LIMITED CHOICE
If we want to visit more out-of-the-way spots around Australia we’ve been advised we need a four-wheel-drive. Is there a smallish 4WD that’s good off-road but also OK for city and highway driving? Or is that a silly question?
Anne Mitchell, email
Not a silly question. We have a proliferation of small, mainly 2WD faux-wheel-drives in the market, but next to no small proper off-roaders. The obvious exception is the Suzuki Jimny, but its waiting list is more than six months: many others, like you, want to go adventuring but don’t want a giant, expensive 4WD. The lightweight, personality-packed Jimny is brilliant off-road, but on-road it’s noisy on highways and cornering isn’t a strong point. A Subaru XV’s a better fit if you aren’t planning extreme off-roading. It’s allwheel-drive, has excellent 220mm ground clearance and smart X-Mode for some challenging surfaces, but no low range for really tough stuff. A Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is also superb off-road, but costs more than $50,000 and is a thirsty petrol beast.
FEELING INSECURE
Last year I bought a new Nissan X-Trail N-Trek and paid the dealership extra for a full-size spare wheel. I’m not a fan of space-savers. After its first service I noticed the boot floor coverings hadn’t been properly replaced and the spare was not secured properly as there was no securing bolt. The dealer told me this was because it was not a standard spare wheel, and I should go to Bunnings and buy a longer securing bolt, or weld an extension on the current one. I found this unacceptable. Errol Sullivan, email
If they’ve taken your money for a full-size spare, it’s ludicrous not to ensure it comes with a correct-sized securing bolt. I brought this to Nissan Australia’s attention, and I’ve been told your dealership has asked you to bring your XTrail back to them so they can investigate and manufacture a bolt to secure your spare.
ROUGH SOLUTION
Re car maintenance tips, I have two very large paperbark trees outside my property that drop huge amounts of black sooty mould. It sticks like glue on car duco. The best solution is to use 3000 Grit sandpaper. You wet it, scrub the affected area and wipe it away with a rag. You should do a cut and polish afterwards, but our badly affected cars came up like new. Peter Mitchell, email
Brave move, taking sandpaper to a car’s body, no matter how fine it is. Great it’s worked for you, but this would be a very last resort for me. If the tree sap or mould’s been there a long time, I’d try a clay bar or claying rubber first.
UNWANTED ADDITION
My 2020 Subaru Forester’s just had its first service. A 250ml bottle of fuel additive was put in the fuel tank and I was given another to add in six months or after 6000km. I was charged $32 (without my consent) and feel it’s a money grab as the car’s manual says it’s fine to run on 91 octane fuel. I always fill up with premium 98. Mark Tumbers, email
Subaru says its additive has been “formulated to suit the special design of the Boxer engine … when mixed in the fuel it will help decarbonise the inside of the engine.” All well and good, but what if you’re using quality fuel that will be doing the same thing? A Subaru Australia spokesman told me: “The factory doesn’t make allowances for different fuel types.” If you only use 98, I’d tell your Subaru dealer not to charge you for the additive — it’s your car, your decision.
FANNING THE FLAMES
Why do so many motor vehicles catch fire these days? It seems to happen every week if you watch the television news. I don’t recall such incidents when I was younger. Richard Lahey, email
Cars have always caught fire for various reasons, you just see more of it on the news and social media today because everyone has a camera on their phone ready to record it, backed up by dash cameras and CCTV everywhere. News networks jump on this high impact (and often free) footage to show a hungry public. If it’s a supercar or electric car on fire, all the better for ratings and clicks.
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
Can you please help me locate the cabin filter on my 2018 ZB Commodore wagon?
Paul Sutherland, email
Normally I’d say open the glovebox and read your owner’s manual, but having seen an online version, the manual won’t tell you, only instructing you to visit the dealer. Ridiculous. So, open your glovebox, on the right-hand side there’s a small flexible clip you can pop off. Look up inside the glovebox and there are two tabs you need to press upwards. The glovebox should fall forwards, revealing your filter.