ROADSIDE ASSIST SPORTING CHOICE
I’m considering a new Suzuki Swift and wonder is the Sport model worth the extra money? About 80 per cent of my drives are in the city. Is a new model coming out soon meaning end-of-model run-out deals? Malcolm Gardner, email
I’d only buy a Swift Sport with a manual gearbox, which isn’t great for mainly city driving. It’s still a joy-bringing little hatchback with an auto gearbox, but if you’re going to spend most of your drive in traffic, save $5000 a buy a GL S Plus – it’s still a fun city car. If the remaining 20 per cent of your drives are on twisty roads, it’s worth going the Sport. Cabin materials aren’t a great leap over lesser Swifts, but the handling and engine are. The Swift range has just had a price jump and although a new generation is imminent don’t count on deals in the short term – most new cars are in high demand.
CAR ON TOW
We own a motorhome and want to tow a car behind. What method is best and what cars are suitable?
CARS@NEWS.COM.AU OR PO BOX 2808, GPO SYDNEY, 2001
Jan Elliott, email
Flat towing is your best bet, where a car is towed with four wheels on the ground attached to an Aframe. Basically, most manual cars can be towed in this way, but very few automatics. The most common exception is the Suzuki Grand Vitara that was on sale until a few years ago. Auto transmission variants could be flat towed with ‘neutral’ position in the transfer case. If you want a manual car, the lighter the better. Check out a Suzuki Swift, Suzuki Ignis, Hyundai Venue or little Fiat 500. The ultimate setup, allowing serious offroading where you stop, is with a manual Suzuki Jimny. But they’re so desirable one may cost more than your motorhome!
DOT POINT
How often should brake fluid be replaced on my 2019 Hyundai i30? The dealer says every two years but the maintenance schedule states it should be inspected up to 96 months/120,000km and only replaced if necessary. My car has only travelled 16,000km.
Andrew Bolton, email
It’s not wise to skimp on something as important as brake fluid, but you’re right, why replace it if it’s in tip top shape? You can buy a brake fluid tester from auto stores – a pen-style tool that tests the percentage of water in brake fluid – or ask the Hyundai dealer to use its tool to determine if it really needs replacing. While you’ve done very few kilometres, fluids break down over time as well as distance.
RESCUE SERVICE
Re: Holden Cruze transmissions, we had a 30,000km 2010 model with gearbox problems. I contacted Holden to see if they’d help with repair and they paid the whole $8000. This was only 18 months ago. Happy days.
Max Bell, email
Great result. Your case is exceptional with such tiny kilometres travelled, but shows others similarly suffering there’s no harm in asking Holden for help.
HIGH PRAISE
Re: Cruze transmissions, owners should take their car to a Holden dealer. Holden know they’re faulty and have a stock of modified new transmissions they’ll be happy to fit for the price of the labour, depending on kilometres. I found Holden fantastic to deal with, still backing its products.
Andre Stoffels, email
For suffering owners it’s worth a shot. I failed to get hold of anyone at Holden who’d take a media inquiry, so I can’t verify they’d potentially pay for a new transmission if the owner pays labour. There are no more dealers but there are more than 200 Holden Certified Service Outlets across Australia. Holden’s website lets you search for your nearest on a map. Good luck, Cruzers.
P PLATE PERSECUTION?
Re: using GPS on a cradle-mounted phone when driving, this does not apply to P plate drivers. While I agree phones shouldn’t be used for other things when driving, my daughter (on her Ps) should be allowed to use GPS to get to work. It doesn’t seem fair.
Mark Steel, email
You’re spot on, I should have replied more comprehensively last time. While fully licensed drivers may use a phone’s GPS if it’s mounted in a cradle, Learner, P1 and P2 drivers cannot. I accept this is to reduce distractions, but the rule appears contradictory as provisional drivers are legally allowed to use dash-mounted GPS systems such as a Garmin or Navman.
TACHO HACK
Re: tachometers, if manufacturers stop fitting them, there’s a range of phone apps that connect to a plug-in adaptor for your car’s OnBoard Diagnostics (OBD) point. This sends a whole range of engine data to your phone. You could repurpose an old phone and leave it connected in the car.
Peter Williams, email
Indeed. I’ve seen these used at the racetrack to monitor and record speed, rpm, power, temperatures, fuel economy and more. Securely mounting an old phone displaying the app (or fitting a screen that could do so) is a solution.