By Paul Gover.
Q: I’m looking to purchase a Toyota Granvia, as I have six kids, for $68,000 and my current plan is to sell it after approximately 2-3 years/
How much do you think I can get for it because this will probably determine whether I buy the car?
We drive under 10k,000 kilometres a year
And what about the LDV G10 executive 2020?
Akiva S
A: The LDV is less bus-like than the Granvia and is great value. I have a friend who loves his. The Granvia will do better on resale, just because it’s a Toyota, but I would go for the Granvia as more enjoyable to live with and own. There is no totally reliable way to predict resale values, particularly these days, but companies like Red Book do the best job.
Q: I’m looking at getting a 2019 Mazda3 G25 GT hatch.
Is it a reliable car, is it worth the price or should I look at the model below?
I’m just looking at it for an everyday car.
Adriana
A: Go for the model below. The GT is intended for people who want a more sporty drive, so you will probably find it a bit harsh for normal runaround work. And you’re paying extra for stuff you won’t need.
Q: Just wondering what you would recommend to replace a 2015 Holden Trax.
I’m not replacing for any particular reason other than I feel it’s time.
I’m still fond of a small SUV like the Trax, would like a long warranty and free servicing for a couple/few years if possible – and not too expensive.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Robyn R
A: Hyundai Venue. Compact, easy to park, better quality and safety than the Trax, although a long warranty with capped-price servicing. It get The Tick from me.
Q: We have just purchased a new Mercedes-Benz 2020 GLE 300d, with factory-fitted towbar for 3.5 tonne towing capacity.
We are going to use it to tow our 2.8-tonne boat and wonder about the correct drive mode to tow the boat: Sport, Eco, Comfort or Manual Shift.
Colin C
A: Definitely not Eco, but the right choice depends on the roads and the terrain. I would start in Comfort but be ready to make a manual shift if you see a big hill coming or need to slow for tight corners.
Q: My mother has a 2010 C200 Mercedes Benz which has only done about 25,000 kilometres.
I would like to attach a charger to keep her battery charged-up.
Could you advise what brand and type of charger would work for her car?
Do I need to disconnect the existing battery cables or can I just connect the charger leads to the battery and leave the existing cables connected?
Andrew B
A: The brand of charger I’ve used successfully for more than five years, and is supplied by Ferrari and Ducati to their owners, is called CTEK. I’m not on any sort of commission by Repco stores have been doing good prices on CTEK. You don’t need to disconnect the battery.
Q: About four years ago my fabulous little seven-year old turbo diesel Golf died with a catastrophic computer failure.
Gun shy about getting another VW I opted for a bigger Mazda CX-3. While I like the extra room, and it’s a reliable car, I really really miss the zippiness of the turbo Golf.
Plus I had no idea the size of petrol tanks varied between cars and didn’t think to ask with the Mazda. So it’s disappointing that, while the Golf had a 50 litre tank, the Mazda is only 40 and I feel like I am constantly filling it.
To cut to the chase my daughter has just returned from overseas and is happy to buy the Mazda, so I need a car.
I’m nervously contemplating a return to VW and potentially looking at an auto Tiguan.
Mary W
A: VW has done a lot on reliability and aftersales, so I’d recommend them now. But don’t go for the Tiguan, as it’s got quite bulky and more for families. They have a newbie, the T-Cross, which is smaller and more manageable. It gets The Tick from me.
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