Articles by Ewan Kennedy

Every time I see a young P-plate clown laid back so far in the driver’s seat that he can barely reach the steering wheel, with the stereo blaring so loudly that he will be unable to hear emergency vehicles’ sirens, I get very irritated very quickly.These jokers are usually driving very slowly – chiefly because they barely have control of their cars – so it’s unlikely that they will ever get into trouble with the law.Because in this day and age there's one offence for which a driver is far more likely to get booked than any other. Exceeding the speed limit.As almost all policing – if policing is the right word – of speed limits is now done by robots there is no-one to spot these laid-back louts, leaving them to pose along in their dangerous way.It’s not just these noisy idiots with their blaring stereos that get away with murder – and I don’t use the word murder lightly – the clowns who scream in an out of multi-lane traffic also make me angry.They almost invariably get away with it because police patrol cars are a rare sight these days, or are parked behind a bush while the drivers catches up with their paperwork and listens to the financially lucrative sound of the speed camera raking in the ‘bad’ drivers.Chopping dangerously in and out of traffic is usually done below the speed limit, so again there's little chance of the fools being booked.Same with the idiots who use mobile phones. I see them every day, indeed it’s not hard to spot dozens as they wander all over the road at speeds well below the limit endangering the lives of others by composing and/or reading text messages, dialling numbers or simply shouting into the phone to make themselves heard over the sound of the radio and the traffic around them.This latest nonsense of mounting mobile phones on a special bracket inside the windscreen directly in front of the driver makes me wonder if the world has finally gone mad. Apparently this is not only legal, but encouraged, because it means the phone is hands free.But speed cameras can’t pick up mobile phone users either. Nor can they pick up inattentive other drivers who are checking their paperwork, looking at the street directory, telling a hilarious joke to their passengers that involves plenty eye contact. Speed cameras can’t spot people who aren't wearing safety belts.These thoughts crossed my mind last night as I watched yet another Australian police minister on television blaming speed as the number one cause of road crashes. Their numbers worked out to something like 70 per cent of fatalities being due to speeding.A nonsense figure that flies in the face of research showing that about 95 per cent of crashes are primarily caused by something other than excessive speed.I do long for a return to the good-old-days, when we had police officers on the road making sensible decisions about each individual case as it happened. And who had the ability to offer leeway on traffic laws when that was the intelligent thing to do. Then, and only then, will we start to see a significant drop in the road toll. 

Fiat Australia has a plan. It wants to transform the streets of Australian cities so they look like those in Rome, Paris, London, Milan and many other fashion conscious European cities.Anyone who’s visited Europe recently will have seen Fiat 500s by the thousand. The retro shape of the new 500, based on the tiny Fiat 500 Bambino launched in 1957, works brilliantly. Even better, owners customise their Fiat 500s inside and out in many imaginative ways, further brightening up the cityscape.New Fiat 500s first arrived in Australia in 2008, imported by the same company that brings in such upmarket supercars as Ferrari, Maserati and Lotus. The little Fiats were highly priced and aimed to compete head-on with new Mini and New Beetle. Last year Fiat’s head office took over the Australian operation and has decided to bring the little car down to mass market levels.Prices have been slashed. The range now starts at just $14,000 driveaway for the Fiat 500 Pop with a five-speed manual gearbox. This brings the 500 into the same price group as imports from Japan, Korea and Thailand.A stylish Italian machine for the price of a low-budget Asian car is a proposition that seems sure to tempt many Aussies who are keen drivers and/or automotive fashionistas.However, prices climb if you don’t want a 500 Pop manual. With an automated manual gearbox it has a recommended retail of $15,500 to which on-road costs have to be added. Given that the majority of Fiat owners are likely to prefer doing their own gear shifting this may not be a hassle.The Fiat 500 Pop is no stripped down special, having air conditioning, central locking, power front windows and door mirrors, and a trip computer. Communication uses the Fiat / Microsoft co-designed Blue&Me voice-activated system with Bluetooth, USB and Aux connectively.Next up the list is the Fiat 500 Sport. In addition to the Pop gear it has a 1.4-litre engine (up from 1.2 litres), 15-inch alloy wheels, larger brakes, foglights, a sports body kit that includes a rear spoiler, sports seats with red stitching, a flat bottom steering wheel again with red stitching, and dark tinted glass. Prices for the 500 Sport begin at $16,900 for a hatch with a manual gearbox.Then comes the Fiat 500 Lounge. With a starting price of $20,300 it has Fiat’s ultra-economical 875 cc turbocharged twin-cylinder engine. Official fuel consumption is just 3.9 litres per hundred kilometres. Additional equipment over the 500 Sport includes a fixed glass sunroof, climate-control in the air conditioning and chrome inserts in the bumpers.At the pinnacle of the new range comes the limited edition Fiat 500 by Gucci, a collaborative design by two famous Italian brands. Still reasonably priced, from $23,200, the Fiat 500 by Gucci is offered in gloss black or white. It has Gucci’s signature green-red-green colours as exterior stripes; these run lengthways over the top of the roof on the cabriolet, but around the centre of the body on the hatch.The green-red-green theme is repeated in various places