Ask The Guide

I'm not surprised Ford wouldn't reassure you that the transmission in your car won't give you any trouble in the future. Realistically, they can't do that, at best they could only hope it won't give you any trouble. No one can predict what might happen, and unfortunately the reputation of the cars fitted with the terrible Powershift transmission has taken a hit with buyers.

Opinion is divided on the PXII Ranger. Some owners think it's the greatest, others say it is a nightmare. Most complain about the paint, which is thin and scratches easily, others complain of rough changes in the auto, others also say theirs stops for no reason, and there have been the odd report of torque converter failures.

You need to get to the bottom of what caused the failure in your engine. It is all very well to assume it was caused by the timing chain wearing and stretching, but until you actually establish that as the cause you won't get anywhere with the carmaker. Have an experienced engineer inspect the damage and if they believe it is caused by the timing chain failure you have something you can take to BMW to argue your case for compensation. You also then have the option of going to consumer affairs to get their help.

Your car is still in warranty, so you should be talking to your dealer about the problem and what is causing it. If they cannot give you a satisfactory explanation talk to Hyundai's customer service people (1800 186 306). You could also talk to an auto electrician about the problem.

There are no fundamental problems to be concerned about, but it is getting on in age and things do tend to go wrong as the kilometres climb and the years pass. Check that it has been serviced as per Holden's recommendation, that the timing belt has been changed, and that the automatic transmission is working as it should.

It's a common problem. One owner solved it by fitting a H7 HID kit. Most auto retailers should be able to help you out.

The VW brand has been tarnished somewhat with the automatic gearbox and the diesel emission issues, and that could be turning people off. It does sound like a decent car, however, one that would be worth looking at. It might be a case of setting a price that no one can ignore. The guiding price range is $11,000 to $13,000, so perhaps consider dropping it below that.

You can certainly try and sell it back to the dealer; it would be up to the dealer to agree to a deal. I expect you would be offered $12,000-$14,000.

It has heated front seats only.

You would like to think that it shouldn't happen, but the reality is that sometimes it does. As it's out of warranty it's up to you to try and negotiate a deal with Nissan to cover at least part of the cost of the repairs. Do that by going directly to Nissan's customer service (1800 035 035) and requesting them to help out. If that fails you could seek help from the Victorian Government's consumer affairs department.