Articles by CarsGuide team

Episode 77 - Talking restorations, classic cars and Porsches with Brian Tanti

Episode 75 - Lunar rovers and grilling Audi on its new model names

A few cool, wet mornings into the season and I've hopped into my friend's passenger seat, he's started the car, pulled away, and immediately the front windscreen begins to mist up. Like countless other drivers I've travelled with, he then proceeds to try almost everything to stop it fogging up. Everything, that is,

Our favourites from the Geneva motor show

The distinctive badge symbolises the 1932 merger into Auto Union of Audi, Horch, Wanderer and DKW, each with distinguished histories of their own.Well before that merger, however, it was August Horch who laid the platform for the Audi brand as we know it, following a dispute with former business partners that prevented him using his name on cars. A friend's son recognised the link between Horch, which means 'hark' or 'hear' in German, and the Latin translation of same, which is 'audi'. Horsch took the monicker and ran with it, the brand eventually becoming part of Auto Union.In 1965 the company was renamed more simply Audi. It's now owned by Volkswagen.

The reason it's there goes back to the turn of the 20th century when a temperature gauge called a motometer sat atop the radiator.To make them more attractive, carmakers gave them wings or other adornments. By the 1920s, the water temperature gauge moved to the dashboard and the motometer was replaced with a radiator cap with an ornament. The bigger and more impressive the ornament, the greater the status of the car and the people in it.Rolls-Royce commissioned English sculptor Charles Sykes to create a radiator ornament in 1911. The result was the silver lady with wings that still signifies the Rolls-Royce brand, although the lady now automatically retreats into the bonnet when the car is unattended.

You can see the trend by ever-extending service intervals on certain new cars which in some cases have moved out to 30,000km.More evidence can be seen in "sealed for life" transmissions and differentials, but a sealed for life engine? Who knows?Perhaps major car components (engines and transmissions) will become disposable like batteries, tyres, mufflers and shock absorbers. We might one day see cars with engines like cassettes where you run it for a year then take it to a replacement centre which un-clicks the old engine and clicks in a new one.In the meantime, we still need to take the car regularly to have its vital fluids checked or changed and other electronic and mechanical functions reviewed or adjusted.Technology in cars like electronic fuel injection and electronic control units certainly have simplified servicing and "tuning" a car if the right computer equipment is used but they have also made the process more involved for the mechanic (technician) who must be trained to a higher level.There is much more to servicing a modern car than simply giving it a "grease and oil change." The old $35 dollar grease and oil might have passed muster a decade ago but is in most cases insufficient attention for a new car with its many sophisticated systems.Car servicing can involve up to 50 or more component and system checks and adjustments. And despite complaints about the cost from some car owners, it's worth the money. Maintaining the engine in peak economy, performance and emissions condition requires electronic monitoring and fine adjustment according to the diagnostic computer read out.A correctly serviced and tuned engine will have a longer, more economical service life than one that is run into the ground with minimal or inappropriate attention. It can also pre-warn or potentially major problems with the engine and transmission.A full service will include fluid level checks and or changes depending on the system. Hydraulic fluid is hydroscopic (attracts and absorbs water) and should be changed at regular intervals. Water in hydraulic fluid has the potential to corrode the system from the inside with predictable results.Coolant is another critical fluid to a car's performance and engine longevity. Coolant degrades over time and loses its ability to inhibit corrosion inside the engine and also its cooling efficiency.A full service will pick up any potential cooling system problem including leaks from the radiator, cap, water pump, cylinder head or gasket and hoses. A full service will also among other things, tell you the condition of the brake pads, battery condition, steering alignment, tyre tread depth, suspension condition, oil leaks of any sort, exhaust leaks or corrosion, even how well the door locks are working.And the best thing apart from having a fully functional, safe car is that with a complete service history, the car will be worth more when you sell it. 

