Ask The Guide

Your complaint about the suspension is quite a common one with one-tonne utes, not only with Mazdas, but many other brands as well. It's a message that should be heeded by anyone buying a one-tonne ute with the intention of putting it to work. Before you commit have it assessed by a suspension expert to establish if it really is up to the task you have in mind, or does it need upgrading. Your complaint about the company not reacting to your problem is not uncommon either, and it's not just from one company. There seems to be an industry wide reluctance to properly deal with customer concerns.

I don't fancy your chances of getting anything out of Toyota at this late stage, after all the car is 10 years old.

It's not something that we have come across before, and it doesn't seem right, but it needs further investigation to find out if it is a normal function of the car or a fault. I suspect the latter, but couldn't say one way or the other without witnessing it do it. Take it up with your dealer again, and if he says it is normal with the MU-X ask him to demonstrate it on another car. If he can't reproduce it on another one press him and Isuzu to investigate why it's happening on your car. If he can show you that it does happen on others you have to believe that it is an in-built fault with the MU-X.

With local production shutting down the big-car choices are getting fewer and fewer, but right now you can still buy a Calais if that's what you like. You can also buy an equivalent Falcon or Toyota Aurion. There are more expensive cars, from the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi etc. that would suit, but they come with a much higher price tag than a Calais. Others you could try are a Skoda Superb, a Honda Accord V6 Luxury if you're prepared to give up a little in size, and there's also the Chrysler 300C.

Stick to the well-proven Japanese brands, such as the Mazda 6, Honda Accord, and perhaps the Korean Kia Cerato. As a private sale your Mazda would be worth $11,000-$12,000, as a trade-in $8000-$10,000.

Not a lot has been heard about the Kulan electric utility vehicle since 2104 when it was shown to the public for the first time. Last we heard the developer was looking for a partner who might be interested in putting it into production. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to arrive.

You really need to work it out with the dealer and Isuzu. I'd be asking why they don't appear interested in your plight, and press them for some sort of action. Lodging it with the Office of Fair Trading is worth doing, and hopefully that will see some positive response. Beyond that I could suggest a lawyer's letter to the company demanding they take action.

Presumably you will go through an importer to get your vehicle, not Toyota, so the importer is the one responsible for the compliance. Toyota Aust. won't be interested; it doesn't import the model you want and won't have applied for local compliance for it.

There are few choices in the medium SUV market when it comes to a manual gearbox, and even fewer options when you add in your towing needs of 2000kg. Most medium SUVs have automatic transmissions; the few that offer a manual mostly don't meet your need to tow 2000kg. The only one that meets both your requirements is the Nissan X-Trail, which has a 6-speed manual option and is rated to tow 2000kg. It has a space saver spare.

You have clearly done your homework, from which you should be able to decide which is best for you. Without knowing what your needs and wants are all we can advice is that the three cars you have honed in on are good choices.