Articles by Ashlee Pleffer

And there are many reasons why.Some like the Corolla's looks, others are drawn to its reliability and good reputation.And then there are those who like adding their own personal touch so they can demonstrate their unique character and create an expression of themselves.And it's when you add these touches, that you can be a unique Corolla owner.Matthew Breen, 22, is among the devotees who have modified a Corolla.The Sydney resident owns an AE92, which means it's a 1992-model Toyota Seca SX series 2. He's a self-confessed Corolla fan.He's owned two other Corollas, a 1985 KE30 and a 1979 KE70. He and his three siblings all learned to drive in the family 1985 Corolla.Breen bought his current Corolla for about $6000 and has spent $2000 on upgrades. "I put some mag wheels on it and a CD player and I lowered it," he says.For Breen, the Corolla's appeal can be attributed to its looks as well as its solid reputation for reliability.His interest in the near-legendary vehicle, which has spanned more than eight years, was initially fuelled by his friends' shared interest in the make. It was raised further in 2003, when he joined a community of Corolla fans, who have dubbed themselves the Sydney Rolla Club.On a regular cruise, the club attracts a convoy of about 30 Corollas, both male and female owners and all types of models."They're always reliable and the price of them and everyone's got one," Breen says of the reason they're so popular.Breen uses the car as his regular daily transport and says he hasn't had any problems in the two years he's had it.He says he wants to hold on to his current model for a little while longer, and doesn't have any plans to upgrade to a newer car, be it a Corolla or otherwise.The Toyota Corolla has been available in Australia for 40 years and in that time, more than 974,000 models have been sold. Toyota Australia predicts that the brand will reach the milestone of a million sales in Australia by the end of this year.So its popularity doesn't seem to be diminishing any time soon.The small, four-cylinder car was the second most popular model in Australia last year, beaten by the Holden Commodore. This year alone, 7076 Corollas have been sold.The very first Corolla export from Japan came to Australia in 1966.Jaqueline Brooks, 24, owns a 1988 CS Corolla. She purchased the car six years ago when she was still driving on her P-plates. It cost just $3500 and maintained a family connection with the model."It was a family tradition that we all had Corollas," she says. "My cousins all had Corollas and my grandfather liked them."Brooks was also attracted to the reliable nature of the popular car."That's the reason I bought it. It's not the most attractive car going around. It has a brown interior," she laughs."It has no airconditioning or power steering, but it goes well."Brooks has clocked up many kilometres in her car over the six years and says she has only really had one major problem with it."It needed an engine replacement, but it doesn't cost much to fix," she says."I'm going to drive it until it dies."And when that time comes, she says she will consider upgrading to another Corolla.

Calleja is just one of 80 or so young women who hit the go-kart tracks each month around NSW. But her chosen form of go-karting is a little different to the traditional one. Calleja races with the NSW Speedway Kart Club, members of which compete at Nepean Motorsports Complex at Agnes Banks. This means she gets pretty messy when racing, because it's on a dirt track. And while she may be on the receiving end of some friendly mocking from her male competitors, especially about her pink kart, Calleja says it all changes when you hit the track. "Once your helmet goes on, everybody's the same, there's no male and female. Everybody's here to do the same thing," she says. Calleja took up the sport four years ago, after being around racing all her life. With a father who has been involved in speedway, and who bought her the go kart, she also had someone to be her experienced pit crew. Outside of the go-karting world, Calleja says people often find it hard to believe her chosen pastime. "No one ever believes it when I tell them, `You drive it or someone else drives it?' they say. People assume you must race only ladies, when you say `No, I race males', they say, `Really?," she says. Calleja has worn holes in the top of her gloves with her nails and has to buy a bigger size to accommodate her fashion. But racing is more than just a hobby for this girl. Calleja hopes to eventually compete on the speedway scene in sprint cars, but says she's still got a bit to learn from the go-karting world first. And she's not the only one who's looking to enter the big league. Lindsay Jones has high hopes for her chosen sport, and at just 11-years-old, she also knows what it's like to go up against the boys. Jones has been karting for two years, after taking an interest in the sport when her male cousin started racing. "I think it's really cool ... lots of other girls should try it as well. It's not what they think it is," she says. "When you're racing they just act like I'm just one of them. So just race like you're a guy as well, not a girl. It gives you confidence ... it's a really good sport." And the youngster can also count on the male members of her life as her trusty crew, with her dad and uncle helping out and supporting her during her races. But go-karting isn't just for the young. Not only do the older