Carsales Network Reader Email (June 2008)

Read previous letters to the Carsales Network here

Send your submissions to Editor@CarPoint.com.au

Irate over Increase (more here)
Whether "luxury car" buyers are cash strapped is irrelevant. I'm a serial car purchaser, and am so offended by this ridiculous increase, I've vowed to spend time in Europe and buy and use my nice cars there, at almost half the cost we pay here. I'm done with luxury cars in Australia. Well done Labor?!
Brad Garnham

The Rudd Government is both naive and greedy. How can they make us believe, with exchange rates against the U.S dollar so close that a car that retails for $34,175 in the USA (Plus any on road charges) can have a price here for $86,000? Our motor industry is one of the finest in the world, yet we are continually embarrassed by ridiculously high tax. Why should we have to defend an absurd tax structure?
Gary Ramsey

Riled Renault Owner (more here)
I unfortunately I own a Renault Megane diesel and I am so disappointed with the quality of the car and service that no new product from Renault will change my opinion about the company.
Peter

Last Round For Golf? (more here)
I just read your article about the new Fiat Ritmo and it mentions the Volkswagen Golf as a competitor. I read in the German press that VW will cease selling the Golf in Australia and the USA. Have you heard anything about it?
Oliver
CN says: It's news to us, but we'll keep our ear to the fairway...

Please Review LCT For Restored Cars (more here)
Thank you for your article on the Luxury Car Tax. I enclosed details I have prepared on an unfortunate aside to the LCT.
The 2008 Australian Budget has increased the luxury car tax from 25 per cent to 33 per cent. While new vehicle tax has been subject to debate, it appears that its application to imported Classic, Historic, Vintage and Veteran passenger cars has again not been recognized and neglected in the post budget discussions. Possibly the original application at 25 per cent to imported older vehicles was a result of an accidental oversight in the original legislation. The present increase provides the opportunity for a political debate as to if, and why, the tax should be applied to collectors of older vehicles above the threshold value.
While the Customs duty is not applicable to cars over 30 years old, they are subject to GST of 10 per cent and Luxury Car Tax of now 33 per cent for the assessed value of over $57,123 (approx). The assessed value includes original purchase price, acquisition and transport costs, customs clearance costs and GST on the accumulated price.
Many collectors import rare and unusual vehicles in a very poor condition then have them restored by local restorers. They may not qualify for the term “luxury”. This process supports a significant local restoration industry. There is a level of Luxury Car Tax that will reduce the size of this labour intensive, local industry.
The details of levies, duties and LCT can be found on the Australian Customs Website (more here)
The collectible car movement is made up of a diverse group of Australians with a passionate involvement with their chosen make and period of interest. A few are wealthy, most are just passionate. Their interest often spans the world. Many collectible cars involve many years of restoration, supporting local industry, then very small annual use, contributing very slight amounts to greenhouse concerns.
It would appear that the Luxury Car Tax was accidentally applied to the collectible car movement in its original form. What revenue is raised in Luxury Car Tax for vehicles over 30 years old?
Now is an opportunity for the LCT to be reviewed and revoked on vehicles over 30 years old. Should it continue to be applied, the collectible car movement deserves a vigorous debate, with each of our elected representatives giving reasons for their positions and not hidden within the case for Luxury Car Tax on new vehicles.
Patrick Devine

Very Happy VW Owners (more here)
As a completely satisfied Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI owner, I find that the low fuel consumption is amazing. I'm averaging 10 litres per 100 km around town!
Just love this car.
Pieter Holwerda

Tiguan not for Everyone (more here)
This represents yet another classic example of a vehicle which is overrated, overpriced & overkill - especially for the pensioners!
Greg Nowlan

We actually just purchased the Volkswagen Tiguan not even 2 weeks ago and I think it is amazing. For the record, it is a DSG gearbox which snaps through the gears exceptionally quickly and smoothly. The turbo diesel engine has more than enough grunt (320Nm, same as R32) and packs a strong punch. I'm yet to find a fault in it other than there's no more until next year! Not that it's a problem for me as we got one of the last ones!
Josh
CN says: Josh, we're pretty certain it's a standard epicyclic auto (hard to pick the two apart from the way they drive). We're pleased to hear you're enjoying the Tiguan.

