Read previous letters to the Carsales Network here
Send your submissions to Editor@CarPoint.com.au
Sell it loud, sell it proud! (more here)
I have driven the Ford Falcon G6 and the XR6 and was amazed at the quality and performance/handling of the cars. They are the best Falcon yet by far. It is mind boggling that people are buying the Commodore in front of them and this can only be put down to the pathetic marketing by Ford of this car. It's as if they don't even want to sell the Falcon anymore and are purposely letting them die off. For goodness sake get a new marketing team before it's too late!
Keith
Ford has been thought of as the Falcon car company for too long. Now that they have a terrific range of Euro designed cars in many segments they need to convey it. The Focus ad is a great start, but more still needs to be done.
Phil C
Ford may well be selling more of the Focus following the change in their advertising strategy, but if my experience is any guide that will just mean a lot more disappointed buyers. I've just bought an LT Focus, after having had an LS Focus; both have been less than satisfactory.
The newer one is better built for sure, but with more faults. So why did I buy another Focus, if I wasn't happy with the first one? The basic design is right; it's just that Ford doesn't seem able to build them properly.
Folks, buy a Toyota Corolla instead, or a Mitsubishi Lancer, but if you buy a Focus be prepared for a range of problems that are really unacceptable. Where are Australia's lemon laws?
John
I have always thought that the ad for the Falcon FG was targeting the wrong audience. They should appeal to the sporty driver and not woo Mercedes or BMW owners. That will never happen.
Anand
It's about bloody time Ford had the guts to tell Australians that they now have world class product's on their door step and that Ford is not only a falcon company. Why would anybody buy Korean, sorry Holden, cars when there's plenty of choice European and Japanese cars available? Money's the thing that talks and makes the world go round. Buying Korean = cheap. Buy European/Japanese for more $$$ and you get quality and that's what you get with the Mondeo/Focus/Fiesta trio...
William
It's still not good enough. How do have the most brilliant handling/ride small car and not tell people about it in your advertising? Focus on the engineering that goes into it ride/handle and steer better than the competition. Same goes for the Falcon, Territory and Mondeo.
Trackdaze
One thing Ford need to address is the Focus and Mondeo are European cars that are tuned to run on 95 RON fuel. They will run on our 91 RON dishwater but do not like it. With the current money woes and belt tightening companies will not allow premium fuel to be used. The easy way around this; buy Japanese.
Steve
Finally!!! Somebody at Ford has done something with their marketing strategy, Falcon is an amazing car and this information is not being communicated to the Australian public. Ford and Holden have this perception of a high fuel consumption vehicle and this perception needs to be address and what is the alternative that is available; LPG. Well Done!! Keep this one up!! I was hoping it is not too late for the FG Falcon.
Ford Fan
Nissan goes retro? (more here)
Looks like Nissan has gone retro with the 370Z styling. It looks a bit like a Datsun Z car of old...
Davey
"The shape of the Zed has also been tightened with the profile almost 911-like" is like saying it's a copy. I hate when people say it's xxx-like without having the knowledge of the background of a car and the design philosophy.
The shape is more like the original Fairlady Z in the 70's.
A
CN says: Your point of view. In respect of proportions, we see very little in common with the original long-nosed 240Z, but the frontal styling does echo 911 -- and there's no reason that the Nissan designers would have embraced a retro look without also incorporating styling cues from other cars.
Hooning in the Holden? (more here)
I can't understand how come you get such poor economy from this vehicle. I have a Holden Commodore SV6 that has just clocked up 40K. On a recent run from Burnie to Hobart (300-plus kilometres), driving on the speed limits with cruise control, the car sipped 9.4L/100km.
Rod Cannan
CN says: Rod, you've more or less answered your own question. Your "300-plus kilometres" trip is mostly open-road driving with the car operating at a steady speed. It's much easier to achieve such a figure in that situation than operating a vehicle around town or with some performance testing thrown in.
Keyed up about Kia review... (more here)
All reviews should start with ESP, ESC and side airbags. The rest is great but the above will be mandatory in Australia very soon. Cars without the above are death traps that people will sue over soon.
Peter
CN says: ESP and ESC are the same. Stability control does look like it will be mandatory for all new cars, but there's no word on side-impact airbags yet. It would be hard to prove negligence on the part of a manufacturer in a court of law, when the major contributing liability would rest with one or more drivers involved in any accident. Car companies are pretty safe on this score -- and we don't agree that cars without all these features are necessarily "death traps".
What would you buy? (more here)
It seems a balanced article about the Kia Sorrento. Can you provide the details of the aftermarket provider of the suspension modification, some indication of cost and increased clearance figures? I'm interested in buying a mid sized 4WD with high and low range. What vehicles do you think I should evaluate?
Wynne Henderson
Watch this space... (more here)
Here I was reading with much laughter about your take on the spectators at Bahrain and the continued debate on relevance and motor sport when right in the middle you kindly reference the SUV again. If you wish to know what is going on within the SUV camp you are more than welcome to contact me directly in the future. If not watch this space very soon, especially if you follow Mark Fogarty's take on motorsport.
Ashley
Captivated (more here)
The Holden Captiva is a very strong vehicle and has everything needed to do the job be it soft-roading or off-roading. When it comes to Ford/Mazda, as they are the same vehicle, the Captiva will eat them both. So the Captiva gets my vote.
I hope that the Captiva doesn't fall into the trap that others have in the past. I understand the car attracts women to drive it and it always will, but don't take any of the masculinity away from the Captiva. You will only do sales harm by doing so.
The drawback I think the Captiva has is the feminine hatchback look on the rear as it is a muscular looking elegant vehicle. With a little bit of alteration to the back side windows this will have a great effect on the Captiva. There are a lot of old drivers out there who like the Captiva as well, so treat any changes with kid gloves or you could spoil a good vehicle.
Ronald
CN says: Changes to the rear side windows -- if they involve sheet metal -- would be expensive and could affect safety and durability, so they won't happen in a hurry.