in the interior - including on the seat belts. Even the key cover gets that treatment.The Gucci also has 16-inch alloy wheels, chromed door mirror housings, and xenon headlights. Inside there are two-tone leather seats, a leather trimmed steering wheel, and an Interscope sound system with six speakers plus a subwoofer. The Gucci is powered by the same four-cylinder 1.4-litre engine as the 500 Sport.Only 101 Fiat 500 by Gucci models have been allocated to Australia. All models are sold as three-door hatchbacks or two-door cabriolets with a huge fold-back roof.Safety is high on the list of priorities, with a full range of crash prevention electronic assistance items, as well as no fewer than seven airbags to minimise injuries should a crash still occur.We took several Fiat 500 models on extended road tests – as well as having a fang on a go-kart track.We have to admit to a dislike of automated manual gearboxes with their irritating slowing on gearchanges in the lower gears. Give us a proper manual any day. Then again there are many who have no problem with the auto. Try before you buy.Engine response from the 1.2 and 1.4-litre engines is excellent and immediately gives the little Fiat 500 a real sporty feel.The economy 875 cc two-cylinder unit often requires downchanges to give it decent performance. Obviously, that’s more than balanced out by the fact that it’s more economical than many small diesel engines.Handling is excellent with a nice balance on offer by way of the steering wheel and throttle. The Italian Fiat is way ahead of even the best of the Asian cars in this class and is guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of those who love driving.Ride comfort is good on smooth roads, but deteriorates on rough surfaces due to the short wheelbase and the firm-ish setup of the sporty suspension system.

Image is everything in the minds of many car buyers. Motoring journalists have a saying, “People pay big dollars for the front two inches of their cars”.EQUIPMENTThe Hyundai i30 Premium CRDi we have just returned after an extended review is a classic case in point.It was positively crammed with luxury items of the sort found in big name Euro cars: leather trim; a panoramic glass sunroof; satellite navigation with Suna traffic control; powered front seats with heating; connectivity by way of Aux, USB and iPod/iPhone inputs, as well as Bluetooth; hands-free phone; audio streaming; keyless go. The list just goes on and on.VALUEDespite the huge levels of standard equipment, people gasped when we told them the i30 Premium CRDi had a recommended retail of $32,590 – saying it was a lot of money for a Korean car.Which brings us back to our comments about image being everything – one of the big name German marques in this class would come in at close to $70,000 if loaded with the same gear. Yet many would have described the $70,000 price tag as being a bargain for a Merc, Beemer or Audi. Logical? Not...ENGINEPower is provided by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine with a high-tech six-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces up to 94 kilowatts of power, and 260 Newton metres of torque. We found the transmission nicely interactive as it responded quickly to our desire for a different gear by way of the ‘throttle’ pedal.At motorway speeds our Hyundai i30 CRDi had fuel consumption in the six to seven litres per hundred kilometres range. This increased to nine to ten litres per hundred in the hard grind of typical city commuting. The best European turbo-diesel engines in this class can do significantly better than this, showing that the Asian car makers still have a distance to go in their designs of car diesel engines. Knowing Hyundai, that won’t take long.SAFETYHyundai i30 has been praised as, “one of the safest in the small-car category” by ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program), after gaining the maximum five-star safety rating.Seven airbags and rear parking sensors are standard across the Hyundai i30 range. There’s a full suite of active safety technology, with ESC, TCS, ABS, EBD and BAS all being standard in every model. The budget priced Hyundai i30 is on a par with far more expensive passenger vehicles.DRIVE IMPRESSIONSHyundai i30 Premium is pleasant to drive, albeit with the nose heavy feeling of any front-drive car. Interestingly, the driver can vary the feel of the car by dialling up one of three steering modes with Hyundai's fascinating Flex Steer system.In ‘Normal’, Flex Steer provides a balance between steering input and feedback, making it ideal for the majority of roads; ‘Comfort’ reduces the weight of steering, allowing for effortless manoeuvring and relaxed driving cruising; ‘Sport’ increases steering weight and feedback for increased driver involvement.The suspension and steering have been tuned for Australian conditions. However the semi sporting setup designed for keen Aussie drivers means it’s over firm on rough and ready back roads.Instruments are made easy to read with sports-style layout and blue back lighting. The engine fires up via a start/stop button, while an electronic park brake makes life simpler. The seats are comfortable and the ergonomics work in a sensible, comfortable manner.VERDICTImage is everything, and despite above remarks that could be taken as being sarcastic I have to admit that I’m as good a consumer as most others around me. Give me $70,000 and my heart would see me in a Merc, Beemer or Audi any day. But the head still says Hyundai i30 Premium CRDi makes a lot more sense...Hyundai i30 Premium 1.6-litre turbodieselPrice: from $32,590Warranty: 5 years, unlimited kmEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 94kW/260NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, FWDThirst: 5.6L/100Km, CO2 147g/km

