IAIN CURRY GETS ANSWERS
WRITE TO MOTORING AT CARS@NEWS.COM.AU
My friends and I talk about how generic and boring most car designs are today. Range-wide Mazdas all look the same, as do Lexus and they’re stuck with ugly X-shaped grilles. That’s why I love Ford Mustangs and Chevy Camaros, which look as exciting as they drive. Don’t get me started on those tip-over SUVs.
Paul Williams, email
Sadly, many car makers go for safe styling as if they put out a daring design that doesn’t meet market approval they’ll face a sales nightmare. It’s easier to design a tough muscle car such as the Mustang to appeal to revheads than it is a mass-production family car trying to appeal to multiple market segments. I reckon the new Toyota RAV4 and Mazda3 have done so — they’re hardly boring styles. I’ve got high hopes for electric car design. It’s almost a clean slate for designers. Just check out the Tesla Cybertruck (love it or hate it) and the 2021 Nissan Ariya as examples.
ON THE LIMIT
We recently purchased a small caravan with an ATM of 1428kg. Our 2014 Mazda CX-5 Maxx has a towing capacity of 1800kg, but I’ve discovered it has a towball download limit of 120kg, while the van is rated 135kg. We don’t want to sell the Mazda as we love it, but if we had to, what mid-range SUVs would you recommend for towing? We’ve been looking at a Toyota Prado, Isuzu MU-X and Ford Territory.
Ian McManus, email
First, the good news. I’ve checked with Mazda and your 2014 CX-5 actually has a towball download limit (the weight your fully loaded van imposes on the tow bar) of 150kg. Careful not to overload your van, as your margin of error isn’t huge. It would be a shame to sell a car you love, especially as most with higher towing capacities will be pricey and/or less car-like on sealed roads. Prados are ideal if you can afford one, while the Isuzu MU-X is a nomad favourite for reliability and towing talents, but it would be a step down in cabin finish and driving refinement from your Mazda. A Ford Territory I’d avoid for reliability reasons.
GOT SHAFTED
My 2014 Ford Focus suffered a broken righthand drive shaft. Both the car’s drive shafts were replaced free in 2015 due to a bad batch fitted at factory. I wonder did they replace