males compete, but the young-at-heart females also take to the track. Mother-of-two Alana Baines is a regular on the dirt, often competing against and beating her younger brother and husband. The 41-year-old has been competing since 2000. And with her family's racing history, it was only time before she took the big leap into the world of motorsport. Her father was involved with building Parramatta Speedway and also competed. Baines has also been a crew member for her brothers during their racing, but seven years ago, she decided to give go-karting a go herself. "There's definitely nothing to stop girls from having a decent run," she says. "It's good to get out there with the guys and run wheels with them ... there are a couple you may have problems with and you've really got to stand your ground with them. "I believe in clean racing. It helps you to earn a lot of respect if you're always clean." But Baines has discovered go-karting isn't all fun and games, especially when you break your ankle in an accident. "It took a while for me to get my confidence back on the track," she says. "It is dangerous, any kind of motorsport is, but it's fun and I love it. It's the adrenalin rush you get when you're out there." Both her kids have also been involved in the sport. And while fun is a given, especially for youngsters, Baines says it also gives kids skills they can use when learning to drive.

And to add to your dilemma, government incentives mean you should probably also consider gas. And if you're after this last option, the Ford XR6 E-gas is the only place to turn for an LPG dedicated factory fitted ute.Holden offers a dual fuel system, but this isn't factory fitted. Although the rebate is still available for this option. It was in the form of the Falcon XR6 Cab Chassis that I had my first experience with a gas-powered car.At $36,390, this ute is $1400 more than the petrol equivalent — but with the government rebate of $1000, it works out just $400 more expensive. A lot of people purchasing this styled ute use it for transporting motor bikes or jetskis.Others have to invest in storage boxes or side sections to be able to use the tray to store equipment. That means there's the added price of about $1500. Otherwise, you'll have to invest in some rope.You can choose which type of tray you want. This flat tray costs $5000.There are some noted differences when driving an LPG vehicle.Firstly, it's important to find where you're supposed to fill it up. And on this model it was a bit of a search, and almost required the overalls on, just to find it. For future reference, it's on the passenger side under the tray. And refilling requires a lesson or two as well — it operates a little differently to the way petrol tanks work.Luckily when it came time to re-gas, there was an LPG convert refuelling who was kind enough to give me a quick guided tour.Now the obvious benefit of E-Gas is the saving in running costs. To fill up with 60 litres cost just $30.But you should take into consideration that while LPG may be just under 50c a litre, fuel consumption is higher.This XR6 has a claimed consumption of 15.1— litres per 100km, but in real-world testing, it didn't drop below 20-litres per 100km. To allow for this, the 90-litre tank is bigger than most petrol ones, so you don't have to make more gas stops.Another downside of a gas tank is reduced power. This Ford ute produced 156kW at 5000rpm and 370Nm at 2750rpm compared to the petrol's 190kW of power and 383Nm of torque. You do notice a drop in performance and the four-speed auto gearbox also contributes to this.An extra gear at least would have come in handy. The five-speed manual transmission seems like a better option. On the inside, the ute has all the comfort of your Falcon sedan, minus the space in the back of course.There is some room to store bags behind the seats, but not a great deal, although it does have more room than some other utes.There's also a problem with vision when checking your blind spot on the driver's side, so care must be taken.While reduced power may be a downside, it's not all bad news. If you do your sums, running on gas does mean you'll save money.Ford's figures claim the saving is about $35 a week, but with a higher fuel consumption and in real world testing, it seems to be more like $20 a week.However, that still represents a saving of more than $1000 a year.And unless you directly compare a petrol to the LPG, you don't really notice the difference in performance.It still drives comfortably and if you slip the transmission into manual mode, you can extract a decent acceleration. While going with the gas option in sedans often results in the loss of boot space, there's no need to worry with a ute. The gas tank is located under the tray, allowing all the regular use.This ute was quite easy to drive around town, although added weight on the back might change its mobility. The XR6 Cab Chassis comes with half-tonne suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels, traction control and Electronic Brake-force Distribution.After a week in this beast, it seems a chick in a ute is a bit of a rarity on Sydney streets.Not surprisingly, these tend to be most practical for tradesmen. Chuck the work gear on the back and often the dog can even come along for the ride. And when you're off hours and heading to the pub with mates, you can get out of designated driver duties because it's only a two-seater. Well, it worked for me on a girls' night out at least.