The huge success of the Toyota 86 in Australia, indeed globally, has reminded people that Toyota doesn’t only make sensible but boring cars, it also builds excellent sports machines. These have been somewhat short on the ground over the last decade or so, but quite a few Toyota Celicas and MR2s are still on Australia roads.Let’s look at the MR2 in detail: the name stands for Mid-engined Roadster 2-seats and MR2s are often bought by those who would dearly love a Ferrari but are a few hundred thousand dollars short of the necessary folding stuff.All real sports cars and racing cars have a mid-engine layout as it gives the best possible balance and traction. However there are some drawbacks in the handling department. Like many other mid-engined cars the Toyota MR2 can be tricky when it approaches its limit of adhesion. The difference between being in control and out of control is relatively narrow.At-the-limit handling improved with the second-generation Toyota MR2 of March 1990 and again with a revamp of the suspension in February 1992.Drivers without proper training and/or who drive in a sloppy manner should perhaps go for a less pure car than the MR2, though if you only want a cruiser and have no intention of driving it hard it may work fine for you.Then again, do you really want a pure sports car that won’t extend you when you’re behind the wheel, particularly on track days?The MR2 is typically Toyota in the reliability stakes in that it can run for years on end without problems if driven maintained correctly. Obviously, this is after all a sports model and some have been thrashed on the road or even pushed to the limit at racetracks.As it is strictly a two-seater, the Toyota MR2 is relatively spacious in its cabin because there's no need to compromise on squeezing in another pair of seats. Try before you buy, though, if your previous driving has only been done in hatches or non-sporty coupes.Boot space is better than average for a car of this type. Mid-engined machines are notoriously bad in this aspect, but the Toyota is capable of holding a week's shopping, or even holiday luggage if you are careful with your packing.Until the third-generation model of 2000 the Toyota MR2 was a closed coupe with a targa top, from then on it was a full convertible.From October 1987 until March 1990 the sporty little MR2 was powered by a four-cylinder engine of just 1.6 litres. Later models had a 2.0-litre unit which significantly improved performance, though these cars are still far from being the powerhouses you would expect from their styling.The MR2 convertible has a high-tech 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine and is by far the best in the performance stakes. It has to be revved hard to get the best from it, but that’s part of the joy of driving a true sports machine.A conventional five-speed manual gearbox is fitted in all versions of the coupe. But the convertible has a sequential manual setup in which the driver doesn't have to use a clutch pedal but still has to make your their own gearchanges. Like all of its type this gearbox is an acquired taste, but not too bad once you get the hang of it. The sequential manual gearbox has five forward ratios until late 2002 when a six-speed unit was installed. And  if you find a convertible with a conventional five-speed manual, it’s likely to have been a grey import.This Toyota sports is not an easy car to work on as the mid-mounted engine/transmission assembly is hard to reach. Professional mechanics generally remove the complete transaxle and work on it on a bench. If you don't have the equipment to do this yourself the MR2 may prove a very expensive car to repair.Spare parts are reasonably priced, but bits of the first generation MR2s are now becoming rare. The Toyota dealer network is huge but the remote agents probably won't have parts in stock. Naturally, these people can order parts in should you find yourself stranded in the bush.Insurance companies tend to be wary of sports cars, and this Toyota is certainly a full-on sports machine of the type that makes insurers nervous. Shop around for the best deal but make sure you are comparing apples with apples, and ask questions if one company seems to be a lot cheaper than the others.Toyota MR2 quietly disappeared from the Australia market in March 2006, though some may not have been sold and registered until quite late in the year.Although the Toyota MR2 was a victim partly of its quirky gearbox, it died chiefly because of the swing away from sporty models amongst trendy buyers.WHAT TO LOOK FORLook for heavy brake-dust buildup on the insides of the wheels and on the front suspension components. Uneven tyre wear caused by hard cornering is easy to spot - be suspicious of tyres that have recently been renewed.Look for previously repaired crash damage: sight along the length of the panels for a ripply finish indicating they have been panel beaten; look for a mismatch in paint colours between panels; see if there are any small paint spots on unpainted areas such as glass and plastic parts.Check for poorly repaired areas of body in out of sight areas such as in the front 'bonnet', the rear boot and the engine compartment.Severe engine wear may make an MR2 reluctant to start. It’s usually worst when stone cold so try to arrange to get to the engine first thing in the morning.If the engine smokes from the exhaust and/or the oil filler plug it’s probably due for a major overhaul. Smoking is at its worst when the engine is left to idle for a minute or so, then accelerated hard.Gearchanges should be smooth and easy, with light clutch movement. Crunching gearchanges from a manual box is a sign of wear, the three-two downshift is usually the first to suffer.Have a good look at the interior, including under the carpets, in case an MR2 convertible has been caught out in the rain with its top down. Look for a roll-cage or signs that one has been removed, an indication the car has had serious racetrack use.Extra instruments, bigger wheels and tyres, a body kit, sports seats and the like may also mean an MR2 has been fanged, though it’s more likely they are just there to improve the looks.CAR BUYING TIPIf looking to buy a car that’s loved by enthusiasts it’s always a good idea to contact a car club for the marque. The guys and gals there may even know details of the specific car you have in mind. 