Different but Same (more here)
When comparing petrol-powered cars, there is no need to list both the L/100km and the CO2 emissions as if they provide different information. They vary in the same scale, as the CO2 figure is a linear function of l/100km!! It might be good to mention this somewhere, as most of the articles on this site make the same mistake.
Michael
CN says: Michael, we have covered this in the past and you're quite right, but we will continue to publish the CO2 figures separately from the fuel consumption figures, since many readers will probably already have separate goalposts in mind for CO2 and fuel consumption, so it sort of makes sense to keep the two separate.

Stone Age Subaru (more here)
Can you believe Subaru are still using 4 speed autos? Didn't Noah have one in the Ark?
Peter
CN says: Can't comment on that, but apparently Adam did his apprenticeship working on them...

Separate Central Key Saves Cash (more here)
In this review you rubbished that the central locking buttons are on a different fob to the key. To me this is a great idea.
This is how my old Ford was and it worked well. We just had to replace the little battery once for a couple of dollars.
On my newer Holden the central locking is built into the key. Now with one of the central locking buttons not working we have been given a price of over 150 dollars to replace it; because it is part of the Key.
This is technology for the sake of technology, its rubbish. Give me a separate one anytime.
Ray

Audi's Economy (more here)
Surely with these economy figures, the Audi A3 would qualify as the most economical in the country, knocking the Toyota Prius off its perch? At least if one does a reasonable amount of steady cruising, as against stop/start traffic. It appears that the Prius 'theoretically' wins in that category.
Allan Smith

Too tricky for Aussies? (more here)
We shouldn't be complaining too much about the hybrid Toyota Camry decision, because there are only two manufacturers in the world that are making hybrid cars. They are Toyota and Honda, both Japanese. Hybrid technology is extremely sophisticated and difficult to manufacture and Australian car manufacturers like Ford and Holden will never be capable of making such cars.
Yiannis Danatzis
CN says: Yiannis, if you're going to comment, you need to be better informed first.

Hydrogen not Hybrids! (more here)
Bring it on...
These other "hybrids" are stop gaps.
I am in a duel fuel Prado and it had been awesome to use gas with these high prices. But these oil companies are have a laugh at our expense. Some of the excuses for prices going up are ridiculous. All they are doing is holding us off until they work out a way to charge us a fortune for it. The Government are in a similar boat, they are so addicted to the taxes fuel is bringing in, they will find a way to drop a tax bomb on us too. Why can't they cap the GST on fuel? Considering they are so powerless to act about the petrol prices, they are certainly not complaining when price rises deliverer the extra GST. After all this price rise phenomenon that they are so furiously fighting only increases their tax with every rise.
Bring on Hydrogen Toyota!!!!!!!
J. Mann
CN says: You think the government won't find a way to tax hydrogen?

Huge Hybrid Savings Idea (more here)
It'd be nice to see them further developing the Hybrid system to run on LPG - now that would bring substantial savings to the motorists!
Viv Claassens
CN says: Yes, it would -- and without the sort of problems associated with diesel/hybrid systems -- but there aren't that many markets around the world where LPG has made a major impact, so most car makers wouldn't go to the effort of developing an LPG/hybrid system, more's the pity.

Get over the Diesel (more here)
"Just what the local market ordered: a capable compact SUV with diesel option, at the right price"
Yes, because we are just screaming out for a diesel vehicle at the moment with current prices?!
LPG vehicles would be much more appreciated.
Leigh
CN says: Leigh, diesel's more than just about running costs. An SUV with diesel is going to outgun an LPG-fuel SUV -- just for torque alone.

A car by any other name... (more here)
It's not a mini MPV; it's just a car, pure and simple. The term MPV is a construct of the motoring press and car makers keen to persuade the ever guidable public that they have yet another motoring choice, when in reality all they have is just another car.
It doesn't matter whether it's a MPV, SUV or 4WD. What do people do with these vehicles? They put people in them and drive around, so all these supposedly differing vehicles just get used for the same thing. They're just cars!
Dave
CN says: Dave, if you're ever in the market for a Ferrari Testarossa, we have a low-light Morris Minor to sell you. It's all the same, after all.

