News - Car Broker - Peter Lloyd

Car Resale Value

Posted on April 4, 2015November 22, 2016 by admin

Car resale value depreciation is normally the greatest expense during ownership of a motor vehicle. Our research indicates that the cost of depreciation over 3 years for a selection of popular vehicles is 3.5 times the cost of fuel. This is an eye opener to the majority of car owners. Consequently car resale value is a prime focus by us on your behalf. We will assist you to reduce the impact by intelligent vehicle selection, a great price, brand reputation, and other mitigating factors. There ...
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Is the Dual Cab Bubble needing to Burst?

Posted on June 2, 2020June 2, 2020 by admin

Australia’s love of the dual-cab ute is a concern. It’s not so much an elephant in the room as dinosaurs in the driveway. Anywhere you look, our roads are choking with dual-cab utes. Always popular, they now dominate, to the point where the best- and second-best sellers wear Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger badges. Celebrated and lately even feted, they’ve become ingrained in our national psyche, in much the same way Holden and Ford utes (and for a brief period during the 1970s, p...
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Porsche Cayman GT4 Review

Posted on May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 by admin

How Porsche’s Cayman GT4 shot for the moon but missed Perfection may well have to wait for the sharpest scalpel in Porsche’s portfolio Overall Rating Plus & Minus Plus - Stunning chassis; gutsy powerplant; aggro styling; capable on both road and track Minus - Hideous gear ratios; so-so acoustics; starting to feel a little dated inside; expensive The Wheels Verdict: The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 isn’t without some fairly fundamental caveats, but the majo...
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The Very Popular Pub in the Paddock – Tasmania

Posted on May 24, 2020 by admin

Definitely worthy of a visit when in Tassy. NESTLED in the quiet rural village of Pyengana, around two hours’ drive from Launceston or just one hour from St Helens, the Pub in the Paddock is a great place to wash away the dust (or mud) after a day’s four-wheel driving in some of Tassie’s most spectacular country. The Pub in the Paddock has been licenced since 1880, and today it’s managed by the friendly and entertaining Rowena and Scott Codyre. On the day we showed up at the fron...
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Isusu D-MAX & MU-X I-Venture in Tasmania

Posted on May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 by admin

A terrific challenge - Tasmania's brutal Climies Track. As 13 vehicles rolled to the beginning of Climies Track on an icy cold summer’s day in Tasmania, adrenalin was high yet scepticism lingered. Were we really expected to overcome a highly technically 20km track with a convoy of D-MAXs and MU-Xs, three of which were unmodified and wearing 18-inch wheels? “Hell, why not? Let's give it a crack,” seemed to be the overwhelming consensus from the group, despite relentless ...
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Wagons Are Back

Posted on May 11, 2020 by admin

These prestige offerings from Europe are more than a match for equivalent SUVs. Wagons are back. What if you wanted to break free from the new norm and go back to something more traditional? Yes, of course, we’re talking about the mass migration to SUVs that seems to know no limits. However, a wagon will do just about everything the modern SUV is tasked with, the only downfall being a lack of raised ride height and very few drivers need that. So we’ve got the new Volvo V60 and the B...
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New Mazda CX-5

Posted on May 6, 2020 by admin

More safety, tech, and comfort for this benchmark mid-size SUV. Mazda has updated its popular CX-5 mid-size SUV for 2020, bringing new safety technology, quieter components and new off-road capability, while slightly bumping the price up across the board. A core model for Mazda, and a favourite for Australians too, thankfully the CX-5 has scored a bunch of new kit to offset the extra outlay of money you'll have to spend at dealerships. Familiar model grades are retai...
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SUV 7 Seaters – Which One for You?

Posted on April 26, 2020 by admin

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

Posted on April 16, 2020 by admin

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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Safe Cars for New Drivers

Posted on April 12, 2020 by admin

We select our five safest entry-level picks for the inexperienced driver When it comes to buying the first car for your cherished offspring, safety is usually the number one priority for parents. Certain brands like Volvo were always synonymous with safety, but most other brands have caught up and today, even some of the cheapest cars in showrooms come with key safety features that will help prevent or mitigate an accident or protect occupants if a crash can't be avoided. ...
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Mercedes-Benz 5-year Warranty

Posted on April 6, 2020 by admin

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

Posted on March 29, 2020 by admin

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

Posted on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 by admin

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

Posted on March 12, 2020 by admin

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

Posted on March 5, 2020 by admin

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

Posted on March 3, 2020 by admin

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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Driving Habits that Kill

Posted on March 1, 2020 by admin

Road rules are one thing (and unfortunately some drivers arrogantly ignore them) but here are some very dangerous driving sins to think about... Here are some of the driving habits that kill. We all know that making poor decisions such as reaching for your phone or having a few drinks can turn safe day-to-day driving into a dangerous form of transport. But you might be making a number of seemingly-innocent mistakes that put your own safety and the wellbeing of others around y...
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Holden is Leaving!