Toyotas and Touaregs (more here)
This sounds like a Toyota man comparing a V6 petrol Toyota Rav to a diesel V6 Volkswagen Touareg. I think some education on engines is required.
Sam
CN says: We think some book-larnin' is in order for you, Sam. The writer has deliberately used a false analogy to illustrate that you can't always use power figures to make valid comparisons between two widely divergent engines.
Still waiting... (more here)
You were right about slimmer A-pillars not coming anytime soon to the Holden VE Commodore. It's nearly 2009 and there has not been a peep out of Holden about it.
A lot of people I have spoken to don't understand the problem until they have a near miss. If I pranged one because of the A-pillar problem, my insurance company might rightly sue Holden as a major contributor to the accident. In Law it's called negligence.
Brad
CN says: As we mentioned above, Brad, it's hard to prove negligence against a manufacturer in a court of law, especially in a situation where a driver's invariably bound to be the root cause of the accident.
Mega-HiLux...only in America?! (more here)
This is typical of the car industry. With the current downturn in the American car sales I hope the conceited way Toyota do business bites them on the bum. Australia deserves to be seen as a front runner in this type of vehicle.
Keith
No comparison? (more here)
This comparative analysis of used cars that fails to address reliability and cost of repairs such as timing chain, transmission and clutch can only be described as superficial.
Doug
CN says: Such an analysis is beyond the scope of this article.
I'd like to offer some extra information. After my Holden Astra almost carked it and my mechanic suggested I get a Mazda 2 and I did. The Mazda 2 was much noisier than the Astra and that took time to adjust. I also borrowed a friend's Holden Barina once and loved it. It is a great little car and really moves.
Finally, it was interesting to read your comments on the Honda Jazz as I have often wondered how it compares to the Mazda2. It seems I am not missing that much, so thanks. In hindsight, and if I had more money, I would get the Mazda 3. Oh yes, this is nice. The only thing I don't like about it is that the brake lights, also on the Mazda2, are not as visible as on other cars.
Maria
This is one of the most contradictory articles I have ever read. "The little lion feels lively but is nevertheless among the slowest accelerating cars in the group, requiring almost 12sec to reach 100km/h from a standstill." and "Performance is closer to average with 0-100km/h in 12sec" for the Clio. How can it be "closer to average", when it is slower than one which is "among the slowest accelerating cars in the group"?
There are many more contradictions in this article, and given a better popup window, with more characters allowed, I could point them out.
Robert
CN says: The text doesn't say that the Barina is "slower" than one which is "among the slowest accelerating cars in the group. You've misinterpreted what was written. Here are the 0-100km/h figures quoted in the article (in descending order of times):
206, 14sec,
C3, 14sec,
Barina, 12sec,
Clio, 12sec,
Mazda2, 11sec,
Jazz, 10.5sec
By our reckoning, the average time for these cars would be 12.25sec, which is close enough to the Barina's time. The article is correct.
This article is a good read but had very little to do with the title. I think most folks can judge a car on the points delivered in the article for their own needs. Sticking to the subject would have been more informative. But a good read nonetheless.
Damien
CN says: Hmmm, title reads: "Used Car Advice: Light cars that last" and the sixth paragraph starts off: "Contrary to some popular misconceptions, there is no reason to suppose than any of these six will not last as long as their physically larger siblings, so there is great used car buying to be had in the automotive smallgoods category".
It's all in the tow... (more here)
I would have liked to hear about how the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series tows a three tonne van or boat. I think most people who buy a Cruiser are going to tow something, if not you would buy a smaller car especially with fuel being so dear. Nevertheless, I have read a lot about 4x4s and found this article to be very good.
Jeff Dancer
CN says: Jeff, there are limits to how far we can test a vehicle and unfortunately, unless the car company comes to the party, there are few opportunities to undertake this sort of evaluation.
Delighted by the diesel (more here)
Mazda3 diesel is the best car I've owned. I'm a travelling merchandiser driving approximately 35,000km per year. There's tonnes more power-instantly, it's so fuel efficient; I only have to fill up half as much as my 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer petrol car. It also has better efficiency, more comfort, and it's stable. It's safe, easy to drive, looks great and has more boot space.
I have owned this car since March 2008. I live in Perth's southern suburbs and have yet to see another Mazda Diesel, do I own a secret? I've clocked up near 20,000km and I absolutely love the car. Until you test drive a Mazda3 diesel you're missing out on such a surprise.
I believe this is the car to have until there is a competitive non-carbon omitting vehicle that gives you the same standards and performance as this diesel.
Well done Mazda, from a Ford fan that now buys and drives Mazda diesel and I text drove every available diesel on the market. My 24yr daughter bought a 2008 Mazda3 SP23 because the diesel does not come in auto; I prefer a manual but bring on the auto in 2009-2010 and dominate the small car market.
Fran
So satisfied with Suzuki (more here)
Your article on the Suzuki SX4 is very close to the mark, I own one and love it. It's driven mostly by my five foot partner and by me part of the time and I am six foot tall. Neither of us have a problem in getting in and out of it; the head room, vision and leg room are excellent. The inside room and luggage room are also very good; we use it for trips or city driving. We also own two Holden Commodores and would rather drive the Suzuki over them both, as it's nippy and fun to drive and just an excellent vehicle.
Warren S
It is true that the Suzuki SX4 is economical. I was wondering is there anything to fix the mirrors when you are reversing? We are going through strife in our narrow garage in our Suzuki SX4 Sedan.
Moustafa
Marking time for Mondeo? (more here)
Where are they? The Ford Mondeo TDCi looks the goods to me. I just happen to be in the market for this type of wagon for my growing family and would love to test drive one. I'm prepared to wait for them before I commit to anything else. Well done Ford!
Michael
CN says: Michael, last we heard was that the Mondeo wagon is an unofficial certainty, but that was a while ago. We'll check with Ford for further info...
Raving fan (more here)
An absolutely helpful article about how and where to buy cars, I learnt a lot of things even I have never aware of. I'm now informed and got answered the questions I was running behind for a long time. A great job mate, good on you.
