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Car Broker

2020 Kia Cerato – Value

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Kia Cerato 2020
Pluses & Minuses Pro - Comfortable; pleasant to drive; auto-braking as standard; great GT version Con - Lacklustre engine in non-GT versions; worse fuel economy than previous model The Pick: 2021 KIA Cerato GT 5D Hatchback What stands out? The Kia Cerato hatch and sedan have stylish cabins, strong infotainment suite, and drive nicely, with all versions featuring some kind of autonomous emergency braking and seven-year warranty. The range is topped by a ...
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Why Use a Car Broker?

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Why you should use a car broker
A good car broker should assist you with your car choice decision, and save you money, time, and frustration in the purchase of a new car. Here’s our analysis of the brokering process. A car broker works in the same way as a mortgage broker who looks for the lowest interest rates, though a car broker’s job is to help you buy a car for the best possible price. The car broker acts as the middle man between the car seller and buyer, and the service is often very handy. ...
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AMG E53 Up to Mount Hotham

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AMG E53
What a great way to spend a day...... “Because it's there,” was all the justification George Mallory ever needed to climb Everest. Our aspirations are a good deal more modest than old George's – and we're banking on a more gratifying outcome - but the rationale is much the same. Why would you drive from sea level to Australia's highest coach road? We'd prefer to ask why wouldn't you, especially when that road, from Lakes Entrance on Victoria's Gippsland Coast to the alpine resort of...
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SUV 7 Seaters – Which One for You?

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Best 7 seater review
The Santa Fe now has a V6, a 2-edged sword. The Mazda CX-9 is a favourite in the Wheels office. It wouldn’t be a Car of the Year winner if it wasn’t. However, the latest generation Santa Fe presents as strong competition – and now it’s endowed with 206kW of V6 power to take on the benchmark. So, which is best? EQUIPMENT AND VALUE At $51,000, the Elite designation renders this Santa Fe V6 variant the middle-ground, value-for-money proposition within the range. Still, it’s d...
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Ford Ranger is Top Dog for 4×4 Sales

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Ford is top dog for 4x4 sales
Ford, Toyota, and Mitsubishi remain 4x4 sales charts leaders. The Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton once again occupy the three top spots in 4x4 sales according to the latest VFACTS report for February 2020. The Ford Ranger grabbed a whopping 25.7 per cent of the 4x4 ute segment in February, ahead of the Toyota Hilux with 23 per cent, leaving the others to fight for the other half of the segment. In year to date terms, Ford ha...
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Mercedes-Benz 5-year Warranty

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Mercedes have moved to a 5 year warranty on all vehicles
The three German luxury brands have stubbornly stuck to 3-year warranties - until now. Every Mercedes-Benz car, van, and ute sold from April 1 will be covered by a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. The German manufacturer is the first luxury-car brand outside of Tesla to extend its warranty period beyond the industry-standard three years, and now puts it in line with mainstream brands such as Toyota and Mazda. Every model within Mercedes’ range is included in the five-year/unli...
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Mazda CX-30 – A New Mazda SUV

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2020 Mazda CX-30 G20 Touring review
Another SUV offering in the Mazda mix - The New Mazda CX-30 Overall Rating Plus & Minus  Plus - Striking design inside and out; high level of equipment; positive ownership proposition  Minus - Suspension firm on Aussie roads; getting expensive; no SkyActiv-X… yet The Wheels Verdict: Mazda’s upmarket push is continuing at pace, and the stylish CX-30 bolsters this movement. Yes, you pay a premium for it, but the luxurious cabin belies the Ja...
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Mazda Quality Upgrades Shine Through

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Mazda continues premium push despite sales slump
Enhancements and luxury upgrades at the forefront of Mazda thinking Mazda’s premium push isn’t about to slow down, with the Japanese manufacturer happy with its positioning of the popular 3. Prices now start at $24,990 for the entry-level Pure manual and monthly sales are significantly down on the 3’s 2012 heyday. However, according to marketing director, Alastair Doak, the venerable hatch/sedan is tracking well for the brand and its expectations. “The standard equipmen...
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BMW axes Diesel

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BMW 3 Series
Diesel is "on the nose". DIESEL is fast regaining its infamous distinction as a dirty word with manufacturers dropping oilers from their respective line-ups down under. Frugal, small-capacity turbo petrol engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles are becoming mainstays because of their economy, efficiency and emissions figures. BMW is the latest marque to axe a diesel variant, with the petrol-powered 320i...
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All New Mazda CX-30 – the Inbetweener

