is the same in a number of other industries - fashion, film, books, etc.
Hope this helps to answer your question enidhi and others...
rajivahlawat said:
Feb 22, 2008 01:21 PM
And if any doubt remains as to why the i10 got the COTY, pls own and drive one, and you’ll come to know...
pri20 said:
Feb 22, 2008 08:49 PM
ya the advtng industry is pretty cut-throat. what does a lay-person who doesnt think these things through do??
atleast, in india we dont have the negative advtng which i absolutely abhor, and which is very popular in the US. for eg: saying this is the car of the year, and then saying some other car manufacturer had a recall for some reason or the other.
Ok leave all the claims of the ADS. But recently i drove my i10 in Indian road for 1500kms in just 2 days. And reall journey was comfortable and completely hassle free
ReplyDelete@ Sagar
ReplyDelete1500 kms in 2 days is great- I am yet to beat that :) I did a 1300 kms in 3 days in Skoda Octavia-and 700 kms in 2 days in Scorpio...
Good to know that you're happy with your car.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Shrinidhi
ReplyDeleteI know Skoda octavia is much more capable of doing than that of i10's 2 days, 1500km. only thing is that i staretd early morning at around 6.30 am and with stoppage of 15 min for evry 200kms drove upto 8.00 pm in the night. I had preferred day light to cover maximum distance
keep scribbling
@ Chitrasagar
ReplyDeleteYes, I could have drove longer distance if i wanted, but I wanted to do some sight seeing also, so didn't drive all day.
nidhi
Dear All
ReplyDeleteso far is my knowledge is concerned regarding Hyundai I10 it is the best ever car i have driven, i owe its sportz model and this is the best car and also i am personally satisfied with this car
Mehboob,
ReplyDeleteAgree. I too drove a friend's i10 (asta which had a nice sun roof) and it is a great car, just that it appears a bit expensive.
Anyway this post is not about whether the car is good or bad.
Hyundai has shown great versatility in its cars and i10 is a fine proof of it as the huge success of Hyundai i10 over the Maruti's hatchbacks makes it technically ahead of it.
ReplyDelete