Ranil
In the know... (more here)
I read in your article about buying demos and it was an immense help. I have been looking mostly at buying a demonstrator model, Company and Director owned, in preference to a new car. The price was tempting. I now know how to answer the Dealer.
Ronnie
Counting and Communications advice (more here)
The author needs to go back to primary school and learn Maths: "At 2125kg, or about 45kg and 83kg more than the CX-9 and Tribeca respectively". Except the Tribeca is 1942 Kilos -- so that's 183 kilos! That's why I have not yet replaced my 2004 Toyota Kluger, weighing 1800 Kilos and the new model 2008 4x4 Kluger is 2020 Kilos. More weight equals more fuel.
Why do so many young Internet Auto writers I meet just have a Communications Degree? They write articles using flowery language without apparent basic automotive knowledge. Why not use graduates from the Engineering disciplines to frame the articles in simple and informative genres? Then if you want Pizzazz, get an Arts/Communications type to edit. That way you'll avoid the constant errors of fact which turn readers off. That's the Top Gear Formula!
David T
CN says: David, it's not like we want to throw cold water all over your delusions that engineering graduates are infallible, but you are talking about the same people who inflicted swing-axle IRS on the Chevy Corvair...
Expired... (more here)
This article is four months old. It's well past its use-by date. It's high time to take it down.
Christopher
CN says: Bah! It's not even out of nappies yet...
A city 4WD... (more here)
Its funny how all vehicles are now being pointed towards the city consumers. We, the country folk, seem to be forgotten. I live in the Kimberley WA. I have not yet seen anyone willing to take the latest Cruiser off road in anger up here and thus feel this new Toyota TRD Hilux will suffer the same fate. They look nice, but that's where it stops as a 4WD.
Michael
Heartfelt Honda owner (more here)
The Honda Odyssey is the most comfortable vehicle I have ever owned, we call it business class!!! It's also great on fuel economy; we live in Mount Isa and travel to Camooweal on cruise control at 100kph and get 6.8L per 100km. It is a 2004 model and its sheer luxury!!!!
James
Come on Camaro! (more here)
GM has been teasing us for to long with this retro styled Mustang killer. It would be a winner here if Monaro mania was anything to go on. Bring it on GM; I want one next to my '68 Coupe in the garage.
Barry
They should produce and release an Australian version of the Chevy Camaro. I would certainly be interested in purchasing a Camaro. I would also like to know the projected prices and models.
Ben Anderson
Timeworn Triton? (more here)
The Mitsubishi Triton auto needs to be replaced with the triptronic as in the Pajero. I wanted to buy an auto, but after driving one I would not even consider one. It has no retardation; very outdated.
Phillip
Concur with Cadogan (more here)
I watched John Cadogan's article last night on 60 Minutes and must say I agree with what he said in relation to the motor industry having the ability to stop the carnage of our young people.
We have vehicles which have the latest and greatest safety equipment that have been proven to save lives and yet we allow our young drivers to drive old model cars because of price consideration.
It would make sense if our government looked at measures that have been used overseas to reduce the age of the car population such as "scrappage schemes" where the government paid a premium to get cars over a certain age removed from the roads. We could look at using some of the money that is earmarked for gas conversations.
Yes I am in the motor industry and don't suggest this just to increase car sales but when it is looked at on a rational basis as has being done by overseas governments it helps reduce road deaths and also reduces pollution as modern cars are much more environmentally friendly than older models. I would like this email passed onto John Cadogan.
Philip Sweeney
Ford facelift?! (more here)
I currently own a 2001 Ford Escape and I'm looking for a replacement vehicle. I am keen to get a similar vehicle and was keen to see the 2008 US model here in OZ. Instead we get yet another facelift, ugly in my opinion, of essentially the same body as my 2001 model. No wonder sales are down!
Ken
Berating the Barina (more here)
While the Holden Barina has improved in appeal and safety, this does not alter the fact that the Barina is a cheap built car with poor quality control. This is shown up after a few kilometres of driving due to a poor back axle, this component may need a complete rear axle replacement and even then it has massive understeer.
Also due to the lack of adjustment for the front and rear suspension the car even though it is set up within the allowable tolerance will need further adjustment by a fully qualified steering suspension workshop and Holden's will not cover the cost of this repair. They do not have the necessary training or knowledge of how to correct this fault. This is a common fault with the Barina and until this adjustment is made the car will continue to steer left.
Another common fault is the mysterious noise when taking off or changing gears. This noise disappears when reaching approx 1500rpm. Holden are aware of this problem and are working on a fix if the can locate the cause.
There is a distinct lack of throttle response when taking your foot off the accelerator and when changing gears, you depress the clutch the revs will increase.
The seat belts are poorly made and have annoying habit of slowly retracting. Many times it does not retract if you have seat covers. The fuel consumption is not good for such a small car. In fact it is quite excessive; varying between nine and eleven litres per 100km and this is driving conservatively. My overall impression of this car would be a star rating of 2. The article could do more to justify the good publicity. Yes it does have a few good points about the Holden Barina, but if you had done a complete and thorough review some inherent short comings would be noticed. It is a bit disappointing that you did not do a complete review of this model.
Frank
CN says: Frank, while we do our best to review all new models released, the subject of this article is a facelift with some upgraded features, so it's not necessarily going to be reviewed by the Carsales Network. It sounds like you have a lemon, but at least it appears that Holden is attempting to resolve your car's issues...
Ford's figures (more here)
It would be interesting to see Sept 2007 vs. Sept 2008 sales figures for Toyota, Holden and Ford. I believe Ford is the only one which is up.
Greg Bruce
Replacement writer? (more here)
How do you guys get a job writing about cars when you can't even get your stats right? If you were a genuine car lover you would know the Holden Monaro is only 40 not 50. To the editor; I am available if your writers continually get it wrong as they do!
Geoff Roberts
CN says: Geoff, judging by your punctuation, which we corrected, you would last five minutes in the job. Thanks for the offer, but pass...