The big three car makers in Australia are fighting tooth and nail to gain sales in a market that’s becoming increasingly savage. Deals are everywhere - Holden took everyone by surprise when it ripped huge amounts off the recommended retail prices of its new VF Commodore and Calais ranges.Toyota has been king of the Australian automotive market for many years and is obviously very keen to retain that position. Among many other measures the Japanese giant and has introduced a limited edition version of its popular LandCruiser Prado 4WD at a pretty good price.VALUEPrado Altitude is based on the GXL version of the Toyota off-roader and the special edition has the addition of $10,000 of features – but only $5000 has been added to the RRP.  Prices for the Toyota Prado Altitude start from $68,990. Toyota Prado is covered by Toyota Service Advantage capped-price servicing at $210 per service.Shrewdly aware that most 4WDs are used as people movers, not exploring the bush, Toyota has concentrated on multimedia technology and comfort items. The Prado Altitude has a level of equipment usually reserved for the upmarket Prado VX and Kakadu.Added features include a seven-inch touch-screen for the satellite navigation. The screen also displays guidelines on the rear-view camera image to improve safety when reversing or parking.The seven-seat Prado Altitude has a leather-accented interior, as well as a 14-speaker sound system – well up from the six speakers usually installed in the GXL. The six-disc in-dash CD/DVD changer can be operated by remote control.Even better from the point of view of browbeaten parents is the rear-seat entertainment system. This has a nine-inch monitor mounted from the ceiling, a DVD player, and 5.1 surround sound. Three wireless headphones can be clamped over the top of the kids who will then be entertained for hours.TECHNOLOGYThe Prado Altitude is powered by Toyota's long established 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Drive is permanently to all four wheels with a two-speed transfer box that’s controlled by a dash mounted switch.The 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel is a modern common-rail unit, developing 127kW at just 3400 revs. Diesel torque of 410 Newton metres is available at a very useful band that runs from 1600 to 2800 rpm -- in other words most drivers will have the torque at its peak most of the time.DESIGNThe rear-seat entertainment system can be operated from the touch-screen in the front seats, and by remote control by those in the rear seats.A tilt-and-slide moonroof can provide upward views should the children become tired of looking at the screen. Privacy glass is a luxury item that’s usually only seen on upmarket German sedans.Toyota gives the choice of four paint colours – Crystal Pearl (previously reserved for Kakadu and VX grades), Ebony, Silver Pearl and Graphite.All exterior colours can be matched with black interior trim while Crystal Pearl and Ebony also come with the choice of ivory trim. Altitude badges let others know that your Prado is something out of the ordinary.SAFETYSafety features include four parking sensors at the front to complement the four already fitted to the rear of the standard Prado GXL. There are seven airbags, vehicle stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes, hill-start assist control and downhill assist control.Luxury features in the Altitude that are carried over from the Prado GXL include three-zone climate-controlled air-conditioning; audio controls on the steering wheel; smart entry and start; and cruise control and long-range fuel tanks.Should you decide to go deep into the bush with the family on board you will appreciate the long range offered by an 87-litre main and 63-litre diesel sub tanks.DRIVINGWhen you are in the bush you will find this is a tough vehicle that can go well into harsh areas if driven correctly. It has a rugged build that inspires confidence and in typical Toyota fashion it feels as though it will last just about forever.On the other hand on-road behaviour isn’t particularly inspiring. While safe enough in the way it grips the road the big Toyota is aimed much more at comfort than at pleasing drivers who like responsive steering and good feedback through from the engine.VERDICTToyota Prado Altitude will only be built until the end of June so, as it’s likely to be a big seller, it might be an idea to move quickly if you’re halfway interested.

