Ask The Guide

Rust protection is usually a dealer option rather than a factory one, so you need to check the warranty document for the product to see what is covered. With regard to the clutch slave cylinder you need to establish how sand got into it. Was it because of a faulty or damaged seal etc.? Having done that you could have grounds to claim on the warranty, but before you know why the sand was able to get in you really don't anything to back up a warranty claim.

It all depends on the condition. If it were in good condition, with good brakes and tyres, and not requiring any major work it would be worth $1500 to $2500.

Given that the warranty is going to expire in the coming year I would press your dealer to fix the problems that are causing you concern. They appear to have fixed the leaking radiator, but the air-conditioning and gearbox issues should be fixed. If the dealer cannot, or is unwilling to fix them escalate the problem by talking directly to Holden's customer service.

It sounds like it's not running as it should, and is perhaps in need of a tune-up.

Without being able to hear the noises firsthand it's hard to say if they are normal or not, and what might be causing them. It's normal for the idle speed to be high when the engine is first started and then settle down once running is established. The second noise when accelerating through 2000 rpm is hard to diagnose. You won't get it when the engine is in Park or Neutral because the engine is not under load as it is when it's in Drive. Your best course of action is to have a mechanic listen to it.

There's no set time that's best. Carmakers are having sales all the time, with special deals etc., but if you're looking to buy a demo then keep an eye out for the model run-out sales when dealers are looking to offload their demos. Watch for carmakers advertising great deals and read the motoring press to see when they're likely to be releasing a new or updated model. May or June, around the end of the financial year is often a good time to pounce.

The Everest is categorized as a non-offroad passenger car under Category MA. If it was an off-roader under the ADR system it would be categorized MC. By doing that Ford was able to keep all Everest variants, both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, under the same ADR compliance plate approval, whereas MC only allows for 4WD and Ford would have had to have separate compliance for its 2WD and 4WD models.

Ford stands by the off-road capabilities of the Everest, and says the 4WD Everest meets the requirements of the MC category, and that using it off-road won't void the warranty. While Ford is comfortable with the situation and says it has no plan to change the Everest category anyone buying one should be aware of potential issues with insurance if you use one inappropriately, or modify it as you want to do.

The warning is out that anyone wanting to buy a 4WD Everest for off-road use should invest the time and do the homework to make sure you can do what you want with it. At the end of the day it's a case of buyer beware.

It seems off that the steering wheel should be heavily worn in such a short time, which suggests that there is a design or production quality issue with it. I suggest you check as many other NX200t cars as you can find to see if it is a common problem, and make a direct approach to Lexus for help in replacing the wheel.

The problem with the timing chain is well documented, and would have come to your attention had you researched that model before you bought it. It's not a safety issue, hence no recall, but Holden did revise the timing chain in an attempt to fix it. Call Holden directly and lodge your complaint, but I doubt that you would have any success on a car that is now seven years old.

Is it related to the operation of the fan? If so it could be wear of the fan, and replacing it might be your answer. But you need a mechanic, someone who can actually hear it, to check it for you.