On your advice we are buying a Hyundai i30. The only extra we are getting is window tinting at a lower price than they wanted us to pay. Overall we had a good experience with Suttons at Rosebery and are really looking forward to delivery. The question we had was regarding Schmick. We were not sure if it was worth the joining fee they were asking.
Read MoreWould you buy a diesel car? Or a diesel SUV, van, or ute? Plenty of Australia's one million (ish) new vehicle buyers never even consider buying a diesel. If that's you, maybe you should. Diesel engines have grown up (possibly while you weren't looking) and today they're a better bet than the petrol equivalent - for a host of reasons
Read MoreI have just suffered the indignity of a low trade-in figure. That got me thinking, how many years after purchase is the best time trade-in a car? I understand depreciation, but is there a magic period of the least sacrifice?
Read MoreDealer delivery is one of the most insidious untruths institutionalised in the new-car buying process. Everything about it is a lie - including the name (because the dealer does not deliver it to you). Learn how to minimise unscrupulous dealers' so-called 'delivery' fees.
Read MoreI have on order a new electric BMW i3 subject to a satisfactory test drive. When the $6k delivery fee was queried the pleasant sales person included five years' service in the deal but of course for an EV service is minimal. As it will still need to visit a dealer in that period to safeguard the warranty I tolerated it on the day. Since signing the contract subject to this acceptable test drive down the track I notice on blog sites how excessive the fees are from the four BMW dealers handling the i3 models.
Read MoreI have a Mitsubishi Triton with 49,000km and I have a problem with it blowing smoke when it is cold. This lasts for about 30 minutes until it warms up. It is so bad vehicles behind me will not move at lights until I have moved on, and the smoke has cleared.
Read MoreI'm considering buying a Toyota FJ Cruiser and would appreciate your thoughts on this vehicle.
Read MoreThe Gen F GTS 20-inch wheels I believe are a unique size to fit over the brakes and therefore to buy a spare set of wheels and probably street legal semi slicks for track days is not straight forward. Quotes for a spare set of rims only for the HSV ones are in excess of $1300/rim and I'm best guessing each tyre will be north of $500. Obviously there are thousands of options online but I'm guessing I could find that although technically the right size, some rims still wouldn't fit over the brakes. Do you have any recommendations on how/who to sort this?
Read MoreFirst service cost $543.00. When I asked what the next service would cost, I was informed it would be about $900.00. Then I noticed on the invoice the cost of the synthetic oil was $127.80. (WTF???!) It is only a 1.4-litre motor. Can you tell me what oil costs that much and why?
Read MoreWhich fuel should you really tip down the neck of your car? If you get it wrong, you’ll either waste money – or potentially even blow up your engine. Here’s how to get it right.
Read MoreCars are an expensive consumer purchase – often still the second most expensive thing we buy. The cost of repairs can be very high if something goes wrong. So, extra protection is a good thing, right?
Read MoreOne of the most amazing rip-offs built into the new car buying process is a thing called, innocuously enough, dealer delivery charge. Let’s put that under the microscope.
Read MoreLast week I had the timing belt replaced on my 2009 Ford Fiesta which has done 163,000km. The car has been serviced by the same Ford dealer since I bought the car new. When I started the engine the morning after the belt change it couldn't maintain idle without throttle and was about to stall. I re-started the car, applied a few revs and all seemed ok. I started out on my 70km morning commute when I noticed the engine malfunction warning light come on. Well, this morning, four days after the belt was replaced the same thing happened - sluggish when started, not maintaining idle, warning light staying lit, etc. I drove it around, came home, re-started it, and no warning light. I will call the service department again this week. What should I be asking them to do/check for?
Read MoreI am interested in buying Suzuki S-Cross for general around town shopping , and possibly going on to sandy beaches. I notice that the S-Cross primarily uses front-wheel drive, with the rear wheels only being used when required by driving and engine operating conditions. Just how good is the 4WD system on the S-Cross?
Read MoreIf Luxury Car Tax hit only the richest one per cent, we’d all be okay with that. But it doesn’t. Plenty of ordinary car buyers find themselves kicking the Luxury Car Tax tin. You could easily pay it, next time around. Cars are the only consumer item in Australia, with a levy imposed on their alleged luxury. Luxury Car Tax is out of step, and extortionate. This is what happens when too much fluoride leaches into the water in Parliament House...
Read MoreI got an e-mail from a lady named Leanne the other day (below), which highlights the false economy of letting your services slide. As a consequence, Leanne is looking down the barrel of a likely $14,000 repair bill on her Holden Cruze - which is still under warranty. Worse still, it looks like Holden is completely justified in its decision not to support the repair.
Read MoreHere are the top 10 cars you should should absolutely, unequivocally not buy. Under any circumstances. Not in a blue moon, not even when there’s permafrost in Hell.
Read MoreI am listening to your show on the radio right now and some of your advice from both yourself and your participants is wrong. Under the Australian Road Rules when requested by a Police Officer you are obliged by law to supply the name and place of abode of the driver. You commit a serious offence if you do not supply those details. There are only two acts of parliament in Australia that compel you to supply certain details when requested, Australian Road Rules and The Taxation Act.
Read MoreMy wife received a speed fine two months ago for 70 in a 60 zone. She paid the fine. In 35 years of driving she has never received a speeding ticket. She has a clean record. After hearing your comments on 2UE I thought I would ask you a question. My wife has resented the fact that her clean record has been tarnished plus the loss of point(s). We did not even know you could apply for a leniency. Is it possible to retrospectively for leniency on that tarnished record?
Read MoreI have found a company called Hiclone Air Management Systems. They saying by fitting one or two of their products she could save 10-20 percent on fuel and a boost in performance. Have you heard of this company or products and if yes your thoughts please. They cost around $230 each so are not cheap.
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