Myth busted? (more here)
Granted that the Honda Civic Hybrid does cost $8000 more but one must also factor in the Trade-In value. Assuming that both the Hybrid and the Petrol engine Honda Civic depreciate by 50 per cent, after three years, the Hybrid will be worth $4000 more as a trade-in. Hence, the distance to break even is half of what is stated in this article.
Also, I have no doubt that, as the petrol price increases, the trade-in value of the Hybrid will improve over the conventional Civic.
Mikel
Still on stars... (more here)
"In fact, based on our brief drive, we would say it's seriously ahead of the pack and stands to make a real impact in the compact SUV segment", then why did you give the Ford Kuga Titanium only three out of five?
Either the competitors have terrible SUVs or you're being even harsher than Top Gear magazine.
Vaughan
CN says: We've covered our rating system so many times... Let's just say it was merely to annoy you.
Costly, crumby VW service (more here)
I purchased a MK5 Volkswagen Golf Comfortline 2-litre turbodiesel DSG new in October 2005. Whilst the mechanical side is quite impressive, I have been very disappointed with the build quality of certain items and the cost and level of servicing from VW dealers.
George Hill
City clarification (more here)
I read one of the cons of the Honda City is no paddle shift for auto. Working in a Honda service department, I can assure you that this feature is rarely used and customer feedback seems to be 'gimmicky'.
As for stability control, this is entry level, and will be priced accordingly.
Darren
Harsh Honda review... (more here)
For the sake of making the article interesting, try not to use language only the reviewer understands. Try explaining the car in simple terms rather than trying to read between the lines to know your real thoughts.
I've driven the Honda Accord Euro Luxury Navi and don't mind the wiz bang gadgets it offers. It just means you take the time to learn their controls like everything. Otherwise stick to reviewing simple cars or entry level models without the gadgets.
The Accord Euro does come in a simpler format as you tested the flagship!!
Michael Grech
CN says: No kidding? There's a simpler Accord Euro?
You complain about the text in the review being less than crystal clear, but then criticise the writer for finding the Honda's controls less than intuitive. Sounds like a double standard.
I think you are being a bit harsh. I own the poverty pack and its lack of technology negates some of the issues you raise. I drive over some pretty horrible roads to get to my farm and the car handles bumps and corners perfectly. It is a bit weak at low revs, but when the engine gets going it really is a great car to drive.
James Slack
CN says: James, we agree with everything you say, other than your first sentence.
Serious about the Sportwagon? (more here)
I find it unbelievable that such an outdated dinosaur as the Holden Omega Sportwagon can achieve a rating of four out of five when comparing to such an eloquent and responsive vehicle such as the Mazda 6 wagon scores similar. Even by your own admission the thing is austere, even depressing is bland and uninspiring and it gets 4 out of 5? Go figure?!
Paul
CN says: You find it unbelievable that the Omega Sportwagon is rated at four stars against the Mazda6 wagon -- and you work in a Mazda dealership? Go figure indeed.
Until the General junks that primitive four-speed, non-sequential crap auto box on the VE, as everyone else has, they should have their butts kicked rather than kissed!
Daryl Mannell
A reversing camera is now an option.
Andrew
CN says: Holden has only just released that information to the press as of the first week of December, well after the review was written and published.
The new Holden Sportwagon is really slick, but fails in the main area that real wagon buyers look at; actually lugging a load! Let's face it, that's what a wagon is for. The only choice for "real" wagon buyers is the Ford. Holden has departed the load lugger battlefield as such.
Craig
CN says: Doesn't appear to be hurting their sales though.
Balanced BMW review... (more here)
Well, hats off for your very balanced and objective appraisal of the BMW X6. However, as one commentator mentioned about it..."If it was a Ssangyong, people would be laughing out loud". Two points: it is one of the ugliest cars BMW have ever produced and Chris Bangle must die. Enough said.
Greg Ellis
CN says: We don't actually condone assassination, but we'll grant you an elephant stamp for most amusing feedback for the month.
21st Century writing? (more here)
100 points to anyone who managed to read beyond the fourth paragraph of this desperate abuse of language. Free Panadol for a year if you reached the end.
John Weinthal
CN says: Hey everyone! John's offering free Panadol if you read the article. Contact the Carsales Network and we'll put you in touch with him.
You, Mike Sinclair, are talking out of your hat and as for DTM vs. V8 Supercars; the battle between Ford and Holden will always be more popular then the battle between Audi and Mercedes.
Asser Rautio
CN says: Not in Germany.
Six Seat scoop? (more here)
From the photos it looks like Honda is going back to a six-seat configuration. Is this correct? If so, I think this would be a backwards step!
Linton
CN says: Linton, the photo you see of the seating configuration shows the centre seat in the second row folded flat, so the outboard passengers can use the shelf it provides and the cupholders in the backrest. The car will definitely be a seven-seater.
Taking the Challenge? (more here)
I can hardly wait for this new model. I just purchased a 2002 Mitsubishi Challenger and love it! Maybe the new Challenger will be my next car in a few years.
Paul N
This looks like a great mid size 4WD. Shame the article dwelled on the name of the car instead of the interesting stuff like the specs.
Timo
CN says: Mitsubishi is yet to release specs for this vehicle.
Relishing the Ralliart (more here)
The Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is a brilliant vehicle. I test drove and ordered one yesterday at my local dealership! Well done Mitsubishi! Not only for offering a blisteringly fun and amazing handling car, but the best warranty and customer service I've seen. I've purchased a lot of cars in my time and was almost going to buy a 135i BMW and Audi S3. I'm glad I've purchased the Ralliart Turbo. Well worth considering...
Graham Bennet
To Hyundai ... (more here)
The Getz and Accent are looking very tired and long in the tooth. The i30 has been an amazing success, so Hyundai bring on the i20. But there are two questions that need to be asked. One is what is the built quality going to be like coming out of India? And second, how does the i10 drive; Australia is so vast, what will it be like on the highway?
Vaughan
CN says: It's a fair question, but we presume that Hyundai will be on top of quality control in their Indian facilities. They have to be...
