OPEN AND SHUT CASE
Our 2021 Mazda CX-30 will lock when the key fob’s pressed even if a door is open. This contradicts the owner’s manual – it’s not supposed to lock if a door or the boot isn’t closed. After five visits to the dealer and them providing me a loan car they couldn’t discover why it was happening. Then we were told a Mazda field technician said it was a feature of the car. Up until then there was no mention of this. I feel this is a fault, it’s a safety issue and we’re being given the run around. Sandra Hackett, email
It’s not unusual for a car to be able to lock with a door open – I tested my 2017 VW Golf and it does so too. But your CX-30’S owner’s manual says it shouldn’t and you’ve since told me you and the Mazda dealer tested other CX-30S and they wouldn’t lock with a door open. Ergo, it’s a problem with your car and not a ‘feature’ unless they can prove otherwise. Mazda Australia won’t comment on individual cases to us, but nor would they confirm or deny your car shouldn’t lock with a door open, despite our request. They said customer care would contact you, but make sure you keep pushing them for a resolution.
MAVERICK ADVICE
Re polarised sunglasses and head-up displays, as a pilot of light aircraft we were advised not to wear polarised as it highlighted imperfections related to light in a plane’s windscreen. Hence we’d use (expensive) nonpolarised aviator glasses such as Ray-bans which give good shading as well as clarity in the cockpit.
Peter Haslett, email
I’m ready for Ray-ban Aviators to make a comeback to coincide with the new Top Gun movie. Proper 1980s style. I’ve also had Serengeti driver’s sunglasses recommended to ensure HUDS stay visible. But again, they’re not cheap.
FALSE ECONOMY?
In your column you lauded low fuel use on Toyota hybrids, but these savings are blown out the window when you factor in the initial $10,000 higher price and replacement battery cost up to $10,000 when the warranty expires. Nobody will want to buy a ten-yearold EV or hybrid due to prohibitive costs. Why can’t people tell the facts instead of peddling crap?
Jim Stanfield, email
Facts, eh? Here they come. A Toyota RAV4 GX petrol is $38,400, the GX Hybrid $41,000. That’s a $2600 difference, not $10k. As for replacing batteries, Toyota Australia told me to do so in a Camry or Prius costs under $4000 supplied and fitted. Toyota’s hybrid batteries have a ten year warranty if a health inspection is carried out as part of annual servicing once the car’s five years old. I’m with you, there are cost concerns as hybrids get older, but they don’t appear as crippling as many people fear.
HARD CLIMB
I’ve heard the new Ford Everest is due later
It’s never too early to get on an expression of interest or waiting list with your Ford dealer. First Everest deliveries were expected in August, but Covid lockdowns in China look to have seriously scuppered parts supply to the Thailand factory where the Everest and Ranger ute are built. We’ve not tested the new 154kw/500nm 2.0-litre or 184kw/600nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel Everest yet. As we’ve seen with other popular models, if you want one early you need to get a deposit down before a test drive or even learning the price. It’s a sad sign of the times.
PHASING AWAY
With suggestions we’ll have 50 per cent electric cars by 2035 what will this do to the value of petrol and diesel cars? Will they be almost obsolete and car yards unlikely to accept them as trade-ins? Will they have no value?
Terry Evans, email
It’s a good pub discussion topic. The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) said “close to one million” end-of-life vehicles were sent to landfill in 2019, so car scrapping and recycling is already a major issue before we consider those ditching petrol/diesel for electric. While new petrol/diesel car sales will ultimately be banned here (as in the UK by 2030), we’ll still be able to buy used examples, and the fuel to run them. I can’t see petrol/diesel car prices plummeting. When Holden stopped making cars their prices surged, for example. We want what we can’t have. Perhaps the same will happen when you can only buy new EVS?
BIG BROTHER
Can you please explain why speed limiters aren’t fitted to all cars to stop police having to chase idiots driving at 200km/h?
Les Kewish, email
It’s a fair point. Some cars have electronic speed limiters – the likes of BMW and Mercedes-benz agreed on 250km/h (although they can be removed) while most Japanese domestic market cars are restricted to 180km/h. But what if the car’s going to be used where no speed limit applies such as a racetrack? The Northern Territory had stretches of road with no limits as recently as 2016. How much control should a car company or government have over this? It’s a challenging question and I’d like to hear others’ opinions. Owning a car, like owning a gun, carries great responsibility.