Only Posers need apply? (more here)
It's a real shame that BMW has become the ultimate posing machine. What happened to BMW being all about creating the "Ultimate Driving Machine”?
I will be holding onto my manual 328i for a long time. Guess I'll have to step down to the 1 Series range to get what I want in the future.
Leo

“Please consider” Lancer has problems too (more here)
This is a very good comprehensive review about the Mitsubishi Lancer, with important detail like the road noise /soundproofing problem being highlighted. At least I won't be gob smacked when I take delivery of the car in two weeks and will expect the worst in this area. Can it be remedied by insulating material?
David Donne

Autos for Aussies? (more here)
Blind Freddy can see that Ford Fiesta and Focus would sell here if they had decent auto transmissions. Someone tell Europe that not many Aussies drive manuals! The Getrag automated manual dual-clutch or VW's DSG are the obvious choice. If they can't manage to source one of these then they could at least put a decent 6-speed (ZF?)conventional auto in them.
Don't expect us to buy last century's 4-speed autos.
Brad

Not just Diesel... (more here)
Why is there no mention of H2O/Mono-atomic Hydrogen (water/fuel cell) systems? This seems to be by far the cheapest, easiest, cleanest and most Earth friendly system around.
Kevin Isaksen
CN says: Kevin, if you're talking about converting water to hydrogen and then using said hydrogen to run a fuel cell and thus produce electricity -- it's not cheap, it's not easy and it appears to us to ignore at least one law of thermodynamics. There are ways of getting around those issues, but they're still in the future and call for a combination of major infrastructure change, manufacturing efficiencies and downright technological inventiveness.

Appreciate the Aussies (more here)
What a pity motoring journalists don't live in the real world. You drive a car for a couple of days and would claim you know the real character of a vehicle. I have had Ford and FPV products for 6 yrs and would have to say they are inherently reliable comfortable and great to drive. Your comments are shallow and show little understanding of how great our Aussie cars are.
Go drive some U.S. "car", which are absolute rubbish, or justify the value and servicing costs of Euro cars, or the sheer craziness of high powered front wheel drive and then perhaps you might understand the local cars are great value for money, reliable, safe and a great drive.
Give them and break and show some Aussie spirit
Peter
CN says: You sacrificed your objectivity as soon as you mentioned that you'd owned Ford and FPV products for six years.

Happy Medium? (more here)
I couldn't agree more with this article. Toyota Camry, Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord all appear to me to be in size very similar to the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore... They just lack rear wheel drive, torque and Aussie styling.
Bill

What are you on about? Medium car sales are at an all-time high. Last year, over 120,000 were sold. 5 years before that, sales didn't even manage 60,000, half that figure. In fact, last year's figure is a 15 year high. The drop in sales of the Toyota Camry and Mazda 6 can be explained by the huge number of new models introduced in the medium car segment over the past 1-2 years, so the same overall number are being sold, but that is being divided up by more models. Also, the Kia Magentis is not experiencing 'huge growth' as you put it. The vehicle sells under 1,000 units a year, not nearly enough to support any valid argument.
David Zyk
CN says: David, medium car sales have dropped over the last twelve months. That's according to VFACTS. Yes, the segment has grown over the past five years, but the whole market has been posting new records each year over the same period. As you say, there has been a number of new entrants in the segment in recent times and they have mopped up a lot of the extra growth over the five-year period. We didn't say that the Kia Magentis has enjoyed "huge" growth, but in percentage terms it has grown, whereas the larger medium segment cars have gone backwards. In effect, this supports the argument that people in the medium segment are looking for smaller cars -- that are also more fuel efficient. Cars like the Magentis (and diesel Epica, the new Sonata, et al) will benefit from this.

Government's Green Fund (more here)
Perhaps the funds could be used to subsidise the price of Hybrid Camrys. Divide the $35m by 10,000 Camry's a year, over 5 years, and the price could be reduced by $700 per car, a significant chunk of the premium.
And any increased sales this brought would help amortise development costs to Head Office over a broader base.
Daniel
CN says: Daniel, the argument goes that Toyota doesn't need this money to amortise development costs for Hybrid Camry. The drivetrain package already exists in America and to a very large extent, would just need to be imported and bolted into the existing Aussie-spec car on the production line.

