So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[JohnM]

So what did @JohnM end up buying, or is he too embarrassed to tell us? Or possibly I missed it.

I went for the Everest.

Before the guffaws from:

• The hard-core off-roaders.
• The caravan or camper towers.
• The plutocrats.

- of which I am none (especially the last ) - erupts, I'll give my reasoning. Most of it I covered in bits and pieces earlier.

I wanted:

• A full-size (but not large) vehicle in wagon style (not a dual-cab).
• A diesel motor.
• The nearest I could get to a car in terms of long-distance fast, comfortable cruising on both sealed and unsealed roads (eg. talking about wanting to comfortably cover 700-800 clicks a day at times).
• Full-size spare.
• Reasonable fuel economy.

I have no need for:

• Towing a caravan or camper.
• Heavy-duty off-road rock-crawling or sand-digging (other than incidental to dirt-road use).

I decided I didn't want to part with any more coin above around the luxury car tax threshold.

Those considerations eliminated:

• 200 series LandCruiser.
• BMW, Audi, Merc, Jeep.
• Subaru Outback or Forester (let alone their gutlessness and droney CVTs).
• Dinky SUVs.
• Pajero as too old.

So it really came down to Prado, Everest, Pajero Sport or Isuzu MU-X. That really breaks out into two groups of two, in that order. I eliminated the latter two on the grounds of being somewhat more 'agricultural'. My brother is happy enough with his Pajero Sport, but hasn't yet driven it much and he wanted towing capacity for his camper trailer.

So it really boiled down to Prado or Everest. Some horror stories still exist around Prado's engine, but more I feel Toyota has tended to rest on its laurels. Ranger is beating HiLux in 4WD utes, which is an indicator of trends to me, even though Prado doesn't sit on the HiLux platform.

The motoring reviews are consistently praiseworthy of the Everest (& Ranger) and rate it pretty much at the top of the above-mentioned four-pack, pipping Prado. I've driven plenty of Prados, so in the end after visiting Ford dealers, I went no further.

There was only one white 2020 build Trend model with the newer bi-turbo donk left in WA and it turned out it's in Albany, so there's a bit of messing around transferring it to my city dealer and getting it back to Perth. If that had been sold, I would have chose a colour but I prefer white for the bush and it avoids paying $650 extra for 'premium paint'. As I understand it, further deliveries from the factory have been suspended. I'll probably take delivery early the week after next.

My dealer did have a white bi-turbo Sport on the floor. The Sport looks the schmick and is superficially attractive. But it's all cosmetic and the increment in price doesn't seem worth it, being rational. But the biggest downside for me was 20 inch wheels and the associated lower-profile tyres. Head has to rule over heart.

Time will tell on the engine - as it will for just about all diesels from now on... It has a 5-year warranty and fixed-price servicing. I think it's pretty telling these days that the Germans, despite their much-vaunted quality, resolutely stick to a piddling 3-year warranty. Even Jeep has 5 .

So - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Same here, still working on getting one, the very last model had a golf engine in it. They are appreciating in value in Germany, there are some that are rallied Including at Eifel last year.

Take me to your Lada: Cuba's passion for a little Russian box

The rugged Soviet-era car is 50 years old – and in Havana, classic models still sell for the price of a house

www.theguardian.com

 

[OZDUCK]

Well not the car I drive but some I would like to own. The 1962 Earls Court Motor Show in colour. Lots of names that are now long gone. These Engllish cars of the early 1960's look so different bright and new

 

[rogerkambah]

Sometimes I remember that there is a '63 Triumph Spitfire living in the depths of my garage - purchased 45 years ago but needs a bit of resto now - must do something about that - or could just leave for someone else.

Well not the car I drive but some I would like to own. The 1962 Earls Court Motor Show in colour. Lots of names that are now long gone. These Engllish cars of the early 1960's look so different bright and new

 

[OZDUCK]

Sometimes I remember that there is a '63 Triumph Spitfire living in the depths of my garage - purchased 45 years ago but needs a bit of resto now - must do something about that - or could just leave for someone else.

Bright red I hope.

You could come and help me fix up my fathers EK Holden Wagon that has been in my shed for about 20 years.

 

[rogerkambah]

Yes, bright red (at first, but now a dull brown/metal colour). Has been unregistered for 33 years and has travelled between 7 garages in that time.

 

[Quickstatus]

I was considering a replacement for the S3.

VW T-Roc. Basically a VW Golf but in the SUV version (well sits a bit higher than a Golf but thats it). It sits between the Tiguan and and T-Cross( Which is the "Polo" version of the SUV). All petrol of course.

I decided I didn't want to part with any more coin above around the luxury car tax threshold.

BTW Any single cab ute with a payload capability of 1000kg, or a vehicle where the seating payload @68kg per seat is less than half of the total payload does not carry a LCT liability.

 

[Quickstatus]

Accident 10 days ago. Still no word from NRMA about the vehicle - whether it is going to be a write off or a repair job.

So 38 days after the accident I got a payout.

Purchased a July 2018 build, June 2019 registered VW Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg 4000km on the clock. On the Market as an "Ex-Demo". they have no shame.....
Essentially I wanted a diesel with loads of boot space but not an SUV.