With recent auction prices exceeding $200,000, long-time owners are discovering their purchase many years ago, and for a much lower price, was a worthy investment. And of the models that made their mark in Bathurst in this era, the most valuable today is probably the Ford GTHO Phase III.Car enthusiast Angelo Sarigiannis is one lucky owner who has seen the value of his car shoot through the roof. He bought his GTHO Phase III 11 years ago for $42,000.Sarigiannis is now knocking back offers as high as $500,000. And there's one thing stopping him taking up the offers."My kids won't let me sell it," he says.Sarigiannis doesn't take his Ford out very often, but when he does his four sons, all aged under 12, love to go for a spin with dad.And while it may be worth a lot of money, Sarigiannis says it's not the most comfortable car to drive — far from it."There's no airconditioning, it's heavy on the steering, the clutch is heavy, it doesn't stop well, it doesn't corner well but I wouldn't swap it for the world," he says with great pride."You can't compare it to the new Commodores and Falcons, it's a different feeling of driving it. But you expect that. That's why you only drive them three or four times a year."Owning a valuable muscle car also means extra security precautions. As Sarigiannis says, you have to "lock it down"."It's not at my house. Where it's kept, I make sure no one's following me, it's locked up, with bolts and screws and an alarm and bits of the motor are pulled out so it doesn't start," he says. "It's worth it, people will try to pinch it if they can."According to the Ford fanatic, the reason these vehicles have become so highly sought after is their limited numbers. Sarigiannis says they built 300 Ford GTHO Phase III's in 1971 and there are probably only 120 to 130 left. His model is standard without any modifications, just as it was built more than 30 years ago. And he gets plenty of attention when he drags it out, mainly on club runs."Every time I take it out to a show, to the Shannons day and All Ford Day, I get offers, or people call with an offer," he says."Every year, it's going up. Five years ago, it was worth $100,000 and that was a big thing. Year after year, it's going up because they're rare these days, collectors are into them."When first released, the Ford GTHO Phase III cost $5300. Now, as the cashed-up baby boomers reclaim the muscle cars of their youth, they fetch between $250,000 and $350,000 at auctions, sometimes even more.Sarigiannis says the publicity the cars are given also adds to the hype and ridiculous figures people will pay for a piece of history.Sarigiannis has another GT Falcon, a 1969 model. It has increased in value from the $18,000 he paid for it 15 months ago, to the $50,000 it is now worth. Other GTs, Mustangs and what he calls your "average family cars" have also parked in his garage.Sarigiannis says it's great to be able to call these classic models your own. But he offers some worthy advice to anyone considering jumping onboard the muscle car trend."Definitely get someone to verify it's a GT and hasn't been rebodied," he says, listing the GT Club as a possibility. "They're very expensive to get now, these cars. But if they like it, they're definitely not going to lose investment wise, it's good."