Australians are moving away from large cars into smaller ones, but many are refusing to accept any loss of comfort or performance. And if possible they would like a solid dash of prestige at the same time.Audi invented the premium small-car category way back in 1996 and has worked hard over the intervening years to maintain its position at the head of the upmarket German field. The introduction of the third generation Audi A3 lifts the game significantly.DESIGNThe company’s designers have come up with a sleek, sporting stance that works beautifully. The shape of the famed Audi single-frame grille provide a focal point that carries back to create a continuous theme over the headlights then onto the distinctive highlights on the doors. The rear hatch is aimed at visually emphasising the horizontal shape.At this stage only the five-door hatchback is on sale. A four-door sedan will come downunder before the end of the year as will the full-on S3 variant. Quattro S3, powered by big grunt turbo-petrol engines, is something we can’t wait to sample when they arrive in the first few months of 2014. Other models are on their way, with an interesting plug-in hybrid due here in 2015.New A3 Sportback has a body and wheelbase that are greater than the outgoing model to improve cabin and luggage space. Yet a clever ‘back to the drawing board‘ redesign means its lighter and stronger.About 85 kilograms has been taken out of the A3, chiefly by the use of an all-new design of platform, tagged as the MQB. This minimises the use of materials, without the need for expensive metals. Aluminium is used in the bonnet and front guards, important crash safety areas use ultra-high strength steels.Despite the relatively steep slope of the rear, new Audi A3 Sportback has good headroom in the back seat. While aimed at the family unit of two adults and three children, it’s possible to fit three adults in the rear provided they aren’t into their large-teenage years.A3 is sold in two levels of trim, Attraction and Ambition and with several options packages to further let you customise them.TECHNOLOGYPrices begin at a handy $35,600 plus on-road costs for an Attraction with a 1.4-turbo-petrol and range up to $42,500 for the topline models with either a 1.8-litre turbo-petrol or 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.We drove a range of petrols and the diesel on a course chosen by Audi Australia in far north Queensland and found them to be impressively tractable at low engine revs. At the other end of the scale the petrol powerplants were more than happy to rev right up to the top of the tacho.Even the diesels can stretch out to 5000 revs, a higher than usual number for this type of powerplant, giving them a sportier feel than most others of their type.DRIVINGNimble handling shows the new Audi A3 is so well balanced it’s hard to realise it’s being driven by the front wheels. Comfort remains very high, despite the strong sporting dynamics tuned into the car.Noise and vibration levels are very low and more like those of much larger, more expensive luxury cars. Australia’s notorious coarse-chip surfaces did increase noise levels, but seldom to an irritating stage.VERDICTThe all-new Audi A3 Sportback provides an impressive combination of luxury and sportiness and seems likely to remain in a strong position in the premium small-car sales race in Australia.Audi A3 Sportback Price: from $42,500 Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety:5 starsEngine: 1.4 and 1.8 4-cyl turbo-petrol or 2-litre turbo-diesel; 103kW/250Nm and 132kW/250Nm or 100kW/320NmTransmission: 6 or 7-spd dual-clutch auto or 6-spd manual; front drive or AWDThirst: 4.7L/100km/5.6L/100km or 4.2L/100km; 95RON; 110/130 or 108g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.3m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.4m (H)Weight: from 1205kgSpare: Space-saver

New life has been breathed into Alfa Romeo in Australia with the switch of control to the Italian head office; previously they were being brought in by a private importer. Price cuts and the introduction of new models have sparked buyer interest in new Alfas and Fiats.Sadly for sellers, but great news for buyers, the aforementioned change has resulted in lower prices on the used Alfa Romeo market.Though it’s supposedly just another mid-sized family car, the Italian designers of the Alfa Romeo 156 gave it plenty of verve in its design. Not only does it look great, the chassis has superb dynamics that appeal to those who really like to get out there and drive.Handling is what Italian cars are all about and the Alfa Romeo 156 doesn’t disappoint. It has a willingness to turn into a corner and once in there it has tenacious road grip. Steering is prompt and sharp and this car communicates to the driver as though it’s a sports machine.Few family sedans cry out to be taken for a run on your favourite bit of road early of a Sunday morning, but