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All new Mazda CX-30
Another Mazda Winner..... Plus & Minus  Plus - Striking design inside and out; high level of equipment; positive ownership proposition  Minus - Suspension firm on Aussie roads; getting expensive; no SkyActiv-X… yet The Wheels Verdict: Mazda’s upmarket push is continuing at pace, and the stylish CX-30 bolsters this movement. Yes, you pay a premium for it, but the luxurious cabin belies the Japanese brand’s traditional bad...
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Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe

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Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe
Coupe SUV - Porsche Enters the Fray Overall Rating Plus & Minus Plus - Prodigious power; stunning dynamics for an SUV; premium interior Minus - Hefty price of options; busy ride quality in Turbo; less practical than wagon The Wheels Verdict: If you desire a design-driven SUV with coupe pretences and devastatingly capable performance, the Cayenne Coupe fits the bill. However, if ultimate practicality and a cheaper price tag mean more, stick with the tradit...
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Holden is Leaving!

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Holden is leaving Australia
The rumours have crystallised.... The Holden brand will be retired by 2021 in Australia and local design and engineering departments will be shuttered, General Motors has confirmed. In what is monumental news for the Australian automotive industry, Holden’s Melbourne design studio and Lang Lang proving ground are expected to shut with up to 600 of 800 local jobs lost. GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement every effort had been made to retain the Holden brand. "At ...
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Commodore & Astra Axed

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Holden will be no more
Holden to move to SUV and UTE suite of vehicles in Australia IT’S OFFICIAL: The Holden Commodore is no more.Holden has today confirmed that its most iconic nameplate – a car intrinsic to Australian culture since its introduction in 1978 – will be retired at the of the year. The news comes as Holden revealed its 2020 portfolio will focus exclusively on SUVs and light commercial vehicles. That means the Holden Astra, another long-standing nameplate on Aussie roads, will also be axed....
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RAV4 Edge vs Forester 2.5i-S Comparison

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Rav 4 v Subaru Forester shoot out
Two of the heavy hitters face off. One of the main attractions of SUVs isn’t just the practical considerations of a tall seating position and easy access to the boot and rear seat, but the promise they make of being the versatile chariot capable of taking you and your family out into the great outdoors for a long weekend Not all SUVs are created equal in this regard, but here we’ve got two midsizers that are arguably the best equipped in their segment as dirt-friendly adventure m...
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2019 Subaru Forester: Points of Interest

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Subaru Forester points of interest
In September first shipments arrived on our shores. 1. Everything has changed But at the same time, it’s stayed the same. Forester now sits on the Subaru Global Platform that first appeared under the current Impreza and XV, and the rest of the car has been overhauled to suit. It’s a big step forward, but Subaru hasn’t thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Much of what has made the Subaru Forester appealing in the past to a legion of buyers has carried over. It may be all-new, but ...
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Hyundai i30N v VW Golf GTI – Review

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Hyundai i30N v VW Golf GTI
Hyundai v GTI - really?  Memories of my favourite hot hatch in the seventies – the 1975 Volkswagen Golf GTI. By today’s standards, the 1.6-litre fuel injected Dub is not fast, taking a glacial 9.0 seconds to get from zero to 100km/h, but if you can find an original Mk 1 GTI and an owner willing to let you have a thrash, you’ll find it to be enormously good fun regardless of the era you are driving it in. Perhaps that’s why, after 43 years and seven and a half generati...
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Mid-Size SUV Comparison

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Mid-Size SUV Comparison
Here's the brief: create a mid-sized SUV that does what all families expect and still present driving dynamics along the way. But somehow the quest to take a slice of the most popular segment of the fastest growing vehicle type in the country has delivered carparks full of mediocrity - for years. It’s especially pertinent when you look at the fantastic options on offer in the family sedan and wagon market: Volkswagen Passat or Mazda 6 anyone? Then there’s Holden’...
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BUYING A CAR IS RISKY BUSINESS

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As quoted from the Weekend Australian Reader Jack from Queensland decided to buy a new car. He fell in love with the Audi S3 (starting price of $65,000). Despite being a follower of this column Jack is a smart guy and did his sums. He worked out the finance Audi was offering him was 16 per cent (and how good would the trailing commissions be on that). Jack says that on every step of the sales process, they tried to screw him and what should have been a pleasurable experience was quit...
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SHOULD I USE A CAR BROKER?