The government is looking at it all wrong. Make Hybrid vehicles and vehicles that use 5 litres or less tax free. This way more people will buy them and therefore the cost of parts will decrease.
Paul McAnelly

Hey don't forget the Santa Fe (more here)
Once again, a very good article. The one thing that really stands out though is that nowhere in the article do you mention the Hyundai Santa Fe. This seems very strange to me as the Hyundai must be very close in spec. and price. You have even mentioned the Toyota Rav 4 and I don't seem to remember this vehicle being offered in diesel.
Is this merely an oversight???
Tony Griffiths
CN says: Our view is that the Santa Fe is a larger vehicle than the Tiguan, but whatever the case, no doubt people will cross-shop the two -- or will they?

Camry Consumption (more here)
Will anyone bother to mention that the economy of a Toyota hybrid Camry? The economy isn't that good. It's about 7 litres per hundred km. Many cars in existence today beat it for economy. By the time it gets here in 2010 it will be just treading water.
Catalyst

E Gas Errors (more here)
Here's two reasons Ford's E-gas falcons aren't selling:
1. Ford Falcon doesn't use direct vapour injection so the power/torque loss vs. the petrol equivalent is too much. In Commodore the outputs are almost the same.
2. Ford (and Holden) have stupidly restricted e-gas cars to the old 4-sp autos. Dumb.
That's enough to put me off completely.
BJ

Expensive Import? (more here)
Volkswagen is only importing base models or the fully optioned model to Australia. If you want one be prepared to part with around $60,000. Perhaps it would have been relevant to mention this in the article.
Howard

Diesel pricier than petrol? (more here)
Why is our diesel so high here in Australia? Isn't the making process cheaper than making petroleum? What taxes are we paying at the pump for diesel?
Neil

Why is it that in Australia we pay more for diesel than petrol? In all other OCED countries diesel fuel is cheaper than petrol. Also the car importers in Australia need to wake up.
I bought a new Hyundai Getz in 2005 and had no option of a diesel engine. In New Zealand they have that option. This year I wanted to upgrade to a new Suzuki Vitara but they only do the 5 dr model in diesel and not the 3 dr. New Zealand does both models.
My argument with this is if a country with a mere 4.2 million population base can offer all models with what you want why can't we do that here? There is definitely a business case or are we just to plain lazy to offer service and choice.
Ross

Please Focus on Sales (more here)
That it doesn't matter about the model name of a car. If the price is right it will sell.
The Ford Focus has been the biggest seller in England, in its class, for ten years or so. Ford Australia must make the price compete with Japan if they are to make the Focus work here.
Ford Australia seems to think they can charge a high premium here for European style cars. That won't work at the lower end of the market.
Ray

Better buy a bike (more here)
Well this was a great article. I'm just trying to inform myself on the ins and outs of buying a car. A very technical article, but at least I feel that I've been told the worst case scenario of buying a car.
With petrol rising and the ongoing car maintenance it's sounding more and more expensive. Maybe it's time to get a job close to home and ride a bike. Thanks for the article.
Julie

Holden and Ford fall short. (more here)
I agree that Ford & Holden are killing off the large Aussie car themselves. The glaring shortcomings of both cars that you highlighted are proof of the bizarre decision making that must go on in these companies.
Brad

Renault Revised in Australia? (more here)
In regards to the Renault Laguna, I think you guys got some info wrong. The Laguna, the one is coming to Australia, will have 2.0L dCI engine with 110 KW not 2.2 Dci 102 kW.
May be it's better to correct this article for all readers...
Samuel
CN says: Thanks Samuel, we've made the necessary changes...

The BM is brilliant (more here)
Your article is an unfair and irrelevant comparison with Renault, Mercedes etc as all the compared vehicles are not in the same league.
I looked and drove many, the BMW 320D is in a class of its own. It's great to fill up once a month even given the price. As far as poor comments on cabin, I don't know what the writer looked at, but it sure isn't my 320d. It has everything you could mention, think of, dream of, it has things I didn't know until after purchase!
Reading the manual is more like a uni assignment, but as you make your way through I keep getting surprises. Even though you can buy two and a half other cars for the same dollar, the BMW is in a class of its own. I think the writer needs to take a 320D exec with innovation package for a run... I bet he'd buy it.
Tony
CN says: That's a bet we'd take.

