Cars Australia

G'day all. Having an internal debate atm and interested in other's thoughts. I'll try to keep context as brief as possible:

I currently have a 2009 GU patrol and a 2003 xtrail, would like to replace the xtrail in the short term and the GU within 5 years or so. Both vehicles are pretty solid and reliable, but showing their age. The GU is set up for camping in remote areas, which we do a lot of - it's definitely not a mall crawler. Been looking lately at the Pajero Sport as a replacement for the xtrail. Reasoning is it would be far better than the patrol for highway trips, my daughter and her boyfriend could use it to tag along with us on camping trips, and if push came to shove it could be a somewhat reasonable stand-in for the patrol, even if it doesn't go as far (not likely to invest in aux battery, rear drawer setup etc). The pajero sport could never replace the GU though, just in terms of packing space and roof load capacity - we camp in national parks a lot so we have to bring all our firewod in with us and it's not uncommon for me to have 100 kg on the roof. For my budget, I could get a 2020+ with under 100k, and reasonably well equipped if I hold out (which I'm doing). The plan so far has been to do that and then 5 years down the road look at replacements for the GU.

But a particular 200 has just popped up for sale. Appears to be very well maintained, and exceptionally well equipped. It's definitely been around, 270k, but one owner with full service history. Asking price $40k. 2013 model. I've gotta say, I'm seriously tempted. Neither my wife nor myself has much of a commute, so fuel costs of running a landcruiser and patrol are pretty negligible, and the additional costs in servicing both would be manageable until I can pay off the cruiser and trade the GU.

Am I crazy? I know it sounds that way for sure, but this particular cruiser is pretty special in terms of what's been put into it and the fact that it's a 12 year old car with a single owner and full history. At first I thought no way, but I think I'm starting to talk myself into it. Of course I'd pay for an inspection first.

I don't need anyone to make the decision for me, I'm going to do what I'm going to do. But I'm interested in hearing some perspectives. Given the spend is about the same, an exceptional (presumably) 270k 12 year old 200 series, or a 100k 5 yeard old pajero sport?

Cheers.

Huge news!

An investigation by consumer advocacy group Choice found most of Australia's popular car brands collect and share "driver data", ranging from braking patterns to video footage.

Kia and Hyundai collect voice recognition data from inside their cars and sell it to an artificial intelligence software training company.

Privacy and consumer rights advocates are pushing for law reform to limit data collection to what is "fair and reasonable".

The federal government is facing calls to respond to an effective ban on Chinese carmakers in the US with moves of its own.

Auto industry experts say any moves would be complicated, and risk slowing the pace of Australia's transition to electric vehicles.

The Albanese government says it is "closely monitoring" the moves in the US, and is in talks with the Biden administration about any local implications.

So mum drives a 2003 Nissan pulsar, n14 I think.

The new mechanic round the corner wants $250 for spark plug change and $400 for front brakes, which I hope is pads and rotors for that price.

I've only worked on old hiaces, spark plugs were $6ea, front pads were about $40 and rotors were $60ish. That totals about $125, double it for modern price gouging to $250, that leaves $400 for labor, which seems high to me.

Whaddya reckon?

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/11844585

After more than a year of significant renovations and upgrades, One Raceway – formerly known as Wakefield Park – will reopen on the first weekend of October 2024.

Speaking to Drive, brothers Greg and Steve Shelley revealed final preparations were taking place at the racetrack, with several test days taking place before the debut event.

Located near Goulburn, approximately halfway between Sydney and Canberra, One Raceway is now a 13-turn track – up from 10 – thanks to the addition of new banked corners.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/byd-under-fire-customers-in-vin-mixup/

Considering that the VIN number needs to be inspected and verified for each vehicle during the entire Import/Compliance/Distribution/Delivery process, this is a pretty big balls-up.

Imagine you're in the blue car, wanting to turn left:

Green is turning right. There is only one lane.

Two options I see:

(1) Stay behind the green car, to the left (and behind the crossing) until they leave.

(2) Pull up to the left of the green car (as if there were two lanes).

I assume (1) is correct given there is technically only one lane, but I can't find any materials on the NSW site or driving handbook about it and (2) is something I see other people do.

(I have my license test next week)

EDIT: Solved, option (2) is the right one. see https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-safety-and-rules/sharing-road-overtaking-and-merging/overtaking-safely

The only time you can overtake on the left is when the vehicle you’re overtaking is:

• waiting to turn right or make a U-turn from the centre of the road

The former Rhondda Colliery site will be turned into a $95-million motorsport park.

The project is part of the NSW government's ambition to repurpose old coal mines.

Construction of the park is expected be be finished by 2026.

Despite most businesses around the world returning to some form of normal after the pandemic, supply chain problems continue to disrupt the manufacturing and availability of new and second-hand cars.

This disruption has caused vehicle prices to sky-rocket, adding to cost-of-living pressures already being experienced by most Australians.

Car prices in Australia rose throughout 2023 with an average increase of almost 20 per cent since April 2020, even faster than the consumer price index.

I thought that the media was a little over the top with reporting every electric car fire.

Little did I realise just how blown out of proportion it was:

"...electric vehicle battery fires are rare. Indeed, the available data indicate the fire risk is between 20 and 80 times greater for petrol and diesel vehicles. "

Apparently, 90% of caravans are overloaded in QLD.

New Caravan owners also don’t know how to tow.

Before the Chevy Goliath came the Ferd Fteenthousand 🤣

Ai generates the images, but it's becoming all too real 🤣

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/2795760

Wakefield Park raceway was closed last August after a court limited race days to four per month.

It's estimated the track contributed almost $17 million annually to the Goulburn economy.

It was sold in March and the new owners have plans to reopen the track by the end of the year.

The skill and absolute balls of these guys. Makes me wanna fire up Colin McCrae rallying again.

And idk why, but those Group B cars hit different

Need help choosing a car. Cross posted into cars as well

Need a car that primarily has the capacity to tow 2 tonnes, as it's going to be used to tow a 1.6T car + dual axel trailer + loaded with sundries ect for Melbourne and Sydney and inbetween to take a car to carshows. Expect to be towing 2 weekends a month.

Is also going to be the only everyday use car so needs to get into the underground/multistory carparks just fine.

My building is a 1.7m height limit on the parking garage due to using stacking carlifts. So anything that is a classic 4WD is most likely out.

Not too concerned about make/model but I don't want to just go with a SUV or a dualcab ute (personal choice, getting up into those raised cars is actually harder for wheelchair access). Things like the old outbacks I've seen put into the SUV category on carsales but i wouldnt consider them a SUV as the seats are at normal car height.

What's out there that I might have missed on the second hand market around the 20-25k that is going to be a balance of city runaround and towing??

Top contender right now is the Golf wagon alltrack.

We can and should be allowed to drive faster on our freeways and motorways; but don’t think governments will let it happen overnight.

What are peoples’ opinions of the new Victorian distracted driving rules?

My interpretation is that they are more lenient than the previous rules in some ways but much more onerous in others.