this Alfa Romeo just loves that sort of treatment.Despite looking like a sleek two-door coupe the Alfa 156 has four doors. The back doors are so well hidden that many don’t even realise they are there. The rear door handles are disguised as air extractor vents and we once had the experience of someone trying to get into the back of a 156 by squeezing in through the front doors.Once you’ve located the door handles, it’s reasonably easy to get into the back seat of the Alfa Romeo 156. However, the sporting heritage of the car’s shape shows up here and it doesn’t have the biggest of rear seats. Indeed the area back there is probably best left for children.The boot is also on the small side for a family car. The station wagon’s load area is a bit of a joke if you regard it as being a full wagon - but makes sense if you think of it as a coupe with an extended load area.Naturally, the Alfa wagon is much easier to load than the luggage area of a conventional two-door coupe. The Alfa Romeo 156 first arrived in Australia in February 1999 in sedan format with the station wagon being added in August 2000. In October 2003 the 156 got a major facelift that saw the traditional Alfa shield grille become considerably larger and stretching right down into the bumper. The tail was beefed out and a bit more brightwork added to the body.Power in the standard Alfa Romeo 156 range is provided by either a four-cylinder 2.0-litre or a 2.5-litre V6. The four-cylinder was upgraded to JTS specification midway through 2002 and we reckon it’s the one to buy. It not only has even more response, but also uses less fuel.In the usual Italian manner, the four-cylinder engine is the sporting unit aimed at the press-on driver, whereas the V6 is the luxury cruising unit. There is, of course, more acceleration from the V6 than the four, but the eagerness to work hard has been toned down.The Selespeed automated manual transmission used on many four-cylinder Alfa 156s, can be frustratingly slow and lumpy in the lower gears. We feel it’s better to buy a five-speed manual, but many have learnt to tolerate the Selespeed because they use their Alfa to commute in traffic. Try before you buy.The Alfa 156 V6 has a four-speed fully-automatic unit with semi-sequential options.An ultra-hot, very-expensive 156 GTA joined the range in August 2002. With a highly-tuned 3.2-litre V6, six-speed close-ratio manual box, bold body kit, big wheels tyres and brakes, it’s a real delight to drive. Look out for torque steer though, as it can try to take control of the wheel at times. The GTA didn’t sell all that well and was quietly discontinued in Australia in June 2004.Alfa Romeo is firmly established in Australia and there are a reasonable number of dealers. As is often the way with European cars, dealers tend to be concentrated in the major population centres and scarce in the bush.Servicing and spare parts prices are about average for this class. You can do some of the routine, non-safety items yourself but the engine bay is crowded and skinned knuckles aren’t unusual. Insurance can be expensive so make inquiries before falling head-over-heels in love with this Italian machine.Alfa Romeo 156 was replaced by the Alfa 159 in June 2006. The 159 is significantly larger so its introduction didn’t have the usual adverse affect on resale values that often occurs when a new model supersedes an old.New-generation Alfa Romeos are better built than the older models, however, we still see the occasional rough one, so be careful. We recommend that you always call on a professional before buying a car like this, although you can weed out the obvious duds by doing some initial checks yourself.A car like the Alfa Romeo 156 can fall into the hands of hard drivers because their very nature means they cry out to be driven to extremes at times. Signs of hard driving include severe wear on the tyres and lots of brake dust on the inside of the wheels and on the suspension inside of the guards.Look for body repairs; most easily spotted by mismatched paint on adjacent body panels, uneven gaps between panels, paint overspray on non-painted parts and ripples in what should be smooth metal.Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly from the moment it gets going. Naturally the V6 will be smoother than the four, but the latter shouldn’t be rough.Engine performance from the 2.0-litre Twin Spark unit isn't great, but if it seems below par the engine could be suspect.A manual gearbox that isn't light in its action could be due for repairs. Do some fast changes from third down to second and feel for a reluctance to shift, or for funny noises.During your road test look for steering that wanders and feel for brakes that don't pull the car up evenly.Sports sedans don’t always get driven in a sporting manner, but it can be hard to pick which has received harsh treatment. A professional inspection should be regarded as essential. 

