Ask The Guide

If it is still under warranty take it to your dealer and ask for an assessment of the paint and make a claim for it to be repaired. If it is out of warranty, try for a goodwill payment from Toyota; otherwise you are up for the cost of the re-spray.

It’s a common problem for us as we get older, but there are no sedans or hatches that have the sort of higher driving seat that you want. The best option would be a small SUV, such as a Holden Trax, Toyota C-HR, Ford Kuga, or Suzuki S-Cross.

It could be a worn synchro, but I would suspect it’s more likely to be a worn clutch. Have a mechanic check it for you.

We went back to Ateco and this is the response we received: "With regard to Mr. Laurie, the repairs were actioned on 22 March, with three of the four parts required in stock at his dealership and a fourth part arriving at the dealership on 4 April, having been ordered by the dealer on 30 March. No further parts were, or are on order with regard to this vehicle. The dealer has confirmed that the customer collected his car yesterday, expressed satisfaction with the work and has not been in contact with either dealer or Ateco with any further concerns or issues. Needless to say if there are further issues Ateco and his dealer are more than happy to discuss these with him."

It could be any number of things I’m afraid. It’s clearly not the battery. If it doesn’t turn over when you turn the ignition key to start it could be a faulty starter motor; if it does crank, but doesn’t fire look at the ignition system.

There are no serious issues that should be of concern to you. Owners we have spoken to tell us they get good fuel consumption, and they heap praise on its smoothness and on-road manners. The only complaint some have is the firm ride.

All non-commercial used cars sold in New South Wales are by law meant to have a warranty of 3 months/5000 km if they are less than 10 years old and have done less than 160,000 km. But even if it met those criteria you have had the car for six months and the warranty would have expired.

Your car is one of those troublesome ones that had problems with the DSG transmission, and I assume it has been checked before and had relevant the reworks. I would approach VW about replacing the transmission free of charge.

It’s clearly frustrating you, but I don’t believe you’ve copped a lemon on the basis of what’s happened. Isuzu fixed the diff, end of story, they also replaced the first pump under warranty, again end of story. The issue is why have two pumps failed, and why didn’t Isuzu cover the second pump. These are questions I would be putting to Isuzu. I’m guessing that the second pump wasn’t covered because the warranty had expired after three years.

My reading is that you are liable for stamp duty on transferring the registration to NSW, irrespective of what you paid when you bought the car new.