Ask The Guide

There is nothing official from Mazda Australia but the CX-5 is now more than four years old and that points to a new replacement in the second half of next year. If you're buying now, ensure you also test drive the new Kia Sportage — I give it The Tick and rate it ahead of the CX-5.

Mercedes-Benz spokesman Jerry Stamoulis replies: "Due to the earthquake some months ago in Japan our supplier wasn't able to produce enough head-up displays. Vehicles were either delayed or are now arriving without the head-up display."

I was shocked to hear this and then have it confirmed by Hyundai Australia. CarsGuide believes the five-year warranty should cover the radio, since there is none of the "wear and tear" that affects tyres and brakes, even if it is detailed in the Hyundai Service Passport together with two years/40,000km for the battery. So, instead of The Tick, Hyundai gets The Kick from Roadside Assist.

You are choosing from a good line-up as all three of your contenders get The Tick from me. My personal ranking puts the Passat ahead of the Outback but there is no reason not to go ahead with the Subaru.

They will most likely offer you the current trade-in value, which is $27,000 to $30,000, although you might get more for yours given that it has done so few kilometres. The only thing you can do in the circumstances is to negotiate hard and try and get as much as you can for the car. Unfortunately the company has the upper hand, because it can simply refuse to deal.

I would think the key should be covered by the warranty, given that it failed. It’s not like it wore out through use, when I wouldn’t expect it to be covered. Contact Kia directly on 1800 600 010 and see if you can negotiate a deal for a free replacement.

I’m not surprised at the clutch requiring replacement in that time, but I am surprised at the gearbox problem. I would contact Nissan directly and ask for some assistance with the cost of repairs.

I feel your pain, but you really are stuck with your car, particularly now that you have joined the class action against Ford. You can try and negotiate a trade-in deal on your car, but it’s unlikely that Ford will be willing to deal with you given that you are, in effect, suing them. You are correct in your criticism of the consumer laws in this country, but that doesn't help you in the short term when you need to get out of your car at minimum cost to you. The best course of action is to stick with the class action and see it through.

The best way to get a resolution to your woes is to deal, at first with the dealer. If that doesn’t resolve your issues go directly to Holden’s customer service (1800 033 349) and seek a resolution. After that your next port of call should be consumer affairs in Queensland.

The cold cranking power required to start an engine first thing in the morning when it’s cold is much higher than when it is a little warmer, as it is later in the day. Make sure your battery has sufficient cold cranking power to do the job. If the battery is too small, even if it’s new, it might not have the power needed to crank a V6. If it does have sufficient power then look to the starter. If the starter is not throwing in it could be worn.