Well, you don't need to turn back time or wait for the latest Hollywood heart-throb to be in town to experience these overwhelming emotions. Just jump in Audi's latest wagon, the RS4 Avant. But don't be fooled by the term wagon, this is no soccer mum's car.It looks like your average station wagon. Sure the bright red paint, the silver roof racks, alloy wheels, silver backed mirrors and its sleek design make it look more sporty, but you don't expect it to be the flying bullet that it is.It's just like Clark Kent, fitting into the city crowd, but then showing its true colours when the cape goes on and you really let the superhero character rip.There's one word that really wraps up the whole definition of this Audi and that's fun.But at $168,100, it's expensive fun.There's a sudden rush of blood to the head as you give the throttle an ever so slight bit of pressure and feel your heartbeat quicken in the process. Give it even more and that excited feeling kicks in. But it's almost torture confining this beast to peak-hour traffic.The high-revving 4.2-litre, V8 engine not only has a rapid response and ever-so-smooth drive, it also has a sweet sound.The growl gets even better when you push the "S" button on the flat-bottomed racing steering wheel. That button, which I like to think stands for Superman mode, in reality stands for Sport.The characteristic of the accelerator changes, the flap in the exhaust opens up giving off an even sportier sound and the seat gives you that much-needed hug, with the sides squeezing in.The front sports bucket seats are superb for that sharp, dynamic, driving, holding you right in place with support from all angles.But it's not such an easy feat getting in or out of the car. After a week, there was still no mastering of this task, for it was done in a clumsy and unladylike manner every time, especially when wearing a skirt. You really stumble over the raised sides of the seat.Backseat passengers suffer a little from a lack of airconditioning, as the front plastic-backed sports seats tend to block the path of the air flow. A rear air vent would have been a worthy inclusion in this expensive car.The RS4 Avant sits 30mm lower than the A4, lowering the centre of gravity and providing better handling ability. It also has a wider track on the front and rear. It sits on large 19-inch wheels, with a seven spoke design.And with the weight kept to a minimum, it's able to shoot from zero to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds, faster than many a Porsche. It produces 309kW at 7800rpm and revs right up to 8250rpm and 420Nm of torque from 5500rpm. But even lower down the tacho, high torque is still on hand, with 90per cent available between 2250rpm and 7600rpm, the result, a great amount of pulling power and a smile on your dial.The RS4 has the latest generation of the permanent four-wheel-drive quattro system, with 40per cent power distributed to the front and 60per cent to the rear.The controlled and steady positioning on the road comes into play as you tackle the corners, the sharp steering a great assistance.A Bose sound system with 10 loudspeakers, navigation with a TV tuner, high-intensity xenon plus headlights, parking sensors, ESP and Dynamic Ride Control are all standard.The RS4 Avant seems to be in a class of its own, with the functionality of a wagon, yet still an exciting performance, all rolled into one. It's a car for the truly enthused driver, who has a spare $168,100, that is.With this wagon, there's no need to sacrifice performance for your family.

Used car expert, Chris D'Sousa, says if you equip yourself with the right knowledge and the right frame of mind, you can find a good deal. And for cars up to $5000, you're best off looking for cars circa 1991 to 1995. D'Sousa, the operations manager for automotive information service Glass's Guide, says the car will generally have done about 180,000km to 240,000km but you can get ones with less kilometres if you look around and don't rush into a sale. In terms of models, he says the Japanese cars are best for reliability. "You could look at a Suzuki Swift or a Daihatsu Charade," he says. "Small cars would be the best way for younger people to go with a bigger range on offer. Nissan Pulsar, Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer, Mazda 323, Honda Civic, Ford Laser, Daihatsu Applause, they're all reasonably reliable, providing they're in good condition." For those after a slightly bigger car, the Toyota Camry, Mazda 626, Ford Telstar and Holden Apollo are worth consideration. Even larger still, D'Sousa says there are many Falcons and Commodores available in this price range. But people should be aware these cars can be expensive to run and if you're working on a budget, smaller, four-cylinder engines are a better option. And when you've made that decision to buy a used car, D'Sousa says you should follow some important steps. "First they should identify the car they're looking for in terms of brand," he says. "If, for example, they like Corolla or Pulsar, they should understand prices and what your money can buy." For this, he recommends some research on websites, newspapers and magazines. Then you can begin the "window shopping" process. "Find a car closest to where you're living and have a look. Don't buy the first car you see, have a look at six or seven, it will give you an idea of what's good for your money." D'Sousa says buyers should be on the lookout for rust spots and should avoid buying cars from beachside areas if possible, as these are inclined to have some rust. Buyers should also be aware of poor repairs. "Drive the car, get a feel for it, does it handle well, check the oil is clean. If it's an auto, check it's changing gears properly, if it's manual, make sure the clutch isn't slipping." And if you don't know much about cars, be sure to get it checked by an expert. "Once vehicles get