Ask The Guide

Like any car, there is potential for Holden Captivas to have mechanical or electrical problems. Modern cars are full of delicate electrical sensors and complex mechanical components, and if not properly serviced or maintained, even generally reliable cars can suffer breakdowns. You can help protect yourself by having a professional pre-purchase inspection carried out, and buying a vehicle with low mileage and a full service history.

In a word, yes! The most popular car in Australia, the Mazda 3, has been on sale since 2003 and offers a wide range of specifications and models to suit almost any needs or wants. With generous specifications, pleasing styling and even a turbocharged high-performance version, there isn't really a bad model in the Mazda 3 line-up.

Toyota's Corolla has built its giant-killing reputation on the fact that, while they might not be the flashiest or most dynamically appealing, they have always been rock-solid reliable. What the Corolla may lack in tar-shredding performance it makes up for with dependable reliability and cheap running costs. As with any car, regular servicing and care will be key to maintaining that reliability in the long term.

All current Hyundai i30 models are 4340mm long, tip to tip. This is correct for Go, Active, Elite, Premium, SR, and SR Premium Hyundai i30 models sold in Australia. Additionally, all i30 models share their other external dimensions, including width (1795mm), and height (1455mm).

The bolt pattern, also known as the Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD) is 6x139.7mm or 6x5.5in. This means the Ranger has six wheel studs on each wheel, which are spaced 139.7mm apart.

It’s the responsibility of the dealer you bought it from to repair it, he’s the one issuing your warranty. The automatic transmission in Fords has been an ongoing problem, and it would seem that the transmission in your car needs to be replaced. The bottom line is you need to sort it out with your dealer, if that doesn’t result in a satisfactory resolution go to VCAT.

That’s a tough one given that the traditional chauffeur cars are no longer made. If you are aiming at business type clients and want to impress them consider a BMW 5-Series or a Mercedes-Benz E-class.

All three are capable off road if you aren’t planning to go rock climbing, and they are reliable enough to get you to 250,000 km. CVTs are quite reliable now, but how far they will go is anybody’s guess at this moment in time. I would go for a Subaru, either the Forester or the Outback.

In my view diesel doesn’t stack up unless you’re doing a lot of driving at constant speed on highways. They’re not at their best in stop-start city driving. I would go petrol.

It was an option.