Mercedes has carried out an extensive redesign of its mid-sized E-Class coupe and cabriolet and at the same time has introduced an impressive all-new turbocharged V6 engine.Mercedes-Benz Australia offers an E-Class coupe for under $80,000 (plus on-road costs). The most expensive model in the range is the E 400 cabriolet with a recommended retail of $142,900. The E 250 carries a tag of $96,400 as a coupe, and $106,400 in open-top format.All E-Class models set up for Australia are very well equipped and we feel most buyers will find the car suits their tastes without any real need to tick many, if any, options boxes.We tested the E 250 after our enjoyable 300+ km behind the biturbo V6 engine and feel that many buyers will be happy with the output of this smaller capacity unit. We are yet to get behind the wheel of an E 200.Biggest news in the E-Class is the introduction of a new V6 engine in the model called the E 400. In keeping with Mercedes’ downsizing policy – to reduce emissions and trim fuel consumption – the company’s new 400 series engine displaces just 3.0 litres, but achieves V8-like performance thanks to the use to twin turbochargers.With up to 245 kW of power, with an amazing 480 Nm of torque through most of its rev range - that peak being maintained all the way from 1400 to 4000 rpm – the Mercedes E 400 engine can move the big coupe from zero to 100 km/h in only 5.2 seconds, yet the fuel consumption is officially measured at just 7.4 litres per hundred kilometres.So impressed is Mercedes-Benz Australia with this new E 400 that it plans to concentrate on it in place of the V8 unit currently used as the topline powerplant. Though some buyers may feel they need they image of a V8, a test drive of this high-tech V6 is likely to convince them otherwise. That, and the savings of around $50,000 when they opt for the high-performance biturbo six.More realistically for Australia, the biturbo engine provides the safety of effortless overtaking on tight country roads.Also on offer in Australia will be four-cylinder turbo petrol engines in the E 200 and E 250. For the first time,Though the overall shape of the about to be superseded E-Class was very good, the frontal appearance was regarded as being overly complex by many critics. The new look is significantly neater and more attractive. We spent some time chatting to the chief designer, Robert Lesnik, during the global media launch in Germany and Denmark, where he explained how he had done this work without interfering with the impressively low coefficient of drag; just  0.24.Sporty looks are a feature of the latest Mercedes models, no more so than in the new E-Class coupe and cabriolet thanks to their large three-dimension grille centred around the iconic three-pointed star. So great is the alteration to the appearance that it’s hard to believe the bonnet and front guards remain as before. By doing so body change costs having been minimised, thus leaving more in the budget to be spent in other areas.Inside, the latest E-Class retains the same overall design theme as the original, but detail changes to the colours and finish of the materials work well and increase the feeling of luxurious sportiness.Cabin room is better than anticipated and we managed a couple of hundred kilometres in a cabriolet with a fair sized bloke in the rear. We moved the front passenger seat forward to share legroom and all three occupants enjoyed decent space.Safety is of increasing importance to Australian drivers and these mid-sized Mercedes have many crash avoidance features designed for the much more expensive S-Class. Thus we see monitoring of all potential dangers for 360 degrees around the car; lane keeping; radar cruise control; automatic braking and pedestrian collision protection.If you should still be caught up in a serious collision the E-Class will do its very best to minimise injuries.Most of our driving time in the revised E-Class sporty models was done behind the wheel of the all-new biturbo V6 and we loved the effortless surge of torque as we took it over the high side of 200 km/h on several occasions on the famed unrestricted sections of an autobahn.Ride comfort proved excellent on the European roads, which are generally in better condition than those in Australia. Tyre noise doesn’t intrude to any real extent, even in the cabriolet when the roof is closed. Should you open the roof – and we must admit that with the temperature generally round the 12 to 14 degree mark we didn’t do a lot of topless motoring – you can still enjoy some comfort thanks to the heated seats and optionally-fitted Airscarf. The latter blows heated air onto your shoulders.Handling is good due to the low centre of gravity and the balance offered by the front-engine rear-drive layout and by the dynamic precision built into these sporting machines.