Forgetful... (more here)
You've forgotten one of the biggest ones, attended by many great drivers over the years, the Classic Adelaide.
Brady
Ignorant to Isuzu info? (more here)
Your article about the Isuzu D-MAX is not the best. The Holden Colorado is not made in the same plant as the D-MAX. I got quotes for the top 4x4 from Holden and Isuzu, it was $8000 cheaper at Isuzu. You also have to remember the D-MAX is a world brand, not just for Australia. The knowledge and back up would be superior to Holden. Mainly because Holden do not want to know you after you are out of the yard.
Peter
CN says: No, it's not actually made in the same plant. You're right on that point, but we feel you presume too much in your remarks concerning Holden dealers and their ability to support the Colorado. And we covered the pricing issue in the review.
Motorsport cut short?! (more here)
In your next Motorsport update, could you please provide a link to the email address of the Channel 10 TV director who chose not to show the drivers' interviews from Brazil? After such an exciting finish, surely we had the right to see Massa's views on the highs and lows he felt before and after the chequered flag.
Seeing as though you seem to know all the TV ratings, perhaps you could investigate normal ratings for Channel 10's morning news to see which rates more?
Scott Cochrane
Not buyin' it... (more here)
If Holden was slightly serious about reducing fuel consumption we would have had cylinder deactivation on the V8, direct injection for the V6 since the VZ and much better fuel consumption to match. Holden claims to take global warming seriously, yeah right.
James Martin
It's a disgrace that Holden has to reduce power levels to meet consumer demand for improved fuel efficiency whilst both Ford and Toyota can produce more power with better fuel efficiency.
Brendan
This latest move makes the Commodore seem even more dismal against the superior Falcon which pumps out 195kW/391Nm at only 10.1L/100km?
The Chock
What Holden apologist wrote this piece of drivel? Even the fuel economy improvements weren't reported properly.
John Dair
Finally some honest commentary on the Commodore faults. Maybe more should be said about the appalling four-speed too? The engine is nowhere near as good as that in the Aurion let alone the incredible Ford Falcon motor. Both of these motors have great smoothness and refinement.
The "rattletech" doesn't match either in power, down by 20 to 25kw. For torque the Falcon has 70Nm more than VE and 60Nm than Aurion; considerably more than both rivals! Plus the Falcon uses five per cent less fuel than VE, but only two per cent more than Aurion. Both are able to accelerate over two seconds quicker to 0-100 with overtaking ability far superior to the VE.
I just can't believe so many sheep buy the VE. The vehicle was barely better than the five year old BA/BF, not nearly as good as FG.
Phil C
CN says: We wonder how many of the readers who responded to this article either own a Commodore or even have the slightest intention of buying one? If you're not inconvenienced by the power reduction, what's the problem?
Some of these responses read like they're from Falcon fans with an axe to grind. It's not Holden's fault if Ford has not adequately conveyed the message that the FG Falcon is both more powerful and more economical than the Commodore.
Holden informs us that the only time you'll notice the reduction in power is around the racetrack.
What was the question...? (more here)
You almost say it... The Mazda RX8 remains what it always was; the answer to a question nobody had asked. It's clever but ultimately rather pointless and can be hard work. There are several better ways to spend that sort of money and still have 'sporty' plus stand-out looks.
John
CN says: Yet we liked it, nonetheless.
Valuable info for Volvo... (more here)
Volvo needs the Heico association. The M & AMG ranges have worked wonders for BMW and Mercedes in creating halo models for their ranges. Locally, so has HSV for Holden. If Volvo wants to overcome its (somewhat justifiably) stuffy image, the Heico connection is just the ticket. Don't blow it Volvo!
By the way, I am the owner of a C30 T5 R-Design and the local availability of Heico bits is something I look forward to.
Richard
Why not report on the real issues with Volvos out there in the real world? Anyone who has owned a modern Volvo - especially a sports R model would have experienced what is nothing more than sheer rorting of money out of loyal customers. It is clearly obvious that Volvo build in "failing" parts and components into most of their models that I have owned and researched.
These problems range from ABS/Tracs units to air-con compressors and auto transmission problems that cost $6000 plus to fix. And all fail just out of warranty.
I love Volvos with a passion and would love to keep on owning one, but never again will I be a sucker to Volvo's annuity business of ripping off customers with outrageously priced components.
Dean
Don't tease us... (more here)
It's all very interesting but I would rather read that the Camaro is coming to Australia.
Peter Bailey
Webber bagging? (more here)
It's good to see you've jumped on the Webber bagging bandwagon. Here in the UK he's regarded as one of the unluckiest drivers ever. Most of his DNFs have been because of mechanical problems and his crashes and spins because of his attempts to keep a fundamentally slower car in a position that it has no right to be in, put there by his outstanding qualifying pace.
You've also conveniently forgotten his being nerfed out of second in Japan by one S Vettel. If you're such a staunch supporter why stop defending him now? Is all you have to use against him is the record of two World Champs, from a time when being in the right car at the right time meant even more than it does now, and some pathetic what if hypothetical?
Maybe for your own credibility you should go back to being a supporter of our best talent since Alan Jones and leave the bagging to those who can't bring themselves to see beyond the occasional reports that come out of the general, ill-informed, media.
MTO
Too little too late...? (more here)
Holden's range is so poor now. I used to buy their European product but not anymore. Holden is like Hyundai now or really just like Daewoo. I can't believe they ruined their range.
Adam
I think that the Toyota Yaris is quite poor compared to the Holden Barina. The Barina has everything! The Barina uses just 6.9L/100kms combined. The Yaris is supposed to use just 6.0L/100kms, but it actually uses around 8.6L/100kms to 9.0L/100kms.
So you people that are interested in a Yaris -- Don't Bother. Get a Barina!!
Matt
More VFACTS please... (more here)
Can you list the top five cars in each segment when you report each month? It's interesting to see how individual cars perform.
Michael
CN says: Michael, unfortunately, reader numbers suggest there's not much interest in a more in-depth analysis of VFACTS.