Posted on February 20, 2020 by admin

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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Mazda 3 GT or Kia Cerato GT

Posted on February 11, 2020February 11, 2020 by admin

GT sedans from Japan and Korea - which one for you....... Mazda 3 G25 GT review Equipment and value The G25 GT is stacked with kit. It scores i-Activsense, which includes AEB, lane keeping, lane-departure warning, traffic-sign recognition and forward-collision warning. The 8.8-inch display, while not touch-enabled, supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the GT gains heated seats/steering wheel, leather, head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. Mazda’s five-year, ...
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Ford Focus Active vs Subaru XV 2.0i-L

Posted on February 9, 2020February 9, 2020 by admin

Ford's new entrant tackles the XV benchmark. The Contenders You’d have to think that just about all automotive niches have been filled these days, but Ford proves it’s not the case with the genre-jostling Focus Active. What it is, even according to the company, seems hard to define. However, it’s definitely not an SUV, hatchback or crossover. Yes, we’re still confused, too. For $29,990 you receive a mid-spec Focus with 34mm of added ride height and some ‘look at me, I can go off-...
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‘Speed Kills’ Myth Busted By Police officer

Posted on February 3, 2020 by admin

Experience beats theory every time! If you are a long-time reader of Wheels, you’d know that we don’t really buy into the whole ‘speed kills’ message peddled by politicians and police alike. Wheels has pushed and tested the speed kills myth a number of times, with former editor Stephen Corby doing an extensive investigation in 2017, and in 2013 we drove from Melbourne to Sydney at 130km/h (the police really didn’t like us after that). It’s also the same narrow road safety etho...
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Audi TT S Quattro Coupe Review

Posted on January 30, 2020 by admin

Enhancements in the update model have sweetened the offering from the Audi TT S Quattro Coupe Overall Rating Plus & Minus Plus - All-weather ability; acoustics; interior finish Minus - Firm ride; no rear-biased drive system; four-cylinder engine lacks charisma of a six The Wheels Verdict: We’re not afraid of an unpopular verdict at Wheels and the Audi TT S is one of those sports coupes that ‘real drivers’ find unfashionable. Drive the latest car back t...
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Tesla Cybertruck – Concept Only

Posted on January 24, 2020 by admin

Tesla CyberTruck will need to soften it's lines

In its conceptual form, the Cybertruck isn’t ready for production. Here’s why In typical Tesla fashion, the recently revealed Cybertruck is one of, if not the, most polarising new car reveal of the year – possibly the decade. There are two distinct camps surrounding the all-electric pick-up concept, you either love it or hate it. And one of those camps just bristled at my use of the term concept. Thing is though, it is a concept car, as there are a number of features tha...
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Commodore & Astra Axed

Posted on January 15, 2020 by admin

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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Large Luxury SUV Comparison

Posted on January 9, 2020 by admin

The new Mercedes GLE is up for a battle IT’S A cold, misty morning on Melbourne’s Chapel Street. Traditionally a location heralded as a hot-spot of fashionable excess, the famed strip’s gentrification has fostered an environment where expensive boutiques now mingle with commonplace stores filled with pragmatism. In a weird irony, the three luxury SUVs we’ve assembled reflect the street in which they’re parked. All are family-friendly, diesel-powered rivals that pro...
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Reviewing the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

Posted on December 27, 2019 by admin

Ride, style and infotainment go up a notch..... Overall Rating Plus & Minus Plus - Massive infotainment boost; new petrol engines are perky; Exterior styling improvements Minus - Standard suspension falls short on Australian roads; cabin shows age; some MBUX features aren’t available. The Wheels Verdict: We criticised the pre-facelift GLC’s ride for being too firm on the car's standard steel-sprung suspension. The Series II facelift addresses that concern. The ...
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BMW – and Electric Vehicles

Posted on December 14, 2019 by admin

BMW believe Australia's not ready yet..... Plug-in hybrid is the strategy for now. Once seen as something of a halfway house en route to pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology is not only ‘right’ for the current market, but in demand with buyers. Speaking with Wheels at BMW Welt in Munich, Dr Heinz Treseler, who forms part of the powertrain team for the X5 PHEV, said that while EVs might be the future, they account for a tiny percentage of overall sales...
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Using a Car Broker

Posted on December 11, 2019 by admin

A hassle-free way to buy a car Josie Shaw had no idea that she could love the car-buying process. She wanted to buy a new car but her previous experiences in dealerships was leaving her feeling anxious. She was dreading the thought of running from dealer to dealer, looking to replace her 2015 Toyota Camry, when a personal vehicle-shopping service came to her attention. "I heard about car brokers from a friend who felt she wasn't getting the best deal at a dealership. I don't have time f...
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BMW M340i xDrive – What a fine car!

Posted on December 6, 2019 by admin

The 3 Series 6 cylinder - welcome back - you've been missed... What’s in the garage? We’re rubbish at suspense so, yes, it’s a BMW M340i xDrive. The Wheels garage has moved, albeit temporarily. The roller door we’re sliding up today is located in Gauteng province, South Africa. Or, to be more exact, the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit. This is wholly apt. BMW won its last F1 world title at this very circuit in 1983, Nelson Piquet just pipping Alain Prost to the driver’s crown in his Bra...
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We assess the Holden Acadia

Posted on December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 by admin

Holdens large SUV '- made in the USA...is it good enough? It has been three years since the large American-sourced Acadia SUV was confirmed to arrive in Australia rebranded as a Holden, with the big SUV finally launching Down Under 12 months ago. Expectations were high for the Acadia, set to join the market at a time when Holden needed a large SUV hero. Time then for Wheels to put the finger on the sales pulse to determine how things have progressed. The data in this article ...
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BMW X6 Twin Turbo M50i Review

Posted on November 19, 2019 by admin

Power-packed, premium and polarising – BMW’s third-generation X6 continues to shock and delight Overall Rating Plus & Minus Plus - Performance; interior quality; V8 soundtrack Minus - Polarising design; compromised practicality over X5; heavy The Wheels Verdict: In 2008, no-one knew they needed an SUV and a coupe in one vehicle. BMW came along and planted the seed before sitting back and watching the world’s automakers follow suit. However, the X6 is the genesi...
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