to these ages, they tend to suffer major mechanical faults if not serviced well," he says. When it comes to choosing a car, it can be a very emotional decision and D'Sousa warns that your feelings can get in the way. "Take someone with experience, such as a parent or friend, for a second opinion and to provide you with that balance," he says. "Some people buy with their heart rather than their head. With a car that age, it's very important you have a lot more than your heart." Airbags and ABS were just beginning to be introduced around 1994 and 1995 and D'Sousa says you may be able to find cars in this price range that have these features, mainly the larger ones. But he says these shouldn't be a priority and you should make sure the car is in good condition first. Newer cars could slip into this price range, with these features, and might seem like a bargain. But he warns the vehicle may be in poor condition. D'Sousa says another important step is to check the title to ensure the history of the vehicle. You can do this through the Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS). Some luxury European cars might also fit into this price range, but these often require expensive parts and are hard to service, so it may not be such a wise investment. D'Sousa advises people to stick to the more common cars and avoid vehicles with modifications. NRMA Insurance head of research Robert McDonald says when buying an older model make sure you do your homework and check for things such as collision repairs. McDonald also warns that modified vehicles are expensive to insure. "Modifications that can impact on insurance include increased engine size, expensive stereos, some alloy wheels, suspension lowering or raising, and expensive or elaborate paintwork. Check with your insurer first before buying or modifying a vehicle," he says.

Both attract glances from all angles and leave you feeling good about yourself from behind the wheel. Volkswagen's latest offering provides the best of both worlds in one package, a hard-top convertible and a coupe. And it's an affordable one at that.The new Eos has a convertible, sliding coupe roof and is priced between $47,990 and $52,290, depending on whether you want to stick to the traditional petrol or give the diesel a try. And with a 2.0-litre turbo on offer in both modes, the Eos, which is named after a goddess, is competitively priced for the segment. On a first drive, there even seems to be more on offer for your money than with the more expensive Volvo C70, which starts at $69,950 and the diesel Saab 9-3 for $67,400. The 2.0-litre turbo diesel is the entry-level model for the range, with 103kW developed at 4000rpm and 320Nm from as low as 1750rpm to 2500rpm. It's priced at $47,990 for the manual, and $50,290 for the DSG gearbox. While the DSG gearbox is impressive, and allows you to drive in three modes, manual shifting with a light touch of the gear lever, Sport or the easier Drive option, the manual is a more enjoyable drive. With tall gearing, it was a quick shift into third as we easily tackled the winding Great Ocean Road in Victoria. The diesel is a good ride and it doesn't seem to possess past diesel traits, such as a noisy engine.During our test, mother nature wasn't so kind, so unfortunately we couldn't test it with the roof down. But when driving with the roof closed, you barely notice you're in a diesel in terms of noise.The alternative is a 2.0-litre turbo petrol model, with 147kW from 5100rpm to 6000rpm and 280Nm of torque delivered at 1800rpm to 5000rpm. The petrol has a price tag of $49,990 for the six-speed manual and $52,290 for the DSG. This is a little more expensive than the Holden Astra Twin Top at $45,490 and the Peugeot 307cc at $47,990, but its performance also exceeds those models. The turbo has the benefit of responsive and smooth acceleration, the torque always on hand.The bad weather held off long enough to test the topless option in the petrol model.The car has to be stationary to remove the roof, which takes 25 seconds to retract and folds into the boot. With the roof down, there's still 205 litres capacity (enough for two bags). It has 380 litres when the roof is up.The Eos is the first car to have a sunroof fitted into a retractable hard top, so you can still pull back the inside of the roof to reveal the glass top and the beauty of the sky, storm or no storm. And the design of the car is in line with its goddess origin. She's a good-looking model, with the smooth shape and space-like encapsulated shell.The Eos borrows some attributes of other Volkswagen models, including the suspension based on the Golf and Jetta and the petrol engine, which was first deployed in the Golf GTI. But its platform is new.The back surprisingly has decent head and leg space, even with the roof up. The suspension felt light on the road when we were testing the petrol model, not quite taking the corners with the firmness you'd like. But the problem was solved when we stepped into the diesel model, fitted with the optional 18-inch wheels and sports suspension, which comes at an extra $2490. It's well worth it for that extra grip and a more dynamic ride.The Eos comes standard with a rollbar system, ABS, ESP, four airbags working as six, parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, a six-disc CD changer with eight speakers, rain-sensing wipers and that first-of-a-kind five-piece Convertible Sliding Coupe roof. Leather interior is extra.In Greek mythology, the Titan goddess of dawn, Eos, rose from the edge of the ocean to awake her brother, Helious the sun. So perhaps jumping in your Eos at dawn and stretching her legs on the road would ensure the rising of the sun, allowing the full benefits of her convertible form. It didn't really seem to work for us, but then again, there was no getting up at dawn for these journalists, even if a goddess was awaiting.

