Ask The Guide

The dealer should be able to tell you why this service is going to cost you more, so talk to the service rep there. If that doesn’t satisfy you contact Hyundai on 1800 186 306 and ask for an explanation.

On the face of it the top-of-the-line Ti model is obviously the best, as it comes with the biggest amount of standard equipment. However, the Ti might not be the best Qashqai if you're shopping with less than $38,000 in your account, so the base model ST represents a good way into a new, modern car for just $29,000.

You haven’t told us anything that might help to identify the problem you want to fix. I guess you want to replace the pump, which is an electric pump in the fuel tank. Take it to a mechanic and get them to fix it.

Yes! No! Quite possibly! The largest factor in achieving good fuel efficiency is the nut behind the wheel (the driver). If you drive with efficiency in mind you will find Mazda's sales-dominating compact car will be able to travel hundreds of kilometres between refills, averaging approximately 5.7L per-100km for the 2.0-litre engines and approximately 6.5L per-100km for the 2.5-litre engines.

There’s clearly a problem with the car’s electronics. Take it to a dealer and have it diagnosed to establish the cause of the issue. It can then be fixed.

Adjusting headlights is a tricky, finnicky process which involves parking the car on dead-level ground 3m away from a perfectly flat surface and making measurements to ensure the cross-beam of your headlights hits just the right spot on the wall. However, you can also take your car back to the dealership and have trained technicians set it up perfectly for you, while you sip on a cup of coffee and read what Jennifer Anniston is up to in the latest trash rag. Adjusting headlights isn't a job for an amateur, given you could blind other motorists or find yourself unable to see if you get it wrong.

You should be running a 5W-40 oil.

Changing the oil in a T6-generation Ford Ranger is no different to changing the oil in any other late model car, whether you have a petrol or diesel engine. If you have never worked on a car yourself before, I'd stress that you would be better off taking the car to a qualified mechanic or dealership to get this job done to avoid the risk of injury to yourself, or damaging the engine of your car. The benefit of getting a mechanic to change your oil is they can check the rest of the car over and let you know about any upcoming issues they spot.

To wear out at such low kilometres suggests that Honda has got its brake balance very wrong, and the rear brakes are not capable of what they are being asked to do. I agree, they should upgrade the brakes, both front and rear. If you want to get better life out of the pads and rotors you could consider using aftermarket parts.

You’re buying a used car, it’s not new, so you have to expect some wear-and-tear issues. The older the car, the greater the wear-and-tear, and the more likely it is to have suffered mechanical failures or even a crash. That means you have to thoroughly check the car before purchase, and you have to rely on the honesty of the vendor. If the car has had clutch problems it should be recorded in the service book. It’s the same with the others you’re looking at, check them thoroughly, and if you’re uncertain have an expert check them for you. Of the three others you are considering I would avoid the Passat as a potential money pit, and go for the i40 in preference to the Commodore.