B-Class below class? (more here)
Why is the Mercedes B class two litre diesel so underpowered compared to even a Holden Captiva? Is this because of the transmission or just the old cheap Merc Diesel technology? 80kW/250Nm is the stuff of old technology where a two litre diesel typically is around 110kW/320Nm for current technology.
John Ralph
Not a lot of Focus... (more here)
It may be beside the point, but the Ford Focus that we get is made in South Africa currently, not Belgium. Only the XR5 comes from elsewhere, and that is from Germany. Ford Australia will be manufacturing the Focus for RHD markets, taking over from South Africa.
John Edmondson
CN says: It's understood that the next generation will be built in Ghent, for some of the global markets that won't be serviced by export production from Broadmeadows. The South African plant will produce the T6 LCV in place of the Focus.
It's a media beat up once again!!! Why don't you promote the Falcon LPG, that's running costs per year equal to a Toyota Corolla? Or maybe how much time and effort Ford has put in to making the Falcon fuel efficient?
The company I am working for has made the same mistake, we have gone from FG Falcons to Focuses and you wouldn't believe it, their fuel bill has gone up!! Maybe you guys should get your facts straight, as I believe media has had a huge role to play in the decline of the large car market!
Anthony
CN says: It's not our job to "promote the Falcon LPG". There are people quartered in Broadmeadows who are paid to do that.
If the media were to blame for the decline of the large-car market, then equally, they should be to blame for the rise of the SUV and small cars.
Furthermore, there should be many more people buying sports cars, but there aren't. Your 'beliefs' don't constitute credible evidence. Why don't you pray for large car redemption at a local church, if it's so all-fired important to you.
This article has more holes in it than a colander. Let's start with Broadmeadows job cuts. HQ told Ford to cut jobs, as they have too many employees per units built. The job cuts aren't just blue collar jobs, believe it or not, but also are white collar, middle management jobs, which, aren't helping Ford much. Their advertising is evidence of this.
Then, he says this: Why exactly would an Aussie buyer prefer a Broadie-built Focus over one from Belgium, where European quality levels are rigidly enforced? Will it be that much cheaper or better? Since when has Ford built a Focus in Belgium? Ford builds the Mondeo and Galaxy and S-Max in Belgium, not Focus.
The Australian Focus doesn't even come from Europe, but from South Africa. Ask your contributor to drive an FG Falcon, and a BF Falcon back to back. The quality jump is like stepping out of a Hyundai and sitting in a BMW. Ford can build an amazingly competent car.
The other hole in this article is the lack of forethought. Ford has two very interesting engines in the pipeline for FGII (Code named 123). One is going to amaze the greenies, and the other the petrol heads. With the V6 in it as well, Ford have an export program ready made with Focus, it can't be too hard to tack a few Falcons onto it as well. South Africa would take Falcon back with open arms, like it has with Territory.
As a footnote, I would give anything to see another car roll out of Tonsley Park. With vehicle manufacturing Australia's second largest industry, our (inept, stupid) Labour Government should do everything in its power to keep Ford, Holden and Toyota making cars in Australia.
If they can not, they should be called the Not-Labour Government, as everything they stand for, they have allowed to fail.
Andrew Paxton.
What a load of crap! Since I bought a Holden VE SS Commodore two years ago, the first thing I noticed is the drop in my fuel bills compared to my six-cylinder Jackaroo. I get ten litres on highway trips. I calculated that over the two years, the extra fuel over my mates four cylinder Toyota Camry was only $500-800! But in this time, the depreciation is nearly $20K!!
So, fuel cost is not a killer, it is your hype about it that is driving resale down. So, if you can't afford the fuel, then you can't afford the car either!
Paul Martin
CN says: Paul, save us. You're comparing open-road fuel consumption for a two-wheel drive passenger car with an older design of SUV, based on the underpinnings of a commercial vehicle and powered by a relatively large-capacity V6. It's not exactly apples with apples. The media has not gone out of its way to promote the 'fuel efficiency' of the current Camry -- far from it. Toyota manages its brand better than Ford and Holden do. Perhaps that has at least as much bearing on the resale value of your Commodore as anything else.
If we agree with you on any point at all, it is that people don't actually work out the long-term expenditure for fuel before they make their buying decisions. They're drawn in by ADR81/01 figures and that's the end of the story for them.
What a wank!! "Why exactly would an Aussie buyer prefer a Broadie-built Focus over one from Belgium, where European quality levels are rigidly enforced? Will it be that much cheaper or better?" Tell me where I can buy a Belgium made Ford Focus? I am an actual Aussie who would like to see Aussies kept in jobs!
So, I guess I'd be the fool buying an Aussie-built Focus! You need to get your facts straight before passing judgement. An Aussie Focus would be much better than a South African built Focus! Maybe then Ford might be able to "give away" their cars to the fleets like Toyota do with the Corolla and Yaris.
Brad
Cash cow? (more here)
The story on 'Better Place' choosing Australia to build an Electric Vehicle infrastructure project is great news. However, I can't help wondering if this network of charging stations will still cost the motorist just as much to recharge as it does to refuel a normal petrol or diesel car? Will the power companies, in this case AGL Energy, not just see it as an opportunity to make money? I'm all for the benefits to the environment, but I hope it doesn't end up costing us more than it should by having power companies cashing in the way the fuel companies do now.
Harry Calderbank
CN says: You make a good point, Harry, but we believe that a locally-based power distribution cartel would be preferable to an international cartel of fuel suppliers. At least there'd be the ACCC to ensure that competition and price discounting thrives.
Making the move? (more here)
My quick calculations show that this government giveaway to non-Australian companies represents more than $5000 per car manufactured and sold in Australia. This is a huge misallocation of resources and will just delay the inevitable decline of car manufacturing in Australia.
Finally all four manufactures are already investing in green technologies in their home countries without our government's assistance; they aren't going to move ground breaking research to Australia.