HOLDENThe focus at the GM-owned stand willbe the concept of the next generation of America's iconic muscle car, the Chevrolet Camaro. The partly Australian-designed sports coupe concept will make its debut here.Holden will be evaluating public response to determine if the Camaro will be a viable option for the local market.The new model has been confirmed for production in North America at the beginning of 2009. It is expected to be identical to the concept model, a modern interpretation of its original 1969 form.Part of the Camaro's engineering and design work is done in Melbourne.Holden is also unveiling a diesel version of its Captiva family all-wheel-drive plus the new Epica mid-size sedan. FORDThe hottest new baby car for Australia is the Fiesta XR4 (pictured on today's cover) which Ford will start selling here mid-year.The European-built car will complement its big brother the Focus XR5 Turbo.The XR4 will be powered by a 2.0-litre Duratec 16 valve engine. Falcon Cobra-style stripes will enhance its racy looks.Also following the Cobra style is a limited-edition run of 200 FPV GTs to commemorate 40 years since the first Falcon V8, the XR GT, was built in 1967.The distinctive black with gold stripes machine will sell for $65,110 from next month. TOYOTAThe company will reveal its latest prestige performance vehicles. The locally designed Toyotas make their world debut in Melbourne.The TRD range features a supercharged 3.5-litre, V6 Aurion sports sedan and the supercharged 4.0-litre, V6 HiLux sports utility.The Aurion will go on sale in the middle of the year and the Hilux will be launched towards the end of the year. AUDI The surprise of the show could be Audi's new S5 and A5 models, which make their world debut at the Geneva show next week.The A5 will be available in both four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with the 3.2-litre, 195kW V6 petrol topping the range.The S5 has an eight-cylinder 260kW engine, producing 440Nm of torque. It sprints from nought to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.The coupes will be available to order from March, with deliveries starting in June. JEEPThe Chrysler brand will preview three of its new production models in Melbourne.The all-new Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited will be the main attraction to the stand, along with the first compact SUV for Jeep, the Compass.The Wrangler has been redesigned, and has a new diesel engine added to the range.The Unlimited is a four-door model, with five seats and extended wheelbase.The new Compass will be available in both petrol and diesel engines when it goes on sale this month and the company believes it will appeal to a younger audience. NISSANNissan will unveil three new models, including the much-talked-about Qashqai, which has been renamed Dualis for the Australian market. The Dualis will be launched in Australia towards the end of this year and will slot into the small segment.Nissan will also display the new Micra, a 1.4-litre small car which will also go on sale towards the end of the year and the revised 350Z. With a new 3.5-litre, V6 engine, the 350Z will go on sale in April. It also features changed interior and exterior designs. HONDAHonda's latest offering in fuel-cell technology, the new FCX concept, is making its Australian debut in Melbourne.The low-riding, sporty sedan runs on hydrogen and has more power, while still offeringa a full-sized cabin. Honda is currently working on a retail version of the prototype for the US and Japan. EDAGThe engineering and design company will exhibit its EDAG SUV, a one-of-kind model based on the Porsche Cayenne. The modified SUV has been lowered and reshaped and the roofline dropped by 70mm.It has a 447kW turbo engine, with large air inlets on the front bumper for the intercoolers. Wedge-shaped side skirts and muscular fenderflares give the EDAG SUV even more character. It sits on 23-inch wheels with ultra-low profile tyres.Inside, four sports seats are separated by a full-length centre console, which features a DVD player and Sony PS2 game console. BMWWe'll see the debut of the new X5 in Australia at the motor show.The revised SUV will go on sale in April with a 3.0-litre diesel and a 4.8-litre, V8 petrol engine. A 3.0-litre petrol will be available from June. Prices will start at $80,000.BMW will also show the 3 Series convertible as well as the the updated 5 Series and 1 Series. MAZDAMazda will feature the Australian preview of its new large SUV, the CX-9. The seven-seater will be the third SUV for Mazda when it goes on sale in Australia in January.It is expected to cost $55,000-$60,000.Mazda will have both a cut model with the roof taken off, as well as a left-hand drive, North American production model on display.

