I'd have to say I prefer chariot archers to (non minoan) composites in general. The compie upgrade is expensive and takes too long. You are going to have to get the wheel asap anyway.
They are also very easily countered by stone throwers. The chariot archers speed makes them much better villager killers. It also lets them pick when to fight and when to run.
There arn't all that many civs that get both anyway. I think shang is the only civ that gets both AND may do better with them then chariot archers.
Best Bronze Unit per civ IMO:
Assyrian: Chariot Archers
Babylonian: Camels, Chariot Archers, towers
Carthage: Camels
Choson: towers, stone throwers, cav
Egyptian: Chariot archers, Chariots
Greek: Slingers/Hoplites
Hittite: Chariot Archers, Stone throwers
Macedonian: Composites, Hoplites, Stone throwers
Minoan: Comps, Stone throwers
Palmyran: Camels
Persian: Camels
Phoencian: Chariots, Chariot Archers
Roman: Broadswordsmen, towers, stone throwers, slingers
Shang: Anything they want
Summerian: Chariot Archers, Camels, Stone throwers
Yamato: Cavalry, Composites
Maybe people should say which civs they would choose composites over chariot archers with. And of course the best units for your civ will change depending on what your enemy is making.
[This message has been edited by Emowilli (edited 01-24-99).]