HOLD THE LIFT!
We’ll soon take delivery of our Toyota Corolla Cross, ordered in November 2022 (not 2023). We’d have preferred Toyota’s larger RAV4 Hybrid, but not wanting to wait a year, we opted for the Corolla Cross. We have now waited 18 months. The dealer’s now telling me RAV4 Hybrid waiting time is 18 to 24 months. He wouldn’t be drawn on the lead time of Toyota’s new BZ4X electric car, but welcomed us to have a look at one. Blimey mate!
Since Covid, Toyota’s supply has consistently failed to meet demand – the price of being popular. Toyota recently stated RAV4 Hybrid waits were now six months, contradicting your dealer’s figures. But there are factors. A Toyota Australia spokesman told me: “We’ve always stressed that quoted wait times are a national average (considering) allocation between states, individual dealers, vehicle grades, 2WD/AWD and colour. That led to the statement about a current six months national average.” Anyone on a wait list will be frustrated, but there’s clear movement. In March, a monthly record 5070 RAV4s were delivered, 4728 being hybrids (93.3 per cent). after hot weather, apparently) and the passenger and rear footwell resembled swimming pools after heavy rain. It’d recently been dealer serviced and I asked if they checked drainage holes. They had not. They did offer to dry the car out for $750, however. My service invoice says they checked “cargo/ glove box lights, 12V sockets and horn”. Really? Who cares? It’d be far more useful if they checked drainage.
TASMAN CHALLENGE
Why would Kia resurrect the Tasman name for its ute? I’m old enough to remember the Austin Tasman, and it doesn’t conjure up good memories. Surely they can come up with an original all-Aussie name?
Car companies are certainly running out of nameplates. I think Tasman is pretty good – Kia says it’s “Australian-inspired” and the link to Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman, suggests adventure. The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLuxrivalling new Kia ute may be South Korean built, but Kia Australia’s helped in its development. The Austin Tasman? This 1970-72 front-drive petrol sedan by Leyland Australia was a very different animal to Kia’s incoming ute, although two Austin Tasman utes were built and never sold.
Re: Peter Piaud’s Subaru’s leaking rocker cover gaskets, my son’s Subaru had the same problem. Peter’s $3500 quote is excessive: I suggest he gets other quotes as it shouldn’t be engine out, just lifted to one side.
Perhaps the Subaru dealer found other dramas they wanted to investigate that involved taking the engine out, but you’re right: if it’s a major, pricey job, always get at least two quotes. There are plenty of Subaru specialists out there.
ELECTRIC TEARAWAYS
Recently, I was almost hit by a child on an electric motocross bike doing a wheelie at high speed past my car on a public road. It had no registration plate, he was driving recklessly and is likely to kill someone, himself or both. I reported it to the police and was told they’re basically powerless to catch them, can’t instigate a chase and can’t identify them with their full-face helmet on. Have we become lawless?
As if speeding, non-helmet wearing e-bikers and e-scooters weren’t enough, these emotorbikes are arguably even more hazardous. A popular brand is Sur-Ron, and its Light Bee X can go 75km/h. They can be road registered in your state of Queensland and ridden up to 50km/h on a regular driver’s licence. Problem is, kids (and adults) buy them and ride them on the road unlicensed and unregistered – no insurance, no accountability. It makes a mockery of we motorists following the rules and paying our fees.
ROAD DEFENCE
Re: Robert Errey’s “National Disgrace” letter berating SA and NT roads, I could not disagree more. I drove to the NT in March, and despite flood waters covering roads up to 500mm in numerous places, they were mostly in excellent condition. Conversely, when crossing back into Victoria, the highway was a constant patchwork of overlapping repairs and potholes. A real disgrace.
Who’d be a road repairer, eh? All your hard work gets torn up with relentless rain and heavy traffic. Hopefully it’s a job AI, drones and robots can do in the future.