But those big accidents, they'll always happen to someone else, not me. And as much as I hate to admit it, I think I had fallen into this mindset. That was before I attended an advanced driver training course this week.When learning how to drive, we are simply taught to get our licence, as my instructor at the BMW Young Driver Training course, Derek Walls, told us."With every other form of vehicle — motorbikes, heavy vehicles, light vans — you have to go further," he says."But basically, when it comes to a car licence, that's it. You get your licence and don't have to do anything else."And it's true. In most cases, you're not taught how to avoid an accident, how dangerous travelling too close to the car in front can really be or the importance of wide vision.I arrived at the course to find I was on the older side of young drivers. My six fellow motorists were on their P-plates.And while they were all keen on driving a brand new 3 Series BMW for the day and hitting the racetrack, it seemed they were all there because of the initiative of parents or relatives. Some had first-hand accident stories, others told of friends who were lucky to have escaped some sticky situations.But it became clear from the start that we all shared that optimism in our abilities. So it was off to the classroom for a reality check.After some theory, we were off to put it into practice. Braking, the correct steering technique and swerving to avoid an accident were first on the list. There were some tangled arms as we tried to adjust to new hand positioning, burnt rubber as we learned the benefit of ABS and how to control a car without this technology, and quite a few witches hats taken out along the way.And while it was heaps of fun and most of the exercises were done with smiles on our faces, as well as a few butterflies in our stomachs, we all absorbed a wealth of knowledge we had previously taken for granted.After lunch it was off for some more theory and practical exercises and then came time for what most of the boys had been waiting for, hitting the track. Our 110km/h felt considerably fast, but to finish the day off, we saw real speed in action. Our instructors took us for some hot laps in their BMW M3s.Some people may criticise these courses for encouraging unsafe driving behaviour. But as Walls says, advanced driver training courses show young people their limits and encourage them to work within them.His motto is simple: "Speed that thrills is speed that kills." If you're getting excited by your driving, you're outside your comfort zone.The treat of some hot laps at the end of the day demonstrated just how much technique and experience is required to carry off such speeds with precision. We were all pretty much agreed that we were yet to possess the experience required to execute such a task."Let them experience and they will go away and make their own decision, but you have to give them the correct tools to make accurate decisions," Walls says.While most courses require you to bring your own car, this one had us all drive the same BMWs. Walls warns that some courses may not be as qualified as you think, so people should do some research before booking one.Back on the road, I've noticed I'm putting all my new skills into practice. I'm now much more alert, I'm giving extra room between my car and the car in front and I'm practising and mastering my turning technique.Experiencing actions such as braking or swerving suddenly at 80km/h shows just how hard these tasks are, something you can't quite comprehend until you experience it.I know I'd rather this on the track than in real driving conditions. With the disastrous effects of over-confident young drivers continually in the news, a driver training course could just be the wake-up call they need.How to drive safelyVision If there's one thing we're not good at, it is looking far enough ahead. In most cases we just don't do this and fail to focus far enough ahead. Keep your head up and always be aware of what is going on around you. Look out to see what's coming next. Good observation really is the key.Braking Early is better. The bottom line is if you think you need to brake, then you do. Leave two to three seconds between yourself and the car ahead. A car travelling 100km/h takes 80m to stop with reaction time. Incredibly, that's nearly as long as a football field.Seating positionYou should be in a comfortable position, but your legs must not be straight or too cramped. You should be able to fit only four fingers above your head before reaching the roof. You should be comfortable and in control in all situations. Your leg can't become locked under braking.Peer pressureThere's always peer pressure, which is especially true for young blokes. Don't cave in to these demands. "Speed that thrills is speed that kills." If you're getting excited, then you're driving outside your comfort zone.