The BMW 5 Series is a medium-large German machine that’s aimed as much at the sports sedan market as at the buyers of luxury saloons.Older 5 Series are rather smaller inside than you might expect. That’s chiefly because it has rear-wheel drive and the engine is set well back in the bay, meaning the gearbox is beside your feet. Recent cars, since about 2004, are better off in this respect, but it’s still wise to try all seats for size.Handling is enhanced by the near-perfect weight distribution that’s the result of rear-wheel drive and the engine’s position. This is a car that feels just wonderful; seemingly the harder you drive at a bend the better it feels and responds.The really clever thing is that this sports handling is achieved without upsetting comfort. Some of the worst of Australian roads may catch it out at times, but it generally makes light work of rough surfaces.The great majority of BMW 5 Series sold in Australia are four-door sedans, but in recent years we seem to be joining our European cousins in choosing station wagons. Called ‘Touring’ wagons in BMW speak, these have a reasonable carrying capacity, though, as is often the way in the boutique-wagon class the slope of the rear end does restrict the entry of bulky objects.Engine performance is good, even from the models with relatively small capacity. The non-turbo straight-six with a relatively small size of 2.0 litres, but has enough performance for many owners. The silky smooth nature of the straight sixes is excellent.Big capacity BMW straight-sixes are some of our all-time favourite powerplants, providing effortless performance and a willingness to rev that’s delightful.Many recent BMWs have turbocharged four-cylinder units that have plenty of torque. Though the engineering to minimise turbo lag is impressive, they still don’t provide the near instantaneous response we have loved in BMW non-turbo engines for many decades.Rounding out the petrol engine range are superb V8 units. Big on power and torque they are much loved by enthusiastic drives. Their fuel consumption isn’t as high as you might anticipate as they are an excellent design.BMW Australia was one of the early adopters of turbo-diesel technology downunder. These have become increasingly popular over the years. Turbo lag is better than average, but can still be a pain at times. But once that lag has gone and you’re into the big-torque midrange, you will love the endless grunt they provide.Insurance can be expensive due to the cost of parts and the high status of trained repairers. So if you are moving up from a more mundane car to a BMW for the first time, shop around on premiums before becoming over-committed to the dream car.Spare parts and repairs are about average in price for a vehicle of this type and prestige rating.BMW is well represented in most major areas in Australia. Some factory-trained BMW mechanics have since left the company and set up independent repair shops. They don’t have the same factory contacts as the official dealers, but are often highly regarded by owners. This is certainly not a car for the amateur mechanic to attempt to work on.WHAT TO LOOK FORCheck on the insides of the front wheels and brake callipers for excessive brake-pad dust. That may be a sign of a hard driver.Make sure all electronic and electrical items are operating correctly. Use the owner’s handbook to make sure you find everything as these are among the most complex cars on the planet.Look over the car for body damage and previous repairs.Be sure the engine starts virtually immediately and idles smoothly from the moment it fires up, even when it’s stone cold.The engine should accelerate without hesitation and not blow smoke from the exhaust, no matter how hard it is worked.Automatic transmissions should change smoothly and, except for some changes on big throttle openings, should be all but impossible to feel.CAR BUYING TIPIf moving upmarket to a European car after a series of sensible low-cost Asian models make sure you budget for the high cost of servicing and repairs. 

Picture this: a giant Airbus A380 passenger jet is in the background, a German ‘Stig’ in an SLS Gullwing is doing doughnuts on a soaking wet tarmac, a procession of all current model Mercs lines up to make a guard of honour. At the finale two all-new Mercedes S-Class saloons drive past their lesser brethren and onto the stage in front of an audience of 500+ senior motoring journalists from around the world.I’ve experienced some major automotive reveals over the past 30 years, but nothing on the scale of this event produced by Mercedes to reveal its most prestigious model.To our eyes the styling of the first new S-Class since 2005 is just right. Elegant with a touch of aggression, the big Mercedes looks superb on the outside and positively luxurious inside its large four-seat cabin. High quality materials are used throughout and the carefully contrasting colours work nicely.But it’s far from being all about looks. For many years the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been used to introduce new technology to the automotive world.In particular, safety technology that eventually filters down till it reaches the lowest end of the car market resulting in saving countless lives worldwide.To try to avoid crashes, the S-Class monitors 360 degrees around itself and alerts the driver to possible dangers. If the driver ignores the alerts or doesn’t take sufficient action the car will take control and brake and/or steer its way clear. If that’s not enough it will do everything it can to mitigate the collision forces.Safety belts in the rear seats of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class have inbuilt airbags that expand the width and depth of the belt during a crash to not only provide better protection, but also to minimise ‘belt bruising’ on your body.The airbag safety belts aren’t required in the front seats as the occupants are protected by the conventional front ‘bags.Mercedes points out that its semi-autonomous car should not be regarded as an excuse for driver inattention, saying the responsibility must always remain with the driver.Intelligent headlights automatically give you as much light as possible in exactly the right spots. Using lights that not only vary in intensity, but also move from side to side as well as up and down spreads the light widely and lets you see far more than standard lights. Just as importantly the Mercedes’ lights do this without dazzling other drivers.The new S-Class looks for roadside dangers by way of cameras and radar and flashes extra light on them. For example, the car will ‘see’ pedestrians and larger animals. This not only helps the driver see the potential dangers, but also alerts the person on foot to the car’s presence.Taillights and brake lights vary in intensity according to ambient light. Showing maximum light when the car is in bright areas, such as cities, but less when it is surrounded by darkness.Still on the subject of lights, the big Mercedes has a grand total of zero light globes. Rather it uses hundreds of LED lights which use tiny amounts of energy when compared with conventional globes. This contributes to lower fuel consumption as there’s no need for a large alternator producing lots of electricity. Every little bit helps in slowing climate change.New S-Class Mercedes is expected in Australia late in the third quarter of this year, though the dates and final specifications are yet to be finalised. It’s arguably the best car in the world today and it doesn’t surprise us to learn that a queue is already starting to form to have one from the first shipment