MODERN JAZZ HARD TO BEAT
It’s a safe move upgrading to Honda’s nifty city hatch
I have a Honda Jazz that is approximately 10 years old and has done almost 70,000km. Should I be thinking about getting a new car? And how reliable is a 10-year-old Jazz? I don’t want car worries and also don’t want to spend money unnecessarily.
Ida Di Pastena, email
It’s probably a good time to look at something new, as safety has come a long way in the past decade. The Jazz is still a good car, and gets The Tick from me, and current driveaway pricing is from $15,990 or $17,990 for the better equipped VTi automatic.
FILTER TIP
Re cabin filters. Some brands don’t specify a filter clean or change in their service criteria. I bought a used 2013 Mitsubishi Pajero that had been in western Queensland and the aircon was a bit weak, then I found online that they had a cabin filter behind the glovebox. It was obviously the original one because, after I rinsed it out in the sink, there was dirt and grass seeds in the bottom of the sink. I think there were even flecks of gold. Obviously the aircon was back to perfect afterwards. Steve Croft, email
Great advice with so many people being presented with unlikely bills on top of capped price servicing fees.
LET ME DEMONSTRATE
I have a query on demonstrator cars. Just how many demos are there out there? Lots of dealers seem to be advertising demo cars for sale, but surely there aren’t that many. Can you enlighten me? What is the definition of a demo? Peter Cassidy, email
There are still dealer demonstrators for test drives, and some companies — including Holden — turn them over frequently to boost their sales results. But a demo can also be a car that is pre-registered to hit a sales target, before there is a customer to buy it, and needs to be moved along quickly.
POWER RANGES
I have read so many stories about batteries in Roadside Assist and I’d like to tell you mine. I have just replaced the factory-original battery in my wife’s 2003 Mercedes-Benz C180. Hopefully my replacement will last just as long. Albert Cachia, email
You’re unlikely to get that sort of result, as I’ve just discovered with a replacement in my Toyota HiLux that barely made two years.
NOISE CONTROL
I’ve got a 2012 Mazda CX-5 AWD and need new tyres. I do about 400km-500km a week, mainly on tarred roads. Could you recommend a tyre to reduce road noise and still be a good wet-weather tyre.
Karen and Steve, email
A premium Michelin tyre will probably be best for your needs and, provided you have the 225x65
R17 standard size, you should go for a Premacy on the recommendation of Michelin’s local experts.
FREE ADVICE
I’m looking to buy a mid-sized SUV and wonder about your opinion of the Fiat Freemont. Tony Bevacqua, email
The Freemont is an Italian clone of the Dodge Journey and I would not recommend either one. You would be far smarter to look at something like a Kia Sportage, which gets The Tick from me.
SUNNIES SIDE UP
I believe there are questions about using polarised sunglasses with a head-up display. I have a Holden Commodore, a VFII SS-V Redline with a HUD and it works perfectly with my Serengeti polarised sunnies. Helmut Rocis, email
Good to know, as my personal experience is that the HUDs in lots of European cars are not good with polarised sunglasses.