WHERE IS THE LOVE?

I’ve owned my Volkswagen Touareg V8 R-line for just over a year; it’s sensational to drive, quiet and safe. VW has notified me my roadside assistance has expired and for $140 I could purchase another year. You’d think a $150,000 luxury vehicle with five years warranty would include roadside assist for more than a year? If I don’t renew and I break down, does VW or the owner have responsibility for getting the vehicle to a service centre?

Bruce O’neale, email

The owner does. As with warranties, the length of complimentary roadside assist should be considered when buying a car. If your Touareg’s serviced at an authorised VW dealer you receive 12 months of Service Initiated Roadside Assistance (SIRA). It should be free, but the fine print states: “Volkswagen Dealers may charge a service fee to activate your SIRA membership.” Chat with your VW dealer about this before forking out that $140 – you’ll need that money to fuel that V8 if you use it properly!

LOW ON GAS

My Ford Falcon runs only on LPG. I love my car but BP here on the Sunshine Coast is discontinuing supply and the two Shell stations already have. Why? LPG is a cleaner energy than both petrol and diesel. Michael Turner, email

The main users of LPG were taxis, but demand has plummeted as the taxi industry has moved to hybrid Toyota Camrys. Private owners of LPG cars are ever diminishing, and while LPG produces lower CO2 emissions than petrol or diesel as you say, it is less efficient so you need to burn more. For new or revamped servos, electric vehicle charge points will be more relevant than fitting or retaining LPG pumps. Download the Fuel Map app, which shows your nearest fuel stations. It can be customised to only show those selling LPG. There are still many on the Sunshine Coast.

MODERN FAKERY

I bought a new Subaru XV which was supposed to have a leather steering wheel and leather seats. This was half true. The steering wheel started to flake so I think it is “el cheapo” bonded leather, while the only leather on the seat is the part you sit on.

I’ve bought a top grain leather steering wheel cover to stitch on. Just like “oils ain’t oils” – leather ain’t leather.

Bernie Rodway, email

Bonded leather, leatherette, leather-appointed, pleather, synthetic leather, faux leather … the list goes on. Car brands even have their own names for it: Mazda calls its Maztex and BMW’S is Sensatec, giving you the fuzzies as it’s an “animalfree leather option.” We’re often told this fake stuff is harder wearing and easier to clean than real dead cow leather. Subaru says its seat trim is “leather accented” on top ‘S’ grade XVS like yours, but the steering wheel should be genuine leather. Many Subaru owners have reported flaking steering wheels and received replacements under warranty so you could also try. As a warning for all, hand sanitiser and steering wheels aren’t a happy combination.

BUMPS IN THE ROAD

Re the Range Rover owner with cracked suspension bushes, does he slow down for speed bumps? Many drivers don’t as you can

barely feel them inside some 4x4s, but it’s still damaging the suspension.

David Bebe, email

Good point. Speed bumps may encourage some drivers to slow down but others swerve around or fly over them. The stopping and starting means more air pollution. They also damage and break suspension parts (more environmental waste), slow emergency vehicles and are a hazard for cyclists. The road toll was up in 2021 over the previous year. Surely someone smarter than me has a better solution than speed bumps and speed cameras?

PLAYING THE FOOL

Disappointing to see you guys trying to justify the outrageous Australian price for the new Chevrolet Corvette when it’s $60,990 in the US for the base model. Your comments supporting the price only make you look foolish.

Charlie Beecham, email

I reckon I quantified the Corvette’s $144,990 Aussie price rather than supported it. A 2022 Corvette Stingray’s base price in the States is $62,195 – $86,500 in our dollars. Australian Corvettes are far better equipped, and we must add about another $13,000 courtesy of our daft Luxury Car Tax.

NO COMPARISON

Re the new Corvette, comparing it to an Italian supercar is like comparing a Harley-davidson motorcycle to an electric bike. They may compete on 0-100km/h times but they’re ranked as one of the least reliable cars in the world. Make sure when you’re low flying in one of these bombs you’re wearing a safety harness and parachute.

Norm Warren, email

Italian supercars have their reliability concerns as well.