Richard D
CN says: Richard, that $5000 figure doesn't sound right to us. Have you taken into account the locally-manufactured vehicles exported as well?
Local manufacturers will only avail themselves of green car funding if they can prove that their new technologies are genuinely innovative -- and not just some idea or finished product imported from overseas.
Leading Lancer article... (more here)
Your article about the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart was very well put together and full of good usable information. It makes me feel like I need to get one. But it's still a lot of money for a Lancer, even with the turbo and transmission.
Mark
I've test driven this vehicle and was little bit disappointed with the steering, as it lacked the needed sharpness. I totally agree the chairs are very bad for inspirational driving. Also the car behaved unpredictably by changing a weight when Ralliart was thrown in a sharp corner, the rear part of the car moved away.
In my opinion the car is not for sport driving as EVO does. The SST is good but the six speed manual could be better if the price was below $39K. The SST did not do much for me. Maybe my wife would appreciate the auto mode, but not me.
Next try is the 195kw Subaru WRX??? It sounds like my cup of tea.
Norm
A-Class Colt... (more here)
As a Mercedes A Class look-alike, my three month old Mitsubishi Colt CVT that never uses more than six L/100km and was under $17K drive-away will suit me fine.
Peter
Mixed Mercedes comments... (more here)
The Mercedes ML 320 CDI certainly makes the Hyundai Tucson look tasty for $70K less. What's this vehicle got besides a name to pay $70K for the first 15 cm of the front? An expensive price just for a badge!
John
"Although it did feature many of the virtues typical of Mercedes-Benz products, it was not all that capable off-road." Clearly you have no experience and have not done any research. As a previous Mercedes ML350 W163 owner, the only situation the car felt at home in was off the tarmac. Take one off-road and its ladder/frame chassis, wheel articulation and standard low range will amaze you. Of its Euro competitors, the W163 was the only one remotely deserving of the title 4WD.
James
CN says: Some years ago, the writer of this review participated in a multi-vehicle comparison involving a W163 Mercedes. He found it to be roundly beaten to a pulp by the Range Rover Vogue along for the ride. Offroad, the Rover made the Merc look like an amateur.
Last time we looked, the Range Rover is a European 4WD. The writer is of the opinion that the W163 didn't feel "at home" on or off the tarmac. On the road, it was shaded badly by the then new BMW X5. Thankfully, the W164 strikes us as a substantially improved vehicle.
One thing that really gets me is your scoring when it comes to safety. I have no problem with X-factor scores, as this is specific to the reviewer, but can you please explain why you would give a safety score of 3.5 when this car achieved a 5 star rating in the latest tests? Sam
CN says: The five-star NCAP rating only applies to its crash safety, not whether it can avoid a crash in the first place. Do you not care about that? Do you not care how the M-Class stacks up against competitors, many of which are also rated five stars for crash safety?
If you only care that the vehicle scored five stars for crash safety when tested by NCAP, that's fine, but don't tell us how to run our safety ratings -- because other readers may be more discerning than you.
Groaning at the Government... (more here)
Everyone's annoyed at the Queensland government but really the truth is that once again the New South Wales Government can not promote nor hold on to an International Motorsport event! I guess we'll just keep Eastern Creek to ourselves then...
Disappointed Sydney Resident.
Lookin' at LPG (more here)
This is a good article about LPG and a good move by the Government. Hopefully Ford will get liquid injection working for the Falcon and produce performance models as well. My previous XR6 was running well on LPG, but sadly my wife crashed it. I had to get her a smaller target/car -- an LX Focus which is dearer to run than the AU XR6 VCT series III was on LPG...
Ross
Another issue with the E-gas Falcon for the private buyer is that it only comes with the old four speed auto, not even an option for a five or six speed auto. We are not all Taxi operators or fleet and Ford needs to start considering the Private buyer. Give us a better gear box option Ford...
Richard
The LPG Falcon would be even better if Ford actually brought it out in the Liquid Injection format that Europe has been using for years. But it's still a good buy. By the way CarPoint; we are up to the FG model Falcon, not the BF you have pictured!! You should know better!
Jasen
CN says: It was an editorial choice, Jasen. We could have used a pic of the FG, but there would have been nothing to denote that car was any different from a petrol model, so we went with a pic of a BF Falcon that was clearly LPG-fuelled.
When are all levels of government going to show leadership and convert their fleets to local LPG instead of the imported diesel & small cars? All the government is doing is encouraging the consumer to buy imported!
Scott
Grand safety moves... (more here)
Rating the safety aspect of the Hyundai Grandeur CRDi at 2.5/5.0 could give the indication to buyers that the car is not safe; together with the others in its class. The Grandeur and the others in its class should all be given a 5.0/5.0 rating.
All the manufacturers commended for their efforts which help save lives, and at a reasonable price which can be afforded by families. We must never forget how far safety levels have advanced in the last couple of years.
The ratings in the US, where the car is selling like hotcakes because of the value for money aspect, have given it a top safety rating; better than the Nissan/Honda etc equivalents. The article also forgot to mention the Grandeur's five year, unlimited km warranty. Nissan/Honda etc offer only three year limited warranties.
Bill
CN says: Bill, it would be easy (and far less controversial) just to give every modern car a five-star rating for safety. But what does that actually achieve? People would skip over it, since it wouldn't convey any information of value without some basis for comparing the car's safety with that of others.
American dreams? (more here)
America should stop its capitalist free market dreams and bring in tariffs on all imported manufactured goods. America is still the greatest consumer in the world and their Japanese and Korean enemies need to be reminded of this, at the same time America should protect American jobs not former enemies!
Rob
CN says: We won't get into the whole free-trade argument. For one thing, we don't understand it and for another, we reckon that the Americans are hypocrites anyway, applying trade sanctions or complaining when it suits (local subsidies for Howe leather, for example), but subsidising US farmers supposedly competing with Aussie farmers in export markets.
But on the subject of history, the Japanese haven't been an enemy of the Americans in over 60 years and they're now building cars in the US, providing jobs for Americans. As for the Korean enemies (in the North), it's not them that are producing cars for export to the US, it's America's friends in the South that are doing that.