… like the Griswald family did in the classic comedy movie National Lampoon's Vacation.For a start, it will ruin your car's handling and fuel economy.Roof racks are good for things you don't want inside your car such as gas bottles, firewood, camping rubbish, spare fuel and smelly items like dead relatives.But tying your dead grandmother to the roof would create too much wind drag which would reduce fuel economy and cause destabilisiation at high speeds.Seriously though, roof racks are a great way of taking extra gear on holidays and are cheaper and more convenient than towing a trailer, but there are some issues you need to consider.Firstly, check the load rating of your vehicle and your roof rack and never exceed them.Roof luggage also raises the centre of gravity making your car about as stable as an upside down tenpin.Roof luggage acts like a weight at the end of a pendulum, making the swaying motion even more pronounced.There are some simple guidelines to packing a roof rack that will ensure that you travel safely and conveniently.Pack light. Even though it is an ideal place to store fuel, keep this to a minimum as any liquid is heavy for its size.Secure the load tightly. Load shift could cause your vehicle to lurch out of control. Spread the load. Too far forward and it will dive under brakes, too far back and it makes the steering light and vague.Loading and unloading roof luggage is a real task, so it is important to pack things up there that you don't need to access often.Remember that your car is now taller, so don't go into undercover car parks without checking the height of the vehicle or you might get a nasty surprise.It can get wet and dusty up there, so either keep valuables inside the car or wrap them in bags that are waterproof and dustproof.An aerodynamic pod protects your gear, prevents load shift and reduces drag thus preserving fuel economy. However, they are rigid and more difficult to pack than soft bags which are not as aerodynamic.You should also consider what sort of roof rack you should buy.Do you need roof rails, a rack, a pod or a variable combination?Do you need steel or aluminium? Do you need a pod or a bag?Light racks are only good for light loads. Stainless steel is strong and won't rust and ruin your car roof.

Simon’s dual cab 4x4 Colorado ute has been set up for serious Outback touring, and its more than ready for the red sand found throughout remote Australia.

With the booming American car market comes a word of warning for potential buyers.The best currency rates in years have American car enthusiasts out hunting for bargains, but inadequate research and hasty decisions could turn driving dreams into nightmares, an independent importer has warned.Queensland-based Performax International, which has imported Chevrolets, GMCs, Fords and other American brands for more than 20 years, says private importers must thoroughly investigate any proposed purchase and ensure that it can be safely converted to right-hand drive for Australian use.The company has issued a checklist of questions to help American car owners/buyers make correct decisions, based on its experience of converting around 150 new or near-new vehicles every year."This is a great time for the enthusiast who hankers after a Corvette, Camaro, Mustang or other American vehicle, but it's easy for the inexperienced to make a costly mistake by dealing with unprofessional or even unethical operators," Performax International General Manager Glenn Soper said.Performax International performs conversion work to ADR standards and can help owners get their dream car registered.Checklist for buying a US muscle carHere is a rudimentary check list compiled by Performax International for American classic car buyers.Is the conversion company ISO accredited?Will the company back its own product (not use aftermarket warranties)?Are you able to inspect and test drive a fully completed vehicle?Do they use any hand-made parts (fibreglass opposed to plastic injected)?Is it a well established company with a proven history of steering conversions?Is the company experienced in your particular vehicle model?Do they offer a full spare parts service with back-up Australia-wide?Does the dashboard fit neatly?Do all the gauges, vents, stereo, AC controls fit properly?Are the pedals positioned correctly for ADRs?If power seats are fitted do they work correctly?Will you be supplied with the owner's manual?Does the car have ADR compliant headlights?Have the fog lights been disconnected as per ADR requirements?Have the side marker lights been disconnected as per ADR requirements?Does the car have amber indicators as per ADR requirements?Does the car have the correct tyres for Australia?Does the vehicle maintain the correct geometry and feel in the steering?Has the Australian compliance plate been fitted?Is the steering full right-hand drive with no crossover components?