 

[Quickstatus]

And yesterday I took the 2009 VW Golf Mk6 diesel to the Stealership for non routine service - fuel filter and brake fluid flush.
Got told there was an oil leak from the Mechatronics unit. The Gearbox is a automated dual clutch gearbox so the mechatronics is the brains that drives the clutch for the gear changes. So went to look at the problem

The Scam was immediately evident from the start:
1)Said the mechatronics is a sealed unit. Even though the leak is slow eventually the mechatronics will run out of oil and the gearbox will not work...Wrong. the mechatronics is immersed in gearbox oil - thats how it converts the electrical signals to actuate a clutch.

2)The leaking oil will short out the electrics as the oil was soaking the cable bundle going into the mechatronics...Wrong. Oil does not cause electrical shorts. And the electrics inside the mechatronics unit is completely submerged in oil

3)The leaking oil is caused by a crack in the housing of the mechatronics...Wrong. when I went to pick up the car he showed me where the leak was coming from-- the gearbox breather hole which is actually within electrical connector socket of the mechatronics unit. So when oil leaks out it appears that the electrical bundle is soaked in oil.

4)The fix was a new mechatronics box. Price $3800.... Wrong. The fix was correcting the overfilling of the gearbox from the last gearbox service a year ago.

As I could not trust them to check the fill volume, I went to DrDSG, did a DSG service and confirmed that the gearbox fill was approx 1 litre over recommended.

 

[docjames]

Which Stealership / which area?

Scam or was it really just no idea (conspiracy vs stuff up etc).....

 

[Quickstatus]

The Stealership

Scam for the reason of 1,2,3,4
Vw Mccarrol Waitara

They could have said - looks like mechatronics but could be overfilling. The only way to tell would be a DSG service - drain the oil and refill with proper amount. (there is no dipstick). If overfilling then I would argue that it should be free as its VW service dept mistake or at least half price as the vehicle had done 50% of the DSG service schedule km since the last DSG service

If not overfilling and its a mechatronics prob, then I'll be up for $3800

I guess they didn't want to do a job which raises the real possibility that they have to do it for free or half price
And after giving dodgy reasons 1,2,3,4 there is no way they would admit to overfilling. So I went independent. Paid $420 to get a DSG service which revealed overfilling and confirmation that after service the leak had stopped.

Interestingly Doctordsg.com.au popped up on facebook when I was researching DSG leak. Creepy. But it turns out they are quite good. Now I can get DSG service for half the price of the VW Stealership.

BTW DPFregen.com.au ad also popped up on Facebook

This is for DPF and intake manifold cleaning on the VW Range of vehicles (the Stealership says the DPF cannot be cleaned of Ash)
Reasonable prices too:
DPF clean $365
EGR related clean $165
remove and replace labour TBC.
diagnostics $133.

Better than a new DPF for $3600 from Stealer.

Cost of Ownership of cars is cheaper if there is a bit of knowledge

 

[docjames]

Yeah i get you feel it’s a scam (as per reasons indicated) but it also reads as possibly they have no idea what they are doing (clueless as to possible causes, just pick one that’s “easy” swap in and out and sort the problem out.

Either way, not a great place to take a car for service.

 

[Quickstatus]

Last time I had a fuel leak on the 2017 Golf.

The fan /accessory belt was shredded. I didnt know whether it was the fan belt shredding causing a tear in a fuel line or fuel leak causing the fan belt to slip, and break.

Same Stealership said it was a fuel leak coming from the fuel filter leak
Cost $500
I said the fuel filter is a paper cartridge. It sits in a steel housing.
Ok no probs ill come and have a look.
So i went there and said show me the leak
They then said actually its a warranty job as the leak was a due to a misapplied O ring on the fuel filter housing and the leak caused the fan belt to break

 

[JessicaTam]

The engine is getting fitted to my car and is nearly done. Just have to get it back from Tassie.

Oh, and it was broken into while it was still parked in the yard. B***ards took my fridge! Dealer is replacing the stolen items and fixing the canopy lock.

Edit: Before I left my car I ltook photos of the contents, so no argument when it comes to what has gone.

 

[JohnM]

The engine is getting fitted to my car and is nearly done. Just have to get it back from Tassie.

Jeez, you're in the wars, Jess. Getting it back from Tassie could be a major issue. Can it be shipped without you having to go there?

 

[JessicaTam]

Jeez, you're in the wars, Jess. Getting it back from Tassie could be a major issue. Can it be shipped without you having to go there?

Sure can. Quotes range from $600-$1000 to get it to Melbourne. It adds about $300 to get it to the valley, so I might have to risk public transport!

 

[JohnM]

Sure can. Quotes range from $600-$1000 to get it to Melbourne. It adds about $300 to get it to the valley, so I might have to risk public transport!

But aren't outsiders banned from entering the infected isle?

 

[JessicaTam]

But aren't outsiders banned from entering the infected isle?

Public transport to get to Melbourne when it comes off the boat.

 

[jb747]

VW T-Roc. Basically a VW Golf but in the SUV version (well sits a bit higher than a Golf but thats it). It sits between the Tiguan and and T-Cross( Which is the "Polo" version of the SUV). All petrol of course.

The R version is interesting. Basically the same drive train as the S3. Hopefully better seats. I still like the idea of the predominantly rear drive cars that use AWD as required, as opposed to most of these vehicles that are really FWD 99% of the time.

Found a couple of nice F-Types too. They fit the model where the boss never comes with me....

 

[Quickstatus]

I still like the idea of the predominantly rear drive cars that use AWD as required

If the super does not stretch to the F-Type there is always the Toyota86 GTS (except no AWD)

Z4? BMW used to be home of the RWD until the Mini arrived

.....

Even Jeep has 5

It needs every bit of the 5 years.