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Should I use a car broker?
 Should I Use A Car Broker?       The most common motivator for people or companies seeking a broker is the desire to get a better price. When you bought your last car, it would have been natural for doubts to linger after you took delivery as to whether you really did get a good price. You are probably very good at your career, and that career typically does not include negotiating with highly trained sales staff. Even if negotiation is an aspect of your career you are unlikely to know t...
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New Mazda CX-9 – Efficiency Plus

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Mazda CX9
  Up to 25% Superior Fuel Efficiency MAZDA's CX-9 large SUV has taken a significant improvement in fuel economy for its second-generation, with a weight reduction of up to 160kg and a smaller, more efficient engine accounting for as much as a 28 per cent cut to fuel use. With a downsizing of its 3.7-litre V6 petrol to a smaller turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder, the new CX-9 has the greatest gains when in front-wheel drive configuration, which now uses 8.4 litres per 100km on ...
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Final McLaren P1

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Production of McLaren's most potent car to date ends with P1 number 375. AFTER nearly three years and 300,000 build hours, the final McLaren P1 has rolled off the United Kingdom production line, bringing to a close an era that created the company's fastest and most powerful road car to date. Dressed up in vivid Volcano pearlescent orange, the final car harks back to the even more exclusive F1, which also finished up in a vibrant orange hue for the limited run of just five F1 LMs plus one pro...
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Ford Mustang Price Hike

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mustang
Mustang prices rise by up to $2500 as Ford begins first Australian deliveries FORD Australia has raised the price of its super-successful Mustang by up to $2500, just as the first deliveries are being made to local customers. Currency exchange rates have been blamed for the hike that took effect from December 1. The company has assured existing customers with firm orders that the original price – announced back in March – will be honoured for their deliveries. This means that customers ...
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Volkswagen Emission Information

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vw logo
Volkswagen Emission Information As you may be aware, there have been press reports about the emissions of a selection of Volkswagen vehicles. Volkswagen Australia deeply regrets these issues and wants to ensure that our owners are well-informed about our action plan and next steps regarding this topic. On this website you will find information, updates and answers to some of your key questions. We will post new information as it becomes available to us. Rest assured that we are working ti...
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Bosch Dragged into VW Dieselgate

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vw logo
Volkswagen’s electronics supplier Bosch has been slapped with its first class-action lawsuits as a co-conspirator in the VW Dieselgate emissions-dodging scandal. While Volkswagen itself is facing dozens of class-action suits, a new suit filed in the US District Court in Detroit accuses Robert Bosch GmbH of aiding and abetting Volkswagen’s fraud. The lawsuit accuses both Volkswagen and Bosch of civil fraud and racketeering, covering half a million Volkswagen and Audi cars in the US and 11 m...
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CAR BRANDS IN AUSTRALIA

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car brands
How Many Car Brands Do We Need? Australia purchases over one million cars and trucks every year. We have one of the highest vehicle to population ratios in the world. In my opinion we have created a confusing marketplace as there is too much choice. The buyer can easily make a very expensive mistake as it is not unusual for models, and sometimes makes, to disappear from Australian showrooms. Australia offers more makes of cars than either the USA or Great Britain. Car makers around th...
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Kia Sorento wins 2015 Car of the Year

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Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento seven-seater stands out, setting a precedent in a singular field. The car star of 2015 is the Kia Sorento. It's the 19th winner of the CarsGuide Car of the Year contest, topping an 11-car shootout involving the best newcomers in every category from baby SUVs to the utes that are now selling so well. There are plenty of firsts in 2015, including the first unanimous win since the original COTY judging in 1997 gave the prize to the VT Holden Commodore, the first appearance by a ...
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Car Logos – The Stories Behind Them

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The Stories Behind Car Logos Did you ever wonder what those curious pieces of metal adorned to the front your favorite cars mean? We are talking about the logos, the all-encompassing symbols of the brand. Sure some are easier than others to figure out. For example, if the Ford logo leaves you scratching your head then you probably have no business behind the wheel of a car anyway. Here is a bit of the history and evolution of some of the more interesting car logos.   coolmateri...
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How To Reverse Park

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Reverse parking is a challenge for every learner driver. There are also many experienced drivers on Australian roads who have never been taught how to reverse park quickly and easily. This causes anxiety and or frustration for both the driver attempting to park, and motorists waiting behind them to get through. The following video link explains in simple terms the correct method. Practice is essential. Somewhere quiet like a little used cul de sac or dead end street, or a remote corner of a ...
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Volvo Self-driving Car

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So, you thought it could never happen! Volvo has entered the next phase of its self-driving future. This is the latest update to Volvo's Drive Me project, which features 100 self-driving Volvos driving around the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden, in a trial of the company's autonomous driving tech. To locate the areas of road that are approved for autonomous driving, the driver must input a destination into the sat-nav system. Then when entering a road approved for such driving, lights on...
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Sinkhole Swallows Car Near Rainbow Beach

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A major sinkhole has swallowed vehicles at a popular camping spot  The sinkhole, bigger than a football field and several metres deep, developed at Inskip Point near Queensland's Rainbow Beach around midnight on Saturday 26th September. A car, caravan, a camper trailer and tents were swallowed almost immediately. Around 140 people were evacuated from the beach side campsite Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) said 150-metre sinkhole is three metres deep and takes up a large part...
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