By Paul Gover.
Q: My daughter is choosing between three cars for herself and children, aged five and three, and all their gear.
They have a Mitsubishi Outlander as the family car.
She is considering a 2021 Toyota RAV4 GXL, a Ford Escape Vignale and a secondhand Volvo XC60 diesel.
Your thoughts?
Graeme M
A: The Volvo is a great car but diesel is on the way out and probably not good for day-to-day suburban work. There will be a huge waiting list for the RAV4, which puts the Escape at the top of her list. But she should definitely test drive the XC60 before making a commitment.
Q: I have a 2009 Ford Falcon G6E with factory gas.
I’m thinking it will increase in value in the future, so wondering if I should keep it for 10 or 15 years.
Or should I sell it?
If I sell, what should I buy from Ford as it’s been a pleasure driving the Falcon?
Peter
A: It’s not a collector car with LPG fading fast in Australia. Depending on your budget, a Mustang is the obvious choice from a Ford showroom but the Puma is a compact crossover that’s nicely sporty to drive.
Q: I’m thinking of investing in a Porsche Boxster from around 2000.
My budget is $15,000 to $25,000 and I’m looking for a fun sports car that I can drive once a month then keep in a lock-up garage.
I’m hoping to see an increase on the investment in 10-15 years.
Di P
A: That’s a big gamble with no proven profit. And that budget is tight, even for a Boxster. Why no just get a Mazda MX-5 and enjoy yourself.
Q: I have just purchased a Range Rover 2014 Sport and the dealer promised to update the maps on the navigation system.
We found out a week after we picked up the car that this wasn’t done as it didn’t have Peninsula Link in Victoria on it.
The car went back to them for a warranty item and to get the GPS updated but they are now saying that they couldn’t do this as the software is no longer available.
I find this hard to believe as you are talking about thousands of vehicles.
Peter S
A: Your problem is not unusual as car company systems always lag on updates, as it takes around two years to produce fresh mapping, and frequently change their operating systems. Bad news but best to get an add-on device from someone like Garmin and also check to see if you system is compatible with the excellent Waze App.
Q: I have a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander AWD with the 2.2 diesel that is my wife’s daily driver and has done 111,000 kilometres.
Recently I heard what I thought was some kind of subtle winding/grinding in the front end shortly after it had been serviced and the dealership said the splines in the transfer case and diff were failing and could cost upwards of $10,000.
I was given a 1800 number to call and explain my case in the hope of having it recognised as a known fault and covered under some kind of warranty deal.
I understand completely that it’s an eight-year-old car and bits and pieces will inevitably wear and need replacing, but I don’t think this is one of those kind of times.
The car has always been regularly serviced by Hyundai, it’s never been off-road, it’s never towed anything and having only travelled what I would’ve thought was a fraction of its expected life.
I obviously can’t just sell it and give this problem to the next person, so I have no choice but to fix it. The question is who pays?
Grant M
A: With a full factory service history you have a good case for a ‘loyalty contribution’ from Hyundai Australia. It is usually a minimum of 50 per cent contribution for the parts. Push with the dealership but also go directly to customer service at Hyundai Australia in Sydney.
Q: I have a 2011 Subaru Outback 2011 which has just turned over 200,000 kilometres and I’ve had the car for nearly 10 years.
It is in reasonable condition with a few scratches and a couple of minor dents, but love this reliable car and it suits our country dirt roads.
I’m thinking of selling it before I retire next year as I won’t be able to afford to do this afterwards.
Should I sell privately or trade in?
For a replacement I would like to have a later model with a smart screen for Apple Play, and I could afford about $30,000. What year/s should I look for and do you recommend dealer or private purchase?
Anita K
A: You should be looking at a newer secondhand Forester, which has now grown to a similar size as your old Outback with everything you will want and need. Best to head to a Subaru dealership to get a valuation on your car and look at secondhand prices, as most people find it easier to trade than face the hassle of a private sale.
Q: I want buy a car for my daily commute of 160 kilometres to-and-from work.
I already own Toyota Kluger and it’s a thirsty car, so I wanted to reduce my fuel cost.
Can you please advise on which big car, a seven-seater the size of the Kluger, will give more mileage.
I not fussy of any brand or fuel type.
Pax G
A: If you’re driving that far a hybrid will probably not work, as they are best in short-haul suburban work, so perhaps consider a diesel despite them falling from favour. In the full-sized seven-seaters the Kia Sorento is best, but if you only need a 5+2 body style then head to a Skoda showroom. It’s best if you do the sums through www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au as you can compare official economy figures for all of your contenders.
Q: I am thinking of buying a Toyota Corolla crossover hybrid when they come out.
So wanting to hear your opinion of hybrids
Kevin O
A: Hybrids work for plenty of people in suburban driving, although they are not cheap to buy, and I know one friend who has cut her monthly fuel bill from $95 to less than $30 because she mostly drives short hops close to home. There is no firm arrival date for the Corolla Cross but it is sure to be a sellout as Toyota’s hybrid sales grow every month and its arrival is in 2022, so probably best to get in early.
If you have a question for the Car Doctor, send an email to [email protected]