GM is in a very sad state. Much more so than Ford US which is further along its plans to restructure. Ford also has access to the segment leading Ford Europe cars. Add in profitability in every region bar America and they will survive without outside assistance. So, why is it that the 500 Ford Australia job losses of were mentioned and not the 1400 by Holden? Ford will also be recruiting workers in 2010 to build the new Focus locally as well as the updated Territory. Overall, a good article but a few facts were missing.
Phil C
In Australia you have too many choices. For me being born here makes my choice straight forward; I own and drive a Holden Statesman V8. To those that cry economy, first drive one it will shut you up and keep jobs here to boot.
JC
CN says: We don't think so. Drive a Statesman and be stunned by its fuel efficiency? Is that what you're saying?
Looking forward...to more taxes? (more here)
It's nice to mention gas and other alternative fuel types. I noticed our government is keen to put money into research on hydrogen fuels cells. That's nice. I am 100 per cent in favour of reducing waste and pollution, so why has solar been so quiet, even with the advances in tri-level technology? Simple: You can't tax solar by the litre! Let's not think for a moment that our world leaders are looking for anything other than a new tax, and they want us to swing open our arms and say, "Yes please; let's save the planet. Please tax us hard to bury this naughty carbon in the ground"! Time to wake up, Australia. If the environment really is at risk, then solar is the only genuine alternative: Zero emissions. All the rest is just politics and money. It's the biggest scam since Ronald 'Ray-Guns' Star Wars program!
Heath
Some common sense at last! Hope a lot of people including other motoring journalists read this well thought out analysis of the motor industry. Keep up the good work.
R Davidson
Jeepers, the J8... (more here)
Thank God the J8 is not coming to Australia. Mahindra is bad enough! Can Jeep ever get it right? The cars they build look like they're from ten years ago before they are released. No wonder the car industry in the U.S. is stuffed. It's pretty sad when they are making cars in bloody Egypt. What's next? Cars from Ethiopia?
Jeep Hater
CN says: We believe there would be a market here for the J8, which is why we ran the article. Australia is the largest market for the Jeep Wrangler outside North America -- and the J8 is based on that vehicle.
A cab chassis variant would have serious sales potential considering the size of the market here, Toyota wouldn't be the market leader without it!
Steve Brown
BMW Q and A... (more here)
Q: BMW, how can the sedan be $18K less than the coupe?
A: We ripped you coupe buyers off!
Steve
Insignia inquiries... (more here)
How the hell can something that hasn't even been sold to the public win these awards?
Brian
CN says: As is often the case with these awards, the car would have been introduced to the media ahead of its retail launch, making it eligible for consideration in the award judging process.
If the Insignia is to be available in Australia, would Holden plan to build them here?
Tristan
CN says: We're not sure. There's the likelihood of an announcement within the next month or so, if it happens at all.
Excited about Elantra? (more here)
I have a dedicated gas Mitsubishi Magna and it is fantastic. I would buy a gas/electric hybrid almost immediately but not a petrol-electric nor diesel-electric hybrid. So if Hyundai don't bring out this Elantra to Australia I won't buy any of their cars. Possibly another gas dedicated car or even a rechargeable, from green electricity, plug-in car like the Volt.
Anthony
Holden hit the skids... (more here)
I bet Holden are not cutting the production at their Chinese suppliers but will cut production at their slowly dying Australian suppliers. Do they tell you that they still demand three per cent cost down every year? Or you must supply at the inferior Chinese price and they don't even pass these onto the general public? Holden are biggest bunch of crooks around.
Hope they are right, our labour cost are too high compare with other countries. The big chance is they may be following the doom Mitsubishi Motors in South Australia; first all employees have multiple day off, second more worker are laid off and third they cut back production!
Joseph
Who is Holden kidding? Of course it's because of decreasing sales here and in the USA!! Americans are turning away in droves from gas guzzling cars like what Holden builds. The only reason why the Commodore is the best selling car is because they are selling them for virtually nothing to fleets and rental companies; where the Commodores horrible engine four speed auto combo and woeful fuel economy doesn't matter.
Leigh
Lots of Lexus seats? (more here)
Can you tell me how many seats in the Lexus RX...Seven I hope!
Chris
CN says: Well, five. It's not that big, externally, and it has drivetrain components under the rear.
Infinite names... (more here)
This doesn't make any sense. Infiniti is a badge. They are right-hand drive models of all of the cars sold as Infinity in the US, for the Japanese market sold as Nissans. They are currently being imported to Australia under the RAWS import scheme as used vehicles. Why are we giving misleading information to Australian consumers?
Silvio
Maybe not... (more here)
Sure it's the new Mazda 3 and not another silly looking Peugeot? With a face like that, what's it smiling about?
James
This has to be the ugliest treatment of the front of a car I've ever seen except for maybe the BMW trademark grill, or the Peugeot from which it has been copied.
Ray
Identity crisis? (more here)
Porsche must be kidding with the Panamera; first an SUV and now this station wagon? A three door hatchback must be next to complete the range.
Jan
Not helping motoring sales... (more here)
It stinks that the Brisbane Motor Show is cancelled. If car makers are concerned with the economic downturn, they would be doing what they can to retain their share of the market. How can they sell cars if they don't showcase them?
Russ
Subaru sales promo... (more here)
Why sales are up...The reason why Subaru Impreza sales are up is that there is a very attractive drive-away promotion that includes dealer delivery, stamp duty & twelve months registration; a saving of $3185 on the base spec 'R'! It will be interesting to see if Impreza can continue these sales once this promo ends.
Spoof
Geography 101... (more here)
Mr Thompson is not divulging anything we don't already know. "Launched globally, but not Australia" -- are we not on the same planet?
Nissan Australia is sometimes guilty of not being on the same planet! The largest market for the Patrol is Australia, and yet we wait! Why? Is it because the complexity of training required to teach the monkeys is far too advanced? What then?
Grrrr...
Read previous letters to the Carsales Network here