Let the Sunshine In (more here)
There has been a solar car challenge for the last 20 years, when are we going to start to build solar cars? It is so obvious that petrol, diesel, battery, nuclear or bio fuels are just stalling steps to what we could really have. Come on Australia, we need to lift our game, lets get cracking on this, we could be selling solar cars to the world. It makes me mad, I want a solar powered car.
Bernadette McQuade
CN says: Bernadette, even in Australia, the technology is not practical for everyday driving. Battery technology needs to improve out of sight in terms of weight, size and storage capacity, as just one example of the way we're not ready for solar power yet.

Calling all Compact 4WDs (more here)
I have been screaming out for a proper compact 4WD. This is the closest thing to a real 4WD available. If the Suzuki Jimny came in diesel it would be considered, but the gearing on the new Suzuki Vitara is just too high. The Nissan X Trail diesel is great idea, it just needs bigger wheels. That's what a 4wd needs; big wheels and torque enough to turn them. The fact that touring range is increased running on diesel is a bonus, and assists in any off road trips.
jayson mannile

Real men don't drive Ravs (more here)
The Toyota Rav 4 can be scary & annoying on wet roads. It needs a proper 4WD system that can be left on (something like the Outlander). Dropping back to front drive mode above 40kmh is dumb. It could have been a man's car but as Toyota have so often done before; they have produced another hairdresser's car.
Brad

Astra-nomical Rating (more here)
http://www.carpoint.com.au/car-review/.aspx You may want to check your details but the Holden Astra AH 2008 also got a 5 Star Rating, and it is also stated on another website that it did.
The Holden Astra has had a 5 Star Rating for a long time even before ESP was standard- you can check with how safe is your car website.
Sash
CN says: The base model Astra CD hatch is a four-star car in Australia, according to ANCAP. This is one variant in the range that lacks the side curtain airbags of the other models and was rated four stars accordingly. You can check ANCAP's details for yourself at their website.

Epica Diesel a Daewoo? (more here)
Holden have been promoting the Epica diesel as "coming soon" for some months now.
'GM Inside News' has also shown pics of a face lifted Daewoo Tosca - clearly badged as a Holden Epica.
Maybe we'll even get the 2.5l L6 6spd auto with ESP at the same time..... Sean

Under and Over (more here)
"Despite oversquare bore and stroke dimensions (82.7 x 93mm)," - the engine is under square - please get it right.
Ken Mortensen
CN says: Readers can work that out from the context which continues: "the engine's a revver...", but thanks for the tip.

Rev head Writer? (more here)
Here we have yet another motor writer who is 50 going on 17! Every car you blokes drive has to have a total crap ride so you can have your fun around corners like a 17 year old hoon.
Why don't you just go drive a go-cart with all the other kids? I'll take a good ride every time thanks. It will make a nice change from all the crap we get dished up from all the local makers.
Ray
CN says: Having a bad day Ray? Haemorrhoids troubling you?

Bothered BMW owner (more here)
Misshaped? Overweight-not fast enough? The BMW 135i can go 0-60 in 4.7s if you look on 'youtube'. Sometimes I get the impression that you motoring guys are like food critics- unreliable.
Peter Glenn
CN says: A car can be both fast and yet, overweight. Sometimes we get the impression BMW owners believe their cars are beyond reproach.

Remember the Renault? (more here)
To omit the Renault Sport Clio 182 from your list of non turbo cars is a real let down to this article and credibility.
Matthew

Delighted Dualis Buyer(more here)
I have just taken delivery, 4 days ago, of a Nissan Dualis S.T. Option Pack C.V.T. After much comparison with cars in this size range and other S.U.V. vehicles in a similar price range I believe this is a very good value for money all round vehicle.
It is neither a 4 x 4 truck nor is it a nimble, sporty type hatch, but this is precisely why I chose it. I wanted neither of these 2 categories. What I wanted was something in the compact range with flexibility and this it has in spades.
I do not consider it a pretty car but it has enough character to appeal to someone in the over 50s bracket as I am. I am amazed that I haven't seen more around the streets yet.
I originally drove one in December but considered it too pricy then, now though Nissan are offering deals on the option pack model with all the safety for base model prices plus other incentives to dealers which they are prepared to pass on to get the business.
All in all one satisfied customer of Essendon Nissan and to make it even more attractive to me it was made 4 km. from where I was born 50+ years ago, good one Nissan!
Big Al C

Read previous letters to the Carsales Network here