In the wide expanses of Australia, things have been different. It was seen here as a marketing tool. Companies used the tiny tots as moving billboards, with advertisements for mobile phones and chocolate brands plastered over their bodies.Gradually though, private motorists have come on board, particularly Mercedes owners looking for a small second car to use as a city runabout and the environmentally concerned who are attracted to the car's miserly fuel consumption.After starting with sales of just 226 in 2003, last year 533 Fortwos were sold in Australia.After eight years and more than 770,000 sales worldwide the second generation has been tested by the international media on the streets and motorways of Madrid. The latest car (right) and the previous generation feature on today's cover page.The Fortwo is the only model for Smart worldwide, after the Roadster was discontinued in 2005 and the Fourfour last year.The improved, one-of-a-kind car won't go on sale in Europe until April and will be seen on our shores in September or early October. But first indications are the DaimlerChrysler-owned brand has lifted its game.The latest Smart Fortwo will be available in Europe in three petrol models, all one-litre, three-cylinder, rear-mounted engines with an option of a 45kW, 52kW and a turbocharged 62kW output. A diesel engine will also be available with 33kW of power.Australia receives the 45kW engine, and while final decisions on models haven't been verified, we can expect one engine variant, with the more powerful 62kW most likely.Prices will be revealed closer to launch, but it's believed it will be a minimal increase from the current model, which starts at $18,091 for the 45kW coupe. And there's been quite a lot of upgrading. To accommodate future pedestrian laws, the latest Fortwo will be bigger. The front end is 72mm longer, it has a wider wheelbase by 55mm, and a 31mm larger track width. The rear luggage compartment has also gained 70 litres, now at 220 litres. The passenger seat is situated 15cm further back from the driver.Cabrio and Coupe variants will be available in Australia, as are currently offered.The latest Cabrio's electric roof is impressive when compared to the current manual offering. Unlike most convertibles, the new roof can be opened while travelling at any speed, there's no need to slow down. It also features heated glass at the back, an improvement on the plastic rear window.An automated five-speed manual transmission with manual mode replaces the six-speed auto. It can immediately shift down two gears at once with its kickdown function.While it is an improvement on the previous gearbox, despite one less gear, the new transmission is still too jolty when in automatic mode. By slipping it into clutchless manual mode, you get a much smoother ride.The Fortwo 62kW engine surprisingly holds its own on the longer highway stretches at faster speeds, despite its weight of 750kg.It becomes a little difficult to control when passing large trucks, but otherwise cruising is quite comfortable and steady.Adjusted steering, with electric steering available as an option, and enhanced suspension means that for the city driver the car also handles well around corners.Our drive included the 52kW and 62kW models, and although the turbo obviously had the advantage, the 52kW performer was still adequate around the city.Let's just say it had enough "oomph" for the crazy peak hour traffic of Madrid.However, the brake pedal is rather heavy and takes some getting used to, especially in heavy stop-start traffic.The latest model comes standard with ESP and ABS, as well as electronic brake-force distribution, airbags for the driver and passenger and a tridion safety cell.And as can be expected, the light car has good fuel economy. The 62kW engine we're likely to get records 4.8 litres per 100km, the smaller engines claim 4.7 litres per 100km and the diesel uses just 3.4 litres per 100km.The latest Smart car has a more mature look, although when the two models are not side by side the appearance changes are subtle. It has quirky character and, despite the similarity to the current model, about 90 per cent of parts and components are new.The indicators are integrated into the headlamps and it has a more athletic and masculine look. The interior has also been revised and modernised. Our market will receive two of the three interiors on offer — the Pulse and Passion variants.The Fortwo is a practical car for Europe. Yet in Australia we love our big engines, even in times of high fuel prices. We also tend to want some space in our small cars. The Fortwo goes against accepted wisdom on each of these factors. The new model has had impressive and necessary upgrading. However, with a different mindset Down Under, it's unlikely to be as popular here as in the narrow, winding streets of Europe.