Ask The Guide

Holden made a change to the chain in May 2007, which is claimed to have fixed the problem.

From what we can establish the towing rating of the XC60 T8 hybrid is around 1600 kg, which would mean it wouldn’t tow your caravan.

I can’t give you the code you want, phone Bendix (1800 819 666) and ask them, or go to a brake place and ask them. They should be able to give you the code and sell you the correct parts.

In order I would go for the i30, the Mazda 3, and the Golf, certainly if you value reliability highly, as you claim.

It’s gone into “limp-home” mode because it’s detected a problem, but before you do anything else you need to find what caused the problem. Once you’ve done that you could approach VW and ask them to repair it at their expense, or pay part of the cost to repair it. If they won’t and you want to take it further you could go to the ACCC.

It won’t have jammed as such; it’s got an electronic throttle. It’s more likely to be an electronic issue, perhaps at the pedal. If you can, have it checked by a mechanic experienced in VWs, or perhaps an independent engineer.

Diesels deliver their efficiency benefits best when on the open road, but it would still be more convenient for Uber use because they'd need to be refuelled less often than the petrol. The only thing I'd be concerned about re inner-city use would be the diesel particulate filter. If you only drive around the city, this probably wouldn't give the DPF the chance to cycle itself every now and again, which can lead to very costly repairs. If you do head out onto the motorway occasionally, this wouldn't be an issue. The new i30 is an excellent small hatch though, and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it.

Yes, Toyota would be in breach of the ADRs if they were to disable the airbag.

They say the problem is fixed, and by your own measure it appears to be. All you can do is to monitor the oil consumption and keep careful records so you can show your dealer if the problem returns.

Most small SUVs are all-wheel drive, as is your SX4, which means it's an on-demand four-wheel drive system rather than a traditional one. If the SX4 does what you want you could try a Suzuki Grand Vitara, or a Nissan X-Trail.