Articles by CarsGuide team

Colourful dealer principal Tony Stark has increased his presence in the prestigious Robina Automall precinct with the purchase of a parcel of land adjacent to his existing Toyota dealership, and will expand his Hinterland Toyota headquarters on to the 4000sq m site in Brabham Circuit to almost double his total land holding to 8247sq m. He said the acquisition allowed for further development of showroom facilities in the long term but would provide extra sales display, storage and parking space in the short term. "We are trading quite well here, and we want to ensure we have the capacity for major expansion down the track,'' Mr Stark said. He said the Robina area was coming of age in terms of business and population growth and was proving to be an ideal location for his headquarters. "It is geographically central to the rest of the city and our other outlets,'' he said. Darrell Irwin, director of special projects at Colliers International Gold Coast, negotiated the now settled deal between Mr Stark and Automall developer Robina Projects Australia. Hinterland Toyota moved in to the Automall precinct in 2010 after snapping up its existing 4247sq m site and then developing an ultra-modern showroom and service centre. The company has operated on the Gold Coast for almost 30 years and has outlets at Burleigh Heads and Nerang. The sale follows the Frizelle Motor Group's recent announcement that the timing was right to establish their Robina dealership on a 1.5ha site opposite Hinterland Toyota. These transactions leave Robina Projects Australia with just two sites to sell in the Automall, which is home to the Gold Coast's leading car dealerships, including Von Bibra Gold Coast Auto Village and Grand Motors Prestige Mercedes-Benz, along with ancillary services such as Signature Tyres, Auto Leaders and Robina Car and Dog Wash. In addition to established Holden, Honda and Nissan showrooms, Von Bibra is expanding their Automall operations and developing a service centre, which is currently under construction by Condev.  

General sales manager Bruce Partridge said the sales, service and parts teams had a wealth of experience and knowledge in all things automotive, combined with an unrivalled enthusiasm for the brands to share with every customer that visits."At Salters Chrysler Jeep Dodge we pride ourselves on exceeding the expectations of our customers, providing the best in service, sales and care,'' he said. "From buying the perfect car for a customer and their family to providing its 200,000km service, Salters Chrysler Jeep Dodge will be there every kilometre of the way."We look forward to welcoming customers to Salters Chrysler Jeep Dodge.'' The Salters brand lives on at Moorooka following the acquisition of the iconic car yard by Centenary Motors last year. After 37 years on the Moorooka Magic Mile, Alex Salter retired, but the dealership continues to trade under the Salters name, including new and used Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. 

Targeting LAMs (learner) riders, the V-Night 150 should have broad appeal with novice riders. It's a smaller scale sports bike with a big bike look featuring a full fairing, aerodynamic design and a efficient four-stroke engine. As the name suggests, the donk is a single cylinder, 150cc, liquid cooled unit with electric start. V-Night rolls on wide 17-inch wheels offering plenty of grip and agile, responsive steering. Disc brakes front and rear complement the sporty suspension making it a safe and comfy ride. Digital instrumentation and twin halogen headlights help riders stay in touch with the bike and road. Each model in the CFMoto motorcycle range is LAMs approved as well as being a head turner.The company has been making motorcycles for over 20 years with current production running at 600,000 units a year.The V-Night is covered by a two year factory warranty. The price is $2,690.  

THE COTY CREWPaul Gover - the grizzled and grizzly veteran who first hit the motoring beat in 1978.Joshua Dowling - The toughest judge in Australian motoring. No more, no less.Paul Pottinger - Carsguide editor escapes the desk for some hands-on work.Karla Pincott - Nothing token about this woman, who has been reviewing cars for 14 years.Neil Dowling - Quietly spoken but nothing slips past him.Craig Duff - Prefers two wheels but a hard-nosed judge on four.Stuart Martin - An impartial voter now Mitsubishi is out of business in Adelaide.Chris Riley - Out of the 'burbs and into the thick of it on his first COTY run.James Stanford - Whip-crack wit and even quicker in a car, favouring driving over style.CARSGUIDE COTY HALL OF FAME2011 Kia Rio2010 Volkswagen Polo2009 Volkswagen Golf2008 Ford Falcon G6E Turbo2007 Hyundai i30 CRDi2006 Holden Commodore Calais V2005 Suzuki Swift2004 Ford Territory2003 Honda Accord Euro2002 Ford Falcon BA2001 Holden Monaro2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class1999 Toyota Echo1998 Holden Astra1997 Holden Commodore VT CARSGUIDE COTY CRITERIA Value - Design - Engineering - Safety - RelevanceThe COTY contest comes down to how well each contender does its job and how it stacks up against its rivals, both in the top-10 shootout and in showrooms across Australia. These are the tough questions:1. What does it cost to buy, what will it cost to run, and how does its value compare to its rivals?2. Does the design work, both inside and out, make a significant advance and how well is it finished?3. Is the engineering, in every area from the engine to the road, best in class and right for Australia?4. Would you trust your family to the safety package, from the airbags to the spare tyre?5. Is the car right for our times, right for our roads, and the right choice for ordinary Australians?